ON THE TURF

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 14 March 1936, Page 3

ON THE TURF

racing fixtures March 13. 14 —Cromwell J.C'. March 14, 17—Ohincmuri J.C. Marcli M, 1.0, 17 —Wellington R.C. M»i IS—Opotiki J.C. Maryi 20, 21 —Manawatu E.C. Mart'll 21, 23—Hay of Plenty J.C. Mart'll 21, 23—Oaniaru J.C. March 28 —South Canterbury J.C. March 28—Bircliwood Hunt Club. March 31, April 1— Pahiatua E.C. TROTTING FIXTURES March 13, 14—Cromwell J. C. annual (two events each day). March 14—Timaru T.C. March 18—Wyndham T.C. March 21 —Roxburgh T.C. March 21, 23—Oainaru J.C. autumn (two events each day). March 28—South Canterbury J.C. autumn (two trotting events). March 28 —Wanganui T.C. March 28 —Cheviot T.C. The record of the riders in the Thompson Handicap is interesting. H. Cray has done best with four wins, gained on Sasanof (1919). Arrowsmith (1920), Rouen (1923), and Gay Crest (1932). Several riders have been twice successful, their list being: E. Russell (Waiuku, 1895 and 1897),F. W. Davis (Lottie 1894 and Jabber 1900), E. Lowe (Sunbonnet 1908 and Sunny Loch 1924), B. Dooley (Oxenhope 191(5 and Shrill 1917), J. Barry (Eereinoana 1927 and Paitonu 1930), R. Reed Joy King 1928 and Golden Hair 1934), and L. G. Morris (Paganclli 1929 and Autopay 1933).

A curious point about the Thompson Handicap, wliicli was first established in 1892, is that, while it has been won six times in the last twenty years by the first favourite, these success have come in pairs, and the groups have been separated by a number of years. There was a chance last year that a hat-trick would be. achieved to break the chain, but the favourite, Gay Blonde, was easily*beaten into second place by' Kulanut, one of the middle choices. The record is thus now still against success by the favourite this vear.

One of the easiest wins ever scored in the W.E.GV Thompson Handicap was that of Ecremoana when he recorded his first victory in 1925. With only 7.7 aboard and R. J. Mackie in the saddle, he stepped to the front at the rise of the barrier and was never in the least danger of being pulled back. He ran the mile in linin 38see., too, only half a second slower than the present record for the race jointly held by Ecremoana and himself in his second success two years later under 9.8 and by Autopay under 9.4, and had helicon pushed in the least he undoubtedly would have registered''exceptional figures. Rercmoana’s worth was not then known.

Waiuku holds the record number of wins in the race, and also the winningweight record. He took three consecutive Thompsons, though, owing to the break in 1900, they were not successive years. The weight he carried in his third victomjvas 10.3, and the minimum then was|fv^ Light Comedy has performed well in hack cups during the last, few weeks. At Te Rapa she got up in time to deadheat with Mafeking for first, while at To Aroha she ran third to Con Fuoco and Valrent. She was saddled up for the Dynes Fulton Memorial Hack Cup at Franklin last week and was narrowly beaten by Vera Acre. In this event Light Comedy finished wide out and covered a lot of extra ground.

D. O’Connor lias four jumpers in his team at Riecarton. Royal Limoncl is rejiorted to he going on nicely in his preparation and lie should he in good order to open another steeplechase campaign in Southland next month. Rasouil is doing useful work and his education over country will be commenced in a few weeks. Actic Star has resumed. The injuries lie received at Wingatui last month are healing up, though the open wounds still have an ugly look. He and LyCidas are to be nominated for the South Canterbury meeting at the end of the month, ; though they may be top backward to. show their best 50.., early. They will join Royal Limond and Rasouli in ah extended North Island tour;, whilst O’Connpr contemplates taking'-on early in the winter. These four horses/comprise the strongest team of jumpers seen in any 'Riecarton stable for many years. Polity won his race at Motukarara like a godo horse. There was a doubt about'' starting him, as lie was suffering from a cold, and on this account. he was not paid up for on "the first day at Trentham. He, however, showed'no effects diVting or after the race, and as his form' was enconrag-' - ing, lie. may be taken north for the two filial days of the Wellington fix-, tinp. • Polity comps, from a'jumping strain, his dam, -'Sporting 'Girl, dam also of Joppa, being by Kilrain, from Sporting Lady (by All' Red), dam’ of’ Dan’Russell and Speakeasy* two liiglielass jumpers. Polity is also built on the right lines, and no doubt lie will later represent bis two owners in jumping, events. After racing on the Hat during the last couple of months, Master Musk made his reappearance sg a hurdler at To ArOhn, where he scored a convincing win in the Manavvatu Hurdles on the second day. He took charge half a mile from home and never looked in danger of defeat afterwards. lie had evidently done a fair amount of {schooling, for lie jumped cleaner and faster than on any .-previous occasion. It is doubtful if Master .Musk lias -overlooked better, and if lie goes oil -as at present he will have to he reckoned ■with in some of the bigger hurdle races next winter. There was a remarkable incident associated with the Gawler (South Australia) Meeting recently. C. Boom, one of the oldest jockeys following his profession in Adelaide, had the ride on Belinda in (he second division of. the i Trial, and while he was rapidly overhauling the leaders, one- of whom was the favourite Bobhard. a (lying stone or seine hard substance -struck liiin in an eye with such force that he reeled in the saddle and was'nearly dislodged. Blinded and suffering intense pain, he continued to ride Belinda, hard, and landed the Peithias mare a clever winner. , Boom was immediately taken to the casualty-room, where it was discovered that- one of the -pupils was cut deeply. The Trentham trainer 11. B. Lorigan has claimed the name of Toiler for the three-year-old bay gelding by Tipler from Lady Busli he brought over from -Sydney with him when he relumed to the Dominion in December. The other horse Lorigan brought was Geitel, who.

NOTES AND COMMENTS

On Gallops and Trotting

/scored a surprise victory at the Wellington Meeting-in January. Toper •is 'a good type of' gelding whtolias been' working along well lately, and he will probably have his first, race at the coining Wellington ■' Meeting. His dam, Lady BwJi, was by Roger de iiiisli from Jim, and she was a winner at Moorelield as a two-year-old first start.

iSebrof; a winner at' Franklin, is by Lucullus from a daughter of Elysian and Graceful. His name is Forbes spelt -backwards. , ■

The satisfaction of J. T. Cush, ownertrainer of Journal, who won the Mooreiield Handicap oil 29th February, lay not in the pecuniary benefit he received from tlie race, for there was wo plunge on Journal, but, as the owner stated after the event, in.the knowledge that the horse Was Still capable of winning. It was Journal's first victory since lie dead-heated in. the Caulfield .Toorak Handicap last spring, and the success was a very popular-one. It. is hard to know whether-the applause which., accompanied Journal as he returned to tiie enclosure was for him or for the rider, -T. Bike, Whose first winner it was‘for some time:’

World’s record figures for the two miles were lowered in the Fines Hurdle Race at .Fibmiiigtou on 29th February, when Blackford narrowly defeated African in 3min 344 sec. A head only separated the two leaders. The previous- best;-Sillin' 85scc> was. registered by Eatomvood at Randwick. The Flemington record was previously held by Pooley Bridge l /who set ‘3mih 35|sec. for the distance.

When Cuddle pulled up distressed after, working'at Caulfield -'recently the trouble was declared to be kidney complaint. Cuddle appeared to make a complete recovery from whatever ailed her, but the complaint may have had a bearing oil her defeat in the Australian'Cup: Opinions differ. Some attribute liqf defeat to her rider’s efforts to restrain her. The i'ideu says she collapsed, during the running. That the mare, walked past the post half a furlong last and in a condition of utter distress seems (o make it clear that the j.ockey’s version is the correct one. Further, it was decided i immediately after the race to sliip Cuddle back- to jjfew Zealand’ and spell her ’ for ' the winter.

RACING : PERMITS

POSSIBILITY. OF INCREASE feared STRONG CONDEMNATION BY PRESBYTERY . Alarm at the possibility-of an increase in the number of racing permits and a possible consequent increase,in gambling was. expressed tit the. meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery. .The Rev. John A. (Allan, chairman, of-the public questions committee, .referred to a statement by the . Minister for Internal, Affairs that 'with the coming. .of two 'days’, leisure a week' there might, be ,a need for the .issue of more racing permits-., “It may,be a feeler thrown out by the Minister to'see how people,-will respond, and it is up to us to bite,” said Mr Allan. He moved a resolution that the Presbytery was . opposed to increases in the facilities for gambling, saying that such a resolution was perfectly general, perfectly vague, and perfectly necessary. “Everyone is trying to get something out of the new Government, and those interested in racing are doing the same,” said the Rev. A. C.. Watson, in seconding the motion. “I would not take the, absolute ethical view that all gambling in all circumstances is wrong. I would rather take the moderate view and be allied with other forces for progress. But in its extreme form gambling is the worst social evil. Even those who like a little flutter agree that there is a need to keep gambling within hounds. Even those who are associated with gambling agree to this. The Goverujp&nt,.\Yill. np,t,pi.g,ke.,laixs....unless,-Lt i is told to. We represent a large section of ilubllc b‘p'iliUsm"''* r, 'We' ' should “fell' our .views to the Government in no uacertyiui Terms.” ’ the State)Was. doivskleml, at/' ’hfiist - in Anglo-Saxon copjiitaijSs, as’; beihity/neutral in moral and. .spititual' matters, .-'IT was the duty ofkt,h p State., lii>Wqvem v to/make provisioj.fi 'for /the. good:;li|p,i audi the ChrititokCfiun^th: Hpi-dnaiupitigi/Pgainbling' tlic'Cmu'ch. Hud no axe "to': grind. Usually it had been those who had interests in gambling that were allowed to discuss it } and cvcu,,tljp» .Goyerinnent could be said ,to have-' vested interests in gambling/■ The' hiid lip.•iot'ea'ests and had a.,l‘ight t 6 'hpehlf - .' t v ,.j ' '• ''' t/M'ix- W'idhdFi .lipi'csscd a hope that the-,system of pools; with small amounts t'liiY" by bookmakers in England on 'football 'matches and dog-racing meets; iirgs'roii " postal system would- •.'•.never get.hold of tlie New Zealand public. The. - Rev. ,T. S. -.Reid : “The matter should gp .further. It sliould go, to the Bi'oiulc.astiiig,.Boai'd. During the hist six. months the racing, news .had increased. twofold. . Half the news, hour consists’ ot racing news'. The stations have almost gone to the extent of giving tips, as is done in Australia. A protest should be made to the Broadcasting- Board '/and. the increase in racing nCWs"’should he stopped.” The Tfio.fi.pn Wal carried, Mr Allan stating that the committee would 'bear in mind what'Mr Reid had said. i.

-ACCEPTANCES *

OAMARtJ' JUOCKEY CLUB ,'Acceptances for the first day of the Camara Jockey Chib’s meeting* to be held on 2M and 1 23rd March, are as,follows:— •••'.- 12.45—-Trial’Stakes, of £100; five furlongs—Bello, Brevity, Chief’Lama, Costume,' Great Pal. Last Dance, Last Refrain, Marking - Time, Peggy’s Party, Pennywise, Perpetuous, Playfair, Red Dragon, Tarhoe, Mabel, Maryvalaway, 3 3; Dimiy Boy, Silver Slipper, Stolen March, Valtpck,,(7.ll. . '■l.SCv-'utonhrH.liigliweiglit Handicap, of £100; oue mile—Hunting Go, 10.7-; J laeretbiin,' Courtyard, 10.6 ; ~,Cottinghaiu, IQio Rin/Tin . Tin, 10.3;f'Moan? beam. 10.(5Colossian, 9.13; Monastic, 9.8,; Blazdn... Grand Review, 5.7; Note Issue,' Shbek; 8.25 Gold Boy, Fireguard, Converge. 9£, • .1.55-r-Wes.ton (Trot Handicap.,--of £100; 3.43 class ; one, mile and a half—Aimont Cling,' ' '■& 1.1 dy . Watson, Coral Prince, Cpiiirtij Child, Dusky Prince,..Native ' Sen,' ' Parishonor, Ping, Red Pigeon, SillMdf Best, Young Kenilworth, scr; Captain Heath, 12,yds--bffd. 2.3o—President’s Handicap, of £175; one mile—Silver Streak. 9.11; Queen of Song. 3.11: Great Star. 8.4: Trivet. 7.9; The Surgeon 7.2 ; Dollar Bill, Queen Dorothy! 7/o.g .3.5r-Wiilclsor Hack. Handicap of ,£lOOj

six furlongs—Surge, 8.8; Silver Sail, 8.4; Tooley Street, 8.0; Golden. Vision, 7.8; Night Gem, Princess Rawene, 7.5 ; .Colleen Ougue, I Spy, 7.4. ' 3.40 —Stewards Handicap, of LI2U , six furlongs —Queen of Song, 0.12 / Rebel Chief, 8,5'; Epris, 8(F; EochlaggWn,; 8.2; Cherry Queen, 7.9; Rebel Star, 7.7; Capital, 7.5; Cheap Money, Silver Lark, .7.0. , T , 4.ls—Redcastle Trot Handicap, of £100; 3.2 class; oiie mile,and a quarter -Cream Harvester, Cerebus, Doubt, Margaret Bingen, Red Pigeon, Winross, ser ; Alpine •’ Prince,’ Big -Nelson, Royal Crescent, 12yds bhd ; Guy Mauritius, 36; Ma Wavo, 48. f 4.so—Parksidc Hack Handicap, ot £100; one, mile —Mary Pratt, 9.0; Final Bell. 8.12 ; Queen Dorothy, ;9.6; MountVal. 8.4: Latitude,. 7.13; Silver Lark, 7,10; Horotiu, 7.7; Dark Rose, 7.5; Robant, Sunny Jean, 7.3.