TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 54

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel.

THE DUNEDIN WINTER MEETING. With the conclusion of the autumn meetings, owners will require to turn their attention to the few remaining fixtures which will cany us to the end of the present rating season. Chief amongst the remaining fixtures for the Island is the Dunedin Jockey Club's winter meeting, which from a spectacular point of view is the most attractive gathering held at Wingatui. This meeting has rapidly sprung into popularity, and this pleasing state of affairs is principally due to the inclusion of steeplechases on the programme. This year the club is offering a liberally endowed list of events, and their financial attraction should draw a good response from horse-owners. The chief events on the first day's curd will be the Birthday Handicap, of 350sovs, one milo ond a-quarter, and the Otago Steeplechase Handicap, of 250sovs, about two miles and a-half. The Tradesmen's Handicap will year carry a stake of 2Gosovs, and as usual will be decided over six furlongs. The Winter Welter, of 135sovs, one mile, two hack races of lOOsovs, and a 150sovs hurdle event complete the card for the day. On the second day the Provincial Handicap, of 225sovs, one mile, and the Wingatui Steeplechase, of 200sovs, two miles, form the leading events. The Wairongoa Handicap, of 150sovs, will be the chief sprint race on the card, and two lOOsovs stakes for hacks, the Invermay Welter, and a 130-ovs hurdle race complete the card Nominations for all events are due on Friday, May 10. THE REVIVAL OF HUNTING. It is very pleasing to note that the long contemplated revival of hunting in Dunidin stands an excellent chance of being carried to success when it .-tarts off with the initial run to be held early this month. Such an auspicious event as the opening run of a new hunt augurs well for sport. It seems to clearly indicate that the sporting spirit has acquired a new lease of life. Hunting men are much in sympathy with lacing because it is the fountain source. supplying the mount which is >o essential and very necessary for the successful participation of a gallop with the hounds. This perhaps is regarding the revival of a grand old .-port, through purely racing eyes, but the two sports have much in common. The new club has gathered a fairly strong membership, and if a fair percentage take- an active part by following the hounds, success seems assured. Active participation from a fair number is necessary to justify the existence of anv Siport in order to supply the sinews of war to carry on the game. The mere spectator seldom dips very deeply into his pocket, nor can any such person be expected to pay much towards building up the pleasure of others. The other section of the hunt will find plenty of enjoyment by attending the runs on account of their spectacular attractiveness, which no doubt will also bo instrumental in drawing a good following of the public. In the old days the road attendance was always very good, and the thrill and fun of the chase generally found a few in sympathy with the cap even though they followed on wheels in preference to being in the saddle. The one and chief drawback to complete success seems to consist in the apparent lack of suitable country, but the committee hold no doubt about their ability to overcome that difficulty, and in pood time hope to prove that ample ground will be at their disposal. No doubt th" new club will have to occasionally go a Imle further afield to get a run. but outside runs will surely tend to give move zest to the panic and perhans materially help to strengthen the club's ranks. The revival should certainly win the practical sympathy of racing clubs, farmers, and others, because it will certainlv prove much to their advantage if the hunt maintains a healthy life. The

large fields in the minor steeplechases to ! bo decided at Riverton is largely due to the fact that a good live hunt exists in the I district, and it is a natural sequence that ! a good horse to hounds will ultimately bo given a chance to gain distinction between , the flags. The revival of hunting does not | then merely carry a self-centred interest, I and it is cordially wished good luck and a long life. ; THE FORBURY CUP AFFAIR. The Trotting Association has remitted a j part of the term of suspension passed on j F. Holmes, and a veil has been drawn over j a highly regrettable feature of the last Forbury Park meeting. The Forbury Park stewards could not obtain evidence to substantiate the charge of interference, nor did they see anything to warrant them acting on their own initiative, < ven though officials are posted inside the track to keep a special eye on that sort of tiling. The stewards, however, who are posted in the infield at Forbury Park arc sometimes noticed taking up a position that renders it difficult if not almost impossible to see if horses are keeping a fair line in their races, and consequently an interference may take place, and still escape the official eye. This particularly the case at Forbury Park, where at timed the dust is allowed to get up and partially obscure the field. In this case punishment has fallen on a man who appears to be more sinned against than sinning; but perhaps he will be reconciled to being made a martyr if stewards are more alert in the future. Tin.' remission of Holmes's suspension is a commendable leniency, because after all his offence was not actually a breach of racing law. Under the circumstances his punishment was perhaps rather harsh. It was inflicted in a desire to maintain the prestige of the sport: buL.it might be claimed that the association went outside its province in doing so. Apart from this case, however, it must be said that thero is no doubt that the purely business element accounts for an unfortunately large number of people's participation in the. sport, and if they get the upper hand, it will assuredly chaae the real sportsman out of the field. Consequently it is very necessary for the general good of light harness racing that its control should be much stricter in the future than it has beer. in the past. The retention of the public confidence demands that much. The growing increase of stakes must naturally excite the cupidity of some people, and' if they adopt fraudulent tactics in an effort to secure a stake it, becomes a supreme duty to the sport that they meet with a punishment which will effectually check any further attempts. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB -MEETING. Dorando's performance in winning the Kildare Hurdles was distinctly a good one. At the latter end of January ho looked big and rough after a spell in the paddock, and it seemed a natural conclusion that early this month would not find him ready to run two miles under 3min 50sec with 11 stone up. He jumped well, and was always in close attendance to Jack Ashore, whom he had well beaten a furlong from home. Dorando is evidently a natural stayer, as few horses would accomplish sticli a performance on a brief preparation. Gold Bird had to be ridden nearly all the way to keep near the others, and had no chance in the last quarter of a mile. Jack Ashore jumped really well, and out-jumped Dorando where thev went at a fence together. Up to a mile and a-half lie was striding under a gocd hold, and probably if his rider had set a sounder pace in I he early stages his chance would have been better at tin- finish, as it did not. seem a good policy to wait near either of the others. Dcrnndo's knee, which was a good deal enlarged some few weeks ago, lias fined down considerably, and i> not very noticeable at present. Since the spring Emorngarde has furnished out, and looked really well when stripped for the Champagne, albeit she was inclined to be on her toe.s when in the bird cage. Autumnus looked very well, and apart from a slightly coarse head is a very line colt. He had the filly well beaten before getting five furlongs, despite the fact that tin' wiseacres well posted in northern form thought the race was a good thing for the daughter of Watershoot. Winning way ran a good race, as she appeared to be last away, and ran generously enough afterwards without showing any of the waywardness she lias exhibited in some of her latter races. Bon Ton does not appear to have trained on, and Gnome, although a plainish looking customer, has the gift of galloping. Autiimnus las fulfilled the good impression he created when raced tit Wingatui in the early spring, and incidentally goes to show that, Treadmill, who was a high-class Colt, in his day, can sire first-class stock. Blakcney, who was strongly backed for the Autumn Plate, is a brilliant galloper, but evidently docs not stay too well at prosent. He looked likely to make a onelxjr.se race of the Plate over the firs) six furlongs, but the grey son of Tuuhei, although not appearing to gallop too generously, beat him handejomcly enough. Mira strongly reminds one of Lantcen about the head, bet apart from colour the r««-ein-blanee end-, as he does not possess the quality of the Xew Zealand Cup winner, although he is by no means deficient in that respect. Mira finished with his cars laying back, and appears rather sour-tempered, a trait which, it will be remembered, was not entirely absent from Canteen's character. Bellah, who is engaged at Timartt, ran a fair race in the Autumn Plate, and when not too ambitiously placed should pay his way. He was well up with Blake - ney at the finish of his race, and displayed promising form. Dearest soon lost place after being first to break ttie line in the Easter. She was not, so strongly fancied for the race as her stable companion, Gipsy Belle, and perhaps the Great Autumn may have found her doing better work. Royal Scotch would have yielded a big lather after winning the Great Easter, anil, despite the fact that ho was good enough to win, his appearance suggested that he was not quite at diis best. The report of the bruised foot was largely responsible for the good price I.e paid. Gapon was evidently improved a great deal by hi-- racing at Tnvcroanrill. He stripped looking far more like business than he did down south. His. pace soon gained him a good position, but he failed to see out the journey, albeit, he looked to have a chance less than a furlong from home. Although Culprit was sent out favourite for the Great Easter, a fifrong wave of support came for Masterpiece, who finally finished up a good second favourite. The bustling start did not suit

him, and it was not surprising to find him a ' beaten horse under the circumstances. Masterpiece is too big- and too long to show to advantage over a short course, unless opportunity is afforded to get him nicely balanced in his stride before being called upon to j show his speed. For this reason he would probably show good gallops from a moving start, but would not do so well when sent j j away from a stand. It was deemed neces- i j sary to shoot Ideate a few days ago. Tno j I horse had been in a bad way, and the i friendly bullet wa6 used to put him out of j pain. It is rather remarkable that two horses in Royal Scotch and Byron, who j were reported to be amiss, should'finish first j and second in the Great Easter. Those j who maintained that on spring form Culprit was sure to beat Bronze in the Great Easter bad their judgment vindicated by j the result of the race. Culprit was Buffer- j ing from a sexual trouble for a couple of ! days, and consequently would not be quite ; at her best. In the circumstances the daughter of Charlemagne II ran a good race. Bronze however, undoubtedly put up a good performance, n,s s he has been racing over journeys, and consequently was not likely to be seen at her best over a ] short course. Nothing went down better l than Jjockwood in the Russley Plate, and | the half-brother to Poiirua pur up an at- | tractive preliminary, but he must have <rot j tangled nn in his stride, as he finished last. Apart from Stardanoor. the writer would j select Glenfinnan as likely to turn out the best of the field that contested the Russley j Plate. " I

A NEW ZEALAND STUD. I knew (says * - The Special Commissioner") that the breaking u;> of Mr J. B. Reid's big stud in | New Zealand was imminent, but somehow or other it had quite eeoapod my memory until—all too late for practical purposes—there came the bulky catalogue containing details of the forthcoming" sale of I the EHersli-3 Stud bloodstock—including four stallions and 73 brood mares and fillies— | on January 29. A very interesting cata- ■ logue it is, for apart from the fully numbered pedigrees of each and every lot, and the excellent photographs of the four stallions belonging to the stud', the preface contains valuable hints concerning the breeding of successful racing stock in New Zealand. Strong stress is laid upon the value of the St Simon on Musket cross, as contained by such horses as Posseidon. Ebullition, Collarit, Tangaroa, Red Streak, Los Angelos, Wairiki, Solution, and others. It is not only in the colonies that this cross has proved successful, for we have seldom found it fail in this country, not the least brilliant instance being Willonyx, got by William the Third, a. son of St. Simon, out of Tribonyx, a granddaughter of Musket. Home breeders will note with interest that Mr J. B. Rcid used no American-bred stallions, the four sires standing at his stud

being all clean-bred English horses — namely, Charlemagne 11, by St Simon 11 out of Perfect Dream 8, by Morion (5); Dowrishirc, by Ayrshire 8 out of Seadown (1), by Orvieto'(l) out of New Zealand, by Isonomy 19; Vareo (winner of the Woodcote- Stakes), by Marco 3 out of Vara 8; by St. Angelo 16; ami Yascc, by Velasquez 11 out of Seabreeze (4), by Isonomy 19 out of St. Marguerite, by Hermit (5) out of Devotion. Amongst the mares that, perhaps, had not memory played me false, might have returned to England are Ronetta 19. by Bay Ronald 3 out of Frusquinetta 19, by St. Frusquin 22 out of Drill, and Marcobelle 11. by Marco 3 out of La Belle, by St. Simon li out of La Cloche, by Hermit (5). Mr l'eid, we are told, held strongly to the notion that mares which had never l>een raced made the most successful brood mares, and, "therefore, fillies have boon reserved and others purchased, with the result that a largo proportion of the stud consists of mares that have never been b.oken in." This is a proposition very much open to argument —few of us would hesitate to breed from a mare showing immediate strains of running blood, or closely related to winners, but e\ en if for some reason or other she had never been in training; but, on the other hand, we should, I think, certainly prefer to breed from mares —not overrun or kept, too long in training;—but who had themselves shown their ability to win races, or, at all events, given visible proof of sound constitutions. Count G. Lehmlorff, than whom we have seen few more enthusiastic or practical breeders, is strongly opposed to breeding from mares which have been kept too long in training.

and, in support of his arguments —with which, if I may so say. I am entirely in agreement—he often quoted the late Lora Falmouth's famous anil marvellously successful stud to which his mares retired at the end of their fourth year, if not sooner. \ Other things being equal it is. I think, j a sound principle in breeding to breed from j young mares whenever possible, though there are plenty of instances of maris which j have produced first class racing stock even j when advanced in years. AMEXDMENT OF RULES. With several able lawyers at work on these rule? we suppose (says the Australasian in reference to the proposed adop- j til,;, of one si t of rules for Australia) : brevity and a plain method of expression. I understandable by all. is hardly to be ex- j peeled, but we sincerely hope there will at i leas: bo no increase in the number of rules. [ )• seems the fashion, however, to make I more laws, instead of leaving as much as j possible to the discretion of those who have to interpret them. Mr Corlett has lately \ bee n decrying the increase in the rules <'f I the English Jockey Club. The number has risen to 184, the- Australian Jockey Club j lias 166. and the Victorian Racing Club, inclusive of hurdle-racing'- and stocpleehas- | ing. 211. Let us hope the Australian rules . will not bo so numerous. We know: nothing of any changes which are to be i ma.de. We hope that some scheme for I bettering the plan followed with regard to j stewards at Fleming-ton and other places j has been evolved,' but wo suppose this is i also a domestic matter, to be left to the i clubs. The A.J.O. plan of always having] the same three men to act, is far preferable j to the clumsy method in vogue at From- i ington; but, unless members take action, J there seems no way of bringing about a change. Gentlemen on fhe committee are, willing enough to allow three or four men i to refrain from betting and watoh the_ races as stewards, but when an inquiry is on, the whole troop insist on takine part in j the proceedings, and voting. Thev may j have been away, having afternoon ten or ] assisting to entertain distinguished visitors, ] and have missed seeing the race, but when j the stewards' bell rings they are entitled to attend what Tod '?.oan called the "objection" room, and vole against the, recommendation of their collcapues who j

nave boen watching the race as stewards. A committee of 12 to manage the affairs or the elub may be all very well, but three or at the most four stewards are ample, and if it is impossible to select Three competent men willing to act from tne present committee, let paid men be given a chance. About the only weak point m tho management at Flemingt-.n is in regard to stewards, and most members of the committee admit the weakness. Wo trust that some of the uncertainties in regard to }>enalties will bo cleared up in the new rules, and there are some unworkable ones which may as well be dropped. Judging by a recent decision, tne Law as regards dead heats, for instance. IS not worth the space it occupies. A code for tiho whole of Australia is most desirable, and with so much lesral and racinsr talent engaged on the work tho result sliouM be an intelligible set of rules, which the average steward can interpret, We hope to see the number decreased not increased, and wo also hope—a ve'rv faint hope—that the draftsmen- will get through without occupying more space than tho rules of tho V.R.C., at all events, take up now.