TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 40

TALK OF THE DAY.

By Sentinel. THE COMING SEASON. Next month will see the flat racing season in full swing, and there is ample ground for stating that it will prove a greater success than any of its predecessors. Despite the cost of training, most of our trainers have more horses than they care to handle, but some, on the other hand, keep horses in work that are not worth' the trouble of doing as racehorses. With so many horses in training, good fields seem to be assured throughout the season, and where the promise of good sport exists the public is sxire to be found ■ filling the enclosures. The steady increase in the value of stakes makes a useful horse valuable property nowadays, and the amount of .wealth, about racing should give a further stimulus tc the breeding industry. The Dominion is fairly well supplied with good stallions, but some of the southern breeders would, welcome a few additions to 'the . sires available in that part of. the world. Climatic conditions in the south are, however, not particularly favourable to blood stock raising, but latterday winners such as Listening Post supply encouragement to those who like to grace their paddocks with a thoroughbred mare or two. The flat racing season in the South Island will be opened at Amberley on the 18th of next month, and then in quick succession come meetings at Ashburton, Geraldine, Kurow, Duncdin, Gore, and then the Otago Hunt Club's meeting will bring us to the, threshold of the N.Z. Cup meeting. ■KICCARTON REFLECTIONS. Mature reflection over the Grand National meeting strongly suggests that Kauri King was unlucky to miss a second Grand National Hurdle success. His form in the Jumpers' Flat ajid the easy manner in which he scored on the final day should have brought him closer to Hylans than fourth place. Kauri King was well ridden when he won on the last day, and if .handled in the same style in the National Hurdles wauld have, probably landed the big money. Hylans was going fairly well at the last hurdle, but had to be. minted right out to stall Jack Syrnons at the finish. The latter had an unlucky run, as he out both his stifles at the second .last hurdle, and this naturally did not -help his chances. , The great disappointment of the meeting was the pdor display put up by Lochelia, who is now no longer regarded as the champion he was proclaimed after his dual' win at Auckland. It is a very different thing to meet a. National field at the minimum weight and race against the same class witli' an extra couple of stone and ahalf more to oarry. It is also setting a horse a rather too severe task to try and win both the Grand National Stakes and Grand National Hurdles at the one meeting. The double might be landed by a horse carrying a light weight, but there is a very remote chance of a horse doing so under a 12.7 burden. Lochelia is, however, still a young horse, and may yet add to his laurels as a jumper. Guanaeo was the unlucky horse at the meeting, as bar accident he would have won the Grand National Steeples, and even if right at the top of his form it is very doubtful indeed if Lochelia or any other 'chaser in training could give 2.7 and a beating to the Formative —Lady Atholine gelding. Slowcoach unfortunately contracted strangles on the eve oi the meeting, and one is left to guess as to how he woidd have shaped over the National country, but if he had reached the post there would have been plenty of support for his chance. Crib did ilot fence well -in the Grand National Steeples or Beaufort Steeples, but seemed quite at home in the soft goin;r on the fast day. His success gives _ a high testimonial to the veterinary skill which successfully treated him for trouble in the respiratory organs. Crib ranks as a very choap horse at the half century said to have boon paid for him by his present owner. Two proved 'chasers m Master Strowan and Waimai were tmluoky in their engagements, and Oakleigh Improved as the meeting progressed, ffome of his critics claim that OakFeiffh and Coalition would have both, beaten Crib it fhey had stood up in the Lincoln Steeples, but the writer does nofe agree with that opinion. Coalition andi Oaklelgh were apparently doing £heir best, whilst

Crib was going well when the others tipped out. There is room for some new blood amongst our National candidates, as wo seem to be in danger of seeing the same horses meet each other year after year. RACING IN ENGLAND. - The latest mail to hand from England brings particulars of some important racing during the month of June. Square Measure, the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup, was got by Simon Square from Tit for Tat ; by Rightaway (son of Wisdom) from- Tati, by Spahi from Philandra, by Philammon. Simon Square was got by St. Simon from Sweet Marjorie, by Kendal from St. Marquerite, by Hermit. Fangiers, who somewhat lucidly received the stakes attached to the Ascot Gold Cup owing to _ Buchan being disqualified for interference, is a bay colt by Cylgad from Orange Girl, by 'Willi am the Third from Fair Nell, by Gallinule. Cylgad was got by Cyllene from Gadfly, by Hampton. Golden Orb, the winner of the Wokingham Stakes, was got by Marcovie from Golden Legend, by Amphion from St. Lucre, by St. Serf from Fairy Gold, by Bend Oi\ Marcovie was got Northumberland Plate. Irish Lake was got by Charles O'Malley from Lotus, by Lord Edward (a son of Enthusiast). Charles O'Malley was got by the St. Simon horse Desmond Irom Goody Two Shoes, by Isinglass. Happy Man, the winner of the Ascot Stakes, wag also got by a son of Desmond in Desman, and his dam was Happy. Child; by Childwiek from Happy Return, by Hampton. Happy Man is inbred to St. Simon and Hermit, and also has. an additional strain of Galopin. Another notable winner was Monarch, who won the July Stakes. He was got* by Tracery from Teofani, by Black Duck (son of Galopin) from Cigarette, by Marco. Tracery was got by Rock Sand from Topiary, a sister to The Wag, the sire of Kilbroney. - INCREASE OF STAKES. The Programme Committe of the Dunedin Jockey Club have decided to make a substantial increase in the prize money to be offered at Wingatui this season. The increase amounts to 1825sovs, and is spread out as follows: —Spring meeting—Maungatua Handicap increased from 200sovs to 22550v5, ; Electric Handicap from 300sovs to 350sovs, Dunedin Guineas from 4Cosovs to 50Osovs, Dominion Handicap from 250sovs to 300sovs, Shorts Handicap from 250sovs to 3Oosovs, Mosgiel Handicap from 350sovs to 500sovs, October Welter from 250sovs. to 300sovs, Ranfurly Handicap from 300sovs to 350sovs, Kaikorai Handicap from 200sovs to 225sovs, and Telegraph Handicap from 225sovs to 250sovs. Summer meeting— Summer Hurdles is raised from 250sovs to 275sovs, Dunedin Handicap from 300sovs to 35030V5, Trial Plate from 200sovs to 225sovs, Otakia Welter from 250sovs to 300sovs, Fernhill Handicap from 200ovs to 225sovs, St. Andrew Handicap from sCosovs to 600sovs, Salisbury Handicap from 200sovs to 250sovs, Otago Handicap from 750sovs to lOOOsovs, Federal Handicap from 400sovs to 500sovs, Milburn Handicap from 225sovs to 250sovs, Allenton Handicap from 2Sosovs to ,275sovs, and.. Grandstand Handicap from 300sovs to 350sovs. Autumn meeting —Berwick Handicap from 200sovs to 225sovs, Flying Handicap from 450sovs to 500sovs, Abbotsfcrd Handicap from 250sovs to JOOsovs, Warrington Handicap from 200sovs to 225sovs, and Hazlett Memorial from oOOsovs, to 700sovs. ' Winter meeting—Brighton Handicap from 200sovs to 250sovs, Otago Hurdles from 700sovs to 750sovs, Taieri Handicap from 200sovs to 225sovs, Silverstream Handicap from 20Gsovs to 225sovs, and Greenfield Hurdles from 450sovs to 500sovs. The total amount to be given in stakes during the season will be 26,80050v5. THE ASHBURTON MEETING. The Ashburton County Racing Club is out with its' spring programme which will be got off on September 23 and 24. The principal events will be tho Ashburton County Handicap, of 225sovs, seven furlongs, and the Tinwald Handicap, of 200sovs, lj miles. The Spring Handicap, of 165sovs, six furlongs, and the Farewell Handicap, of 150sovs, form the chief sprints, and the balance of the programme is made up as follows-.—First Hurdles, of 125sovs, 1| miles; Braemar Welter, t>f 115sovs, seven, furlongs; Hack Handicap, of 115sovs, six furlongs; Selma Trot, of lOOsovs; First Hack Welter, of 115sovs, seven furlongs; Trial Plate, of lOOsovs, for three-year-olds and upwards that have not won a race valued at 50sovs at time of entry; Second Hufdles, of 120sovs, V s miles; Fairfield. Hack Handicap, of 115sovs, six furlongs; Melrose Trot, of lOOsovs, one mile; Maiden Hack, of lOOsovs for horses that have not won an advertised race at starting; Coldstream Welter, of llssovs, one mile; and Second Hack*Welter, of 115sovs. Nominations close on Monday, September 6, at 5 p.m. COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS. The Canterbury Jockey Club had good reason to feel its ears tingling during the Grand National week because of harsh and more or less unjust criticism levelled against it on the score of an alleged lack of hospitality. During a smoke room' discussion on racing in general a North Island cwner stated that two Auckland 'visitors to Christchurch returned homo without participating in the. meeting because they could not obtain complimentary tickets. It was not claimed on their behalf that they were legitimately entitled to a free pass as. owners or distinguished visitors, but because it is a custom to liberally scatter the paper in Auckland. The gentlemen are no doubt n-eod sports who like good sport for nothing, But one can. scarcely credit that any person would journey from Auckland to Christchurch with tho intention of seeing the Grand Nationals and return without doing so because they failed to get in on the "dead head" ticket." Uncomplimentary comparisons were made between the Canterbury Jockey Club and the Auckland Racing Club and other North Island clubs which are only too keen to distribute complimentary tickets. This so-called liberality Is an easy moans of obtaining cheap popularity, but looked at in the correct way it merely means that some clubs allow the rich to get in for nothing whilst the poor man has to pay all tho time and every time. The pay or stay away policy adopted by the Canterbury Jockey Club hasi made it, It to.* claimed, the most unpopular club in the Dominion, and is the principal reason why it Is not making such rapid progress ns Wellington and Auckland. There is no doubt that some clubs gather a good deal of popularity by freely distributing complimentary tickets in some cases in the sincere hope that an Increased return on the totalisator will mors than pay hv a few pieces of cavdbord, but because soma clubs beliore

in throwing away a penny to catch a. pound that is no reason why all clubs should adopt the same policy. THE TURF REGISTER. The racing man's guide, friend, and philosopher, the N.Z. Turf Register,, has made its appearance, and is a much bulkier volume than hitherto. It contains, as usual, full reports of all race and trotting meetings held in the Dominion during the past season, racing and trotting statistics, rules of racing, and a great amount of information attached to both branches of sport. The volume is well got up and printed on excellent paper. Its increased bulk once more suggests that the publishers should consider the advisability of deleting owners' names in the reports of races. By doing so a, tremendous amount- of- unnecessary repetition would be avoided, and the saving of space would help to keep the book down in proportion. The book is obtainable at all booksellers, or from the publishers, the Christchurch Press Company, Christchurch.