AUCKLAND TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3415, 29 August 1919, Page 46

AUCKLAND TOPICS.

By Digger. The Auckland Trotting Club have issued an attractive programme lor the coming Se&COil. llio stakes to be given away tor the seven days' racing amount to £16,100. Iho Auckland Trotting Cup will carry a stake ol £ISJO while the Great Nortnern Trotting Dvrby is worth £6OO. At the summer meeting no race carries a stake of less value than £2OO, while at the spring and autumn, meetings no race is of less value than £l5O. At present the accommodation at Alexandra Park is altogether inadequate, but the club will shortly embark on a scheme of improvements tnat will provide ample accommodation, and, as stated by the president of the club when the scheme is completed, the man who pays Is will have as good a view of the races as those who patronise, tha inside enclosure. The New Zealand Oup has not received much attention from these quarters, W'indorah being the only horse nominated. No doubt the uncertainty attached to travelling was responsible. The running of Waimai in the National was a distinct disappointment. Probably he is feeling the effects of racing. The performances of Gold Kip showed how travelling improves some horses. Before leaving Auckland he failed to run prominent in open company. The forward running of Signature was a surprise. As he is a hardy customer, he may yet capture an important stake. There 's a fair amount of work being done zt- headquarters in view of the Pakurunga Hunt meeting. Diamond Field, a hunter in Pope's stable, is a good sort. He shaped very well over a Tound of the big fences last week. Julian has Pablo in great nick, but his jumping is not-very satisfactory. Jacaranda is carrying more condition than usual; he has been a disappointment during the present jumping season. Rathlin is pleasing in his schooling efforts, and he should be useful over hurdles. Step shiped well in his first lesson ever the small sticks One of the fittest horses at Ellerslie is Comedy Prince. The good-looking son of Comedy King should pay his way thisseason. Tabasco is standing up to his work, and seems quite sound again. Canzonet and Mistress Biddy bear a very pleasing appearance, and though the latter is on the small side, she has plenty of pace. Winning Shot, who has not met with any success since coming north, has been taken in hand by F. Stenning. She is rather flightv at present. The useful Fabriquetto is hitting out well in her work, and will be ready for early racing. Windorah is going on the right way. The manner in which he won the Takapuna Cup, one mile and a-half, last season left no doubt as to his staying ability.

OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND HORSEOWNERS AND BREEDERS' ASSO. CIATION. A meeting of horse-owners and breeders was held in the rooms of the Foibury Park Trotting Club last evening, and was attended by about 30 persons associated with the sport of horse racing. The chair was occupied by Mr T, T. Ritchie, who said that a meeting of owners and breeders was held about 10 days ago, when it was unanimously decided! to form an owners and breeders' association. That meeting had not been very numerously attended, as many prospective members had been absent in Chri&tchurch, and it had been decided to adjourn till that night. He was very pleased to see so many present. He felt sure that the association was going to be for the benefit of trotting generally. Later on the association would probably include more than those associated with trotting. He understood that later on other sports might come in with them. Individually-they might have their troubles and grievances, but they could get no redress in any shape or form; but acting collectively thgy would be able to make their voice heard. They would find that the association would be formed on strong lines, and he would impress on them* in electing their committee, to consider fully the claims of men who were prepared to give their time as far as possible to the affairs of.the association. They must try to get all owners and breeders of trotters in Otago to become members. There was no doubt then that the association would prove an undoubted success. Mr James Todd was elected president, and Mr Ritchie vacated the ohair in his favour. Other officers were elected as follows: Vice-presidents—Messrs A. Hudson and R. Conn; secretary, Mr A. Don; committee— Messrs Jas. M'Kewen, sen., M. Dawson, W. Crossan, T. Scott, G. Gourley, "W. Hargreaves, W. Keenan, W. M'Kewen, A. B. Armour, G. Grant, G. Baker, J. Richards, N. Johnson, H. Mountney; treasurer, Mr T. M'Tigue. Mr Ritchie "said one of the first things the association would be called on to consider would be the question of the training track at Porbury Park. He had had to. send horses away from Dunedin to be trained, because he was not satisfied with the track. Mr J. A. Sligo said he could not agree with the remarks of Mr Ritchie regarding the track. In his opinion the Forbury track was as fast as, if not faster, than track in New Zealand. Mr Ritohie said Mr Sligo had misunderstood him. Ho had nothing to say against the track as a race track. He did not think there was a better race track in New Zealand. As a training track he did not think there was a worse—("'Hear, hear.") It was decided to fix the subscription at 10s 6d per annum. The rules of the Canterbury. Owners and Breeders' Association were adopted, with any minor amendments which might, be considered necessary by the committee. It was decided to call the association the Otago andl Southland Horse-owners and Breeders' Association. The Chairman pointed out that the intention of the association was to endeavour to include owners and breeders of gallopers as well as trotters. Mr A. B. Armour said that, as they all knew, the Railway Department had introduced very severe restrictions. These were interfering with the breeding arrangements of owners. The breeding season was coming on, but the Railway Department said it would not carry mares—that such carriage came under the heading of non-essential. Ho maintained that horse breeding was very essential—it had, in fact, grown into a huge industry. The owners of both marcs and of stallions would be affected by the railway restrictions. He considered that the action of the department would result in a big loss to the dominion. The meeting should appoint a deputation to wait on the railway traffic manager to give the association's viewa on the matter. Mr W. M. Hayes said the Canterbury Association was taking action in the matter. They

•hould combine with the Canterbury Association,, and make representations to the Minister of Railways or the District Traffic Manager. The classic races would be severely affected if owners were unable to rail their mares to the particular stallion they had decided to use. ~,.,,. Mr Sligo said there was no doubt that the matter was a very important one. He considered that the breeding of horses was particularly essential at the present juncture. He did not understand How the railway authorities or the Government could treatbreeding as non-essential when they remembered that special facilities for breeding were given in the war measures in England. It was decided that the chairman and Messrs Armour and Hayes should wait as a deputation on the Traffic Manager, and endevoour to obtain some redress on the question opened up. by Mr Armour. THE DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB. ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE SEASON'S PROGRAMME. The liberal additions made to the stakes to be given this season by. the Dunedin Jockey Club will be seen at a glance from the figures given below: showing the stakes for last season and those to be given for the 1919 season: — • SPRING MEETING. Fibst Day. 1918. 1919.

£ .. 130 250 Matungatu'a (hacke) .. 100 200 300 500 .". 250 350 100 200 150 800 .. 100 200 130 260 £1260 £2250 Second Day. £ £ .. 120 225 400 400 200 300 130 250 .. 100 200 .. 150 250 .. 130 225 .. 100 200 9 £1330 £2050 Total for-two days .. £2590 £4300 The Guineas are transferred! from, the first to the second day. SUMMER MEETING. This has been a one-day meeting for the past two years. A second day's prog] rani me has now been added, bringing the total stakes up from £1480 to £4725. First Day. 1918. 1919. £ £ .. 130 250 .. 120 200 Dunedin (two-year-olds) .. 130 300 .. 500 750 .. 100 200 .. 250 400 .. 100 200 .. 150 250 £1480 £2550 Second Day. O Milburn Hurdles __ 225 — 200 ,. — 250 — 500 — 200 — 300 Juvenile"' (two-year-olds) — 250 • • — 250 — £2175 Total .. £1480 £4725 AUTUMN MEETING. First Day. 1919. 1920., .. 200 £ 300 .. 150 800 .. 350 500 .. 1500 1500 Apprentices' Plate .. .. .. 115 200 .. 500 700 .. 200 800 Berwick (hacks) .. ... .. .. 130 200 £3145 £4000 Second Day £ .. 150 £ 260 Warrington (hacks) .. 130 200 Jockey Club .. 650 750 Hazlett Memorial 500 600 Hopeful (two-year-olda) .. 200 300 .. 300 450 Wiaihola (hacks) .. .. .. 130 200 Abbotsford Welter .. .. .. 200 250 £2260 £3000 Total .. £5405 £7000 WINTER MEETING. First Day. 1919. 1920. £ £ Trial Hurdles .. .. .'. 200 250 .. 200 200 .. 500 760 .. 1000 1000 .. 300 400 ... 200 250 .. 200 250 Winter Welter .. 250 300 £2850 £3400 Second Day £ £ Silverstream (hacks) .. .. ..: 200 200 Provincial 350 400 Otago Hurdles ... .. .. .. 500 700 Wairongoa .. .. 250 300 .. 400 500 .. 200 200 200 225 ... 250 250 £2350 £2775 Third Day. £ £ .. 300 450 .. 200 200 .. 400 500 Dunedin Steeples .. .. .. 600 GOO .. 300 350 .. 200 225 .. 200 200 .. 200 250 £2300 £2775 .. £7500 £8950 COMPARATIVE TOTALS 1918-13. 1919-20. £ £ 2,590 4,300 Summer a •• 2,960 4,725 5,405 7,000 7,500 8,950 £18.455 £21,975