RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21647, 18 May 1932, Page 5

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel. A mishap to Squatter will probably debar him from racing for some time. Ha would have lent a lot of interest to the Grand National Steeplechase if not overweighted. 1 F. J. M'Kay was booked to leave for the north yesterday with Mr W. T. Hazlett’s horses for a North Island campaign. The Otaki Racing Club has decided to Introduce the os totalisator at its winter meeting, to be held; on June 3 and A The lowering of the unit on the machine has met with strenuous opposition in some quarters.

E. O’Donnell, who recently retired as • public trainer in Sydney, is going to five Melbourne a trial for a few months, fe has his own horse. Rolls Eoyce, to begin with. While more than one club in the Dominion has been discussing the dropping of weight-for-age events, the Taranaki Jockey Club intends to carry on with the Taranaki Stakes. The prize money for next season's race will be reduced to £2OO, but the club is to be congratulated on its decision to cater for good horses in this way. The Australian-bred stallion Sandstar, by Sands of the Orient from Mary Heaton, died in Taranaki last week after an attack of colic. "He was a smart three- ■ year-old, winning several races. The following spring he was being trained for the Avondale Cup, and in a gallop a few days before the race he dislocated a fetlock. He did several seasons at the stud in Taranaki, and according to report'some of his stock show considerable promise. A remarkable feature of the Southland Racing Club’s meeting was the generally dlose betting in several events. This may be accepted as proof of a handicap puzzle, and on the other hand it may be regarded as evidence that the southern sportsmen back a horse without consideration of the weights and measures of form. Five horses started in the Winter _ Oats, and the margin between the favourite and the outsider of the field was covered by £96 10s. The curious thing is that horses going from England to any part of the world as a rule strike their form fairly soon (says an English writer). Possibly the reason is that they may be racing in an inferior class. One could quote so many instances of horses being brought a long distance overseas and failing to do much, if any, good here. They were top sawyers in their own countries, and great has been the disappointment when they could not live up to their reputations here. Again, a reason is> that they are coming into the highest class of all. The case of the Australian horse Strephon II was rather pathetic. There is no doubt that he was a champion in his own country, but he never won a race here, and, indeed, he never looked like doing so. Why, one wonders, did he never seem to thrive, or gallop with the zest he invariably showed in Australia? ~ T , For the past few seasons the llangitikei Hunt Club has combined with the Marton Jockey Club for its annual race meeting/but it was decided recently that the Hunt Club conduct its own fixture during the current season, July 20 being chosefi by the Hunt Club. This action was' agreed upon by the members of the Rangitikei Hunt, and the sum of nearly £2OO was guaranteed in the room to assist in financing the race meeting. The outcome of the fixture will be awaited with considerable interest. Although Princess Elizabeth was lucky to win the Grand Stand Steeplechase (says “The Watcher”), her performance for a f .'st attempt over country was a good one. She has done a fair,, amount of schooling at Hastings, but the hencoop obstacles, at Wanganui were strange to her, and each time she came to them it was noticeable that she jumped very high. This is an indication of her first-class jumping ability, and as she is sure to improve she ought to win some good money over the fences during the winter. Some of her hurdle performances were good, and include a win in the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles. She is not a big mare, but hei jumping and staying ability will carry her a long way. v “I am certain that the. racing season which we have just embarked upon will be an excellent one. _ There was undoubtedly more interest in the sport than at the opening of the season for several years past.” This is the considered judgment of a well-known London Turf administrator, who is in an excellent position to have his finger on the pulse of the racing public. “ During the past jumping season there has been more covering money ■fijom the starting-price offices all over the country than in any jumping _ season within the experience of the business 1 control,” be continued. “ The first week of the flat-racing season ia generally quiet, but last week was much more brisk thau usual. That is distinctly encouraging. Given the expected improvement in industry, and plenty of good racing—and there is abundant promise that we shall have the latter—l have no hesitation in'saying that we shall have the best season for many years.” ‘The race meeting held last month by the Marton Jockey Club was reviewed last week by the chairman of the General Committee (Mr J. Stanford), who took the opportunity of congratulating the club on the success of the meeting,, not so much, he said, on the financial result attained, but on the sporting spirit underlying the venture, which resulted in the club showing a small profit instead of a loss. Without the co-operation of the members and all officials this would have .been impossible, but with everyone wiil/ing to help and actually assisting, success crowned the club’s efforts. A special vote of thanks was due to all officials usually paid but who, in order to help the club, came forward with an offer of their services free. The chairman included the gatemen, local totalisator staff, and other usually paid servants who gave their day’s services free. In every way assistance was given to the club and the result was most gratifying. To those younger members who came forward and took upon themselves the duties of erecting and removing the steeplechase jumps (usually paid for) the club was grateful. ” The moral of this,” said the chairman, in conclusion, “ is that’ if you want help you must help yourself.” The Marton Jockey Club is sending the following remit to be dealt witli at the nnuual'meeting of delegates to the Racing Conference, to be held at Wellington in July:—“With a view to effecting further economies, the New Zealand Racing Conference is urged to reduce the number of stipendiary- stewards and racecourse inspectors; and, further, that no deputies be appointed except at the request of a elub willing to bear the expense of same.” The mover of the remit referred to the necessity for further substantial ecenomies in the administration of racing. He said: “Stipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors last year cost clubs in New Zealand £7866, of which no less than £1129 was travelling expenses. Included in this amount of nearly £BOOO are fees to deputies amounting to £774. The total expenditure for the year came to £11,423, of which £745 can safely be termed nonrecurring, so that out of £10,678 under £3OOO covered conference expenditure. As times are, it is quite impossible for clubs in New Zealand to continue to carry this burden. No one will deny thar, gtipendiary stewards and racecourse inspectors are of the greatest value to racing, but I do think that the money spent on deputies and their travelling can well be saved. For the next few years clubs must revert to conducting their meetings by stewards and judicial committees,” The ■ remit was carried unanimously.