THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6678, 28 November 1908, Page 14

THE TURF

SEASON 1308-09. Takapuna J.C.—Nov. 28, Dec. 2. Foilding J.C.—Nov, SO, Dec. 1. 'iVoodvillo J.C.—Dec. 9 and 10, Dannevlrke J.C.—Dec. 10 and 17. Manawatu R.C. —Deo. 23, 26, and 28. Auckland R.G. —Deo. 26 and 30, Jan. 1 and 2. Lower Valley J.C'. —Dec. 20 and 28. Ashhurst-Pohangina R.C.—Deo. 29. Kangitikei R.G. —Jan. 1 and 2. W'airarapa E.C.—Jan. 1 and 2. Hawke's Day J.C.—Jan. 1 and 2. NOTES AND COMMENTS By “AUGUR.” The Takapunai meeting opens to-day, and will be concluded on Wednesday next. The spring meeting of the Peilding Jockey Club is set down for Monday and Tuesday nest. Most of the large visiting contingents have already arrived on the scene, and everything points to a highly successful gathering. Owners of ponies and galloways are reminded that nominations for all events at the December meeting of the Wellington Pony and Galloway Club, to be held on December 12th and 18th, close on Monday next, at 4 p.m., with the secretary, Mr J. M. Gumming, Bank Chambers. Maranui, winner of the Caulfield Cup, is back again at Raudwick, but is hardly likely to do any racing before the autumn. Dalny, a full-sister to Orloff, a Canterbury Welcome, Stakes and Derby winner, succumbed recently while foaling to Achilles. Dalny was the property of Mr E. J. Watt. , Says an Australian writer:—"lf Waipuna, who was sold for 300gB to a South Australian, takes kindly to hurdle racing, at which he is to be given a trial, he should prove a cheap horse, as there is no doubt about his galloping ability. X think the handicappers rated him a bit too high.” The following penalties have been incurred for the Third Peilding Stakes, of five furlongs, to be run on Monday next. Bobrikoff 101 b, Gold Crest, Plitaway, and Armlet 51b each; Broadsword, Provocation, and Expansion 31b each. Guiding Step has a 71b maiden allowance. The weights for this event, which have not previously appeared, are published elsewhere.

Among the large number of floral tributes in evidence at the obsequies of the late Mr A, Y. Mcßeth was a beautiful wreath from the Marton Jockey Club, of which the deceased was for many years a vice-president.

How misfortune does persistently follow some horsemen. That old-timed hurdle rider, George ■ Eamg, who has been out of luck's way for a long time past, met with a nasty accident the other day while schooling Sedgemoor over the battens on the Wanganui racecourse. Laing’s injuries consisted of four broken, ribs and a severe bruising, as_ the result of his mount coming to grief.

The committee of the Wellington Pony and Galloway Club have decided to admit ladies free to all privileges at their forthcoming meetings at Miramar. There is a probability of Mr G. E. Moore's beautifully- bred colt Signor being taken to Australia to compete in the Australian Cup Champion Stakes and other events at the autumn meetings. • Volodga, by Stepniak year-old full-sister to Master Alix and Petrovna, who won a race at Timaru on Thursday, is said to be a very promising filly, and likely to emulate the good deeds of her relatives. Old Lyrist has been hitting out in good style on the Peilding track during the last few mornings, and on Wedneseasily accounted for Paparaehi. Lyrist was probably one of tbe fittest horses seen at Riccarton, and he appears to be retaining his condition, and it will be interesting to see how he shapes at Peilding on Monday with his big burden of 12.7. it takes a lot of weight sometimes to stop them when they are really well. Mahoe has been accompanied in schooling tasks at Peilding by his stablomate Belario, who was not nominated for the fixture. Although Mahoe has been going well, he has shown an inclination to run off at his fences. Belario, who has only raced once previously brer the battens, when he won at Blenheim,* on the other hand, fenced in a taking man. ■ner. The latter will /probably be next seen out at Woodville. i

It is pleasing to note that the initiatory steps which the Wanganui Jockey Club have taken to bring about the introduction of stipendiary control at its meetings and those of country clubs under its jurisdiction is being favourably viewed by the -latter. The committee of the Marton Jockey Club met during tbe present week, decided to support the proposal, and appointed Dr Skerman to represent it alt a conference of delegates to be held later bn. The result of same will be awaited with much interest in sporting circles throughout the Dominion. The chief difficulty to be faced will doubtless, be to secure competent persons to undertake the duties. The smart New Zealand sprinter Soultline, for whom Mr S. B. Mackay gave 1000 guineas last week, has been placed in R. Bradfield’s charge, and after a few weeks' spell he will bo put into work at Plemington. A determined effort is being made by a number of Caulfield residents to secure the abolition of the Caulfield, racecourse. They complain that the V.A.T.C. have violated their Crown grant, ignored the rights of the ratepayers, and blocked the progress of the district. There appears promise of trouble. The “Special Commissioner" says that Mr Buchanan’s reserve on Noctuiform was dt first IOOOgs, but this was unexpectedly reduced to 500 gs. Tie writer quoted adds that on the day prior to the sale, in reply to an inquiry from Australia, he cabled that IOOOgs was the lowest price that would be accepted, and when the reduction was decided upon it was too late to make it known to the 'would-be buyer. Furthermore, he states that a wire from P'rance, authorising him to go to considerably more than the 500 gs for which the chestnut was sold to Mr Portman reached Mm too late.

Although the cable credits F. Wooltton with riding thirteen winners in about a fortnight since the expiry df his month’s suspension, it is improbable that he will overhaul D. Maher before the close of the season. When Wooltton got into trouble his score was ninetyeight wins, and the thirteen referred to above brings his total to 111. That, however, would still leave him some distance behind Maher, who up to October 16th had 112 wins opposite his name, and is unlikely to have been at a standstill during the past month. Wootton’s average up to the time of his suspension was one win in five, a decided advance upon his slightly less than one in seven of last year. A SUDDEN INSPIRATION When a horse with a strange-sounding name is listed on the race-card there naturally is a curiosity felt on all sides ■as to how such name came to be conferred; and whenthe oddly-naimed animal wins a classic event, such as the Derby, the interest in the secret of nomenclature becomes more keen. Alawa, the winner of this year’s Derby, was given his name as the resuft of a sudden inspiration. 'While the owner. Miss Robertson (racing name ”M. Gordon ), was puzzling about what to call her new purchase she overheard a Soots-

man make use of ike remark -with which so many of the old. folk intimate their intention of leaving; “Week ATI am." The AT 1 awe, became concreted into one word, "Alawa,” and that was thought to b© a good name for the colt. The Countess of Dudley, who was inspecting the horse in the saddling paddock before the race, asked the owner what the name meant, and the explanation Was to the effect given above. THE RULES OF RACING. At a meeting of the English Jockey Club held recently at Newmarket, some very important alterations i'n the rules were agreed to. The principal changes were as follows: —Kul© 137 now reads: “No horse sha.ll go back except in the case of an accident, or under the provision of Rule 36,” with which is nowincorporated the addition, “but in the icvcnt of any horse running the course ifrom a false start, or from a void start, the owner may. with the consent of the ►stewards, withdraw- his horse from the aacs; tho horse shall, nevertheless, be considered as having started.” Rule 37 /will now read; “The starter has power to indict a fine, not exceeding lOsovs. on any jockey who misconducts himself at the post, and should a jockey be so fined the starter shall report the fact at onco to the stewards, lie shall also repoi't to the stewards any jockey who ref rises to obey his commands in anv ■respeot whatever.” To Rule 38 was addled. "The starter shall report to the 'Stewards the time at which each race -was started, and by whom, or by what cause, any delay was occasioned. He (shall also report -to the tefcewards, for transmission to the Registry Office, all eases in which tho starting gate is dispensed with, and the reason thereof.” THE SPRINTING AGE. At (several annua] conferences of the New Zealand turf parliament, a very laudable effort, in which the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club’s delegate. .Mr George Hunter, ,io always a prime mover, has | been made to compel racing clubs to include .an event of not less than ten furlongs on each day's programme. But the opposition set up by the country clubs’ representatives has, ft is to bo .regretted, always /proved a barrier to such progress, and resolutions put forward with such an object in' view, have been defeated by substantial majorities. A South Island writer makes the fol)owing f pertinent remarks on the subject:—“Dong distance racing received a good advertisement at the recent meeting at Riccarton.- The fields for the •four long distance handicaps were as follow: New _ Zealand Cup, two miles, ill; Metropolitan Handicap, one mile and a half, 12; Otaio Plate, one mile and a half. 12; Fendalton Handicap, one mile and a quarter, 19. So long as such fields as those can be (secured, there need be no talk of cutting down distances. A few Of the clubs in the South Island might well take note of the Rico at ton figures, for there is a strong tendency in some quarters to cater for the (sprinter too much, at the expense ■of the stayer." The writer could have safely included North Island clubs, for there are very few outside the metropolitan clubs which do not offend im this direction. Their contention, is that satisfactory •fields mould not be forthcoming. BACKING JOCKEYS’ MOUNTS. The following from a popular member of the legal profession was supplied to the Melbourne “Sporting Judge"; With a view <rf testng the advantage (if any) of following leading jockeys’ mounts, and a!(so of following a (particular stable. I have, for curiosity, kept a (record of results of races run at the big meetings, viz., Randwick Sydney Cup meeting, four days; Metropolitan meeting, four days; V.A.T.C. spring and autumn meetings, .and V.R.C. spring and autumn meetings, since and inclusive of ■Sidney Cup meeting, 1901 up to conclusion of last Melbourne Cup m.eeting, in which horses trained by T. Payten and horses ridden by J. Barden and W. H. Smith have competed, and. on the basis ,o£ an investment of £1 on each horse trained by T. Payten, and on bach horse ridden by J. Biarden and IV. H. Smith at each of these meetings, the results pan out; Winnings £I7OO 3 4 losses £1671 0 0 Profit .£29 3 1 In the winnings is included £2OO to £2 Alias in the Metropolitan of 1901 (ridden by Smith), when Alias, "through a fPeak of nature ’ beat that good horse Tartan, but for which the “system" would 'show a considerable loss. THE NEXT VICEROY’S CUP. The Melbourne Cup winner Apologue is reported unsound by the Indian papers, and is unlikely to test the strength of that great Queenslander, Fitz Grafton, on Boxing Day next, in the Viceroy’s Cup. An English horse, The Bedouin, who was purchased by a Calcutta sportsman for 2000 guineas, is favourably rcglarded in the land of rajahs, but Fitz Grafton is reported fit and well for the 'time being, and his connections are confident of his winning a third Cup in succession. Fitz Grafton is in the same stable that housed that other distinguished Australian, Greet Scot, who won the Cup twice in. succession, but succumbed in the third to Long Tom, a half brother (by iPtojeotile) to Alawa and King's Cross. .The Viceroy’s Cup. which is the blue ■ribbon of the Indian turf, has been won thrice by three horses. Satellite, Kingcraft, and Myall King, but not successively. The pair last named, were Australians. Fitz Grafton won the last two Cups, and if the meSt comes his way he WiM have made a record. Currandooley, who went to India in a hurry at the en'd of last season, is not doing well, but the Russley gelding Wandin has won a lot of friends. Wand in ia a useful horse, but his chances of beating Fitz Grafton !at w.f.a.—if the latter is anything like fit—are considered extremely remote. THIRD FEILDING STAKES, Of 500 sovs., second horse to receive 100 ©ovs. and third horse. 50 sovs. from the. stake. Weight-for-age, wfth penalties and allowances. Five furlongs. . at. lb. T. H. Lowry’s blk g Bobrikoff, by Finland—Gossip, 4yrs 9 7 J. E. McDonald's ch c Gold Crest, by Gold Beef —Nymph, 4yrs ... 9 5 W. F. Mcßeth’s b m Crucinella, by San Francisco—Charente, 4yrs... 8 9 Sir George Clifford’s ch f Flitaway, by Clanraruald— Elusive, 3yrs ... 8 2 G. D. Greenwood's b f Armlet, by Menschikoff—Armilla, 3yrs ... 8 2 G. Clareburt's b f Lady Menschikoff, by Menschikoff—Sister Frances, 3yrs" 7 ll G. F. Moore's blk c Guiding Ste-p, by Stepniak.—Guiding Stax, 3yns 7 9 Sir Geo. Clifford’s b e Broadsword, by Clanranald —Safeguard, 2yrs 6 9 W. E. Bidwill'e b c Provocation. by Birkenhead—Stepfeldt,- 2yrs 6 9 W. E. Bid-will’s b g Expansion, by Birkenhead—lmmersion, 2yrs... 6 6 2HANAWATU RACING CLUB SUMMER CARNIVAL. That progressive racing institution the Manawatu Racing Club, whose trysting ground is at Awapuni, is quite one of the most up-to-date and easily accessible in the Dominion. Great enterprise and pluck have been displayed by those who are shaping the destinies of the M.R.C., and it is pleasing to note the rapid advancement which has followed the bold and progressive policy adopted. The Christmas carnival now extends over three days, and, although the dates

selected by the “dates and permits" committee of the conference are rather wide apart, there is bound to bo a big foregathering of turf patrons at Palmerston North on December 23rd, 2Cth, and 2Sth. A prominent feature of the splendid bill of faro to bo provided will bo the hirst Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, a sweepstake of sires' subscriptions, and handsomely endowed with 1000 so vs. The Manawatu Cup comes next in point of value with 650 soys attached, while the Third Palmerston North Stakes is worth 500 sovs, and the President’s Handicap 4-00 so vs. Owners and trainers should note that nominations for all events close with the secretary, Mr J. M.. Johnston, on Wednesday next, at 10 p.m. The weights will be adjusted by Mr J. E. ITenrys. The full programme will be found in another column. WOODVILLE RACES ACCEPTANCES. PRESS ASSOCIATION. WOODVILLE. November 27. Maiden Plate, of 05 sovs; six furlongs. —Shannon Lass, Awha, The Raft, Remission, Colossus Teku, Miscast, Longner, Soprano, Paione, Cockatoo, Vinco, Marutoa. Charge, Aberbroth. Hack Handicap Hurdles.—Master Douglas 10.10, Tondorghie, Peregrine 10.5, Yosami, Belario 8.13, Lebeccio 9.11, Dnil 9.9, Don Carlos 9.8, Prince Hassan 9.3, Scenery, Indean Mutiny, Tapuo 9.2, Dxxilomatic 9. Grandstand Hack Handicap.—Seaton Dale 9, Routine 7.13, Highden, Parable 7.9, Mildura, Osiris ,7.5, Roselethe 7.2, Astraea 0.13, Eclogue 6.12, Rueniao 0.10, AVoodville Handicap, of 200 sovs; one mile and a, quarter.—California 9.9, Moral 9.2, Tangimoana .8.9, Moloch 7.13, San Julie 7.12, Muskerry 7.9, Nova 7.7, Loiret, Woodhey 7, Merrie Rose 6.12, Mallet 6.11, Rangihaeta, Lamsdorif 6.7. Plying Hack Handicap, of 75 sovs; six furlongs.—Stylish 5.9, Sir Artegal 8.7, Seaton Dale 8.6, Sir Antrim, Chase Mab 8.2, Vi 7.13, Investment, Gladsmuir 7.12, Maiora 7.11, Contour 7.10, Royal Maid, My Darling, Timothy 7.9, Loohiela, Hermia, Bonnie Boon 7.2, Sir Possible, Thaler 6.9. Borough Handicap, of 100 sovs; seven fhrlongs.—Hartyrium 9.13, Moriarty 9.9, Aboriginal, Ikon 9.5, Aberration 9.4, Sandstream 9.2, Toa Tuhi, Irunui 9, Merrie Zealand 8.12, Lethean 8.9, Rangihaeta 8.8, Chicane ’,8.7, Mussel, Eoseal, Skye 8.5. Welter Hack Handicap, of 75 sovs; one mile. —Peregrine 9.9, Routine 9.2, Buoyant, Windage 9.1, White Star, Highden 8.13,-Lucretius 8.12, Nightmare, Pliutgun, Separator 8.11, Sealer 8.9, Rose Lethe 8.8, Rnemac, Marutoa 8.7. Electric Handicap, of 100 so vs; five furlongs.— Nauraai 9.9, Lord Soult 9.2, Aborigine 8.13, Eangipapa 8.11, Ballarat 8.9, North Head, Lothair 7.13, Auldearn 7.7. Stylish 7.5, Tumut 7.3, Advantage 7.2, Andrew Mack 6.13, Linkless 6.12, Sir Artcgal 6.11, Voetgang 6.10. SECOND DAY. Hack Scurry, of 65 sovs; five furlongs.— Awha, Marten, Colossus, Teku Shellfish, Miscast, Longner, Magneto, Twinkle, Soprano, Notorious, Forest Queen, Kimmerian, Vinco, Danntelien, Marutoa, Toanga, Charge, Aberbroth, Hermia.