SPORTING NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18723, 29 November 1922, Page 10

SPORTING NOTES

Br Sentinel. THE FORBURY PARK MEETTNcX The Forbury Park Trotting Club will hold their opening meeting on Friday and Saturday of this week, and as it is some considerable time since a light harness gathering took place in Dunedin patrons of the sport will no doubt be keen to participate in the enjoyment of the programme. The declaration of acceptances has found that good fields remain in each event on the first day’s card, which promises to supply some interesting racing. A field of thirteen has been paid up for m the President’s Handicap, and amongst the likely starters is the promising colt Acron, who was recently sold at a price said to be 2000 guineas. At the recent mooting at Addington ho stepped a middle mile in 2min lOsec, after losing a lot of ground at the start of his race. Ho stayed on well, and should give a good account of himself if sent out at Forbury Park. Some of the more seasoned horses may command more support than Acron, and may pin their faith on Free Holmes’s pair, Emperor and Trix Pointer THE ASHBURTON TROTTING MEETING. The Ashburton Trotting Club has increased the financial attractiveness of its summer programme by raising the value of the Ashburton Trotting Cup Handicap from bOOsovs and a cup valued at 25sovs to 750sovs and a cup valued at 30sovs. The class has been tightened from 4.40 *to 4.38, and this should Help to improve the, quality of the field. The club has also raised the stakes in several other events on the programme. The MicVummor Handicap has been increased from 250sovs to 275sovs, the Boxing Day Handicap from 300sovs to 350 bovs, the Presidents Handiap from 225sovs to 250sovs, and the Final Handicap from 225sovs to 250sovs. The increase of stakes stands as good evidence that the club is making progress in a time when others are standing still or drifting back. The nominations for the meeting are due on Wednesday, December 6, at 5 p.m. THE DUNEDIN SUMMER MEETING. Th*o Dunedin Summer meeting falls at a time which materially assists in its success, as it occurs when most people are quite free to enjoy a couple of days’ sport. It also forms the “first of the circuit supplied by the Wingatui, Wyndham, and Invercargill meetings, and the combination naturally helps to strengthen each by the manner in which they dovetail in the calendar, and so assist in cutting down travelling expenses to owners. The chief item on- the Wingatui programme is the Otago Handicap of lOOOsovs, to bo run over the popular distance of a mile and a quarter. The St. Andrew’s Handicap of SOOsovs, Federal Handicap of 500sovs, Grand Stand Handicap of 350sovs, and Dunedin Handicap of 350sovs (for two-year-olds) lend support to building up the attractiveness of the programme. All other events (including a stake of 275sovs for hurdlers) run from 200sqvs or more. Nominations are due on Friday, December 8, at 5 p.m. TAXING SPORT. In his address at Bluff on November 15 Mr J. R. Hamilton dealt with the subject of taxation of racing, and is reported to have said:—“Some of our racing friends,” said Mr Hamilton, '‘appear to be seeking exemption from taxation. The burden of taxation which we are bearing at the present timjfcvis the price of our freedom, and it is essential that the cost should fall and on the proper shoulders. Racing friends must pay their fair share. Some are making a business of racing ana wish to monopolise the word sport. Racing clubs do not pay all the taxes, £40,000 is handed back to them in fractions: the public pays the gate and dividend taxes, and the clubs only pay income tax it they have a taxable income.” Mr Hamilton docs not. seem to have grasped the fact that the racing taxation paid by clubs or tho racing’ public oil comes out of the racing public’s pocket. The clubs collect all their revenue from the racing public, and hence it is the racing public which nays all the racing taxation. He remarked upon the fact that £40,000 was handed back to clubs in the way of fractions, but this is merely a case of giving back the public its own money which was commandeered by right of might and not by right of justice and fairplay. Like the Dick Turpins of old the Government required money and took it. The racing public has never objected to a fair taxation. but it has the right to object to being plundered to the extent of three shillings or more in the pound. Mr Hamilton, in dealing with racing taxation seems to ’bo a shallow thinker when ho cannot recognise the fact that if the racing public has two pockets, and they are each depleted in turn on some pretext or other the result i s actually the same as if only one pocket were in existence. Ho also does not seen to recognise the fact that the racing public are taxed on money it docs not or never did possess. The public may, for instance, take £IO,OOO in cash to a day’s racing and pass it through the totalisator eight times, so that it becomes a turnover of BO.OOOsovs. This represents £70,000 more than the total actually in possession of the public, and hence it is taxed on £70,000, which docs not actually exist. The taxation on the racing public is further emphasised by the fact that although £IO,OOO may be taken to the race course, a very considerable proportion of it is left behind in the way of taxation, which snips a large slice from every pound as it passes and repasses through the totalisator. In other words the public cannot win. The £IO,OOO may bo taken to the racecourse, but by the time the last race comes on a goodly proportion of the money in circulation is now safely secured in the club’s coffers. Multiplying £IO,OOO by eight does not make £BO,OOO in the bank unless it is*there in fact as well as figures, but although that is so the racing public ia taxed on an imaginary capital made by passing the same pound note from one hand to the other. It is this state of affairs which finds clubs struggling for existence, losing money in fact over their meetings, whilst at the, same time the Government is being enriched by hundreds of pounds over the same fixtures. BEYOND THE PALE. The remarks made by Sir John Salmqnd at the Supreme Court during the hearing of the case in which two men were charged with defrauding bookmakers suggest that the latter are right beyond the pale of the law, and that they are fair game for anyone to shoot at. His Honor Sir John Salmond stated that “If the prosecution against the accused was only because they defrauded a bookmaker, not a penny of the public money nor a minute of the public time should be spent upon it. His Honor said that the importance of the charge was not that accused allegedly defrauded a bookmaker, but the manner in which they did it,—abusing the facilities afforded by the Telegraph Office.” It will be seen from the above remarks that Sir John Salmond is not prepared to expend any sympathy on bookmakers, and according to his statement they seem to bo unworthy of Iho protection of the law, and so could be robbed with impunity providing it did not involve any tampering with the public service machinery. A convicted thief or any dangerous criminal could not be robbed with impunity or without a fair chance to regain property stolen from them if the machinery of the law could recover it for them and also punish tho offender. Sir John Salmond. nowever, places bookmakers below tho thief. Despite his extraordinary lemarks the bookmaker, oven though he may be operating on illegal lines, is icgarded as quite a useful member of the community, and generally held in respect as a person "who meets all his just debts. It seems a peculiar state of affairs that the bookmaker is freely accepted in England, and Australia, but in this country the deepest dungeon is too good for ..uu and yet at one time be was freely and fully recognised by the laws of the country. It seems impossible for some minds to grasp the fact that there are very largo numbers of people who do not regard it as a crime to bet with a bookmaker. They make no distinction between betting with a man or tne totalisator, and take whichever method suits them without gathering anything in the snape of an uneasy conscience. OVERSHOOTING THE MARK. The allowance to apprentices has naturally resulted in giving promising young riders every opportunity to gather experience and make "ood. It was for this purpose that the rufe granting concessions in weight to apprentices was introduced, but it is overshooting tho mark, and the novice riders are getting the bulk of whatcvoV ruling is going, whilst thoroughly experienced men are standing on tho ground. In other words tho rule is good for tho apprentice but very bad for the experienced rider. No greater evidence of tho fact could bo supplied Ilian that obtainable at Wmton, ■where O’. Emmerson, G. Young, H. Young and F. C. Porter were on the ground during several races at the meeting, whilst others very far below them in capability wore kept fairly busy. It is a very bad system indeed which places all the work in the hands of an apprentice whilst the finished tradesmen stands idle. Everyone

possessed of a sane mind must admit the fact, and it seems (o bo recognised everywhere except by some owners and trainers who are really blind fo their own interests. They lose the substance by chasing the shaclow, or, in other words, they too frequently use the very doubtful advantage of tbo apprentice allowance, and so lose the substance represented by the substantial stake and whatever betting may bo in its train. Under the existing stale of affairs a fairly capable apprentice earns, or rather gathers, more money in riding fees than a thoroughly experienced and capable horseman. By a capable man is meant a man who very, very rarely loses a race that ho should have won, and hence ho is the rider that owners and trainers should keep busy. That, however, is not the case, and owners are continually putting up green riders who lose race after race through lack or experionco and ability. One of the most important events decided at the New Zealand Cup meeting was simply fired a.way through bad riding on the part of an inexperienced rider to whom it was foolish to give a rifle in such a race. It is, of course, tempting an owner to put up an apprentice when he can heat the handicap hy 71b, but it is nevertheless a great error in judgment to pul them in races winch require a great deal of winning, and in winch no concession in weight, can be obtained. The Rules of Racing practically say that the apprentice rider is 71b below a, thoroughly capable rider, and yet in the face of the fact some owners are so shortsighted that they put np apprentices in races in which they cannot claim an allowance, and consequently hand away about half a stone as well 'as the disadvantage of having inexperienced riders. Other owners stick to a stable jockey simply because be is attached to the stable whilst it is patent to everyone that, he is miles below the ability of a. good horseman. The stable jockey in the best interests of his stable should always bo prepared to stand clown when a much more capable rider can be procured. The best horseman is not too good for any horse, even if it has half a ton in hand. Many a race is won by horsemanship alone, whilst dozens are lost through bad riding. There is no wish to «ecry the apprentice rider or deprive him of opportunity, but, it is utter folly to pit him at level weights against the best in the land unless, ot course, it is made compulsory by the scale of weights. Finally, it may be said that it is not good sportsmanship to practically debar good horsemen from getting a living and place all the work in the hands ot comparative babies in the business, batten the baby by all means, but do not lot the man starve, particularly when ho can bo used to advantage.

SOUTH CANTERBURY MEETING. The South Canterbury Jockey Club, was fortunate in the weather on hand for its Spring meeting, which proved very successful. 'The attendance on the second day appeared to be one of the best e\er seen on the course, and there was also a large at tendance for the opening card. This was reflected in the totalisator returns, whicn showed a substantial increase over last year’s figures. It is somewhat remarkable to be able to record an increase in totalisator receipts at the present time, when the figures are generally the other way about It is pleasing to find the club experiencing a successful meeting, as it has remodelled its course and expended a considerable amount of money in carrying out improvements, which show a desire to provide every accommodation for their patrons and make their meetings as popular as possible. The now stewards’ stand proved to be too small, but it will be extended by a balcony, and so provide a good deal of extra seating. The totalisator staff are particularly pleased with the new totaliator house, and declare it second to rone at the meetings in their circuit. A most important improvement has been carried out in regarding the home turn, and the turn out of the straight. The latter was dangerously abrupt, but is now much easier to negotiate. The home tijrn has been extended, and the horses now really finish down a straight instead of coming towards the winning post at a most deceptive angle, which, made selfappointed judges inclined to differ with, the decision given by the man in the box. A further improvement has been made by elevating and shifting the judge’s box a couple of chains down the running, and thus making the finish at a much bettor position than as formerly right in the turn out of the straight. That the track provided good going was proved by the smart gallops registered during the meeting. Both cards provided some very interesting and close finishes, and altogether the club has good reason to he satisfied with the genera! results of its spring meeting.

Pillage, the winner of' the Maiden at Ashhurst, is a sister to Incursio. Silent King did not exhibit much dash at the finish of the Teschemaker Handicap. Mr J. S. Barrett has purchased the halfbrother by Solfcrino to King's Trumpeter. It is officially estimated that 110,000 were present at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day. Radial ran like a spent light at Timaru, although ho looked bright and well in condition. Whipping Boy displayed poor form at Timaru, and did not shape in anything like his best form. Sunny Loch is proving a costly horse to follow. He runs well, but finds others rather too good for him at the weights. The Formby gelding Civilform, who won two races at the Ashhurst meeting, won seven races last season, and was placed 11 times. Mystico ran a fair race in the Otaio Hurdles, but is not running up to the promise ho first displayed in the South Island. Snatcher is a brother to Anomaly, who displayed very good but somewhat unlucky form during the New Zealand Cup meeting. Printemps displayed signs of lameness when he landed homo from Trentharo. On his form at Kiccarton he should soon win a race. ' Zircon, the winner of the Ashhurst Cup, was got by Merry Moment from Hope Diamond, the dam of Parisian Diamond and Sauci Brown Willi© is a good cut of a horse, and it is a pity that his racing merit is handicapped by trouble in the respiratory organs. The chief ©vents at the Southland Pacing Club's meeting will bo the Invercargill Cup, of lOOOsovs, and the Southland Handicap, of 500sovs. Macduff broke down very badly when running in the Teschemaker Handicap, and it is very doubtful if he will stand another preparation. Radial looked weT to the eye when he went out for the Flying Handicap, but was never looking dangerous when the field hit the straight. Headlong was made a good favourite for the Otaio Hurdles, but, after being prominent for about a mile and a-quarter, he faded out into fourth place.

The Sarto mare Courcelette was a wollbackcd favourite in the Spring- Stakes, and although she had every chance, found Brown Willie a bit too good for her. Mantua ran two good solid- races on the second day at Timaru, when she ran second, to Deucalion, and afterwards came out again' and won the Farewell Handicap. The well-bred Petunia, who was got by Absurd from Bronze, seems to bo like many others got by the same eirc— he has a fair turn of speed, but does not stay on. J. Beale had one of his legs injured when Castellan was shoved on the rails in the Teachcmaker Handicap, and lost several rides through meeting with the injury The four-year-old gelding Guncasc reminds one of Itorke's Drift more than any other of Calibre.’s stock. If he turns out as good liis owner would be perfectly satisfied. Old Thestius retains his pace very well, and ho was putting in good work at the finish of the Flying Handicap, in which Songbird had all his work to keep him at bay. Silent King appears to have trained off, and showed much less dash than he exhibited earlier in the season. A brief spell should, however, brighten him for the Summer meetings. Winkle- is gathering a good deal of postumens fame as a siro by the deeds of Bonnie Winkie and Many Kittle, and at Timaru he had two more winners in Avispado and Pillio Winkie. General Advance was gradually making up ground in the Teschemaker Handicap, and* has only to retain his form to bo very dangerous at the Wingatui and Invercargill meetings. Whipping Boy was commencing to move up us they rounded for homo in the Teschemaker Handicap, as if he was going to take a hand in the finish, but ho dropped back again in the straight. Tatau Tatau and Bella Lake made the pace a cracker in the Flying Handicap, and the former had enough at the home turn. The other battled on gamely, but she also was stopping at the finish. A returned visitor to Melbourne who witnessed the race for the Cup, and whoso opinion is of some real value, holds the opinion that The Cypher was unlucky to lose the Melbourne Cup. Moorland was running what is beyond his distance at present when ho ran in the Teschemaker Handicap, decided over 10 furlongs. He piloted the field for about seven furlongs and then retired. Royal Mac is standing up to his work remarkably wo 1 1, despite the fact that his off fore leg is as thick ns a bolster. It, however, is quite callous, and probably as good as any other leg ho owns. Clavorhouso lay a good deal away from the leaders in the Otaio Hurdles, and if he had been kept up closer must have troubled the winner instead of getting third after making up a gootl deal of ground. Sunny Loch was strongly supported tor the Teschemaker Handicap, but failed to stay out the distance. He got into trouble during the race, but oven with a good run it is doubtful if ho could have gained a place.

The Ashhurst Racing Club bas decided to admit ladies free to the lawn. The Solferino —Canterbury Bello filly Pieannini got into a bad position on the outside of the field rs they turned into the straight in the Maiden Plate, or would otherwise have been much closer to the money.

Sweetwater, who won in AV. Crossan's colours at Timaru, was got by Sunny Luke from Aphaea, by Stepniak from Britomartc. Sweetwater lias not displayed anything great so far in the way of form, but she won at Timaru ns if she could win again. Mustard Pot shouldered 10.9 at Timaru, and, very capably handled by A. Wormmld, he arrived with a well-timed effort and nicelybalanced run to head Gounterstroko and Some Kid just when they appeared to have the issue between themselves.

Songbird was backed down to loss than even money in the Flying Handicap, and he justified the confidence imposed in him by winning in a good fighting finish with Thestius and Bella Lake, who were both in receipt of over 3st from the winner. T. Glover, who rode- 6.11 when ho won the Auckland Cup on Starland, is now a rider of some bulk, and owing to increase of weight is now riding over timber. lie scored his first win over the big sticks when he won on Thinganthu at Hamilton. The two-year-old Frivol, who is a brother to Economist, made his debut in the Spring Stakes, in which he was well backed on the strength of good track work. Ho, however, ran green, and npoilt his chance by hanging badly instead of getting down to business Bosker Boy was unlucky in his races at Timaru. A bad bump coat him a win on tu.-, first day, and if ho had taken a shorter cut home on the second day ho would have given Eighteen pence more _ trouble. _ The latter is rater speedy, and is improving in stamina. Sweet Memory did not make a pleasing debut over hurdles. She was in front at the first hurdle, but did not rise an inch, and flattened out a panel. She jumped wild afterwards, and will require a good deal of experience to get winning honours over the battens.

Royal Mac stayed on well under 8.13 in the Teschemaker Handicap, and lasted cut the 1(1 furlongs much better generally expected. He, however, had nothing much to spare in a good finish with Boadicea, who just about lost the win by carrying 4Jlb overweight. Bosker Boy was very unlucky to miss a win in the Kerrytown Welter. He was badly bumped by Proceeder after they had travelled about a furlong. The mishap cost Bosker Boy several lengths, and even then he came within an ace of beating Wharfedale at the finish. At Newmarket on September 23 11. Gray had a winning ride on Lady Cunlifie-Owen s colt Precious, a son of The Tetrarch, who boat a large field in the Bretby Handicap, and won ovei six furlongs with 8.10 in 1.12 3-5. Gray was out of the money during the same afternoon on Lapidary, who started favourite in the Hadleieh Plate. Boadicea made a bold show in her first attempt over 10 furlongs. She stayed on well and fought a good finish with Royal, Mac, who just pipped her on the post. Like others of the Clareneettx stock, Boadicea stays fairly well, and may be found going better when sho next tackles the distnace. Rather too much use was made ot Mirza in the President’s Welter. He and Jazz set a solid pace, and incidentally settled themselves. Mirza died away in the last few strides, and lost second money to Etta, but neither had a chance at the finish with Some Kid, who won well under his load of 9.11. The Maiden Plate at Timaru unearthed a rather likclv sort in PHlie Winkie, a threc-ycar-old gelding by Winkie from Waterspray. He had to make up a lot of ground to gather Reality, who had led from the rise of the barrier. Watersprav was got by Glenapp from Puawai, by Reflector—Neroli, bv Artillery—Neminhar, by Apremont— Wntersprite, by Traducer. The secretarial department of the South Canterbury Jockey Club is well up-to-date with progressive ideas. Before leaving Dunedin to attend the meeting at Timaru a race hook came to hand' from the club, and the much-appreciated thoughtfulness enabled one to study the strength of the fields and identify some of the unknown quantities engaged at the meeting. Reports from the north state that Mr Gerald T. Stead has a promising colt in Tarlatan, the two-year-old brother to Royal Box, who won at the Hamilton meeting and broke a long series of “outs” standing against the popular young owner. Tarleton is described as a big. loosely-built youngster that is not likely to be seen at his beat until the autumn, but apparently is good enough to pick up a race in the meantime and so help to pay his oats bill, A good deal of bumping took place during the Teschemaker Handicap, in which Castellan was the principal sufferer. it originated by Sunny Loch getting on to Red Gown’s heels and stumWmg against Royal Mac, who in turn bumped into Castellan. The inquiry did not reveal anv evidence of foul riding, and the stewards allowed the matter to drop. Macduff also bumped into Deucalion when he broke down during tno r °Whcn chatting with Mr Hastings, of Christchurch, who acts as assistant starter at Winton and other meetings, he said that the barriers at the southern racecourses are open to improvement, and owing to being faulty in their action are somewhat of a handicap on the starter He instanced one case where H. Young, the rider of Laughing Eves, whoso hand was caught and cut by the tapes through their failure to fly clear with sufficient promptness. Sometimes the writer fears that he sees too much in a race, and that perhaps his eyes deceive and originate deceptive ideas when scanning a field during the running of a race. On the first day at Timaru an old sock and buskin line flashed the memory. "What is this 1 fee? Do mine eyes deceive me? No, I feat it is but 100 true One of the rid. rs wa . acting ns if the held had to travel another circuit of the track. In any case, he was riding with a good hold, probably' to keep his mount well balanced. Watching him as he came up the running, he was still sitting solid when others were working the whips, and he must have thought it strange that the flagelators should pet to work so far from homo. Ponsh the thought that ho knew the winning post and the finish was less than a furlong ’ away I it may perhaps have been a case of absentmindedness on tho part of the rider; but when the field ran past.the post the writer heard two well-known trainers, who had been watching the race within easy earshot of the writer, pasa somo vory, very rude lomarks, and believe me, it was a fine day, and bo they could not have been cursing the weather. One spoke forcibly and freely, and although he did not mention any names it did not require any Sherlock Holmes’ deductions to guess what they had hacked in the race. It seems to have occasioned some little surprise that tho well-known reinaman and trainer of trotters in the person of F* Holmes should have received a tempting offer to take up a position of private trainer to a team of gallopers. The present, generation of racegoers seem to only know him through his association with pacers and trotters, but others can recall the time when he was a leading horseman on the flat and over fences, and subsequently a smart man with the training of thoroughbreds. He won the Groat Northern Steeplechase on Liberator in 1895, and completed the double by winning the Great Northern Hurdles on tho same horse. Prior to that Free Holmes won the New Zealand Cup and Canterbury Cup on Manton in IffSS (Clifford had tho mount on tho Colt when he won the Derby), and returning again to more recent years he won the Grand National Hurdles on Liberator when ho won in 1804. Increasing weight put Holmes out of the saddle, but he won races on Magpie, Empire, the Wanganui Derby on Fraternito, and was also associated as trainer or rider with Bay King, The Idler, Strathnairn, Epaulet, Cameo and many other useful sorts when tho late Mr Victor Harris figured as an owner. He also trained for- Mr H. Priedlander, for whom ho won the Now Zealand Si. Lcgor with Kolburn. He also had Ardenvhor prior to tho son of Martian passing into C. Gieseler’a stablo. Holmes became associated with the light harness sport many years ago when his vigorous horsemanship on Vascoe, who was an awkward ride, brought him into prominence. In more recent years he has been identified almost entirely with the light harness sport, and if he does rejoin tho thoroughbred fold is sure to prove that it was the foundation on which he built tho success placing him in the front rank of present-day reinsmen, and that he has not lost his old-time capability with tho runners. It would ho difficult to find terms 100 strong to condemn stewards who arc so lamentably weak as to accept nominations for such brutes as Kilkcc, who was almost as had at Timaru as he was at AVinton, where ho kicked no fewer than four different horses. One of these days lie will break the log of a good horse or do somo other serious 3 damage, besides upsetting every field in winch he starts. It would he difficult to quote a case where less consideration is given to owners of other horses, and if clubs do not take a stronger stand in such matter it is high time that stipendiary stewards took action if they have any authority at all.