TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1201, 8 March 1895, Page 23

TURF GOSSIP.

By “ Gipsy King.” AFTER THE RACES. THE MANAWATU AUTUMN MEETING. SUMMER VEP.SUS AUTUMN MEETING. The attendance and totalisator figures prove conclusively that the Summer Meeting of the above club is their most popular fixture. Of course it could not be expected that there would be so large an attendance at Palmerston North last week as there was during Christmas week, but the shrinkage in the attendance compared with the Summer Meeting was so noticeable that the executive of the club should lay themselves out to “boom" their Summer Meeting. By increasing the amount of the Palmerston Cup to 500 sovs on the first day of the Summer Meeting, they could make small reductions in the other stakes at both meetings, which would make up the increased amount without having to draw on their treasurer. This liberal stake would tempt the Southern owners, who would much prefer to travel to Palmerston North than go as far as Auckland and race on a right-handed course. The totalisator figures pretty accurately gauge the success of a race meeting, and by quoting £11,256 as the amount put through the totalisator at ;the Summer Meeting as compared with £7924 put through at the Autumn Meeting, which gives the substantial difference of £3332 in favour of the former meeting, those interested in the welfare and progress of the club must recognise that the Summer Meeting is worthy of being the meeting of the club. A SUCCESSFUL MEETING. However, by Comparison with the Autumn Meeting of 1894, the meeting last week was quite a success, there being an increase in the totalisator investments of £370. The attendance on each, day numbered close on 1000, which must be considered very satisfactory at this time of the year, more especially when so many are holding back for the Cup Meetings at Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay and Napier Park. THE MANAGEMENT.

The numerous patrons of the Manawatu Club and the many visitors to its race meetings always speak in eloquent terms of the strict business-like manner in which the affairs of the club are conducted. The officers are courteous to everyone, they use their best endeavours to tempt people to their race meetings, and, when they get them there, they very properly consider it their duty to keenly watch over tlieir welfare. Many racing clubs are content to acknowledge the patronage of the public, bub they do not appear to afterwards trouble how they get on. When conducting a.first-class meeting, the public expect that the officer's of racing clubs will protect their investments on the totalisator, by keeping a watchful eye on the form displayed by the horses engaged at the meeting ; and if there is one club more than another that affords this protection to its patrons, it is the Manawatu Club. During the progress of a race, the stewards watch -the running very keenly, and if anything of a suspicious nature occurs, the offender is quickly asked for an explanation. They stand no “ hanky-panky ” business, and if owners, trainers dr jockeys think they are going to fix up any crooked business on the Manawatu track, they are very lucky if they escape an interview. How few officers of racing clubs in New Zealand understand thei~ duty to the public ! The Manawatu and Egmont Racing Clubs are the only ones that I can quote with confidence that deal promptly and firmly with any “shady” transactions that come under their notice. The public will always continue to support such institutions. At the meeting under notice, the officers were called upon to enquire into Lindsay’s riding of Wheriko in the First Hack Race. Their decision was not hastily arrived at, as the enquiry was postponed until the evening, so that the matter could be fully gone into; the result of'their deliberations being a two-months’ disqualification for the Hawke’s Bay horseman. Probably smarting under bis interview with the stewards in the early part of the afternoon, when Lindsay returned to weigh in after riding second in the Maiden Hack Race (the last, race of the day), he was foolish enough to use some offensive remarks to one of the officers, for which he was fined £2. One of the officers put the matter very pertinently to me by saying, “We treat the jockeys with every respect, and expect the same in return.” THE BOOKMAKERS. After their experience on the first day of the meeting, the officers of the club found that there was so much difficulty in checking the totalisator odds betting, which they knew was going on but could not trace, they determined to effectually put a stop to it by refusing admission to the bookmakers to the course on the second day, and priuted notices were posted on the gates to this effect. However, one of their number, attended by a solicitor, interviewed the stewards, aud claimed his right as a citizen to be present at the meeting. After the solicitor had partly stated the case on behalf of his client, the chairman, getting an inkling of the defence, informed the solicitor that the meeting of the stewards was not exactly a police court, and that if he wanted to enforce what he considered were the rights of his clients that it would be necessary for him to refer the case to a court of law. However, the chairman, on behalf of the stewards, effected a compromise by stating that if the bookmaker would give a promise that he would refrain from laying wagers on the course the club would not take further action. The promise being forthcoming the

ended, and the others present on the course were made acquainted with the decision, which appeared to meet with general approval from the public.

“RED TAPE.”

At the committee meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, held the oilier day, Mr “ Portland ” wrote asking the committee if his mare Agate, who had “ walked over ” for the Waikato Produce Stakes, value £6O, was eligible to be entered for the Trial Handicap at the club’s Autumn Meeting this month, and what weight the same animal would have to carry in the Post Stakes at the same meeting. Much to the surprise of everyone, the committee in a high-handed sort of manner resolved, “ That it is not the dut> of thi3 committee to give advice to owners.” In sporting circles there has been much adverse comment on this reply. , Mr “ Portland’s ” question, to a reasonable being, does not seem out of place, and when it is known that Captain Russell, Hon J. D. Ormond, Messrs G. Hunter, T. H. Lowry, F. Logan, W. Douglas, G. P. Donnelly and W. Shiimpton composed the committee, their curt reply will cause more surprise. Surely an owner is well within his rights in seeking advice from the committee of the Racing Club he desires to nominate his horse with. If Mr “ Portland ” has not sufficient confidence in his own interpretation of the conditions of the races mentioned, and is desirous of nominating Agate, the only course open to him appears to be that he must nominate and start his mare, and if she should win, run the risk of a protest, which should it be decided against him will mean that he can pay the nomination fee (acceptance, nil) and jockey’s fee, and lose whatever money he may invest on the totalisator (and the public along with him) for the advice he will have received. A very pleasant prospect to be sure. The conditions of the Trial Handicap which Mr “Portland” seeks advice about are as follows:—“ For horses that have never won a race exceeding 40 sovs in specie at time of starting.”