THE SPORT OF RAGING

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12007, 9 December 1924, Page 10

THE SPORT OF RAGING

RECENT TRAGEDIES & SAFETY OF COURSES

CONFERENCE MSVING AGAINST BIG FIELDS

GENERAL NOTES AND COMMENTS

FIXTURES

Dec. 10 and 11—Woodville District J.C. Summer. Dec. 13—Waipa R.C. Annual. Dec. 26—Waipukurau J.C. Summer. Dec. 26 and 30 and Jun. 1 and 2—Auck> land K.C. Summer. Dec. 26 and 27 —Taranaki J.C. Christmas. Dec. 26 and 27 —Dunedin J.C. Summer. Dec. 26, 27 and 29 —Manawatu R.C. SumDec. 26 and 27—Westland K.C Midsumn£er. Dec. 27, 29, 31—Auckland Trotting: Club's Summer Meeting. .Tan. 1 and 2 —Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer. Jan. 1 and 2—Wairarapa R.C* Summer. Jau. 1 and 2—Marton J.C. Sumxyer. Jan. 1 and 2—Stratford R.C. Annual. NOMINATIONS Doc 10—-Wairarapa R.C. Summer. Dec. 12 —Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer. Dec. 12—Marton J.C. Summer. HANDICAPS Dec. 9 —Westland R.C. Midsummer. Dec. 12— Manawatu R.C. Summer. Dec. 12—Waipukurau J.C. Summer. Dec. 12—Dunedin J.C; Summer. Dec. 15 —Taranaki J.C. Christina*. Dec. 15—Wairarapa R.C. Summer. Dec. 15 —Stratford R.C. Annual. Dec. IS—Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer. Dec. 19 I—Marton 1 —Marton J.C.’ Summer. ACCEPTANCES. Dec. 16—Manawntu R.C. Summer. Dec. 17—Dunedin J.C. Summer. Dec-. 18 —Westland R.C. Midsummer. Dec. 19—Waipukurau J.C. Summer. Dec. HF—Taranaki J.C. Christmas. Dec. 22—Wairarapa R.C. Summer. Dec. 20—Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer. Dee. 23—Marton J.C. Summer. Dec. 27—Stratford R.C. Annual. FINAL PAYMENTS. Dec. 16— Manawatu R.C. Nineteenth Pal* | merston North Stakes.

MOTES AND COMMENTS

(By <^ Ca^bine. ,, ) H. Gray has been engaged to Tide Dan I Quin in the Auckland Railway Handicap. E. Warner had three ribs broken when Wynno fell at Takapuna. H. Wiggins completed his apprentice* ship on Saturday last. The trouble which caused the withdrawal of Battle Knight from his Feilding engagement is not regarded as serious and ho will bo a runner at Woodville tomorrow. Loughrea, who has been weighted for the Auckland Cup, has. been entered for the principal middle-distance handicaps at the I>uncdin Christmas meeting. Though Pilliewinkie appears in the list of horses weighted for the Auckland Cup he is not in 6erious work at present. Limelight and Tarleton, candidates for the Auckland Cup, are reported from Riccartcn to bo training on nicely. Jackaroo* minors, Pillage. Manchester, Streanu Wench, Bestir, Printomps, Askari, Bitters and Lady Waimangu are among the entries for events at the Westland meeting. It is reported that F-; Tilley will take 6even horses to EUerslie, and that they will be Tukia, Enthusiasm,. Inferno, Para,, Glenrcss, Shining Armour, and Mandane.

A Wanganui writer says there is nothing in a statement that the Marton . Jockey Club is to hold its New Year races on the Wanganui course.

Bitters, who might do well on a small course, is among the nominations 1 for the Westland Cup. The' nominations for the race include Stream, Askari, Printemps and Eamorz. It has been remarked: that Taranaki horses always do -well at Feilding. meetings. On the recent occasion they re. turned eight dividends—two firsts and two seconds. This was not such a good record as usual. ,

The Christchurch "Star" reports that Tarleton is booked to race ’at Auckland on Boxing Day. At Bicearton on Tuesday morning he sprinted half, a mile the reverse way in 51sec, and is said to be looking well. Writing concerning post positions and the extra ground, horses are-. sometimes to cover on turning course*, "Cardigan" has the following to say ih the "Australasian":—"l remember wben that good horses Rostrum won the Tram, way Handicap, of seven . furlongs, at Bendiwick, a few years ago, beating his stablemate, Fleuriste. Rostrum, in a field of about 34, was only one or two from the outside. There was a great deal of controversy at the time as to tho extra ground he covered, as he did not get to the front and over to the rails until well into the straight. One surveyor, with an eye to tho main chance, as Rostrum was at the time a hot favourito for the Bpsom Handicap, went to the trouble of working out the extra distance the black horse did cover, and he estimated about 33ft. Of course, he forked on the supposition that Rostrum gradually went over to tho.fence. This is exactly what he did do, so the chances are he was not so. very for out in his computations. Anyhow, he . sent me along his plan, and added that'the result of the Epsom would probably show whether be was talking through his hat or not. Rostrum won right enough, and the surveyor is said to have had a royal ! wm." *

WOODVILLE MEETING OPENS TO-MORROW SPECIAL TRATNS TO AND FROM I WELLINGTON. One of the most popular and important of the summer meetings in this part of the island opens to-morrow, when the Woodville fixture will- ;be commenced. The fields are big and the racing should be excellent, A good attendance from the city and from places along the line is expected, and special trains Troro Wellington and back paVe been arranged for. Tho special will leave here at 6.5 a.m. tomorrow.

RECENT TRAGEDIES j AND THE SAFETYOF COURSES, i At? a believer in the simple truth that ! life is more worthy,of consideration than ; money, I have long urged upon the au- ; thorities the need . for sparing no effort to make tho courses* safe for those who : ride. Inactivity Kao moved one to conclude that, they were Awaiting for tho . smash" before doing anything, j There have been two very sad tragedies i in the last week or «*>. Both* MeFlinn ;ind Reed met their fatal injuries on small courses. when the going wAs affected by rain As reliable information is not available at the moment it is l not suggested that the futilities .were due to defects in the course, to .sixes of tho fields, or’even to the - nature-,of the going. But, the force of all that has been said and written about certain courses in the past should fiow have penetrated ’the i authorities! The • racing community. Particularly the jockeys, should demand | that all courses-should be examined by | experts, whose reports as to their safety : the clubs should be compelled to act on. If the Takapuna. and Tauinammii courses firs' unsafe th*y should be con« * damned. Jf they are safe, what are we U> aspect tbs courses*,

OVERCROWDED FIELDS

THE CONFERENCE TAKING ACTION. Legislation passed during the last session of Parliament empowers clubs to divide fields. Apparently the Racing Conference proposes to take advantage of this legislation, as clubs 'aro being communicated with respecting tho numbers of horses that should be allowed to start on certain courses. Wanganui's limit, for instance, has been fixed at seventeen. It is good to see the Conference moving in this important matter so soon after tho passage of the legislation. Overcrowded fields have been a menace l'or years. . * DUNEDIN MEETING ENTRIES FOR CHIEF EVENTS. Entries for the chief ©vents at the Dunedin meeting are: — OTAGO HANDICAP, of 600 sovs; one mile and a quarter.—Baldowa, Firestick, General Advance, Giantkiller, Happy Warrior, Kilfane, Lucinette, Loughrea, Listening Post, Mountain Lion, Moorland, Mantua, Monoxide, Palestrina, Red Wink, Rivalry, Ravenna. FEDERAL fIANDICAP, of .350 sovs; six furlongs.—Angelo, Ayrburn, Avispado, Bugle Note, Bella Lake. Ecuador, Firestick. Fulmar, Gay Juliet, Gold Town, Geranial, • Listening Post, Moorland, Ravenna. Sun Up, Songbird, Top Score, The Harp. THE ROSEDAY DISQUALIFICATION APPEAL TO RACING CONFERENCE. Mr J. Richardson, owner of Boseday, has lodged an appeal with the New Zealand Racing Conference against the decision of the. Dunedin District Committee in dismissing his appeal against the disqualification of hixnsolf and his horse for twelve months by the Gore Racing Club.

A RACING PROBLEM

ALLOCATION OF PERMITS APPLICATIONS FROM ALL CLUBS. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. According to Press reports received, the racing and trotting clubs throughout bqtn islands of the Dominion are vying with one another in pushing their claims lor official consideration for a sharo of •J additional totalisator permits prodded for by the Gaming Amendment Act passed last session after a memorable stonewall. It is understood that nearly every club has sent an application for—j detaihrtjg tile reasons which are considered sufficient to substantiate its case tor preferment. There being ouiy 31 permits available, their allocation, becomes a .problem, and whichever way it is solved it is hardly likely that tho fervour shown- by some of the applicants will be placated. On Saturday afternoon the Hon.' R. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs, returned from jthei north* where the luimstor had been discussing with several of the racing and trotting clubs their cases, and inspecting the chibs’ racetracks To a representative of the "New Zealand Times yesterday morning Mr Bollard remarked that during his visit north lie had received very many, deputatl0 fc ns u * rom . i-racing enthusiasts, who had not been lacking in energy in pushing taeir clayms for consideration. ; I must say," said Mr Bollard, "many or the clubs made out good cases for assistance under the Act, and that makes the allocation of the permits all the more of a problem. I hope to leave for the South Island this week to discuss with several of the country clubs their applications, and see their courses and equipment. Ido not expect that it win be possible to make the Government's announcement until early in the New Year I know that some of the clubs will be disappointed with the allocation—it is impossible to meet all; but they have my assurance that their claims will have very full consideration."

RIFLE SHOOTINC

THE KAROKI CLUB. . The Karori Club fired the fourth match of its championship aggregate on Saturday at 800 and 1000 yards. Tho uncertain weather conditions* which were in evidence on. Saturday in Wellington resulted in ;a small attendance of competitors. Peculiarly enough the weather at Trentkam was warm and dry all day, those riflemen who ventured out to the range in the afternoon enjoyed a plea&anfc chango from tho conditions which they left behind them in town. Tho shooting was not of a high standard. and the innrksmon seemed to bo troubled more with elevation than with windage. Rifleman Morrison heads the score list with 82. while Rifleman Swanson shows the best score off tho rifle. The leading positions in tho club championship underwent changes as a result of Saturday’s match. Rifleman Swanson moves up from fourth to first, and Fresident Marshall .from fifth to second, and Rifleman Boon from sixth to third. Deputy-President Gjoxton drops from first to seventh, and Rifleman R. Caughlcy from second to fourth. The positions in handicap aggregate show little change. Rifleman Freeman retains his lead, C. IV. Morrison moves up to second place, and E. A. Murrell moves from second to third. Tho scores were as under:

Saturday's match completed the chib’s fortnightly competition, the trophy for scratch men being won by Rifleman A. V. Swanson., and the trophy for handicap men by Rifleman H. J. Russell, as under;— - Scratch. Handicap. A. V. Swanson 166 ,H. J. Russell 167 E. A. Murrell 164 C. E. Morrison 166 H. T. Marshall 163 F. T. Freeman 166 H. T. Boon 161 E. A. Murrell 165 Next Saturday the club will fire the eetvice series of matches under N.It.A.

conditions. No slings or aperture sights can be used. WHAREROA RIFLE; CLUB. The above club fired the final match for the Covdukes Cup last Saturday at Paraparaumu, ranges 9CO and 1000 yards, Rifleman B. Dowsett securing a welldeserved win. A feature of the series was the splendid handicapping by W. Citomb. Following are the aggregate scores, with three matches yet to fire, for

800 1000 3'ds yds Hep. Tl. C. E. Morrison 34 9 — 82 ■A. V. Swanson ..... 34 sc — 80 H. T. Marshall ....... 43 36 sc — 78 H. T. Boon 34 sc — TO H .T. Russell 29 35 11 — 75 D. Hobortson ....... 43 23 3 — 74 F. T. Freeman 39 26 9. — 74 L. A. Caldwell 45 28 sc — 73 R. Cnughley 33 39 sc — 72 E. A. Murrell 46 25 1 — 72 J. S. Jobson 30 6 — 59 H. V. Crhxton 32 25 sc — 57

tlift championship Chp. Hp. Tl. Riflejnan Uowsett 2S5 12 — 297 225 70 — 295 Killeman a. G. Batten ... 294 sc — 294 Viee-Pres. C. Boiveett 275 25 — 290 271 SC — 271 Kifleman D. D. Hyde ... 230 21 — 251