SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1038, 10 June 1924, Page 9

SPORTING.

NOTES. There were no fewer than 15 falls in the two steeplechases at the A.J.C. meeting. Savory, who won the P«nrose Hurdles at Auckland, is owned by Mr J. O'Driseoll, who, it will be remembered, raced some years ago the smart hurdler Waiwera.

Leslie Wallace, winner of the A.J.C. .Sires' Produce Stakes, is looked upon as one of the most promising A.J.C. Derby propositions Ui New South Wales.

During the present racing season, 1296 horses have won money under the rules of racing. Of this number 283 have been only once in the money, some as winners, others with placed performances.

An English paper says: "The Indian jockey, Dobi, is to ndo in France lor Baron Baeyens." The horseman referred to is said to be identical with the Newcastle rider J. Dobie, who has been riding successfully in India.

A cable message mentions that Australian jockeys racing in England are making good records. F. Bullock is sixth at present with 17 wins, W. McLachlan, jtui., having 16 to his credit. W. H. McLachlan, sen.., has so far steered 11 winners.

. J. Roach, who has been in hospital in Wanganui as a result of injuries he received when Royal Fame fell in the Kaitoke Hurdle Race, returned to his home in Auckland on Sunday. The popular horseman is not yet thoroughly recovered, a/id was not seen in the saddle at the Auckland meeting.

Dry Toast, who ivon the City and Suburban at Epsom (England) in 1923 may be sent to Australia shortly to be raced. If the project is carried out, ho will probably be trained by R. Higgins, who prepares in* New South Wales The Wild Goose for the same owner.

The prize money at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting was shared among forty-two owners. Mrs F. C. Allington headed the list with £SOO, followed bv Messrs Edwards and East £450, Mr G. Aitchison £369, Mr J. Barrett £2BO, Mr W. D. Barrett £2BO, Mr C. Davev £2lO. Messrs Jack and Stewart £2lO "and Mr J. B. Davis £2lO.

Giving evidence before the select committee at present holding an inquiry into pony racing in Sydney, Mr Cropper, secretary of the Australian Jockey Club, stated that from 1914 to 1919 his club had given for charitable and patriotic purposes. The A.J.C. home for disabled soldiers and sailors at Darling Point cost £28,500 to establish, and the cost of upkeep was £5600 a year.

The imported horse Last Dart, a member of R. Emerson's Riccarton team, has started off well with • his racing career in the Dominion. He was second to Clandhu in the Autumn Plate at Riccarton at Easter, and he won at Wingatui last week, these being the only events he has contested here. He is Just a useful colt, on what he has shown so far, but he may improve yet.

. Riding and driving honours at the Canterbury Park Trotting Club's meeting were widely distributed. G. Aitchison won twice with Merry Bin gen, R. E. Mills scored with Reta's Greeting and Whispering Willie, T. Wallis with Pointalena and Choubra, and A. Heudricksen with Prince Pointer and Spring Bells. Those who handled one winner were A. Cox (Nelson Bell), A. McDougall (Tarra.i). B. Edcaids (All BpII), B. JardeL (13; .mm), W. J. To:rkinsor. (Rofurts.' R. Hun-phieya (ilyda.sp«s), D With-s.-a (Okuti) and J. , Walsh (Fashion Qneeuj.

W. H. MtLachlan,,. the; Australian jockey, who is in England, lias been riding at 7.10. Prior to his departure for ilie Old Country 8.3 or 8.4 was about his limit.

Four girl clerks, who work in different offices in Liverpool, England, and who clubbed together to• buy a tickot in the Liverpool Cotton Exchange Grand National Sweepstake, drew tho Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase winner, Master Robert, and won the first prize, £2OOO. They intended to keep their good luck a secret, hut sis one of them smilingly said to an interviewer: "We are girls, so I suppose we could not." They hre, however, keeping secret what they intend to do with the money.

An exchange says the Greymoutli Jockey Club is apparently feeling the financial pinch in a very acute form, according to a statement made by the president, Mr T. E. Ooates, recently. Commenting on the fact that the Club lost. £IOO on its last meeting, he stated that the club had to pay £620 8s 4d to the Government. "Unless the Government does something to relieve the unhappy plight in which we are thrust, the only alternative left is to close down and cease racing," states Mr Coates.

At a conference of Presbyterian ministers held in Sydney recently, says a writer in the Sydney Referee, one minister asked' tho Rev. Brandt if ho would take money subscribed by a horse trainer to church funds. He answered: "1 would take as much as he would subscribe." The questioner said fliat some people would say that the monev given by a horse trainer was not clean. To most broadminded people the money paid to a Presbyterian minister as his stipend is the same :is that paid by an owner to his trainer. Both are out U> get the best results, whether it be the saving ot souls or the winning of races.

Mr Svd Ferry, for many years one of the best cross-country riders in South Australia, and now a stipendiary steward, considers that the numerous falls in steeplechases at Cheltenham, South Australia, are caused by the obstacles being wrongly constructed. He suggests thrft the top of the brush should be rounded. The tops of ordinary fences are rounded off, and when a horse just tips the obstacle he slides off the curve. The brush are made so that if a horse tips.Jie is tipped up. Mr Ferry is certain that a better result would he obtained if the brush fences were treated in the manner recommended.

A sensntion was caused at Kalgoorlie races recently by the discovery of an electric battery. It was described as being a little* larger than a wooden matchbox, bound with insulating tape with two contact points at one end. The current was apparently produced by a wet cell. The stipendiary stew a'rd, Mr Shea, noticed that R. Gardener was handling The Toff in a peculiar manner in the Third Class Plate. The Toff finished fast in fifth place, and a little later Mr Shea thought he saw Gardener throw something over tho fence. He sent his assistant to the spot, and the battery was found, and Gardener was disqualified for life. An inquiry into the Toff's running was adjourned. Gardener lias been doing a fair amount of riding in the country. . RACING IN AUSTRALrA. By Eloctric Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, June 9. Dull and cold weather prevailed for the Uandwick races. • The going was good. Results: — Second Hurdles.— Quiniro 1, Poulaphonea 2, Yandarlo 3. There were eight starters. The winner led all the way and won by lour lengths. Time, 'a. 4*l. , Jockey Club Steenles.—Chrysostom, I 11.9 (Grav) 1 ; Carawock (X.Z.), 10.12 I vVormaid), 2: Palbi, 11.5 (Moon), 3. Ten started. Chrysostom and CaraI wock led over the first jump, where i i,es Puddington lost his rider. Chrysostom soon established a good lead from Carawock and Grand Urchin. Later Carawock again joined the leader and Palbi displaced Grand Urchin. A faulty jump by Carawock gave Chrysostom a two lengths' lead oyer the last hurdle and going on he won easily by four lengths in record time for the course. Time, 6.24 J. Exeter Handicap.—Farceur 1, Wild Goose 2, Elkin 3. Fourteen starters. Won by a iiead. Time, 1.38$. —Press Association. ENGLISH RACECOURSES. INADEQUATE AND ANCIENT. LONDON, May 26. "British horses are wonderful, the racecourses are bad and out ol date," says Mr W..M. Gollan, a Sydney racehorse owner. He says that Newbury is the only modern racecourse he has. visited in Britain, and Epsom is the worst equipped course he has seen. As far as the public is concerned it cannot be compared with Randwick or Flemington for stand accommodation, catering and public comfort. The British seem to think that what was good enough for their grandfathers is adequate to-day. On some of the courses the people are unable to see tho race, and are liable, if they bet outside the betting ring, to be welshed. Starting with thin tapes is not nearly so effective as Randwick's gate. In the City and Suburban Handicap the horses galloped to the tape and started anyhow, the best jockey in getting away first was ten lengths ahead of the last horse. Mr W. M. Gollan is well known in Sydney as the owner of Teremarau.