RACING NEWS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8192, 6 August 1912, Page 9

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES Anzaat 13. 15. 17.—Canterbury J.Q August 29—Ambcriey Steeplechase Club, fcpptciuher 4, s—Marton J.C. .‘-.U-Ucmber ll—Dannevirke K.C. fespiomber 12, 13—Ashburton County R.O. geptember 25, 24—Otaki Maori K.C. beutember 26. 28—Avondale J.C. September 26, 27—Geraldine K.C. September 26, 28—Wanganui R.C. NOTES AND COMMENTS (By "The Judge.") The weather is reported to have improved at Christchurch, much to tho delight of trainers, who will be now in a position to prepare their charges under more pleasant climatic conditions than has been the case during the lost two weeks. A further contingent of North Island horses claiming engagements at the Grand National meeting were shipped south last night. The list included Odessa, Beacon, and St, Amelia (C. Pritchard), Miss Gibbs, Nedra, and .Sir i*cthe (J. Gravestock), I’awanui and Goldfinch (O. Fuller). The animals hail from Trentham, Carterton and Daunovirkc, and all bear a well-trained appearance. Continuance, a much-admired candidate tor tho Grand National Steeplechase, is pleasing cntica by his displays at headquarters. The Sabretache gelding will probably ho a warm favourite. Sir Lethe has come through a capital preparation at the hands of J. Gravestock at Clarevillo. Some Wairarapa enthusiasts are selecting Mr O. F. Vallanco's capital Jumper to do well at the Ricoarton meeting. W. Young will ride tho Freedom gelding Ngatimuru in tho Winter Gup. J. Stewart, who is to ride John in tho Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton, has a high opinion of hia mount as a jumper. In a conversation recently Stewart expressed tho opinion that John Is the best jumper that he has ever ridden with the exception of the South Australian horse The Reckoning. Alter fulfilling his C.J.C. engagements Stewart leaves for Sydney to catch tho Australian Jockey Club’s spring meeting.

It has boon tho custom for some timo past for a committeeman of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club to donate a trophy to the club to be presented to tho owner of tho winner of the cup, but tho system ta to bo abolished, and the retiring stewards made a recommendation at the recent an-’ nual meeting that H the Incoming committee were favourable to the proposal the clubs should donate a cup itself. Conditional licenses for three months were issued to Rang! Thompson and It, Gray at the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Metropolitan Committee hold at Hastings on Friday last. At the end of that time the two horsemen named will again have to apply for the usual permit to ride. Up to tho 17th of last month Cylleno’s progeny had won £16,654 in England this season.

A well-known American jockey of ton years ago, ’•Monk" Cobum, is dying of tuberculosis in a hospital in San Francisco. Coburn, who is only twenty-nine years of age. was one of the most noted jockeys on tho American turf, and he is credited with having on one occasion won £Beoo in one day when ho was at the zenith of his fame.

W. Price, who has been laid up In Wellington since the Trentham meeting suffer ing from influenza, has so far recovered as to ho able to leave hia ted. It is Price’s Intention to leave for Christchurch tomorrow to bo in readiness for his 0.J,0. engagements. Quito a large number of hunting enthusiasts will meet at Awapnni to-morrow, tho occasion being the annual gathering of the Manawatu Hunt Club. Cups have been donated by Messrs J. R. McDonald (Levin) and W. Q. Shannon (Feildlng). Provided tho weather keeps fine a successful meeting should result. Amongst the exhibitors at tho Inter nationa 1 Horse Show at Olympia was King George, who sent the famous Hanoverian . ere aim ponies which draw the State coach in royal processions, and the black horses used on other occasions. Another exhibitor of note was Ju tge W H. Moore, who took forty-five horses across from America.

Discussing the experiences of those on board the Kyoglo when that boat was compeled to put out to sea for salcey during tho recent equally weather on tho Australian coast one of tho returned visitore to tho C.K.J.C. racing carnival expressed tho opinion that had anyone on board been provided with a book of tickets fir trips round tho world at a “hob” each, not a single sale could have been effected. An other terrified sport is claimed to have sworn, if the the worst came to vhe wots;, to stick with the captain; but changed his plans Immediately on being informed by one of his comrades in distress that that officer was expected to bo last to leave the ship. However, after many anxious hours afloat, some of tho Sydney contingent arrived at Grafton just In time to see the Cup run on the second day of the meotiu, According to a Calcutta exchange, h. Scott does not intend keeping Gunboat, and on that horse’s arrival in India it was announced he was for sale. There should be no trouble in disposing of him, for if he only repats tho form ho displayed hi the Place Handicap at Handwiok, he, would take a deal of beating in tho Vice roy’s Cup, if, he should happen to run in that race.

An innovation to receive consideration from members of tho Q.T.O. (Brisbane) is one to provide a casualty room fully equipped, and also to ensure tho presence of a paid doctor on the course during race meetings. Such a rule should occupy the attention of the racing clubs in New Zealand, as tho writer has seen many jockeys being kept an uncomfortably long time suffering while an effort was being made to discover a medical man.

Among tho weight-for-ago candidates making good progress at Kandwlok are Lady Medallist and Beverage, and both should be quite ready to give goon accounts of themselves in anything in which they may run at Randwick. In tho Caulfield Cup Lady Medallist has 121 b more than last year, but she is such a good wciglitcarrier that 9.3 may not dispose of her chance of winning that race for the second timo in succession. Last season she started fifteen times for three wins of a total value of £4131, but as she earned another £1285 in place-money, Mr ’’Craven” has reason to be well pleased with her performances. Beverage, on the other hand, did not win a race for Mr C. Smith 'ast season, hut as his place-money comes to £423. ho Ims paid training expenses. Though it does not seem that long. Beverage’s last victory was nearly a year and nine montin ago, when he beat Aborigine in the Linlithgow Stakes at Flemington. Mow Zealand will ho well represented at the A.J.O. spring meeting, and with Bronze. Vico-Admiral, Counterfeit, Autumnus, and Ermengardo amongst tnose competing it will be surprising if some of the "plums” are not nnnexted by horses from these parts. The “Highden” and Mr Q. D. Greenwood’s teams are doing well at Randwick.

Odessa, a Winter Cup candidate, who was shipped to Lyttelton last mgnt, is in capital trim. Our Christchurch correspondent telegraphs that tho ram and snow which fell on Saturday rendered the tracks in a very sloppy condition, and tho severe frost experienced yesterday morning made fust work practically impossible. Several horses were indulged in steady pacing in the centre of the course, but tho majority were given walking exercise. Tho Grand National Steeplechase candidate Antarctic was on the course, but seemed a trifle sore. Should tho weather keep fine some interesting gallops should ho witnessed this morning. In an interview with Mr Andrew Robertson, of Melbourne, Australia, prior to his departure for England last month, this well-known exporter of thoroughbreds and trotting stock to Australasia said that on one trip irom New York City to Melbourne, via the Gape of Good Hope, he discovered by the merest accident during his sixtyday voyage that his stallions and mares could be taught to like the taste of boiled linseed oil in their feed, and ere the journey ended every animal whinnied whenever his men went over to where the big tins of linseed oil were kept. At first, he pave them about a tablespoonful In their mnsnes, this he gradually increased until they would take half a teacnpful. He found that it kept them in perfect health, their coats were bright and smooth, their digestion improved, and a shipload of horses in finer physical condition never landed after such a long and stormy journey than this one. There was no need for drugs of any kind when once this oil was used. Since their arrival on the Allendale -Stock Farm these horses get a little oil regularly in their feed and ho found that they do

better than those that have never tasted it. The reason he tried this on shipboard was that by some accident the sacks of flax seed were not shipped with the rest of the fc-d in New York, and ns there happened to be a quantity of linseed oil cn hoarl ho used it as a substitute. Y.A.T.O. MEETING By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received August 5, 9.15 p.m.) MELBOURNE, August 5. Monarch broke a leg when he fell in the Australian Hurdle race on Saturday, and had to be destroyed. Home Rule has ceen scratched for the Australian Steeplechase.