NEWS AND VIEWS

Evening Star, Issue 25004, 25 October 1943, Page 5

NEWS AND VIEWS

[By St. Clair.J

Answer to Correspondent.—" Double Bettor "■: The horse you ask about was originally on scratch as stated on the chart, and probably no fresh chart was printed after the rchandicap was announced. If you backed tli'e horse before he whs scratched on Friday morning you have no redress. Fine Art has not won a race since he BCored in the National Free-for-AU at Acldington in August, 1941, and in a dozen starts last season scored two seconds and two thirds. He is now 11 years old, but in a recent work-out over a mile and a-half at New (Brighton is reported lo have beaten Peter Smith and Dusky Sound. Nominations as follows were received for the Clifford Plate, £750, weight-for-ago, lim, to be decided at the Auckland Racing Club's Summer Meeting:—Sea-Law, Kindergarten, Orakau, Lou Rosa, The Monarch, Constitution, Happy Ending, Amorlad, Foxo!a, Atatu, Royal Lancer, Te Hineraoa, Battledress, Lord Chancellor, Balfron, Representative, Indian Princess, Rink, Foxette, Vaalsmoss, Expanse, Rakanui, Theolateral, Neenah, Gay Lally, Royal Merit, Virtuoso, Conspicuous, John o' London, Flying Acre, Boulder Dam, Tutcre, Foxsen. To simplify the procedure involved iu the despatch and return of racehorses proceeding to and from race meetings arrangements have been made whereby owuers may provide ono consignment note at the forwarding station to cover the outward and return journeys. This will obviate the need foi again 'consigning the horses at the station where the race meeting is held lo_ cover the return journey to the home station. Provision has also been riiade whereby certified attendants travelling in the horse boxes with horses so consigned will be issued free tickets for the return journey. -Single tickets only have been issuable to attendants hitherto.

The present possible field of 19 left in the New Zealand Trotting Cup may be further reduced; next Thursday afternoon, when the final acceptance, £3O, is due, but it may be necessary lo still further reduce it, and tho committee, which has the power to do so, is faced with a very difficult problem Haughty, Loyal Rey, Springfield Globe, Pac ing Power, Hardy Oak, Countless, Shadow Maid, Parshall, and Gold Bar appear safe, and would make a very attractive field. Bui among them there is a non-winner since June, 1942, Loyal Rey, but he finished second in last year's Cup in 4.13 1-5, and it would be bad luck for his owners to be shut out. Bayard, who finished third in last year's Cup in 4.13 2-5, has not won a race since December, 1940, and others who did not win last season are Bronze Eagle, Coquette, Dusky Sound, Ferry Post, Nelson Eddy, and Fine Art. Those who have not earned place money this season are Bronze Eagle, three starts; Dusky Sound, two starts; Ferry Post, two starts; Joan Conquest, two starts; Burt Scott, three starts; Peter Smith, two starts; Loyal Rey, fontstarts; Nelson Eddy, two starts; and Pacing Power, two starts. If a reduction has to be made the committee has not an enviable task, ahead of it.