RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 15

RACING.

SEASON'S FIXTURES. New Zealand. April 13—Masterton Racing Club. April 18, 20—Whangarei Racing Club. April 19, 2C—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club,. April 20. 22—Southland Racing Club. April 26. 27—Nelson Racing Club. April 27—Amberley Racing Club. April 27, 29—Wafkato Racing Club. April 30—Tuapeka County Racing Club. May 4—Marton Jockey Club. May 9, 11—Egmont Racing Club. May 11—Franklin Racing Club. May 16. IS—Wansnnui Jockey Club. June 1. 3. s—Auckland Racine Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. R.G.L., Owhango.—As you state the first contest for tho King's Cup took place at the Victoria Racing Club's meeting held at Flemington oij April 23. 1927. Tho race was won by Spear Maiden. " Devonport."—Your contention is Quito correct in so far as tho name of the race is concerned; but you have mixed up the incidents involved in events run in different years. Tfeo'Hobson Handicap, run at the Tnkapuna Summer Meeting in 1906 wna ordered to he re-run on tho grounds that Admiral Hawke, who came in first, was in front of the barrier when tho start was given. Admiral Hawke was not started in the second race, which was won by Nestor. It wa3 at the Takapuna Summer Meeting in 1899 that the stewards ordered tho Hobnon Handicap to be re-run. In that instance it. was not contended that any of tho horses were in front of the post when tho start was given. Tho stewards simply ordered the race to be re-run owing to only two of the four- horses comprising tho field jtarting. NOTES BY PHAETON. THE DISTANCE QUESTION. In recently referring to tho tendency with clubs of tho present day to whittlo down the distance of races 1 mado some mention of the alteration that had taken place. That there had been a pronounced altera ticn I was fully aware, but it, iB when carefully perusing the records contained in the Turf Register of the SO's that one can fully realise the extent of the modifications that have been made on the distance question. Of course, to mention tho season 1884-85 will be termed ancient history, but, ss that was the record of the particular period when long-distanco racing was a feature of our race meetings, it can justifiably be cited. In counting the number of races extending from two miles and a-quarter to two miles figuring at that date at New Zealand race meetings I found the number to be 41. Compare that with the present day! We are now down to three races in which the distance extends to two miles. The small country clubs in those far-off days, it may be mentioned, weio not sfraid to fix the distance of the principal event- at two mile 3, while races of a. mile end three-qyarters were quite numerous. It can, no doubt, bo validly contended, that races are now run very differently to what ruled in the 80's, making the efforts more searching on the contesting horses, but, allowing for this, it can still be argued that there i 3 too great a tendency in these days to encourage those who are ever on hand to play a part for the curtailment of distances. ________ MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. Cimabue is credited with standing his race in the Great Easter Handicap in a most satisfactory manner; and h 9 is expected to fijlfil his engagements in the Hawke's Bay Stakes and J. D. Ormond Cup, which events are respectively set down to he run/' at Hastings on Friday and Saturday next. Mr. C. Boyle, of Wellington, is considered to have secured one of the bargains at the recent sale of yearlings in New South Wales in tho shape of a bay colt by Saltash—Thaisa, who fell to 1113 bid at 375gns. Thaisa is by Comedy King—Lady Lybia, by Antaeus—Lady Trenton, by Trenton. It is stated that Mr. Boyle could hive resold the colt st a considerable advance, but he elected to retain the youngster. The two winning performances for which King Lu was responsible at. the Avondale meeting were in each instance marked with a fine dash of gameness. The big non of Lucullub finished ns straight a3 a gun barrel under high pressure, and the racehorse quality .was there all right. King Lu performed a light season at the 6tud last year, and several foals of which he figures as parent may be expected to figure in the next volume of the Stud Book. The long rc3t accorded Inferno for a full season at six years old has not had the desired effect in enabling him to regain his form; and he is again to be turned out. The big son of Absurd promised well at three years 6ld, when he ran Count Cavour to a head for first honours in the New Zealand Derby, but he only managed to win a couple of sis furlong races in the interval, and in the six race 3 he contested this season he figured among the unplaced division on each occasion. When the New Zealand Derby winner Agrion wa3, allowed to go at auction in Sydney this week for 325gn5., his standing another racing preparation was not viewed hopefully; and t.ho purchaser probably bought him for stud purposes. It i 3 a great pity that Agrion should have developed unsoundness, for he carried true racehoise qualities which would have taken him well among noteworthy winners. Given ordinary opportunities Agrion may be heard of to advantage a3 a sire. Mr. Colin/ W. Anderson, who left Auckland last December on an extensive tour, fc'as in Peshawar (India) in February; and he sends me a programme card of the Lahore Gymkanna Races, nt which gathering he was present. The totalisator is Used at Lahore, and the. rules and regulations in connection therewith are in marked contrast to the simple character to which Wo me used to in this Dominion. Bookinaken are licensed; and in connection therewith, the rulea are very stringent. Mr. Andersiin was present in Peshawar Then the British Air Force brought the refugees from Kabul owing to the trouble, in Afghanistan. it is somewhat rare to find a three-year-old beading the/ ltsl in an important " Cup " That, however, has to be noted in connection tins year's Hawke'a Bay Cup. Concentrate figures in the post of honour with 9.0, which represents an impost 10lb. over weight-for-a ge. Another three-year-old engaged in the Hastings race is Cashier (8.1), and he certainly has not the worst of the weights compared with' Concentrate. ( In the decision of tho New Zealand Derby Cashier finished in second place, a length behind the winner, Nightto&rch, and Concentrate was unplaced. It of course, be quite safo to argue that Concentrate has made good advancedent in the interval. Possibly Cashier hats fclso not remained stationary. A correspondent recently Bent mo a note Seeking enlightenment on the naming of the fillies Phaola and Prodice, whoso dam is Hyades. Dr. E. H. B. Milsom, who bred Phaola and Prodice, and who was responsible for the naming of the twain, nnd to *hom I appealed, kindly sends me the following:—" Atlas, King of Mauretanin, tad seven daughters. Their brother was killed by a wild bull, and they pined away *nd died. After death the gods placed Ihem in the heavens in the constellation Taurus (the bull) as the Hyades. Their tonnes were Phaola. Thione, Prodice, Cironis, Proxlysco and Ambrosia. iho fcld Greek augury was that when the &radc3 were in the ascendant, there was touch rain and boisterous weather rtbout." fchaola and Prodice. it is interesting to ►elate, both won their races when the eleWfnts were in a disturbed state.