TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 39

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

SENTENCE.

SOUTHERNERS AT TRENTHAM. The South Island promises to be fairly well represented at the Wellington winter meeting. Hard Hit is engaged in the Steeplechasers’ Tint Handicap and W ellington Steeples, and should give a good account of himself in both races. Mustard Pot, Miss Muriel, Battle Scene, Laverock, Counterstroke, Hiero, and Link Up are in the Stewards’ Handicap, and in a race between the southerners Mustard Pot and Miss Muriel would dispute favouritism. Laverock should also run well, but would perhaps be better suited by an extra furlong. He will have to take up a 71b penalty as the result of his win last week. Vice Regal and Cahna are engaged in the Hack and Hunters’ Steeples, but one would be a bit diffident about supporting them, against such as Old Gold, Signysian, or Tigerland. General Advance, Counter Attack, Jock, and Wild Pilgrim are amongst those handicapped in the Victoria Hurdles, and most people would be quite content to pin their faith on General Advance. The south are strongly represented in the Parliamentary Handicap with Royal Star, Linden, Miss Muriel, Jock, Clean Sweep, and of this lot Royal Star would probably start favourite, although it might be worth remembering that Jock is particularly good on the soft track. Loehella and Gamecock are the only southerners engaged in the Winter Hurdles, and the former may not he forward enough to reproduce form. Royal Mac, Pitprop, Counterstroke, Fabrinade, Marauder,_ High Heels, and Kilbarrv are engaged in the Te Aro Handicap, and Pitprop would be sure of a strong following if sent to Trentham. It is understood that Royal Mao may be reserved for Riecarton, and Fabrinade would be better suited by a shorter course. ON THE CARPET. The exact nature of the trouble which Hector Gray struck in England is not mentioned in the cable, but judging by the fact that a complaint was subsequently lodged against him for unnecessarily using the whip it was probably due to lack of energy. It will be a great pity if Gray mars his reputation as a horseman with displays which are calculated to land him in official disfavour. lie is too clever to give offence unnecessarily, particularly when fully aware that ho must be well in the eye of the racing public during the running of a race. It does not, however, help a rider to display good horsemanship if he is under the impression that his riding is watched with criticism carrying a tinge of suspicion. Riding in such an atmosphere would place an extra handicap against a jockey, as he would probably be more anxious to keep out of trouble than find the shortest route to the winning post. The transgressor in England does not get off lightly when an offence is established against him, as. for instance, Tod Sloan, who was sfoc 1 down practically for life. Riding on straiisc narks may possibly hamper Gray at some of the meetings, but once sure of his ground he is capable of giving a display of judgment and energy calculated to go. the best out of any horse. The \ustr ;li:tn riders. G'.rsiake and Bullock, are able to set through in England without landing on the carpet, and it is to be hoped tli.i i Gray will be able to take a leaf out of their book. REFUNDING INVESTMENTS. The golden rule of racing is that everyone is entitled to a good honest run for their money, and it is ine first and paramount duty of the stewards ro gar as close as possible to v.hat may he deemed the first law of the sport. At the present time in ' stewards may order the refund of investments on a horse which has “weighed out,” but which, from some cause or other, does not take part in a race. This rule permits stewards to refund investments on a horse which has broken dawn whilst d< i:.g its preliminary, or perhaps has bolted and ,-o wrecked whatever chance it held in the race. The president of the Racing Conference is bringing up a motion that the rule be altered so that no investment can be refunded on a horse which lias “weighed out” for a race. With all due respect to the president’s opinion, the writer strongly concludes that the rule should not be altered. In the first place the existing rule gives jspwer to stewards to refund investments —minus percentage —on all horses which may have been accidentally deprived of taking part in a race. In the slecond place proposed alterations to the rules opens the door to fraud. Some years aao a big starting price ccup. or rather robbery was worked in this country. A small field was down to contest a “Ladies Bracelet.’ 1 and one of ihe runners was so obviously superior to the opposition that it went out a red Hot favourite. The favourite "bolted” b.ef ue the race, and so “distressed" the rider that lie finally dismounted and re quested the starter to send away the field without him, as he was unfit to ride. Thai was apparently quire all light and in order, but ir subsequently trai'-fdi ”d that the ‘Text best’’ in the rac» 1.-i 1 been beu'ily bached "away," and paid ne fals iri '. on ing t<> >he money which the uit’.’tc had It-iniicd on to rite favourite without having the ghost of a chance r , i win. 'll or inserl alteration is (pii'e it l filler wh. v the boo!-;makers are op* taring v.-to "sti itclti out” bets, because a fielder could rot be exnected to ray. sav one horse aob i I the same time have to refund money laid a: tii -t an evt-n m ve. favourite. On s, might r.ut he’ting a” bets should stand after a hor-e has “weighed out.” but with the total i ' ' “nrii es” are not known until the totalisator ha= been shut down. In Victoria a horse must lv- in the starter’s hand- or bets made with bookmakers have to be refunded. This is just as unfair in one wav a= ihe proposed alteration is in another. The totalisator is enid to purify racing, but as previously remarked it would fall very short of f-iii-nlny if i! does not give eve-yone a run for his money.

INHERITED TROUBLE. Mr J. B. Joel sustained a severe loss by the death of his colt Humorist, who broke a blood-vessel and died whilst the flush of victory in the Derby was, as one might say, still or. his brow. The financial loss is very heavy, as a present-day Derby winner of attractive breeding and conformation is worth anywhere around S-O.OC’Ogs. 'Lb.are is not the slightest doubt in the world that a tendency to bleed is clearly identified with certain strains in the bind Book, and hence extreme care should be taken by breeders not to double up lines showing the weakness. One of the most notable bleeders that, can be found in the Stud Book is Hermit, who broke a blood-vessel prior to winning the Derby, and afterwards bequeathed the trouble to a large percentage of his descendants. Humorist’s pedigree contains no less than three strains of Ilerrr.it, and one of his sire, Nevvminster, who was also a sire of bleeders. Quiver, the fourth dam of Humorist’s siro (Polymclus), was got by Toxophilite, a bleeder and sire of bleeders. In fact, there is not much doubt that Humorist developed his bleeding troubles through being so strongly inbred to Hermit and allied to the Toxophilite strain. Hermit sired Moorhen, the dam of Gallimele, and he was also a bleeder and sire of bleeders. A more notable case has occurred nearer home by the importation of Steppe, the New Zealand taproot of a. great winning family, but, whilst scoring in that direction, it was and is also a line noted as a prolific producer of bleeders. Steppe produced, amongst others, She, Stepniak, and Mahaki. She became the. dam of' I lobadil, a sire of bleeders; about half a hundred or so by Stepniak developed the same trouble, and so did some of Mahaki’s stock. In mating mares or selecting yearlings no choice should be made without a. close examination of the pedigree. Trainers also should make themselves acquainted with the pedigrees of horses under their charge, as by doing so they might ward off the development of either bleeding or roaring by exercising every possible care in working their horses in a stable carrying an inherited tendency to trouble. THE WELLINGTON MEETING. The appearance of the handicaps for the Wellington winter meeting indicates that we are approaching the climax of crosscountry form for the present season. The Wellington winter meeting has grown very much in popularity in recent years, and the list of horses nominated for the principal events should supply a very interesting card for each day of the fixture, and incidentally arouse further interest in the Grand National meeting, which takes place next month. Coalition won the last Grand National Steepleschase with 11.13, when he somewhat luckily beat Guanaco. He followed on by annexing the Great Northern Steeples with 12.5, and in the Wellington Steeplechase has been allotted the steadier of 12.11. Coalition has been asked to give Loehella 71b, so that the latter meets the Patronus gelding on 151 b better terms than when they met at Riecarton. At the figures Loehella reads nicely treated; but it is doubtful indeed if he could be sent to the post fir enough to reproduce Irs best form. Master Strowan was attempting to give Coalition 61b in the last: Grand National Steeples, and so comes in on 181 b better terms at Wellington. Both Multivc and Luperino have displayed good form over hurdles, and it is interesting to note that Master Strowan is giving tin in 101 b each in the_ v\ ellington Steeplechase, whereas in the Winter Hurdles they are set to give him around 2sf. Coroglen. from all accounts, was extremely unlucky to miss the Great Northern Steeples, mid he has in fact- been handicapped as a winner, because ho is asked to meet Coalition on XHb worse terms than when they met at Elleislie. Coroglen won the Winter Stecp’es, run at the same meeting, when lie beat a fair field, and although he has be u rated fairly high, would be a strong fancy if sent to the post. First Line won both the principal cross-country events run at the lasi Wellington winter meeting, bur the opposition was not particularly strong, and Luke should bear him (ii paper. Onn.hu performed very creditably by running second In both the Great Northern Hurdles and Great Northern Stivples. but he hr. not much hi his favour in getting in at only 31b better tortus than Coalition. 'Hard Hit should he a hard nut to crack, as he lias far more pace than the average steeplechaser. Li fact, there are not many chu.-ers about who could make anything hue to - snow ire did in the principal flat rare mn at the Dunedin winter meeting, and boih he and Coroglen would be two well-backed chances if thev figure in the field going to the post. There is a good field of horses engaged in the Winter Hurdles, and it is interesting to note that Fisher, who won the Great Northern Hurdles, figures ns ton weight, and is down to give Loehella 2'h. whereas the latter gave him 201 b and a good beating when the latter won the Final Hurdles "run at last season’s winter meeting at Trentham. Fisher won the Great Northern Hurdles with 11.2. and in getting sent no 121 b meets Omahu on 81b worse terms for a fourlength beating. Sea De'il ran third with 9.1, and now has been asked to carry 9.12. He meets Fisher on 2ib worse terms than when he got the Campbell Hurdles, but on their run in the Great Northern Fisher holds him safe. Gamecock and Hv.gina.« are a pa;'r of smart gallopers that should lend considerable interest to the race. X-min's win in the Century Hurdles entitles him ro respect, if be has recovered from (he trouble he developed at Auckland. Sir Fanciful is regarded as a coming hurdler, and down amongst ihe light-weights is I’enury Q’w-e and Pacifi- Slope, who are Uwh wuuvr* over hurdles and have .also for n on she ftui li> the r medit. vhh-h will very nrohnhlv make them hard to boat over the - ,10:11 sticks.