SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1929, Page 11

SPORTING

FIXTURES.

August 10, 12, 14.—N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 13, 15, 17. —Canterbury Jockey Club. August 24. —Pakuranga Hunt. August 24. —Hawke’s Bay Hunt. August 28.—Dannevirke RJacing Club. August 29. —Dannevirke Hunt. August 31. —Taranaki Hunt. September 4, 5. —Marton Jockey Club. September 7. —Otago Hunt. September 12, 14. — Wanganui Jockey Club. September 17. —New Brighton Trotting Club. September 21. —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 21. —Napier Park Racing Club. September 21, 23. —Avondale Jockey Club. September 26, 27. —Geraldine Racing Club. September 28. —Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. DISTRICT COMMITTEE In the absence of Mr. T. Eldon Coates the president, who forwarded a letter of apology, Mr. H. F. Doogan was elected chairman of a meeting of the West Coast District Committee held yesterday afternoon and attended by Messrs. W. B. Gilbert, D. J. Evans, A. Beban, W. H. Parfitt, C. L. Kettle, A. E. Kilgour and M. J. Fogarty, secreCorrespondence relative to licenses was dealt with. Amongst other letters from the conference was one stating that in future applications which were forwarded incomplete in every detail would be returned even if it endangered them being late, with consequent imposition of a fine upon the applicant.

Mr. T. E. Coates was elected representative of the committee on the Licensing and Dates Committees.

The application of R. E. Orange for a jockey’s license was recommended. The secretary raised the point of desirability of having uniformity in the programmes of the various district clubs so that the same class of horses could compete at all the meetings. It was stated that these clubs would probably drop hurdle races, and the secretary suggested that it would be .well to put on hack races at all the meetings. Mr. Beban considered it would be quite safe for each club to put on at least one hack race a day. The secretary had also been approached relative to whether there would be maiden races and owners had intimated that unless there was an assurance that there would be they were not prepared to bring in their horses.

Mr. Doogan suggested that the committee should write to the district clubs and suggest that there should be a maiden race and at least one hack race on each day.

Mr. Beban pointed out that, as the Grey club would have trotting races on one day only, that club could put on one maiden race only at the Christmas meeting. Rather than adopt a suggestion to convene a conference to discuss the matter, Mr. Beban moved that all the clubs be asked to consider inclusion of a maiden and a hack race each day. The motion was carried. GREYMOUTH JOCKEY CLUB The committee of the Greymouth Jockey Club met yesterday afternoon, Mr. H. F. Doogan presiding over an attendance of Messrs. A. Beban, C. L. Kettle, W. H. Parfitt, H. D. James and M. J. Fogarty, secretary. In reply to the clubjs application to the Conference for permission to hold two trotting races each day, except on December 28, a letter was received granting the application, although the Westport Trotting Club had protested. However, the latter club and the Trotting Association both wrote that they approved the arrangements made. The Sports Protection League wrote urging that the club should support Sir George Hunter’s amendment to the Gaining Act. The secretary said that the petitions in favour of it had been handed to Mr. Jas. O’Brien, M.P., who had promised his assistance in the matter. TURF AND STABLE NOTES The Racing Conference has, notified the West Coast District Committee that it has been decided to impose a fine of £1 on applicants for a license for the ensuing season who have failed to make application to the District Committee not later than May 31. This has already caught some West Coast trainers and riders.

“Any club applying for a date other than that previously held by it shall state reasons therefor to any club which held that date the previous year, and copies thereof shall be sent to the District Committee and to the secretary of the Conference.” The president of the Conference has impressed upon (he committee of any club applying ■for a date other than that previously held by it that it must comply with the above-mentioned regulation not later than July 1 each year, otherwise an objection by any club which held the date the previous year will be upheld by the Dates Committee. The Executive Committee _ of the Racing Conference has decided to make a charge of 1/- for each copy of the Rules of Racing for the 1929-30 season. An order for half a dozen copies sufficed to fill the requirements of the Greymouth Jockey Club. R. B. Orange, whose application for a jockey’s license was approved by the West Coast- District Committee yesterday, rode three winners last season in Lucklaine, Nastori and Moorland, two seconds on Para and Lucklaine, and was third once on Atone and twice on Para.

The late Mr. S. Bradley could certainly be included among lucky buyers. He bought Impulse irt the yearling stage of his career for the small sum of 35gns and the St. Leger gelding made a handsome return, topping' it off by registering a victory in the New Zealand Cup. Wairiki was secured for an outlay of only £7O, and no one requires to be told that the brown son of Soult recorded a series of highclass performances, winning stakes to the value of close on £5OOO. A letter was received at the meeting of the Committee of the Greymouth Jockey Club yesterday afternoon from the Racing Conference advising that Stipendiary Stewards had reported that there were occasions when leakage of information as to the bettingon certain horses was taken advantage of by officials and stewards and that this leakage apparently emanated from the totalisatoi’ and could not be too strongly condemned. Attention was

drawn to the fact that in addition to the totalisator staff, only the duly appointed totalisator steward, stipendiary steward, racecourse inspector and Government totalisator inspector should be permitted access to the totalisator during the, progress of a day’s racing. Attention was also drawn to the rulej relating to the penalty to be imposed upon any paid official and certain honorary officials who bet at any meeting where they are officiating, and the stewards and committees of all clubs were asked to take the necessary steps to prevent such occurrences. The Australian Hurdle Race, £2,100 (three miles and a-quarter, 20yds) is run to-day, and the Australian Steeplechase, £2,100 (about three miles and a-half) is due next Saturday. Apache has a reputation in the south of being a promising candidate for hurdle race honours, but watchers say that he gave no indication of this at Washdyke last Saturday, Possibly he will be seen to more advantage on firmer going.

Sandhurst’s Victorian R.C. Grand National Steeplechase was the fastest race ever seen at Flemington, the 19-year-old jockey of which, A. Fullarton, had previously won many flat races.

As he has now w r on £450 in first moneys, the next success of the Hawera-trained galloper, Hopwood, puts him out of hack class. The Auckland light harness trainer, J. S. Shaw, has arrived in Christchurch with Carmel and Native Prince, two very useful performers, who claim engagements at the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club’s Winter meeting.

Moorgas, by Gasbag—Moorefield, has been galloping well on the tracks in Sydney, and may presently win a race for his new owner.

It is stated that if produced Electric Handicap at Addington next month, the well-known pacer, Cardinal Logan, will figure in a new role, that is for some time past, of a saddle performer.

At the annual meeting of the Southland Racing Club, the president gave some comparative figures to show how the Club came to make a loss of £l3OO on the season’s operations. In the previous season, nominations were £2OO higher, privileges worth £lOO more, gate receipts £4OO better, and totalisator percentage £l5OO greater. These items accounted for a decrease in revenue of £2210.

Student Prince, who led practically from end to end in the Washdyke Trot, races in the same ownership as Free Advice. As a three-year-old, the gelding showed more promise than the filly but did not stand up to training and was turned out. Latterly, he resumed work under J. Bryce’s care, and was making his first appearance when he won at Washdyke. Student Prince is a brother to Dillon Huon, a speedy Auckland pacer. Ell Boa ran a creditable race when she was installed favourite for the Novice Handicap at Timaru last Saturday, but the general public mainly deserted her on Saturday. There was £220 invested on her chance in the Levels Handicap, but, apart from backing from followers of the stable, £lOO was put on by a North Canterbury man, who had no “information,” but merely backed his fancy. Mr W. L. Bourn has acquired a partnership interest with Mr C. S. Neville in the Markthorpe—Pride of Clutha aged gelding Ayburn, winner of the Paroa Handicap, at the Greymouth J. C. meeting last December. Tariff has been leased by Mr H. A. Knight, President of the Canterbury Jockey Club, to Mr R. Adamson, of Hokitika.

Although the Reefton-owned Cannonball is reported to be going nicely in his work it is thought that a two mile problem will be asking too much of the Wildwood Junior gelding. Dilworth, winner of the Dominion Handicap on the first day, and second past the post in the Greymouth Cup and Paparoa Handicap on the second day of the Greymouth Trotting Club’s summer meeting is a fine little filly as far as stamina is concerned, and she may be prominent at Addington. Locanda Boy, winner of the Greymouth Trotting Cup last summer for Mr W. Bevan, is with J. S. Shaw’s team in Christchurch. He worked out with Native Prince and the Coastowned Trimmer and all three are reported to have acquitted themselves well. i • -