SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 November 1928, Page 11

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. Nov. 16, 17—Winton J.C. Annual. 'Nov. 17 —Levin R. C. Nov. 17 —Waipapakauri R.C. Nov. 17, 19 —Cromwell J. C. Nov. 21, 22 —Otaki-Maori R.C. Nov. 23, 24 —South Canterbury J.C. Summer. Nov. 24, 26 —Te Kuiti R.C. Nov. 30, Dec. 1. —Takapuna J.C. Nov. 30, Dec. I—Feilding J.C. Spring. Dec. B—Ashburton8 —Ashburton County R.C. Dec. 12, 13 —Woodville J.C. Dec. 14, .15 —Oamaru J.C. Dec. 26, 27 —Westland R.C. Dec. 27, 27—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26, 27 —Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 28 —Chatham Island R.C. Annual. Dec. 26, 28, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C. Summer. Jan. 12 —Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 12 —Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. TROTTING FIXTURES. Nov. 17, 21—Otahuhu T.C. Nov. 24 —Wellington T.C. Nov. 2.9, Dec. I—Forbury1—Forbury Park T.C. Dec. B—Waikato8 —Waikato T.C. Dec. B—Cheviot T.C. Dec. 15, 17—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 26 —Gore T.C. Dec, 26 —Ashburton T.C. Dec. 26, 27—South Wairarapa. Dec. 26, 27 —Westport T.C. Dec. 27, 29, 31 —Auckland T.C. Dec. 29—Winton T.C. Dec. 31 —Inangahua T.C. Jan. 1, 2—Canterbury Park T.C. JAZZ BABY SCRATCHED. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) SYDNEY, November 12. Jazz Baby has been scratched for the A.J.C. November Meeting next Saturday in all engagements. CUP WINNER’S RETURN. SYDNEY, November 12. The Melbourne Cup winner Statesman returned to Sydney to-day in the pink of condition. He will be spelled. WILLIAMSTOWN CUP. MELBOURNE, November 12. There was warm weather for the Williamstown races. The Cup resulted: Amounis 9.5, 1; Bombard B.Q, 2; Lady Rentrel 6.7, 3. Eleven started. Yodelist and Bombard were the pacemakers till the straight, where Amounis came with a burst ,of speed to win .by three-quarters of a length, With a length and a-half between second and third. Time 2.32 J.

FALSE STARTS. STARTING GATE INVENTED. There will be no more ragged and unequal starts if the invention of the veteran American racehorse trainer, J. W. May, proves successful. The invention is a stall gate, an ingenious but simple invention, for which leading turf authorities predict success, says London “Sporting Life.” It is called a stall gate, yet horses do not run out of stalls. They are placed in stalls before the barrier, but directly the barrier is lifted the stalls instantly disappear into the ground. Not only will the field start on its journey aligned, but pushing, twisting, and turning of horses will be eliminated, and it will be practically impossible for horses to be left at the post. Trainer May .has been working on his invention for many months. Recently he demonstrated a complete model before New York’s leading turf authorities, who intend to give the invention a trial on one of the New York tracks. The model worked like magic. It consisted of a field of horses, a starting gate, stalls, a kicking board, and a starter’s stand. The inventor placed the horses in front of the barrier. He touch a lever. Up flew the barrier and th© stalls disappeared. The steel stalls in which the horses are placed are 30ih. wide and Gift. long. When the barrier is sprung there are no 'stalls in sight, and horses, can only jiump into each other after they are despatched on their journey. It requires only fifty feet of track to start a field of twenty horses. All that seems .necessary is for the horses to be taught to stand in the stalls, which, no doubt, they could easily be broken to at the stables. The stalls are made of finest steel, which is only half an inch thick. The lever, and mechanical devices qan bo worked by electricity, hydraulic power, or hand gears. Ono lever controls the barrier and the .stalls. In case of accident to one of the steel stalls substitutes are in readiness. When the stalls disappear into the earth canvas will be stretched across the track. After the stalls disappear they shoot past a steel shutter, which works automatically with the stalls, and into a tunnel which is built underneath.

Questioned regarding the possibility of jockeys being injured by being thrown against the steel walls, the veteran trainer replied: — “How can a horse or jockey fall against something that isn’t near him? If a horse rears up, throws his jockey, or falls himself, they will land on the track, because the starter would see the horse’s action, apply the lever, and the stall would disappear.” One of the greatest opponents of stall gates is Joseph E. Widener, on the ground that they are dangerous both to man and beast. On hearing of Trainer May’s invention he arranged to witness the operation of the gate. May has patented his idea after consulting several prominent engineers, who believe the scheme will pperate equally as well on the track as in the form of a model. „

NEWS AND NOTES

(By Whalehone)

After the hurdle race at Riccarton on Saturday, the ten-year-old gelding Pantier by Panmure from the De Witte mare Footstep, was disposed of to the Wingatui owner-trainer, F. Shaw. Pantier contested the two hurdle races at the Meeting, and made a poor showing in each case. The colours of the Dunedin owner, Mr. J. M. Samson, were unfurled on fifteen occasions at last week’s meeting at Riccarton, with poor results, Carinthia being the only representative to secure a win, while he and Money Mine gained place money. Goblin Market showed promising form in his three races last week, and the indications are that he will be a useful performer as the season progresses. He is undoubtedly more solid than the majority of the Absurd breed, and a distance of ground may not be beyond him. The North Island owner, Mr. W. White, who sold Crown Areat to J. M’Combe early last week, disposed of that horse’s three-year-old half brother Moorgas, to his trainer, G. W. New, before he raced on Saturday, when

he ran second in the Stonyhurst Handicap. Nine of Spades showed inconsistent form at the meeting. He jumped badly on the first day, but gave a firstclass exhibition on Monday, as a result of which he was strongly fancied for Saturday’s race. He was going well at the second hurdle, where he took off too soon, making a faulty jump, and after that he gradually dropped out. As soon as he learns a bit more about jumping he will win good hurdle races. Prior to last week’s Meeting at Riccarton, the Trentham trainer, H. B. Lorigan, expressed the opinion that he would not only win the New Zealand Cup with Oratrix, and the Derby with her brother, Concentrate, but he would have a mortgage on next year’s Cup with the latter colt. Concentrate did not win the Derby owing to the race not being run to his liking, but he made amends by prevailing on Saturday in a race where a fast pace was established over the early part. Concentrate has undoubtedly inherited the family staying blood, and gives signs of developing into a formidable four-year-old.

The progeny of Paper Money played a prominent part in the two-year-old events at the C.J.C. meeting. After missing the Welcome Stakes, they won the other three juvenile races. On the second day three of them filled the places, on Wednesday two others were first and second, while in the Pioneer Handicap on Saturday the four Paper Moneys finished at the head of the field, providing all the excitement that the race afforded. It looks as if the Elderslie stallion is going to put up a big record in two-year-old events this season.

Mr. D. H. Roberts’ Red Heckle, the winner of the Members’ Handicap, is a three-year-old by the Martian horse Warplane. He won a race at Riccarton last February, that being his only start as a two-year-old. He came to hand rather slowly this season, and even now he is not at his best. His last appearance at the recent meeting was made on the opening day, when he ran second to Nightmarch. This proved to be good form, in the light of Nightmarch’s Derby win, while on Saturday Red Heckle won the Members’ Handicap in very attractive fashion. He will improve a lot during the next few months, and he should be a i high-class three-year-old by the autumn.

Two Trentham trainers, acting on behalf of their principals, each submitted an offer of 1500 guineas for Silver Pafier prior to Saturday’s racing, but no business was transacted. His form at the Meeting was very disappointing, and there is no doubt he was not seen at his best.

There was a mild public outcry when Denier after trotting a round and ahalf was not allowed to rejoin the field at the start of the Seymour Handicap on Saturday, after bolting two miles. He was sent out second favourite, y with over seventeen hundred tickets against his number, and it was a hard blow to investors not to get a run for their money. There have been cases where horses have bolted long distances and then won, and probably this fact made the incident more unpalatable to the delinquent’s supporters. After the race was over, a suggestion came to the trainer’s ears that the horse had been doped, and he immediately obtained permission to have him examined by the club’s veterinary surgeon, who could find no trace of any foreign substance, and issued a certificate to thgt effect.

First Sight added to his reputation by winning the Fendalton Handicap in brilliant style. He was in the middle of the field for the first half of the journey but when he made his run at the entrance to the straight he settled, the opposition very quickly. First Sight has gradually worked his way into good company, and he gives the impression that journeys even further tlia n a mile and a-quarter will be well within his compass.

Mandane ran another sound race in the Fendalton Handicap. She was in a good position all, the way, and battled out the finish very gamely to beat all but the winner. Mendip, a recruit from the hack class, put up a good performance in the Fendalton Handicap, and looks certain to win some good open races over a distance during the summer. Rotor was in the picture all the way in the Fendalton Handicap, and on this form he should soon be a winner.

AMONG THE TROTTERS

Native Star is a top-notcher! Logan Park will win a race soon. Vesuvius caused a mild eruption on Friday at Addington among those people who “should have backed it on yesterday’s form, but let it go.’’ “Lost: Two five-pound notes.” Great amusement was caused when this notice was posted on the totalisator dial at Addington on Thursday. Records were well and truly trounced all through at' Addington. Great Bingen equalled his world’s race record by going 4min. 19 2-ssec. in the New Zealand Cup, Peter Bingen broke the existing record for the New Zealand Cup, and the four placed horses in the Free-'for-All lowered Minton Derby’s mile and a-quarter Australasian record.

Warplane, who. is engaged in the Mangere Handicap at Otahuhu on Saturday, is a four-year-old gelding by Man o’ War —Air Raid and is spoken of as a particularly useful young pacer. He was a winner at the Northland Meeting on October 22. Medusa, engaged in the same race on 24 yards behind, won a double at the Northland Meeting and is another by Man o’ War, whose stock are rapidly bringing him to the front as a sire. Waitiki Girl is coming back to her old brilliance.

Now that Auguste Dillon is standing up to hard racing, he should win some mile saddle events.

Moneyspidei’ is as brilliant as ever. Staying is his keynote, and it looks like admitting him into New Zealand Cup company before his day arrives. Free-for-Alls and J. J. Kennerley are on very good terms. Peter Bingen’s win at Addington was Kennerley’s seventh victory in these races with horses he has prepared. They are Logan Chief, Acron (twice), Native Chief, and Peter Bingen, at the Metropolitan meeting. Logan Chief won Free-for-Alls at Wellington and Otahuhu. It is stated that Peter Bingen has now finished ‘ his racing career, and will be retired to the stud.