SPORTING RACING NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25851, 23 May 1945, Page 2

SPORTING

RACING NEWS

By Sentinel ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT

" Inquiry,” Dunedin.—Sir Simper was got by Grand Knight. Simper produced the following foalsAffectation,' by Kilbroney; Illume, by Kilbroney; Gold Light, by Hymettus; Razzle Dazzle, by Kilbroney; Dazzling Light, by Kilbroney; Beacon Light, by Boniform: Glad Light, Lucky Light, and Speed Light, by Paper Money; Ruling Light, by Chief Ruler; and Sir Simper, by Grand Knight.

Applications for licences to train or ride must be lodged not later than May 31. In connection with a recent winner at Flemington, the owner had £6OOO to £2OO and £25 each way on the totalisator, which brought in over £1650. The stake was worth £SOO to the winner. After the deluge that caused the postponement of the Timaru meeting, those interested are naturally anxious to know whether the Washdyke course will be dry enough to race on this week. Unless a marked improvement takes place in connection with the shortage of horse feed, there will be a serious curtailment of racing in Victoria. In fact, a Melbourne paper states that it is possible that the 1945 Melbourne Cup will not be run. Nawab, is back on the tracks at Ellerslie. and is beginning to take racing shape once again. As a two-year-old he was the best in the north early in the season, but then lost form, a wind affliction being suspected. This, however, is not evident at the present time (says an exchange), though he has been kept only to short sprints. In his five starts at two years Nawab scored three firsts and a second. He comes from the same family as High Caste and other smart gallopers. As Mr R. McKenzie has intimated that he will not be available in future, the Dunedin Jockey Club is endeavouring to arrange with Mr D. B. Cilarkson, of Christchurch, to act as announcer. In appreciation of his services, Mr McKenzie has been extended the privileges of the club, and he will continue to review the fields prior to local meetings. Horses finishing fourth in both the Caulfield and Williamstown Cups of 1945 will receive prizes of £250 and £IOO respectively. This departure was made when the V.A.T.C and W.R.C. framed the conditions for their main events of the season. The Williamstown Committee, which has for some time been conducting sweepstakes in connection with its events, put the distribution of the sweepstakes on a fixed basis, the winner to take seven-tenths, the second two-tenths, and the third a tenth. If the same number of horses run this year as in 1944 the second will get about £7OO and the others about £350 in total prize money.

Rule 272 (1) of the Rules of Racing states that " any muzzle, martingale, breastplate, crupper, suspender, or clothing in which a horse runs shall be iput into the scales and included in the rider's weight, otherwise the horse shall be disqualified for the race.” The Hawke's Bay District Committee desires the following addition to be made by the Racing Conference: That the following words be added at the end of the rule: "Provided that in the case of any omission on the part of a jockey or other person concerned to so take and put on to the scales any of the articles, gear, or equipment herin mentioned, the clerk of the scales shall, forthwith, and any other person interested, may, in the terms of rule 328 (2) (d) report such omission to the secretary, stipendiary steward, •or other official and if the stewards find that notwithstanding such omission the horse concerned carried the weight which was correct or which was deemed to be correct under these rules and did not carry overweight which under these rules should have been declared at the scales, they may order, notwithstanding the horse may be disqualified for the race or the judge’s placings may be altered, that the dividend to which totalisator investors on the horse would have been entitled if there had been no such omission shall be paid to them as if no such disqualification had been imposed or no such alteration had been made.” After " navigating ” this circumlocution, the writer suggests that it might be rendered unnecessary by changing the wording of rule 272 from ‘‘ shall be disqualified ” to " may be disqualified.” If a horse has carried not less than his official weight there should be very good grounds before a disqualification is imposed.