RACING CONTROL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20924, 14 July 1931, Page 7

RACING CONTROL.

ANNUAL conferences.

TROTTING meeting to-bay.

HANDICAPPING question.

totalizator betting.

fu? TELEGRAPH. —RACING REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Monday.

The present week is a busy and important one in racing and trotting administration, for both the annual conferences are being held in Wellington. Economic conditions and increased totalisator taxation have caused nearly a ]l clubs to have very unsatisfactory seasons financially, and a number of suggestions for ,affording relief, both directly and indirectly, are likely to bo put forward. The Trotting Conference opens to-morrow and the order paper contains several interesting proposals. One by the conference executive aims at clearing the way for straight-out betting, that j Sj . backing a horse <o win only, and place betting, which means backing it to run first, second or third. These systems have proved very successful at Randwick. However, two totalisators would be needed to carry out the scheme and the cost of installing the extra one at the present juncture is considered to be an important factor against the adoption of the proposal. Already trotting clubs have the power to run totalisators on the straight-out win principle, in addition to the ordinary system of paying first and second dividends, but none has used it, presumably on the ground of the expense, and visiting delegates express the same objection to the use of the extended provisions now proposed. Handicapping is always a thorny subject in trotting, and it is likely to provoke much discussion to-morrow. There is a proposal that handicappers must be licensed by the - stipendiary stewards' committee and, from what can be gathered, this is likely to be carried. It is also proposed to give the committee power to make regulations regarding the application of the handicapping system, such as stipulating the definite marks on which horses who have won at two miles, for instance, are, to be placed in future races of say a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. In this way it is sought to curtail the powers of handicappers rather than adopt the system of fixed penalties, which would almost do away with the need for any handicappers 8t all.

The Racing Conference meets on Thursday, and as in the case of the Trotting Conference, the plight of clubs under the present conditions is likely to be strongly emphasised. The Wellington Racing Club provides a- striking instance, for it has had severe losses this season and its current winter meeting appears certain to add to its troubles. The stakes were considerably reduced, but in spite of this, the totalisator revenue on Saturday was over £IOOO short of the prize money, for : the machine handled only a little more than half the amount for last year's epp-aing day, which was a Tuesday. FOXTON HORSES. F. J. CARJMONT'S TEAM. [iT.Olt OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH. Saturday. _ F. J. Carmont has a team of eight horses in training at Foxton at present. Most of his cnarges are young horses, and he has several promising sorts to produce in tie new season. One of Carmont's team is the hurdler Easterly, a four-year-old bay mare by Acre— Sausoveria, who races in the interests of the Pahnerston North sportsman Mr. T. F. Belling. "While Easterly's trip to the Great Northern meeting was fruitless, she should yet prove a good stake-earner as a jumper. Tiiere is an unnamed rising two-year-old full-brother to Easterly in Carmont's care, who will carry the same colours as his older relative. Inex is a three-year-old bay gelding by Greyspear—Expedite, who races in the interests' of Messrs. Crystail and Fee, also of Palmerston North. This horse is not unknown locally, (or he was formerly trained at Awapuni. Since being transferred to Foxton he has been given an insight to the hurdling game and he may make his debut in the role at the Manawatu Winter Meeting. Another hurdler is Soviet, a four-year-old gelding by Gasbag from Sartovna, the dam of that speedy t sprinter Miss Pat. ' The one rising, three-year-old is King Thomond, a brown gelding by Thomond troin Northern Rose. Two of the progeny of Thomond in Lord Thomond and s> Ephialtes have proved good advertisements for their sue, and Carmont is of the opinion hmg Thomond may also be good. Wasteland is a rising two-year-old by Acre-—Piffle, and there is also a brown filly by Arausio—Guirion, who is a full-sister to Flower. i Racing enthusiasts who remember the oe«ds of Lady Limond during her brief facing career will be interested to learn Jhat she has produced a chestnut foal to Colossus.

NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE. track and STABLE GOSSIP. The Takanini trainer J. T. Jamieson. Accompanied by Mrs. Jamieson, left for kyilney by the Monowai yesterday. Jamielias a tc_m of sis horses in Sydney lor the spring- racing campaign and chief Miong tliem is Amnion ita, whose mission is Australian Derby. Amnion Ra will Probably open his three-year-old career in 1il « Hobartville Stakes at Warwick Farm August 29.

Lieutenant-Colonel C. W. Birkiu, owner of tile £ngusii Oaks winner Brulette, holds a J e j"y high opinion of his filly, whom be believes is something out ot the common, arulette is a. French-bred filly by Bruleur irota Seaweed, hf Spearmint, and like her Mother, Hotweed. she is a genuine stayer, ■oruiette did her previous racing in France and wag taken across to England only a le.v Ua l' & before the Oaks contest.

bntil a few years ago, when a couple of pack sprint events were opened to three-Jwt-olds, oniy four-year-olds and upwards eligible to compete at the Canterbury Jockey club's Grand National Meeting. an important change Lbs bee;, uiaiie ® nd it has been decided t hat three-year-uldo miiy niu „j j, nv even t with the excep'On of the Winter Cup, for which the c °fflmations have already closed.

•The Matamala owner-trainer J. Clothier f s , , n °t often race his horses outside the province, but he made a wise dei ! on _ whtn lie decided to i\jce Prince Val , .Lord Val at the Wellington Rncing r P ? }"inter Meeting, for nis horses both /St 111 gooc i style on Saturday. Prince v. "is always been in his element in eoing and he is so well nt present . «t he might win again before the meeting « over.

.'o Manawatu sportsman Mr. E. Trevor, er ®2 ®. stroke of misfortune recently e lost a rising two-year-old ifilly by l-rnm er . Mm ?. lrel f''on Sleeping Beauty. The c»iu • er and broke her pelvis while tl/iii. the paddock and had to be r, Others of the progeny of by 1} S Beauty in Crlenrossie and a filly aiid li° 2n , 0 have also been in trouble, lately of v.i i 6 ' a tter has had to be thrown out orlt 011 account of unsoundness. 'ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. (!hie(Hi'"i I'apakura.—Briar Root, by '. iqi- ef rc ! Tl Bonny Br.iar, was foaled *"'rir«t i w '" lan ' t ,iS B six-year-old on