SEASON'S FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20508, 8 March 1930, Page 9

SEASON'S FIXTURES.

March B—-Franklin Racing Club. March B—Napier Park Racing Club. March 15, 17—Ohinemuri Jockey Club. March 15, 17—Wellington Racing Club. March 17—Opunake Racing Club. March 22—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. March 26—Opotiki- Racing Club. March 26, 27—Manawatu Racing Club. April 3, s—Whangarei Racing Club. April 3—South Canterbury Jockey Club. April 4, s—Masterton Racing Club. April 11, 12—Hawko's Bay Jockey Club. April 12, 14 —Westport Jockey Club. April 12, 14—Waikato Racing Club. April 19, 21—Auckland Racing Club. April 21, 22—Canterbury Jockey Club. April 26, 30—Avondale Jookey Club. May 8, 10—Egmont Racing Club. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ." Inquirer."—The records show that the American crouch style of riding was introduced into England by Tod Sloan in 1897. " Matata."—The records ehow that nine horses started for tho. race in Question, in which Kilorell finished second. Two dividends -were declared. "•Inquirer."—Star Stranger's time (3m 22}s) for the Trentham Gold Cup of 1928 still stands as the best Now Zealand tvnd Australian record for two miles. RACE RIDING DANGERS. ' ALARMING NUMBER OF FALLS. BY PHAETON. The number of falls that occur in flat racing in New Zealand is a matter for very, serious thought, for there is no doubt as to the same being on tho increase, instead of, as could bo hoped for, the decrease. The recent meeting hold at To Aroha furnished its quota, and when five horses went down in one race matters assumed the sensational form. It is on all hands admitted that raco tracks in the present day are very much improved to what ruled in former tims, and therefore the increasing number of falls must bo attributed to othor causes. No doubt races are ni\v rur at a very much sounder pace than in former times, and that has bee:i brought about by tho adoption of tho crouch seat and short stirrup. With tho latter, and to inexperienced riders taking unwise chances in steering for position, may be largely attributed the number of accidents, and until something is done to alter the present style of race riding wo arc not likely to see the roll of accidents reduced. AMOUNIS* STAKE RECORD. WILL HE HEAD THE LIST? Amounis having raised his stake-winning total to £37,796, that brings the same to within £5304 of the sum down to the credit of Gloaming. Amounis is well engaged in events ahead, but it is for time to reveal what races will bo selected for him. For instance, ho figures in the King's Plate at Flemington to-day, but, as tho distance of that raco extends to two miles and the Derby and St. Leger winner Phar Lap likely to be saddled up. it will be no surprise to find Amounis reserved for events set down for decision at Randwick next month. Amounis figures among the entrants for the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup, but, focussing the situation at Randwick, it would seem j>retty safe to conclude that the weight-for-ago races are likely to be the special mission of tho son of Magpie. Should Amounis provo equal to the task of winning tho Autumn Stakes, All-Aged Stakes and Randwick Plate, that_ would mean tho addition of over £SOOO to his stake record, and it is therefore quito possible for him .to secure tho leading place in Australia as the greatest stake-winner. V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. THE KING'S PLATE. The leading event set down for decision at Flemington to-day is tho King's Plate of £ISOO, which is run at weiglit-lor-age oyer a two-mile course. It is somewhat difficult to anticipate tho strength of the field, but it appears quite certain that tho New Zealand-bred gelding Phar Lap will be included in tho list of contestants. The manner in which Phar Lap won the Victoria St. Leger and tho Governor's Plato furnished evidence of the son of Night Raid being in a position to reproduce the brilliancy which marked his performances in tho spring, and ho is pretty sure to rulo a warm favourite for to-day'e race. TWO-MILE RECORDS. NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA. Star Stranger's record (3tn 2215), which he put up in the decision of the Trentham Gold Cup in the autumn of 1928, still stands. A noteworthy feature in connection with tho time records two miles in New Zealand and Australia is that the four horses whose names figure at the head of the list carried over 9.0. Star Stranger (9.4) put up his record in conformity with the weight-for-ago standard, Kennaquhair carried 9.5 when he won the Sydney Cup of 1920 in 3m 2255, Windbag won tho Melbourne Cup of 1925 in the same time under 9.2, and when Spearfelt scored in the same race in 1926 he had 9.3 in tho saddle, and 3m 223 a for the big two-mile raco at Flemington again went into tho records. MERRY DAMON'AT SEVEN YEARS DUAL CUP WINNER. By winning the Napior Cup yesterday Merry Damon furnished further evidence of carrying his seven years remarkably well, and that, too, in the face of his having been called upon to contest 81 races. Last month Merry Damon led tho field home in the Woodville Cup, and he thuß takes rank as a, winner of dual cup honours. Merry Damon's re.cord stands as follows: — _ UnFirst. Second. Third, placed. At 2yrs . . 4 4 1 G At 3yrs . . 2 1 3 9 At 4yrs .. 22 1 16 At syrs .. 0 0 0 4 At 6yrs . . 5 22 5 At 7yrs .. 4 0 1 8 17 9 8 47 Merry Damon was bred by Mr. F. Hall, of Gisbornc, and tho bay gelding has won prize-money to the amount of £4870 under liis colours. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. TROPHIES FOR TRAINERS. It is often remarked that in tho flush of success the winning jockey is singled out for special recognition, while tho trainer of tho winning horse is quite overlooked. However, it is pleasing to notice an increasing desire to honour the trainer, Tho committee of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club has decided to present a gold stop watch to cost £25 to the trainer of tho winner of tho Ohinemuri at the approaching meeting at Paeroa. Tho committee of tlvo Waikato Racing Club announces that tho trainer of the winner of the Storey Memorial Cup at the club's autumn meeting next month will bo presented with a pair of fieldglasscs of the value of 20 guineas. RACER TO CHARGER. One of tho progeny of the New Zealandowned siro Paper Money is booked for Japan. This is tho gelding. Bank Draft, who forhied one of tho collection ,of yearlings sent across to Sydney in tho autumn of 1927 and who was sold at that period for 500 guineas. Bank Draft failed to oomo up to expectations as a racehorse and he was recently bought in Sydnoy with a view to use as an officer's charger in tho Japanese Army.