TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 44

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

SENTIMEL.

THE KUROW MEETING. The popular picnic meeting that is annually held at Kurow will take place on Thursday of this week, and promises to be as successful as usual. The field in the principal event will be small, and it is surprising that owners did not make a better response in the way of nominations. There is nothing likely to sot a solid pace in the Kurow Handicap, and with a slow-run race in his favour Radial will no doubt start favourite. Corn Rigs will probably be the popular pick in the ITakataramea Handicap, in which backers will have another limitation of chance for spreading their money. Bebehead may start a better favourite than Scan brie in the Publicans' Handicap. Kilboyne made a fair show at the Otago Hunt meeting, and may not be overlooked in connection with the Belfield Handicap, but Sleepy Head and Red Pal may take some catching in the same race. The Waitangi Steeplechase will be the most interesting race on the card. Barrister will probably start as the popular pick, as he is a rather better class than the opposition, and Calma and Downatroke are also sure of support in the same race. Isla Wilkes is engaged in both the light harness events, and will have a better chance than she did in the large fields running at the Geraldine meeting. THE GERALDINE MEETING. The Geraldine Racing Club struck beautifully fine weather for both days of their annual meeting, and the attendance appeared to be as good as or perhaps better than any previous gathering of sports held on the same course. The traok was on the hard side, and some fairly fast times were recorded during the meeting. Five New Zealand Cup candidates figured in the field saddled up for the Geraldine Cup, but Macduff beat them handsomely. Foo Chow pulled up lame and may not see the post in (he chief event at. Riccarton. linden displayed signs of soreness and did not in consequence rim so well as expected. Eleus is still too big in condition to reproduce form, but is coining on nicely. Almoner, Caverock, and Orange Mart shaped as if they hold a very remote chance in such a race as the New Zealand Cup. Macduff followed up his Geraldine Cup success by winning again on the second day in a rather poor field, but his displays at the meeting suggest that he may be found showing improved form and winning in better company during the season. The meeting was managed on up-to-date lines, and the stewards had the assistance of Mill. Fraser, who is aide-de-pore in connection with the South Canterbury Jockey Club and secretary of the Timaru Trotting Club. Mr A. Dickson lent his assistance in the judges’ box. and the fact gave further evidence of the growing demand for his services in that direction. THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING. One can confidently look forward to seeing a good meeting at Wingatui when the racing calender shows the period on which the Dunedin Jockey Club’s Spring meeting will take place. Owners made a liberal and far more generous response than usual to the .programme, and it may be taken as a foregone conclusion that good-sized fields will be in evidence. It. is particularly pleasing to note (he excellent prospects of seeing good fie'ds contesting the M’Lean Stakes and Dunedin Guineas, and there is no doubt that the inclusion of these events on the programme has made the Wingatui Spring meeting. There is nothing like winning form as a guide, and Macduff has been running in the right groove lately. Eleus, however, should be improved by his racing at Ashburton and Geraldine, and Rorke's Drift, with 71b more than he scored ; under in the Birthday Handicap, has bv no means been harshly treated. There will, however, be another opportunity to discuss the matter after the acceptances and track work have thrown more light on the subject. THE Cl'P PENALTIES. On more than one occasion in the past the writer has expressed the opinion that the penalty conditions attached to the New Zealand Cup has a detrimental effect on (he tone of the running at the spring meetings which precede it on the calender. It may be taken as an undisputed fact that the owner of a New Zealand Cup candidate is not anxious to incur a penalty for his horse, hut unde!' existing conditions a horse can gather an increase of weight for the big two-mile race by winning over five or six furlongs. That such is the lact is hostile to the common sens' of racing. Two horses may be equal at five or sixfurlongs or up to 10 furlongs, but there may be at least 14lb between (hem over a 16-furlong journey. Everyone agrees that there is a chronic dearth of .stayers, and under the circumstances a horse should not be penalised for such a race as rite Now Zealand Oup unless a win has been scored over more ground t.’.ian a mile and a-qnar-ter. the value of tin? stakes being a secondary consideration. Tf owners were not troubled with the bugbear of penalties the principal events i i the spring meetings would carry 100 per cent, more interest, and certainly supply a much more reliable line to form. As it is, we see fat horses and indolent jockeys, slayers running amongst, sprinters; hut whether out of their course or not, they are merely training instead of trying. The easiest and best method of improving our racing morals is to remove temptation, and if the penalty conditions attached to the New Zealand

Cup were improved it is safe to say that there would be better sport and bigger fields seen at the spring meetings. TROTTING IN ENGLAND. A rather interesting article on light harness sport in England appeared in a recent number of tho Badminton Magazine. “The value of the trotting- horse,” as an animal of general utility (says the author), “has never been properly appreciated in England in the same mariner a# it is in America, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, *VJid France, and by our late enemies. " There has never been any great enthusiasm aroused over trotting meetings in England, and perhaps- that ia not surprising ii it is remembered that it is tho country with th?e fountain source of the thoroughbred. During the past couple of years there has been lar more interest taken in the sport than hitherto, and several notable importations have been made from America. Up to 1919 the English track record for a mile stood at 2.16. but has since been reduced to 2 12, and even better marks are anticipated in the near future. • According to the author of the article, the trotting raoes held in England are started by pistol and the judging is done over a wire stretched across the track from the judge’s box. During a race the horses are only allowed to break twice from the pace or trot; on the third occasion they are disqualified. If a horse is in the load and breaks into a gallop, tliu-s gaining ground, he is promptly disqualified. The great drawback to progress in connection with the sport is considered to be the absence of a central control body, which will no doubt be created by those anxious to popularise and purify the sport. It is rather surpris* lug to note, by the way, that the author of the article, when comparing the English and American records, (Toes not seem to the vast difference between the marks that can be made on the mile tracks in America and the half-mile tracks in general use in England. The sport appears to be in a sort or chronic childhood Jn *hgland, and it is very doubtful if it will ever rival the parent sport, as it threatens to do in this country.