TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 49

TALK OF THE DAY.

By S-KKTrNTCL.

THE MAN IN THE BOX. Some of tiie racing that lias tukc/i place in England this season has bruag.it “the man in (he box” very much in the i.melight. Doubt was thrown on the judge’s decision iu the Two Thousand Guineas, and the official placing in the Derby is said to be at variance with what has been displayed by a snapshot of the (instil. Corning nearer home. :i will be remembered that the official verdict in connection wills the last Newmarket Handicap did not meet with general approval ; but, taking the sport all round, it is seldom indeed that there Is any cause to question a judge’s verdict. In a close finish the judge is generally the only person who can give an accurate decision, because there are very few tracks where one can get in the same line as the judge. It is perhaps well that it is go, because if it were otherwise we would have too many unofficial judges. Many people who may be close to the judge’s box —“almost in line”— forget that they are viewing a finish from an angle, but nevertheless that docs not prevent them from holding very positive opinion that a judge has made a mistake. In recent years judges’ decision have been very seldom questioned in this country, and the chief reason for this pleasing etute of affairs is due to the fact that the majority of clubs recognise the importance, and, in fact, the absolute necessity, of having expert men in the po.-ition of judge. It is difficult at all times to win a race or trick winners, and hence it is extremely exasperating to find a horse deprived of the fruits of victoryowing to an incompetent judge being in tiie box. The fact of the judge being the onlyperson in the right place to judge a finish does not necessarily make that official infallible, but. as remarked above, mistakes are very rarely made nowadays. During the writer’s connection with racing several mistakes have been noticed, but these are too much of the ancient history brand to recall. On more than one occasion tiie writer lias been in a position to be absolutely positive (but the judge had made a mistake. At one meeting the writer happened to be standing directly under the judge, and was in consequence in the same line as the official who gave the verdict to a horse that was in front a couple of stride#! from the post, but was beaten a short head when crossing the line. On another occasion when the writer was alongside the judge a close finish took place, but (here was no doubt as to the actual winner. After the horses passed the j>ost the writer asked the judge if the latter had made the winning margin a short head. The answer was given in the affirmative, but to the writer’s astonishment a moment or

t\vc later the judge hoisted the other horse s number on top. J its occurred during the recently-closed season, and the rider oi the horse placed iirst received a very pleasant surprise when the clerk of trie course brought him back us the winner. Perhaps lire sai> st verd.ct ever given by a judge occurred when an official of 0.-cleu days, who had partaken of a heavy lunch, and in a close liiihsh between a grey, a bay, and chestnut, gave out that the “piebald" had won. The greatest predicament that a judge has ever found hraisell in is related by Judge Clark, a well-known official on English racecourses. A hot day and long wait at the post resulted in his indulging in lorry winks, but lie woke up in time to place the horses as they dashed past the post. THE TURF REGISTER. The Turf Record for the past season makes a prompt and welcome appearance, and provides a much-appreciated opportunity to refresh one’s mind ot the form -during the past 12 months before embarking on the new racing year. The book is. as usual, got up attractively, and a notable improvement that at once meets the eye consists hi printing the index to racing and trotting on coloured paper. This allows one to locate at a glance the parts devoted to each sport, a.nd to land on each index without chasing through the leaves in search of them. The book is compiled on the same lines a« that of last year,, when the issue was identified with several improvements upon pact years. J he index shows at a glance as to whether a horse gam d a place or otherwise, and us each race is numbered any particular horse's form is easily located. There is a full report of the. season's racing and trotting in New Zealand, and tables showing the past winners of notable events. The dates for the coming season, rules of racing, racing statistics, weight-for-age scales, sales of bloodstock, tiro list of registered colours, entries for com.ng events, and other information of interest lo sportsmen are u'l included in its pages. The Turf Register is issued by the Christchurch Press Company, turd is bound and primed with excellent workmanship.

THE ASHBURTON MEETING. Tito Ashburton County Racing Club have issued the programme for their sirring meeting. which is to take place on September II and 12, The principal event will be the Ashburton County Handicap, of ISOsovs, one mile and a-quarter, and it is backed by the JTimvald Handicap, of 125sovs, one mile. The chief sprints will be the Spring Handicap, of lOOsovs, six furlongs, and the Farewell Handicap, of lOOsovs,, five furlongs. The balance of the program me is made up as follows: —First Hurdles, of 90sovs, one mile and three-quarters; Trial Plate, of 60sovs, five furlongs; Brae mar Welter, of SOsovs, seven furlongs; Hack Handicap, of 6Qsovs, six furlongs; Second Hurdles, of 90sovs, one mile and a.-half; Fairfield Hack Handicap, of SOsovs. six furlongs; Coldstream Welter Handicap, of 90sovs. six furlongs; and Maiden Hack Scurry, of 55sovs. four furlongs. The programme also includes the Honghcach Trot Handicap, of 55sovs. one mile and three furlongs; and the Winchmore Trot Handicap, of 55sbvs, one mile and a-half. Nominations for all handicaps are duo on Tuesday, August 26. THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING, The Dunedin Jockey Club are opening their season at Wingatui with a programme that should win the general approval of owners and breeders. Owners will be pleased at tire increase of stakes, and breeders are catered for with the Dunedin Stakes and Dunedin Guineas, which are the sort of stakes to help towards building up the value of thoroughbreds. The first day’s card at the spring meeting will carry such prize money as the Mosgiol Handicap, of SODsovs, one mile and a-quarter; the Dunedin Guineas, of SQDsovs, one mile; and the Dunedin Stakes, of 250sovs. four furlongs. On the second day the chief events will be the Ranfurlv Handicap, of 200sovs; and Shorts Handicap, of ISOsovs. six furlongs; the first day’s sprint being the Electric Handicap. of ISOsovs, six furlongs. The balance of the programme is made up of prizes ranging from lOOsovs to I2ssovs. and caters for hurdlers, welters, hacks; Trial Plate, for horses that have not won 30sovs at starting; and there is also a two-year-old handicap on the second day. Nominations close on Friday. September 19. In cornicetin with the meeting it should be noted that winners, after the declaration of weights, are liable to bo rehandicapped, and will not, as previously, incur a fixed penalty.

THE KUROW MEETING. The programme of the Kurow Jockey Club’s meeting, which will be found in another column, is likely to furnish an enjoyable day’s sport on Thursday. October 2. The two principal events are the Kurow Handicap, of loOsovs, over six furlongs, and the Be Hi eld Handicap, of lOOsovs, over five furlongs. There are in addition the Hakatiuarnei Handicap, of 75fiov«t Talamba Handicap, of TO.sovs; Flying Handicap, of 45sovs, and the Ladies’ Bracelet, of Sopovs. Two trotting events arc included on the programme—namely. the Warbaki Trot, of 65sovs, and the Dash Trot, of 60sors. Nominations close on October 2. SUCCEHSEL’L SIKES. It had been surmised that in siring the first and second horses to pass the judge in the Derby Desmond has created a record. The circumstance of the winner and the runner-up being bv the same sire is. however, far from a unique occurrence. On no fewer than eight previous occasions have the winner and the second been bv the same house, and on two occasions all three placed horses have had a common paternity. I give {.says an English writer) the instances in reverse chronological order : 1900—Diamond Jubilee, by St. Simon .. 1 Simon Dale, by- St. Simon .. ~ o 1896—Persimmon, by St. Simon ] St, Frusquin. by St. Simon .. .. o 1833 —Isinglass, by Isonomy | Ra vensbury. by Isonomy 2 1673—Doncaster, by Stock-well ] Gang Forward, by Stock well .. .. o 18GG —Lord Lyon, by Stockwel] \ Savcnmke. by Stock well o B-istic, by- Stockwel) .. 3 ISO3 —Ditto, by Sir Pc-ter Teazle .. .. .. 1 Sir Oliver, by Sir Peter Teazle ... 2 Brother to Stamford, bv Sir Pvt r* Teazle ' 8 1783 —Saltraru, by Eclipse 1 Dungannon, by Eclipse .. .. 2 1783 —Assassin, by Sweetbriar 1 Sweet Bob in, by Sweat briar .. .. 2 In 1837 the winner. Silvio, and Rob Roy. a singularly good-looking horse, who finished third, were sons of Blair Athol, and the Derby hero nf 1554, Andover, and the third, The Hermit, were by Bay Middle-

ton. This horse, The Hermit, has some* times been confused with Mr Henry Chap* hn s Hermit, by New minster, who '‘.on in 1857. The Hermit was the property of tha versatile Mr John Gaily, and was beaten onH half a length for second place by Stock* 'veil s half-brother. King Tom. in 164 1 ? the second and third positions ir-ere filled by War Eagle and Van Troinp. both sons of Lanercost. Then in 1535 Gladiator and \ enison. both by Partisan, were a iso second and third, the winner in this instance bring Bay Middleton, who was by Sultan.