RACING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 9

RACING NOTES

[By St. Clair.] RACING. August 23.—Pakuranga Hunt, August 28.—Egmont-Waugauui Hunt. August 30. —Taranaki Hunt. September 4, 6. —Wanganui Jockey Club. September 6. —Otago Hunt. September 13.—Carterton Racing Club. September 15.—Ashburton Racing Club. September 13, 15.—Avondale Racing Club. September 20. —Marten Jockey Club. September 20, 22.—Poverty Bay Turf Club. . September 26, 27. —Geraldine Racing Club. September 27.—Foxton Racing Club. September 27, 29. Ohinerauri Jockey Club. TROTTING. August 23.—New Zealand Metropolitan Meeting. August 30.—Auckland Trotting Club. September 6. New Brighton Trotting Club. September 13, 17. Wanganui Trotting Club. September 18, 20. Wellington Trotting Club. JOTTINGS A Good Record. During the seven seasons he was racing Plutus won 18 races and was placed in 28. Included in. his list of successes were three Free-for-All Stakes and five races run over two miles. Otago Hunt Flag Steeplechases. The Otago Hunt’s annual flag steeplechases will be held next Saturday on the same course as last year, over the properties of Mrs A. K. Miller and Messrs D. Connor and J. Skinner, at North Taieri. In Work Again. The Rakor, who has been spelling since ho raced at the Oamaru meeting last January, is in work again at Oamaru under N. J. Dwyer’s care. He was' an acceptor in the Selwyn Handicap, to have been run last Saturday. Handicapper’s Mistake. A large number of the horses entered for the Aylesbury Handicap on the second day of the National Meeting were weighted at 7.11, but all, were required to carry 8.0, this being the minimum for any flat race at the fixture. The Dozer’s Record. Out of 38 starts in a little more than two years The Dozer has won 10 times, been placed second in throe, and third in seven of his other races. His stake winnings total £2,600, a good return for the 7s 6d which ho cost his present owner, who bought him as a likely hunter. Well-known Owner Passes. The death of Mrs W, Richmond, owner of Serenata, winner of last year’s New Zealand Cup, occurred suddenly in Wellington on Monday night. Accompanied by her husband, Mrs Richmond was a visitor to the Grand National Meeting last week, and was taken ill on her arrival in Wellington on Sunday morning. Good Jumping, The outstanding feature of last week’s racing at Riccarlon was the good jumping in the steeplechases and hurdle races. Twentyseven horses started in tho three crosscountry events, and Surcoat, Dropped Catch, Son and Heir, and Chat were the only starters to fall. In tho three races over hurdles there were 29 starters, and Nightcalm and Red Dragon were tho only horses that did not complete the courses. Looks Well. Tho Great Autumn Handicap winner, Iceland > Spar,;, who has., been spelling since Easier, was given a run in tho August Handicap at Kiccarton on Thursday. He has developed well since he ran m the Dunedin Cup last February, but was not forward enough in condition to show his true form. He is being "iven a special preparation for the New Zealand Cup by his trainer, F. D. Jones. Wellington Spring Meeting. The secretary of the Wellington Racing Club advises that there is no truth in the rumours current to the effect that the spring meeting of that club, set down for October 23, 25, and 27, will not be held. It has been definitely decided by the committee that the fixture will be held, and tho programme will be issued during the next few days; Trotting Association. The biggest item in expenditure shown by the New Zealand Trotting Association in its annual report and balance sheet was £1,036 5s 6d paid in salaries. Travelling expenses amounted to £312 12s, rent £2OO, general expenses £143 6s 9d, qnd printing £79 13s 10(1. License fees produced £522, fines £203 10s, registration of joint interests £214 7s 6d, registration of colours £139 ss, ■registration of horses £lB5 10s, and programme fees £IBO ss. The Lato " Brownia ” Carslake. When the late “ Brownie ” Carslake, whoso death occurred in England early this month, visited Australia a couple of years ago he told “ Chiron ” of the ‘ Australasian,’ that it was his ambition when he retired from riding in England to return to Australia. purchase a property at Bacchus Marsh, breed a few horses,’ and train and race them. His dream was not realised, and his ashes have been scattered over tho Rowley mile course at Newmarket, the scene of many of his riding triumphs. The fact that the Jockey Club allowed his ashes to be distributed over Newmarket shows tho regard in which Carslake was held in official circles in England. Fast Sprints, “The Watcher,” in the ‘Dominion,’ commenting on Kindergarten’s fast half-mile gallop in Sydney last Saturday, recalls that Fred Davis once brought a horse to Trentham. The story used to be related with relish by the late Mr O. S. Watkins. Mr Watkins, who usually had a horse or two in J. Lowe’s stable, was once a regular track watcher, and on this occasion Fred Davis handed his watch to Mr Watkins and requested him to time his “ maiden ” half a mile. When the watch was examined it showed 46soc. Passing it back to Davis he remarked: “ I’m sorry, Ered, but I think 1 must have stopped it much too soon, as you will see from the time.” “ Oh, I don’t think so, Mr Watkins,” replied the trainer, “ that’s Desert Gold.”

Limited Experience. Pew, if any, horses have won the Grand National Steeplechase with as little experience at the game as this year’s winner. Astral Flame. He qualified as a hunter with the Birchwood Hounds last season, but did not make his appearance in a steeplechase until May 15 of this year, when he won a two miles race at Washdyke. He fell on the second day, then won a double at the Dunedin Winter Meeting, falling on the second day. At the Christchurch Hunt fixture, held early this month, he won over two and a-half miles, and his next start was in the Grand National Steeplechase. Thus, in less than three months Astral Flame has all of his experience in races over big fences, and his record in his seven starts is five wins and two falls, and stake winnings £1,687 and a trophy. The Reason Why, There was a big stir in the Victorian racing world early ' this .month when the committee of the Victoria Racing Club, after considering the Bridge of Deo case, announced that it considered “ it is not in the best interests of racing that bookmakers should be allowed to own and race horses. It was therefore resolved to amend the rules in order to prohibit the racing of horses in which a bookmaker has any interest.” Commenting on this decision, “Chiron,” in the ‘Australasian,’ says: “There was a time when jockeys owned and raced horses in Australia, and some of them raced on a fairly large scale. , . . Jockeys, however, have long been debarred from owning racehorses. There was a great outcry when the ban was imposed, but it was soon conceded that the decision was wise. There is no reason why bookmakers should receive any different treatment from jockeys. If they desire to own and race horses they can give up their license as a bookmaker, but if they prefer bookmaking to owning horses they can get rid of their horses. The new rule says they cannot have it both ways, and the action of the V.R.C. Committee will be generally endorsed.” The Provident Fund. “ During the last year the administration of the provident fund has received careful and sympathetic consideration by the members,” said Mr H. W. Kitchingham in his address at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association. “ The association has done what it could to ameliorate the position of claimants on the fund, and every claim has been settled ns promptly as possible, there being no undue delay. In September last a circular letter was sent to all clubs and Owners and Breeders’ Associations dealing with the fund since its inception, and replying in full to allegations made at the 1940 conference. The replies received from all clubs expressed complete confidence in the association. With a view to improving the position of those unfortunate enough to require compensation, the association met a deputation from the local Owners and Breeders’ Association, who submitted suggestions for a basis of settlement of claims. The Auckland Owners, Trainers, and Breeders’ Association was also communicated with. Though these two associations agreed on the amounts to be paid to the injured persons, the means of increasing the revenue of the funds differed, the Canterbury Association suggesting increased fees for licenses and horses, whilst the Auckland Association wanted (he clubs to stand the added burden. The Trotting Association submitted certain proposals to the Owners and Breeders’ Association last October, but to these we have received no reply."