SPORTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18321, 11 August 1921, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES

Br Sentinel. THE SPORTING SPIRIT. So far there has been no exhibition of the real sacrificing sporting spirit displayed by any of the clubs effected by the recommendations of the Racing Commission. In the best interests of the sport it should not be surprising if some of the clubs recently recommended for totalisator permits, and with all their doubtful lives before them, decided to yield thedr possible privileges in favour of established dubs which by long years of service have, or should have, won the right of tenure to continue in the game which they have protected and fostered since the days of its infancy in tne Dominion. Nor are any. of the older clubs threatened with extinction apparently inclined to philosophically accept tho recommendations and say, “Well, if it is in she best interests of sport, and we are to suffer, let us suffer for the general benefit.” That is not all the spirit of the times. The pipe of peace is being hidden and one can see sparks flying from the tomahawk and scalping knife in efforts to get them ready to massacre the Racing Commission before any possible fruits of its existence are allowed a chance to ripen. One would listen, and listen in vain with elephantine ears, for any whisper from Avondale that it should yield gracefully in favour of Takapuna, or vice versa. Or, again, that the three trotting clubs in Christchurch would act on the bundle-of-sticks theory, signifying strength in union or union in strength, and decide that it is a case of united we stand, divided we fall. Under such circumstances the strong appetite for trotting would b© satisfied by being supplied in a town mansion instead of being compelled to travel and pay for the upkeep of two unnecessary homes. Both Canterbury Park and Avondale made a rod for their own backs by their small and very select membership, and New Brighton was until recently practically in the same box. The establishment of the New Brighton Trotting Derby no doubt was materially responsible for saving the star of tlie olub from a total eclipse. Some of the small country clubs which have been granted a permit are doomed from birth to a very precarious existence, made so by the cost of transport incurred by owners, lack of accommo dation for the public, and the general state of affairs, which find most neople keener to patronise a well-established fixture than submit to the discomfort and doubtful toys of attending a back-blook country gathering, difficult to reach and a pleasure to leave behind. Will some of these clubs in the cradle and others riding in the tumbrel on the way to the scaffold unite and reprieve a strong life for sport by falling in with the views of the Racing Commission by amalgamation, by yielding to the best interests of sport, by declining to accept a permit for what must be always a tinpot club at the expense of one already strongly established Will any of the clubs interested play the gam© and act in the good sporting spirit suggested by the above fines? Not on your life!

C. Emimereon will ride Pit prop in the Winter Cup. A. M. Donald will have the ride on Sturdee in the Grand national Steeplechase. A dead heat "between three took place at s recent meeting held in Johannesburg. There is some talk of sending Coalition to England 'to contest tho next Grand Liverpool Steeplechase. Madam Edmond Blanc, who won this year’s French Derby, is the first lady to win the race Many a man has an icy store at the totalisator after backing a loser, and a liquid stare after backing a winner. S. Henderson, who won the Grand National Steeplechase on Lochella, will have the mount on Coroglen this year. The five-year-old mare Fife and Drum, who got amongst the winners at Gisborne, is a half-sister by Heather Mixture to Chortle. Jack Symons broke down last week, and was in consequence allowed to drop out of his engagements at the Grand National meeting. The pacer Oro, which has given N. Cunningham a lot of trouble, was operated on recently, and will race next season as a gelding. “Pilot,” of the Sydney Referee, reports that Gloaming is doing remarkably good work for a hcroe not yet wound up-to racing condition.

The Wellington owner Mr W. Higgins paid a flying visit to Dunedin last week prior to attending the Grand National meeting at Ki court on.

Prior to leaving to fulfil his engagement in the Grand National Hurdles Alteration has been getting through good solid work at Trentham.

The Waimcd© Trotting Club intends to make a further effort to race on October 22 instead of October 29, tho date allotted by the Dates Committee.

It is understood that the Canterbury Park Trotting Club intends contesting the decision of the Racing Commission in depriving it of its four days’ racing. The death is reported from Auckland of the pacer Antonio, who was got by Harold j.iillon from Ocean Wave, the dam of Muricata. Oceanic, and Dan Dillon. The Avondale Jockey Club had drawn up 0, programme carrying 16,70050 vs for . four days’ racing when the Racing Commission’s report said ’’Off with his head.” The New Zealand mare Red Signal (All Red—Aucilla) was amongst the winners at Geelong on July 13. She started favourite, and won the Plumpton Plate from seven others.

Master Hamilton has been doing some work at Rfccarton since he won at "the South Canterbury Hunt meeting, and obviously improved n good deal during the past couple of months.

From all account* the clubs, both trotting and racing, which has been wiped out by the Racing Commission are preparing a good fight to annul the decision which will wipe them out of existence.

Crib met with a mishap on the journey to Biocarton, and in consequence may not be seen at his beet this week. He was also unlucky enough to meet with a mishap on the eve of the Dunedin winter meeting. The imported horse Callaghan is said to have beaten Dainty Step in a gallop at Trentham, and if he fails in the Winter Cup may show up in some subsequent event to be run at the Grand National meeting. H. Gray is retained for the present season by Sir H. Cunlifie-Owen, who has a fairly powerful team in training, including Spearwort, on whom Gray woo the Ascot Stakes snd Alexandra Stakes run at the Asoot Gold Cup meeting. The Special Commissioner,” of the Loncon Sportsman, stated that Spearwort, on whom Gray mode a winning debut on the English turf, is a difficult horse to ride, and was a triumph for the New Zealander to score a success.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club has decided to hang up 3000SOVS for their meeting on September 17. The principal ©vent will be the Pakuranga Hunt Steeplechase, of TOOsovs, and no race on the card will carry leas than 250?0va in prise money.

The crack English filly Diadem, who was one of the smartest sprinters on tho turf last reason, seems to have at least temporarily lost her' punch, as she went out a well-backed favourite at Asoot, but oouldonly manage to run second. Since the totalisator has been thoroughly established it is very rarely indeed that a club comes otit with a loss at the end of a season. This year, however, the Mastorton Club finishes with a balance on the wrong side of the ledger. Formerly the schooling hurdles at Ellerslie were brushed, hut an alteration has been made, and at each obstacle now there are two open hurdles and two brush ones. This gives trainers an opportunity to school their charges over either kind of fence they think fit. Amongst the winners at Gisborne is Monte, who was got by Zetland, a son of Obligado and Lady Zetland, who was a well-known performer in the. South Island. Lady Zetland was one of tho best mares of her time, and won a New Zealand Cup and Canterbury Cup.

The death is reported from Sydney of Mr Robert Craig, who at one time was a prominent figure in Australian racing circles, and who will be best known to New Zealanders as the owner of Yum Yum, that remarkably fine square-gaited trotter which raced with oonckfceable success in the Dominion. The London Sportsman states that tho Derby winner Humourist broke a blood vessel whilst at exercise. At first it was thought that the trouble would not prove serious, and the colt was expected to fulfil engagements at the Ascot Gold Cup meeting, hut, unfortunately, the mishap had a fatal termination. . .

Writing' of noted steeplechaser*, a wellknown critic mentions that Liberator contested the Liverpool Grand National when 17 years old. Frigate was about 16 when she won, and W 1 v Not won when lo years old. Mountain God, who led the field home in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase this year, is rising 10 years old. Mr G. N. M'Lean, president of the Amberley Racing Club, displayed a very fine sporting spirit when he spoke at the annual meeting of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club. Ho congratulated the Rangiora Club on the probability of its obtaining an extra permit, end in the event of his club losing its day it would be prepared to join in with the Rangiora. What a contrast to toe un-sportsman-like feeling displayed by some of the clnbs marked for extinction. There will he a keen contest for scats on tho committee of the Forbury Park Trotting Club at the election which will b-> held at the end of the present month. Four scats will become vacant, and in addition to the four members who will, it is understood, seek re-election, the names of fnlly half a dozen others are mentioned as sure candidates for official connection with the club.

In planning out a campaign for the early spring meeting, Mr W. G. Stead engaged Mermin at Avondale, but owing to the meeting clashing with Wanganui did not engage the colt, at the latter meeting. This means that Mermin will not have a chance to run in a classic until later in the season.

Mr G. D. Greenwood has left for Sydney in order to see Gloaming and co. carry his colours at the spring meetings in that part of the world. One of his two-year-olds, Yell (Absurd—Cowl), is also engaged in tho V.R.C. Maribyrnong Plate, of 2000sovs, run at the Melbourne Cup meeting. In Melbourne recently an employee at the Menton© racecourse was committed for trial on a charge of allowing a man. on payment of la, to enter the saddling paddock, thereby defrauding the club. The attendant was in charge at the motor entrance, and it was alleged that he admitted people on less than the ordinary charge and pocketed the money. The first of the Wnikanae stud foals came on the scene on July 31, and hence was officially a year old next day. This is a ridiculous state of affairs, and the rule should bo altered so that a foal horn a few hours too soon should not bo denrived of a chance to run in the principal classics. Westward Ho, who coat 14,000 gs as a yearling, bos won in England this seaeon, but it is now considered improbable that he will make a first-class racehorse. The experience is nothing new in connection with highpriced yearlings, and it is well such is the case. Were it otherwise, the roan with tho longest purse would be certain of owning most of the best horses.

Anent the English Derby, run at Epsom on Juno 1, the following appeared in the New York Herald of the following day: “London Americans were severely bitten in backing their countryman’s (A. K. Macomber) The Bohemian Frankie O’Neill, the American jockey, had the mount, and reports from Paris, where the horse was trained, induced almost every Yankee in London to put tho family jewels where patriotism dedicated. To-night there ‘ain’t no’ family jewels in the American quarters of London.” The secretary of a racing club not one hundred miles from Masterton sent out last year to a Maori member a demand for tho current year’s contribution, but had no response. This year a further demand was sent for the two years’ contribution, and the following reply came to hand:—“Dear Sir,—Your letter last year asking my father for one pound came here. He did not receive it. He is dead. Your letter this year asking my father for two pounds came here. He did not receive it. He is still dead.” The latest London Sportsman to hand brings details of the first racing in which Hector Gray participated in England. It is not surprising that the English critics applaud his horsemanship, and if Gray elected to remain in England there would be a big demand for his services. Gray won tho Ascot Stakes and Alexandra Stakes, ran at the Ascot Gold Cup meeting, on Spearwort, a son of the Carbine horse Spearmint. The Alexandra Stakes is run over two miles six furlongs and 85 yards, and Gray on Spearwort beat F Bullock on Bracket by a head in a great finish. It is very seldom indeed that a profit can bo made in backing botb runners in a field of two. In the All-aged Stakes, run at tho Ascot Gold Cup meeting, fractional odds were obtainable about both runners, who at different stages of the betting hold the position of favourite. This means that the more invested the more a backer would win by supporting each horse when the odds were against them in the market. Supposing, for instance, that at different stages of the betting 5 to 4 could have been procurable about each horse, the backor would have to pay out four points and receive five. The annual meeting of tho New Zealand Trotting Association will bo held this week. The report to be presented states that the receipts from all sources were £3057 18a sd, and the expenditure £3052 6s Bd. The revenue shows an increase in all departments, the fees for licenses producing nearly £IOO mere than in the previous season. The number of licenses issued has grown steadily, tho figures for the past four seasons being—--1917-18, 1677; 1918-19, 1748; 1919-20, 2347; 1920-21, 2617. The association has accumulated .funds amounting to £1335 9s Id, including £1127, the present value of Government War Bonds held. During the year claims amounting to £2BO 13s were paid out of the Provident Fund, which at present amounts to nearly £SOOO. The Derby winner Spion Kop lost all form after winning at Epsom last year, but has proved himself again by his display in the Ascot Gold Cup, rim over two miles and a-half. He started the rank outsider of the field, and the “ Special Commissioner ” of the London Sportsman expressed the opinion but for being badly ridden and twice bumped by the French horse Juveigneur, ho would have won. The French horse finished third, but was disqualified for bumping Spion Kop, who got the almost barren honour of third place Spion Kop made most of the running, and was apparently very unlucky in suffering interference. Comrade, who won last year's Grand Prix de Paris, was also in the field, but ran a poor race. The winner was the four-year-old colt Periosteum, who was got by tho Bend Or horse Kadium from Persicaria, by Persimmon from Courtly, by Hampton—Little Lady, by Bosicrucian. The Australian rider, F. Bullock, had tho ride on the winner.

Extensive improvements are to be carried out at Forbury Park, and tenders are being invited for carrying out tho work. The present outside stand will b© improved, and part of the ground fronting it will be taken into the inside enclosure, which will b© terraced along its complete length. The outside public will be accommodated with a new stand. It is also intended to erect a stand for riders and trainers at the northern end of the members’ stand. Tho tea rooms are to be improved, and in order to do so the public will be shifted to the southern end of the grand stand. Other improvements will be carried out to meet the alterations. The outside totalisator will be enlarged and made available to patrons of the lawn. It is also intended to erect two large concrete tanks fer stowing water for using on the tracks. In order to kill the dust nuisance the committee has decided to asphalt all tho ground behind the stands and the space surrounding the totalisator buildings. These improvements will he much appreciated, and will naturally assist in giving further popularity to the Forbury Park meetings. Ukraine, the dam of Sasanof and others of lesser light, is to be mated this season with the imported Spearmint horse Catmint. Both Ukraine and Martian are getting on in years, but it seems strange that another mating of the combination which produced such an exceptionally good horse as Sasanof should not be tried again. Ukraine was bred to Martian on three occasions, but two of tho matings resulted in fillies, and some of the weaker sex got by the son of Marfagon and Otterdon were comparative failures. For instance, sisters to Soldiers' Chorus, Eoesini, Cherubini, and Tannehauser were failures from a racing point of view. Another case of neglecting to breed back to a successful nick is furnished by Gossip, who threw the black demon Bobrikoff to Finland in 1904, and did not visit him again until 1912. The latest Stud Book shows that Gossip was bred to Finland in 1919-20-21, but there is some margin between 1901 and the vitality which may exist around a score of years later. The belated mating does not read promising, as Gossip threw En Parole in. 1912, Pourparler in 1913, and Soandelmenger in 1914 to Finland, who in common is not likely to improve with age. Tho interesting little story relating to Posita.no from “Milroy’s” pen reads:—“ln the middle nineties the late Hon. H. C. Dangar decided to secure a St. Simon stallion for presentation to his son Richard, of Neotsfield, and he instructed his old friend, Mr (now Sir William) Cooper, then racing in a big way in England, to buy him a St. Simon horse. Of course, money was really no obicct, but to Mr Dangar’s great surprise S>r William bought him a St. Simon colt (Positano) for 150 gs. I have heard Mr Dargar was much shocked. He wanted 5 horse of racing class to uphold the credit of the eld stud. From an English point of view Positano was a bad horse, but Sir William had other ideas—and Sir William, of course, was very right. Positano was not on early beginner, and after several failures as a youngster he was regarded ns a good horse to be got rid of. It was Mr Danger’s intention to send him to Neotsfield on arrival, but when he left quarantine it was necessary to physic the horse, and he sent him to his old trainer. John Allaop, for that purpose. Allsop fell in Ic-ve with Positano, and persuaded tho Hon. H. C. Dancer to give him a trial, which he did. Positano arrived in Sydney in January, and left quarantine early in February. At Randwick in April—about 10 weens later—ho was given a mm in a maiden race, and he ran third to The Grafter, afterwards a runner-up and a winner of the Melbourne Cup, At tho end of that week Positano started in the A.J.C. Place .Handicap, which was run over a mile and n-hnlf, and h? won easily, though only 11 weeks off tho boat, and in the spring was a weight-for-age horse.”