TURF CONTROL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22725, 11 May 1937, Page 9

TURF CONTROL

POSITION IN SYDNEY REPLY TO RECENT CRITICISM i SIR C. STEPHEN'S REMARKS [from our own correspondent] SYDNEY, May 0 The main turf feature of Sydney this week was Sir Colin Stephen's reply to the stream of criticism directed on racing. Although temperate, the chairman of the Australian Jockey Club did not hesitate to speak his mind. In his opening remarks to a Sydney pressman he said that while he welcomed fair criticism many of the recent attacks had been mere generalities which could not bo proved. Unfortunately, he added, there were still many people in the world who would beliove evil rather than good, and suggested that the irresponsible attacks were doing incalculable harm. Sir Colin admitted that racing from its beginning lent itself to corrupt practice but supervision had improved to such a degree that practices tolerated at one time would not be countenanced in these, days. He doubted the alleged prevalence of inconsistent running and believed that the public had been misled rnto a false conception of this. Luck in races run on circular courses with horses racing at a faster speed than 12s to a furlong must make fortune a big factor. In his opinion most horses required more pushing than pulling but if there were any suspicious incidents they should have the most complete investigation.

Stipendiary Stewards

Sir Colin also refuted the suggestion gaining ground that the stewards were dominated by the A.J.C. committee. He said the stipendiary officials had complete charge of racing as prescribed by the rules without any interference. They wero competent observers and capable men who could read races much better than most people. The chairman did not believe thai, decreased attendances wero due to public dissatisfaction with racing control but to wireless and other innovations. Attendances at football and. cricket matches were also falling off and this could not be caused by lack of racing control.

Lynch Law, probably the best two-year-old of tlie season in Sydney,, is back in J. T. Jamieson's stable at Randwick. The colt has had" a good holiday and to all intents and purposes has thrown off the log trouble which caused his premature retirement in the autumn. Ho has not grown a great deal during his holiday but looks healthy.

K, Cook is tho latest Sydney jockey likely to try his luck in India. He has been offered a good retainer and it is probable that he will accept. The Siegfried three-year-old Bertha B. won a mile and three furlongs novice race at Canterbury Park last Saturday. She made matters rather difficult for herself by refusing to gallop with a horse on the outside of her. - Consequently she was forced to sweep very wide on the turns. She tired in the straight but was no more weary than those who were making unavailing efforts to catch her. The Jamieson stable supported her to a degree but not so strongly as on one or two recent occasions, for she had been a costly failure. Effect of Broadcasting

At the mid-week meeting at Kensington yesterday a surprise move by the club secretary left the printers of unofficial racebooks sadly lamenting. These books had been sold in the past for sixpence, and contained a fair amount of information. Mr. Underbill held up the sale of all books until 12.15 p.m., the first race being run at 1 p.m. In addition no racebooks were sold anywhere but on the course. This move completely frustrated the "pirates," Whose books were not available until 1 p.m., and by then all patrons were. on the course. > The effect of wireless, broadcasting on racecourse attendances was well exemplified at Newcastle last week-end. On Saturday with a wireless bsoad- • caster in operation, the attendance was only 4000, but on Monday, with no wireless, the figures jumped to 10,000, or the equal to that of the boom years. An unusual procedure settled a threat of broadcasting on Monday. Arrangements were made for a Scottish pipe banc! to play below the broadcaster, and tliero were other suggestions. Whether the threat of the pipes _ or the other suggestions were responsible, the broadcaster decided to call it a day before racing started;, Two protests ,in one day are not usual on Sydney courses, but there were a couple at Kensington yesterday. i Neither had any chance of success, and one brought a £5 fine for the jockey responsible. Jn the other the protest was, lodged on behalf of a Queensland horse, War Machine, who .was having his first 'run in Sydney. War Machine is an attractive horse by The Welkin sire Cannon, who was a good two-year-old in Melbourne a few years ago. Riposte was well beaten at Kensington when fancied in a mile welter. He was struggling hard to hold his place three furlongs from homo and was ridden out to finish fifth in a field of nine.

ENGLISH CLASSIC EVENTS

SUCCESSFUL OWNERS* PRIZES

The winner's portion of the prizemoney attached to the Two Thousand Guineas, which was won by M. do St. Alary's Le Ksar, amounted to £9HIB, white the owners of the second and third horses received £llOB and, £554 respectively. As a result of the success of Exhibitionist in the One Thousand Guineas, her owner, Sir Victor Sassoon, received £7422 10s. Both events wero run at Newmarket at tho end of last month.

TROTTING AT OAMARU

LUCKY JACK BREAKS BADLY

[by TIiLKGHAI'II —OWN COIIItKBPOJS'DENT] Cl.l HISTCIIURCII, Monday

When sho scorod in the President's Handicap at Oamaru on Saturday and registered a decisive win, Rocks Ahead displayed improved form, and in her present condition sho may soon win again. The favourite, Lucky Jack, lost ground at the start, and went to a bad break in the last 100 yards, when looking a winner. Young Frank, under a strong pull, made the early running, but in naif a mile Sea Gift rushed to the front and carried on from Morello, Mario Celeste and Francis Lincoln, while Big Author, Lucky Jack and Pot Luck, were a good way behind. Three furlongs from home Lucky Jack put in a brilliant burst, and at the straight entrance he was almost on terms with. Rooks Ahead, who had drawn clear of the others. Lucky Jack and Pocks Ahead were fighting out the finish when the former broke, leaving Rocks Ahead an easy winner from Pot Luck, who came fast over the final stages. Sea Gift, who finished at a gallop, was third from Marie Celeste, but these placings were later reversed.