RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20472, 25 January 1930, Page 9

RACING.

, SEASON'S FIXTURES.

' January 25— Waipapakauri Racing Club. January 28. 30—Wairoa Racing Club. January 29, February I—Takapuna Jockey Club. •' January 29, 30—Pahiatua Racing Club. - February 6. B—Taranaki Jockoy Club. February 6, B—Gisbome Racing Club. ■ ' February 8— Matnmata Racing Club. February 13,. 15—Wnnganui Jockoy Club. February 13. 15—Poverty Bay Turf Club. February 13, 15—Dunedin Jockey Club. February 15, 17 —Rotorua Racing Club. February 19, 20—Woqdville Jockey Club. February 20—Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. February 22, 2d—Dargaville Racing Club. February 28, March I—Marlborough Racing Club. March 1. 3—Te Aroha Jockey Club. March 5, 6—Rangitikei Jockey Club, March 7, B—Napier Park Racing Club. March B—Franklin Racing Club. March 15, 17—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 22—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. JJarch 2G— Opotiki Racing Club. April 3, s—Whnngarei Racing Club. April 12, 14—Waikato Racing Club. April 19. 21—Auckland Racing Club. Ajiril 21, 22—Canterbury Jockey Club. April 26, 30—Avondale Jockey Club,

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Taiaha."—The rule governing the Question operating in New Zealand reads:— " Any muzzle, martingale, breastplate, or elothing (other than boots or bandages) jn which a horsj runs, shall be put into i the scales and included in the jookey's weight, otherwise the horse shall be disqualified for the race." J.M., Taupo.—l. Carbine (10.0) ran second to Bravo (8.7) for the Melbourne C U p of 1889. 2, Your second Question is not placed quite clearly. In a one dividend field the winner would, of course, take the whole of the pool, less the deductions. In a two-dividend field the pool would be 'divided as usual, -viz., 75 per cent, to the ■winner and 25 per cent, to the second horse, less deductions. ,«< otahuhu."—The two races mentioned were contested, as you correctly state, at the Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting in 1897; but nbi in the order given. The Autumn Steeplechase, in which Kings-, wood (J. Rae) and Miss Nelson (W. Kafcterns) ran a dead-heat, figured on the second day's programme. It was on the third day that Kingswood defeated Morel by a nose in the cross-country event. , «Dark Shade."—l. At three years old Advance contested 3,5 races and his record at that age was' as follows:—Ten wins, once ' second, twice third, and twice unplaced. Advance was six years old when he won the Wellington Cup under 10.4. 2. Boris, winner of the Great Northern Guineas in 1904, was described as a chestnut both in the New Zealand Stud Book and Turf Register. Ho was certainly of the dark she-de.

A LEAF FROM THE PAST.

y.R.C, CHAMPION STAKES.

BY PHAETON

Where are the stayers? is a Question that U a great deal of att ? nho " "J Australia at the present time. Indeed, it may also be said other places beyond the shores of the Commonwealth are concerned about the same nfatter. That speed has . -taken the place of staying is recognised, and; even admitting that races are now run quite differently to what ruled three decades back it can still be contended that clubs have' not sought to cultivate the stayers to the proper extent. The withdrawal of the three-mile Champion Stakes by the Victoria Racing Club could be cited as a case in point. The fields for the race, which of latter years was run in the autumn, were no doubt at times disappointing, but, all the same, the deleting of the race could be regarded as an admission of decadence. In the eighties the Champion Stakes, it may be remarked, was a great event on the racing calendar, and horseowners in those days were not afraid to test their three-year-olds in the longdistance race, even when it was run on New Year's. Day, which could be termed the height of summer. The Champion Stakes of 1882 furnishes an interesting page

in racing; history, showing, how three-year-olds could be tested at that period. In the year named there was a field of half-a-dozen for the Champion Stakes and five of the contestants were three-year-olds I Coriolanus, who was included in the three-

yeir-old division and who was the outsider of the field, scored a victory. It may be

doubted if there is any immediate prospects of the Champion Stakes being reinstated, but possibly, with the dearth of stayers so pointed at this period, such may at least lead to a building up of distances.

HIGH-PRICED DOMINANT.

SO FAR A DISAPPOINTMENT. Dominant (by ) Saltash—.Weltea), who realised 6750 guineas when sold by auction at the yearling stage of his career in the autumn of 1928, has so far only managed to win prize-money to the amount of £6O <the product of second place in a minor handicap run at Caulfield last November). Dominant was withdrawn from all his, engagements at two years old, and the races selected for him to contest at three years old were of a modest character; and as his name is only included in sprint events and one race the distance of which extends to a mile, that may apparently be accepted as proof that he is not viewed as a stayer. "When sold as a yearling Dominant's physique formed the subject of much eulogy, and he was referred to as a typical Derby colt, but as everybody knows forfeit was paid for the high-priced colt in connection with the Victoria Derby. The

selection of a yearling is oil all hands re-

garded as a great lottery. It was a ayndicate of three wealthy men that invested 6750 guineas in the purchase of Dominant, that the big outlay in the purchase of the colt can be regarded as different from ■where one man was -simply concerned in the transaction.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

PHAR LAP'S FULL-BROTHER. With a doughty full-brother in the shape 'of Phar Lap to recommend him to notice, tho yearling colt by Night Raid from Entreaty sent up to auction at the recent sale at Trenthn.m /ealiscd 1500 guineas; and bought by Mr. A. Louisßon he is now in tho same interests as. Nightmarch. As the colt comeg to maturity it will be interesting to note if he reaches the Bame Btandard his woDperformed brother.

PROMISING' FOUR-YEAR-OLD. /'A four-year-old mare named Figure (by Threse—Forfar Girl) is ticked off among the New South Wales division likely to play a strong part in weight-for-age events ahead. Figure is down for an engagement to-day at Moone.e. Valley in the William Reid Stakes, which event is run over six B B at weisht-for-age. With Greenline, iiollison anti High Syce engaged, Figure / will require to be,first-class to score a win. NIGHTMARCH. The nomination of Nightmarch for the 'James Ha;t,lett Gold Cup, to be run at this Dunedin Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting y 15;' may mean much or little. Should Mir. A. Louisson decide on racing • ■"ightmarch at Wingatui on the date named Jt would seem safe to conclude that he will • not be transported to ..Victoria, in order to conteat the weight-for-age races set down lot .decision at Caulfield and Flemington *6*l>ective]y. Nightmarch is engaged in the 1 »-j Cas *' e X. Handicap (1 mile) and the £' x p 12 miles), which events are ;S?l\~ OW S. * or decision at the Australian % *°! c *6y. Club's meeting in April.