ASSISTING JUDGES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 141, 29 May 1920, Page 2

ASSISTING JUDGES.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF CLOSE FINISHES. Christchurch, May 28. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club, Mr. H. P. Bridge remarked that on occasions there had been dissatisfaction over the placing of first, second and third horses. He wondered if instantaneous photographs could not be taken of -finishes of races. From photographs which he had. seen in illustrated papers, he considered this was practicable, and a judge would be fortified in his decisions if he had photographs of the results of races. A member remarked there would be a.difficulty in that the public would not like to be kept waiting for a quarter of an hour until the photographic plate was developed. In the case' of a closer finish, said Mr. Bridge, the public would have an interest ini the true decision and the time lost would not be of much matter. It was agreed to submit the recommendation to committee. NOTES. (By “Trenton.") - The Dunedin Jockey Club. has again taken up the question tt raising the mimimum weight in handicap events from 6.7 td 7.0, and intend to move in that direction at the approaching New Zealand Racing Conference. This, progressive club previously urged on the Conference to adopt the suggestion, but for unknown reasons they received but scanty support from other clubs and the matter was turned down. Now, the suggestion is a most important one, and when the proposal comes up again I trust it will receive wholehearted . support from the racing clubs in Hawke's Bay. There are many reasons why the 7st. minimum should be adopted, but from a humanitarian point of view alone the suggestion ought to be unanimously favoured. The . Dunedin J6ckey Club is to be warmly commended for having again re-introduced the subject for the consideration of the Conference, and I have no doubt that its persistent efforts will this time be rewarded.

As Coalition has been taken to Dunedin, it seems, that he will not be a Competitor at the A.R.C. winter meeting. £. Copeatake will ride Lady Energy in the Great Northern Hurdles.

E. Warner will have the mount on Deviation in the Great Northern Hurdles. R. J. Mason expects to get away to Sydney about the middle of next month. B. Deeley will ride, the stable’s horses in their engagements. Waimai is still help up in Canterbury owing to the'transport difficulty, but it is expected he will be home, in time for the A.R.C. winter meeting. Loohella was worked at Ellerslie on Tuesday, and looked as if the racing at Hawera and, Wanganui had done him a lot of good. He is still in piost demand for the doable at the A.R.C. meeting. Garyowen. No Surrender, and Oakleigh started off together for a schooling gallop of about two miles and a-quarter over the big fences at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning. At the first obstacle, the fence on top of the hill. Uarryowen got in too close, and hitting it hard, came down. 'Rhe other pair, both fencing splendidly,, qn. climbing the hill the. second time, and finishing lip over the stone wall. ' Both Oakleigh and. No Surrender, jumped, well, the latter finishing strongly. Garryowen was. remounted and jumped the fences down to the stone wall, including the double, without further mishap.—" Whalebone."

Luke is being sorted out as a likely C.J.C. National candidate, and oh bw recent running he is certainly one of the most prominent young steeplechasers about. He won pretty comfortably at Wanganui on Saturday, and is sure to go on improving under ordinary conditions. Cynic is very forward in condition, and galloped well on the grass at Ellerslie on Tuesday. Ulil Mungindi put up a pleasing performance in the Grandstand Steeplechase at Wanganui, and on that form should run well ui the Great Northern Steeplechase. "Achilles” says.—There wte some capital jumping in the Grandstand Steeplechase, despite -the softness of the going, all the contestants getting ro#id .safely.. Luke jumped very safely all the way, and won qomtortably from First Line, which gelding . again showed himself to be a bold fencer. Maraetotara is a good jumper, but appears to be a hard one to handle in .a race, as she was fighting for her head until about half a mile from home. Old Mungindi was a good way hack third, but the. Australian-bred gelding is-likely to be seea to more advantage later on. Lord Nagar won the May Hurdles at Wanganui in good style, and will how have to carry U.l in the Great Northern Hurdles, in which he has a good chance, as he is on the improve. Tame Fox put up two good performances at Wanganui, winning both hack races. In the second race he carried 10.4 to victory on a course. that was very heavy going.

The Wanganui Steeplechase winner, First Line (Advance-Ballarat), is nearly full brother to Foeman,' also trained by A. Wright at Foxton. He showed some form over big fences early in the season, when be. won at Otaki and Danneyirke. He was among the runners on the second day at Egmont. when he was interfered with, and came to grief. First Line was in the Great Northern Steeplechase with 9.11, but was allowed to drop out when the first payment became due. A penalty would have brought his. impost up to 10.4. The Northern Steeplechase. candidates he defeated were Gladful and Polthbgue. The latter cannot have much chance at Ellerslie.

. ’Hie special correspondent of the Auckland Star writes.— "Coalition and Seadown, which have been at Riccarton since the Royal meeting, are doing good work, and may run well at Wingatui.

“Master Strowan and Gang Awa’ are another pair likely to make good at the Wingatui meeting. “Sir George Clifford has decided that none of his horses will race at the Auckland .Winter Meeting. A couple may be tat-n to Dunedin. “Manawaponga and Silverspire are a pair irnay to cause a lot of trouble in the Dunedin Steeplechase. Both have been freely supported in doubles. “The Dunedin J.C. Winter Meeting, looks like being all the more successful through I.?.? ar X labourers declaring racing black. Quite a number of horses which should have been shifted to the North Island will now take part in the fixture. The sch jounif at Wingatui in consequence is of an interesting nature, and the jumping particularly good. The Gisborne pair All TaiK and Diavolo. belonging? *jysnar, are quartered by H. D 2 c te r at -« Andrews’ stable. Diavolo fell on Thursday morning, but it was not the horses fault; a little snow had made the ’Ute AU Ta,k iB p,eMins the well supported for the May Hurdles on but of t . he Wa £*K a “ui meeting. J? e . °d the opening day y r affected him more than was apJJs f ? r ~ e never looked to have a a7ong wayfecS" l ° f the race ' fiuishi “ s