TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 41

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. IN THE LIMELIGHT. Tho fact that two prominent New Zealand riders, attached to two of the strongest, stables in the Dominion have been landed on tho carpet at one of the early spring meetings in Sydney again brings as into undesirable prominence. The explanaton in both cases was accepted, and, \vlnlst congratulating the Sydney . stewards on their vigilance, it is to be sincerely hoped that the questions asked were not born, ot tho undue suspicion which sees wrongdoing where nothing of tl™ sort exists 1 here is no doubt, however, %at some New Zealanders have not helped to build up the confidence of the Australian racing authorities, and hence it is not altogether surprising to find even some of the straight-going stables submitted to a chal-len-l in connection with the running of the?r horses. In tho case of Biplane it would be quite justifiable for a trainer-to issue ordens to the effect that if the colt could not win nicely or get near the that ho was not to be knocked about m order to obev a foolish ndmg-out rule which the writer has noticod m use on a horso a furlong behind the placed lot. Biplane had, as-the result of an accident, to be stopped in his work, and, naturalby, would not be so forward as others who had undergone an uninterrupted preparation. Under such circumstances, it would be ridiculous for an experienced rider like Deelev to flog or ride out a horse which he recognised as beaten, but which, under ■i pressure unreasonable, in certain circumstances might have got a little closer, without however, getting in tho money, lnis opinion is, of course, mere assumption, and is given bv one who is extremely loth to express opinions about a race which he has not seen? Biplane is in Mason's stable, and attention was also paid to Beltane, who k a member of Murray Hobbs s team. Both Mason and Hobbs arc two of our ablest trainers, and men who are really well placed financially. They arc not at all likelv to do anything which could be seriously challenged, and so jeopardise or absolutely kill the prospects of more important events ahead. Hence, if the A..T.C. stewards deemed it necessary to challenges tho running of Biplane and Beltane the query concerning their riding was accepted simply because it admitted a satisfactory explanation.

RECOLLECTIONS OF GOLDSPUR. A writer in a contemporary has resurrected a few interesting memories of Goldspur, who is rightly claimed to be the fastest horse ever bred in Otago, but falls into an error when stating that the Rosospu- was bred by Mr J. M'Neill. Goldspur was bred by Mr T. Thompson, and brought by him to Dunedin in company with several other horses. The Mr A. "Thomson mentioned in the note had nothing to do with Goldspur. Goldspur was within an ace of being bought by Mr J. M'Kewcn, end if the deal had been made the old flyer would have been relegated to pulling tramcars instead of gettin"' a chance to gather honoure under silk. The Stud Book returns Goldspur as being bred by Mr T. Thompson, and got by Rubczhal; but the late Walter Robinson, who was a prominent trainer and rider in North Otago between 25 and 30 years ago, often stated to the writer that Goldspur was really got by Vanguard, who was travelling around Oamaru in those dav«. Weight is lent to the assertion that Goldspur 0 was got by Vanguard and not by Rubo/.hal, by the fact that he was totally unlike anything left by the latter stallion. All the Rubezhals were shapely, well-turned sorts. He, however, left very little stock, and it is doubtful if any of his line on cither side of the house ie alive to-day. Goldspur strongly resembled several of Vanguard's stock, and as Rosespur, the dam of Goldspur. runs hack to an Arab taproot, it is at least remarkable that she should throw such a raking big angular horse as Goldspur to a smallish and neatly-built siro as Rubezhal. The influence on both sichv of Goldspur's pedigree is against the pro-

duction of such a raking big horse, and almost without exception all Rubezhal's stocl: were on the same small side, Maremna bein-,' the biggest that the writer ran call to mind. Whilst on the subject of Goldspur it ij interesting to recall that J. Loughlin always stoutly claimed that another horse in his stable in the shape of Mount Royal was a faster horse than Goldspur. Mount. Royal was got by St. George from Sierra, a half-sister to Conqueror's dam. and a full siste:- to Sommeil, the only horso that seriously jeopardised Carbine's unbeaten two-year-old career. Mount Royal was a thick, stocky sort, and never too sound. Hie training was always a matter of anxiety, and ever, under such difficulty he beat a good field in the C.J.C. Criterion Handicap, including Mahaki and several other smart gallopers. The report of the race states that he won comfortably by a length and a-half Timo, 1.28. That" was a smart gallop 25 yeari ago. Goldspur joined J. Loughlin's stable a couple of years after Mount Royal, and as they wero trained and tried over the same ground, their trainer's opinion could be accepted as fairly correct. Next to Goldspur in point of speed Blazer ranks a close second as one of the fastest horses ever bred in Otago. Gipsy King was another really good horso bred in this district, and one that achieved distinction as a stayer. THE ASHBURTON MEETING. In the Winter Cup Oxenhope, with 11.1 up, was giving Fiery Cross 61b, and haa none the worst of it in meeting the latter on the same terms at a lighter scale of weights over tho same distance at Ashburton. Particularly is this the case when it is remembered that tho Obligado gelding finished in front of the other at Riccarton. Varnish meets Fiery Cross lib better at Ashburton than in tho Winter Cup. King Star goes up -171 b, and seems to have his full share of weight in being so close to Varnish and Fiery Cross, who aro both much better performed horses. King Star gets 141 b from Oxenhope, and he aiso seems to have none the best of it with Sedd-el-Bahr, who gave him 3&lb and a beating in tho Provincial Handicap, -and now corneain on lib better terms. There is no great margin between the Wingatui horse and King Star, but the luck of tho run in such a race as tho Winter Cup very frequently places an entirely different complexion on a handicap. Good Hope scoredhis last win in the Final Handicap at the C.J.C. Autumn meeting, when Oxenhope, unplaced, was attempting to give the winner 191 b, and at 151 b Good Hope should beat him again. Snub was giving Sedd-el-Bahr 81b in the Winter Cup, and reads well at 91b better. Sedd-el-Bahr is, however, a, better horse under the lighter scalo of weights, as he does not fill the eye as a weight-carrier. Daytime won the Oamaru Cup in 1916 with 8.0, and ran a mile in limn 41scc. He, of course, is not getting any younger, but does not appear overburdened at 7.11. Last season he was. carrying 9.0 to Tango's 7.2 when he beaher a head in the Marlborough Chip, run in lmin 42 3-ssec, and he had 8.13 when he won the .Southland Handicap, one mile and a distance, beating Rorke's Drift, 9.7, a length and a-quarter. Under 7.11 he should make matters interesting at Ashburton. In fact, taking a lino through Ascalaphus. who was third at Southland when getting 231 b, he Mcma to be exceptionally well treated in i:i ' -s Mr Nicola Horso "on no less than oatter ternis over less ground. Rose 3 iuk led anything but a life of ease and idleness last season, as she was raced from one end of the season to the other. She started m #3 races, of which she won six and was placed in eight others. Her efforts included a race in the N.Z. Cup, and her last win was scored at Otaki, in the Huia Handicap, in which she carried 6.9 and ram a. mile and 65 yards in lmin 47sec, Brambletye, 7 7 Gang Awa, 9.6, and sixteen others, including Heeltap, finishing outside the places. Rose Pink put up some fair performances last season and may run a good* raco if sent to the post. LovesicK, who follows Rose Pink, did not shew any form until gaining a place at the Wellington Summer meeting, and following it up Dy winning the Lyttelton Plate at tho C.J.C. Midsummer meeting with 7.7, in lmin 1 2-ssec; On that occasion she won decisively from Kilflinn am Kilmeedy, with three others unplaced. She was afterwards unplaced in tho Autumn Nursery Handicap, which was her only race subsequent to her success. In tho early part of the season Loveisick did not look in racing shape, and this suggests that she may tie far better in her second season than in her first, She is a sister to Nones a high-class filly of such proved merit that one is naturally inclined to expect more than ordinary form from her close relations. Red Book bad been off tho scene tor a lengthy period before he showed a return of his old brilliancy by streaking out to the lead in the Islington Handicap; but failed to see it out owing to lack of _ condition With a month's additional training he should be in much bettor shape at Ashburton and if he is back to old form, then some of his opponents would have a hopeless task to give him weight. Kilkee may prove the best of the others. Acceptances are duo on the 14th inst. TAXING RACING. Some of our politicians have been asking for a further increase of taxation on racing. A further increase of the tax in its present form would knock several clubs out •of action, as many of them have been losing money during tho past couple of seasons, and would very probably prefer to shut up rather than go deeper in debt in an effort to carry on. There is, however, very little danger of an increase of the tax, and thoso who advocate it have obviously never analvsed the position, but merely voice catch-voto opinions for electioneering purposes. It is indeed a very hard tax, as it falls on some clubs, who pay on gross receipts, but experience a loss over their meetings. In others they pay income tax on on income which they do not bold. Racing clubs are. in point of fact, taxed for being collectors for the Government Treasury, and frequently lose a good deal of money through helping to strengthen the Dominion's financial strength. If rhc sama sort of taxation was applied to the pnyato individual it would not bo called such a polite name as taxation. Very few people seem to hold anything like a correct idea as to how the public are taxed through the totalisator. In a race run at Riecarton last season tho sum of £2084- was invested on the totalisator, and. as the total amount, paid out, in dividends only reached £2670, it will be seen that tho public was in reality charged £414 for the privilege of investing £3084. There was only one dend on that occasion, and the public did not pay as much as they have on other"

occasions when two dividends are payable. On ono of the events run at the recent Grand National meeting t-hero was a total investment of £8237 10s, but by the time the ordinary tax and special tax on two dividends had been deducted the charge to the public amounted to a little over £IOOO, or, in other words, the nublic was taxed to the tunc of over £IOOO for the. privilege of investing a little over eight times that amount. That is not by any means an isolated case, as over the Grand National Hurdles the public invested £8863 and received back £7812 6s. If general expenses are tacked on to a punter's investments, ho is paying about 25 per cent, for the privilege of betting, and, of course, incidentally enjoying the sport. How much the punter would enjoy betting under a still further increase of taxation is not _ difficult to answer; but some of our politicians apparently do not know the value of the old saw"about killing the goose which lays the golden eggs. Their statesmanship also seems of a rather shallow nature, as they advocate an increase of taxation on something which the public might drop at any moment. These politicians were not appai--ently striving to tax betting out of existence, but merely desirous of increasing the tax on racing to save it on something else. Taxing a pastime beyond all reason suggests even in this so-called enlightened age we have politicians who would fill balloons up to bursting point. At one moment they would have a very large structure (racing), producing good revenue, and the next they might be gazing at a shattered balloon, worth comparatively nothing.