IMPROVED FINANCES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22412, 7 May 1936, Page 9

IMPROVED FINANCES

HIGHER RACING STAKES OWNERS' BRIGHTER OUTLOOK DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA Improved patronage of racing is reflected in the widely-expressed resolve of racing committees, both in New Zealand and in Australia, to add to old stakes for the forthcoming winter and spring meetings. Increases announced by the Canterbury Jockey Club bring back the prize-money virtually to the 1931 level, when the Grand National Steeplechase was worth £ 1000, the Winter Cup £SOO and the Grand National Hurdles £750. The steeplechase stake has remained static at £IOOO for several years, but 10 years ago the three races were worth £2OOO for the steeples, £IOOO for tho cup and £ISOO for the hurdles. From 1927 to 1930, inclusive, tho stakes were respectively £I6OO, £750 and £I2OO. For the " peak" year, ] 923, they were £2200, £IOOO and £1750. Total increases for the National meeting are £9OO and this is also tho additional sum allotted by the Wellington Racing Club for its three-day meeting in July. The pmo-money for tho Wellington Steeplechase has been raised from £6OO to £750 and for tho July Steeplechase from £350 to £450. Tho Winter Hurdles remains at £SOO, but the other four hurdle races, as well as the principal flat races, have been allocated an added £SO or £75. Similarly greater stakes are being announced by all the chief clubs in Australia. Tho Victoria Racing Club has increased the stakes for its Grand National meeting, and in Sydney material inceases for tho principal handicaps at tho Australian Jockey Club's Spring Meeting have been decided upon. The Epsom Handicap was increased from £2OOO to £2600 and the Metropolitan from £4OOO to £SOOO. The Australian Jockey Club is gradually working to the peak year of racing with prize-money. Before the depression tho Epsom Handicap and the Doncaster Handicap were each worth £3OOO, and as much as £6OOO has been provided for both the Sydney Cup and the Metropolitan. TURF IN AUSTRALIA WIN FOR NORMAN CONQUEST ESTABLISHES RACE RECORD (Received May G, 7.25 p.m.) SYDNEY. May G At the Kensington Racing Club's meeting, the first division of the High-weight Handicap was won by Norman Conquest, who bent Prince Ponibai, another Now Zealand-bred horse, in record time for the race. Dual Ratio dead-heated for second in the third division of the same race. Result:—• HIGH-WEIGHT HANDICAP. Of £110; 51 fur. NORMAN CONQUEST. Mrs. J. . W. Thomson's br g, syrs. by Vnlkyrian— Lady Anomaly. 9.13 (J. Maxwell) . . 1 PRINCE POMBAL. S. Cush's b g. Gyrs, by Pombal—Veil, 10.13 (IT. W. Berry) 2 GALADEER BOY. V. Brennnn's b or. Jyrs, by Galadeer—Auntio Annie, 8.12 (R. J. Parsons) 3 Twelve started, including Headmaster and Moneta, Half-head; length. Time, 1m Bs, a race record. APPEAL REJECTED SUSPENSION OF H. N. WIGGINS The appeal of H. N. Wiggins against his suspension for three months for interference at the start of tho Herries Memorial Cup run at To Aroha on February 29, was considered by the Auckland District Committee, which decided not to alter the decision of the judicial stewards of the Te Aroha Jockey Club. Wiggins' suspension will expire on the eve of the Auckland Racing Club's winter meeting. NOTES FROM EVERYWHERE TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP Travelling Agent was for the Great Northern Hurdles at 3.10 p.m. yesterday. The leading jockey L. J. Ellis is having an enforced holiday on account of a slight strain: It is reported that G. Ridgway will reside permanently in Christchurch after his tour cf tho North Island winter meetings. Kow-Tow and the yearling filly by Paper Money—Egotism, owned by Mr. H. G. Greenwood, will join up with F. D. Jones', team this week. It is intended to produce the disappointing, but probably unlucky, Argentic at tho Ashburton and Timaru meetings, after which ho is to be given a rest. Mr. O. Nicholson and Dr. A. McGregor Grant will again represent the Auckland Racing Club at xhe Racing Conference in July. Dr. Grant and Messrs. W. Claude Motion, W. H. Lunn, M. M. McCallum and M. M. Louisson have been appointed the club's delegates on tho District Committee. J. C. Tomkinson is tho youngest holder of a trainer's licence from tho Racing Conference in Now Zealand, but he has had his full share of success with a comparatively small team, which lias received reinforcements recently. A yearling gelding by Robespierre from Delplnne, a sister to Adelphi, is owned •by Mr. W. A. White, who has Emissary and Moonbeam in tho same stable. Outrance, a yearling filly by Rapier from Kilada, and a half-sister to Impossible, is to be trained by Tomkinson for her breeder, Mr. 13. F. Spiers, while Mr. M. O'Brien has handed over a two-year-old gelding by Shambles from Bran Pie. It is a long time since onlookers dis-played-SO much enthusiasm as they did when tho three best three-year-olds in the State fought out a most exciting finish in the St, Lcgcr on Easter Monday and crossed the line almost ori terms (says a Perth report of tho race). The racing showed that tho State's younger horses are a good lot. In the St. Leger tho Derby winner Yaringa beat tho Perth Cup winner Picaro only by a head, with Balkan Prince, another good performer, a half-head away third, and the issue was in doubt right up to the post. The time, 3.16, was very slow, but this often happens when there is nothing left in to make a pace. RACING FIXTURES May 7. 9—Egrnont Rncing Club. May 8, 9—Marlborough Racing Club. May o—Amberley Racing Club. May 16— Southland Racing Club. May IG—Ashburton County Racing Club. May 10—Marton Jockey Club. May I(s—Wttipu Racing Club. May 23—South Canterbury Jockey Club. May 23—Carterton Racing Club. May 23, 25—Waikato liacing Club. May 30—Foxton Racing Club. May 30, Juno 3, o—Auckland Racing Club. June 4, 6—Otaki Maori Racing Club. June 6—Ashburton County Racing Club.