RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23497, 10 February 1940, Page 9

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.]

RACING. February 12.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. February 12. —Gore Racing Club. February 12.—Rotorua Racing Club. February 16, 17. —Winton Jockey Club. February 17. —Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. February 17. —Opunake Racing Club. February 17, 19.- Waikato Racing Club. February 22, 24.—Dunedin Jockey Club. February 24.—Waiau Racing Club. February 24, 26,-Westland Racing Club. Februaey 24, 26.—T0 Aroha Jockey Club. February 24, 26.—Woodville D. Jockey Club. March 2,—Franklin Racing Club. March 2.—Banks Peninsula Racing Club. March 2.—Rangitikei Racing Club. March 7, B.—Taranaki Jockey Club. March 8, 9.—Cromwell Jockey Club. FIRST HALF 0F SEASON STAKES UP, TOTALISATOR DOWN During the first half of the present racing season the stakes given by the clubs which have held 12 meetings in the, Otago and Southland districts have shown an increase of £620, the figures

Totals ...£261,7194 £274,9084 Thus while the average stake for the racing events has risen from £166 10s last season to £IBO 15s, the average investment has fallen from £2,122 10s to £1,968 a race. The withdrawal of the 1 per cent, of the totalisator tax has meant a loss of revenue to the clubs of £2.617 4s. Of that amount the Dunedin Jockey Club has been the biggest loser, its share being over £823 12s, and the Southland Racing Club’s share has been £542. One hundred and three racing events have been decided, and these have been divided by horses trained at the following centreslnvercargill 27 and one dead-heat, 'Wingatui 21 and two deadheats, Riccarton 21, Oamaru 11 and one dead-heat, Riverton 10 and a deadheat, Washdyke 7 and one dead-heat, Gore 2, and Heddon Bush 1 win. • Thirty-one horses have won £2OO or over. They are:—Doubleack £BIO, Thermidor £595, Norseman £5574, Passaform £540, Pink Robe £5lO, Heidelberg £505, Sovereign Lady £SOO, Mona’s Song £470, Sailing Lady £455, Alma £4OO, Spendthrift £3624, Boswell £325, Spanish Lad £320, Night Dress £3OO, Sparkle £275, Winning Rival £275, Ballad £270, Kilrobo £270, Lockit £255, Nigger Boy £255, Doria £240. Bay Duke £2324, Dark Flight £225, Sir Hugh £225, King’s Chorus £220, Merry March £215, Hearth £2lO, Phalanx £2lO, Gold Flight £205, Swordstidk £205, and Chirp £2OO. The most successful trainers have been R. E. M'Lellan (Invercargill) 10 winners, N- J. Dwyer (Oamaru) 9, D. P, Wilson (Wingatui) 6, and F. Voight (Invercargill) 6. Having ridden eight winners, J. W. Jennings heads the list of jockeys, H. W. Hibberd has ridden 7, P. Spratt 0 and two dead-heats, L. Hare 6 and one dead-heat, and C. O. Humphries 6.

March 9, 11. —Bay of Plenty Racing Club. March 9. —Birchwood Hunt Club. March 9.—Carterton Racing Club. March 14, 16.—Wellington Racing Club. TROTTING. February 14.—Auckland T.C. February 17, 19.—Manawatu T.C. February 17. —New Brighton T.C. February 24.—Patriotic meeting, Addington. March 2.—lnvercargill T.C. March 9.—Timaru T.C. March 16.—Taranaki T.C. March 16.—Cheviot T.C. March 16.—Wyndham T.C. March 23, 27, 28.—New Zealand Metropolitan T.C. TOTALISATOR INVESTMENTS The totalisator figures for the first six mouths, of the present season at racing fixtures show a total decrease of £13,189 as compared with the corresponding meetings lost year, but at the trotting fixtures there has been an increase of £3,414 10s, making the net decrease £9,774 10s. The figures for the past two seasons are:—

Grand Totals ... £438,157 £447,931$ Southland racing meetings .were responsible for £10,740 10s of the decrease in turnover.' CHAMPIONS FOR 1939 Top honours for any juvenile in America to-day is to win admission to the select list of 2.5 performers. In years past the 2.10 goal was the accepted standard by which all the younger stars, two and three-year-olds of any one campaign, were judged, but with the progress that has been made in the speed line, the 2.10 goal has now been replaced by the 2.5 standard. Those good enough to hit that mark in their juvenile days have every right to be judged rankipg stars of tliat particular season, for they must possess all the essential qualities of stars to earn records of 2.5 or better before graduating into the aged classes. The past 1930 campaign saw a total of 28 youngsters, two and three-year-olds, trotters and pacers, who earned 2.5 honours, with two others who previously had joined the group as two-year-olds in 1938 further reducing their records as three-year-olds. Of the group of 28 nbw members five are two-year-olds and 23 are three-year-olds.

The 2.5 two-year-olds of 1939 follow TROTTERS. Kuuo, 2.45, b c, by Guy Day, 2.45. Spencer Scott, 2.5, b c, by Scotland, 1.595. PACERS. Ann Voniau, 2.25, b f, by Grattau-at-Law, 2.16 J. William Cash, 2.4, b c, by Cold Cash, 1,585. Brooklyn, 2.45, ch g, by Calumet Adam, 1.595. Following are the 2.5 three-year-olds of 1939: TROTTERS. Sir Walter, 2.2, b g, by Volomito, 2.35. Peter Astra, 2.125, b c, by Peter Vole, 2.2. Brewster Hanover, 2.3, b c, by Bunter, 2.45. Lyrmito, 2.3, b f, by Volomite, 2.35. Precise, 2.35, b f, by Spencer, 1.595. Cherry Hanover, 2.35, b f, by Peter the Brewer, 2.25. Bostonian, 2.4, ch c, by Mr M'Elwyn, 1.595. Spud Hanover, 2.45, ch c, by Guy M'Kinnoy, 1.585. Gauntlet, 2.45, b c, by Spencer, 1.595. Basil Hanover, 2.45, cb c. by Guy M'Kiimey, 1.585. AVillie Hope, 2.5, b c, by Stanhope, 2.8. Lovelv Lady, 2.5, b f, by Scotland, 1.595. Mack Bell, 2.5, bl c. by Mr M'Elwyn. 1.595. PACERS. Blackstone, 2.0, br c, by Volomite, 2.35. Suin George, 2.15, ch c, by Schuyler, John Dillard, 2.2, br c, by Dick Reynolds, 1.595. Brady Hanover, 2.25, b c, by Calumet Chuck, 2.4. Little Nell’s Niece, 2.3, b f, by Hollyrood Bob, 2.45. Brookdalc, 2.3, b c, by Abbedalc, 2.15. Bob Watts, 2.35, ch g, by Charley Watts, 2.35. Merry Mite, 2.45, b f, by Volomite, 2.35. Peter Primrose, 2.35, br c, by Peter Volo. Action, 2.45, b g, by Volomite, 2.35. JOTTINGS The Gore Meeting. The Gore meeting will be concluded on Monday, and arrangements have been made for the 8.33 Invercargill express to stop opposite the course. Siegmund’s Record. By winning the Wanganui Cup last week Siegmund (Siegfried—Lilinumd) brought his record to 15 wins and 22 places out of 99 starts. His stake winnings amount to £4,895. Riverton Cup in View, Heidleberg has not been nominated at either the Winton or Dunedin meetings, and after his race at Gore this afternoon is to be given a light let-up previous to commencing a preparation for the Riverton Cup. Sweet Memory Dead. The death is reported of Sweet Memory at the age of 24 years. She was the dam of Membo (Grand National Hurdles mnheT)Y ’Nightcalm, Paladino, and others. A three-year-old full brother to Paladino has recently joined R. ,E. M'Lellan’s stable at Invercargill. Local Owner’s Success, At a Victorian meeting last week All Veil, by Veilmond, won a two-year-old race for Mr G. J. Barton. This youngster was purchased at the Randwick yearling sales last Easter by MiBarton for 250 gs. Southland Pacers Go North. Three Southland pacers—Voloma, Gentleman Jim, and Willowbank—all joined Canterbury stables after the Forbury Park meeting. Voloma went to M. C. M'Tigue at Methvcn; Willowbank to R. J. Humphries; and Gentleman Jim to J. Fraser, jun. Resold. It is reported from the north that Mr T. Muir, of Winton, who purchased My Own, tno dam of Yours Truly, at the Trentham sales last month has resold this mare at a substantial profit to Mr J. C. Fletcher, of Auckland. Mr Muir paid 500 gs for My Own with a filly foal by Tiderace at foot. Jockey Premiership. B. H. Morris rode three winners at the Wanganui Cup meeting, and his record for the season is now 12 behind H. N. Wiggins and five behind W. J. Broughton, Morris is likely to catch both of these horsemen before. their terms of two months’ suspension expire. Broughton will be able to ride at the Easter fixtures, but Wiggins’s term does not expire until after Easter. Consistent. Gay Mimic, winner of the Earle Stakes at Wanganui at a surprisingly remunerative price, has been a consistent performer this season. Out of 18 starts this Mimetic—Princess Nata gelding has won six times, been second in three, and third in three races. In 10 consecutive starts he finished iu the money, and has now won three times out of his last four starts. For Australian Stud. Lo Grand Due, bred and owned by the Aga Khan, who was third in the Derby to Midday Sun, and won the Now Stakes at Ascot, has been sold to Mr P. H. Miller, the well-known Australian breeder. By Blenheim, Le Grand Due is out of La Douairiore, by Spearmint. His three-quarter brother, Bulandshar, by Blandford, has made a great impression with the class of his winning offspring in New Zealand, among them being the brilliant High Caste. King’s Chorus. The entry of King’s Chorus for the open sprint the second day of the Dunedin meeting suggests that he will be prominent in the hack races he is to contest at Gore and Winton (says the ‘ Southland Times ’). King’s Chorus has been lightly raced so far, and in his last four starts ho has won twice and been twice placed. He has not been an easy horse to train, but in his present form he may prove a worthy son of that good race mare, Queen Balboa.

Non-committal. M. M'Carten, who rode Malagigi in the Wellington Centennial Cup, was non-committal when aked his opinion regarding the merits of High Caste, Reading, and Beau Vito, on his return to Sydney recently. “ Beau Vite is probably better than when I rode him into fourth place in the A.J.C. Derby, but that is only natural,” he said. “ He is now three months older, and has developed. By the same token High Caste and Reading, being a little older, are now stronger and probably better than in the spring,” he concluded. How the Grand Champion is Selected. There is a striking difference between the methods of selecting the grand champion at the interdominion meeting in Perth, compared with that employed at Addington two years ago. At Addington points were allotted for first, second, and third in each heat, and also for first, second, and third fastest times, but it was neoesary for a horse to finish in a place before it could be credited with points for time. Under this system it was possible for a backmarker to finish fourth (in fastest time) in each division and earn no points and consequently be ineligible for the final. At Perth, points are awarded to the horses making fastest times irrespective of their positions at the finish, and the title of grand champion will be conferred on the fastest horse at the meeting, even if it is never in a place. If the winner of the final is not the horse selected as grand champion the first prize of £2,000 is to be divided equally between the winner and the grand champion. Thus it is possible for the fastest horse to win £1,225 without gaining a place in any of the divisions or the final, as £75 is awarded for fastest in each division.

being:— 1938-39. 1939-40. £ £ Otago Southland ... ... 11,085 10,600 ... 7,530 7,395 Totals ... ... £18,615 £17,995 But, unfortunately for the clubs, there has not been a corresponding mcrease m the totalisator investments, which show a decrease of £13,189, the figures being 1938-39. . 1939-40. * ■ £ - £ Otago ... 144,881* 147,330 Southland ... 116,838 127,578*

Otago Hunt 193940. £15,547 1938-39. £17,453 D.J.C. Spring ... 21,081* 29,1074 Kurow 8,081* 4,033* D.J.C. Summer ... 01,279* 44,608 Waikouaiti 21,425* 13,766* Oamaru ... ... 13,167* 14,011 Vincent 4,299 14,350* Goro Spring 40,447 38,710* Southland Spring 15,817 17,901* 22,200* Wyndham 15,999 Southland Summer 38,383* 40.891* Wairio ... 6,191* 7,874* Totals £261,719* £274,908* Oamaru Trots ... 30,938* 28,582 Invercargill Trots 15,401 16,039 For. Park Spring 49,531 18,215 47,723 Gore Spring Winton Spring ... 19,793* 13,297 12,888* For. Park Summer 49,054 47,997 Totals £176,437* £173,023