TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3443, 9 March 1920, Page 46

TALK OF THE DAY.

Bj Sentinel. THE GORE MEETING. Excellent acceptances have been received in connection with the Gore Racing Club's autumn meeting, and with an improved railway service at the disposal of racegoers there should be well-filled enclosures on .each day of the fixture. All the horses handicapped for the Gore Cup were paid up for in the 'acceptances, but some of them may drop out, as they claim other engagements during the day. On form Eleus should start favourite, and Belgian. King is likely to dispute the position with him. Eleus beat Beligan King at Wingatui on the same terms as they are down to meet at Gore, although in the meantime the latter beat two hack fields at the North Otago meeting. Mazama and Claverhouse may prove the best of the others, unless Rorkes Drift is strippad something like his old form. Eight Bells and Redshire read as likly to be well backed in the Flying'Handicap, and Silver Peak is likely to carry more money than anything else engaged in the Croydon Handicap. Marching Order and Miss Camouflage are sure of support in the Otaria Hack Welter. Twinkle and Revolution, on Oamaru form, should find a good following for the Langfcrd Handicap. Take Down and Glenisla have more attractive form than anything in the Welcome Steeples, in which Whipcord- at the minimum, may have a chaifce, as he stays fairly well, but is, of course, a novice over fences. THE TIMARU TROTTING MEETING. The Tirr.aru Trotting Chib were favoured with glorious weather for their annual race meeting, which took place on the Washdyke Racecourse and attracted an attendance which appeared to be a record. The postponement of the Wanganui Trotting Club's meeting naturally did not assist the South Island fixture, and under the circumstances the success achieved must be doubly gratifying to those anxious to push along the light-harness sport in the South Canterbury district. The attendance included quite a number, who had been present at the Wanganui meeting, and there was also a few. from this end to swelF the crowd on the lawn. The track was on the hard side, but did not appear to be particularly fast, as the watch did not show anything of a startling nature against any of the winners. Fields were on the large side throughout the day, and speculation rather brisker than what proved the case at last year's meeting. Some of the winners scored rather decisively, but, taken all round, the racing was of an interesting nature and went off smoothly. The only break in the pleasure of the day was the fact that the stewards deemed it necessary to stand down W. Brown for suspiciously handling Thesseus in the Temuka Handicap, for which the son of Rothschild and Palm Bell went out favourite. A field of 13 went to the post for the Timaru Handicap, of 320sovs, for a 4.41 class or better; and the winner turned up in Emperor, who was lsec behind the limit, but did not have to go better than 4.45 1-5 to win. He was well handled by F. Holmes, and always in a winning position. More fancied goods in Partner and Sashwood failed to threaten any great danger at the business end, and as the x win,ner scored with apparently a fair amount in hand, he will probably show up again over a two-mile course. Rangitata Lass again proved herself a rather useful sort by landing the Washdyke Handicap, which ranked as second in importance to the Timaru Handicap. She was, as usual, well handled by F. E. Jones, who has become just as good a reinsman as he is in the saddle. A BUYER'S CHANCE. There is no name more successfully identified with the New Zealand turf than that of Stead, which figures as owner of some of the best horses ever seen in Australasia. The late Mr G. G. Stead stamped his name ail over our turf records when the popular "yellow jacket, black cap" was one of the most successful racing banners on the Australasian turf, and his two sons—Mr W. G. Stead _ and Mr G. L. Stead—have apparently inherited the gift of getting the right stock to carry their colours in much the same manner as their father did before them. It is a matter of regret that Mr Gerald L. Stead has decided to sell off* his stud, but it is to be hoped that it means only a temporary retirement from the turf. His retinament will, however, supply an opportunity for others to pick up some desirable blood stock in the way of stallions, brood mares, and horses in training. The sale will take place at Christ-

church on Tuesday, April 6, when over 20 lots will go under tho hammer. The first on the list is the imported stallion Nassau,, who got such a fine winner as Surveyor in his first season, as well as other good sorts, such that are winners or very likely to train into successful horses. The brood mares include thi3 dams of good winners such as Kilmoon, Bonnetter, and Almoner, but most of the mares are yet too young to prove their full value at the stud. The horses in training to be offered include a promising horaa in Starland, and also Melee, both recent winners. There are ,also three Nassau yearlings and others booked to go under the hammer. A ROOT OF EVIL. A dividend of over £IOOO was paid by o»3 of the winners at the Nelson trotting meeting held last week, and set the gossips talking about great priced horses. Such a dividend is in one sense a great boost for -the totalisator, as racing history fails to supply an instance where the fielders have ever paid out such a price on a winner. The totalisator at times returns great prices, but nevertheless such dividends wield a bad influence in connection with racing because they make bettors of men who do not know one end of a horse from another and who merely back a horse because it offers a chance of landing a big dividend. Such people invest money in a. race in much the same spirit as they purchase a ticket in Tattersalls. It is merely a case of having money to spend and being prepared to give it a chance in any old way so, long as there is a prospect •of a good return if Dame Fortune smiles in the right direction. The men who ' hold racing together are those with some knowledge of form and are quite aware of the fact that it is far and away easier to pick losers than winners. Such people never, or very rarely indeed, throw money away on. a 'horse merely because it is showing a good price on the totalisator. When a regular follower of the game "comes at" an outsider, there is a hope that a repetition of form will find a winner temporarily out of favour. If chance pure and simple were the dominating factor in finding winnei-s racing would be resting on a foundation of sand and could not enjoy the world-wide popularity which it has held for hundreds of years. The legitimate sportsman - bets on form, tinged perhaps at times with a tinge of sentiment based on breeding, partiality to following a straight-going owner whoso horses are saddled up to win every time if possible, knowledge of a good gallop or two," following a capable .driver, or for some sound reason or other. Still, even the most stolid sport likes to have an occasional flutter on the tin horse principal because gambling in some form or other is inherent in the human race. THE RIVERTON MEETING. The River ton Racing Club's programme is featured by the Riverton Cup of 500sovs, one and a-quarter miles; Great Western. Steeples of 400sovs, about three miles; Easter Handicap of 400sovs, one mile and a distance; and Riverton Steeples of 300sovs. All the other events range in value from 110sovs.io 15050v9, and go to form a good sporting programme for which nominations are due on Friday, March 12, at 5 p.m. Handicaps are due on March 18, and acceptances fall due on March 26.