THE TURF.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 199, 6 August 1912, Page 2

THE TURF.

Aug. 13, 15, and 17 —C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. AUSTRALIAN ITEMS. Melbourne, Aug. 5. Monarch, who broke his leg in the Australian Hurdle Race, has been destroyed. Home Rule has been scratched for the Australian Steeplechase. RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. Christchurch, Aug. 5. The rain and snow which fell o-n Saturday rendered the tracks in a very sloppy condition, and the severe frost experienced this morning made fast work practically impossible. Several horses were indulged in steady pacing in the centre of the course, but the majority’ xvere given walking exercise. The Grand National Steeplechase canc.-.-date Antarctic, was on the course, but seemed a trifle sore. Should the weather keep fine some interesting gallops should be witnessed to-mor-row morning. HAWKE’S BAY JOCKEY CLUB. A meeting of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club was held in the secretary’s office, Hastings, yesterday. Present: Sir W. R. Russell (in the chair), M. Baird, L. de Pelichet, J. E. Mclvor, F. L. Gordon, W. G. Stead, T. H. Lowry, and H. Hassall. Mr. G. Hunter was appointed chairman for the ensuing twelve months. It was decided to adopt the use of £5 totalisator tickets. The following officers for race meetings were appointed : —Judge. W. H. Hartgill; starter, R. H. Skipwith; timekeeper, C. M. Whittington ; clerk of scales. H. M. Bishop ; handicapper, H. Coyle ; clerk of course, P. A. O’Dowd ; detective, J. Walden ; clerk of totalisator, AV. A. Smith. Messrs. Mclvor, Hassall and Stead were appointed course committee. The programme for the spring race meeting was drawn up. Weekly’ Summary’ of Racing News in the Dominion. The Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee, set up by the Racing Conference last month to make the preliminary arrangements for the appointment of paid officials to safeguard the sport of racing against malpractices, has decided to call for applications, returnable by r October 30th. The committee has not announced how many stipendaries it is proposed to appoint, and in other respects they have left the position very vague : but the fact that applicants are asked to state the salary required has aroused p iuc ‘h adverse criticism, in addition to a suggestion that if that be the spirit in which the scheme is to be treated the consummation of the long looked for reform is destined to failure. There can be no question that if stipendiary stewards are to be appointed, and their services are to be beneficial to the sport it is essention that the best men available should be secured. It is, therefore, unfair to expect the right class ol man to apply for positions when salaries are to be competitive. It would have been infinitely better had’ the committee stated what salary they were prepared to pay and then call for applicants. As the matter now stands it is probable that hundreds of men will apply for the positions which they would be totally unfit to fill, because they will doubtless imagine they can undercut, in the matter of price, suitable men, while the latter will refrain from applying. It may be mentioned that at the present time the Victorian Racing Club are advertising for three stipendiary 7 stewards at £6OO a year each, exclusive of expenses.

The Wanganui Jockey 7 Club are to be congratulated on the satisfactory nature of their balance sheet for last season, and it is gratifying to note that the stewards of the club have decided on a most progressive policy for the coming season. In addition to extensive improvements to the appointments, a new totalisator house and tea kiosk are to be erected. The new programme also reflects the enterprise of a go-ahead club, beeuse the stakes are to be increased this season by 7 £405. In future the Wanganui Steeplechase will be worth 600sovs. The Marton Jockey Club, which has had its race days for the coming season reduced to three, has decided to hold a one-day meeting, in the spring (September 4th_>. and a twoday meeting at the New Year. Sea Queen is acquitting herscll creditably at Trentham, under Trainer Lowe’s supervision, and promises to be in a position to repro duce her best form at Riccarton this month.

Serenity, who has made a veryspeedy and satisfactory recovery from the recent operation he underwent for throat trouble, is making a Lost cf friends by the work he has been doing at Otaki reecnily. The fact that the sen o* uae.asome. Jack a few days ago a clean pair of heels to I -miCLdtd Ercwn Trent in a trml galiop, mikts ills prospects fo’ «nmmg dlr-tincuon in the Winter tjtp “rcty. •* Serenity will Le ridden by A. Oliver in his Riccarton ;■ ngagemenrs. The Soult horse Shuja. who won the V. inter Oats at the recent Trentham me.-ting, was shipped to Australia wccx, where he will take part m t?’e principal events at the Rand- ; -q j n:;g Meeting. 'p 1 ■'■'•••un of the wet weather thr < tum.’.ig ■■•;u k'< at Riccarton arc in --mc.ory condition, ana M 1 vut iu-rmii of much work beinq civile. Trainers are almost in c;espa’.r ever the schooling of their cna I‘ges, and most of the work being kvl through is exercise cn the roads. Latest, reports, however, state that die Climatic conditions are imnrovmg. Odessa, who was runner-up for J inter Cup l a<t season, was early ''J;\ cte ‘[ , ns “ favourite for the same e>eht this year, but it is now stated timt he has developed signs of lameness.

Although Antarctic finished up ■very sore after running second to Captain Jingle in the Wellington Steeplechase, his owner, Mr. W. IL Tuck, is by no means pessimistic about the son of Salvadan’s prospects in the Grand National Steeplechase. Certainly if Antarctic was well his brilliancy as a jumper would make his chances appear excellent ; but it is difficult to believe a horse that has suffered from rheumatism for such a protracted period can be got ready in time. Of course it must be said of Antartic that he has wonderful grit, and after warming up tc> a race- he improves remarkably. This may’ prove the case at Riccarton. Koran, one of the favourites for the Grand National Hurdles, was re ported to have gone amiss last week, but this was quite incorrect. The son of Pilgrim’s Progress has been getting through a most satisfactory preparation at Waverleyq and is jumping with great confidence. There are few, if any, faster horses in the race, and Koran will start with a solid backing from some very sanguine supporters. John, who was classed as an unsound horse last season, has recently been doing good work on the tracks at Wanganui. There can ue no doubt about his capabilities as a hurdler, and if he goes to the post fit and well for the Grand National Hurdles his prospects of victory will be decidedly encouraging. John will be ridden by J. Stewart, who will also ride Antarctic in his Ricearlon engagements. Mount Victoria is the ruling favourite for the Winter Cup, and has been very heavily backed with the •■ring” in Wellington. However, other North Island candidates have sanguine Supporters in their respec tive districts. In the north .’he punters are depending on Salute u win, while in Taranaki Royal Arms is “the best of good things.” Hawke’s Bay favours the chances of Mangaroa, and Manawatu Serenity.

After the Grand National meeting C. Piitchard will hand over “Mr. vvbilney’fi” team, including Mount Victoria, Odissa and Aetna to J. Scott. Pritchard has recently given up his stablfs adjoining the old Hutt Park course (which is now d). He. howevt r, has acquired land close to the Trentham raeet'ouise and is about to erect up-to-date training quarters. Scott was for several years connected with the Hon. J. D. Ormond's Karamu establishment, where he was in charge of the stud. He : s very painstaking and should earn distinction as a trainer.

The Otaki Macri Racing Club finished up last season most satisfactorily, with the result that the stewards have decided to allot £l5OO in prize money for the coming spring meeting, which is to be held on September 23rd and 24th. Leapuki is one of the light-weignt division in the Winter Cup that has come into strong favour recently. ; . It is interesting to note that when the Gaming Act of 1910 was passed two members of the present Minis try voted against the totalisator

when the division was taken ■<. determine whether or not the machine should continue to exist in New Zealand. They 7 are Messrs. Allen and Fisher. The Prime Minis ter (Hon. W. F. Massey), and Messrs Hc-rries, Herdman, and Rhodes voted in favour of the totalisator. There is no question but that the majority of the present members of Parliament are in favour of the totalisator.

The season that has just closed was in every respect a memorable one in the history of the turf -n New Zealand, and despite all the vindictive and harvrassing conditions under which the sport of horse racing has been carried on, the sporting public has every reason io be grateful to the Racing Conference and the stewards cf both metropolitan. and country clubs for the. zealous manner in which they have guarded the “sport cf, kings,” and managed the. sport under their respective jurisdiction. Never before has racing stood at a higher level in this country and there can be no question but that a substantial majority cf the people heartily support the sport, and generally resent the unfair criticism that is everlastingly being directed against it by a comparatively small band ,>f extremists.

During the recent racing season the Auckland Racing Club eclipsed ill previous records of the turf in New Zealand. The attendances at Ellerslie during the eleven days’ racing was phenomenal, and the totalisator returns reached £366,989 0/-. After such a successful year it was only natural to expect tin ■bib would increase their stakes fm the- coming season. This the stewards have done in a most generous ■spii-it, so that £32,675 has been allocated as prize money for the coming season, an increase of £3760 over last year’s figures.