RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20319, 30 January 1928, Page 11

RACING NEWS

FIXTURES. Jan. 80.— Takapuna J.C. Feb. I. Tapanui R.C. Annual. Feb. 1,2. —Pahiatua R.C. Feb." 2, 4.—Egmont R.O. Feb. 2, 4.—Gisborne R.C. Feb. 4. —Matamata R.C. Feb. 9. 11.—Dunedin J.C. Feb. 9. 11.—Taranaki J.C. Feb 9, 11.—Poyerty Bay Turf Club. Feb 11, 13.—Rotorua R.C. Feb. 15.—Clifden R.C. Feb. 16.-Tolaga Bay J.C. Feb. 16, 18—Wanganui J.C. Feb. 18.—Canterbury J.C. Feb. 22, 23.—Gore R.C. Feb 22, 25.—Nelson J.C. Feb. 23.—Waiapu R.C. Feb. 24, 25.—Woodville District J.C. Feb. 25, 27.—Te Aroha J.C. Feb. 29 March I.—Dannevirke R.C.

Eighty-four yearlings were sold at_ tbe Wellington bloodstock sales for 29,905gn5, or an average of 356gns. Tuki is again in work at Timaru, and bo is Fabriano. Both horses are in the Trilford Bros, stable. The North Island rider S. Wilson may link up with a Wingatui stable. Musketoon, one of Auckland’s best performers in recent years, but who has been off the scene for nearly two seasons, has again commenced work at Te Aroha, this time as one of Mr R. B. Hine’s team. At present he is very burly in condition, but it is not intended to race him until the late autumn and winter. Musketoon appears to be quite sound again. The imported horse Grand Knight failed to find a buyer when submitted to auction on Thursday at Wellington bloodstock The filly by Martian from Sweet Charity, submitted at the Trentham sales, was purchased by Mrs C. G. Dalgety, of Christchurch, not by Mrs Dalgety, as appeared in the telegraphed report. Mr A. B. Williams headed the list of winning owners at tbe Wellington meeting with £1220, closely followed by Mr J. M. Cameron with £1135. Other winnings were: —Dr J. E. Rogers £BSO, Mr C. G. Dalgety £740, Mecsrs Crawford and Roberts £7OO, Mr J. M. Samson £690, Mr W. R. Kemball £560, Mr J. R. M'Kenzie £550, Sir George Clifford £530, Mr C. G. Maolndoe £530, Mr J. A. Ainge £SOO, Mrs M. A. Perry £4OO, Mr G. D. Greenwood £370, Mr H. P. P. Blundell £350, and Mr A. M'Donald £245.

Mr C. O’Connor did some good work at the starting barrier during the three days’ racing at Trentham. With few exceptions Lis despatches were up to his best form, which represents the highest standard in the Dominion, and he could not be blamed for the occasional instances in which horses failed to jump out smartly. There was some criticism, however _ (says "Argus”), over the variation in his methods. As a general rule Mr O’Connor makes the horses line up at the barrier and sends them away from a flat-foot start. At times, however, mostly in the case of small fields, he despatches them from a walking-up start. This latter method, while ensuring excellent work, fives an advantage to bad-mannered orses that are liable to get off badly when compelled to stand up to the barrier in a hig field. There would be nothing wrong if this were the usual system, but the lack of uniformity in starting methods is open to objection. It seems doubtful (says the Lyttelton Times) whether Withers will be well enough to drive Great Bingen in his match with Native Chief on February 11, for Great Bingen is a strong horse, and his driver must be a fit man. The match between these two horses is gaining wider interest each day, and several sensational half-mile bursts by Native Chief of late have brought him practically level with Great Bingen so far as favouritism is concerned. It is not an impossible task for Native Chief to reel off half a mile in a minute. If he does this in the match with Great Bingen he will keep the champion doing his best all the way. Although S’. G. Holmes has driven Native Chief in his most recent engagements, J. J. Kennerley will hold the reins in the match. Full Dress, by Viceroy, a son of The Tetrarch, out of Spray, the dam of the Grand National _ winner. Sprig, has recently changed hands in England for lOgns. At the price she is described as being a bargain. Although lOgns seems a remarkably small sum, _ much smaller amounts have been given for horses who have subsequently won races. There was a case some years ago in America where an auctioneer could not get an offer for a horse. Just as he was about to pass the animal out of the ring an onlooker, for fun, bid “ tuppence-ha’pennyand was astounded when the auctioneer knocked the horse down to him at that price! There was also the case of a horse named Corkscrew, owned by a Northampton butcher. Tired of the “gee’s” repeated failures, he offered to sell him to one of his customers for 455. The customer was not too anxious, and so, to make the transaction more attractive, tne butcher offered to “ throw in ” a leg of mutton. The deal was made, and shortly afterwards Corkscrew won three races. Some years ago, too, Electric Current, winner of several races in the north, was purchased for 7gns after having been won as a prize in a dog show! Earl Sande is the American jockey who lode Zev in the memorable match with Papyrus. And Sande is now in England after having had his license revoked by the Maryland Racing Commission on a charge of having interfered with a favourite in Reigh Count in the £IO,OOO Futurity Stakes. Sande’s winnings in 10 years total £500,000. In 3425 races he has had 921 firsts, 61 seconds, and 521 thirds. Fred Archer, the famous English jockey, won over 30 per cent, of his races during 10 years. Steve Donoghue, who won the English Derby five times, has not a record, over a period of years, like Sande’s. His suspension has the same effect in turf circles as if Babe Ruth were suspended from baseball. With the ban hanging over him—and the Maryland Commission refused to raise it, although the New York Commission’s president humbled himself in the dust before it on behalf of Sande—the rider of Zev in the famous contest for world supremacy with the English Derby winner Papyrus will not be permitted to race ra England or on the Continent, or in Australia. In 1926 Lord Woolavington, with a total of £47,041, headed the list of winning owners in England, as he did in 1922 also, when Captain Cuttle appropriated the Derby. In 1927 Lord Woolavington experienced a lean year with stake earnings of £9481. . . . Lord Derby was runner-up to Lord Woolavington with £35,435 in 1926 But with a total of £40,355 Lord Derby in the flat-race season that closed lust before the despatch of the latest Eng lish mails, went on to outright success amongst the. leading owners of Eneland. Lord Derby was fifth in 1925 with stakeearnings totalling £19.348. Thus (says an exchange) in the last three seasons his total reaches to nearly £IOO,OOO,