SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16953, 15 March 1917, Page 6

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

THE TURF.

By Sentinel.

THE EMILIUS CASK The of tho N.Z. Trotting Associakjpll # restoring tho stakes attached to the Chxistoixurii -tiaiKlicap won by at the Addmgton November meeting, but for which he was afterwards disqualified for crossing, will naturally arouse a good deal ot discussion in trotting circles. Emilius was disqualified for crossing by tho N.Z. Metropolitan Olub, and that decision has to a certain extent been upheld by the lrotting Association, but the punishment varied by the latter from the severe penalty of disqualification for the race and consequent loss, of a stake worth 525sovs to the winner to a tine of 50sovs. The alleged cross took place when rounding the bend for home, and in the vicinity of Chief Stipendiary Ste%vard Davey. From what could be gathered shortly after the race concerning the matter, it-appears that a good deal of shouting out to "keep cut," etc., took place as Emilius and Capriccio were racing and disputing for leadership. This is common enough during the running of a race, and Mr Davey may have attached rather too much importance to the outcry taking place during a critical moment. That, however, by the way. The fact remained that the stewards deemed themselves justified in depriving Emilius of the fruits of the' race for crossing. In common with flat racing, a disqualification for a cross is based on a question of fact, and the finding of the stewards as to any question of fact "shall be conclusive." This clear mandate of the rules has been overridden by the Trotting Association, which •appears to have taken up a position that is unwarranted. It is true that the association has power under Rule 286 to inorease or diminish any disqualification or fine, but the same rule concludes with tho following direction: "It shall be the dutv of all persons concerned to comply with "and give effect to tho decisions of "the association, which, subject to the rules, shali be final and conclusive." This may be taken that the_ association, as well as those under its jurisdiction, is "subject to the rules"; hence no power exists under the Rules of Trotting to upset a decision by stewards on questions of fact. Rule 279 establishes an absolute finality as to a cross, short weight, or an obvious_ pull. The association agrees that something in the nature of a cross occurred, and so inflicted a heavy fine, which, if the "punishment fits the crime," endorses but at the same time flouts the decision of the stewards who originally dealt with tho matter. _ It is immaterial whether a cross is intentional or not if it deprives a horse of his chance of success. The precedent of English racing law allows no distinction between tho two, and commouaense demands that no distinction should bo allowed. _ No doubt the association has gathered ideas and evidence concerning i,he matter since the race took place in November which may not havo been considered by the stewards and which justified the members of the association in making such an extraordinary departure from the laws governing tho sport.. There is, howover, the redeeming feature about the verdict that the stakes go to the horse which woti the race, and which in all probability would have won no matter how the race was run. That point, however, does not justify the association in making rules fit a case, as it has no power to make rules, but is elected to obey them.

— Marc Antony continues to get through useful work at Riccarton. — Rongahere has W-.n nicely treated in the Steeplechase at Gore. — Bimeter is a no tab] o absentee from ;]ie Great Easter nominations. — Kilboy and Sasanof worked a sonnd 10 furlongs on Saturday morning. — A yearling brother to Disdainful has joined G. Murray Aynsley's stable. — Mr,J. B. Reid shipped 10 yearlings to Sydney on "Wednesday of , last Woelc. — Placid and Whipcord have been doing usoful work since the Dimedin Cup meeting. — Marco Bello has been putting through a fair amount of work during afternoons at Wingatui. — Snub and Disdainful are both reported to be training on nicely for their future engagements. • —Jolly Girl was a strong order for the Timaru Handicap, but she failed to finish in the first five. — Ardenvhor, who is at present being treated to a spell, may not be raced again until next season. —Mr A. W. Rutherford, jim., has purchased the promising two-year-old ICilrush from Mr J. B. Reid. — Tho Sprinter, who provided one of the winners at the Timaru trotting meeting, was got by Del Paso. — Tho North Island horse Spectnal is booked to arrive at Wingatui this week, and goes into C. Christie's stable. —Mr F. Mooro has abandoned the idea of selling off his stud, and a couple of his youngsters are to go- into training. — Groat Britain, who apparently only lost his race at Akaroa through bad luck, soonmade amends by scoring at Timaru. — The four crack throe-year-olds—The Toff Sasanof, Kilboy, and Egypt—aro handicapped within 4!b in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap. — Lady Superior has been getting through useful work, and may accompany John Barleycorn, Compulsion, and Speedometer to Waimate.

Dardanelles, wlio was made a warm fancy for tlio Maitai Handicap at the Kolfion mooting, foil a-t the start and took 110 part in the race.

— Fiery Crose, who is engaged at the Gore and Invercnrgill meetings, is on the improve, and may show <l return of form before the season concludes.

— Ttio late Mr James Gourley, whoao death occurred with painful suddenness on Saturday last, was a well-known figure in local sporting circles. — Golden Robin, a five-year-old horso by Robin Hood, recently won at Victoria Park, Sydney, in 3.24, and put up an Australian record for tho distance. — JLn tho Stewards' Welter at Waimata Thaddoua figures as an acceptor when giving Plaeid 211b. In tho Croydon Handicap at Gore there is only lib between them. —It is reported that two Wellington business men have purchased Kingforra, and tho son of Boniform will probably join a North Island stable after tho Waimate meeting. — Li- G. King has not been very conspicuous in tho saddle of late, but he got into the limelight again at tho Lake County meeting, where ho steered several winners. Kilboyne was eaeed up after tho Dunedin Cup meeting, but on Saturday morning strode over a solid five furlongs, and will very probably fulfil his engagement at Waimate.

—At the Hawke's Bay spring meeting Trials, carrying 9.5, beat Teka 8.9 over six furlongs. At Napier last week Trials won the Cup -under 6.7, whilst Teka 8.8 was unplaced.

— Thaddons and Borodino got through a useful task at Wingatui on Saturday. It is, however, rumoured that the former will not be taken to Waimate, but held in reserve for the Gore meeting. — Margerino docs not iig-ure amongst the nominations for the Great Autumn Handicap, and apparently her owner has arrived at the conclusion that the mare cannot at present stay a solid 12 furlongs. — The Rivorton Racing Club take a stronger attitude against sprinters than any other club in New Zealand, and evidence the fact by the distances attached to 'the various events on their programme. —Mr J. F. Reid owns both Tango and Hose Pink, two of his mares that are being raced under partnership and lease in the North Island. Hence both were coupled in their races at the Nelson meeting. ■ Rongahere got through steady pace work on Saturday morning. lie has been she.pin~ fairly well in his schooling over fences, and .with Ikowai as schoolmaster on a recent occasion put up a creditable showing. —-Wardoncer has not been engaged in either of the principal events to be run at the Great Autumn meeting, but he is moving along in his work and so far shows a recovery from the effocts of his mishap at Wingatui. •It is understood that Ringform changed owners at 450sovs. Since sold by Mr G. L. btead at about lOOsovs, Ringform has been a fairly good winner, and prior to going intotraining: put in - a season at the 'stud in iNorth Otago.

. According to "Whalebone," the majority of jockeys in the Auckland district are very poor horsemen. The writer quoted states that outside half a dozen' riders in the district, most of the remaining lot are lucky to get a ride.

,~The Feilding Jockey Club recently decided lo allot £250 to the Y.M.C.A. Trench Comforts Fund, and at the request of Commissioner Hodder made a donation of £-250 to help tlie Salvation Army's new housing scheme at Featherston. ".Sir Malt and Speedometer were companions over' five furlongs at Wingatui on Saturday, when the pair finished up in lmin 4sec. Speedometer makes plenty of noise, but ca.n still slip along a short course. -Both horses are to race at Waimate. — The Forbury Park Trotting Club's winter programme for May 10 and 12 shows a slight increase of prize money over last year. The principal events will be the Kitchener Handicap, of 250sovs, 4.44 or better, and tho Winter Oats, of 200sovs, 4.44 or better. - Wo 1?™ put- iip a fresh record for' a mile at lemington when he won the Lloyd Stakes m lmin 38sec. The previous best was held by Amato and Rathlea, who were credited I^l1 1 3®asec. The Randwick record .s held by Montcalm and Portrush at lmin 37|sec.

— Acushla Machree, the winner of the Seadown Handicap at Timaru, was got by Prince Imperial from Ferns, a sister to Dan Patch. St. Kevm, Glendalough, and Innisfail. She was bred by her owner, Mr J. Farrel, who unfortunately, missed the acceptance for the iNew Brighton Derby. — Lindetta, the winner of the principal event at the Timaru Trotting Club's meotwas got by Galindo from Rosetta, by Kothschud from Imogene, a mare by a Bundoora colt. Bundoora won the" fir? C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap, and was the sire of several good trotters, notably Spider a smart performer of his time. ' ' —General Wilkes was a, strong ante-post favourite for the Farewell Handicap 'at Timaru, but on the machine Dunspey and Icicle were both better backed fancies. General Wilkes finished third to the two first-named, and as he was giving away sis seconds to each 1 of them he would require a smart gait to beat tliem in 2.18. '

— The Canterbury-trained horses Wishful Tho Toff, Koesian, Ivilboy, Sasanof, Sweet Corn, Bee, Zuland, and Plymouth are amongst tho entries for tho Auckland Racin<r Club's autumn meeting. Their absence from the scene at Riccarton during the C.J.C. Great Autumn meeting will make a material difference to the success of the .fixture. — The imported mare Harriet Graham. the winner of the Australian Cup l , cost 300gs in England. She was goi by William the Third from S-alt Hill, by Cyllene—iMonteur, by Ladas from Kermease, the third dam of Ringdove, the producer oi Ringform. William the Third was one of the best stayers left by St. Simon, and has also been doing excellent work at the stud.

— John Barleycorn has been kept fairly busy during the past week, and on Saturday morning had the assistance of three horses to bring him over a mile. The unnamed brother of Rorke's Drift jumped away with Barleycorn, but soon fell away, and was replaced by Yolspeil; and later by the Achilles—Lady Helen filly. John Barleycorn ran a solid gallop from end to end, and finished up in 1.43. He is one of the leading fancies for the Waimate Cup, and should land at the post in good shape. — Keports from the north announce the death of Mystification, the sire of Indigo. Mystification was in all probability the only Apremont horse left in this country to carry on, the line represented by the Frenchbred sire. Apremont was imported in 1882 by the late Mar G. G. Stead. Most of Apremont's stock were high-strung, flighty sorts and somewhat difficult to manage. For that reason many of them were raced as geldings, and hence the line has almost died out, except in the female line. Several of his best sons in Pygmalion, Mikado 11, Uunkeld, and Sommeil were sent to Australia.

—The brother to Rorke's Drift in Gieseler's stable has been gradually improving' in appearance, but is a bit slow in coming to hand so far as exhibiting pace is concerned. On Saturday morning he attempted to assist John Barleycorn over the first half of a mile, but could not pace it with the Sarto gelding. The Calibre gliding is, however, a raking big sort that will require plenty of time, ana, in comparison with his well-performed brother, bears a somewhat carty appearance. So far no name has been bestowed on him, and some suggested have been rejected. Names suggestive of the Musket line are mostly used up, and perhaps Diameter or Magnitude might fill the bill.