TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3255, 2 August 1916, Page 48

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bt Semtinel.

THE NATIONAL MEETING. The acceptances for tho principal events to be decided at the Grand National meeting form a very pleasing list, as mey furnish indications that excellent fields are likely to be seen out in tho three chief events, and incidentally show that plenty of material is promised for the balance of racing on tho programme. Tho nominations for the minor events are slightly below last year's numerical strength; but, taken all round, the response of owners is very satisfactory, and furnishes ample evidence that this year's meeting promises to be one of the best National gatherings ever held at Kiccarton. It is certainly most unusual to find so largo a proportion of the best horses standing their ground in the National dteeplcs. lhe Australian 'chaser El Progresso is tho only cue amongst tho top-weights to fall out. Two others in Daylight Bill and Immensity aro more or less unsound, and Martin apparently ha.i not recovered from tho effects of his mishap at Trentham. All tho other non-acceptors belong to the minimum division, and have never achieved anything to make one rogard them as possible winners over liicoarton country. It is a matter of regret that Braeburn, one of the proved lot in the field, met with* an interruption to his preparation; but as ho previously accomplished a good deal of work and racing, his condition may not have suffered 10 any serious extent. Waimai has continued to train on since racing at the Auckland winter meeting, and from all accounts his party aro confident of making a bold show in tho fray. Those missing from the Winter Cup include Bisogno and Ilavclenta, who wefro withdrawn prior to the acceptances; but nothing else of note, except the disappointing Battle Eve, is missing from the list. At present a strong hold of 31 figures in the race, and it is safe to predict that even after a further shrinkage a big; field will bo found at tho post. Tho absentees from the National Hurdle field include nothing of note, except Korko's Drift and Tragedy King, amongst those handicapped, and at present 23 i 3 tho numerical strength of the field. It is rathera coincidence that tho top-woights in both the National Steeples and National Hurdles should suffer from an interruption to their preparation; but at latest accounts both Braeburn and Crib appear to have made a complete recovery. There is still about a fortnight to elapse before tho above events come up for decision, and during the next few day 6 tho training work of tho various candidates will be followed with a great deal of interest. THE TOP WEIGHTS. A paragraph has been going the rounds stating that 10.12 is the highest weight ever carried to victory in tho Winter Cup, and inforentially that anything handicapped beyond that weight has a particularly hard if not an impossible task, lhe records show that top weights in tho Winter Cup share the common fate of top weights in other important events, and very seldom win. Still the statement loses a certain amount of Y&luo because what is very seldom attempted cannot naturally bo often achieved. Tho records, however, conclusively show that those anxious to locate the winner Should bo chary about pinning their faith to the top weight in such a race. Since tho Winter Cup has been known by its present titlo very few horses have figured in the race with 10.12 or mors on their back. In last year's race Haskayne, 11.5, and John Barleycorn, 10.12 (third), were tho only two runners in a field of 24 carrying 10.12 or over. In 1914 Tannhauser, 10.13, was tho only starter with 10.12 or over. In 1913 North East, 10.9 was top weight. _ In 1912 Sea Queen (third) and Salute with 10.9 each were top weights, and in proceeding years the top weights wero as follow':—1914 Nyland, 10.11; 1910, Penates, 11.9, Los Angelos, 11.13, North East, 11.2; 1909, Zimmerman, 11.6, Penates, 11.5; 1908, Lupulite, 10.12; 1907, yEolus, 10.8; 1906, Gold Crown, 11.0; 1905, Kremlin, 11.5, Cannio Chiel, 11.0; 1904, Exmoor, 11.0 (third), Shrapnel Shell, 10.12; 1903, Vladimir, 10.12 (first), Pampero, 10.13 (second); 1902. Blazer, 11.9, Battlcaxe, 11.2; 1901, Battleaxe, 11.9 (third); 1900. Sir Lancelot, 11.9 (second), Conqueror 11.2, and when Jupiter won the first Winter Cup each of tho placed horses carried 9.9, and tho top weight, and only horse currying 10.12 or over, was Oastashore with 11.11. The abovo Gguxcs show that the head of tho top-weight

brigade has never won, and in fact only gamed a place on half a dozen occasions since 1699. On several occasions the top weight carried in the field has not reached 10.12. The figures quoted are instructive because they show that only a horse of outstanding merit and exceptional ability to act under welter weight is likely to figure as a Winter Cup winner. The fate of top weights racing under an ordinary scale of weights is proverbially of the non-successful order, and the task of top weights under a welter scale must of course be even more difficult. To}) weights in every class of handicap are generally horses of fully exposed form, and frequently have to give weight to horses subsequently proving far and away their superior, but whoso racing merit at the issue of the handicap is an unknown quantity as far as public performance is concerned. All the history of racing under handicaps goes to prove that top weights gather very little of the spoils, and what may bo termed as the well-treated top weights proving an occasional winner are very few and far between. A LUCKY CHANGE. The Programme Committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club has been instructed to draw up a programme for next season with a prize list not to exceed £15,500. This amount represents an increase of £560 over the total of the prize list of the iust-con-ciuded season; and, although not a particularly substantial increase, it at least marks a continuation of the progressive policy which has spelt progress ever since the club made Wingatui its racing headquarters. In 1914-15 the stakes friven a t Wingatui amounted to £14,203, in 1913-14 the prize list totalled £12,365; and it forms a very interesting comparison to jump back to 1900-1 and recall that the Wingatui racing season of that period provided only £5615 in stakes. Such figures show what substantial progress has been made during the past 10 years or so, and it would in the ordinary course of events have been greater if the war had not made it advisable for the club to mark time in the way of expenditure. The profits over recent operations, which have been donated to the Patriotio Fund, would otherwise have helped to make a substantial increase in the prize list or towards the carrying out of further improvements on the course which the club may have contemplated prior to the war. Since shifting from Forbury Park to Wingatui the club has had a fairly hard row to hoe. Bringing- Wingatui to its present shape has involved the expenditure of a largo amount of money during each season, and when the club can call a halt in that direction tho stakes will naturally rise, with ordinary luck, at a far greater rate than when the committee had to undergo the double-barrelled charge of finding money for improving the course and also increasing tho stakes. At tho annual meeting the president (Sir George M'Lean) touched on the old trouble about leaving Forbury Park. Many still regret that it was necessary to do so, but anyone who has been in a posi-tion-to study tho racing situation in Dunedin during the past 20 year 3 or so must arrive at the conclusion that the progress made at Wingatui would not have been possible at Forbury Park. Tho growing popularity of the latter place as a residential area as well as its neighbouring boroughs, has made St. Kilda very unsuitable as a racecourse and training ground for thoroughbreds. Tho chief objection to Wingatui has been happily solved by the double lino to the course, and "under existing circumstances one can reach Wingatui as quickly as Forbury Park, despite the latter's proximity to town. The D.J.C. wer£ practically forced out of Forbury Park, and, although it temporarily created o-reat regret and a slump in local sport, still results have proved that it was really a blessing in disguise. THE ANNUAL WAIL. With each succeeding season a wail *s sent up about the dearth of good crosscountry horses and hurdlers, and seems to predict failure in connection with tho Grand National meeting It is true that Canterbury has not in recent years turned out 'chasers and hurdlers of tho old-time prowess; but tho acceptances for the principal events to bo decided at the Grand National mectr.ng show that whilst there may bo a slump in ono district, the country as a whole can produce a good supply of the right material. Many horses of "a typo likely to mako good hurdlers or 'chasers aro still bred in Canterbury; but in many cases they aro not schooled until they "have fully exploited their possibilities on the flat, or aro put to jumping after breaking down at the other branch of the sport. Schooling horses which have been resurrected after a breakdown on the flat or putting them to jumping after they have become full of racecourse wisdom as a result of years of racing, is very seldom attended with good results. Attempting to convert a very bad flat-racer info a good hurdler is even worse, and savours strongly planting seed on particularly barren ground. Despite tho alleged dearth of good horses, the nominations for tho Grand National meeting indicate that horse-owners are fairly well stocked with racers deemed good enough to run under Welter weights over trying courses, which make stamina very essential to .success. There is always a lack of good horses ranking as top-notchers; but there is very little reason for claiming that lack of merit; among the rank and file is making our races easier to win. New Zealand was never so well off as she is to-day in the way of blood stock. Our equine population includes more imported stock, more animals at tho stud, and more horses in training than at any previous period of our history. This state of affairs should certainly make for ultimate improvement, which has, indeed, been going on for many years. Each year's vintage may not be better than its predecessor. A fluctuation of merit and quality is naturally inevitable, because one sea-son is not so productive as another. Tho increase of our equine population should produce more and more good horses, an' l unless horse-breeding is slopped there is no reason for grousing over an occasional slump, particularly as breeding is sure to receive a fillip as a result of the enormous wastage caused by the war.