THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15099, 23 March 1911, Page 10

THE TURF.

Bi Skntwel.

INCONSISTENT FORM. The Question of inconsistent miming has bean agitating tho minds of the Australian critics, on© of whom remarks that "What is called inconsistent running is one of tho most tickliah of tho many subjects that racecourse managers have to deal with, and therefore needs to bo handled with very great tact and delicacy, Jest an injustice bo dano to some innocent person. That, however, is not to say that where tho separate displays of horses within a reasonable period of time are outrageously opposite, and the betting bourse indicates that a olover coup has been successfully engineered, they should not be inquired into by the proper authories. Once let it be iindorstood that glaring reversals of form will not be reviewed and horse-racing as a sport will cease to have any charm for those whose patronage is most coveted. Every horseowner should be given tho opportunity—and it is one thai, he ought to be only too willing to take advantage of— to explain as far as he can why the sepa rate displays of his horse (within'a week at most) do not tally. The good sportsman will not' object. But it should l ho done •impartially. Tho stable controlling a lengthy string of horses has no_ more claim to be immune from the prying eyes of stewards or .committees than that which shelters but one or two performers, and it ought to be done, if at all, as a regular practice, and not .in spasms, or because the mob bowls', if it is expected to have good l effect. object to the 'power to review' laws. They contend that to incur punishment they should be caught rcdluinded—that is, in the act of wrong,— arguing that what a hor«> does to-day is no proof that it did something opposite a week" or two ago. A horse need not necessarily be a winner to run inconsistently, of which there is often proof, and that is one reason why there is so much difficulty associated with enforcing tho powers conferred upon committees or stewards. Experts are frequently puzzled where to draw the line between inconsistent form that shpuld be inquired into and inconsistent form that Should be permitted to pa.ss." In New Zealand the Racing Conference have inado a rule which makes it almost impossible to prove inconsistent running unless it is so flagrant as to be unmistakable. So much so is this tiie ca6o that racing men have created the phrase, "that there is no such thing as inconsistent running," and in proof of their contention ithas only to be pointed out that whilst inconsistent running of a fraudulent nature is by no means uncc«r.jmon, yet we never find clubs, taking action. The Racing Calendar teems with disqualifications imposed for petty offences. "Ringing, in" cases form the ground for tho punishment of the chief offenders figuring on the list, and next come cases of fraud, such as deliberate pulling, but apparently, our racing is remarkably free, in fact suspiciously free, bom inconsistent running. Expert' racing men' do not require to be told that'it is difficult ; to establish cases of inconsistent running,. ;but neither do' they require- to bo told when it has occurred—that. is to say, when a case of fraudulent inconsistency has happened it is generally common talk of the racecourse and quite patent to every body but tho stewards.' Inconsistent running does not consist of a horse showing) marked improvement when everyone knows that it is training on and galloping better with each race, although some'appear to hold opinion to that effect. It is, however, essential,.that tho horse showing such improvement should be ridden in a manner suggesting that it is a genuine trier and not merely being trained in public. Inconsistency, so called, based on genuine improvement should fall to the ground just the 6ame as when a horse is training off and consequently not running up to form. When, however, a horse is known to bo in form any inconsistent running cm his part should receive close scrutiny; but it very seldom or never receives the attention it deserves. This in a measure, is brought about by tho fact _ that', the powers of honorary stewards invariably begin and end with one particular race ' meeting. Tho "obvious pulling" part of our rules is unworthyof inclusion in racing law when every racing man knows that a largo percentage of the borses would not break a thread. Some horses may bo pulled in the early part of a race with the hope that they will cbay out the particular distance, attached to it. Los Angelos, for instance, was pulling double for over a milo and a-half in the last New Zealand Cup, but. stopped to a standstill in the last quarter of a mile. _ Still no racing expert talked of inconsistency when he subsequently won the Gold Cup, run at the same meeting. .The obvious pulling was there, but no one saw any harm in it. Everyone recognised that the horse was not. a stayer, and hence there was not a scintilla of suspicion attached to his running. In like manner racing experts do not require to be told that a horse may bo pulled, or rather steadied, in.order to make it stay six furlongs.. It is the atmosphere of a case that establishes the fraudulent inconsistency of a horse's form. rather than anything which can bo seen,by the general racegoer. Hundreds of cases could bj quoted where the public, including stewards, have expressed doubt as to tho honesty of a horse s runwhen at the same timo it has beien genuinely baokod by all connected with it. The New Zealand rule bearing on inconsistent running may offend the horse senso of racing experts, but perhaps it displays wisdom on, the part of our law-makers, because it restricts the power of those who would wield it in ignoranoe.

— Mersey, the dam of Carbine, cost 150gs when sold in England. ' —Stepmeter was tho only favourite to score at the Waimate meeting. — War Song was sold in Melbourne recently at 150 guineas, and goes to Tasmania. — The Racing Commission will inspect the majority of the South Island racecourses this week. —The Parisian is reported to have won tho Australian Cup with a. great deal in hand. — Apple Pie' started favourite for tho Australian Cup, and The Parisian as second choice. — Gold Band, who won the Sapling Stakes at Napier, is a brother to Gold Thread and Auratua. — Manupai, who won a race on each day of the Napier meeting, is a sister to Pink 'Un. — The Wellington Eacing Club have decided to give 345050vs in prize money at their next meeting. —It is expected that the Racing Commission will send in their report in about three- weeks' time. — Master Delaval, who went from New Zealand to India, won Bombay City Plats, of 7000 rupees, last month. — Bucco, who was made favourite for his race at Waimate last week, is a. half-brother by Stopniak to Ard Reigh. — Cheddar was priced by a Gisborne buyer during tho Napier meeting, and Sir E. J. Watt asked IOOOgs for himi^ — The first of Spearmint's stock will carry silk during the coming English season, and their appearance is being waited for with much intorest. — Bellah, tho winner of the Kuoa, Handicap, run at Napior Pafk last week, is a half-sister to Luresomo and Loftus. a pair of woll-known performers in this island. — Kohinoor was passed in nt 280gs when put under the hammer in Christchurch in November last. It is understood the horse cost his present owner less than the sum mentioned. — Trafalgar and Comedy King may meet again in the A.J.C. Plate,' run at the Randwick Easter meeting. If they go to the post the former will have to allow 12lb to his brilliant rival. — Cullinan and KoliTriooi, who won three races between them lust weak, are full brothers. A yearling brother to the pair is going under the hammer at the Sydney bloodstock sales. — Flambeau, the winner of the Waimate Cup, is a throe-year-old sister to Cress Batten'. She is a raking big fillv. and' held under leaso by Mr P. H. pyrio from her breeder, Mr J. B. Reid. — Melodious, tho dam of tho crack racehorse and sire Wallace, was sent from Melbourne to Oanvaru, and bred thros foals to Stenniak, but the New Zealand stud b:oks are silent on the mailer. — The Wellington Racing Club have removed the disqualification inVposed on R. S. Henry and J. A. Coogan in connection with the celebrated Ethel "ringing-in" caso at Masterton about 11 years ago. —It is reported from Australia that tho combination Queen o' Scots and The Parisian were heavily supported for the New Market Handicaps and Australian Cup. Both horses are trained by C. Wheeler. —My Love, a pony bred by Sir George Mlioan, was recently sold in Melbourne at 50 guineas. She was eot by Stenpiak—Vcntalern, and won at Miramar nrior to winning in Australia. She is probably destined for India. —Mr A. S. Chirnside, who won the Newmarket with Queen o' Scots, lias been noted as a plucky buyer of yearlings. He paid 2300 guineas fir Lord Randolph and 2030 guineas for Lady Joan. Both were failures on tho turf. — When Comedy King compiled a new record in the Essendon Stakes the various distances were run as follows:—First half, mile, 53}; last mile. 1.38J; last six furlongs. 1.132; and last half-mile in 4SJ. The full time. 2.3U, marks the mw recird. — Grand Canary, the dam of Trafalgar, showed up well as a m-odncer of winners on the lost day of the V.R.C. meeting, when ilio ket-named won tho Chamflion StaUs,

ond his half-brother, Gilamatong (son of I Challenger) won the Select Stokes. — Tho Boeing Commission will travel per motor in this island, and one of tho machines tbey hold on hire is owned by a bookmaker, or -mho was 60 prior to tho alteration in tho law on that point. It will bo seen that tho bookmaker is still a power (motor power) in tho land. ' — Tho OaTbiho horse Amberite was sold under tho hammer at 70 guineas when auctioned in Melbourne recently. He was a good performer in his day, and amongst his wins were successos in tho Champion Stokes, Caulfield Cup, A.j.C., St. Legcr, V.H.O. Derby, and A.J.C. Derby. — After competing in the hurdlo race on tile first day of the Napier meeting, Dorando was sold to Mr J. Chadwick, who. it is understood (says "Glenco"), was acting for Mr John Buckley, of Oamaru. The nrico paid was 150gs. Dorando lias been a failure in tiicso parts, but ho may pay his way in the south. — Good Hopo, who won tho Morvon Trot at Waimaio, and incidentally paid a fairly big dividend, had previously started in 96 races without scoring «, win. The roan who kept him going evidently thought there ■was something in tho name, although tho way to success waa marked with many disappointments. —A rather singular happening occurred to C. Andrews, rider of St. Margaret, at the start for'"Newmarket Handicap. Just as the barrier rose one of Andrew's spurs became locked in the stirrup-iron of another rider, and in trying to get free the former wrenched his leg. St. Margaret lost several lengths by the occurrence. — Tho principal events to bo ran at the D.J.C. winter meeting will consiat of tho Birthday Handicap, of 300sovs, one mile and a-quarter; the Otago Steeplechase, of 200sovs, two and a-lmlf miles; Tradesmen's Handicap, of 200sovs, six furlongs; Provincial Handicap, of 203sovs, one mile; and the Wingalui Steeplechase, of 150sovs, two miles. — Birklinc put up a couple of attractive winning performances at Napier Park. After his win on tho first day he came out on the second day and won with 8.13 in lmin 14 4-sseo. Birkline was bred by the Hon. J., D. Ormond, and got by Birkenhead from Agony, by Dreadnought from Martyr, by Daniel O'Eourko from Raupo, the dim of Statu. — St. Simon, the celebrated but now defunct English thoroughbred, claims a remarkable winning record 'as a sire. Hi 3 progeny first figured in the winning list in 18S9, when they annexed stakes -worth £24,286, Since then, and up to the end of last yoar, sons and daughters of St. Simon appropriated in England the magnificent grand total of £546,215. St. Simon's best year was 1900, when his progeny won £58,625. — Kohinoor, who won a double at the Waimate meeting, was handicapped as one of the best three-year-olds engaged in the Stewards' Handicap, in which he carried 8.0. He was in the first flight throughout, and finally finished sixth, being separated from the placed horses by Maori King and Gipsy Belle. Kohinoor has been treated to a spell, and will probably be found defeating better material tlwir.. tho moderates bo ran against at Waimate. — A Sydney papor remarks that Victoria has at last gono one better than New South Wales. The 1800gs which Mr J. Brown paid for the yearling colt by Positano from River Trent (dam of Eye Glass) beats by 50gs the highest price given for a yearling at Eandwick last autumn. Seeing what failures 'most of the. highest-priced yearlings of 12 months ago have been, it says much for Mr • Brown's nerve and belief in his judgment that he launched, out so heavily.

—An Australian exchange states that according to present arrangements. James Lynch will spend, about three- months ot tho present year in South Australia. Ho intends tD take several of his horses with him, and" tho team will probably include Comedy King. The black will not, however, race in South Australia. Ho will merely be taken over for a holiday, as 'Lynch considers tho change of climate will benefit the horse. Comedy King will first go through with his Randwick engagements. — Equitas won the C.J.C. Stewards' Handicap with 8.10, and appeared to score with not a little in hand. Obsono, who ran second, was in receipt of 261b, and in the A.K.C. Easter Handicap the Dunodin horse is allowed lib. No doubt Obsono has improved considerably, but he will have to show something good to race up to that standard and concede 13lb to North-East nnd liberal allowance's to other good performers, such as Gipsy Belle, Fort 'William, Domino, Tearest, Fomiby, and other smart horses.

— The Merriwee three-year-old Cheddar reads to have put up a smart, performance at Napier Park when ho comfortably annexed tho Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, in 1.28 4-5 with 8.12. Cheddar was regarded as highly promising in tho spring, but did not run up to expectations. He was got by Merriwee from Brown Alico, a sister to Strathmore and half-sister to Artillery and Hilda. He belongs to the Ouida family, which has produced excellent performers in tho'. shape of Fulmcn, Antares, Piuk-TJn. and Mahutonga. " ' ' — Tho late 'Mr. Henry' Redwood, "father of the New Zealand turf, 1 ' did a great thing for the bloodstock of the Dominion when he took Sir Hercules and some marcs from New South Wales over there in tho long ago. By the way (says "Galtee More," in the Tasmanian Mail), Archbishop Redwood, who recently visited this island, is a younger brother of tho '"father of the New Zealand turf," and probably his Grace knows a good horse when he sees one. Tho Redwoods come of an ancient English Catholic family, who did not "go over" at tho time of the Reformation. — Port William continued in winning vein by oapturing both the principal events at' tlie Napier meeting. The St Simons are generally regarded as a particularly highstrung tribe, and it was on that account the Duke of Portland purchased Carbine, so that he could blend tho latter's placid Musket blood with the St. Simon mares in his stud. Fort William is inbred to St. Simon with a St. Leger mare for his dam. The book shows his racing merit, but tho writer has not noticed any of the northern critics drawing attention to any waywardness he may possess. — Though many racing men are likely to smile when told that Queen o' Scots was a bad horso for most o! tboso bookmakers who wore fielding on Newmarket Handicap, it is a fact nevertheless. There may have boon worse horses iu the race for the legitimate layers of odds, but Queen o' Scots was always "in the betting" from the time the weights appeared, and for the last few days prior to the race certain backers were never off her track. Among tho heaviest winners over Queen o' Soots were two Victorian lrookmakcrs, who backed her for very large sums. —In discussing some sires of tho season, " The Special Commissioner " said:—Next comes Great Scot, who is individually about tho finest horse in England, and gets splendid stock, as ho was sure to do, from his close inbreeding to the magnificent Prince Charlie. As a two and three-year-old in Australia ho showed very great speed, and, like his sire, Lochiel, could win over any distance. To those who wish to breed horses of Stockwcll typo, with power, bone, and ideal limbs, I do most confidently recommend Groat Scot, and let them remember that wo have probably novcr scan better horses than Prince Charlie and his sire, Blair Athol. GTcat Scot's fee is 46 guineas, and ho stands at Cobham. He is now quite at hie best, having quite got over his long and arduous racing career in Australia, India, and England. — The Wellington Racing Club has iemoved the disqualification from several persons who took part in the Miramar pony meetings. It is also noticed that the Auckland Racing Club and others have been

removing disqualifications imposed for minor offences. The lengthy array of peoplo under the ban in X<ew Zealand is a standing advertisement of tho fact that the turf hero lias been peopled by curious characters possessing a warped sense of honour. Those who aro on the list through pure bad luck hold tho writer's sympathy; but, apart from that, it is really time the Racing Conference look sonvo steps to remove a standing blot on New Zealand racing. There is, it is understood, one man's name on the list who has been dead for sonic years, and there would bo no great harm if .his record was kindly buried with him, even though the interment is somewhat late in the day. Wo have also the namo of a dead woman on tho forfeit list, and_ others, again, from whom there is not a million to a mote chance of getting tho money. It is an accepted business procedure to wipe off bad debts, and why not on the turf. As sn act of Coronation clemency, tho whole list should be reduced as much as possible. It would remove a stigma from our racing calendar, which lias a list of offenders probably totalling more than those under tho ban throughout the rest of the racing world.