RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18891, 13 December 1924, Page 14

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

December 13—Waipa Racine Club. December 2G. 30. and January 1, 2—Auckland Racine Club. December 26. 27. 29 —Manawatu Racing Club. December 26. 27—Taranaki Jockey Club. December 26. 27—Dunedin Jockey Club. December 26—Waipukurau Racine Club. December 26—Ngungurh Racing Club. December 26. 27—WP3tland Racing Club. December 30, January 1, 3—Greyniouth Jockey Club. January 1. 2—Wairarapa Racing Club. January 1. 2—Hawko'a Bay Jockey Club. January 1. 2—Marton Jockey Club. January 1. 2—Stratford Racing Club. January I—Tirau Racing Club. January 17—Ba.v of Islands Racing Club. Junuary 24—Dargaville Racing Club. January 29. 31—Takapuna Jockey Club. February 4. s—Egmont Racing Club. February 5. 7—Gisborne Racing Club. February 11—Rotorua Racing Club. February 21—Ngaruawahia Racing Club. February 27—Opotiki Racing Cluh. February 28, March 2—To Aroha Jockey Club. March 14. 17—Ohinemuri Jockey Club.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Light." Otahuhu.—Gold Light (7.12) ran unplaced in the Auckland Cud last year.

" H.M."—To Kara was handicapped at 6.12 for the Auckland Cup of 1923. but in the raco ho carried 7.6.

" Irish." Te Aroha.—Loyal Irish has not won a raco since he scored in the Tonka Stakes, run at Hawera on February 7 last.

" Mainspring."—Fillies have won the Great Northern Derby on five occasions from 1900 inclusive. viz.. Mis 3 Delaval. Gladsome, Counterfeit, Desert Gold, and Enthusiasm.

" Idaroon."—l. Octaroon figures in the Turr Register as by Menschikoff from The Slave. He won some good races in the pony class at Auckland meetings. On the sire's side Octoroon has a strain of Musket blood tluroujrh Menschikoff. whoso sire. Stepniak, was got by .Nordenfeldt. Fiesolo (dam of The blave) was cot by Ingomar (sou of Uncaa and grandson of Stockweil). 2. Mullingar (by Marble Arch from the Wallace mare Komola) has strains of Musket and St. Simon respectively on the dam's side.

NOTES BY PHAETON.

THE ROYAL DESPATCH CASE.

In tho course of a reference in the Australasian to the Koyal Despatch case, over which the New ZeaJanders F. D. Jones and At. McCarten were disqualified tor a period oi 12 months, " Cardigan" penned the following:—"1 am sorry for Jones and McCarten, as I really think they are tho unfortunate victims of an innocent mistake on the A.J.1.;, stewards' be-half. To err is human, and from my own personal observation of Koyal Despatch in tho race, and also knowing his erratic: behaviour in private better than the stewards., I consider tho stewards on this occasion made a mistake." " Cardigan," it may be remarked, was attached to tho Sydney Referee when the Koyal Despatch case cropped up, and ho then declared in no uncertain language his belief in the complete innocenco oi Jones and McCarten. The A..J.C. stipendiary stewards can, no doubt, claim to be men of vigorous action, but even men of vigorous action require to exercise caution that they may not award punishment on innocent persons.

NEW ZEALAND-BRED PARODY. It is made quite, clear that if the New Zealand-brod maro Parody is to earn further distinction at this stage of her career she will have to undertake very strenuous tasks. Tho chestnut mare figures among the entrants for several events set down for decision at the summer meetings in Sydney, and in each instanco the imposts allotted to her are in excess of the weight-for-age scale. In the Villiers Stakes (one mile) Parody is called upon to carry 9.5, and in the Summer Cut) (ono mile and five furlongs) 0.2 is opposite her name. Tho Carrington Stakes (six furlongs) finds Parody at tho head of the list with 9.9, and in Tattersall's Cup (one mile and a-half) sho is second top weight with 9.3. In September last Parody was purchased by a Sydney sportsman from Mr. G. D. Greenwood, and sho rewarded her now owuer with a win in a sixfurlong race run at Rand wick on October 17, when she carried 9.2 and won a fast-run race in lm 12is.

LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. Tho death of Mr. C.: Brockway-Rogers marks the passing of another well-known figure in local racing circles. The deceased gentleman was of a most genial disposition, and ho had a large circle, of friends. For sever,-; 1 years he was prominently associated with the Avondale Jockey Club, in which body ho held the office of treasurer.

Scanner, whose sale for something like £3000 in the autumn of 1919 gave him a wido advertisement, figures arnong the entrants for the Alexandra Cup. to be run at Pirongia on Boxing Day. Of all the sales recorded in this Dominion that, in which Spanner figured. I think it will be very generally admitted, is entitled to be regarded as one of the luckiest ever entered up for the vendor. The men who invested the large sum emoted above in the purchase never had the satisfaction of seeing him onco homo in the lead, and at the end of two seasons' racing the total earnings of the Australian-bred gelding only amounted to A'l2s. Spanner has formed the butt for many ironical remarks during his later career, which has been largely due to his pronounced distaste for racing. Spanner is now rising nino years old.

The Emperor was responsible for a pronounced surprise when he won the Mangatau Hurdlo Race at Woodvillo on Wednesday last, for he started the actual outsider in a field that numbered 13. The Emperor had up till Wednesday last not won a, race sinco January, 1922, at which period he ranked as a two-year-old. The Emperor's success at the period named was gained in the Fitzherbert Handicap, and, as he was timed to run live furlongs that day in lm 0 2-os. ho was viewed in a favourable light. In the interval 26 defeats were registered against The Emperor, so that a success on his part was well overdue. The Emperor was got by Boniforrn from the Birkenhead mare Vicereine.

According to the account published of the running for the Woodville Handicap, the finish wa3 marred by a bumping contest. The three-year-old Itillocra, who started favourite, is considered to have suffered most by the happening, and, though some doubts aro expressed as to the likelihood of his finishing in front of Te Kuri, it is strongly contended that with ordinary luck ho would probably have been placed second.

The Alexandra, Racing Club has received a capital list of nominations in connection with the diamond jubilee meeting to be held at Pirongia on Boxing Day. and everything seems to point to the efforts of the enthusiastic spirits working for a record gathering being crowned with success. The handicaps for the various events will be declared on Wednesday next by Messrs. H. Weal and F. Chun.

Mr. W. S. Spence, it is pleasing to learn, has made some improvement in health during tho present week.

Royal Divorce made a reappearance on the scene on Wednesday, when he was sent out to contest the Woodville Handicap under 8.10, and in a field of a. dozen the English horse figured fourth in demand on the totalisator. The account of tho race shows that Royal Divorce came home in sixth place. On the second day Roval Divorce was saddled up to contest tho Gothard Memorial Handicap, run over a mile and a. -Balance, and he won his race by half a length from Diamond Ring (7.12) in lm 555.

Lucinius. who won the Nursery Handicap a', Woodville on Wednesday, is a descendant of the Auckland-owned air Lucullus. The dam of Lucinius is llellanois. who traces to the mare (Miss Flat) who gave tho turf that tine horse Welcome Jack. Lucinius won the rsico at Woodville under the colours of Mr. C. E. Elgar, and, should tho youngster develop into a horse of the same standard as Welcome Jack, such will be a subject for much rejoicing, for Mr. Elyar well deserves the best the turf has to offer.

The To Kuiti Racing Club has fixed its annual race meeting for Saturday. February 7. Hopes are expressed that in the distribution of tho extra totalisator permits the Te Kuiti Racing Club will participate, and, should tho hope in that respect be fulfilled. there will be a two days' gathering.

It seems to be pretty safe to concludo that tho New Zealand Derbv winner. Count Cavour, will not bo included among the contestants lor tho Auckland Cup. Advices to hand from the South credit the, owner of tho Solferino gelding reserving his horse for tho Great Northern Derby.

FORTHCOMING MEETINGS.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

Friday nest will bo nn important day at tho Auckland Racing Club's office Acceptances closo at . r i p.m. for the Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap. Robinson Handicap, Grafton Hurdle Race, Ntyscry Handicap, and Christmas Handicap, and fiual payments fall duo for the Queen's Plato. Great Northern Foul Stakes, Great Northern Derby, and 30th Roval Stakes. Thunderclap was struck out of tho Auckland Cup at 2.30 p.m. yesterday.

OTAMATEA RACING CLUB. The Otamatea Racine Club has fixed its annual raco meeting to bo held on the Matnkoh« racecourse on Monday, January 26. The programme issued therewith comprises seven events, with the Otamatea Cup (one mile and a-cjuartcr) of £-15 us the leading event. From the programme, which will bo found published in full in another column, it will be seen that nominations for nil events close on January f>. at n p.m., and these may be lodged either with the •lecretary. Mr. G. Gallic Maiakohe, or with Mr. J. Stan.iway. Dnrgaville. BAY OF ISLANDS RACING CLUB.

Nominations for all events to bo run at the Buv of Islands Raciug Club's meeting closo on Thursday next, at 5 p.m.