TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3614, 19 June 1923, Page 46

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY

SENTINEL.

ALFRED DRAKE. '] he death is reported from South Australia of Mr Alfred Drake, who was or.ee a prominent figure in New Zealand sporting circles, where he figured as one ot the leading fielders of the day as well as an owner of several good horses. He purchased Spade Guinea, a winner of the N.Z. Cup and Dunedin Cup from R. J. Mason, and she was one of a team subsequently taken to Australia, where she broke a shoulder when running in the Melbourne Cup. In addition to Spade Guineas, the hurdler Peter Osßeck, Teddy Yuilte, Rocket, and probably a mare named Vinaigrette were included in the team taken to Melbourne. Associated with the stable wag Mr A. Moss, who afterwards won a N.Z. Cup with Canteen, but nowadays plays the mere part of spectator and a modest punter when he participates in a day’s racing. The late Mr Drake, who by the wav was 76 at the time of his death, according to Australian exchanges, claimed that R. J. Mason trained for him the first two horses that trainer ever looked after, but that, does not seem correct, as the “Squire of Yaldhurst,” prior to taking over Mr Drake’s horses trained for Mr E. W. Delamain, and was in partnership with the late MV R. Vallanee, training amongst others Gamballo, a Great Autumn winner that was subsequently sent to India where he won a Viceroy’s Cup. Cam,hallo was in the gallop at Yaldhurst, which marked the termination of Templeton’s career. Templeton crashed into a cow that on the track and received such serious injuries that he had to be destroyed. R. J. Mason also trained Vanguard when he won the Dunedin Cup of 1885, and it was two years later that he saddled irp Spade Guineas foe the same race. Drake, by the way, gave the late Mr J. Drumm a cheque for £SO for replating Spado Guinea and so removing signs of lameness which she displayed a couple of days before the race, 'the death of Mr A. Drake removes about the last of the old band of bookmakers who held sway in Dunedin in the iate “seventies” and early “eighties.” The Corinthian Joe Thompson was not a stranger to Duneclin in those faraway days, and Abe Snider. Manny Lyons, Billy Weston, and other ’hnetallieians” of note all “bet to big money” long before the tinkle of the totalisator was heard in the land. THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS. The latest, mail to hand from England brings full particulars of the race for the Two Thousand Guineas (worth 746550v5), won by Lord Rosebery’s colt, Ellangowan. Twelve Pointer went out favourite in a field of eighteen, which included Papyrus and Pharos, subsequently the winner and third horse 'in the Derby. Ellangowan beat Knockando by a bead, whilst D orsay finished half a length away, third. Ihe Derby winner Papyrus was close fourth. The winner ran the course in 1.37 4-o. which is close to the mark established by Sunstar. who ran 1.37 2-5 when he won m 1911. Twelve Pointer did well to finish close up fifth after swerving and losing ground at the start. Ellangowan was got by Lemberg from Ta-mmermuir, by Sunstar (son of bimdridge, sire of Absurd) from Monteur, by Ladas from Kermesse, by Cremorne from Hazeldean. Lemberg was got bv Cydene from Galicia, by Galopin—■lsoletta, by Uonomy Lady Muneaster, by Muncaster. A mild sensation was caused after Lie race bv the judge placing the grey cob Legality second instead of the bay colt- Knockando, and it was some time before the error was rectified. Ellangowan. it is interesting to note traces back to Kermesse, the third dam'of Ringdove, a mare imported bv the late Mr G. G. Stead, and who proved a good winner in this country. At the stud Ringdove has produced Ringform and Cashmere, and is still a member of Mr W. C. Stead's stud. SINS OF OMISSION. Sins of omission are sometimes just as objectionable as sins of commission hey mav take tlie form of neglect which is bound to create trouble, and the various racing clubs of New Zealand continue to neglect their duty to sport so long as they allow horses to race in ordinary shoes without infringing the Rules of Racing. Lius is all the more remarkable when it is noticed that several clubs are down with proposals to alter the we.ghmg-m rules so as to once more allow anything from half a pound to Ulb to cover any shrinkage that may occur after a rider nas weighed out for a race. An ounce or two on a horse's feet tell a greater tale than pounds upon its back, and every practical racing man knows that the difference between the weight of racing plates and ordinary shoes may make a difference of two or three seconds in a gallop or a race. It, is an accepted fact that a horse will run six turj omrs in two seconds or more faster time when shod with plates or lips than when carrying ordinary snoes. If that is so, it is repugnant lo common sense that (be .miles of Racing should allow a horse to be raced in ordinary shoes, provided the stewards are notified. Anything that is obviously detrimental to the production of speed should not; be allowed under tho rules, but under existing circumstances they allow a horse to be raced one day in shoes and Ihe next day in plates, tips, or even barefooted. Tliat such is the case is one of the sins_ of omission that stands against the racing officials who are annually cudgelling their heads in search of something to bring before the Racing Conference. When the matter was last, discussed by tho Racing Conference the rule bearing on tho point was allowed to stand because it was claimed

that well-worn shoes may be as light as racing plates. That may be so, but still it does justify the existence of a rule which permits a horse to race in shoes that may be heavy enough to make a canon and in tiie next race lo have them replaced with light plates. THE JUDGE'S BOX. It is very seldom that a judge’s decision is questioned in England, and one reason for that happy state of affairs is due to the great width of most of the principal tracks which facilitates collect judging. It was for this reason that shifting back the judge's box wo-n advocacy in this country, and the Wellington Racing Club made a great hit when it transferred the position of tho judge, back to n seat in the stewards’ stand. As evidence that mistakes are very rare in England, it, is only necessary to quote the “Special Commissioner” (a man of lengthy experience) of the London Sportsman in his remarks, where he said: —“As the judicial blunder of placing- Legality second was corrected, it would be unkind to keep on rubbing- in the complaints about it, but even in tho matter of colours it is difficult to understand liow Lord Woo’avington’s very distinct, livery can have been mistaken ior that of Lord Furness, and in a close finish tho horses, as well as their rulers, must come under observation, otherwise, how' can a head victory be adjudged'/ That being so, how came the very much absent grey coll- —and light grey at that—to be placed second? Let us hope that this _ strange fiasco will be the last, as it certainly was tho first, of its sort in my experience.” NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION. After the last general meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trotting Association, die meeting went into committee to consider the case regarding F. Johnston, and the following resolutions were passed : (1) ‘That the resolution made on the 16t’n day of May, 1923—namely, ‘That Mr Donnelly, on Mr Johnston's account, be. informed that, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of Mr Johnston's transactions in buying and selling New Zealand horses, and the contradictory nature of the statements in connection with the present case, this association declines to recognise or register any further transactions of his in connection with trotting horses,' be and the same is hereby rescinded, and that in lieu thereof it is resolved as follows: (2) “ That the said recission be without prejudice to the prosecution of further inquiries into Ihe conduct of Mr 1 rank Johnston in bis buying or selling transactions of horses in New Zealand or elsewhere, or to any other matters which may constitute an infringement of the Rules of Trotting, whether such infringement occurred previously to or subsequent to the said resolution of the 16th of May, 1923.” (3) “That, subject to Clause 5 hereunder. Mr Frank Johnston shall not nominate, enter, race, or for registration of any more horses in New Zealand m which tic lias interest whatsoever, nor will the association accept any such horses for registration or otherwise.” (4) “Thai Mr Frank Johnston shall formwith carry out ihe undertaking contained in tho letter of his counsel, Mr A. T. Donnelly, to Mr Alpers, counsel for the association dated June 11. 1923. (5) The horses Escort. Simple Peter, and Oentenniel, and any other horses at present under embargo be permitted to be registered: clear, or transferred as tho case mav require, upon the conditions contained, in the said letter of June 11, and more particularly on the condition that Air Frank Johnston will retire from racing in New Zealand.”