RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8171, 12 July 1912, Page 9

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES July 17, 20.—Wellington R.O. August 13. 15, 17.—Canterbury J.O. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “The Judge.”) The Wellington Racing Club has applied to tho Conference for October 261 h and 28th as the dates for the spring meeting. It is amazing to find these dates objected to by the Canterbury J.C., who are applying for November 2nd, 4th, 6th and 9th to race on. Considering that the Wellington meeting will be concluded on the Monday, while the Riccarton fixture does not commence till the following Saturday, it is impossible to see how the dates clash. On the contrary, northern owners would find them most convenient, for after racing at Trentham tho horses could be shipped south, reaching Riccarton four days before the C.J.C. meeting opens. _ It is to he hoped this trivial objection by the southern club will promptly meet with its deserts, and be thrown out by the dates committee. I learn that Khamrin is to be brought home from Otaki to-day. It will be remembered the Quarryman filly met with an accident at the last Otaki meeting, and it has been found impossible to move her before. Tho filly has fallen away, and her case looks a rather serious one. Indeed a vet. who saw her recently expressed tho opinion that she would never race again. This is a bit of genuine bad luck for her popular owner, Mr “Lance Wood,” ns Khamsin had shown some excellent form this season, and only tho day before the mishap had won the Raukawa Cup, the big event of the Maori meeting. Since Mr F. Crossley operated on Cullinan for respiratory troubles the son of Royal Fusilier has started in four races, getting two seconds, a third, and a fourth. This is a big improvement on Mr Griffiths’ horse’s previous form. Mr Henry’s adjustments for the big events of the C.J.C. meeting give evidence of having been compiled with care, and they nave come in for close scrutiny. The handicap for the big steeplechase commences on a higher scale than does Mr Pollock’s weights for the Wellington Steeplechase, Te Arai occupying pride of place with 12.7, but ne is not in training. The others are much about the same, but the light-weights are given a slightly better chance. This also_ applies to the hurdle event, in • which Master Theory meets his rivals on worse terms than in next Wednesday’s race. Of tho big field in the Winter Cup _no fewer than thirteen are in at the minimum. Backers have been given a rare conundrum to think over, yet they will undauntedly step in and back the treble. The cautious backer will wait to see how tho jumping brigade get bn at Trentham next week. The form there should do much to elucidate Mr Henrys’ puzzle. The death of St. Crispin is reported from Pirongia, Waikato. The son_ of St. Leger and Tingara, when running in a paddock, got down in a waterhole, from which he could not extricate himself. St. Crispin’s sensational defeat of Gold Medallist in the Great Northern Derby of 1893 will not have been forgotten by those who witnessed it. The late Mr G. G. Stead’s colt was considered a certainty, but St. Crispin beat him handsomely, _ and Aucklanders were not slow in giving tho local colt a great ovation. At the stud St. Crispin had little opportunity, but sired a few winners. The A.J.C. granted a license to C. Emerson, and the New Zealand lightweight was riding at Warwick Farm on Saturday. With a strong Chokehore Lodge team under orders for Randwick Emerson will doubtless remain in Sydney to ride for the stable at' the big A.J.C. spring meeting.

Although Rangi Thompson and A. Julian will not bo well enough to ride at Trentham next week, both of these prominent cross-country horsemen expect to be in the saddle again at the Grand National meeting next month. Mr W. M. Campbell, M.P., is giving a cup for the winner of the Hawke’s Bay Cup race next season. The V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase will be decided to-morrow. There is no horse of the Redleap, Sussex, Daimio and Grafnax class this year, and the field will be made up of a very ordinary lot of horses.

Up to tho time of the last mail leaving England the King had been represented by nine winners this season.

The American horse Whisk Broom (Broomstick —Audience), who has won a number oflgood races in England this year, added to his list by defeating a strong field in the Victoria Cup, of 1000 sovs, at Hurst Park. Frank Wootton, who led off in great style at the Hurst Park meeting with two wins and a second in three races, was reported to the stewards for changing positions at the post without the permission of the starter, and was suspended for the rest of the meeting. Some of our own starters might well take a note of tho incident.

Lance Chest, the rather badly-nam-ed son of Spearmint and Chestnut Sunday, who won the Princess of Wales Stakes last week, was successful in a race just before the mail left. This was the Yearling Plate, of 1000 sovs, at Hurst Park. The Manchester Cup is a race which is well worth winning, being of the value of 3000 sovs, with a gold cup valued at £250. Bronzino was backed for this as though the race was all over 1 , and inside the distance it looked as though the big coup would come off. Lord Derby’s colt Donnithorpe oamo at the favourite in the last little bit and beat him by half a length. The winner is a three-year-old by Chaucer from Hetty Sorrel, who was only making his second appearance this season. BAD FOR THE OWNERS. It will be remembered that the committee of the C.J.C. refused the petitions from North Island owners asking that the handicaps for the principal events of the National meeting should be postponed till after the Wellington meeting. The reason given was that as the date had been freely advertised it was inadvisable to depart from it. Then, as |f to prove there was nothing in their argument, the advertised date was departed from and the handicaps declared before they were due. In dealing with the matter “The Possible” in tho “Canterbury Times” sumt up the action of the C.J.C. correctly. “It was really a case of refusal without any explanation of the reason (he writes). I cannot help regretting the decision of the committee. There is little fear, I should say, of tho Grand National meeting suffer-

!ing very much, as tho substantial stakes will attract practically all the best horses. What is much more likely is that the Wellington Racing Club’s fixture will be prejudiced, as owners who fancy their Riccarton prospects will now bo compelled to choose between forfeiting their Trentham engagements and running the risk of earning penal- ( ties for the richer prizes at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s carnival. The effect which the early declaration of the Grand National weights will have on tho Wellington meeting is not the only concern. The real sufferers by the present method are the owners. In_ the case of the jumpers the opportunities for winning rich stakes are few enough, and it seems a matter for regret that they should be curtailed when there is no real necessity for such action. It seems a pity tho handicapper has to declare his weights without having all the form available. It would not be so bad if tho conditions provided for the rehandicapping of winners, or even of placed horses. The present arbitrary system of penalising winners is a most inequitable method of dealing with the question, as it takes no account at al of tho merit attaching to a win. However, the matter has been settled for this year, at least, so it may be dropped now, with the hope that no great harm will bo done in any direction.” V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES FINAL ACCEPTORS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received July 11, 9.55 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 11. Following are the final acceptances for tbe GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE, Of 1500 sovs; about three miles and one furlong. Vanguard 11.12, Central Queen 11.4, Leah Kleshna 11, Bribery 10.10, Steam 10.8, Nimrod 10.8, Yalworra 10.8, Gun. cap 10.6. Big Bob 10.4, Tinapagee 10.4, Quilatchil 9.12, Scrutineer 0.10, Fulgent 9.8, United Kingdom 9.6, Moui 9.4, Myall Jack 9, Warrawoona 9.