TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2779, 19 June 1907, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bj Sutijibl.

'•THE SILKS AND SATINS OF THE TURF." The proximity of the next annual conference of the New Zealand racing clubs is evidenced by tbe appearance of a batch of proposed amendments, additions, and alterations to existing racing laws ; and one proposal that is sure to receive scant consideration, if the delegates are not dead to the sentiment and traditions of the turf, is the new rule put forward by the Otago country clubs in reference to what colours shall be carried by the various horses. The suggestion reads as follows: — (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Part IX of these rules, any club may supply "x>lours to bs -worn by all jockeys at *ny meeting of such club, and may forbid the use of any other colours than those supplied by such club. (2) Colours supplied by any club shall be aa follows, or aa approved by the conference % . — No. 1 top weight horse, xed ; No. 3 top weight horse, light blue ; No. 3 tog weight horee, green ; No. A top weight horee, yellow ; No. 5 top weight horse, dark bine; No. 6 top weight weight horse, pink ; No. 7 top weight horse, orange ; No. 8 top weight horse, maroon ; iiigher numbers to be combinations of these or such other colours as approver by the conference. No doubt the above idea will win favour in some quarters, but it would be very surprising to hear that it emanated from any owners or sportsmen who were following the sport as a pastime, and were em•bued with ideas garnered by an appreciative study of turf lore. Tbe modern turfito is in many cases a follower of the "eport of kings" for purely financial reasons, but even amongst them famous races are fought over and over again in a manner thai suggests they are sportsmen at heart. The reason that the numbered 6addlecloth has never been introduced in England is probably based on sentiment. There is no questioning its great utility, but the idea is repugnant to sportsmen whose families have had the same racing banners for a century or more. The dainty saddlecloth edged with the colours worn by the ■rider is a thing of the paat, but the leading spirits of the turf in the Old World are antagonistic to anything tending to reduce the sport to a business pure and simple. No doubt they hold the impression that all followers of the sport should know all the silks amd satins of the turf, and consequently the numbered cloth w nothing short of a piece of vandalism. The numbered cloth has been in use for a number of years in Australasia and America, and the idea is well kno-nn in England, but has never been in use, as far as the writer know*. Many owners take almost as much pride in their colours as they do in owning a good horse, and the writer would not like to be first to ask Mr Dan O'Brien to put by his popular "Rose-and black," Sir Geo. Clifford his "chequers." the Hon. Geo M'L&an his "zetland epote." or request Mr G. G. Stead to rotire "ln« boy in yellow.'' The proposal ie bad enough in this country, and if such an idea wae eupgestcd at Home the proposer would piobablv bo banished from the country. Tmagino th«> Kins; beinar asked to fold up the "royal blue and purple,' or other prominent owners to put by their historical racing banners — far better known in many caees than the person of the owner. Tho suggestion put forward by fhe A\iekland Racing Club will nvot with more favour, but there is no jfroat reason why colours should not be p-mbelliehed by cuffs, collars, piping, or braid. These dis tinguishing marks are seldom visible except at short range, a« they rarely trespass into the main scheme of the racing colours to which they belong. If the registration of owners came into vogue a siraiharity of racing colours could be avoided, as a notification of what the? are should be com-

pulsory, and the right to use decided by Beniorrty of ownership. Suggestions calculated to improve the turf are entitled to every consideration, but when they are reminiscent of the mechanical game oi Ascot, in which tin horses are pulled on strings, their discussion should be brie» and killing.

VETERANS OF THE SADDLE

An Australian paper to hand by the last mail contains a brief par. to the effect that F. Glennon, who recently rode the winner of the Grand Annual at Bendigo, has been riding over fences for about 25 years and it is claimed that no other rider in the Commonwealth, save perhaps V\ alter Douglas, has suoh a record. A Dunedin horseman can, however, claim a much longer record. To ride over fences for that period ia an eloquent testimonial of the nerve and pluck in the possession of the horsemen who stick so long to the saddle. Hunting men frequently follow their favourite pastime for * much longer period bnt hunting and racing are it is almost unnecessary to state, very different game*. In fact, it is generally found that a jockey who gets up to ride between the flag* after being before the public for such a lengthy period aa a quarter of a. century generally does bo because the back end of a. career has discovered him to be anything but a millionaire. Long before that period most horsemen are content to stand down and let the "young 'una have . go. Ihe jumper's nerve is an all-important factor, and that dedicate organism seldom dallies lone in anyone's possession, particularly if one is fond of living. We can point to a much better record than that possessed by tho two riders mentioned above, and as a proof cite the ease of James Cotton, who rode Cuiro&settia when that gelding made his debut over fences at the recent VVingatui meeting. Cotton is seldom seen in the saddle nowadays, but that appears to- be because ill-fortune has caused him to drop out of the game and be overlooked by owners. He is always available when required. At least, it is presumed that euch is tb« case, as during the present season he schooled and rod© Abusive and Cuirossettia. with a vim and dash calculated to put much younger horsemen to the blusn. Cotton rode his last winner at the Riverton Easter meeting, when he steered Mr L,. v. Hazlett's gelding St. Kooringa to victory in tho principal steeplechase decided there. In fact Cotton owes his present prominence to 'the fact that Mr Ha»lett ha« been pleased to put him in the saddle and help the veteran horseman to the front again. The oldest record in the writer's possession i fl the Turf Record of 1875-6, and in December of the first-mentioned year Cotton rode third in a hurdle race at the Dunedin epring meeting. This race by tho way, was won by the late Hon. H. Gourley's Kildare, and ridden by T. Cotton (a brother to James Cotton), who has recently worked such an improvement in Harvest. Possibly J. Cotton waa riding over fences prior to 1875, but that gives a margin of 32 yeare. Dame Fortune has not smiled on the veteran horeeman during recent years, but in his day he was one of the principal trainers at the Forbury, and amongst the good winners he prepared was Adamant, who won the Dunedin Cup of 1383. Perhaps the best horse he ever trained was Gipsy Kin*-, and the tide of ill-fortune probably set in when the son of Le Loup' won a selling two-year-old race, and his owner was subsequently outbid by Mr D. OBrien. Cotton was also a prominent horseman 'across the flat" in days gone by and amongst the notable winners he steered was Lady Emma- in the Dunedin Cup of 1884, Lady Evelyn in Ihe DJ.C. Champagne Stakes of 1884, Lnknown in the St. Andrew's Handicap of 1878 Little Nell in the Birthday Handicap'of 1874, Adamant in the Tradesmen c Handicap of 1883, and Lady Emma in the D.J.C. Handicap of 1884.