RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23349, 19 August 1939, Page 10

RACING NOTES

RACING. August 31.—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt. September 2.—Tarauaki Hunt. September 2.—Otago Hunt. September 7, 9.—Wanganui Jockey Club. September 16 Foxton Racing Club. September 16.—Ashburton County Racing September 16, 18.—Avondale Jockey ClubSeptember 21, 23. Geraldine Racing Club. September 23.—Marton Jockey Club. September 30.—Otaki-Maori Racing Club. September 30, October 2.—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. October 5, 7.—Dunedin Jockey Club,

FGRBURY PARK TROTTING CLUB Though the profit and loss account in the annual statement of accounts to be submitted to members of the Forbury Park Trotting Club on Monday evening shows that the profit on the year’s working only amounted to £7O 18s 7d, depreciation on buildings, permanent improvements, and plant totalling £824 17s 7d has been provided for, and the 1938-39 season experienced by the club must he considered just as satisfactory from the financial point of view as was the good sport provided at each of its three race meetings. The club’s liabilities are now confined to a loan of £7OO and a small overdraft of £64 7s Id, while it has assets, buildings, £13,559 19s 7d; permanent improvements, £2,458 13s 3d; plant, £Bl3 5s 3d; land, £8,622 14s 8d; and fees receivable £2l 10s, totalling £25,376 2s 9d. Ten years ago the club owed on mortgages, debentures, and overdraft £10,655 14s 9d, and to have reduced this indebtedness great credit is due to the management. During the past 11 seasons the club has only failed to show profits on three occasions, and in only one season, 1933-34, to make a provision for depreciation. The following gives the amounts shown as profits, and set aside for depreciation during the period under review;— Season. Profit. Depreciation. jg £ 1928- ... 398 15 11 131 5 0 1929- ... 1,517 7 8 1,061 11 5 1930- ... 1931- ... 1932- ... 688 6 8 1,085 18 1 1933- ... 1934- ... 408 13 9 1,030 8 2 1935- ... 61 7 2 572 7 5 1936- ... 3,185 11 1 1,020 15 2 1937- ... 926 5 8 988 17 4 1938- ... 70 18 7 824 17 7 £7,157 4 6 £7,512 2 8 Against this grand total of £14,669 7s 2d, losses in the three seasons already referred to, totalling £1,380 18s lid, have to be deducted, and the balance, £13,288 8s 3d, represents the improvement in the club’s financial position during the past 11 years. The gross profit made on the three race meetings held last season (1937-38 figures in parentheses) were: Spring, £1.387 9s 5d (£1.137 6s); Summer, £825 12s lid (£1,605 3s 7d); and Winter, £1,253 0s 5d (£1,578 4s 10d) totals, £3.466 2s 9d (£4.320 14s sd). The following comparisons show the amounts given in stakes and the totalisator investments at Forbury Park

Daring the season under review, the club collected and paid out £12.253 0s Id in taxation, making a total of £115,498 19s 2d during the past 11 years, in addition to over £3,325 paid on behalf of owners in stake tax.

[By St. Clair.]

TROTTING. August 26.—Auckland T.C, September 2.—New Brighton T.O. September 20, 23. —Wellington T.C. September 30.—Melhven T.C. October 7. —N'ew Brighton T.C. October 21, 23.-Greymouth .T.C. October 21, 23, or 25.—Auckland T.C. October 23. Oamaru T.C. October 25, 28.—Wellington T.C. October 25, 28.—Invercargill T.C. November 7,9, 10.—N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. November 23. 25.—Forbury Park T.C.

Maintaining the course and buildings to the high standard set by the club is a heavy annual charge, and last year £1,082 12s 3d was spent, making a total of £8,581 0s 2d- during the past 11 years. A great proportion of this amount has been spent on labour. The profit and loss account shows the receipts during the year ended July 31 last to have been (last year’s figures in parentheses) ;—Totalisator, £22,995 14s 7d (£21,961 19s sd); nomination and acceptance fees, £2,070 10s (£2,123 ss); gates, £3,670 18s (£3,694 9s 6d); race cards, £769 18s 8d (£786 7s 6d); privileges, £433 3s 3d (£432 6s 6d) ; members’ subscriptions, and entrance fees, £535 16s (£529 16s) ; training fees, £l6 los (£l2 15s) ; and rentals, £3 (£4); total, £30,495 15s 6d (£29,544 18s lid). The expenditure was :—Stakes, £12,800 (£11,750); taxation, £12,107 10s Id (£11,379 los lid); race expenses, £1,196 15s lOd (£1,139 6s lOd); salaries, £943 6s lid (£924 17s 9d): local rates, £6OO Is lid (£598 18s lid) ; maintenance and repairs, £1,082 12s 3d (£695 19s lid) ; interest, £37 Is (£166 0s lOd) ; conference levies, £393 (£475) i general expenses, £203 2s 2d (£297 15s 4d); insurance, £lO9 7s 2d (£IOB 5s sd); office rent. £lO4 (£7B) ; audit fee, £ls los (£ls 15s) ; donations. £7 7s; depreciation, £824 17s 7d (£9BB 17s 4d); and profit, £7O 18s 7d (£926 5s 8d). -During the season iust closed 23 new members were elected, the membership now' standing at 319, as compared with 314 in 1937-38, 303 in 1936-37, 309 in 1935-36. 313 in 1934-35, 302 in 1933-34, 321 in 1932-33, 362 in 1931-32, 423 in 1930-31. 463 in 1929-30, and 468 in the 1928-29 season. LIGHT HARNESS STAKES AND INVESTMENTS _ At last week’s annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference the president. Mr H. F. Nieoll. mentioned in his address that the totalisator returns for the past season were the second highest on record. (Racing clubs experienced the peak year m the 1920-21 season, but it was in the 1925-26 season that the investments on light harness racing, £2,441,107, reached their highest. Last season £2.349,537 was handled, and the following officially compiled table shows the stakes given for and investments on trotting events since just after the war:—

A BETTING PROBLEM The Australian Jockey Club’s stipendiary stewards were approached at Kensington recently to adjudicate on probably the strangest betting tangle that has occurred < for many years. The parties are not in dispute, but they prefer someone in authority to decide the issue, and the stewards may do so at a special session. A trainer sought the help of a bookmaker in placing a commission on his horse at Ascot. He did not have the money with him, but produced a guarantor. who, as a fact, was not known to the bookmaker. The instructions wore that the commission was not to be launched before the horses left the enclosure. The bookmaker mentioned the name of the guarantor to a friend, who thought so much of the name that he sought to be associated with the commission to the amount of a few pounds. The race was run and the horse beaten, but the bookmaker’s friend was informed that he had not lost his money, as no investment had been made. On settling day the trainer gave £2OO to the guarantor, who sought out the bookmaker, only to discover that the bookmaker had not put on the money. The bookmaker was amazed when he found that he should have placed the commission. He had believed that the instructions were to be confirmed as the horses left the enclosure, and as neither the trainer nor the guarantor approached him, he assumed'that some other arrangement had been made. The question then arose whether the trainer would have had any claim if the horse had won, and this aspect was made the more complicated when it was disclosed that others besides the trainer were interested in the commission. At first the parties were of opinion that they could strike some ratio for the division of the £2OO, since the trainer believed that he had lost it, although the bookmaker declined to receive settlement of money he had not lost. Now the stewards have been approached to give a decision to guide the principals in their dilemma. LENIENTLY HANDICAPPED Reviewing Padishah’s record performance? at Riccarton last week, “ Archer,” writing in the ‘ Auckland Herald,’ says: One aspect of the National victories of Padishah that may be mentioned is that for a horse of his class on the flat he was favourably placed as regards weight. Seven months before he won the Grand National Hurdles for the-first time in 19.38 he won the Wellington Cup, ]} miles, with 7.9, in 2..31, and yet he got in with 10.5 . against the 12.1 of the top-weight, Jolly Beg-

gar. On the flat Jolly Beggar was greatly inferior to Padishah, and the substantial difference that was made between them seemed favourable treatment indeed for a horse with the ability of the latter.

Again this year Padi.shah got in well with 11.5 in the Grand National Steeplechase, and 11.7 in the Hurdles, receiving 51b from Erination in one ■and 11b from Charade in the other, especially after winning the Metropolitan Hadicap with 8.8. Neither of the pair would have had any chance with him over a journey on the flat, and because of the fact that he is a great stayer and juniper they were certainly unfavourably placed to hold their own with him in the Nationals. If horses with credentials on the flat such as he possessed are to be handicapped in the lenient manner in which he was treated it may have the effect of thinning out the fields for the Nationals. Unfortunately, not many of his class go to jumping,' but the policy of discounting in the weights good horses on the fiat when their attention is turned to fencing does not appear a wise one.

In the past horses with good form on tho flat have usually been treated with much respect, and the case of Record Reign, winner of the Grand National Hurdles in 1900, is one that may be cited as interesting. Record Reign, whose form on the flat was good witholl* up to the standard of that . p adishah, was weighted at 12.12 in the Maiden Hurdles on the first day and 12.5 in the Grand National Hurdles. The Maiden Hurdles proved easy for him, and he also won the Grand National Hurdles in spite of a penalty of 71b, which brought his weight to 12.12. WAIKOUAITI RACING GLOB The following is the text of the annual report to be presented to members of the Waikouaiti Racing Club at the meeting to be held next Saturday evening The annual report and statement of accounts for the year ended July 31, 1939. show a net profit for the year of £786 11s 2d, after providing'for depreciation (£245) and heavy expenditure on repairs to the racing track, etc., amounting to £548. This very satisfactory position is due to the increasing popularity of the club’s annual race meeting on New Year’s Day, resulting in a record attendance and totalisator turnover which amounted to £23,766. The meeting, favoured with tine weather, provided an excellent day’s racing. A further repayment of debentures amounting to £1,15U, was made during the year, leaving only £I,OOO owing in this respect at present. The club places on record its deep appreciation of the support given to the meeting by owners and trainers; to the proprietors of Dewar’s Whiskey for their donation of a handsome cup as the trophy attached to the Waikouaiti Cup; to the Press for its valuable publicity, and to the stewards and members of the club for their co-opera-tion and assistance. It is with regret that the death is recorded during the year of the late Mr W. J. Goughian, who was a lifemember of the club for at least 25 years. Mr Goughian was also a member of the executive of the Forbury Park Club when it gave to the Waikouaiti Club the stewards’ stand. The club’s sympathies are expressed to the members of Mr Coughlan’s family. During the year, Mr J. S. Patterson left the district. He was chairman of the Works Committee, and has taken a particular interest in all matters relating to the grounds and the track. Before he left Waikouaiti, Mr Patterson was given a presentation by the committee in recognition of his work, and the club’s best wishes for his future prosperity and happiness were extended to him. The club membership has increased to 112, six new members having been elected during the year. JOTTINGS Trophy for M'Carten, The Moorfield Racing Club gave a 50-guinea cup to the most successful rider at the Sydney meetings. Tho trophy was won by Maurice ,’vl Car cell. A Good Profit. The Waikouaiti Racing Club made a net profit of £1,734 3s 5d over its annual race meeting on New Year’s Day. Stakes amounted to £1,500, and taxation to £2,068 8s lOd. A Change. It is possible that E. Baker.' who served his apprenticeship with F. W. Ellis, will accept a position with a Hawke’s Bay'stable. A Strong Position. The Waikouaiti Racine Club has assets, including cash at the bank £264 13s Id, valued at £8,085 los, and its liabilities amount to £1,023 15s. Buildings on the course appear to be highly valued at £7,208 4s 6d. For New Zealand Cup. Tidewaiter, one of the triple deadheaters at lliccarton last week, is being spelled at present, but is to be given a special preparation for the New Zealand Cup. For Treatment. T. J. Boyle, who had his back injured when he was - thrown against- a post after In the Dark fell with him on the second day of last week’s meeting, has since had to enter hospital for treatment. Gloucester Cup Candidate, c Windsor Chief’s forward showings at lliccarton would give him a chance in the Duke of Gloucester Cup, for gentleman riders, at New Plymouth at the end of the month. All Aged. A letter received in Christchurch recently stated that a horse named Jolly Heart won a race at Nottingham last month. He is owned by the Duke of Portland, who is aged 81, and is trained by the Hon. George Lambton, aged 79. He was ridden by B, Carslake, who is 52 years of age this month. • Worth Following. Prudent Prince, who races in the same ownership as Settlement, is a well-grown three-year-old by Lord Quex from Squeeze, a half-sister to Padishah and full-sister to Cuddle. He was finishing on well in fifth place in tho second division of the Longbeach Handicap last Saturday, and should be one worth following at the early spring meetings in Canterbury. Heavy Taxation. The Auckland Racing Club paid out £58,550 in stakes last season. At the annual meeting of members last Monday the president, Mr O. Nicholson, said the committee intended to further increase stakes during the present season. The net profits for last year amounted to £15,733. Government taxation, including local, rales £2,267, amounted to £85,418.

Duke of Gloucester Cup. Nominations as follows have been received for the Duke of Gloucester Cup, of £175, one mile and a-quarter, to be run at New Plymouth on August 31: —Very Glad, Halley, Saccone, El Meynell, Silk Sox, Aussie Ha, KarereNui, llaana, Cuisinier, High Test, Windsor Chief, Royal Choice, Prime Quality, Du Manner. Hunting Lore, Golden Ridge, Misurina, Taitoru, Mataroa, Conveyor, Kohika. Catalogue for Melbourne. Space has been booked for Catalogue, and if all goes well in the interim he will leave for Australia on September 14, going straight to Melbourne. When he left for Australia last year Catalogue was nominated for only one big race, the Melbourne Cup, which he won easily, but this time he has been freely nominated for important races, including the Melbourne, Caulfield. Williamsto wn, and Mo’onee Valley Cups. A. W. M'Donald will again have charge of Catalogue. . Death of Well-known Trainer. The death occurred at Auckland last Monday of Mr F. T. Stenning, a wellknown Ellerslie trainer. Mr Stenning came to New Zealand from England as n lad of 10, being first employed on the Goodwood and Bushy Park stations, near Palmerston. For years before coming to Auckland he was associated with various stables and stud farms, and at Ellerslie he became one of our bestknown trainers. Among the horses who passed through his hands were Jack Delaval, Hohoro. .Woodbine, Mangere, The Sharper, Cobweb. Atlanta. Dunborve. Soultane, Monojack, Pairawatu. and Mullingar. Padishah's Fast Time. Padishah’s time for the Grand National Steeplechase, 6.57. is not a record, that being held by Oakleigh .in his first year, 6.55 1-5, while Peter Maxwell recorded 6.55 2-5.. Since their years, however, the course has been altered, a rail having been erected, between the second sod wall, just after the far turn, and the top , brush to make horses run straighten at this brush fence. This prevents horses cutting the corner, as _ was always done previously, and it is estimated that Padishah ran over 50yds further than either Oakleigh or Peter Maxwell in their years, as this turn is negotiated twice during the race. There is thus little doubt that Padishah’s 6.57 will take a lot of beating in future Nationals. Alteration of Rule Recommended. At the annual meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club, held this week, a motion for the drawing up of a remit- to alter rule 2*2 of the Rules of Racing was brought forward by Mr T. 11. Kenny, and seconded by Mr; Long. Under this rule horses whose weight on weighing-in exceeds the declared weight by more than 21b in a flat or 41b in a jumping race, must be disqualified. The case of the horse Rnlette at the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s meeting was instanced. Rulette had declared IJlb in excess of the allowance. The meeting agreed that a remit should be drafted, with a view to making the penalty less drastic than disqualification for the race. Just Missed all the Places. It is unusual to read of three of the first four horses in an important steeplechase carrying the colours of the same owner, but that happened in France a few weeks.ago. The race was the Grand Steeplechase of Paris, of approximately £4,200, the distance being 4m 70yds. * Mr Veil Petard’s Ingre won from Un Mitraillenr, in the same ownership. Mr Veil Petard’s other runer. Embrasseur, was fourth. The horses were not bracketed on the parimutuel, and - the winner was more fancied than his two stable company ions.

In Australia one trainer has been re. sponsible for .the three place-getters in an important handicap, R. Bradfield preparing Lucknow, Nightwatch. and Chrome, who finished in that order in the 1919 Caulfield Cup. Gaulus and The Grafter, who were respectively first and second in the 1897 Melbourne Cup, were owned by Mr W. Forrester. At the Gore Spring Meeting, in 1925 Mr Alan Cambridge’s three horses, Monoxide, Kilfane, and Happy -Days, filled the three places in the Waikaka Handicap, only beads separating them, Wagner.

The success of Wagner over nine fur* longs last Saturday pointed to his prospects in distance races this season, Wagner, who was bred by Mr. R. Holden, of Hawke’s Bay, was catalogued for the 1935 yearling sales, but owing to being cast in his box the day before the sale, he had to be withdrawn. He had attracted much attention and was labelled as the colt likely to realise the highest price at the sale, says the, ‘ Press.’ Mr, Holden put Wagner into work later, and had such a high opinion of him that he sent him to Sydney to be trained with a view to tackling the A.J.C. Derby with him, hut the colt did not progress as well as anticipated, and in fact was an expensive disappointment, both in Australia and after he returned to New Zealand. Submitted for sale at , Trentham m 1938, Wagner was purchased by his present owner, Mr D. 0. Rutherford, for 325 guineas, and, although he lias raced with some success, Saturday’s win would probably only place him on th« right side of the ledger.

since 1928-29 •— Season. Stakes. Totalisator. £ £ 1928-29 13.850 157,143* 1930-31 13,573* 179,665* 1930-31 11,607* 126.014 1931-32 ... ... 8.000 99,639 1932-33 7,000 95,569* 1933-34 ... ... 8.150 93,662* 1934-35 8.500 113,343' 1935-36 ... ... 9,326* 107.263* 1936-37 11,150 149,792* 1937-38 11,750 136,647* 1938-39 ... ... 12,800 144,752

Spa son. , Stakes. ' £ Investments. £ 1920-21 ... 130,354 2.143.271 1921-22 ... 145.000 1.946,0434 1922-2.'! ... 147,109 1,937,434} 1923-24 ... 148,930 2.051.221 1924-25 ... 174,317 2.215.774 1925-26 ... 181.597 2.441,1074 1926-27 ... 171.317 2.179,000 1927-28 ... 172.516 2.158.061 1928-29 ... 170,508 2.075.319 1929-30 ... 170.454 2.290.347 1930-31 ... 153,240 1,671.662 1931-32 ... 104.340 1.169.993} 1932-33 ... 93.606 1.184,588 1933-34 ... ... 98.285 1.203,877 1934-35 ... 101.795 ... 103.092 1,191,388 1935-36 1.293.285} 1936-37 ... 122.996 1.758.451 1937-38 ... 154.191 2.086.689 1938-39 ... 155.282 2.349,537