SYDNEY TURF NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20794, 10 February 1931, Page 9

SYDNEY TURF NEWS.

CLASH OF RACE MEETINGS. PONY FIXTURES AFFECTED. LESS MONEY FOR BETTING. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, February 3. For tho first time since depression and the betting tax hit Sydney folk, horso and pony meetings wero held in opposition on Saturdny. Both clubs concerned, Moorefield and Ascot, suffered considerably, tho Ascot pony meeting in particular. The experience showed that the racing fraternity at present is not strong enough to sustain both. Tho Moorefield meeting was a typical suburban affair, with few horses of any class. Tho two two-year-old winners, Ptolemy and Chieftain, were tho exceptions. Chieftain, a gelding by Caravel from Andesine, won very comfortably for tho studmastor Mr. H. A. Taylor, who arrived homo from New Zealand tho previous day after attending the yearling sales at Trentham, where he sold some youngsters at auction. Ptolemy, the winner of the first division, a smart youngster, has a double interest for New Zcalanders. He is raced by Mrs. E. J. Watt and is by Moabite from Shepherd Princess, the mare who originally figured as the dam of Princo Humphrey. Later developments and investigations proved that Prince Humphrey's dam was another mare altogether. Anyway, Ptolemy is a good advertisement for his dam and should soon rise above the suburban class. Vallar in Winning Vein. The ex-Aucklander Vallar has been profitable on unregistered tracks since changing over. He is able to carry good weights and win up to six furlongs. That distance appeared to bo elightly beyond him on tho horse courses, but from the way he is winning it looks as if ho will go on to more successes among tho ponies, although handicapped at 9.8 for his next start. Money was so scarce at tho Ascot pony meeting on Saturday that one bookmaker in tho paddock gave up after the third race. Ho had lost £2OO and decided that there was little chance of getting it back with tho amounts on offer at Ascot. Accordingly . ho hired a car and went to Moorefield as an investor. He believed he could select a number of " good things" on the suburban course, but had mixed fortune. Bookmakers reported that it was difficult to hold more than £3O a raco at Ascot and impossible to make a book in tho accepted sense of the term. Investors want only two or three horses in a race nowadays and the liabilities incurred are out of proportion to the holdings. One regular pony bookmaker with a reputation for batting decent odds and taking good wagers roportcd 13 consecutive losing meetings. After 25 years on tho pony courses, ho has decided to give it best for the time being. Tho bookmakers' association has a' - pointed a deputation to wait on tho Chief Secretary, Mr. Gosling, to-day. It is not expected that this will avail a gre(it deal. Large Reduction in Stakes. The many setbacks received bv the Australian Jockey Club in common with other racing' clubs has caused tho big reduction' of £12,800 in the stakes for the A.J.C. Autumn Meeting. But for the fact that entries had closed for tho St. Leger, Sires' Produce Slakes and Champagne Stakes, the amount of the reduction would have been greater. However, the sum of £20,750 will bo distributed over the four days. Both tho Sydney Cup and Doncaster Handicap have been reduced by £IOOO. Whereas there were 20 races last year of £IOOO and Upwards, this year there will bo only eight of four-figure dimensions. For the jumping events the stakes havo fallen as low as £4OO, which, at tho current rate of exchange, is not worth much more than £3OO in New Zealand. Tho joint owners of Pliar Lap have a grievance against the times, for the wciglit-for-age events have come well under the jixe, as they have been cut exactly in half—from £9500 to £'1750. Some of the minor handicaps, too, have been reduced 50 per cent. The A.J.C. has also reduced tho prizemoney for the Warwick Farm Autumn Meeting in comparison, and other suburban clubs will follow Buit. Tho trotting clubs havo already reduced stake-money. TROTTING IN SYDNEY.

NO TICKET ON WINNER. SYDNEY, Feb. 9. There was a rare occurrence at the Victoria Park trotting meeting. Aussie's Delight won the Maiden Handicap, but did not pay a dividend in the inside enclosure ns there were no investors on the totalisator. Had any ticket been taken out the horse would have paid nearly £IOO for it. One investor in the Lcger received well ovet £SO for ss. WELLINGTON TROTTING CLUB. HANDICAPS FOR SATURDAY. I [BY TELEGRAM. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. The following handicaps have been declared for the Wellington Trotting Club's meeting next Saturday;— HUTT PARK TRIAL HANDICAP, of £lls, limit 4.0, 13 fur.—Dark Girl, Fleet Arrow, Golden Oaks, Great Palm, Impromptu, Ron, Murchimes, Royal Parade, Sister lioso, Teri Kingi, Warbird, limit; Daddy Lor.clegs, Lady Coronado, Nyallo Silk, 12yd* -bhd; Jewel Elect, Major Brent, Travis, 24 1 Highland Derby, Manco, 3G; Loco, CO. NAI NAI HANDICAP, of £2OO, trotters, limit 3.4G, 13 fur.—Eileen Wood, Great Change, Lady Fan, Qnickfire, Trampcrisp. limit; Master Audo, 12yds bhd; Olive Nelson, Ukulele Lady. 2!; Surpriso Journey, Tonic, 48; Paddy McKinney 72. FEBRUARY HANDICAP, of £250, limit 4.42, 2 miles.—All Red, Nativo nero, Itollo, limit; Bonniewah, 12yds bhd; Author Franz. Zella, 48; Baron Bingen, CO; Colonial Boy, 84. RAILWAY HANDICAP, of £2OO. limit 3.51, 13 fur.—Ailsa Bingen, Bessie Dillon, Lady Author, Lily Bingen, Mountain Ore, Schoolmate, limit; Belinda, Denver Hinds, 12yds bhd; Brent Zolock. Dillon Logati, Hilltop, Misfei Pointer. Real Iluon, Gunbourne, St. George, 24; Native Hero, 30. CHAMPION HANDICAP, of £4OO. limit 3.3fi, 13 fur.—Free Advice, Vendonie, Vesuvius, Dtindas Boy, limit; Logan Chief. Harold Thorpe. 12;ds'bhd; King' Pointer, Machine Gun, 24; Terence Dillon, 48. SHARPE HANDICAP, of £lls, limit 3.4, 1} miles.—Aristotle. Billy Brent, Bingen Junior, Dark Girl, Great Palm, Impromptu, Marion do Oro, Native Berry, Pointal, Rat; loc, Royal Parade. Sister Rose, Slogan, Teri Kingi, Venetian Lady, Victor. Kylo, Windshield, Warbird. limit; David McElwyij, Lady Coronado, Whippet. 12yds bhd; Daddy Longlegs, Drift Wavo, Jewel Elect,. Nyull'o Silk, Travis, Belle Lorrimer, 24; Highland Derby, Manco, Major Brent, 30; Urund •Canyon, Loretta, Napoleon, 48. WILFORD HANDICAP, of £225. trotters, limit 4.39, 2 miles.—Great Change, Quickfire, Truniporisp, limit; Master Audo, ,12yds bhd; Ukulelo Lady. 24; Olive Nelson, 3(5; Surprise Journey 48; Tonic, GO; Maxegiil, Nativo Star, 72; Paddy McKinney, St. ELECTRIC HANDICAP, of £2OO. limit 2.54, 1} miles.—All Ued. Brent Zolock, Dillon Logan. Hilltop, Lily Bingen, Maurico Dillbn, Slogan, St. George, Wakefield, limit; Bonniewah, Denver Hinds, Native Hero; Real Girl, Rollo, 12yds bhd; Erin's Pointer, 24; Zella, 18; Baron Bingen, Colonial Boy, The Admiral, CO. TROTTING FIXTURES. February 14—Wellington Trotting Club. February 21, 25—Auckland Trotting Club. February 21—Kaikoura Trotting Club. February 28—New Brighton Trotting Club. March 4, s—lnvercargill Trotting Club. March 14—Tima.ru Trotting Club. March 25—Manawatu Trotting CluJ». March 28—Thames Trotting Club.