SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17444, 14 April 1920, Page 9

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. 'April 15. 17—Wellington Racing Club. April 17, '21—Auckland Trotting Club. April 21, 02— Manawatu Racing Club. Anil 23—Manawatu Trotting Club. April '20—Royal Meeting at Ellerslie »(Auckland Racing Club). May &--Te Aroha Trotting Club. May 15- Royal Meeting at Riccarton (Canterburv Jockey Club). June 3, 6, -Auckland Racing Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. -Sport," Mount Edeu.-BattU-.tide raced last season in the nomination of Mr. R. Colder. The gelding raced in. Mr. W B Giesen's name this year, and is now racing" in the nomination of Mr. B. E. Hart. "K.» ° ra -" Thames.-L. H. Hewitt steered the winner of the Auckland Cup in two successive years (1901 and 1902). In tho first-named year Hewitt won on St. Michael and in the succeeding year he scored on Siegs Gun. NOTES BY PHAETON. . j JOCKEYS AND THEIR CLAIMS. i Behind this strike of jockeys at Avondale there » no doubt the important question of recognition of their association at the hands of raring clubs is the moving force. As is wed known, the Jockeys' Association is still: unroooi.-ui.sed by the governing bodies in racing, and the activities of the association in question have been such as to cause alarm. That some of the suggestions Put forward by the Jockeys' Association for placing matters m regard to their calling on fitter I*" M * "»*»»blo w to bT admitted, but in other certain demands they have gone to somewhat extreme lengths. The jockeys have a. .° s . d CASe for recognition if such is limited.to bettering their conditions. *~a ♦„ ■ *\ ecusht to so further j and. to aim at & control and ©[ challenging authority,. then they wilt not ESi. rf Jl?*- -" *? be hoped, in the interests m toe eport, -iat th© sane heads of the Jockeys Association will be able to apply the necessity brake to those who favour I direct action. j LONGDISTANCE RACING By the fixing of a time limit in long- I distance races it was fondly hoped that such , would ensure satisfactory contests, but the ! details cabled ol the running in the A.J.C. ! I . *. ie. decided at Rand wick on Saturday last, furnishes a pointed illustration that something more is required lief ore anything like certainty can be depended upon to guard against jockeys giving a go-as-you-please ex- I hibition. One can imagine the ludicrous picture of two out-and-out stayers like Poitrel and Kecmuiiihair giving a farce exhibition over a three-mile course and the temper that i would be shown at th© same. According to ! tne account of the race cabled, the three miles, attached to the Randwick Plate occupied 6m 325. Th© race, it may be remarked, was advertised as of the value ot £"2000. but the following telling little clause is attached: —" Unless the race is run in on; lis ot under, the v added money will be reduced to 750sovs. and the second and third I money to 350sovs and 75sovs respectively; but the committee, having regard to the I state of the course, may, if they think St, a' :iny time tin to one hour before the lime fixed for starting such race, vary or alter the above conditions as to the time within which the race is to be run." "With the" sun shining and the race-track in good order at Bandwick on Saturday last, variation was unueeea airy, so that the stake value of the race falls by more than half by reason of its not being run within the stipulated time. SOME PREVIOUS INCIDENTS. The disappointing contest in the longdistance race at Ritnd*ick on Saturday revives memories ot some previous unsatis- : factory happenings when a three-mil© journey was before the runners and by what a narrow margin, the time limit was exceeded and which cost the owners half the value of the stake as originally fixed. In 1895, when The Harvester won the Champion Stakes at Flemington, the time limit (5m 455) was exceeded by half a second, and nin» years alter, when Emir led th© field home in the same race, he was only a-quarter of a second over the stipulated time. What has, however, to be regarded as the greatest farce associated with three-mile racing in Australia wad enacted in the Champion Stakes decided at Flemington. in 1910, in which Prince Fooba played the leading part. The journey on thaS occasion occupied Bei 475, and it may be guessed that the riders were met with ironical cheers when, they brought their steeds back to the enclosure after their exertion. The remarkable fact to be recorded in connection with ' these go-as-you-pleas© displays in long-distance races, and ■which have proved costly to owners by reason of the stake being reduced by half its original value, is that most of the bors«sroen responsih':* were or are in the first flight of their profession. THE AVONDALE MEETING. The Avondale Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting of 1920 will be well committed to memory under two headings—a very wet day for the opening and the jockeys' strike associated with the concluding afternoon's sport. Ail things conridered. the A.J.C. came through a somewhat trying situation satisfactorily, and. though the financial result was to seme extent affected &§• a result of happenings noted above, there was still something for the management to rejoice over by reason of the totalisator figures (£91.249) bcitig £7465 above last year's record. With an extensive scheme of improvements mapped out for early attention, the A.J.C. must b& accounted unlucky over the happenings at the autumn meeting, but the progressive spirits associv a ted with that body are not likely to slacken, their efforts in the direction of further increasing the stand accommodation and other matters. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. The Wellington Racing Club open their autumn meeting at Trentharn to-morrow, and matters ishape well for a successful gathering. The leading event of tbe first day's programme is the Thompson Handicap, which is run over a mile course, and in which .19 horses are engaged, with English-bred Arrow-smith (9st 91b r at the head of the list. So far Arrowsmith has not raced beyond se*en furlongs since he came to' New Zealand, but the eight furlongs is believed to be well within his powers. The St. Leger Stakes, which also figures on the nrst day'». amine, finds Amythas enpaged, and the brilliant form displayed by the Demosthenes gelding will be sure to have the effect of making him a hot favourite. LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK Though B'ue Cross showed a return to fores when he won the Titiransi Handicap on the opening cay of the Avondale meeting, the son of Marble Arch's prospects of capturing the Autumn Handicap <n the second djy were not popularly viewed a.i hopeful. In ;he de< lsion of the nine-furlong race Blue Cross waj always found well up, and when h<- lUshed into the lead at the distance le further demonstrated that he is not a back number, for he wen his race nicely at the end from Ta.amai. .It has, however i.O I* recoc-rused that the Australian-bred mare ■aid conceding icr riial" no less than 'JS'.b, £'> that i! would be unwise to greatly eitol Blue Cross' periormanoe. Landslide having . opened his winning Bi-""int at Avondale, it was rilling that he mould wind, up at two years old at tie western suburb with a win. With 9st 1 lib opposite his name in 'he Nurtery Handicap a'. Avcndale on Saturday last, Landslide was *"t a pretty severe task, but his grit stood him when the real pinch came inside the d..'tarice. and he beat hi» cod looking stable coTipa.ni<-n, Illumination (to whom he was conceding 301b). half a length. Landslide has st >od the 33 race* esa-rt-ed from him at two •years old in capital style, and it is worthy <■'■ remark chat oniy on two occasions has he beell r."',.fHed out of a place. Mr. T. H. Lowry has very good reason to re;oice over the financial return that comes l" 1 him as a result of sending lour yearling coils ac.-ois to be offered by au< uon at th« Kandwick sales, for the collection realised 4 c )Wipr)3. The New Zealand breeder li'r-r.-.fhed the highest-price rob at '! e ►»!» in the youngster by Demosthf.iro from T<-te ate'.p. who brought 1700t:ns. r )w:ng to the death of Mr?.. <: G. Str-ad. mciher of Mr. W. G. Stead and Mr. <) L Stead, the respective racing >vl'.ir. j i-t the two brothers will remain folded u-, f.,- «i,-n.-l-.'t'e time. This means that Sn>.ar,.il i.imj R:*ht and Left wll rot h* competitors at let WcHingVin and Manawatu meetings. la a fie d of nine saddled up to content tie MctTit Eoen S:-eeplechase at Avondale or, Sit'.rday last Battletide always stood out favoy-:i<> Tho Si Paul ueldmg eucoeedtd in hif. ta'ak. and. though he phowed a deal of das:,, his performance was marred by t»<-. very faulty mini'*, and with a less «-x-I>r:»nc/-il r;.,-~emai. than K. Manson in the sa-idie i.» would probabiy have been louni-d or. on t>ift ?iwond day of the Avonda'e i;u-e'o;i 1 a Miii 'v.Mf a game bid to win the A'ltutr.n .•find.' orid'-r the steadier of 'J.-t 7ll>, Lit ,K >- ...-'.?. f-iie whs. ca.l!ed upon to concede to Hi .o r rr , is proved a little too much for the ""te-triil .rare, and she was beaten. by haJf-o-•rg:.'.. 'i'aiama.l is a very sound little mare, and ene is t-o be ti'ked off with the division that have stood their hard racing well th.s >')n "th- eircngth ,-f l ! » Mctory in the .' o .-<- c '<• HanHi'-ap at Avcndaic <.'ii the Tib i' .st. Put,- Laz;iie-s was sent out a. warm f-.vn-ifite '• r 'he Nursery llano, on t'o-tv-'Or.d div The Bcioniaii colt rattled of) r-:■> iT'm:'.nary in a taking manner, but h.> reallv ne'.--r once nattered the hopes of his *'!•".,rers :ii his race on Saturday. '•eld Kip looked very well when he wa« parade.; A V.onda'e on Saturday last, and M- II S Keesing had pood reason K> expe. t, thai )-.•= ", , r-p would play a prominent part it ' c 3-tiUmrnt of the iiu>=Pt:on in the. V. aj ■•■■*■■-'<<■ Hand-rap The strike of jockeys •■wpv»r. left Gold Kip without, a- rider, and M Kwiih' had to withdraw his horseTie Kievation gelding Deviation was sent r. ~ a .„... ~. t( , c Waikumetr Hur-tlfl h-..-.. v A.-cndale on Saturday, but he ever ■ ■:> •■ ■. Mir--.-iters nvirh hope of hatid.iu- » d'v.ifn.'. indeed, it was quite evident a '"-- way from home that they had lost Uieir '-' ncy. . . Feudoon flattered the hopes of his adnUJaw m the middle stage, if the Waikumete Hurdle Rs.ce, but he faded away when it came to real business in the straight, ana he was in sarth pcsjtiaa whtn. tha post waa re*cnea.

-— j . . m i i S^ A £ alleryjaan ' 8 **"* » the A.J.C f«™?ifl' t* ? a3 a S nt , <»« a good second fenA'L Sydney Cup, in which to^L^TiiK 1 * 11 W 2ib L ha was «•*« upon mart .W j" b °7 . Artillerywm,nT„^ Uy ■«?. M «. leaders, and ne wound up m eighth position. oJ£w *\TO^ re<i 9 yn wa saddled up to daleJL a «oT r^ tum l te Hurdle Race at AvonSLSS Saturday last. He jumped satisfactorily. but Jailed to gain a situation. On oommg oack to tho enclosure Cynio displayed 2S£j ? s - of unsoundness, but such was .lot regarded in a serious light. It transpires that Mr, H. S. Kyle was acting on behalf of tho owner (Mr. G. D. Stead) 5£ , the ,sale of the Brackenfield Stud «n Wednesday last, and that the stallion Nassau, understood to have been sold for 2100gna, was bought in. . Ruatara counted sufficient supporters to send nun out favourite for the Autumn Handicap atAvonduue, but he never succeeded in tettmg -into tho lead, and ho wound up in fifth place. Luperino looked really well when he was sent out to contest tho IVaikumete Hurdle Kaco. but ho tailed to get closer than fourth. NOTES FROM ELLERSLIE". Among horses schooled at Ellerslie yesterday were Forward Lady, Gatherer. Koura, Multiplane, Glucian, and Lady Energy, the latter pair over the pony obstacles. It was noted that H. Tinker who met, with some success as a horseman on the fiat during the country circuit, was schooling horses. G-azig.ua was sent homo to Gisborno yesterday. Cynic is to left in charge of P. Conway when P. Doomb returns to Gisborno. It is the present intention that last year's Great £° r thern Hurdles winner shall remain at Ellerslie until after the Juno maetine. 1 h-hartoum remains at headquarters in cha £?, of 1 " Coffey until after the Prince of Wales meeting, while W. Sharp still has control of the other Taranaki 'chaser, 'Tirau. It the weather remains fine trainers are hopeful that tho steeplechase hill will be open for schooling purposes on Saturday. Mr. C. Sheath, secretary of the Xew'Zca laud Jockeys' Association left for Wellington yesterday in connection with tho jockeys dispute. E. J. Ras is qualifying Gladwyn and the general Soult -representative. Mains., for hunting events to be decided during the winter. Bitholia appears to bo doing nicely in Asprey«s charge. Dunedin was sprinted a five furlongs yesterday. The King Mark—Pellicle rising three-year-old gelding, owned by W. Taylor, is coming on nicelyFirst Call's _ withdrawal from the Mount Eden Steeplechase on Saturday was owing to the gelding being slightly amiss. Garryowen's display in the Mount Eden steeplechase at Avondale indicates that his trouble in cross-country events will bo his lack of staying power. Just prior to the final circuit being entered upon last Saturday, the aged son of Salvadan began to move forward impressively, but over the business end he could not keep up the pressure, and the well-seasoned Battletide had no dimculty.in maintaining the leading tionConsidering it was his first hurdle contest for some, time, Luperino made a creditable showing in the Waikumete Hurdles at Avon date, taking a prominent part with the leaders for more than a mile and a-half, and finally finishing on fourth- The aged son or .Lupin should pay his way later 011. 100 much use appeared to be made of trlen tinny m his second engagement at Avondale on Saturday. The son of Pistol ££ deveiop into a useful stake-earner. the two-year-old form in Auckland has been almost impossible to follow correctly, lho most consistent performer in these parts ; is I,andslide. who is evidently partial to the Avondale tracs. His was a creditable performance on Saturday last, when he carried 9st 111b *? victory over six furlongs. * J',™ be surprising if the Limelight-— lee. Street colt Illumination fails to make good .next season. He showed sufficient pace in his recent engagements at Elkrslie and Avondale, and probably only requires seasoning to the racmg .game. Taiamai made a very bold bid for the Autumn Handicap honours at Avondale under 9st 71b, and with a little luck round the home turn should have won instead of having to bo content with second place Formalin's victory in the Mount Roskill Hack Handicap at Avondale was full of merit, for in the early stages the daughter of Formative was badly planed, and at the nnish won handsomely from the others. Archie did not get away well in the Welter. I Handicap at Avondale, but was going on very strongly m second place at the close to Woody Glen, who does not always race kindly, being considered a moody customer by his connections. AUCKLAND TROTTING CLUB. I THE AUTUMN MEETING. The Auckland Trotting Club's Autumn Meeting, which opens on Saturday next, promises to furnish a most interesting afternoon's sport. In all respects the acceptances received for the eight events which form the programme are decidedly satisfactory, and Mr. P. W. Edwards has succeeded so admirably in.throwing a veil of uncertainty round the various issues that a very keen interest win bo manifested in the contests. That being so it should only require fine weather to find racegoers once again in very strong force at Alexandra Park in order to assist at the gathering. Tho leading event of the programme is the Campbell Handicap (two mi;es), in which the following horses are engaged:—Lieutenant limit. Strategy limit Partner limit. Comedy Chief 34yds behind. Emperor 24yds behind. Gold Queen 36yds behind. Waverley 36yds behind, Steel Bell 7Jyds behind. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. TRENTHAM TRAINING NOTES. [BY TELEGBA.H.—PRESS ASSOCIATION".] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. At Trentham this morning the work was done on the inside grass trial track. . Fulica and Philomela took 52 2-5s for half-a-mile. Mannish ran tho same distance, the last three in 40s. Canyon and Preparation sprinted five furlongs in lm 4 3-ss, Blackmail and Wake doing a furlong less in 50 3-ss. Santorini 'spurted five furlongs well. Matatua sprinted five furlongs in lin 4«. 80-Peep and Active ran a mile, the last seven furlongs taking lm 30 3-ss. Blackhead and Ri&ingbam covered five furlongs in lm 5 4-ss. Vagabond and Tigritiya each did a strong round. Miltere and Idleness spurted four furlongs in 525, Imaribbon taking. 535. Chrysoatom. Insurrection and Humbug covered five furlong* in lm 3s. Island and Sandy McDonald did a furlong less in 525. Old Gold and Kilgour galloped six furlongs in lm 21 . He>tau and Kohu ran five furlongs in lm 6 4-ss. The electric totalibator installed at Trentham is said to bo superior to that in use at the Ellerslie course. It will be. used at the forthcoming autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Club. RANDVnt'K AUTUMN MEETING. RECORD FIGURES. A. and N.Z. ' SYDNEY, April 13. The attendance at Randwick during the four days of the Australian Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting totalled 235.000, while .£287,930 passed through the totaliaator. Both are records. Sporting writers scathingly comment- on the fiasco in the running of the A.J.C. Plate on Saturday, by which the added money was reduced to .£750 owing to the time exceeding 5.45. Some suggest the omission of three-mile events, as a reduction of prize money has not had the desired effect in ensuring a satisfactory pace. SYDNEY YEARLING SALE. NEW ZEALAND COLTS BRING GOOD J 'RICES. A. and N /. SYDNEY. April 12. The yuarlinK .«*!< 3 have concluded. The foi;r New Zealand i oils offered on liehalf of Mr. T. 11. Lowiy, of. Hawke's Ray, caused Fp:r.u.-il bidding. The cult by Demosthenes T'-ir-i'TfH r»aJi~~l lTdOj-'n*. the 'nit by Fir-land G.,s~ip lnnOsrns. the colt by Finland- -The Hague HXXl.'i,-, and tho colt by Finland- All's Well r«.=.o<;ri» A Bui k-vheat -Lager filly was sold for lory i= n « 1!"-. V. Casey pun-ha-acd » B"rosrviri - - Pcr.Ma. <->lt lor KifiL-nx. and Mr. G. Xichnl purchased a Ch.-piily — Lady Level toll for: 200ec.'.. ! REE ETC) ACCEPTANCES. ' [BY 'ielm,turn.—press association.] I REEFTOX, Tuesday, j Fi-l!"wir.s are the. Mo-cptaDces for tho Beeft'ui Jockey Club's meeting PEACE HANDICAP. L'anfortri 'i I , HvmeUiu.. 'J.ll. TyK.n 9..,, War Tax •/> ~' K-'ivnia, b.l), Cliudic to. ijruf-k-'in - - Cheer up H.K. Ladv L.i. ulius 7.11. I'arl.ivna i 7 10. Hokitik* 7.7. Hi r.i 7 0. IMiOCKKSS TIiDT. L,..r.i 1,■.<•.,„ ~ r Palmadale I*, Mi-- Man.,n 7.-. <;,...J..„ |'~,,,, ' Of. Fairy Whispers Us. Myrtle ]...,( :.-. Kilv. wood l-.'s, Soprani. 12.-. STEWARDS' HANDICAP- Beneni. mi, Kolyma 8.10, Cheer l 7 §N Turn, 8 <;. R an?l A>-c.ha. &.4. Woodrow t*.f>, H/'yal Draaoon p.u, 1-a.haba 7.12. -\CTUMN HANDICAP.- -Benefit 0.2, c.„ n . citation .13. Nautical 87, f{«.t.ful 7.1:1, Bant-i Aroha " .12. Koyal Draco., n 7.10, Xanthr.s 7.9. Dick ~7, Woodrow 7;,. R.KKETON- TROT. Lord I.jttm Sis, Sir Palmdale 'J?. Miff Marion 10f. Auto in*, Oolden Pippin 10s. airy Whispers 13d, Myrtle I/onf l-'ls, Soprano lis, Tainui 17s. I CETI.BY MEMORLVL HANDICAP. -. ' Parii'orm 'J 13, Hymettius 9.11, Tyson 0.7, Kolyma S.l- Chudic f>.9. Oreekson $.*. ParJovjij. 7.11, Lady Lucul.lus 7.11, Hokitika 7.1, Aiisamon 7.0. WELTBR HANDICAP.—Con 10.5, Nautical 9.13. War Tax 9.8, Cheer Dp 9.6, Tunic 9.4 Restful 9.5. Kangi Aroha 9.5. Xanthos 9.1. Dick 00- Eoyal Dragoon. S.U, Wpodxow: 8.8.