SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19054, 27 December 1923, Page 4

SPORTS OF ALL KINDS

THE TURF.

By Sentinel.

A SPAN OF PROGRESS.

It is just 21 years ago since the Dunedin Jockey Club first held its Summer meeting at Wingatui during the Christmas holidays. Prior to that the meeting took place during the latter end of November or made just a faint trespass into December. In tho old days at Forbury Park tho meeting ivas always held in No . ember, and hence Lie name of the St. Andrew’s Handicap, which is still retained on the summer programme. Owners did not altogether burst with enthusiasm or rush the first Christmas gathering at Wingntui, with the result- that just enough

to fill the places wont to the post for ih« Olago Handicap of 1902. It is true, i that regarded with present day eyes, the stake was not tempting as it ran to only Isosovs, with 15sovs deducted for the second horse. It is interesting to. note, by tho way, that this programme did not provide money for the third horse in any race at tho meeting. Tho trio which contested tho race consisted of Lady Lillian (she was to follow on later to greater fame by annexing the Easter and Autumn double). Canteen, and Lady Rosslyn. An atmosphere of distinction surrounds the select hunch us Canteen afterwards won a New Zealand Cup. Lady Rosslyn was a not particularly high-class Oaks heroine, blit still a classic winner, and Lady Lillian accomplished the very rare success of winning' the Easter and Autumn. In fact she shares with her dam. Lady Zetland, in the rare honour of being one of tho only two which has landed that double. In 1903 the field in the Otago Handicap of

iSOsovs, lj miles, was made up by Canteen iijjd Terrapin, and the investments totalled J 3140 10s. Horses were comparatively scarce in those days and it was hard work to ,“catch a field” at the post. Next year “4” was the main, and perhaps influx ifito the field was caused by the distance being curtailed to a mile and a-quarter. Red Gauntlet. Ho la Roy, Terrapin, and Casque fought for the stake, which was still worth ISOsovs, with 20sovs and lOsovs for the place-getters. The field “riz wizzibly” in 1905 when five went to the post. It was. obvious that the Summer meeting was getting there step by step like King Bruce’s spider, and what was also encouraging consisted in the fact that a record field for the fixture, supplied by 14 horses, wont to the post for a race on the second day’s card. Fields up to that date had been painfully sm’all _on the average, hut, let us say but again, mark you, in 1906 a stake of 200sovs attracted a field of ten. But the distance had been cut to seven furlongs. Still there was a ten-furlong race on the second day, when a field of eight was discovered at the post. Fields were, in fact, on a general increase although the stakes still loitered in the vicinity of from 60sovs to a couple of hundreds. There was some influence at work besides the money, or rather lack of it. A retume to a ten-furlong Marathon on the first day. of 1907 saw the Otago Handicap of 200sovs dwindle to a field of four. King Bruce’s spider was on the retreat, but an advance came the following year with seven making the field. This meeting was. according to the Turf Register, remarkable for the fact that a field of four went to the post for the Juvenile Handicap, two with 9.6 and two with 6.7. In all probability such a handicap was never seen in the history of racing. In 1909 the stake was raised to SOOsovs and nine went to the post. The field was not too good when half a dozen started in 1910, and only one horse started in the following year. In 1912 the stake rose to 350sovs and nine went to the post. This meeting was remarkable for the fact that it supplied the best finish of a two-year-old race even seen - n the course up to that date or since. A field of six went to the post for tito Jinci'i'Je Handicap and the first four finished -m very close order. Veritas beat United Service a short neck, Immer was half a head away third, and Bradajnante close up with the placed lot. In 1913 the stake was still at 350sovs and eight laced the starter. A marked advance occurred in 1914 when SOOsovs was attached to the stakes, and a good field of _ls saddled un, and J. Beale won on First Glance, who won again the following year when she w-as followed homo by nine others. The stake dropped to SOOsovs in 1917, when the programme, owing to the way, was limited to onc-day card, and it remained so on the following year. In 1919 the programme was restored to a two-day card and the principal stake to 750sovs. This meeting will be best remembered by the ■ fact that Amythas was pitchforked into the Otago Handicap with 7.1., despite the fact that he had won three times and was twice placed as a two-year-old when his form made him ont one of the very best of his year. He won the Irwell Handicap with 8.1 in 46 2-5, beating 11 others, including Crenides, 7.12, and Affectation, 8.6. Then came a third to Crenides and Warplane in the Spring Nursery. Amythas then won at Wanganui with 8;13 and the Pacific Handicap at Wellington with 9.2 in 1.12. A length and half a length separated Warplane, 8.5, Hetana, 9.0 ; and Amythas, 8.10 in the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes, won in 1.13 4-5 with nine others behind theca. This is the chap that got in the Otago Handicap with lib over the minimum. It was a case of one mistake making many, as ho bolted in again on the second day, and also chased the field out of the Invercargill Cup. Despite this he got into the Wellington Cup with 7.7, but missed one of the greatest certainties on the turf_ through inexperienced horsemanship. No mistake was made, however, in the W.E.C. Handicap and Summer’ Handicap as he trotted homo in both, and subsequently proved himself what could bo claimed to bo the greatest racehorse over seen m Now Zealand. Subsequent meetings are so recent as to still fresh in the memory and do not reqniro attention. The Wingatui Christmas fixture attains its majority this year and should now stand forth and bo strong enough to stand against all opposition. It has. during boyhood and youth, had its up and downs, and after being established 21 years it is to be hoped that a new era of progress will set in and soon build it up to a sporting • attraction that at least South Island owners and trainers cannot afford to miss. THE WYNDHAM MEETING. There should he soma interesting racing , at the Wyndham' meeting if a fair percentage of the horses nominated are found at the post. It would be a waste of time to go through the handicaps, because a very large number of those engaged will probably run on both days of the Wingatui meeting, when the form displayed might materially alter one’s opinion of a handicap. In fact it would be much better for the' Wyndham Racing Club to postpone the declaration of their handicaps until after the Dunedin meeting. The Southland Racing Club has adopted the idea, and it should ’ prove more satisfactory than a system of penalties or reharidicapping. It has to be remembered that only winners can bo rehandicapped or penalised, whilst, the merit of a second or a third cannot bo touched. Suppose, for instance, that a horse ran second in the Otago Handicap or Federal Handicap, but did not start on the second day or ran equal to a non-start, whilst a horse that ran third might win on the second day, and so incur a penalty, whilst his victor on the first day escaped one. There has been some marked difference in opinion expressed by the Dunedin and the Wyndham handicappors. Corn Rigs has been asked to meet Royal Star on' 9ib worse terms at Wyndham than ho was at Wingatui. The estimates also vary a good deal in regard to other horses eu gaged at both meetings. MEMORIES. It is reported that the late Mr Han O’Brien’s once familiar rose and black stripes were carried by Maria of Hereford when she raced at Woodville. Mr Gloeson, it appears, obtained Mrs O’Bx-icn’s written permission to use the colours, and . their name conjures up a flood of memories. ' They were carried by Tasman when he won the first New Zealand Cup, run in 1333. but thrd -date is comparatively recent as to when they were first unfurled on the New Zealand turf. The first horse of note owned bv Mr O’Brien, who had adopted the colours of his former employer in Australia, Mr Hurtle Fisher, was Tambourine, who won iJib Canterbury Cup of 1873. _ W’ith Fishhook be won the Dunedin Cup of 1877; but the most famous horse on which the colours were ever -ported was on the I mighty Carbine, who carried them through his" unbeaten career in his native country i und also in the disastrous Derby in which Ensimi beat him at Flemiugton. Old-time iports will bo pleased to see that the rose und black are to be again in evidence, and I will «oon become famous if carried by I horses not nearly so good as the best of |i ' those which carried them in the past. U J'ftotion of the old-time colours revives

memories of other well-known racing banners which have been rolled up and lost to public view. Tho Zetland spots, which was the late Sir George M‘Lean’s racing banner, were as pretty a set of colours as one could wish to see, and with tho difficulty of obtaining a distinct and uncommon set- of colours it is a wonder that someone has not set up a claim for_ them. Tho “white, black, and gold band,” which were carried by the late Hon. W. Robinson’s horses, were recently being carried by Jazz, whose form is in such marked contrast to such standard-bearers us Vanguard, Natator, cineviot, Oudeis, Disowned. Grip, Salvage, and Memo England. Mr P. Butler’s green and white hoops, carried by Manton, is another banner that has faded off the scene, and so has Mr R. Ray’r French grey, cerise belt and cap, carried by Templeton. Mr J. Pilbrow’s green, salmon sleeves and cap, wore carried to victory by Welcome Jack in many important races, and one does not see any such distinctive colours about as Major George’s black and white ; hoops, which Nelson carried when he won three Auckland Cups, tho Dunedin Cup, and other races. Mr W. C. Webb’s blue and rod cap, carried by Ruby and Springston, and other old-time racing banners have vanished off tho scenes where they once played a prominent part; but some of them possessed suen artistic distinctiveness | that it is a pity that they do not contmually graco the field when thoroughbreds are striving for supremacy. THE WAIKOUAITI MEETING. Phe acceptances for tho Waikouaiti meeting promise to supply some fairly good fields and some interesting racing. At the present time a field of 13 gures in the Waikouaiti Cup, but it is feared that some of them may find the journey too far. _ At the- present time it looks as if Prince Ferouz and Corn Rigs will dispute favouritism. Coni Rigs handles himself well round turns and that is a factor in his favour. Several horses claim engagement in more than one race and it is difficult as to what might be their mLsicn. Amongst tho popular picks will be Sprinkler and Ranting Days in what ever race they Start. THE FORBURY PARK MEETING. The Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Summer programme is practically the same as last season’s. The principal eVents will bo the Dunedin; Cup of 1025sovs (including cup valued at 25sovs) 4.33 or better, and the Forbury Handicap of lOGOsovs 4.33 or better. Last season both these races were 4.34 or better and tightening the class may assist in bringing some better performers than what would have been the case with a wider margin. Next in point of value comes tho New Zealand Trotting Stakes of fiOOsovs for which nominations have closed, lire Otago Handicap of £7ssovß and the Crescent Handicap of 37Ssovs for unhoppled trotters 4.50 class stands next in value. Tho Electric Handicap of 325sovs 2.18 or better, and the Au Revoir Handicap of 325sovs 2.18 or better cater for sprinters. Other stakes range in value from 225sovs to 250sovs, and such a well-endowed programme , should win a liberal response from owners when nominations close on Tuesday, January 8, at 5 p.m.. No fewer than 690 nominations have been received for the Grand Priz do Paris of 1925. Handicaps for tho Wairio meeting are due on January 4, and acceptances on January 15. Mr H. F, Nicoll presided at a committee meeting of the Ashburton Trotting Club held last week. I Nominations for the Forbury Park Trotting Club’s Summer meeting fall due on January 8, at 5 p-m. In the Pink walks lame on the near for© leg; it does not seem to hamper his stride when galloping. The Absurd—Sea Spray, gelding, Still Sea, dropped dead' whilst being taken off the course after running at the Dannevirke meeting. The Martian mare, Constant, who has been on a visit to Tractor, is again in worjri under R. C. Reed’s care. Constant has not grown much, but has thickened out a good deal during her spell. Silver Peak has been nominated for tho Southland meeting, and apparently has thrown off the effects of a damaged hock which she was said to be suffering from a week or two ago. , . The largest sum given by a club in stakes in any one season in the Dominion of New Zealand is £73,650, which sum was distributed by the Auckland Racing Club in tho season of 1921-22. At the Newmarket bloodstock sales, held on October 31, a grey yearling filly / by The Tetrarch from Grey Tip by Grey Leg made 5400 guineas and will probably join H.H. the Aga Khan’s stable. ’ It is reported that a yearling brother, to Winning Hit broke a leg a few days ago whilst running out at tho Stonyhurat stud. The youngster is said to have been, a rather likely looking sort, but he had to be destroyed. Bachelor Gay has been showing a reluctance to get to work when sent out on tho track in the morning. He is somewhat leniently treated in his work, and there is no reason why he should be inclined to shirk as if he was overworked. Tarleton ran a creditable race at tho Waipa meeting, and may do better during the Auckland Cup meeting. Tho fact that J. O’Shea has accepted tho mount on him in the Great Northern Derby suggests that he may make a fair show in the classic. The Winkie —Lady Maorina gelding, Plique, is again in work after a spell necessitated by injuries received when being shipped back from tho Knrow meeting. , He has lost a good deal of condition, and sports two capped hocks as evidence of the trouble he struck on the journey. The Forbury Park Trotting- Club has issued the programme for the Summer meeting when 655050 vs will be given in‘stakes. The Dunedin Cup of lOOOsovs and a silver cup, valued at 25sovs, will be on the first day’s card, and the Forbury Handicap of lOOOsovs will ’be tho chief feature of the second day’s card.. The beat winners on the English turf for the season just concluded were Tranquil, throe years, by Swynford—Serenisaimo, £19,895;" Ellangowan, three years, by Lemberg—Lanimermuir, £l-4,885; Papynis, three years, by Tracery—Miss Matty, £14,028, Mumtaz Mahal, two years, by The Tetrarch —Josephine, £11,763; and Saltash, three years, by Sunstar—Hamoaze, £11,113. The well-known rider Frank Wootton was recently fined. £lO by the Nottingham stewards for disobedience at the post. Another prominent rider in G. Duller was fined a similar penalty. They do not go bo far as that in New Zealand, where riders are sometimes fined at tho post, but forgiven by the time tho starter gets back to the paddock,— particularly if he has been finally pleased with tho start. At Newmarket on November 1 tho Dewhnrst Stakes, of 1735e0v5, seven furlongs, was won by H.H. the Agakhan’s bay coit Salmon Trout, whoso dam Salamandra sold at IG.OOOgua when carrying the first-named. Salmon Trout was got by The Tetrarch from Salmandra, by St. Frusquin from Electra, by Eager—Sireina, by Gal-linule. ;ihe sire of Galopin) through Speculum—Haqioscopr, Queen’s Birthday and Sanioi. Tho colours of the Sari of Coventry, who won the Cambridgeshire by aid of Verdict, were first registered sixty-six years ago (in 1858) as the long familiar combination of “brown, bine cap,” winch, in tho early “sixties,” was carried to victory in successive Grand Nationals by Emblem and her own sister, Emblematic. No more popular vjc.toi -• than that of Verdict could ever have been achivcci. Tho winner is by the “H.H. horse Shotgun. Heather Lad, L.e colt said to be bv Gay Lad from Heather Dew, and owned by K. McDonald, fills the eye as one of the best that has so far represented his sire in public. His dam is said to be Heather Dew, but the Stud Book does not show that she ever visited Gay Lad. On the other hand, Lady, Dirk, a shier to Heather Dow, wa-s bred 1 by Gav Lad in 1921. Lady Dirk is also the dam of Carmine, whilst Heather Dew is the dam of Reel Gown. . _ . Referring to Verdict's defeat of Epinard in the Cambridgeshire, tho Sporting Times said that apart from it being an English victory, we are also glad that over £209,000 has not gone to France out of the ring. We can assure you that there is not a groat dial of money about at the present time, and if that sum weo. taken out of circulation on English racecourses then there would have been a rather rough period J ~> face. The sum mentioned was 1 ’ the amount which tho double Rose prince and Epinard would have taken out of the ring. Full accounts of the Cambridgeshire, show that it was a great race. The French colt Epinard, despite his load of 9.2 on a throe-year-old back, started favourite. Ho was first to show out, and led until beat tit the finish by Lord Coventry’s filly Verdict, to whom Epinard was endeavouring to concede 18lb. Epinard is said to have chanced bis logs in tin- last 50 yards, or might otherwise have stalled off a nock defeat. Still, when horses wobble at tho finish they are tiring. Verdict was pot by Shotgun (son of Santoi) from Finale, by Pericles (son of Persimmon) from Parting Shot, by Potroncl (son of Musket) from Wrangle, by Vampire, a son of King Tom, Shotgun is a tail male descendant of Vedette. Tho Wairarapa correspondent of tho Christchurch Star speaks his mind in no uncertain manner after witnessing some racing at

recent. spring fixtures in his home district and elsewhere;—“There is alleged to have been a lot of tunny business in operation in connection with certain riding, and one owner, it ,is said, heard what was going on and withdrew his horses. It is certainly time that the Racing Conference took stock of its position and made an effort to purge the sport of many of the evils associated with it, otherwise there will be a reaction against the sport that will astound those controlling racing. Cannot they see the corruption that is going on? AVoodville is no different from many other racing clubs in the Korth Island, whose meetings during the past twelve' months would have warranted the controlling body taking firm action.” At this time of the year, which is usually rather dry and droughty, it would prove beneficial to the state of the going at IVingatui if the grass on the side of the course was allowed to grow or at least stand until as near the date of the Summer meeting as possible. The object in doing _so would be to conserve whatever moisture is going, and also to protect the ground as far as possible, by drying influenced by wind and sun. When the grass is short, the ground' naturally receives an unprotected blast, from the wind, and is also baked by the rays of the sun, with the result that the going becomes full of sting and apt to levy an undesirable tax on homes legs that could be avoided under the suggested circumstances. Hard going is a groat factor contributing towards thin fields, particularly on the second day of. a meeting. The Ravencraig mentioned in the pedigree, of Red Gown and Carmine was the first foal Lady Kavensworth contributed to the N.Z. Stud Book. Lady Ravensworlh was a mare imported bv the late Mr G. G. Stead, and was got by Volfigeur from Lady Hawthorn by Windhonnd from Alice Hawthorn, the dam of Thormanby who sired Atlantic, from whom wo get the line of Le Saucy— Le Samaritan!—Eoi Herodo and The Tetrarch. Yoltigcur, the sire of Lady Ravensworlh, started the lino of Vedette — Galopin—St. Simon. It will be Keen that Mr Stead was on the right track when, in 1881, he imported Lady Kavensworth who was then in foal to Craig Millar. Unfortunately Kuvenscraig was almost useless for stud purposes, and hence the scarcity of his name in the N.Z. Stud Book. When this was found to bo the case, he was sold to a circus proprietor who took him to Australia, where he vanished into obscurity. In referring to a winner of the Dewhnrst Stakes, the special correspondent of tho Sportsman said:—“lt is seldom that a sensational purchase of a brood mare has such a happy result as did that of Salamandra for 16,000gns, when carrying Salmon Trout, who was her third foal, and not her first, as has been stated. It was a remarkable sale, all the same, and ha-d Lord Furness not given unlimited instructions to buy her, Salamandra would have become tho property of Mr Mantascheff, who bid as much as 15,500 guineas for her. Foiling those two bidders, I might have secured the mare for Mr Goculdas, to whom I had recommended her. and three others of -Mr Neumann’s best at an estimate of 500gns each, and ho cabled instructions to buy them for 20,000gna if possible. Salamandra was the last of the four to come up, and tho other three cost 15,200gn5, so there was barely SOOOgns left to spend on her. ■ I put in boldly at 4000gna, and tried to look like going on; but it was no use against opponents of such determined .character, and tho-mare soared away up to 16,OOOgns, at which price she was bought for Lord Furness.

There was a great honour in defeat when the Frenoh colt, Epinard, went under to Verdict in the Cambridgeshire when giving his victress 18lb. “Vigilant” wrote as follows: —“Hardly ever have I seen a victory more heartily cheered, and that grand sportsman, Lord Coventry', the oldest member of the Jockey Club, made no attempt to disguise his pleasure. No victory cotild have been more popular, yet. amid the crowd’s delight at his success, the second, Epinard, and , his owner, M. Wertheimer, were not forgotten ; in fact, the colt was mobbed on all sides as he returned to the paddock. I readily admit to havo been wrong in my idea of the merit of the French colt, and I take off my hat to one who is undoubtedly a horse of a century. Personally, I think, he was a little unfortunate not to have won, and though it is so easy to blame the jockey oh the second, ho certainly seemed to make full use of the colt, for 9st 21b is a lot of weight to carry successfully from end to end, apart from which Epinard must have lost some ground by coming over to the rails from the centre of the course. Still, there it is, and once again I congratulate Lord Coventry, whose colours are' seen in the van ail too seldom.

Commenting' on Epinarc's great effort in the Cambridgeshire, a writer in the Sportsman eays:—He is an exceptionally good horse and must be included among the greatest horses of all time. He was badly drawn in the Cambridgeshire, but was so fast from the gate that be was able at once to cross over the wide course and take the rails. He was in front in the Dip, but the weight- told up the hill, and Verdict just caught him and won.by a neck. The,winner and the second • are romantic animals. Verdict belongs to the aged Lord Coventry, who won the Ceaarewitch in the ’seventies of last century and the Grand National twice —in successive years—with Emblem and Embleme.tic, in 1873-1874. Verdict can.never he in the Stud Book as she is by a haifbrod sire, Shogun, out of a mare not in the Stud Book, who came of a family owned by Lord Coventry for tho last ,50 years. Sho is, I believe, the only animal that Lord Coventry ha»s in training under Jockey Club rules. Epinard’s life story is just as romantic. He is not fashionably bred. His mother was a nobody seized as payment of a small debt. In due course she was sent to Badajos to be mated for the simple reason that he happened to bo near at ha"L Epinnrd belongs to a Frenchman interested in a scent and perfumery firm. Tho Sydney correspondent of tho Leader says:—After Claro won tho Epsom Handicap at Kandwick in September, the A.J.C. authorities wore adversely criticined for not notifying the general public that the English horse was to be given special assistance to enable him to leave the barrier with tho remainder of the field. While the ordinary run of backers knew nothing about this arrangement a chosen few were evidently m possession of the knowledge, and they invested very heavily on Ciaro. The subsequent criticism brought about an alteration in the starting rules. At tho last meet-, ing of the A.J.C. committee tho rules were so amended as to prevent any assistance Being rendered to horses at the barrier without the express consent of the starter. But there is. apparently no provision for acquainting the public with the information as to whether a horse is to receive extra assistance or not. Since the Claro case there is a strong fooling among Sydney owners and trainers that tho walk-up . start should be given a trial in New South Wales. The majority of Sydney trainers who have raced horses in Melbourne consider (he starting in the southern capital is uniformly better than it is in Sydney.