IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3673, 5 August 1924, Page 51

IN A NUTSHELL.

The Ashburton Spring programme will include a- steeplechase. Broadwood has been galloping well since his arrival at Riccarton. Loch-son has been doing good work since hie arrival at Riccarton. The Otago Hunt Club are hanging up lOOOsovs in stakes for their annual race meeting. Carawock was got by Spalpeen out of a Sylvia Park mare, so that he is bred to jump. M-uraahi and Rational have been recommissioned with a view of early engagements this season. It is reported that Master Sandstone has been sent up to Wellington, and may shortly be shipped to Sydney. Sartist is galloping well at Riccart-on. He won in rather impressive style at the Ashburton Winter meeting. There should be a really good season in and around Dunedin for a high-class trotting stallion during ihe coming season. The local racing season will be opened at Winga-tui with the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting, which takes place on August 30. C. Etmmerson will not be in evidence at the Grand National meeting, as he leaves this week on a holiday trip to Australia.

The KilWov.ey gelding Suggestion has recovered froCn the effects of his accident at Ma-nawatu, ttnd is to be put in work again. Nominator-s for the Otago Hunt Club's race meeting to be held at Wingatui on Saturday, Au-'ust 30, close on Fridav, August 8. At a Glas g>w trotting meeting held recently one o? the races was decided over five furlongs, and the winner travelled the distance in 1.'!6. Mr A. F. Roberts, of Timaru, has purchased in Sydney the imported horse Night Raid, by Radium 'rom Sentiment 1 y Spearr. int from Flair. Camel Amble, who ■won rather impressively at the South Canterbury Hunt meeting, has been responsible for good useful work since last seen in public. The Ashburton Racing Club have a debit of £397 7s 3d over the last season’s racing, but nevertheless lra-d to pay tax to the amount of £3560 5s sd. A four-year-old half-brother by Santoi to Sunny Lake won over a mile and a-half at a Folkestone meeting just before the last mail to hand left England. Lochella has been pleasing the critics at Riccarton by his schooling work, and as a result the National winner of 1919 has been gaining friends for the race of 1924. Carawock, who is one of the ruling fancies for the Grand National Steeplechase, ran second to Roniform in the Kennels Hurdles decided at Riccarton twelve months ago. Palencia struck himself whilst being schooled last week, but he has made a good recovery, and, all going well, will fulfil his engagements at the Grand National meeting. Sir Rosebery was probably a bit short of work when he raced at- the Wellington Winter meeting, and will very probably strip a- fitter horse at the Grand National meeting. Boadicea has been kept fairly busy sine© she ran second to Sunny Loch in the last Winter Cup. She is bowling along freely in her work, and may go one better this year. Black Art lias sufficiently recovered from the injuries he received whilst at the A.R.C. Winter meeting to be brought home to Hawke's Bay. Ha will be put by until next winter. In addition to a stake of 125sovs, th© Otago Hunt Club Steeplechase will carry a cup valued at 25sovs. The trophy has been presented bv Mr B. S. Irwin, President of the Hunt Club. It is reported that Mr W. G. Stead contemplates sending several lior-ses over to Australia. Last year, Mr Stead had an excellent sale with the stock lie sent across to the Sydney sales. Le Forte may prove to be anything but the worst in the field for the Grand National Hurdles. He seems to stay rather well, and that is an item in a journey over two and a-half miles. Winning Hit is reported to be galloping more freely than usual in his work. If he put a bit more heart into his racing, he would please people who always follow the blue and gold chequers. Tiff seems to be galloping rather well in his work at present. It will be remembered that he won the Csshmene Plate run at the last Grand National meeting, but he has not been seen out since the early part of last season. A public, but somewhat feeble, protest has been lodged against the Addington Trotting Club establishing their new course at Riccarton. The club will nevertheless lodge at Riccart-on, and the lodging in the other direction goes for nothing. Something may capture the' Grand National Steeplechase or the Grand National Hurdle race in comfortable style, but at present they promise to supply two really good races before the judge hoists the numbers of the placed lot in each event. Lochson put up a good performance in October last, when lie won at Trentham with 11.0 in 2.441-s—a good gallop for a mile and a half over the sticks. Nukumai was unplaced with 10.4, so that the first named meets him on 14lb better terms for that particular piece of good form. That good mare Silver Peak has been, sent north on a visit to Pjper Money. Silver Peak was pot by Adjudge from Oblong by Obligado. Adjudge was got. by Blrcketbne, a son of Grafton, so that the mating will mean a linking up of two lines of Galopin into a stock with foundation. The Gore Racing Chib has informed the Trotting Association that it will decline to take anv action over the dividend pa-id by Kingsdale unless the club's expenses are guaranteed. This probably alludes to the bet of £IOO which was invested on Kingsdale when that horse fraudulently won at Gore. After many years’ successful association with the Ashburton County Racing Club and th© Ashburton Trotting Club, Mr A. A. Fooks has resigned from the secretaryship of both clubs. Mr Fooks won th© right to be recognised as one of t-lie most efficient secretaries in the Dominion, and his resignation will be generally a matter of regret. A copy of the book programmes containing the Avondale Jockey Club’s list cf events for the coming season is to hand and acknowledged with thanks. The principal events on th© Avondale programme will b© the Avondale Stakes, of lODftsovs; Avond-aie Cup, of 2*)oGsovs; Avondale Guineas, of 1000 s-vs’; All-Aged Stakes, of lOOOsovs, and Plumpton Handicap,- of lOOOsovs. A Northern exchange reports that Miss M. Douglas, owner of Maunga, has purchased the dam of her Grand National Hurdles candidate. The mare is an unnamed mare of San Fran and B 1 ack Ella, therefore a sister to Le Pu-ia, the dam of Kohu. Mannga’s dam is at present in foal to King Soult. Miss Douglas makes no secret of tho fact that she expects Maunga to be particularly troublesome to the others at Riecarton. The Australian-bred l gelding Chickwheaf; is doing smart work at Riccarton, and week beat Revel over five furlongs. Revel was a fair two-year-old last season, and if Chickwheat can beat him easily, it makes the latter out a fairly good sort. Obick-w-heat is, however, rather fractious at the barrier, and st-r-ange to say, others by Buckwheat in this country seem to be troubled with a "he© in the bonnet.” Blackstone, the sire of Fleetstone, this year’s winner of the Victoria Grand National Steeplechase, was brought over from Australia as a yearling. After racing and doing son® stud work, he was sent back to Australia, and then brought back again, when his son, My Lawyer, proved himself a really good horse. Blackstone was tapped in the wind, and had the distinction of running last in the New Zealand Cup, won by Grand Rapids. The Dominion reports that word has been received from Mr Eric Riddiford to th© effect that his four English thoroughbreds, purchased from Lord Glanelly, are to leave by the Rotorua on August 14. In addition to Grand (Grand Parade—Jeunesse), there is a™.alf-bi-othrer to this colt by Roi Ilerode. while the two fillies are both by Gland Parade, one being out of Bright Folly, by Black Jester —Bright, by Sundridge, and th© other out of Polly Dimples, by Folvmelus— Dimples, by Robert Lo Diable. This ex-

cellently pedigreed quartet was bred by Lord Glanelly, and Mr Riddiford has been fortunate in securing such a good lot. Silverton, who is a stable mate of Oakleigh’s, is a bay gelding by Sylvite from Irallali. In the season of 1922-23 he started in 15 races, of which he won one and was placed in ten others. He finished that season by winning the Piako Steeplechase, about three miles, with 11.12, in 7.18 3-5, in heavy going. In the eca-sori just concluded, Silverton won the Trial Hurdles run at the Auckland Spring meeting, and the Onehunga Steeplechase, run at the same meeting. In the latter race he carried 10.10, and beat Sea De’il, 11.4, Luperino 10.7, Pittsvrorth 11.9, Mary Bruce 10.12, and others, after covering three miles in 6.13. He has been schooling with Oakleigh at Riccarton, and shaping well. London Cry, who won at Goodwood last week, was bred, and is owned by His Majesty the King He was got by Call of Wild from Vervaine, by Sbuviere from Vain Air, by Ayrshire, from Vane by Orme from Vampire. Call of the Wild was got by Polymelus, from Coo-ee, by Trenton, by Sterling. It will be seen that there Is much to interest New Zealanders in the pedigree of the bearer of the Royal colours. Vane is a sister to Plying Fox, the sire of The Welkin, who gave us Gloaming. She is also the granddam of Emperador. Ladv Blissful, and Conceit, the dam of Egotism, and Bumntious. It is understood, by the way, that Lady Blissful has joined her dam at the Waikanae stud. Dunedin-owned horses have achieved success in the Grand National Steeplechase at only very remote and rare intervals, but seem to have a really good fighting chance this vear with the team representing Mr L. C. Hazlett’s oolouw, and Lochella. who won five years ago. A wav back in 1882, Mr D. Christie won with Katerfelto, who was ridden by the crack rider of the day in W. Clifford. C. Christie, the trainer of Lochella, •ie a close relation of the owner, who with Katerfelto. A Dunedin-owned borse in Pipf made several gallant efforts to wfn, but success did not come again to one of our horses until Lochella scored in 1919. At the present time we are represented by Pamplona, Lochella, Palencia, And Galway. It is understood that several extraordinary vacancies will occur in the committee 'when the next annual meeting of the ForRury Park Trotting Club takes place. Tt is rumoured that Mr R. Rutherford will not Seek an extension of office as vice-president, and it is also said that Mr R. Conn, Mr J. Trenerove. and Mr ,T. W. Thomson, and possiblv Mr H. L. Andrews, will not come forward again for a seat on the committee. On the other hand, it is said that seven or eight others are candidates In the possible Vacancies, so that there is a very remote ehanoe of the official list not being u,p to its full numerical strength. A shortage in the list would, however, be preferred to the appointment of men who were not thor--I‘ilv suited for the position and keenly ■ested in the sport and its welfare, was about to put a pound on Lazy bov the Jim Jam Stakes “down the line” j a correspondent, with a vivid imation in a contribution to the Bulletin), i '*a bright lad advised me not to be “ ‘Ere,” he said, “give up y’ quid I’ll stick it on Babylon. I can’ getchev i. ’Ee’s an abserloot oert.” He sounded lonvincing and looked so honest, coning hU surroundings, that I entrusted with the note, being careful, however, eep him in sight. There was no cause inxiety in that respect, and when Babvfinished the length of a cricket pitch d of the next best I waited joyfully for winnings. The obliging young man came with a “roll.” Before I could suggest keeping a couple for himself, he reeled en for his own pocket and handed me my original investment, “’Strutli. re a mug,” he said. “Y’ woulder lorst quid on'y for me.” me of the roost influential members of Forburv Park Trotting Club are jus that Mrs Jas. Ramson should stand the position of Vice-president at the annual meeting of the club. A better tion could not be made, as Mr Samson nauesbonablv on» of the reallv stronv in the club. He stood to his guns was instrumental in blocking, is the of opposition, the completion of the ard’s and Member's stand, when the nations were found to be eo_ unsatisiry, that the front wall was going away the rear wall. As chairman of the ngemenls Committee, he refused to sign

cheques for progress payments, and continued to adopt that attitude until a satisfactory solution of the trouble was brought about. The very substantial additions that were built to 'buttress up the back wall stand as the outcome of Mr Samson’s very commendable spirit in protesting the interests of the club. Several architects were brought in to report on the construction of the ‘building before the matter was finally settled. This alone proved Mr Samson to be a particularly strong man in the club, Mr Samson was also instrumental in saving the club about £3OO a year in rates, and if members desire to show a well-deserved appreciation of his good work, they should welcome an opportunity to confer honour upon. him. This may be something worth knowing: Talking of botflies (says a scribe in the Bulletin) which kill more horses than the average man realises (a dry, hard cough and staggers are the chief symptoms), let me give an effective cure. A good double handful of tansy covered in a saucepan with water, which Is simmered down to a pint, then strained and squeezed through muslin, will make the required dose. When the plant is growing at its best for the year the leaves can be picked and bagged, as dry leaves are as good as green. First starve the nag for 24 hours, then drench with one pint of new milk, followed at halfhour intervals by one pint of tansy tea and one pint of raw linseed oil. The following is an extract from Dr. Chase’s “Medical Book” (Memorial Edition, p. 668): —“A friend took from the stomach of a dead horse about a gill of bote and brought them to my office to experiment upon. I tried every lieard-of remedy. Most had no effect; a few affected them slightly, but stage tea more than anything else—that killed them in 15 hours. I put some into nitric acid, but it had no more effect on them than water —the third dav they were as lively as when put in. A bunch of tansy was growing by my office. I took a handful, bruised it, added a little water, saueezed out the juice and put some bote into it. They were dead in one minute. Since then I have had it given to every horse. I have never known it to fail.” An English writer has been digging into ancient history, on the question of big retainers, and one of the highly interesting incidents related has reference to Ered. Archer, who was destined to earn the proud title, “prince of horsemen.” “In his early days,” remarks the writer, “Archer had to take ‘pot luck* in the matter of payment for his services. When serving his apprenticeship with Mat. Dawson, he attended a race meeting, at which he was offered a mount. He was shown the horse—or rather a mare—rough in her coat, indifferently groomed, and with nothing except size to recommend her. When asked to ride her, he rather smiled and seemed in no hurry to weigh out. The owner noticed this, so said; ‘well, there she is, an’ if you win on ’er, me lad, depend upon it, I shall not forget yer—you nor yours, either.’ This promise had the desired effect, and Archer weighed out, rode a great race, and won. The owner was delighted, and rushing up. said: ‘Little'un, yer just done it a puifiek treat; you rode her splendid! Now tell me. have ye got a father and a mother living?’ Archer, rather mystified, replied that ha had. ‘Very well, then,’ said the owner, ‘this very night, afore the shops close, dang me if I won't send the old people a pound of the best, green tea.!’ And he did.” It has been stated, that in one case, at least, Archer, when at the zenith of his fame, liad a retaining fee of £2600 a year, hut, large as that fee was considered in the earlv ’Bo’s, it cuts a small figure compared with that which S. Donoghue receives at the present time. A letter lin.s come to hand with a cheque for £6 enclosed, in aid of the O’Connell Fund. This money is the fruits of a collection got up at a football match played by the Trentliam jockeys against the South Island jockeys, during the recent Wellington meeting. It appears that the Trentham jockeys and stable boys have formed a sports club, and the football match is one of the first efforts of its existence. On behalf of the fund, the critic tenders thanks for the good spirit displayed, and has forwarded the cheque to Mr H. L. James, the secretary of the Dunedin District Committee, which has charge of the fund’s collected. A report of the match reads as follows: A fast and Interesting game of Rugby fook place at Trenthanii, recently, when the South Island jockeys met the Trentham jockeys in a friendly match, which resulted in a popular win for the latter by nine points to three.

In the first half, the local players had a lead of six to nil— tries by Mcßrearty and McLaughlan. In the second half, after another- try my Mcßrearty, W. Kippa, the south Island jockey, crossed the line after a good running bout. During the game a collechon was taken up in aid of Mrs O'Connell, relative of the late jockey O’Connell, who recently lost his life, and a sum ot six pounds was realised. The teams were as follows:—Trentham jockeys: Ballinger, O. heed Clements, Styles, Egar, McKeogh, ,- I “ orner . Stack, Kearns, Swinerd, Giles, McLaughlan, Mcßrearty, and Clout. South Island: Ayres, Barry, Morris, Kippa, v\ onnol, Bowden, Stroud, White B. Scott., D. ccott, Collett, Young, and Porter.