RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 14

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel,

In P. T. Hogan’s Stable Nightform, who has hitherto been trained by E. J. Ellis at Washdyke, -has joined P. T. Hogan’s stable. Doing Useful Work Dollar Bill, after being off the scene for a few weeks, is again doing useful work. He may make a trip, south for the Easter meeting at Riverton. Palady in Work Again Palady has resumed work after a short spell, which became necessary when he was galloped on in the Midsummer Handicap. He is all right again, and he will be got ready for autumn racing. Monastic. Schooled Monastic (R. K. Smith) was sent twice over the two brush hurdles at Riccarton on Tuesday. It was his first t school since he resumed work, and, though inclined to jump high, he gave a good showing. C. C. M Car thy intends to race him in the brush hurdle events at Easter, after which his attention will be turned to steeplechasing. Brood Marcs for Victoria Three brood mares—Snowland, Chief Star, and Money Mart—were bought at the January sales on behalf of Mr C. A. Haigh, Balcrest Stud, Victoria. Snowland, by Kilbroney, produced two useful performers in Arctic Star and Arctic King. Chief Star is by Chief Ruler and a half-sister to Star Stranger and,Star God. Money Mart is by Paper Money from Martia,, and, therefore, half-sister to Enthusiasm. Joculator, and Cherry Mart. The Cromwell Meeting With the approach of the Cromwell Jockey Club’s annual race meeting, interest in the fixture is being revived, and with the generally improved conditions ruling and the many promise? of support there is every indication of a record.meeting. As well as increased stakes, there are six cups'which-have been, given for various races. Machine Betting in America M ; Although the pari-mutuel turnover advanced in- most States in America last vear, it was-not. so in Illinois. ■ In that State Chicago, with six tracks, supplies practically all the racing, and investments for their total of 157 days dropped to approximately £6,426,000, as compared with £6,861,000 for 157 days the previous year. Last year Arlington Park came out best, averaging £59,550 for 30 days. In 1933 its average for a similar number of days was £61,170. There are no bookmakers on Chicago racecourses. bisqualified for Life . - Charies* Wrjgiit,' ,an apprentice, was last week disqualified for life by the SiA.J.C. stipendiary stewards at the conclusion of the inquiry into the find- * ing and use- of a battery, picked up on the course after the Burnside Handicap at Victoria Park on February 1. The stewards found that the battery was used by Charles Wright, rider of Segati, and disqualified him under Australian Rule of Racing 162, sub-section J.; There was no evidence to connect any ■ other person with the matter. Wright is apprenticed to his father, A. J. Wright, a trainee of Morphetville. Segati is raced on lease by C. H. Wood, an owner-trainer,who has Mellion in his stables. Likes New Zealand Blood When Double Up won the Johannesburg Summer Handicap, of £4500, in December, Miss I], M. Robinson s Sir Francis-tan* third- and'the New Zealander The Khedive, owned by her brother, Sir J. B. Robinson, was fourth. The Khedive,is not the -only New Zealand-bred horse Sir J. < B. Robinson is racing in South Africa, and, as he gave 450 . guineas for the Posterity—lmpetuous and 500,guineasfor the Hunting Song—Crisis colts at: the recent Wellington yearling sales,, he will have more next year.Noted Trainer’s Death The death of Mr J. E. Thorpe removes one of the best known of the owners and trainers in the Auckland province. Mr Thorpe prepared some good horses, and undoubtedly the greatest was Record Reign, with whom he won the New, Zealand Grand National Hurdles at Riccarton in 1900. On that occasion Record- Reign carried 12.12. Until recently Mr Thorpe supervised the training of Valmint, who won two races at the 1935-36 summer meeting of the Auckland Racing. Club. Other winners prepared by Mr Thorpe included Bluestone, Loloma, Nocturne, Lomint, Gatpma apd Jewelled Girdle. Something to, Growl About ■ In Sydney racing clubs are urlhappy over the amount they have ,to contribute to the State' in taxation, but they escape lightly by comparison with some in America. Last year Maryland’s four principal tracks paid a daily licence fee of £I2OO, which,* as each club raced 25 days, meant £120,000 for the year. In addition, there is a tax of . 1 per cent, on the pari-mutuel turnover. Last year that gave the State over £63,000 from the four major tracks. In addition, there is a tax of 15 per cent, on profits—if the clubs make any. Pimlico pays heaviest of any Maryland track, as, in addition to the State tax of £I2OO, there is z daily county tax of £6OO. Pimlico, in Baltimore, is the equivalent of Randwick in Sydney, and has the unenviable honour of being the heaviest taxed track in the United States. Yearling Prices Advance Last year 892 yearlings were sold at auction in America for £281,051 an average of £315. This represented an average of approximately 33 per cent, more than in 1935. A remarkable feature of last year's sales was the increased prices realised by fillies. At Saratoga 179 averaged £371, against £l7O for 247 the previous year. The smaller number offering probably had something to do with the advance. Colts also made higher prices at Saratoga than a year earlier, 290 averaging £575, against approximately £432 for 301. Racing continues to go ahead in America, and that, of course, has a marked bearing on prices. Gordon’s Costly Dinner At the conclusion of the fiat race season in England it is the custom of the leading jockey to entertain his fellowriders and friends at dinner. And in accordance with tradition Gordon Richards for the tenth time in a dozen years will be the host. Tlie dinner given by the leading jockey has. according to reports. developed into a grandiose affair growing with the years, and attracting more and more guests (and some gatecrashers). costing an ever-rising figure and making the spirit of friendly intimacy that should permeate such an occasion utterly impossible, Richards, when the last mail left England, was anxious to continue with the dinner—the last one cost him £soo—but his friends think some revision ol the arrangements is overdue. They feel that the champion iockcv's dinner should

cease to be an elaborate social event and should revert to its original standing of a small private party. Richaids » idea this year is a dinner in honour of his retiring colleagues—Fred Fox, K. Dick, J. Dines, T. Barber and H. Jelliss. Lynch Law The news that the unbeaten Limond two-year-old Lynch Law is amiss is disquieting. The races in which. he seemed certain 'o win a lot ox■ money were the V.A.T.C. Federal Stakes on February 13, and Alma Stakes- on February 20: Sires r Produce Stakes, Ascot Vale Stakes and Gibson Carmichael Stakes at the Flemmgton meeting. which opens on February. 27 and the Sires’ Produce Stakes, Easter Plate and Champagne Stakes at Ranflwick at Easter. J. T. Jamieson has. another smart youngster in Birthday Boy, buhe is not up to the standard of the other New Zealand colt. A Very Late Debut With racehorses it is sometimes a case of never too late to start— -racing, iif not winning. This reflection is prompted by the appearance among the maiden entrants at Woodville of a 10-vear-old mare who does not appear ever to have carried the colours previously. The mare referred to is Antrim Beauty, and she is described as being by a Sir Antrim, colt out of a Strowan mare. Five or six years ago she was entered for races, but she incurred some displeasure while held/under a lease and it is only lately that she has become eligible for entry again. With her name removed from the forfeit list, she has been taken over on-lease by Messrs B. F. Holloway and P. Vicks of Palmerston North, who apparently some hopes that, if she is'mot.brilliant enough to win on the flat she mi rt h make a jumper. He Was a Man v , . At the funeral of the late Mr “ Ned ” Moss at Waverley Cemetery, Sydney the attendance was so large that tne church was not nearly large enough to accommodate those who. had come from all parts to pay their respects A huge crowd of former friends had gathered at the cemetery. Many were (he stories told of “ Ned s generosity by those who had been assisted by him. One trainer, who subsequently was so successful that he was able to retire many years ago, recounted how 1 “ Ned ’’had befriended him. They had bad a' quarrel 1 over the winning of a certain horse, and had not spoken xoi more, than a month. One day, on their way home from the races they happened to be in the same compartment of a tram. “ Let’s shake hands, Harry; it’s no use being bad friends over that little matter.” The trainer held out his hand. Then Ned asked him- how he was getting on. ft s back to the bush for me,” said the other: “I’m down and out, and cant last any longer.” Early the next morning a messenger arrived at the trainer s stables with an envelope, m which was a cheque for £ 1000; and that put the trainer on his feet again, A. Sydney chemist related another instance of “ Ned’s ” thoughtfulness. Just before going to Jervis Bay he had called for some 1 medicine. Missing the girl at the cash register, he asked about her. “ She’s away on her honeymoon, said the chemist. Putting his hand in his pocket, "Ned” produced a £5 note and said: “ Give her this for a wedding present when you see her,” These are only two of thousands of stones of a similar nature of the man who rose from a newspaper boy and seller of race books to being one of the principal! supporters of the turf in New South Wales, .Though he amassed a considerable fortune, he never forgot that he was once poor, and was always ready to help the needy. The amount he gave away, no one is ever likely to know; but in addition to his gifts, large sums had.been “borrowed” from him that there was no hope of ever being repaid. A few days after Theo had won the A.J.C. Derby in the popular green and black halves of “ Ned ” (no one ever thought of calling him Mr Moss), his health was toasted at Tattersall’s Club. .'After the speech--1 making was over, those present were > standing in groups discussing the ■ owner of Theo. Said one of them: “No one will ever know* the immense amount of good ‘ Ned ’ Moss has done in this world. I was doWri at his solicitor’s office the other day, when Ned’s Derby win was being discussed, and the solicitor showed me a list of the amounts Ned had lent to different borrowers. How much do you think it was? ” None could answer the query. “ Forty-three thousand pounds! ” said the teller of the Story, and he was a man whose word could be accepted without question. ■ : >