RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3855, 31 January 1928, Page 52

RACING.

FIXTURES. February I.—Tapanui Meeting. February 1, 2.—Pahiatua Meeting. February 2, 4.—Egmoiit Meeting. February 2, 4. —Gisborne Meeting. February 4.—Matamata R.C. Meeting. February 9. 11.—Dunedin Cup Meeting. February 9. 11.—Taranaki Meeting. February 9, 11.—Poverty Bay Meeting. February 11, 13.—Rotorua Meeting. February 15.—Clifden Meeting. February IG.—Tologa Bay Meeting. February 16, 18.—Wanganui Cup Meeting. February 18.—C.J.C. Meeting. February 22, 23.—Gore R.C. Meeting. February 23, 25.—Nelson J.C. Meeting. February 21-March I.—Dannevirke Meeting. March 1, 3.—Marlborough Meeting.

TALK OF THE DAY. By Sentinel. THE BLOODSTOCK SALES. There is no doubt that the bloodstock sales held at Trentham during the Wellington Cup week have considerably enhanced the attractiveness of the fixture. Not only does one see sportsmen from all parts of New Zealand at the ringside, but Australia is also strongly represented. The Australian sporting interest is, no doubt, primarily created by a catalogue of well-bred yearlings, which, in the first place, read on paper as the sort likely to make turf history, and. in the second, because some of their close relations have already proved their prowess against the best that has ever been saddled. The combined attractiveness of seeing some sport, and a possibility of procuring a youngster bred on winning lines during a brief holiday naturally makes a magnet for sportsmen in all parts of the world, and this has been created by the bloodstock sales and the Wellington Cup meeting. Several Australian sportsmen were in Wellington last week, or represented by agents at the ringside, and if the Now Zealand studmasters can deliver the right goods- there is a tremendous possibilityabout a central thoroughbred market and a sporting fixture supplying a test for some close relations of the yearling looked to go under the hammer. There is, however, such a thing as providing too much food at a banquet, and as it is said that some people are troubled with an embarrassment of riches, and so are poor in comparison, to those not so well endowed, so also can the bloodstock market be overstocked with apparent wealth. In other words, a lengthy catalogue does not necessarily mean that every buyer secures a bargain. A lengthy catalogue is detrimental to. primarily, the interests of the breeder, the buyer, and those who organise the sales, and are only financially interested from an agent's point of view. The agents’ desire to make a big catalogue found those around the ring invited to buy stock that anyone with a grain of common horse sense would not bestow a second glance at. A diamond merchant does not pad a display of stock with paste, and it should be th? same With a bloodstock market. Anything unworthy of a second glance should not be allowed into the ring. It stands as a very high tribute to. breeders of bloodstock in this country that only a very small percentage of the youngsters offered could not attract a bid. Still, it would add to attractiveness of the yearling sales if the auctioneers insisted on a display of quality rather than quantity when creating a market. Of course, it is not forgotten that the ugly duckling of to-day may be the champion of to-morrow, but that does not apply to a half-starved-looking squib whose possibilities on breeding have been undermined and lest by neglect. It might be considered a good idea to have catalogues “ A ” and “ B ” stock. Those in search of bargains may find one in either list, and if a small committee was appointed to make a selection of what should be allowed to picture in the ring it would greatly add to the tone and magnetism of the market. It may seem a fantastic idea, but a moment’s reflection will show that such is not the case, as only the best youngsters are shown in the parade which precedes the sales. DUNEDIN SPORTSMEN. Dunedin owners were well represented at the Wellington bloodstock sales, and quite a number of youngsters will race in the colours of some of our local sportsmen. Mr J. M. Samson purchased half a dozen at an outlay of 1310 guineas, and in addition went to 575 guineas for the Tea Tray—Taiamai colt as well as entering into the competition for several others in the ring. Mr Samson paid 400 guineas for a Limond colt who ranks as a brother to Royal Lineage, and 425 guineas for a Solferino—Marsa colt-. Mr George J. Barton went to 050 guineas for th e Paper Money colt who is a half-brother to Ark Royal, and it will be seen that both Mr Barton and Mr Samson materially assisted the sale even when they did not succeed in securing some of the lots they were after. Mr Barton picked up a bargain in the Paper Money—-Vicereine colt at 250 guineas, as this shapely and wellgrown youngster is almost an own brother in blood to the Lady Violet colt. Mr Barton also secured another bargain in a handsome chestnut colt, bv Leighton from First Class, at 250 guineas. The youngster belongs to the same family as Npcttuform Midnight Sun, Wakeful,’and Black Watch, one of the best two-year-olds seen out in England last season, and who. in fact, won the famous Gimcraek Stakes. Mr C. A. Shiel secured a nice colt by Paper Money from 80-peep at p/ 5 guineas. and it is to be hoped that the deal will prove sufficiently successful to tempt him into strongly establishing his colours on the turf. Mr W. Quirk has so far been an unlucky buyer, but he may find compensation with the Grand Court—Peg o’ My Heart gelding Which he purchased at 65 guineas. A Sewcomer in Mr Harry Divers secured a

fine strapping colt by Night Raid from Bendoun at 115 guineas, lie was anxious to secure something that might ultimately develop into a jumper, and it is hoped that the first venture as a yearling buyer will prove a success. Messrs A. G. Hili, D. P. Wilson, and F. Shaw were also amongst the buyers, but they mostly confined their attention to the youngsters going at small-priced bargains. The local sportsmen no doubt helped to enliven tiie atmosphere of the sale either .by buying or bidding, and it is to be hoped that their deals will "‘rove great bargains both for their own sake and also as encouragement for others to- go and do likewise. THE DUNEDIN CUP. The proximity of the Dunedin Cup meeting is indicated by the appearance of the handicaps for the first day of the fixture, lhe time-honoured Dunedin Cup does not arouse the same interest as it did in days of yore, when it ranked as one of the best betting races decided in the Dominion. I’ootfaii is in the pride of place at the top of the handicap, with 9.11 opposite his„name. ana although Set Sail has shown great improvement this season the Autumnus gelding should be able to account for her at a difference of 31b.

If he can do so ne must also finish in front of Pink Note, as there is not much between him and Set Sail. In fact, Set Sail seems sure to Beat Pink Note. She gave him 171 b in the W-llingtoii Cup. and certainly should have beaten the Paper Money gelding. The Wellington handicapper evidently thought so, as he made very little allowance for her defeat. Set Sail g a ve Pink Note 14ib in the W.R.C. Handicap, and was outstaying him at the finish, so that it is rather doubtful if 31b extra will bring them together. Pink Note will not, however, lack friends for the i ace, as he is oecoming more seasoned and solid. Stormy at his best would lend interest- to the race but he has been under a cloud, and although reported Tight again may be a bit short of work for a race over a mile ai.d a-half. It will be ample time to consider his chance if he remains amongst the acceptors. Booster in ay be regarded as a non-starter, but Celerity II is a good stayer and likely to be in the field. Lliu mare meets sad,5 ad , OI ! ®] b terms than when she finished dose up in the Invercargill Cup. and hence has been allotted a faitchance. In fact, Cele; ity II stands a good chance of beating Set Sail, as the former's defeat was due more to bad luck in the inn than lack of merit. Thorndale, .who ran two good, soiid races at J rentham as he was staying on well at the end of a mile and a-quarter run in a track record time. z. sl ' ape wcH a « ain Hn( ler an extra bib. Countersign looks badly treated in comparison to Thorndale, as he meets heton only 11b better terms than when they met in the Consolation Handicap. And the same remark applies to Overhaul, who also is handicapped to meet Thorndale on worse terms. Nincompoop can hardly be legarded as a stayer, and he does not seem to have much chance at the distance and too much value has been placed on his second to Set Sail in the Invercargill Cup. Queen Balboa has gathered stamina, but even so. Set Sail s ! lrely bc able to account for her at IQlb better terms than when she beat uer in the Invercargill Cup. So should elenty II on their form in the Southland Handicap, as si.e meets the Balboa mare on no less than 161 b better terms Battlement is out of the picture, and the best of the lightweight division mav be Satrap and Heather Lad. THE YEARLING SALES. A lover of the thoroughbred horse cannot find anything more interesting than a sale of high-class yearlings whose pedigrees combine the best strains that have Innl' the turf. An aristocraticlooking .yearling enters the ring, and a H>‘- , , I ? Ct> rl nt 1 ‘ e - tabulateJ pedigree shows with ti varl :’ ll ® quarterings are filled with the greatest names in turf historv vitm >- 7 1 ' SIZe 5 full of quality and vitality and walking with swingin” stride represents the pedigree, and when'’such is the case it seems strange that the knight ot the rostrum should find it necessary to call for bids. In fact, he should find it necessary to prevent buyers from nodding beyond a reasonable price It is somewhat unique in the history of vearhng sales to find the first ' youngster bi ought into the ring making a rec-ord price. This happened to be the case with a strikingly-marked chestnut yearling bv Limond from Homage, a sister ’to Epitaph Humbug, ku.alie. and Fulsome, and a halfsister to Commendation. He is a Stockwell chestnut, with stockings and blaze. <iud iii that sense does not represent the sire line of his pedigree. In fact, that is the only drawback to a particularly fine type of yearling. The chestnut soil of Limond shows plenty of size, quality and power. He is a good, free walker' with every indication of being able to gallop, and it is pleasing to note that he goes into the stable under the control of such a past master in the art of training as R. Mason. It will be very interestmg to see if the youngster throws, as his appearance suggests, to the sprinting side ot his pedigree, or inherits the stamina displayed by the brown Limerick. In buying a Limond or the set of any stallion. one naturally looks for somethin-’ that resembles the sire, and for that reason the colt from the Martian mare Makepiece, sold at GOOgns. or the one Royal Exchange colt, sold at 400 mis seem comparatively very cheap. Royal Exchange was go. by a son of William the Third from a mare by San Francisco, a brother to St. Frusquin. Both these brown colts were well ' bought. The Ab-surd-Rose Queen filly made 1075gns, and looks a'l over a galloper, and in due course should prove very valuable for the paddock. The write: liked nothing bette. than the 600-guinea colt by Tea Tray from laiamai. He is by a sire of winners from a good producing dam, and as shapely anil stylish a colt as one could wish to see. He was a bit preferable to the 675guinea colt by Paper Money—Lady Violet who is a shade straight in front and shortish in the front pasterns. Some of the youngsters sold look like proving real bargains, and looking at the result of the sale it really seems as if it was far more in favour of the buyer than the breeder. ' ATTRACTIONS AT TRENTHAM. Anyone who can conjure up a mental photograph of the old Hutt Park racecourse and compare it with the magnificently equipped racecourse at Trentham must marvel at the very progressive manner in which the Wellington Racing Club lias endeavoured to stage the equine dramas played on the New Zealand turf. Hutt Park ami Trentham represents a change on a par to a wonderful transformation scene one sometimes sees on the stage. Hutt Park was far too cramped in area to allow’ the creation of the wonderfully equipped racecourse that is now to be found at Trentham. and it must be highly gratifying indeed to the leading spirits in the Wellington Racing Club to hear the sincere compliments paid by visitors from all parts of the world to the magnificent appointments of their racecourse. The stands and at Trentham stand se< ond to none in the world. Others may have greater capacity necessary for more popular centres, but the general scheme al accommodation and view’ cannot be exceiled in any part of the world. All this has been accomplished in a little over 20 years, and now the tremendous capacity of Trenthajn threatens to become inadequate in tire not not very far distant future. Trentham now supplies a wonderful stage for an

equine drama or bloodstock sale, and yet, strange to say, it iias never been pictured to the best advantag?. Even at the bloodstock sales the rash <•’.pacify of the stands at I rentham make a most impressive sight, and it is simply wonderful to see them pulsing and alive with thousands and thousands of people on a race day. Some people object to the centralisation of 1 b !*t is only on such racecourses as Irentnam that one can see racing at the apex of attrariiveness. The stars ot the equine world t-om the crack tvvo- •' ear-olds of the year, weight-for-age horses, and the battling handicapper, can all be seen in action, and such a combination can onlj- be found on a metronolitan or semi-metropolitan racecourse. Lhe country or picn.c race meeting mav be enjoyable, but they are mostly so iiom a social point of view, and when one desires to tap the best v mtage of sport one has to apply to such sporting cellarmen as the committee of the Wellington Racing Club.

THE GIMCRACK SPEECHES. In the existing state of turf affairs the speech delivered by Lord Hamilton of Dalzell in response to the toast of The Jockey Club ” at the recent Gimcraek Club dinner will be read with special interest. Premising that although he was in fact a senior steward of the Jockey Club, he asked his audience to bear in mind that in speaking to them he was expressing his own views and hail' no right or authority to speak on behalf of the club. None the less, coming from one in his position, what he had to say carried with it more than ordinary weight. Dealing first with the betting tax and its effect, he pointed out that before the duty was imposed the stewards of the Jockey Club informed the Chancelloi of the Exchequer that thev feared it would have an adverse effect upon lacing, adding that “with the assistance ot the executives (racecourse) we have been abl e to furnish the Chancellor of the Exchequer month by month with comparative figures, showing how the receipts or lace meetings and coursing meetings had been affected. We now have the complete returns for practically the whole season s sport under the Rules of Racin’’ - ’ I he.se figures show’ that there had b-cii' a drop towards increased stakes and the gieatei general comfort and convenience ot the racing public. It is possible that, assisted by contributions from the lewon money passing through the machines racecourse executives would be able to provide more prize money, and. above all. lower their charges for admission to an" appreciable extent, and that under those circumstances more people would go racing, but that is a matter that can on]v be cleared up by the test of experience. Gieat interest attaches, w’e think, to the comparison drawn by Lord Hamilton between racecourses in this and other countries In foreign countries racecourse executives have been able to draw on monej derived from betting as well as on gate money receipts. Here the onlv source of revenue is gate money, and in n’r, 01 ?/ 0 n '- alllta ‘ n racing at a high standh v?i e P r . lc( 'i of -xlmission to our course have had to be raised to a fmure which now constitutes a heavy tax °oL people with moderate means. Racing has P been "ml th»rpT' Ve N F xpens . ive to tha owner, and theie has not been the .surplus revenue to date aS neede<l V briUK ° UI ’ '<P to date as regard stands and o-eneral comfort and convenience. Anyone” ford Hamilton goes on to sav ’■ 1 JjOl , cl of of'Kiso i.iie known of the disadvantages umUr v’Heh we have laboured owinTto the the hw° nS I ' :,t '7 re " pt>n l) v cue law. I maintain that within the ' mtti mP^71 !° n -er'e running do bt bu? t d h S '° W ( ° f tllat thpre is 1 Cttin / 1 1 th I,n P° Sl tJon of this tax on bettng has upset the balance of the that had been constructed with ■nfimte tod by the enterprise of r-ee-course managers, guided and helped as I It 7s C 'Jt 5 , the band °? tlle -Jockey Club.’ - t is at least certain that the whole o7lm > Stand t S deepl - V iadebted what tluZl' C ‘7 a!l<i - lts stc " - ards for w hat thej have done in the nast on,l is ready to extend to them unhesitating support m such steps as they mav deem necessary for the maintenance of the best interests and traditions of English racing.

LORD D’ABERNON S SPEECH. In our leading article of November o. we expressed the belief that the present depression in racing would, pass away in due course, adding that we were encouraged in that belief by the healthy tone prevailing in the Woodstock market It is therefore satisfactory to note (says ?n English paper) that in the course of'a speech delivered at the annual meeting ot the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association last W’eek Lord D’Aber non said he believed that “ if a temporary depression has manned the timid and short-sighted, a broad survey of the present and a close forecast of the future justify not onlv confidence, but optimism.” In that optimism we continue to share, but if Lord D Abernon has been correctly reported we gather tliat his wholehearted confidence in the future is based upon anticipation of an influx of money derived fiom a levy on funds passing through the 1 ari-Mutuel or totalisator machines, and if that be so it may well be that he is building upon a none too sure foundation, fn order that a levy on the tote monev should be sufficient to bring about th” Utonian state of affairs to which Lord D Abernon looks forward with such confidence it is obvious that a vast amount

of money must pass through the machines, and it is very doubtful if under present conditions and the existing state of the law’ m regard to betting, anything like a sufficient amount of money would become available. This difficulty Lord D Abernon sees clearly enough. He says indeed ' there were difficulties to overcome before any satisfactory system of regulating betting and establishing the conditions under which it should contribute to the race fund could be finally fixed. lhe fact that in this country so large a proportion of betting is done away from the course undoubtedly constituted a n'7't 1 - tV Y b,d ‘,differentiated it from the practice in other countries where the fhen‘7'; ' WaS ,a f ° rce i” Lord U’Ahernon then dismisses the subject with the remark that a certain amount of ingenuity morL d ? l -ercolne the difficulty.” Something moie than ingenuity will, we fear, be necessary before his hope that all bets should be concentrated on the racecourse conies within measurable distance of realisation. Moreover, behind all Lord fnf! 1 .?” S ' v,-sl . o ’ lal -v glimpse of a splen7 tU |' e 111 " 11J ch racecourse amenities aie to be such that visitors may enjoy s bodies 08 - n r b , a,ite substantial subs Ches are to be provided for breeders and huge prizes offered to owners, whose rirnZw L- re M° be redll ; ed to a ■ni-i-.-nm theie lurks the grmi fact that since all these things are to be provided bv a levy on money invested by the public in the to* n^ ath T eS ’ - tOl ' them al! tllc n’d’He is r V t 0 mother aspect of Lord D Abernon s speech we gather that though he does not actually sav so, he is rari'nJ Illg D Vlt ‘l the - notion r,f centralising racing. Here he is. we think, venturing VC; ' m " 11 Ke- A P ait from other objections— they are many—to the ecntialisation of racing, it is doubtful if in tins climate our turf racecourses would stand the strain of frequent race nu'etngs. They certainly would not do so in a "ri summer, and beyond that there is the fact that whereas at present all the rnpney put into circulation i„ c <>n ect m with what may be called incidental racin expenses is distributed in many centresand am ° n g s t lna pcop!e j( . n . ou ■ • acing centralised, be divided out a mom’ a relatively limited number of dwells"in the more favoured localities. It mvSt e e d ed e R ld t t ’ at tbe Sma " er scatteied about in various parts of the iZ-h in r Tt >rCSent tJ 7 backbo » a of racing -ich in its own sphere serves to foster thes? V v-7 SP ° ,t- aIKi taken collectively race-oiiises, with their i 7f Cn i t,,rn n and K la<b >nts. have eontnbi ted something towards the development, of the British thoromdibred more perhaps than .mgmt be thomffit Zest °V’ er matters in "hich the true safe Vf‘ i‘ aC u g a ’-' e , Collte ™ed may be t i ' ~,,t o t,le Jealous care of the Jockey Club and its stewards

A WONDERFUL RECORD. c„ A n r ta .c e mil ch-to-bere-’retted tme of the racing season wh ch ha h/i come to an end is that Alec Tavlor <IJ of Manton, has decided actne exercise of the profession which h“ has so long adorned. Of his skill Lu ZvL’the EiidffiZ " eedieSs f ° ?p - k but L "k- } H ma y at °ncc- be sa : d of him that he take s with him on Z letnement the esteem and respect not only of the owners whose horses he has named, but with every one with whom he ha s had to do. It ha s been his'-rood for m>e to be associated with owners mostly indifferent to the financial side of men whose implicit confidence in thc-r trainer never wavered, and who were well content that their horses should b e a-; veu anip e time for development. Master of his profession in eveiy blanch. Alec Tavlor has been perhaps especially famous for’his uni n ailed skill in preparing horse s for racing over long distances. It was in' 1902 that on his brother’s death A'e? Taylor assumed sole ccntro. of the great racing establishment. and the result of his labours s iuco then may best be realised if we mention that he has sent out 511 horses who have between them won 921 races of which the aggregate value is 837.01150v5. In this the last year of his career he is second on the- list of winning trainers with a total of 55,19950 vs to his credit. With the cla-sic races his record has been reniarkable. lie won the St. Leger with Pavardo in 1919. another Derby with Bayardo's half-brother Lembergin the following- yenr and the War Derbys of 1917 and 1913 ‘with Ga v Crusader and Gainsborough, while since the war the Manton trained horses, Buchan. Craig-an-Eran. Tamar, St. Germans. and l.nncegaye. have run second >n the great classic race. Eight Oaks winners - have left th<> Manton stable on the way to victory, Rosedrop, Sunny Jane. My • Dear. Bayurki. I o-'c in Idleness, Po"rom, Saucy Sue. and Short Story. The St. he won with ChallacomLe in 1905. Bayardo in 1999. and the sub«tit’-te races Tor the Doncaster classic with Gav Crusade- in 1917 and Gm'nsborough in 1918 ; tbe Two Thousand Cuinoas with C— ig-.an Eran hi 1921. Gay C-usader in l c l7. and Gainsborom’b in Guineas with Winkipcn in 1910 and Snuev Sne -n 192.5 —-nd so tbe *al" —oes on. With ! l -a ex-ention of the Cm'br-’igO'lrve practically every great race in b-iu been wnn o”c t-n-p rr anoiher b- horses trained bv Alec T-vlo-, and rn-k’ii'’ an excursio-i e 'irfber - Gel-1 he won lhe Pr : — 8” Par : s with T.pmonor.- -n 19 01 . He Tri res in the v—v heyday of h-s ’’rill a turner, a-’d to b- - -'i as-to fe-y oP-e-s it b.-.- hc-n —-van to live on -nd. —e bo”- f■ - m-uy _years to enjoy the fruit of his labours. IN A NUTSHELL. The D-inedin Cup meeting takes place next week. A racehorse is aptly described as an equine speculation. Aecentanees for tlm Dunod-n Cup meeting are due on Friday next. The P-wk. althomrh 10 years old. still swoops first past th? winning post. The Tape-ir annual rm-e n-eetin" takes place on Wednesday of tins week. Snean B-'id"” w.-s a b-t off colour when racing at the Wellington Cun meeting. A. E. El'is and J. Melcalf both intend to be present at the Dunedin Cup meeting. Full Feather is getting stronger in the win”. n"d flew home in good style at Trcnthuiu.

Flicker has ['rovvn very little since the spring, and is still only a pony in height. Oratrix got galloped on when racing last week, and hence did not show her true form. Skyquest was staying on at the end of a fairly fast-run live furlongs when she won at Trentliam. Countersign was not far away from the 'placed lot in the W.R.C. Consolation Handicap, run in 2.4}. Footfall is reported to be training on satisfactorily, and .nay be a runner at the Dunedin Cup meeting Hector Gray has been granted permission to go on a racecourse when his employer has horses racing. Overhaul had bad luck in each of his races at Trentham. He did not receive a good passage in either of them. 1 horndale ran a good solid race over a mile and a-quarter, ami was staying on at the end of a fast-run race. It is understood t.nat H. Xeagle will shortly relinquish his position as private trainer to Mr W. G. Stead’s stable. 'li Tree continues in winning vein in the north. His yearling brother seemed cheap at OOOgns when sold last week. Paperchase shaped well over a mile at 1 rentham. and more patiently handled might have won instead of being a close third. Set Sail has been one of the most consistent performers saddled this season. -Last season her- form was decidedly patchy. Mr A. G. Hill pi.-ked up a rare bargain when he purchased the imported horse 1 aladin at 130gns. At the yearling sales a Paladin colt sold at 625gris. Battlement jarred the tendons of his near foreleg when doing his final gallop lor the Wellington Cup. He is to be blistered and treated to a spell. . - Tbe -5 rcller y fin .V Justify won the Adrian Knox Stakes recently run at Handwick. She was bred at the Elderslie Stud, and is a daughter of i’aringamutu. The Hymestra filly Miss Ransom was putting in a great run at the end of the Hopeful Stakes. She is a sister to Hynanna, and worthy of remembrance. Mr J. M. Samson struck a rare bargain when ho bought Wayward at 300gns. Ihe Sutala gelding has won six races for him, and incidentally paid a thumping big dividend. When seen at the New Zealand Cup meeting Thurnbell looked rather light and tucked up. He still looks much the same, and would be benefited by a good spell instead of being over-raced. lhe standing start has many staunch advocates, but anyone with an “ open eye- cannot be blind to the fact that it is responsible on far too many occasions tor deciding a race at the starter’s end. J- Donald has purchased the imported horse Grand Knight, and the son P.i . I-". 1 '?’ 1 '! Parade will join Diacquenod. < hiei Ruler, and Tonbridge at the Westmere Stud. The Consolation Handicap on the Wellington Cup programme is open to all horses that have not won at the meeting. It should be for horses that have been beaten at the meeting. Booster was lot produced again "at Trentham after his mishap in the Telep,i<ipli Handicap. There is nothing seriously wrong — ith the Solferino gelding. but it was deemed wise to keep him in his box for the rest of the meeting. Hjnanna won the Consolation Handicap Tun at 'trentham last season. :'s well as the race on this year's programme. Since last year Hynanna has been treated to a spell, and as a result has thickened out into a much-improved appearance. The yearling purchased by Mr Harry Divers is from a Downshire mare. There are only four Do.vnshire mares in the Stud Book, and between them they have produced Master Sandstone Overhaul, and Dismantle. The Paper Money gelding Money Order has a rare turn of speed, and was going on strongly’ when he won at Trenthanu He had to chase and catch the very speedy Cimabue. who got a break on the rest of the field at the rise of the barrier. A. E. Didham sustained a slight concussion when he came off Booster in th? Telegraph Handicap, and it was feared that he had also injured his neck at the base of his skull, but after a couple of days in the hospital he made a complete recovery. Dumblane gave an improved display of form, and was staying on well at the end of his second race at Trentham. Possibly he is bettei suited by the level going at Trentham than the up-and-down ground at Wingatui, vvnieh is apt to unbalance a horse. A strong prejudice exists in England against women being allowed to train horses. Apart from the question as to whether granting them licenses to train horses might possibly keep men out of work there is no doubt that the command of a racing stable or stud is essentially “ a man’s job.” Mr J B. Reid’s Australian-bred mare Punka, the dam of that good two year-.j.J in England, Black Watch, was offered at auction at the December sales at Newmarket. Punka wa s the first of Mr r.eid’s lot submitted, but at SCOO-ms she left the ring unsold. Kilcullen (Kilbroney—Esther, in foal to Heverswood, was sold for 430gns. Thorndale beat Countersign and Overhaul over a mile and a-quarter at Trentham, and the Paper Money mare does not seem to have much chance in meeting him on lib better terms in the Dunedin Cup. Overhaul is very badly’ handicapped - in being asked to meet Thorndale on lib worse terms than in the Consolation Handicap. Prior to the Liir.ond—Homage colt making 2300gns and establishing a fresh record for a yearling, the best prices in this country were obtained for Farrago (Absurd —Leta), 2250gns; Mars (Martian —Bronze). 2000gns; Meteoric (Martian — Polymnia), 2000gns; Havoc (Nordenfeldt —Frailty), 2200gns; and Mousquetaire, 2025gns. , Thorndale ran a very good race in the Consolation Handicap, in which Hynanna just bent him in record time for the track. Ke also shaped well in the Janu-

ary Handicap, but got a rough passage on the voyage, and, in addition, was troubled with signs of soreness, as he moved a bit short when doing his preliminary. Covent Garden, who showed a lot of speed in his races at Trentham. is a ' brother to Goblin Market. Mandane is a half-sister to them. The two first named were got by Absurd from Cher y Mart, by Birkenhead from Martia, by Martian—Perolina, b.v Persimmon. ’ With such a pedigree Cherry Mart should 1 throw stayers. She was bred to Limond in 1927. The Hawk has a wonderfully successful and lengthy career on the turf, and he is now 10 years old. He ran a good race in the Telegraph Handicap, and, apparently improved bv the gallop, won handsomely when saddled for the Metropolitan Handicap. The Martian gelding has been a good friend to his owner, and has won over 21.000sovs in stakes. The bulk i le total was captured since his purchase by his present owner. galloped on when racing in the W.K.C, Handicap, and the mishap made her race a lot below expectations of her admirers. It was thought she Ind iully recovered when sent out for the Consolation Handicap, but she could not go with the field in the early stages, and soon got into a hopeless position. Towards the end she made up a lot of ground, ami finished fifth, a remarkably good performance under the circumstances. At a meeting of the Auckland District Committee the fol.owing resolution was car- I ried:--- that an emphatic protest be made against the action of the Licensing Committee of tue New Zealand Racing Conference in removing the suspension of \V. 8. Baghyj; jockey’s license in face of his committee s refusal to recognise him for license and the number of warnings issued by the conference, and that the conference be informed that it is the intention of tins committee to appeal against such decision.” Sport and politics do not run well in double harness. It is one of the greatest recommendations of sport (says an English paper) that it is a leveller of ranks, and that a sportsman, whether born in purple or fustian, must be judged on his merits and not on his birth certificate. It is of the utmost importance that sport should be kept dear of class prejudice, and it cannot be if it is allowed even in the slightest degree to become entangled with politics. The moment politics are allowed to enter into games, from that moment their sporting aspect is imperilled. R. Reed has achieved a good deal of success in eonnectif n with the Wellington Cup He was on Rewi Poto when he deadheted wit Red Ribbon in 1919. and shared another dead-heat in 1920 on Kilmoon with Iratress. In 1921 Reed won on Maioha. and again in 1923 on Rapine. He won this year’s race on Star Stranger after an excellent display of horsemanship. R. Dcrrett won the Wellington Cup on no less than six occasions. so that he excelled even the excellent record a-hieved bv R. Recd. who however, is still going strong, and lik ly to add to his n. evi. .s success in the race. Ihe successful breeders in England -n 1927 were:— •

Owners of Rossendale mares will no doubt be elated to hear that great value is placed upon them in England. Rosemead. who early in her career was sold rQnnn 50gn > S ’ Y° n Wve races worth over 13000, and when auctioned at the recent Newmarket December sales there was so much foreign competition for her that ii reached the remarkable sum of ll.oOOgns before sh e was booked to the uell-known racehorse owner Mrs Chester Beatty. Rosemead is in foal to Hurry ('nttu r % °n v le Der , b \ winners Captain S', t! ?’ and Coronach. Rossen,‘v.!,i 1S - by pt- i'msQuni. who is also the grandsire of Paper Money. of 3?’®r f 0 1O " in '\- tabie - reiat ”e to the sale t yearlings at Newmarket and Doncaster tor the years subsequent to the war. will ' « of interest:—

•• 753 516,578 CB6 In 19-3, the last of the pre-war years 509 year.ings were sold for 281,414gi: s , the'average price being 552Agns. offnrJi sJ “j th ? t a . f “ bulous Sl 'm has been offeied and refused for Soario, who won tne bt. LegeY and other races, and is now full at 500gns up to 1931. Solario was got by Gainsborough, and is inbred lO Hampton on to the same taproot as Bill o’ Portland. Gainsborough’s dam i s bv St. Fiusquin out of a granddaughter of Trenton and a similar combination is not difficult to procure in cither Australia or New Zealand. In Australia they have a successful son of St. 1< rusquin in Rossendale and the best known member of the line in this country is Paper Money. Gainsborough ’« mbred to Hampton and Galopin, and rhe addition of the Musket strain would very probably produce a real racehorse’s pedigree. When Trivalve won the Melbourne Cup the ovation accorded him on hi s return to scale was directed at his rider,’ R. Lewis, just as much as to the colt. It was a wonderful feat on the part of a man in the ’forties to pilot Trivalve to victory. Should Lewi s determine to continue riding (says “ Pilot ”), he will probably show to advantage for several more years. But Lewis is not the . only elderly rider before the public. Advice was forthcoming from Mudgee recently that W. Walsh, 65 years of ago, rode in six races at a meeting at Lue. Walsh was on the second horse

in two cf tbe/e races. He rode with a maximum of vigour. In hi s spare time Walsh breaks in young horses on a station property in the ALidgee district. Ark Royal in all probability is ruined as far as racing is concerned. The kick he received from Joybird when at the post tor the Wellington Cup fractured the leg near the elbow. The Kilbroney colt is to be sent to Masterton and placed in slings with the hope that a few months’ treatment may save his life. The mishap means a serious loss to Mr G. J. Barton, as the colt commenced to show improved track work since wearing a truss, and was confidently expected to run a great race in the Wellington Cup. So pleased was Mr Barton with Ark Royal that he made a flying trip to Wellington in order to bid for his half-brother, but he bumped against a long-pursed buyer who also took a fancy to the colt, and the Dunedin sportsmen dropped out of the competition after bidding GuOgns. Probably the most pleased man in Australia when the news arrived that Buchan had headed the list of winning sires n England during 1927 was Mr Percy Miller, of Sydney. He had every reason to be, tor the imported Saltash, who has made a good s tart at his Kia-Ora stud. Scone, is a full-brother to the champion English hor-e. Buchan's stock won.stakes totalling £45,918, of which amount more than half was contributed by the St. Leger winner, Book Law. Book Law. by the v. ay, was another excellent advertisement for Kia-Ora, as her dam i s a si ter to Windbag’s sire, Magpie. Mr Richard Wootton's son Stanley was again an easy first on the trainers’ list in respect of actual wins, but he is a firm believer in the old adage that “ small fish r.-.e sweet.” and the amount credited his horses. £22.155, for 77 wins, did not approach E. Butters’s £57,468 for 54 wins, ayd Alec Taylor’s £55,196 for 47 wins. In 1920 Buchan was third in the list of winning sires, his total being £31,631 10s. Hurry On was the leader with £59,109, with Phalaris second with £42,203. Hurry On’s chief winner was Coronach with £39.624. while Applecross (£4969) Cresta Run (£4880). and Call Boy (£4377) were also prominent contributors. Buchan was represented by Short Story (£8485), Jenir'e Deans (£5298). and Book Law (£3560). Last year Book Law credited Buchan with half the total standing to ms credit. The winning sires are: —

Seven years behind New Zealand. France is now adopting the electric totalisator, according to Mr A. M'Donald-Smith. who returned to Auckland by the L'limaroa on Tuesday. Mr Smith, who is well known in racing circles throughout New Zealand, supervised the installation of the first electric totalisator in this country, seven years ago, being then the representative of a large Sydney firm. He is now manager of the Canterbury Jockey Club's totalisator During his visit to Australia, Mr Smith made inquiries into improvements in the electric totalizator in Australia The French order had been received nine months ago, and the machine was to be installed and in running order by April of this year ‘‘ It is something to be proud of that New Zealand dropped the parimutuel system seven years before France.” declared Mr Smith. The French order is. for a machine with 240 ticket issuers, which means that it will be four times bigger than that at Ellerslie. Earl Sande is the American jockey who rode Zev in the memorable match with Papyrus. And Sande is now in England after having had his license revoked by the Maryland Racing Commission on a charge of having interfered with a favourite in Reigh Count in the £lO,OOO Futurity Stakes. Sai de’s winnings in 10 years total £500.000. In 3425 races he has had 921 firsts, 61 seconds, and 521 th’rds. Fred Archer, the famous English jockey, won over 30 per cent, of his races during 10 years. Steve Donoghue, who won the English Derby five times, has not a record, over a period of years, like Sande's. His suspension has the same eft'ert in turf circles as if Babe Ruth were suspended from baseball. With the ban hanging over him —and the Maryland Commission refused to raise it. although the New York Commission's president humbled himself in the dust before them on behalf of Sande —the’ rider of Zev in the famous contest for world supremacy with the English Derby winner Papyrus will not be permitted to race in England or on the Continent, or in Australia. Fortune Betty, the dam of a recent Gosford winner. Thrived, doesn't boast a fashionable pedigree, but she has produced her share of speedy performers I (says a Sydney writer). She is not in the Stud Book-—whether her breeding cannot be traced far enough back, oilier owner has not taken the trouble to submit her name is doubtful. —and when one of her yearlings is sent to Sydney for sale it cannot be included in the main catalogue. A couple of her youngsters have come down, and have been submitted in the supplementary catalogue, which usually includes a batch of yearlings whose dams are not eligible for inclusion in the Stud Book One of Fortune Betty’s foals was the Fortafix gelding Aussie, who was bought for 75gns by a New Zealander, and is winning good races in the Dominion. Previously she had produced Langdale a decent performer for R. Bailie. Her latest winner. Thrived, g filly by Three, was not offered for sale, and is held on lease by the Randwick trainer W. T. Dwyer. The dam is by Fortunatos from Palestine, by’ Guignol, and is owned by Mr W. J. Quinn, of Cullenbone, Mudgee. Full Dress, by Viceroy, a son of The Tetrarch, out of Spray, the dam of the Grand National winner, Sprig, has recently changed hands in England for lOgns. At the price she is described as being a bargain. Although lOgns seems a remarkably -small sum, much smaller amounts have been given for horse* who have stibsequent.y won races. There was a case some

jears ago in America where an auctioneer could not get an olier for a horse. Just as he was aoout to pas s the animal out of the ring an onlooker, for fun, bid “ tup-pence-ha'penny and wa s astounded when the auctioneer knocked the horse down to hui] at that pri<*e! /.There was also the case cf a horse named Corkscrew, owned by a Northampton butcher. Tired of the ” gee's ” repeated failures, he offered to sell han to one of his customers for 45 shillings. The customer was not too anxious, and so, to make the transaction more attractive, the butcher offered to *' throw in ” a of mutton. Hie deal was made, and shortly afterwards Corkscrew won three races. Some years ago, too, Electric Current, winner, of several races in the North, was purchased for 7gns, after having been won as a prize in a dog show I Apparently the Gimcrack dinner, or the speeches at i l , or both, gave a prominent politician a very bad attack of ” general publicitis,” but if he i s going io classify breeders, owners, and trainers—all were included under Mr J. B. Reid’s percentage scheme—a s “parasites,” it is rather far-fetched as, if there were no bleeders, owners, or trainers, there would certainly be no horses and no racing for the general public to enjoy. I am entirely with him (says the Special Commissioner of Sporting Life) in his antagonism to the totalisator, and his wish to see the Betting Tax amended, but in his support of there view s it is irrational to turn his guns upon the very backbone of the sport. Yearlings have been sold for 17.900gn5, and probably w.'E be again, hut they do not for all that more than balance up for the hundreds of barren mares whose fees for inatiiur have to be paid whether they are in foal or not ; the depreciation in value through age; the los s of foals through accident, or the hundred and one other misfortunes +hat the breeder ha s to contend with. Thoroughbred breeding is not the “ soft iob ” he attempts to make it out, and it is a pity that he should have seen fit to air his ignorance upon it. Girth galls are the result of unfitness (says a writer in the Field), .-.nd a faulty conformation which allows the saddle -to work forwards and the edge of the girth to come in contact with the elbow, and in horses with a shallow upruuning brisket and bulging curved ribs may be a constant source of trouble and difficult to prevent. A piece of sheepskin placed around the girth will, however, tend to prevent them, and is all that is necessary, when the trouble is due to softness. combined, of course, with the proper treatment of the sores. The conformation of the horse’s back is such that only the ribs covered by the massive muscular pad are capable of carrying weight and bearing pressure with impunity. This only when the weight is evenly distributed and with no “ points of pressure,” and when the pressure is not too long continued, and the results of the front arch or pommel, the seat, and cantie. exerting any pressure at all upon the spines or the vertebra] column, protected only by the skin and ligaments as they are, are apt to be disastrous and lead to necrosis of both ligaments and bones and to the condition known as fistulous withers, sitfasts. and permanent enlargements. Even if the damage inflicted is not so s vore as to lead to the above, a longer or shorter period oi disability ensues. There is an element that makes for amusement in the prophecies of those who, on imperfect information, have championed the cause of the totalisator. If we were to accent at their face value (says Snorting Life' the extravagant praises that have been lavished of late on machine betting, we should find hi the totalisator a panacea for all the ills from which the turf is suffering to-dav. With the merits or demerits of the machine we are not concerned at this j moment. 15 hat does concern us is to expose the absurd and oft-rencated s‘ it<>- , ment that the totalisator will be at work j on our English racecourses next season. I There is not a 1000 to 1 chance that it will. Those who join issue with ns in this I yiew cannot have examined the dilficuito'S I in the way of its installation. The first, and at present an aoparently insuper- ' able, obstacle, is to be found in the abstention of-the Gov-»rnment from the responsibility of legalising it. They have promised to look favourably upon a Bill to make the totalisator legal if 011 a free vote of the House cf Commons there is a majority demand for it. Every week that passes reduces the chances of the Com moiis expressing its approval of such a Bill. Amongst those at Moorefield reently was Miss Una Clift, who raced Chrvsalom and other horses. Miss Clift has just returned from world tour, and she certainly looks well. So also does her brother. Mr Gordon Clift, who accompanied his sister. They each s leak (says the Sydney Referee) glowingly of their experiences while they were in England. I 7 rance, and Mexico. They a r e e ’aui'nired of the French horses, and Mr Clift, in describing 14 fillies who were contesting one race, said it would be d'fficn't to .pick out more than one of these 14 to belittle it to the advantage of any of th? remainder in the field. It is Mr Clift’s opinion that French-bred horses are going to be heard of to an even greater extent than has been the case in the past few rears. Conditions ni Mexico, where dirt ..racks are the vogue, were characterised by an anxiety on the part of the jockeys to ride their mounts with heels and whin from barrier-rise. But the leadin'' jockeys of Australia would quite hold their own with the riders who adopted these hurry-scurry tactics. A motor water cart, travelling at 30 miles an hour, sprayed the track after each race in order to quell the dust. Sir John Simon, speaking at Heckmondwike, Yorkshire, recently opposed the introduction of the totalisator on the grounds that he looked with suspicion upon proposals, however ingenious, for now taxes, “if they could only be made productive by exploiting the vices and encouraging the weaknesses of human nature.” “The Betting Tax,” he said. “ has not apparently been what its author expected of it. and it is noteworthy that paragraphs are i.uw appearing in the newspapers, intimating that the Chancellor of the Exchequer is interested in the proposal to establish in this country the totalisator. The totalisator ie a highlyingenious machine, which combines the qualities of a cash register, lightning calculator, and stationary bookmaker. But what is not everywhere realised is that it can only be introduced to this country if we are prepared to repeal an impo .tant

section of the lav. which limits gaming and wagering. After all, what has the totalisator got to do with the Chancellor 01 the Exchequer. The ‘ tote ’ is no machine for calculating the amount of the national debt, ami the only reason why the Chancellor of the Exchequer is interested in it is because it may be the indirect means of raising jmblic 1 evenue. So would be the establishment ot a State lottery with the sale of a lottery ticket every day at every post office.” Ihe death occurred at Berne, Switzerland, on November 3, of Mrs Nellie W Duryea, widow of the late Mr Hermanns B. Duryea, owner of the 1914 Derby vic--11, and who <il>o secured the Iwo Thousand Guineas of 1912 with Sweeper 11. Following the stoppage cf i-ac.n z in the United States in 1109, Mr and Mrs Duryea made their home in France, and bought a charming breeding stud in Normandy known as the Haras du Gazon, where they lived the simple life, producing some of the best horses that France had seen for a generation according to a writer in. the Kentucky T'hoiontrhbred Record. Following the death of Mr Duryea, his wife continued the breed'ng establishment, and raced a few horses in her colours, but determining to return to her native America three year s a io, she sold the Haras du Gazon with all hut three of her - marcs and the sta lion Durbar, to Mr Marcel Boussac, the prominent French sportsman. Mrs Duryea took Durbar to the United States last year, and offered him for sale at auction during the Saratoga season of 1925. The stallion did uot bring the reserve which she placed upon h'm. and he was sent to the Claiborne stud of Mr Arthur B. Hancock, where he now is. Mrs Duryea believed implicitly in the groat ness of Durbar a s a sire, and cabled a friend only recently when three or the horse’s get won on the same Sunday afternoon at the Longchamp meeting in Paris. The ch’ef winning horses in England in 1927 were: — Races Value Won. £ Book Law, b f, by Buchan— Poppingaol, 3yrs . . . . . . 6 27,745 Colorado, br c, by Phalaris — Canyon. 4yrs 5 17,725 Call Boy, ch c, by Hurry On — Comedenne, 3yrs 2 14,685 Adajn’s Apple, b c, by Pommern —Mount Whistel, 3yrs . . . . 1 10,915 Beam, b f, bv Galloper Light— Mistrella. 3yrs 3 10,805 Cresta Run, b f, by Hurry On — Bridgemount, 3yrs 1 9,660 Kincardine, b c, by Gay Crusader —Sundrilla, 3yrs 5 7,353 Flamingo, b c, by Flamboyant —Lady Peregrine. 2yrs . . 3 7,328 Fairway, b c. by Phalaris—Scapa Flow, 2yrs 3 6,390 Dark Japan, br c. by Dark Legend—Blouzelinda. 4yrs . . 3 5,980 Hakim, br c, by Friar Marcus — Honora, 2yrs (dead) 4 5,690 Abbot's Speed, br e, by Abbot's Trace—Mary Gaunt, 4yrs . . 3 5,335 . Jurisdiction, b f, by Abbot s Trace—Lady Juror, 2yrs . . 4 4.633 Tattoo, b c. by Galloper Light —Torchlight, 3yrs 4 4.354 Coronach ch c. by Hurry On — Wet Kiss, 4yrs 2 4,353} Buland, b c, by Blankford—■ Saffian, 2yrs 2 4,213} Chantiey, b c, by Gainsborough —Chancer” 3yrs (dead) .. 24,65 C Guards’ Parade blk c, by Grand Parade —La Gorgue, 2yrs . . 7 4,004 Racing, unlike shooting or fishing, or yachting, is a hobhy in which the public can share with the man whose means enable him to own noises. Both extract enjoyment. The iir.'i who produces the horses and the people who come to see them run contribute to a common fund. 1 am with the owner (says an English writer) all the time :ii bis claim for prior recognition. There is ether than monetary returfi for his outlay, but. quite naturally, he will take more m else shape of winning stakes if it can lie spared. He may not. however, be the best judge as to the ni .ins whereby such stakes are to be augmented, if looking to the totalisator for relief. Most buyers of n'oodstock to whom I have s ioken have yet to understand why breeders should oe i niitled to bonuses derived from stakes or any other source. The formers' point of view is that as liability for entry fees and forfeits and all other charges in -iclental to the training and running oi a bought horse devolve upon the purchaser, the latter is entitled to every neimy whi.h is put up by the racecourse executive iii the shape of prize money. .lud if the owner is also the breeder of the successful animal, it is argued that what is additionally pre ented to him ardor prevailing conclit’ons'ns a bro-ding bonus could be more 1 usefully diverted to the second and third ard even the fourth horses, the prizes for whom are often out of proportion to t'.ie major one. Sore hacks, no matter how trivial c.r serious, are due eil'ier to friction or pressure, the results of badly fitting saddlery or faulty saddling, and the application of a surcingle without a roller and pad for the purposeof reta n ng the b anket in position while in the stable. Except in the case of the unlit ho se. unfit from overwork and debility, or unfit from fatne.s and softness, saddle sores and girth galls as a lesult ot friction are of less frequent occurrence than injuries produced by pressure, althogh unfit horse s gall more readily from either cause than these that are hard and fit. Unfit and soft horses that sweat much under the saddle are liable to what- really amounts to an erythematous condition of the skin, which may not make its appearance until some t'me after unsaddling, if the back is exposed to the air or sun, while still sweating. To avoid this it is desirable either to follow the o'd-fashic.ncd practice of loosening the girths, but allowing the saddle to remain on until the back

anols, or the ■ more trtodetn method of tiuickly drying'the back, slapping it with the gat of the hands to restore the circulation and then blanketing until it has dried off. Should, however, the back, in spite of this treatment, become puffy and swollen, it should be dabbed with some astringent lotion which should be allowed to dry on. Any excoriation, however sight, should receive prompt attention and its cause sought for a*d removed, for such injuries are not fortuitous in their occurrence, but due to definite and preventable causes, such as sweat caked and dirtv pannels. faulty stuffing, loose girths allowing t,he saddle to rock, etc.’

No. wins. Horses. £ s d Lord Derby 35 17 40.257 10 0 In France t> t 33.495 4 0 Lord Astor 12 °7 30,321 0 o Lord Dewar -30J 15 18,715 0 o The late Mr F. Curzon 5 S 16,999 0 0 Lord Durham 13 8 13.736 0 Lady Sykes 20 13 13,492 0 0 Mr C. W. Sofer Whitburn 3'. •? 13,026 10 0 Mr S. B. Joel o -A 19 12.523 0 o Lieut.-col. G. Loder GJ r. 11.904 0 0 Mr J. B. Joel 17 14 11,400 0 0

Year. Lots Sold. Yield, Guineas. Average G uineas. 1919 1920 623 - . 709 431,590 516,916 692i 729 1921 . . 679 355,549 52?. ’ . . 722 367,470 509 1923 1924 - . 744 - . 712 369,821 470,219 497 B30 A 1925 1926 1927 . . 731 . . 748 564,259 545,016 771 J 72SJ

No. wins. Horses. £ S d Buchan 371 20 45,955 10 0 Hurry On 281 19 40,888 16 0 Phalaris 291 15 39,351 10 0 Gainsborough 35 19 22,347 0 0 Pommern 321 23 21,627 10 0 Abbots Trace 361 17 20,548 0 0 Galloper Light 21.'. 16 19.757 0 0 Grand Parade 401 21 17,249 0 0 Gay Crusader 301 14 16,474 0 0 Son-in-Law 28 21 14,946 0 0 Friar Marcus 33 2 1 12.249 0 0 Prince Galahad Zu 19 10,190 0 0