THE TURF.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19202, 19 June 1924, Page 5

THE TURF.

By Sentinel.

THE ASHBURTON MEETING. The nominations for the , Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting proved to bo surprisingly good, and it seems that the compulsory postponement caused by the strike may really prove a blessing in disguise. If the records could bo examined, it would probably be found that the nominations represent a record for the club. Not only are the nominations very pleasing from a numerical point of view, but they contain a considerable amount of quality. At the time of writing acceptances are not yet duo, but. no doubt when thev are published they will show satisfactory fields. Boadicea won the D.J.G. Provincial Handicap in good stylo, in which Kilfano, a non-starter, was handicapped to give her 61bs. _ At Ashburton in the principal event, Kilfane is handicapped on 51b better terms. Scion is asked to give the mare 11b in the same race, and she meets bun on Blbs worse terms. The distance will suit both Boadicea and Kilfano better than Scion, who, however, finished fourth over a mile at Timaru when the placed lot were Boadicea (receiving 21bs) and Clarotna, receiving 21lbs. If Scion is sent to the post, he will meet Boadicea on 91 bs and Clireina on lolbs better terms. Prince Ferouz has been bit hard by being asked to meet, Scion on 101b* worse terms than when the latter finished in front of him at Timaru. Radial is u good welter horse, and he meets t'lareina on lib worse terms than when they met in the King George Handicap. Sprinkler gave Clareina 2lbs and a beating in the Yaldhurst Welter, and now allows twice that amount. If Happy Warrior trains oh he should prove one of the hardest to beat in the race. An opinion concerning the Hack Steeplechase is a somewhat risky venture, as the class of country is not known. It is the first time for very many years since a steeplechase was run at Ashburton. Tainui II has been showing improvement, and it may be said that the distance will suit Ruddy Gold better than the journey at Wingatui. Whipcord gave Galway slbs and a beating in the Wingatui Steeples, and the latter reads badly treated in coming on 41bs worse terms. Red Kriss may start first choice in the Hurdle Handicap. Kukume and Carpentier may stay on better than most of those in the Longbeach Hack. Sartich, who is also engaged, shaped promisingly when he won over a mile at the mid-summer meeting, ami he also will find friends Tot the race. .Will Oakland ran a good race m flio Templeton Handicap after getting badly away, and with Dancing Days, Red Wing, and Weldone forms one of a speedy quartette in the Thor, dale Handicap. A LINK TO THE PAST. The death of Mr John Fleming severs one of the few remaining links with the past history of racing that became identified with the. old days at Forbury Park, lie was officially identified with the Dunedin Jockey Club, but never figured very prominently us an owner, although no really owned Adamant when the son of Traducer and Ada won the Dunedin Cup of 1883, ami he owned and bred Gipsy King and Arline, as well as a few others. Ho never stood m the same light as two such pillars of the turf as the late Mr John Stephenson or the late Mr James Hazlett, who were prominent in D.J.C. affairs. They owned perhaps ns many horses in their time as Mr Fleming owned hairs in a horse’s tail. Mr Fleming may have been, and no doubt was, just as good a sportsman as any other man, but the comparison is used merely to draw attention to the fact that his colours were never in conspicuous and continual evidence as some of those- of his contemporary days. As a matter cf fact, it is said that he acquired Adamant as part-pavmeut of a debt; but be it also said that when in business as a hay and corn merchant, and in that capacity supplying most of the local racing stables, he never pressed for a payment of a debt, but waited patiently until a turn of Fortune’s wheel placed a customer in at least temporary affluence. In that ho was recognised as a real good man. In addition to owning Adamant, about whom he landed a nice bet of 1000 to 10 from Abe Snider, who subsequently died from bursting a blood-vessel while playing hazards in a room in Dowling street. Ho also owned and bred Gipsy King, but allowed him to slip through his fingers after wmnivm- a selling race for two-year-olds at Forbury Park. This is the horse who subsequently ran second to Lochiel in the New Zealand Cup, and thus nearly saved making most of the metalhcians of the day of a necessity of taking to the tall timber. In other words, Lochiel bast the books and boosted Urn totalisator. The late Mr Fleming also owned a trotter or two. One of them was a mare named Duchess, on whom George Smith won races. George Smith and the late Jack Poole were amongst the first, if not actually the first, to adopt the crouch seat in New Zealand. they stood in the irons when ridinir a trotter, and lay along a horse’s neck, and so placed the weight in front of the saddle, and also dodged wind pressure. Riders of today endeavour to do the same, but cramp the knee, and in doing so lose power and a desirable vigour in a fighting finish. J he late Mr Fleming was a man of kindly disposition, and always held in high esteem by everyone who knew him. COMPARISONS. In a discussion last week amongst a few sports the question arose as to whether it was better to own a good trotter or a good galloper. The writer asked the question if a parallel case in trotting could be found with the fact that Bonnie Winkle earned 9/13 last season, and 8/3 this year, whilst on the other hand Trix Pointer was handicapped at 4/30 for about four years after she won the Trotting Cup. In racing, the fluctuations of form arc generally, and should of course, be balanced m a handicap. In trolling a castiron handicap keeps a horse on the mark long .liter it has lost power to reproduce it, and that is why wo have “ringers.” In other words, there is not sufficient, compensation for genuine defeat in the handicaps for trotters, and that is one reason why a first-class light harness horse can sometimes he picked up cheap!v, and so opens the door for the operation of “ringers.” > It is an indisputable. fact, paradoxical as it may seem, that it is easier to win a light harness race with a bad horse than it is with a good one. That is to say. that a fairly well exposed horse near the top of his form has hard work to score a. win, whilst a bad horse from a handicapper’s point of view is more likely to win than one at the back of a handicap. Whilst this state of affairs exists, it is in a measure a waste of time to form rules to guard against “ringing in.” The only sane way to go to work should bo based on the removal of temptation. The only way to do this is to provide short limit handicaps and class racing, so that a good horse racing in his class will always have a chance of winning, instead of being asked to give five or six seconds, or perhaps twice as much, to a horse that, the bandicappers know nothing about, but which rnav really bo as good as the back markers. Handicap races arc practically unknown in America, the home of the light harness horse, and the best ride to prevent undesirable practices in connection with light harness racing woidd bo class racing and short limit handicaps. Rules must be obviously valueless when a system of racing opens the door to fraud, owing to a good horse (on a handicap) being worth less money than a bad horse (on a handicap). Until this gtftte of affairs is more fully recognised, mcing and trotting can never lie compared, because the system of handicapping in both classes of racing is totally different, AN ENEMY CF ENJOYMENT. If the Rev. J. J. North is as weak in theology and logic as he has proved himself —and is in the habit of frequently proving himself—in regard to his knowledge of bcbiiig (or gambling, as be invariably calls it) and racing, then his church is, indeed, floating on very shallow waters. Flo claims that gambling has increased because the totalisator returns arc now greater than they were 10 years ago. He might as well claim that religious tervour has increased because a collection plate or bag is a few shillings richer to-day than it was jC years ago. The country is now richer in money and adult population than it was 10 years ago, and, hence, wo have it that there is a much greater turnover in what adults seek and enjoy in the- way of pleasure and relaxation from the cares and worries of the sordid side of business. Everyone will be dead for r very long period, and alive for a comparatively short one That, is an acknowledged fact, which makes common-sense and broadminded people welcome a. ray or two of sunshine into their lives. Perhaps the “ray” may taka the form of a little participation in racing, with its attendant “evil” in the shape of risking a pound or two, or a dollar or two, on one’s opinion as to the possible result of a race. Every form of pleasure costs money. Those who love to read a good book, witness a play or opera, own a motor car, see a football match, or picture show, find that more or less expenditure is necessary in order to enjoy participation. The principal objection to gambling is said to consist in the so-called fact that the gambler is endeavouring to get. something for nothing. It would be a most successful form of gamb-

ling if a system could be found whereby one couid put nothing on the totalisator and get something out of it. Betting is merely a solid support tp opinion. Beting in reason is merely a, perhaps, costly form of pleasure-paying, as it were, too much for the binding- of a book. Gambling is totally different to reasonable betting. Gambling is an extravagant form of pleasure It is living beyond one’s means, and its attendant risk of disaster. The instinct to gamble or bet has not increased, as the Rev. J. J. North asserts. Human nature is to-day the same as it was a thousand years ago. Man is just as sti ong, or as weak, to-day as he was a thousand years ago. Man, apparently, bets more to-day than 10 years ago because ho has more chips, or money, to play with. What man is doing to-day he did yesterday, and will do again to-morrow. The Church seems to be the only thing that is losing ground; and that is probably why we find preachers such as the Rev. ii. J. North continuously coming outside its portals to find a congregation. If a disciple of the Church can attack racing, and what goes with it, then, sflrely, it becomes a duty for a disciple of racing to fend against (lie attacks of a chm-chman—but not against religion, bear in mind—when he attacks sport with more verbosity than verity. Mr North must be wrong, and continue to remain in the wrong, so long as he and others of a similar opinion ignore the fact that many of the highest in (ho land, an,(l who are absolutely beyond reproach, socially, religiously, and commercially, and from the public point of view are desirably prominent with the current affairs of (he day, are also satisfied to be prominently and very closely identified with racing. That is an obvious fact, and to contend against the fact would be as easy as knocking a thousand a year off a sporting scribe’s sa.larv. Because Mr North thrusts his opinions on the public, his opinions must not necessarily be accepted as facts. The Ashburton winter meeting will be held to-morrow and Saturday. A joint interest in Songbird has been registered between Mr H. Ives and Mr W. Conser. Queen Balboa, who showed improved form at Wingatui, is amongst those engaged at Ashburton. The New Zealand-bred Chrysostem is one of the ruling fancies for the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. Nominations for the principal events to be decided at the Grand National meetingarc due on June 27. Reports from the hospital state that A. MTvay continues to make steady improvement towards recovery. The next Grand National Steeplechase will carry a stake of dOOOaovs, and the Grand National Hurdles one of ISOOsovs. It is rumoured that Mr J. Trengrove, owner of Great Hope, contemplates dropping out of the light harness game Some owners have an exalted opinion of their horse, but it the handicapper bolds the same idea, they want to chop his head off. A proposed classification of trainers’ licenses is apparently based more on good behaviour than real ability to train a horse. Will Oakland does not look overburdened at Ashburton for a horse that was capable of running a good third in the Winter Cnp. A proposed addition to the Rules of TTttlng will, if carried into law, make it compulsory for riders and drivers to wear skull caps. Some sneedy sprinters are engaged in the short race at Ashburton in the shape of Dancing Days, The Reaver, Weldone, and Bella .Lake. Red Kriss beat them all bar Captain Sarto at Wingatui, and hence it will be interesting to note how he acta at Ashburton. Gahvav will prboably start favourite for the Hack Steeplechase at Ashburton. Tainui 11 is an improved horse in the same race. „ , _ Wingatui will be fairly well represented at Aaliburton this week with Fort Regal, Olympic, Galway, Tainui 11, Sherlock, Incursio, and Bodyguard. Radial is a good welter horse, and he was running a good race when Bonnie Winkle’s fall interfered with his chance on the last day at Wingatui. . The Ashburftn Racing Club holds excellent prospects of experiencing a better meeting this week than what might have been the case if held on the original dates, which had to be abandoned owing to the railway The Christchurch Hunt will hold their annual race meeting at Riccarton on Saturday August 3. The Grand National meeting opens on August 12. There is no stake worth less than 300sova on the Addington August programme. The principal event will be the National Cup of 150030V3, 1.31 or better. , , , , , it is said that some of those who backed Kingodale at starting price and did so from presumably criminal knowledge arc still hanging to the money received. First Born hao got himself into disgrace by falling in his last couple of starts over hurdles. He is nevertheless a good horse that should not be judged by mistakes. It seems rather a good advertisement for our local horse Tractor that his stock are considered promising enough to nominate for engagements at the Sydney Spring meetings. The ex-New Zealander D. J. Price won the principal event 'at a Moonce Valley meeting held on May 31 with a gelding named Intriguer, a four-year-old gelding by Charlemagne 11. After the Ashburton meeting there will be a bit of a lull in racing in the South Island. The South Canterbury Hunt meeting takes place on July 19, and the Waimate Hunt meeting on July 2-1. The New Brighton Trotting Club is anxious to abolish the right to use assumed names. The right to use an assumed name was knocked out. by Rules of Racing some two or throe years ago. Mr E. C. Govan, the owner of Te Anau Lad has a nice well-grown half-brother to him by Clarenccux. The Clarenceux youngster promises to be a much bigger horse than Te Anau Lad. The well-known auctioneer of blood stock, Mr Tattersal, ran third in the Derby with Hurstwood, and thus found for once in his life two horses he could not. "knock down.” This is our brand new joke. There are vast numbers of horses in the Auckland district, but they must be a bad lot about when the eight-year-old Greekson can win, as he was quite a very ordinary horse when trained at Riccarton. The moat important—and vitally important —question of the day is “What are the clubs going to do about it next season f" It is a question as to whether obstinacy or wisdom is to dominate the situation. It is reported that quite a large number of horses have been secured in Australia for racing and polo clubs in Japan. A shipment of 40 horses recently left Sydney for Japan, and there are more to follow. Tom Pinch, who was the winter favourite for the Derby, went out of favour by suffering defeat when making his debut in the Craven Stakes, won by St. Germans, who was subsequently placed at Epsom. According to a proposed amendment to Iho Rules of Racing, the stipendiary stewards view the “false rail” with strong disfavour. Hence they are instrumental in framing a rule which will debar the false rail in future. The next important meeting will be the Wellington Winter meeting, to oc held on July 9 and 12. This seems to be a rather wide spread for a two-day meeting, but there is a chance that it will be converted into a three-day meeting. There are so many proposed alterations, amendments, and additions to the Rules of Trotting in regard to branding that if all clubs’ wishes were fulfilled a pacer would bo marked like a convict in irons rather than a noble horse sent out to assert prowess in the field. It is rumoured that there will be quite an exodus from the Forbury Park Trotting Club's list of stewards at the next annual meeting. It is said that about four of them will not seek an extension of office, but there arc several waiting for a chance to fill the vacancies when they occur. Oukleigh has been allotted 12.2 in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and Lochella was awarded 11.5. Chryaoatum has 1.1.3 and Pittsworth 11. Lower down on the list is another New Zealander in Cai-awock with 10.10. Top weights in the race are Haoma and Lea Paddington with 12.4 each. Mr L. C. Hazlett contemplated entering Loughrea for the Melbourne Cup, but overlooked the date cf entry. It would have, been interesting to note how_ the handicapper treated the Kilbroney gelding. No doubt he would have been a bit flattered, in common with most of the New Zealand horses entered for the principal events in Australia. The Auckland Racing Club is bringing a long list of additions or amendments to the Rules of Racing, and ono of the best suggestions from it comes in the shape of an amendment to the Accident Fund rules, which will mean that a fee once paid for, a horse will carry it through a, full season irrespective of how many times it may change ownership. A proposed amendment to the Rules of Racing will make it compulsory for trainers to notify within one week the admission of any horse into their stables. If the object of the rule is to prevent r.mging-in, trainers should also be made to supply notification of a horse leaving a stable and its probable destination. It must be said that racing in this country is fortunaely very free from the suspicion of ringing-in. The Church and religion, personified for the moment by the Rev. J. J. North, lias invoked the aid of four professors to support liis ideas on betting and racing.* Science and theory never has and never will make a rule which will control human impulse and desire. One might as well try to make a rule to force the wind to blow from a set direction instead of allowing it to come as it listeth from all points of the compass.

The Lake County Jockey Club did not apply for dates during the coming season. A proposed amendment to the Rules of Racing has for its object the prevention of a licensed trainer acting as a handicapper. The only objection to a trainer acting as handicapper consists in the fact that a club or clubs may lose nominations for the meeting at which the trainer acts as handicapper. If our principal trainers did not know more about handicapping than some of our socalled handicappers, they should have their trainers’ licenses cancelled.

The Gaming Amendment Act, to be introduced next, session, may find the bookmakers back again on the racecourse. It is ,said that the Labour members ane in favour of them, and with a strong opponent in Mr L. M. leilt dropping out there will, at le£«t, be one vote and voice less against them. ” We may, however, continue to pretend that there are no bookmakers in New Zealand—except when the law trips across them. Tile death of the late Mr John Fleming recalls the fact that J. Ruttledge, after association with Stuart Waddell, commenced as a trainer with one of Mr Fleming’s horses in Arline. At least, she was the first notable racer ho trained. J. Ruttledge, despite his youthful appearance, is really the veteran of our local trainers, as he was saddling up winners long before any of our other men were in the game. It was not, however, until he won all sorts of big races with Vladimir and then the N.Z. Cun’ with Canteen that J. R. asserted his ability to turn out tip-top winners when he had the goods to operate on. The New Zealand Trotting Association has apparently overlooked the fact that riders as well as drivers are associated with the sport. In a proposed amendment to rules the Association suggests “that if the stewards believe and are satisfied that the running of any such horse is inconsistent and unsatisfactory, the stewards may disqualify such horse or its owner, trainer, or driver as they think fit.” From this it would seem that riders are to be exempt when their mounts display inconsistent form. It also seems that the Trotting Association has overlooked the fact that form is frequently inconsistent and contradictory, but unless there is good reason to believe that the inconsistency is based on fraudulent running, no valid objection can be taken to it. Horses do not always run up to expectations, and most of us are frequently made painfully aware, of the fact, and also may havo good reason to accept it as one of the fortunes of war rather than excusing defeat on the grounds of inconsistency. There is nothing new about the fact that horses sometimes run inconsistently, but it should never be forgotten that there is a vast amount of difference in merely inconsistent form and fraudulent running.