RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19779, 28 October 1927, Page 15

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. October 29—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 29, Sl—Thames Jockey Club tat Ellerslie) October 29 Masterton Racing Club. October 29 —Banks Peninsula Racing Club. Uovember 5. 7. 9. 12—Canterbury Jockey Club November 10, 12— Whangarci Racing Club. November 16, 17—Win ton Racing Club. November 19—Levin Racing Club .Jfovember 2&, 2S —Takapuna Jockey Club. , November 30. December I—Feilding Jockey Club December JO, 12 —Taumarunui Racing Club. December 17— Waipa Racing Club. December 26. 28, January 2. 3—Auckland Racing Club. December 26. 27, 29—Manawatu Racing Club February 4—Matamata Racing Club. [ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Subscriber," Ashburton. —The rule bearing on the question in force in Great Britain reads as follows:—"Subscriptions •md all entries or rights of entry under liem become void on the death of the subscriber."

NOTES BY PHAETON. • (THAMES JOCKEY CLUB'S MEETING Matters, it is pleasing to note, shape jjiost promisingly for the success of the Thames Jockey Club's annual race meeting, vhich opens at Ellerslie to-morrow. Tho enly thing apparently required to make the success assume tho complete order is for the weather to-morrow and on Monday to Be in keeping with the season. Tomorrow's programme is arranged to bo run off in the following order Thames Hurdles (two miles), first and second divisions of Borough Handicap (seven furlongs). Flying Handicap (six furlongs). Nursery Handicap (five furlongs). Goldfields Cup (li miles), Thames Valley Handicap (seven furlongs), Puriri Handicap (one mile), and Hauraki Plains Handicap (one mile). EOW CARBINE LOST V.R.C. DERBY Though a period extending to nearly 39 years has sped its flight since that eventful spring day at Flemington in 1888 when Carbine suffered defeat in the V .R.C Derby by Ensign, incidents of the contest still contipue to furnish a subject for discussion. " Touchstone" recently penned *n interesting note in the Australasian, which drew a letter from Tasmanian correspondent, who complained that " Touchstone" had touched but lightly upon the defeat of Carbine by Ensign. The Tasmanian penned the following:—" As an eye-witness to that event, the vision oi which 1 have Lever lost, 1 have never been able to comprehend that great finish beyond that the phenomenal run was suggestive of some superhuman joint efEort on the part oi Hales and Ensign, acting through some mental instinct. Ensicn came like a bolt from the blue and caught Derritt napping Had Carbine been ridden out he could have outdistanced Ensign. However there •was 3 story, vouched for as true, that Hales, on the eve of the Derby, when m duiging in a friendly glass at the White Hart Hotel declared that as sure as he held that glass of wine in his hand he would win the Derby next day on Ensign In replying " Touchstone . penned the following:—" There was aothirie super human about the performance Halos simply outgeneral!ed Derritt by leading b:m to believe Ensign was beaten some oistance from home Derritt rode Carbine out vigorously at th© finish, but his momentary easing up about half a furlong from the post had enabled Hales to snatch an »d----vantage. which he was able to maintain to the end. Had Carbine been at his best that day! even the supenoT horsemanship of Hales on Ensign would not have brought about his defeat 1 think the White Bart etory is at least doubtful Tom Hales was not given to expressing his opinions in public, and he more than once told me that, although Ensign was a better horse than was generally believed, he thought Carbine would beat hira."

THE SYDNEY MEETINGS. New Zealand owners secured a good amount of the prize money disbursed at the recent spring meetings in New South ales, but the sum captured fell far short of what seemed at one time probable. The fact of lAgrion having developed unsoundness, and that Commendation lost form, were, of course, two prime factors in shattering the rosy hopes at one time entertained, timerick's captures in stakes in the sis races he contested amounted to £8374, and Merry Mint's earnings are assessed at £IOSB The other New Zealand horses that contested captured about £3OOO. All things considered the New Zealand contingent did not do badly. AH continuing to go well with Limerick there is some reason to believe that Mr. H A. Knight will give his horse a further opportunity of distinguishing himself in New South Wales when the autumn meetings roll round, so that :t is reasonable to expect the son of Lirnond to increase his winning total to a marked degree. GREYHOUNDS V. HORSES. English horse-racing executives are worrying themselves as to the best way to cope with the increasing interest in greyhound racing. Racecourse attendances are decreasing, and, though it was in a spirit of sarcasm that it was at first said the race clubs would have to compete against the <dogs" at night, the suggestion is now being given serious consideration by some clubs of importance. Doubts are, however, expressed as to night horse racing catching on in England. The fa£t that so many laces up to a mile are run on straight courses and in long-distance races the competitors would be so far away as to deprive the racing of enioyment, this would appear to point to night horse racing failing to ifind any favour. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The Absurd filly Eulalie is considered to iave a good chance in the Stewards' Handicap, to be decided at the forthcoming £>-J.C. Spring Meeting.

The statement telegraphed from Christchttrch that Footfall may not contest tho New Zealand Cup will be a bit disconcerting in many Quarters, for he was in favour for the big race at Kiccarton.

The New Zealand Cup candidates. Count Cavour and Rapier, are expected to contest the A-karoa Handicap at the Banks Peninsula meeting to-mprrow. Count Cavour is •Weighted at 10.4 and Rapier at 9.6.

It is stated that when the New Zealand colt Kidgomount was submitted to auction ai Randwick on October 7 the reserve price wb3 2500gns. As previously stated, Ko one was prepared to carry the bidding to the sum named, but, as the colt won the Canonbury Stakes on the following day, which race vras worth £1074 to the owner cf the winner, Mr. W. G. Stead has no cause to regret Ridgemount being left cm his hands.

Comic Song's victory in the Stewards' Handicap at Gore on Wednesday may not be entitled to be accepted as a great lead Pointing to what may happen in the Stewards Handicap, set down for decision at Randwick on November 5; still the tact that the son of Comedy King won his race tinder an impost 15ib in excess of that opposite his name for the C.J.C. event must be taken into account. Comic Song has the record o? J winning the Stewards' Handicap" at Riccarton in the two previous years, and en each occasion he was responsible for effecting a surprise. In the race of 1925 he was the absolute outsider in a field cf SO. and in last year's race, for which there was a field of 18, the order of betting ionnd the Australian gelding ranged up in thirteenth position. In the race of 192S .Comic Song carried 7.0 and won by a peck from Overdrawn (7.0), while in last gear's contest, under 7.9, he scored by * over Ldciniui (7.l}}«