NEWS AND NOTES.

NZ Truth, Issue 685, 27 July 1918, Page 7

NEWS AND NOTES.

Will there be another King Star bob up to save the bookmakers this year? Hydrus, or is it H. Gray, is a well backed favorite for the Winter Cup. Orleans, who ran like a "coot," m the Parliamentary Handicap at Trentham, is now enjoying a spell. It will be a long time before Golden Prince again encounters such a weak field as m the Hack Hurdles at Timaru. A well-known "head" recently, took £800 to £600 that St. Elmn beats Master Strowan m the National Steeplechase. The New Zealand-bred Martinmas (Martian — Lady Lochiel) won the second division of the Encourage Stakes at Kensington last month. Kaupokonul has been racing all the season, and on this account he is likely to be much more forward than the opposition m the Hack Steeples at Timaru. The big fences at Riccarton' are expected to be right into the "barrow" of Coalition, but it is hardly likely that the going will be anything but heavy. It was intended to send St. Elmn to Riccarton early this week, but advice was received that the tracks there were m a bad state, so the St. Ambrose gelding was kept here and has been doing hill work.

Styrax did not shape well enough at Trentham to suggest he -will "come back." It's any odds on one of the under 10 stone division winning the Winter Cup. Sure to be a good field m the Winter Cup, and the favorite, if successful, will pay "the limit." Brambletye is working well at Riccarton. The Chokebore stable has not yet won a Winter Cup. As Teka was not thought good enough to race at Trentham his owner will, no doubt, view his Winter Cup prospects m the same fashion. Unless Chortle and Vagabond both get right again the Ngatarawa stables does not look like being as prominent during the coming season as it was m the last three years. The running at Washdyke will throw some light on the chances of John Barleycorn, Don Francisco and Morecambe at Riccarton next month. Failure at Washdyke will spell failure at Riccarton. Putting up a "mug" jockey to scare on backers often recoils on the heads of the clever ones. Backers are certainly scared off, but there are no returns for the shrewd investors. ' Looks like the Orari trainer, Sam Trllford, having a field day at Timaru. In the case of Golden Prince, Kaupokonui and Master Hamilton, is should only be a question of what they will ' pay. The Wellington-owned Half-a-Glass, who has done all his racing m Melbourne, has been sold to a Queensland buyer. Maurice McGrath will, no doubt, be pleased to see the back of the Isinglass horse. A Foxton correspondent writes to say that all is well with Master Strowan. To quote the writer's own words, the horse is as fresh as a "dolled up" grandfather setting out to meet a "flapper." Trainers say that the Tauherenikau tracks have afforded splendid going all the winter, and regularly they have been able to get the grass to gallop on. The only "fly m the amber" is that there are not enough horses there to take advantage of the boom. Some of the horses going south last week were on the Mararoa when she had her record dirty trip, but thanka to the able seamanship of Captain "Scotty" Cameron, all were landed without a scratch. The sting will be out of the ground at Riccarton next month no matter how fine the weather is from this on. These conditions will suit the well-handicapped Bedford, who is always at home In heavy going. The racing he had at Trentham, seems to have done Turpenite good, and he is putting a lot of dash into his work at Awapuni, . He is to be sent to Riccarton, but presumably will be kept m hack company. Merrimax is again racing m Sydney. The old Merriwee gelding ran badly m the Hurdles at Rosehill last month, as did another ex-New Zealander m Tararu Jack. The last-named was backed for good money, but he was never near the front division. A Wellington sportsman was negotiating early this week for the purchase of Impediment. If a deal is not made here It is more than likely that the chestnut mare will- next season carry the livery of a well-known Hastings sportsman. When Master Strowan won the Wellington Steeplechase he was emulating "Johnny Walker" at the finish, and on this account he is not likely to be deposed from the position of favorite for the National Steeplechase. Lord Nelson is to race m the Grand National Hurdles. His owner won the race once with Waterworks, but there does not seem to be much hope of Lord Nelson repeating the success. The stallion, Applegarth, who was bred at Chokebore, but who has done several seasons m the south, has been sold by his owner, Mr. J. Simon, to a Queensland buyer. The horse was shipped to Melbourne en route to Brisbane by the Westralia last week. The Toff, who has ,yet to win a race for his new owner, showed his first glimpse of form for a long time, at Adelaide recently, when. he finished third m the Tattersall's Cup, won by Pretty Bobby. The winner was sold the week previous for 200 guineas, so that his new owner got even first up. A well-known Rangitlkei owner was recently inquiring 1 after Barcarolle, but it is understood that he rejected the Martian filly on account of her size or rather want of it. Barcarolle. would be a great proposition for pony racing m Sydney, as she can go very fast and is remarkably quick at finding her feet m a race. Despite the fact that a horse carrying 11.0 or over has not yet succeeded m wln?iing the Winter Cup. there are plenty of backers for Volo and Form Up. This shows the prosperous state of the country, for unless there -was ample money m the country, people would not be throw- | ing it about m such reckless fashion. Successful jockeys are having a great innings financially at the present time. Rumor says that one of the "stars" at the Trentham meeting earned £100 m fees, and nearly double this sum m presents. For their own sake it is to be hoped that the lads will make good use of the money for they will have their lean years as well as their fat ones. Arthur Oliver, who has now been close on twelve months m France, wrote to a friend In Wellington last mail reporting "all well." Oliver did not "grouse," but reading between the lines it» was plain that he would rather be riding Panmure or some of the Highden team than his present mounts m France. An additional attraction for a larg-e number of horse owners attending the National meeting will be the Christchurch Gun Club's shoot, which takes place on August 13. Included amongst those likely to compete are several prominent owners m Messrs. W. Richmond, W. Duncan, J. Williamson, D. Hammond, H. W. Brown and Dr. Rayner. , Multiplication, who has been a great failure since going south, figures amongst the entrants for the Winter Cup. The big MultifiS gelding would only have to be right to make a job of the field. However, since leaving 1 Hastings he has shown no form at all and it is evident that his present trainer's methods do not : suit him. s An extraordinary case is reported from IDngland. Recently twin fillies, two-year- ' olds wers entered for races. They are : by the Arnerioan-bred St. Martin, from Light Fantastic. Innumerable instances have m the past occurred of twins, but i m no reported caf-fi have they raced. ' Rarely have they bo.en reared, though often ono nan lived. The doings of the ' twins on the racecourse will be watched ' with interest. They still have a bit to learn about the I racing business m South Africa. It is on ! record that while a New Zealand transport was sit Capetown some time back, a couple of "heads" off the boat attended a small race meeting, and by instituting a system of "tick tacking" from the paddock to the "outer," they got quite a. little pocket-money by betting- on the 'result whilst waiting for the numbers to . i be hoisted. A correspondent writes pointing out the absurd prices quoted by the "Tommies" m connection with the National Double. ' Sea Foam is at 200 to 1 straight out for the Winter Cup, yet coupled with Master Strowan he is only at half the firstnamocl price. Evidently the "woolbrokers" think it is easier to pick a double than a single. Anyone foolish enough to take such prices deserves to lose his money. If backers would shy off the "Tommies" would soon bet proper prices. The paragraph going the rounds, of newspapers m connection with Mr, G. D. Greenwood's horses being allowed to nominate for events at the Manawatu Racing Club's meetings is incorrect. The nominations for classical events standing s^is^!{agS i !:e,s n Woqd's . name ..-(gj^races. to §K6 nFMjwS):.; the r summ'er?Ameefi|rg! m 1918 .^^•J^^^^p^etjp^gWi^pre made ' J ncatt^' :^Si'bM&Xo.u.is : lSt^tlr^«BJpWne incl~ de^^|^frffl^s6"d|:fe^fl| k /^^ At the :<last^%tWey^^&^MSte^pf^^sv-^classical : '^^^S^ittof^fpß^WiSgHS^i^i^fpns were . : qi'oiii'^vere any I *§s^!feiyfe(ijiy- vaSpCTgv ; aJ^jMafte' nojhinatlons j J?fr&m.i3THim .^to^^fflot'^ha^'beQn^.accepted HhlH'esolutioh' standing on the club's books. ' The annual meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, to be held on August 2, i 3' attracting a bit of attention m the Bay, and it is likely that some strong talk will be indulged m, also, an effort to-put a bit of life into a club tha| is, if nothing worse, keeping stationary instead of marehirff? forward The appointments of the club, are first-class, and ' needless to say, cost a ilot of money, which is still' unpaid: .It cannot be gainsaid that . the club .does riot occupy the posltibhin the. racing world that it shoxild. Many ■ things- contribute-, to -this undesirable state ' of affairs,- but principally the composition pf the, committee which consists of several "has beens" whoso idens are not progressive enough m these days. The matter of the construction of the different programmes is one item that could be looked into with advantage.

Entries for the "big shoot" at Christchurch close on August 10. Paraoa is shot's c.ye for a hack hurdle race early m the season. Kllboy has .gone to Hastings and will take the defunct Merry Moments place at Mr. H. Hassell's stud. Before the appearance of the National weights the double, Master Strowan and Art, saw a very short price. Snub has not been working satisfac- j torily of late, so trainer W. Hawthorne decided not to send him to Riccarton. Bagdad, 9.11, is not too liberally treated m the Winter Cup. His Parliamentary Handicap win probably is the reason. Otai-a was not himself after racing at Trentham, and Mr. C. F. Vallance's recent purchase is to have a spell m the paddock. "Sixty pounds is a good start for a week's fun. This sum represents the first prize at the Christchurch Gun Club's Handicap next month. ; Narahquong was the greatest outsider that ever won the V.R.C. National Hurdles. The owner, who has leased Narahquong to the Flemington trainer, F. D. Ward, had £1750 to £30 about him. The £100 shoot at Christchurch is drawing the "big guns" from all parts of the Dominion. The Aucklanders who lost "big sugar" at Wanganui, will be enabled to go for "evens" at Christchurch. Nocturnal, who went wrong on the eve of the racing at Trentham, has come right again, and he is once more trotting on the beach at Porirua. In the .Winter Cup, Volo 11.5, is set to concede Bagdad 221bs. Over the same distance at Otaki m June, the Hawera horse gave Bagdad - 841bs and beat him pointless. Gold Soult will not be taken south for the Winter Cup. His owner's ideas and those of the handicappers did not quite coincide as to the merits of the son of Gold Crest. The Trentham -trained Miss Deval, 9.10, has more than an outside show In the Winter Cup. She has lOlbs less than she had when she ran such a great race last year. Gluetanus, 9.10, has none the worst of the weights m the National Hurdles. He had 10.9 m the Great Northern Hurdles, m which he ran fourth. Under the same weight he looked a certain winner of the Remuera Hurdles, but he fell. On Napier form, Hlero should be given a chance m the Winter Cup, for when he finished second to Lady Louisa the beaten division included Hydrus and Bagdad, both of whom have since won. - A noticeable feature of the Wellington meeting was the excellence of the jumping. Despite the heavy going the horses all jumped well and there were not nearly so many accidents as m bygone years. Died recently m Auckland, following an operation for appendicitis, the ex-book-maker, Fred . Leslie. The deceased was a good game, bettor m the old days, but of late years he had been engaged m other business. The weather has been particularly bad m the south for some time past, and the horses down there are m consequence very backward. On this account it does not look as if many stakes will fall to them at the National meeting. I-Iydrus is a firm favorite for the Winter Cup. ■ In these days H. Gray has only got to be given out as the rider of any horse In a big handicap and his mount is Immediately rushed to the position of favorite. Bedford, 9.13, is a wonderfully well handicapped horse m the Winter Cup. Last year the Bunyan gelding- carried 10-.11, and won the Prince of Wales Handicap at Ellerslie, beating a field of 17 others which included Red Ribbon, 10.7, and Kauri King, 9.12. Only nine horses m the Winter Cup have received 10.0 or over. This leaves fortyseven horses within 131 b. of each other, and twenty- three of those are on the minimum. It must be said that it is a flattering handicap, and will doubtless make for a big field. Arrowfleld, 9.6, was not exactly thrown into the Winter Cup. He started eleven times this season and won one race. He may improve, but he will want to If he is to win a decent race. His owner took him out of the Winter Cup as soon as the weights appeared. Early double bettors are under a debt of gratitude*- to the owner of Bon Reve for scratching his horse for the National as soon as the Wellington meeting, was over. Had the old fellow been left m the race a few days longer a lot of money would, have been lost by the public. The maximum weight m the Grand National Steeplechase is a great boon for the handica.pper. This year only ten of the entrants were handicapped, and the remaining sixteen were put m at the minimum. This is where they ought to be, and the only one of them who looks to have a chance of getting a place is Moddlte, =who is an improving horse. Sir Fisher, runner-up to Gladful m the Winter Hurdles at Trentham, now meets the Birkenhead gelding on 12lbs. better terms. This should make a good race between the pair, but Gladful will probably outatay the Palmerston North horse. Despite his tvvo victories m the Century Hurdles,' Sir Fisher is not a good stayer. It can be expected that Gladful will fence better on top of the ground' at Riccarton than he did at Trontham.-.and if so the Birkenhead gelding will take a lot of shaking off m the Grand National Hurdles, for he has a lot of pace, is a good stayer and what Is more, his heart Is m the right, placo. He hung on gamely m the Final Hurdles at Trentham, where he tried to concede Thrace nearly three stone, Two months ttgo Ibex was In the boom as a likely Winter Cup proposition, but since his two defeats at Napier he has gone right out of favor. It is too early yet to condemn the high-priced chestnut, and with a capable horseman on top he can be depended upon to show up well m the big mile at Riccarton. He has a nice racing weight of 9.3 which will assist him to find his feet a lot quicker than he did at Napier. Had he been able to get a couple more races into Kauri King, the Ellerslie trainer, J. Lambess, would have had a great chance of winning the National with the bay son of Soult. At -Napier he scored decisively, the beaten division including Art, and the subseqtient form of the top-weight shows that Kauri King would have to be reckoned with had ho had a sjuitable preparation, but, unfortunately, owing tri the severe illness of his trainer, it would appear that the Auckland representative, will be short of condition to see out a strongly run 2i miles. The scratching of Arrowfiekl for the Winter Cup did not come as a surprise, for the invitation issued by the handicapper was not a hearty one. Six lbs. above the minimum is over the odds altogether for a horse that has won. a single paltry hack race out of eleven starts. Tho last time Mr. Henrys handicapped Arrowfield he gave him tho minimum m a welter at Woodville, and on top of thia an apprentice allowance was claimed, but he could not fill a place. Since then he has started four' times without winning. Under these circumstances it Is . absurd to ask him to give weight to 35 ' other Winter Cup candidates, many of whom have won several open races. It is high time the "stipes" had another look rovmd anrt made an attempt to catch a dope fiend or two. There is not a shadow of a doubt that this criminal practice is still m vogue m this country. When the horses parade m the birdcage it Is common talk to hear such remarks as "Hello, is on business bent to-day, and has had his medicine." To be effective, the medicine referred to must be given within forty minutes of the race starting so that it should not be hard to stamp out the evil. All' that is required is for the officials to take' awallc to : 'the saddling paddock; while>- tfre> horses - are getting iprepared [for- 1 the .race./ If- a "stipe" iwas,torbenshere.iwhile'a r^ce was run. fre ; ,miffht^se,er ;{ th J irips, th&t'< wo.uld,': interest him more, than .the actual' rmV-/, ning of ariy'partidula'i'i'a'i'e."' '•"■'• , Several leases -were' 1 repefrted^at the eqnfcktsion : .of the Wellington.. meeting .o.f. wxill-kr.own .^jockeys, r- getting - . drunk --and" "taking.'. part, m wild orgies;,, ', In a r hotel row "one 'of these chaps managed to stop a bottle, and as a result, he went home with a black c3 r e and a badly cut face. A Riccarton horseman m company with a bookmaker took charge of one of the principal hotels, and the twain caused a big disturbance, which necessitated the police being sent for. The language used was of the most disgusting nature,- and when another horseman' mildly remonstrated he war< threatened with instant annihilation. Whether the fact that it was' the end of the season and these mannikins thought they were entitled to kick over the traces, deponent knowe'th not, but strong drink and bookmakers are not suitable company, for jockeys, and m the interests of all it behoves the Elcbnsi^'gr Committee of the Canterbury Jockey /Club to make some inquiries and see if /the offender m question is a fit and proper person to hold a jockey's license./ The police can be relied upon to deal fvlth his bookmaking pal.

Looks like a dozen horses paying up for the National Steeplechase and about 16 m the Hurdles. All the "wise guys" are going for Gang Awa' m the National Hurdles. Want of a race is the only thing that might beat Fred Tilley's horse. Two previous winners of the National Steeplechase m Waimai an d Master Strowan, are due to contest this year's cross-country event. At New Plymouth, Kurnalpl and Flying Camp are being- qualified to race m the hunterß' events at the coming spring meeting of the Egmont Racing- Club. Seadown has been turned out for a six months' spell. Later on he will be taken m hand and will do duty as a shepherd's hack till the winter season again approaches. It may not, m a number of instances, be advisable to attach over-much importance to the form at Trentham, for the ground and the.weather were quite enough to prevent horses showing to most advantage. a If the South Island is to win the Winter Cup it will have to be per medium of Brambletye, 9.8, who has the same weight as she carried Into third place last year when King Star and Parisian Diamond just touched her off. The Egmont Racing Club will hold a spring meeting on September 10, Three of the events will be for hunters, and two of these will be steeplechases. This is a new innovation as far as Hawera is concerned. W. Emerson, who was one of the leading hurdle riders m the South Island for many years, and who has been m France since the outbreak of hostilities, writes to hl3 parents at Sockburn reporting all well. "Billy" is still going strong, and sofar has dod £e<i the bullets and the other ills that soldier flesh is heir to. There is every likelihood of Collector being sent to Australia after the National meeting 1 , and if so, Stan Reid will go across to ride him. Reid will not have much to learn about riding over fence 9 from the Australian artists. Few riders m Sydney or Melbourne can point to & record which equals Reid's figures this season.