FACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22353, 29 August 1934, Page 13

FACING NEWS

By Sentinel. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT "Argument,” Loch Mabcn.—You appear to be confusing the circumstances' ; and the ownership. . C.Gieseler has resumed charge of his team; and appears to be completely restored to good health. : Travenna has not been troubled by his recent racing; and was fresh and well when worked yesterday morning. ■ The Thurnham gelding Latin Quarter •is amongst the horses, being schooled over hurdles at Flemington. Mr J. Lmdsay has purchased the three-ycar-pld 7 'Lord Warden—Wild Work filly, which is now being trained for bim by R; M‘Kay.- ' :• The early spring meetings will shortly require attention as nominations for the Ashburton and Geraldine meetings arc duo next-week.- ': v' ‘ Autopay is to. be shipped to Sydney this week to make his third campaign in Aus- , tralia. He won the_ Epsom Handicap of 1931 with 8.6 ,in linin 37sec, and still retains his brilliancy. , ' . After .winning the Brabazon' Handicap Yentrac exhibited soreness when *workin g.at Riccarton. He is now right again., the trouble that cramped, his action was a boil'under the saddle. ' '■;* . ; The Foxton Racing Club has made ariarfgemente to revert to the win and place betting system at-its meeting this month, after dropping it in favour of the single pool for its June meeting. - The. single pool will be the betting system at the Marton • meeting. There Viirbe one dividend for four or fewer, starters, two dividends in fields from five to eight, and three dividends where there, are nine starters or more. A report from Sydney states that Silver Ring and Nightly have been backed to win £IO,OOO over the Epsom and Metropolitan Double. The Masquerader has also come into favour for the Epsom Handicap." , ■ ■, . Although the omission was rectified before the race, a Sydney trainer recently had to nay a fine of £5 for saddling his horse without a leadbag, -which should Have been included in the gear. The omis-sion-;was noticed by the jockey, but the fact did not save the trainer having to pay for his. carelessness. ; ■ . , R; MTtay • was not long-' in getting a team. together at Wingatui, and now has eeven horses. in his. stable. The list is made-up by a three-year-old filly by Lord Warden~Wild Work, Motukarakara, a Balboa—Guzark gelding, ft three-year-old by Paper Money—Roburite, Silver Lark, a Paladin —Madam Melba gelding, and a Balboa—Pink Terrace gelding. Argentina has not supplied much in the way of bloodstock to Australia or New Zealand, but El Cacique, the sire of Silver King, who defeated Custodian in the' Hobartyille Stakes, was bred there. El Cacique, was ’ got;' ■by , Tracery from . Irfdicciia; by Vard’Or (son of •Flying Fox) from Iridecise, T>y St. Mirin —Agitte,. by Audrocles, a son of Dollar, to whom" we owe Rupee,; a French-bred mare, imported by the late Mr G./G. Stead. ; Another Argentina-bred horse was Oblieado, who got several good winners in ;New Zealand, including Obsono, a Stewards’ Handicap winner. Obligado was bought-in England as a yearling by Mr G. G. Stead. . • ’

The yearlines by Posterity created a {rood Impression when seen in the ring at the January sales. Apparently they can gallop. Mr G. M. Currie’s two-year-old colt, Entail,, by Posterity from Episode, shaped particularly well last week in a three-furlong sprint with Canopy, the three-year-old filly' by Limond—Pennon. From a flying start they, kept together until turning , for home, and then Entail began to .draw away. Stretching Out in bold . style , the twp-yearr6ld was some _ two length's in front' at the post, the time registered being 38 2-ssec. He was going along nicely at the finish, and if he continues, to improve he should make.a name for-his sire. r The Waimate Raring Club lost £25 over its race meeting held last season, and speaking 'at the annual meeting of members, Mr E. C. d’Auvergne said that a great many country clubs were living from hand to mouth. As the smaller clubs were feeders for the bigger ones, jt w r ould be a castastrbphe .if many had to go, out. He moved that the Government be recommended to legislate to allow to , country clubs 2J per cent, rebate up to £IO,OOO. It needed only bad weather to put'some'of the clubs out of commission. A 2} per cent, rebate would help, them greatly, td tide over the' difficult times, and the Government would be studying,its own interests, considering, the amount of taxation received out of' country chibs free of , collecting costs. Mr H. Willetts suggested that the resolution should i go through the Racing Conference, the support of other country clubs to he obtained in the meantime. The motion was carried. y

The success of a race meeting depends primarily on the attractiveness of the stakes, a good 'track, and a minimum cost to owners of starting in a race. The Wellington .meetings attract patronage because the’stakes are satisfactory, and Trentham is within fairly easy access of a number of the North Island training tracks. .The journey from Riccarton is anything but difficult, and with a widespread appeal to owners a good market at Trentham is generally on hand. As far. as the. more northern and southern training tracks are concerned the temptation must be a bit stronger because expenses of travelling have to be considered unless good prospects balance them. The Wellington Racing Club has an extra ‘'contemplated , making the spring! meeting a three-card fixture,* but this idea has since been dropped. There has been '.a good deal of advocacy of centralisation' during the past few months in order to reduce the cost to owners. The first to centralise should be the metropolitan and semi-metropolitan clubs instead.’of splitting their permits into as many meetings .as possible." If the Wellington spring meeting extended over three days.it would draw horses from all parts of the. North Island to Trentham and then, oh, in all probability, to the New Zealand Cup meeting, which provide four days’, racing. This step towards centralisation would in all probability he. welcomed by owners because it 'supplies a good run of racing with i concentration and reduction of travelling expenses. On the other hand since the Ashburton Racing .Club has split its permits into four- meetings Wingatui horses have been conspicious by absence simply because it means four trips where only two were necessary. The. South Canterbury Jockey Club is showing a- tendency to travel 'in : the . same direction, and this may mean a loss,of patronage from this end. It is only' right thatt clubs should endeavour to make , their meetings pay, but not by increasing the cost to owners.