RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24855, 3 March 1942, Page 2

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel

FIXTURES March 7.—Taranaki J.C. March 7.—Franklin R.C. March 7.—Banks Peninsula R.C. March 7.—Wellington R.C. March 14.—Wellington R.C. March 14.—Birchwood Hunt meeting. March .14.—Ohlnemuri J.C. March 21.—Manawatu R.C. March 21.—Oamaru J.C. March 28. —Hawke’s Bay J.C. March 28. —Waimate R.C. March 28.—Gore R.C. Wellington Meeting.—Acceptances for the Wellington meeting are due to-day. Egyptian Rose.—The Iliad filly Egyptian Rose did not run up to expectations in the Stewards’ Handicap. At Oamaru.—The safety number at Oamaru is 30, and provides for large fields, with a minimum risk of divisions. High Road.—The Victoria St. Leger winner High Road was got by Caledon— Scotch Melody, by Cistercian—Annie Laurie, by Charlemagne ll—Scotch Annie, by Grafton. Keios—The Newmarket Handicap winner, Kelos, is a three-year-old filly by Manitoba—Welosia, by The Welkin—Celosia, by Linacre—Gaillardia, by Trenton— Paressense, by Yattendon. Manitoba was got by Manna. A Good Idea.—lt has been suggested in Sydney that to reduce the unwieldly size of fields the distances should be increased. This would tend to keep only the best horses in training. Restrictions.—ln the Sydney metropolitan area it has been decided that no race meeting will be permitted to start before 1.30 p.m., and must finish not later than 5.15. Racing in the forenoon has been banned; Sale of Bloodstock.—At the sales held at Wingatui on Saturday, morning the brood mare Paigle, with a Man’s Pal filly foal at foot, was purchased bv Mr G. Aitcheson at 250gns, and the two-year-old filly Gammer, by Man's Pal—Paigle, was bought by Mr P. R, Crulckshanks at 160gns. Handicapping,—ln the W.R.C. Handicap Arctic Dawn can meet Gladynev on 111 b and Hearth on 121 b better terms for beating them in the Dunedin Cup. Tills most undesirable state of affairs has been brought about by Arctic Dawn carrying a stone over weight in the Dunedin Cup, The Standing Rein.—At the Racing Conference a motion was brought up with the object of preventing the use of a standing rein on a horse. It is apt to prevent a horse from jumping away from a flat-foot start. Circular Note wears one, but he had the benefit of an in-and-out start at Wingatui. Lord Nuffield.—When Lord Nuffield became hopelessly left in the Publicans’ Handicap he was not sent after the field, but merely followed. He came out again in the Stewards’ Handicap, and after being prominent all the way under 9.11 he failed in the last couple 'of strides to hold off Wild Fox, who came with a strong run. , \ Hostile. —The opinions expressed in connection with the Indicator system of recording the progress of betting at Wingatui were anything but favourable. Sally Lunn appeared to be showing a loss on a place bet and next to nothing for a win, but when the dividends were posted they proved to be very much better than indicated. In fact, some declined to bet at the price displayed.. Wild Fox also paid much better than Indicated, and apparently a bet should be made without being influenced by the indicator. In all probability the investments were being handled under difficulties, but the public judge by results and not by the origin of trouble. Over Weight.—Considerable surprise was expressed when a rider with 141 b over weight was posted for Arctic Dawn in the Dunedin Cup, When Arctic Dawn was galloped with Egyptian Rose on Friday morning last he wore winkers, and an Impression was gathered that a lightweight rider could not handle the horse. It has since been learnt that L. J. Clutterbuck had been retained to ride Arctic Dawn, and after wasting to do the weight was actually on the scales weighing out at 7.0 when instructions from tRe owner came through that a change of riders had to be made. P. Spratt was then- put up with 141 b over weight, and. although Arctic Dawn was well and capably handled, the extra burden settled what may have been a win. Clutterbuck received the amount of a losing mount. Premature Publication. At different times attention has been dyawn to the possible danger of a premature publication of handicaps. On the. form displayed at Wingatui in the Dunedin Cup, Hearth/ Wild Talk, The Raker, and Palfrey hold no chance on paper of beating Gladynev In the Peninsula Cup. An even more serious state of affairs crops up with the W.R.C. Autumn Handicap, in which Arctic Dawn is In at 7.0, or 141 b less than he carried in the Dunedin Cup. With a capable rider at the correct weight, or near it, Arctic Dawn appears to hold the rest of the field at his mercy, taking a line through Gladynev and Hearth. The premature publication of handicaps is a serious blot on racing, and why owners tolerate it is beyond comprehension. The clubs adopting it are apparently blind to their own interests, and also the interests of racing, as both the Peninsula Cup and W.R.C. Autumn Handicap may be reduced to a one-horse race or a field composed of two or three after a place. It will create Surprise if an exodus does not take place in connection with both races when acceptances are declared.

Former Sporting Journalist.— Mr William* Hutchison, whose death occurred in this city yesterday, will be remembered by the survivors of an earlier generation of sportsmen as having been for several years the contributor of racing news to the Weekly Press, Christchurch, under the pen-name of “ Hotspur.” He served in the Boer War as a mounted trooper, and after the demobilisation of the forces returned to South Africa and to the ranks of sporting journalists, serving on the staff of the Rand Daily Mall (Johannesburg) and subsequently on that of the Cape Times (Capetown). When failing eyesight compelled his retirement from active work several years ago, he came back to New Zealand, and he spent the balance of his life here in indifferent health. He was born in Newry, Ireland, the son of Mr W. Hutchison, who occupied a seat in the House of Representatives for four terms. He was unmarried. Good Work.—Although the Wingatui racecourse had been used for other purposes for some time preceding the Dunedin Cup meeting and might consequently have been expected to show, signs of wea’* the grounds were in excellent order for "the day’s racing. This was due to the manner in which the flower beds, lawn, and birdcage had been looked after and kept in the best possible shape. The care bestowed on the course could be taken as a mark of appreciation on the part of those occupying the grounds, and was favourably commented on by the public as well as by officials of the club. Racing as Propaganda.—Those people who have advocated the complete cessation of racing in New Zealand for the duration of the war may be Interested to learn that Nazi Germany places a high propaganda value on racing. Dr Goebbels was not long in awakening to the propaganda angle on racing, and he directed it particularly at America. For more than a year German-controlled radio stations have been giving newsy accounts of meetings, attendances, and betting. If the British Government had banned horse racing, Germany’s " England Cannot Sur- ■ vive ” slogan for United States ears would have gained a great propaganda victory. Cynical announcers have blared to the world that England, the birthplace of the thoroughbred, was in such a state that racing had to be abandoned. A year ago that might have had a big influence on American opinion. England’s reply was to install a microphone at the recent December sales at Newmarket, and the transactions were put on the air to ■every country in every language, including German. Listeners heard the astonishing news that £1,000,000 changed hands in three days of auctioning, and that an 11-year-old mare brought 14,OOOgns—certain evidence that the Englishman believes that racing will survive and that the ultimate outcome of the war will be favourable to the British. French racing ■bloodstock is not being destroyed, as has been suggested. The Nazis have taken full control of Fiance’s thoroughbred stock and have transferred some famous sires and mares to German studs. The Nazis are encouraging horse racing in Germany and in Vichy and occupied France. Crowds are returning to peacetime standard. Two meetings each week are held in Berlin and three in Paris. German troops are not allowed to bet on the pari-mutuel, because this money goes to the French Government.