RACING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 55

RACING.

FIXTURES. September s.—Marton. September 13, 15. —Wanganui. September 19.— Manawatu Hunt. September 22.—Ashburton. September 22.—Napier Park. September 22, 24.—Avondale. September 27, 28.—Geraldine. September 29.—Pakarangi Hunt. September 29.—Hawke’s Bay. October 6.—Ku row. October 6.—Carterton. October 6, B.—Auckland. October 11, 13.—Dunedin Spring. October 13.—Masterton. October 20, 22.—Wellington. October 20, 22.—Gore. Octobei 20, 24.—Waikato. October 22.—Waverley. October 22.—Waikato Hunt. October 22.—Waipawa. October 22.—North Canterbury. October 25, 27.—Poverty Bay. October 27.—Banks Peninsula. October 31.—Birchwood Hunt. November 1, 3. —Dargaville. November 3,5, 7,. 10.—N.Z. Cup. November 14, 15.—Winton. November 17, 19.—-Cromwell. NOMINATIONS. September 4.—Ashburton. September 10.—Geraldine. September 14.—Dunedin. September 14.—Kurow. HANDICAPS. September 11.—Ashburton. September 14.—N.Z. Cup. September 17.—Geraldine. September 24.—Kurow. September 29 —Dunedin. * ACCEPTANCES. September 18.—Ashburton. September 24.—Geraldine. September 26.—Kurow. October 5. —Dunedin. TALK OF THE DAY. By Sentinel. MEASURED BY MONEY. The ruffled plumage which has been displayed because the Auckland Racing Club’s representative suffered defeat in the election for seats on the executive committee of the Racing Conference will no doubt be smoothed down by the announcement that the votes have been declared null and void. No doubt the next election will result in the Auckland Racing Clt.b securing direct representation on the executive" committee, but even if another failure has to be recorded, there is not the remotest chance in the world that the interests of racing in the Auckland district . will be allowed to suffer. The sportsmen composing the Racing Conference and representing the general interests of racing are not men of parochial ideas. Naturally, they strive as far as reasonably possible to work in the interests of their own districts in the way of race dates, which have naturally become a .most important matte/ through the country suffering from an overcrowded Racing. Calendar. Any representative has to state a very good case to •' effect a change of dates or cause an infringement on those of another club. The Dates Committee is composed of representatives of each district committee, who carry out the duty of fixing dates without favour or infringing on what might be. termed the established rights of any club. Apart from the dispute between the Waikato Racing Club and the Waikato Hunt Club over the right to the Labour Day date, no change of any great importance has been made in the Racing Calendar, except that of shifting the Auckland Racing Club's spring meeting so that it would not clash with the New Zealand Cup meeting. The interests of breeders and owners demanded the change ever since the death of the late King Edward VII made November 9 an ordinary date on the calendar instead of a public holiday. It is now possible for the owner of a high-class nr three-year-old to run in the A.R.C. Welcome Stakes of lOOOsovs, the Auckland Guineas of 1500sovs, the Mitchelson Cup of 2000sovs, and other good stakes at the Auckland spring meeting and still have ample time to run in the <New Zealand Cup of 2000sovs. the Welcome Stakes of 70'Jsovs, the New Zealand Derby of 1500sovs, and other inducements hung up at the Riccarton -''spring meeting. It stands as the most important change made in the interests of owners and breeders, but it took many years before the Auckland Racing Club consented to study the interests of owners rather than its individual welfare.. Some readjustment of minor meetings may have been necessary, but only a blind parochialism would support a clashing of fixtures which would be_considered ridiculous in any other part of the world. The failure of the Auckland Racing Club to secure representation on the executive of the Racing Conference _in an election subsequently declared illegal at Rast served one good purpose—it served to’ draw out" the fact that in the north there is a tendency to commit the unpardonable sin of measuring sport by money. They certainly did , bang the big drum and sound the loud timbrel over an. election which, after all, taerely proved that'the Auckland Racing .Club’s representative was not particularly 'popular. The , members, of the conference -..should have undoubtedly considered the, Club and not the individual. In any case, the Auckland Racing Club could not possibly suffer. It is a club of supreme im-

portance. It is a club of supreme wealth. It has said so in a loud voice. Because it is the richest club in New Zealand it became pained in its dignity owing to an imaginary slight. “We give the big stakes, we have the big totalisator turnover, and so we want/’ etc., etc. They blatantly measured their importance by money. Could anyone conceive a more ridiculous idea of sportsmanship? According to some ideas held in Auckland, the man with the biggest- bat is the best batsman and the owner with the longest purse is the best sportsman because he can buy up all the prospective and real champions in sight. Auckland is just as rich in real sportsmen as any other part of the world. Unfortunately, some of its champions lack the right sense of sportsmanship. Its racing- wealth is, however, due to a geographical fluke, and hence it is extremely bad taste to rattle the purse as a protest against what could only be a ti’ansient pain in dignity and not a loss of real power and- importance. SOME PROMISINC SORTS. " The two-year-old parade which took place at Wingatui on Saturday attracted a lot of attention, and everyone suspended further interest in the card until the youngsters had their eye-openers to the crowd and unaccustomed sights of a racecourse on a busy day. The youngsters were spiit into two divisions, and in the first Blue Metal and Nedda, who are both well forward in condition, came away from the others. Blue Metal is a wellgrown youngster by Paper Money from 80-peen, by Bezonian—Sheperdess, and so belongs to the same family as Windbag 80-peep won the Welcome Stakes/so that Blue Metal has speed on both sides of his pedigree. Nedda is a compactly-built filly by Paper Money from Micl.aela (winner of the Stewards’ Handicap), by Rokeby—Jessie Lewars, by Stepniak— Merisette, by Medallion—Huguenot, by Apremont. This filly has plenty of pace, and should prove an early winner. There is a great wealth of speed in her pedigree, as Apremont sired five consecutive winners of the Welcome Stakes. Medallion, Conqueror, and Gold Medallist each represent great speed. Stepniak sired four consecutive winners of the Welcome Stakes, and two' others who scored in the same race. Paper Money has got some particularly speedy gallopers who won early in their career. Another of the first division was Pink Sunrise, the half-sister to Pink Note“and a sister to Pink Terrace. The second-division served to introduce the “ best of the bunch ” in If old Tinge, a well-grown and nicely-fur-nished youngster by Paper Money from Vicereine, by Birkenhead —Roie, by St Leges or Captivator—Hippona, by Robinson Crusoe. Hippona is the dam of St. Hippo, who won the Auckland Cup and New Zealand Cup as a three-year-old. Most of the others will.be served by time and as the youngsters, with one exception, were all supplied by local stables it was a very creditable representation, lhe Paper .Money—Vicereine gelding will be shipped to Sydney at the first available opportunity, and allowed to take his place in engagements at the A.J.C. spring meeting.

THE OTAGO HUNT MEETING. The Otago Hunt Club has succeeded in making its annual race meeting a verypopular gathering with the"racing public, and its fixture has now become established as a welcome break in the off season at Wingatui which exists between the early part of June and the Dunedin spring meeting held in October. Anything which serves to break the monotony of a dull period, from a racing point of view, is always welcome, particularly with those who principally confine their attention to local meetings. In the future the Otago Hunt Club will be able to issue a fairly attractive programme from a financial point of view, and one can see visions of prize money going with a two-year-old parade. This year a good field of youngsters could have been obtained, and as it will be possible in future to return to the four-furlong distance, the idea of a two-year-old race on the progi amine may be worthy of consideration Failing that, it may be a good idea of presenting a trophy to the winners in order to infuse further interest into the parade. Most people, of course, object to the early racing of two-year-olds, but a two-furlong sprint is quite permissible at this time of the year; particularly as some of the youngsters have proved forward enough to do strong work over twice that distance. An exceptionally fine winter has been a great assistance to trainers in helping the preparation, and the risk of establishing a rqce is due to the fact that possibly there may be plenty of youngsters about, but owing to unfavourable weather they may not be ready to race. They have races for two-year-olds at the Wanganui spring meeting, and the well-endowed Avondale Stakes is run about mid-September. The Otago Hunt should consider the advisability of stretching the , conditions attached to the Hunters’ Hurdles so that hack hurdlers would also be eligible to ftih. A handicap would, of course, help to balance the class. Last week’s card provided some very interesting sport, and every event on the programme required winning, and without any loitering, on : the journey on the part of the winners. The club has been fortunate in being able to obtain the services of Mr D. C. Jolly as honorary

starter, and under the inspiring example of the president (Mr B. S. Irwin) the stewards all do valuable work contributing to the general success of the meeting. EDUCATION. Horses are sometimes beaten by/lack of knowledge and judgment on the part ot the trainer and rider rather than by lack of racing merit. It is not infrequently noticed that a horse is going good work on the track, but always, as they say, on the bit.” Hence they are asked to race on expectations based on false grounds, because commonsense knowledge shows that “on the bit” business has to be discarded in a race. A green horse working on the bit is apt to be completely upset in the hustle and bustle of a race. Every horse should be taught to gather speed quickly and also be ridden out occasionally for a few strides at the end of a gallop, otherwise they get lost by being handled in two different ways. They are nursed in a gallop with a stablemate and are apt to become unbalanced when out against real rivals when carrying the colours. It is frequently stated that this or that horse will improve with a race or two, but the reason why that is so may not be due to improved condition brought about by a race or two or a sharpening of speed, but because the horse had been taught by experience of racing what it should have learnt on the training track. A horse may be upset and show an unaccountable less of form in a ia.ee, and it might be traced to what some would consider a matter r.f small importance. Many years ago a friend of the writer put a goodly bundle of money on his horse, as he regarded the race next door to a certainty. Home came the horse, } )U t a . mon g s t the also started division. The rider said his mount would not take hold and gallop at any part of the race. The reason why was discovered. A change of bits had been made with a new bridle and a thickish bit replaced by a much lighter one. The horse in consequence did not appreciate the change, and the different “ feel ” in the mouth of the horse was responsible for a down-in-the-mouth owner and his friends. At Wingatui last week a horse that had been doing good work on the track, but always on the bit, appeared to have a chance in a race. He failed to show up, and the fact was probably due to lack of education rather than ability to gallop.

THE TURF REGISTER, A copy of the New Zealand Turf Register is to hand, and, as usual, contains full reports of all the racing which took place in the Dominion during the past season. It also contains statistics, the amended Rules of Racing, racing fixtures, and tables of past winners of the principal events decided in New Zealand. A list of the principal blood stock sales, entries for classic races, and- other useful and instructive information all help to make it an indispensable book to those who take more than a superficial' interest in racing. PRIZE MONEY. In 1927 the values of the five English classic races were as follows:— 2000 Guineas (£2lOO added) —■ ..

The Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park has now £l5OO added by the executive, lhe remainder of the prize money (says an English writer) is found by the owners. In 1927 £12,203 went to "the winner, £9OO to the second, and £l5O to the third. The breeders of the first three horses received £5OO, £2OO, and £lOO respectively. In U.S.A, in 1927 to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico £lO,OOO were added by the executive. The winner’s share amounted to £10,620, and the second received £lOOO, the third £6OO, and the fourth £4OO. To the Kentucky Derby the Kentucky Jockey Club added £lO,OOO. The winner received £10,200, second £l2OO, third £6OO, and fourth £2OO. Both these races were contested in May. The following month at Belmont Park the Belmont Stakes (one mile and a-half) was run. The winner’s share amounted to £12,142, while the second received £l5OO, the third £6OO, and the fourth horse £2OO. The most valuable handicap in the world is the Coffroth Handicap, run at Tijuana. In 1926 the executive added £13,000, and the winner received £14,140. In 1927 the . added money was £15,000. In, 1928 it will be £17,000. The biggest amount ever added to a sweepstakes was the huge sum,, of £20,000, allotted to the American Derby, contested at Homewood, Chicago, in 1926. This ■face was worth . £17,800 to the winner, £2OOO to .the second, £lOOO to the third, and £4OO to the fourth.

In Australia the biggest prize is the Melbourne Cup, to which the Victoria Racing Club adds £lO,OOO. Starters for this race pay £75 each. In 1927 the winner received £10,198, the second £2OOO, and the third £lOOO. In England the most valuable stake for two-year-olds is the National Breeders’ Produce Stakes, which in 1927 Was'worth £5407 to the winner, £lOOO being added by the executive. In U.S.A, in 1927 the Belmont Park Futurity Stakes was worth £18,358 to the winner, £2120 to the second, £ll6O to the third, and £2OO to the fourth. The winner of Pimlico Futurity, run at Maryland, received £10,662. 'This race in 1928 will have £BOOO added by the Maryland Jockey Club, and the Belmont Futurity £5OOO. BIG FENCES. Regarding the subject of big fences and comparative absence of fatal falls, it is worthy of note that during its 89 years’ existence the Liverpool (Aintree) Grand National Steeplechase has not been responsible, allowing for the huge fields which start annually, for many severe accidents to either horses or riders. This (Aintree) country is possibly the biggest in the world; indeed, on walking round it (says a correspondent of the Australasian), some of the fences, notably that at the old “ distance chair,” appear to be unjumpable. Insufficiently schooled horses have very little chance there; and, though falls and other incidents are numerous, comparatively few are fatal. Years ago fences in England were raised and the open ditch introduced to discourage the running of badly schooled horses. One does not want to play off the English system of steeplechasing against that of Australia, but we in Australia might occasionally allow our minds to react to experience gained there. The open ditch would, of course, be entirely out of place on an Australian jumping course, but the experiment of raising our brushed fences on all courses might be worthy of a~-trial. It would be interesting to know the proportion of falls to the number of runners and the proportion of severe falls, in steeplechases at Flemington, before the country was cut down. All my remarks are based on the assumption that fences generally are lower than they were, say, 25 or 30 years ago. Old Turf Registers show that there was plenty of incident in jumping races in the old days. Many of the present-day falls would be more correctly reported as “ lost rider.” Possibly the “ short leathers ” affected by most present-day steeplechase riders may be responsible for this.

IN THE SIXTIES. In the spring of 1868 A. L. Gordon was in great riding form, and few riders of the present day have approached the performance he did at the Melbourne Hunt Club meeting held at Flemington. Those were the days before the fences were lowered. What made them so formidable (says a- writer in the Australasian) was that they were not brushed on the take-off side to give horses a chance to measure their stride. Gordon began the day by winning the Hunt Club Cup -on Mr Herbert Power’s Babbler, then lie lode Viking to victory in the principal race, the Metropolitan Steeplechase, and finished the day by winning the Selling Steeplechase on- Cadger. The following month, at the Cup meeting at which John Tait produced Glencoe, who won five races in four days—Cup, Spring Handicap. Four-year-old Handicap, All-aged Stakes and Queen’s Plate—Gordon won the two steeplechases bn Viking and Inglesides. lhen, going on to Ballarat, he captured the Ballarat Steeplechase on Babbler, and on the second day he ran second on Inglesides. Tom Corrigan won three jumping races in one day at the Grand National meeting in 1881. This was in the days of the Loughbn-Wilson-Corrigan combination. Corrigan won the first three races on Handy Andy (Maiden), Sir Peter (Grand National Hurdle Race), and Great Western (Maiden Steeplechase). That great horse Sussex (Batty) beat him on Twilight m the Grand National Steeplechase. The double Sir Peter and Twilight was looked upon as a certainty, and 6 to 1 was freely taken about it. A WORLD DEBT. In a recent article I drew attention (says the Special Commissioner of Sporting Life) to the fact—made available by the Statistical Abstract published by the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association—that all the big winners in the Argentine, Austi alasia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, ano France in 1927 were of British blood, and I now propose to continue with the chief winners in other countries. In Germany Contessa Maddalena was an unbeaten two-year-old with eight -races to her credit. . By Landgraf, she sounds rather foreign-bred, but Landgraf was by Louviers out of a Ladas mare, whilst her dam, Cresta, was by Polymelus out of Chain Stitch, a daughter of St. Serf from a Common mare. Then Mah long, the winner of the German Derby and the Grand Prize of Berlin, was by. Brunns (Dark..Ronald),?.and Oleander,.-.who ■ woh the Prix Gladiator and"the • Grand ' Prize of Badeh>:wns by. the same ■—and was out of Orchidee 11, a daughter

of Galtee More out of Orseis, by St. Serf out of Orsova, by Bend Or. Torero is the other to find a place in the Abstract. He is by Fervor, who was by Galtee More out of Desmond’s own sister Festa, and is out of Tonga, who was by Fels (out of Festa) out of Theodora, by Trenton out of a Bend Or mare. The Hungarian Derby winner Buvesz is a grandson of Raeburn, whilst the Austrian and Hungarian Oaks winner, Parola, is full of Galopin blood The two winners in India whose pedigrees are tabulated are Jingle and Nightjar, the first of whom won races in this country and the other in Ireland before being exported. Coming To Italy, Claverhouse won two races worth 111,500 lire. Here there is a son of Hurry On out of Verve, a daughter of Velocity, the Cambridgeshire winner, from Valve, the dam of \ aucluse and a half-sister to Cicero. Claverhouse was bred by Lord Woolavington, and was sold by him as a two-year-old for 840gns. Cranach, who won six races to the value of 501,500 lire, is by Cannobie out of Chuette, a Cicero mare from a daughter of Carbine, that was bred by Mrs Bailey and was sold to go to Italy in 1920 for 5000gns, whilst the highest winning two-year-old—Erba—and the Italian Oaks winner, Francavilla, are both by Havresac 11, a grandson of St. Simon, and have British blood on their dam’s side as well. The next two mentioned are Muci and Nesiotes. Muci is by Tetrameter out of Pearl Maiden, by Phaleron, and was bred at Lanwades by Mr Sidebottom and sold by him as a foal for OOOgns, whilst Nesiotes, who was successful in the Bremio del Sempione, is a son of Hurry On out of Catnip, by Spearmint, a mare that was sold to go to Italy in 1918. Still another Englishbred one is Silfo. A son of Flying Orb’s, he was bred by the executors of Mr E. Mitchell, and was out of the Cylgad mare, Scilly Queen. He came up at the same sales as Muci—December, 1924—and made 150gns as a foal. From Italy to Rournania is not a far cry, and here in the Roumanian St. Leger winner, Musat, was a grandson of Collar, as was Nuhtas, who was successful in the Arcului de Triumf, whilst Maltezi 11, who won the Derby and the Prix Jockey Club, was a great grandson of Carbine and was inbred to St. Simon. Rather further afield, in South Africa, the pedigrees given are those of Asteroid 11, Hussein, and Vibration. Asteroid II won the South African Derby, and claims Polystone (Polymelus —Battels) as his sire, and is out of Lode Star, a granddaughter of Minting out of Southern Star, by Pearl Diver, a son of Master Kildare, Vibration, the Jockey Club Stakes winner, is also by Polystone, whilst Hussein was bred at Tickford Park by Mr Donald Fraser, and is by The Vizier out of Preference, by Pericles. Lastly, there are the winners in the United States. For years now th-wo h-><s . n sc it of concerted antagonism upon the part of writers in the American papers to British stock, but a glance at the 14 pedigrees clearly proves that even now they cannot do without our horses. Of the 14, two —Brown Bud, a winner of seven races, and Handy Mandy, who was successful in the Latonia Derby and Oaks — were by Brown Prince 11, a sor of Dark Rona’d. Brown Bud, in addition, being out of a Myrani (Flying Fox) mare, whilst Handv Mandy’s dam was by John o’ Gaunt out of a daughter by Galeazzo, who was from Lady Chancellor, by Bona Vista. Then Justice F., the sensation of 1927, is an English-bred, son of Abbots Trace out of Icemond. Foaled in the paddocks of the late Mr Ben Irish, Justice F. was sold at the December sales of 1924 as a foal to Major White for 800gns, and was exported to the States in the following year-. As a three-year-old he ran upon 13 occasions, winning six races, including the Tijuana Derby: was second twice, and third once, ending the season with 38,125d0l to his owner’s credit. This season he has won his first three races, and is a walking advertisement to Lora Dewar’s horses in America. Possibly I have stressed the supremacy of the British thoroughbred too far, but the pessimists and the anti-British breeders have been busy lately, and a few facts may do them some good.

IN A NUTSHELL.

Ranui is to be retired from the turf. J. B. Pearson has secured a lease of Solferite. Lochella has again failed to stand up to a preparation. . The Tractor mare Puff has been sent over to Australia. Nylotis won comfortably when he captured the Otago Hunt Cup. The weights for the New Zealand Cup are due on the 14th inst. Noteworthy is booked as a sure starter in the Dunedin Guineas. Nominations for the Ashburton Racing Club’s meeting are due to-day., Mr_ P. Delargey has purchased the Rangitero gelding Valuator. : ; Nominations for the . Dunedin -Spring meeting are-due bn. September 14. - \ - ■'Set -Sail ’and : -Lucy-Loeket ' are coming on nicely in their work at Wingatui,

Tiiki just missed in the attempt to give Royal Wink 3511> in the Brookville Steeples, There are plenty of two-year-olds about to supply good fields of first season horses this year. At the second July sale held at Newmarket bloodstock made 113,804gns during four days. . The avoirdupois allowance is frequently responsible for missing the goods weighed at the troy measure. The. Oaniaru trainer, J. Ross, landed the double at Wingatui on Saturday with Meadow Lark and Taboo. The Wellington Racing Club paid £42,208 4s lOd in taxation last season, and 37,13050 vs in stakes. Some riders, seem anxious to catch an early train, and hurry their mounts in such a manner that they “ miss the bus.” All Pink, the dam of Pink Note, returns to Paper Money this season, and Pink Terrace, the half-sister to Pink Note, also goes to the same sire. Pink Rose was made a short-priced favourite for the Hunters’ Flat, but he failed, although not far from the money at the finish. Silver Paper, who’won a good “trial” when scoring in the Vauxhall Handicap, is engaged in the Dunedin Guineas and New Zealand Derby. Paper Money received a good advertisement by the manner in which his stock shaped in the parade at the Otago Hunt meeting. Battlement has commenced to shape well on the track, but after leading in the early part of the Jockey Club Handicap faded out when the pressure -was applied. Eaton Bells was travelling well in the early part of her race last week, and the fallop should help to sharpen her up for uture engagements. The small field seen out in the Hunters’ Hurdles at Wingatui last week suggests that the conditions should be stretched to include hack ” hurdlers. Phaster will be found improving on the form he displayed in his race last week He is a big long-striding gelding that only requires experience to win races. A recent addition to F. Shaw’s team is the two-year-old filly by Valkyrian from Galli Curci. by Potoa—Polly Perkins, by Freedom —Modesty, by Tasman. Battle Colours is fancied in some quarters for the New Zealand Cup. It is rather early to express a fancy before the weights are declared. Footfall and Paperchase are both in good trim for another preparation. Paperchase will very probably show improved form this season. Silver Paper was always travelling better than Narrative in the Vauxhall Handicap, and outstayed her at the finish. Battle Maid showed a lot of pace in the Vauxhall Handicap, but settled her chance by running out at the home turn. She should prove useful during the season. King Sol was generally considered over-weighted in the Hunters’ Flat Handicap, but he proved to be just a shade the best of a bad lot. It is reported from Sydney that Roscrea’s win in Sydney was the successful medium of a good plunge by some punters who no doubt were lucky to gather inspiration from some source or other. At the annual meeting of members of the Australian Jockey Club one member stated that there was a tremendous leakage at the gates of the Randwick and Warwick Farm meetings. Two prospective rivals in Limerick and Mollison were winners at Warwick Farm on Saturday last. A meeting between them would be one of the most interest jng races of the year. Pink Terrace has failed to stand (mother preparation, and has been booked to Paper Money. All Pink, the dam of Pink Note and Pink Terrace, pays a return visit to Paper Money. A well-informed Melbourne snorting writer says that the Sydney people have never yet seen the best of Gothic. He thinks the great miler is a better horse on Melbourne courses than in Sydney. The death of Cross Battery is reported from Australia. She was bred at the Elders! ie stud, and a good winner. In Australia she produced Artilleryman, one of the best three-year-olds ever seen in the Commonwealth. Prince Humphrey had to strike his colours to the two Australian cracks Mollison and Romulus in the Hobartvilla Stakes. The form suggests that he is near the front rank class and one of the best of his age. It is reported from Australia that Mr F. Earl. K.C.. of Auckland, received 2000 guineas for the three-year-old gelding Perception, who was got by Psychology from Amyrin. The Stud Book does not show that Amyrin was ever bred to Psychology. Although Miss Winkie was well fancied for the Jockey Club Handicap, she had' none the best of it on paper with Taboo on their form at the Grand National meeting. The figures were, however, overbalanced by form in the saddle. After a strenuous campaign, Tuki, who appeared to be over-weighted in the Brockville Steeples, just failed to give 3blb to Royal Wink over a distance in which the latter looked sure to beat the top weight for speed. Old and experienced heads cannot be placed on young shoulders, and every youngster has got to learn. That, however, is not sufficient reason to entrust youngsters with important tasks in the saddle when their schooling generally proves costly to punters. The death is reported from Australia of Cross Battery, the daughter of StepniaL who won the Great Easter of 1906. She was taken to Australia by Mr H. F. Nicoll ® om P' ln y with Sea King, and sold, in Melbourne. Cross Battery was the dam of Artilleryman, . who won the Melbourne Cup of 1919 in runaway style. Mr J. B. Reid’s mare Punka 111, with ®~ Kre Y oa l a t foot by Sinnatus, wae offered at auction on July 16, and went out of the .ring, unsold when the bidding reached 3000gns. Punka 111 produced Black Watch, who ran third in the Derby. Mr Reid received 1050gns for Temple-

Vane, a mare by Juggernaut, 170gns for Chatterbox by Sir Berkeley, and 210gns for Legality by Noblesse Oblige.

There was a two-year-old parade at Hastings between races, when 11 were sprinted down the straight in two divisions. In the first division Hunting Day, from J. H. Jefferd’s. stable, a chestnut colt by Hunting Song from Gay, led Admiral Drake (Chief Ruler—Tame Duck). In the second division Head Serang (Chief Ruler—Chemise) led Lordlike (Lord Quex —Lady Delaval), False Scent (Hunting Song—Crisis), and Ex" Dono (Ocre —Bess Laddo). Silver Paper put up a good performance when he won the Vauxhall Handicap, in which he gave away a year to Narrative, who represented recent winning form. They turned into the straight together. and it was thought tthat racing condition would stand to Narrative, but the three-year-old was not to be denied, and he outstayed the Solferino mare. Silver Paper put up an excellent performance. He was a good two-year-old. and promises to do better in his second season, as he showed speed and stayed on at the right end of his task. The New Zealand Cup winner of 1924, Sunart. was hunted recently, and he registered a creditable performance in the open steeplechase at the Manawatu point-to-point meeting at Te Matai. He has trained on encouragingly since then (says an exchange), and he is standing up to his work so well that another attempt will be made to race him. At Awapuni he jumped boldly over a round of the hurdles, and if he remains sound he should give a good account of himself in hurdle races.

There are many States in America where there is no racing, but, despite that, the prize money distributed in that country from January 1 to June 30 of this year totalled £1,200,000 —not dollars. Charles E. Crossman, who knows his subject, recently made that statement, and added that the distribution for the concluding half of the year would probably exceed that amount. Many races carry substantial added money, hut there are some of importance, in which owners’ contributions greatly exceed those of the clubs.

The Banker has been the medium of some Melbourne Cup business, but, as Mr O. Falkiner rarely underrates the chances of any horse he owns, I do not know that much importance attaches to the move for the New Zealander (says “Pilot”). He has reached an age at which not much improvement can he expected of him, and, as he could not gain a place with 8.12 two years ago, I do not think he will succeed this time with an additional 21b. The last aged winner of the Melbourne Cup was Acrasia, in 1904.

Jockeys are supposed to earn as much, if not more, than a Prime Minister, but apparently (says a Melbourne writer) this is not the case with F. Cameron, who during the past season was at the top of the winning list for South Australia. He gave an interesting account of his earnings in the Adelaide Insolvency Court recently, showing his liabilities to be £450 and assets £56. Cameron gave various, reasons for his predicament. Dealings in land was the principal cause of his insolvency. He stated that his earnings as a jockey from 1924 to 1928 were £2966.

The late Mr J. B. Harcourt was president of the Wellington Racing Club for. 26 years. If a club can strike a good president it should stick to him, although seme think it should be an annually rolling office. In America they spend millions trying to push a man off the presidential throne every now and again, but after all it is better and cheaper to leave the king we know, because '■years of acquaintance teaches a man how to hold the reins, whereas when he is only temporarily on the box seat a fear exists that he will not crack the whip of established authority. Special gallops were allowed at Randwick just before the last mail to hand left Sydney. One of the best recorded one morning was put up by Ti-Tree. who won four races and also gained three placed performances out of 11 starts last season. Ti-Tree was got by Tea Tray from Taiamai. by The Nut—Lady Molly, by Aurum. who was Trenton’s hest son arid probably the best Musket line racer ever known, but unfortunately comparatively useless at the stud. The bestlooking yearling sold last January in Wellington was a brother to Ti-Tree. purchased by Mr A. B. Williams. Kerb goes to Last Dart this season. She has a particularly fine foal by Tea Tray running at Wingatui under F. Shaw's charge. Kerb may prove a good producer, as she was got by Markhops from a Martian mare. Markhone was a beautifully-bred horse representing the 1-est line of Barcaldine through Hurry On from a sister to Persimmon, Diamond Jubilee, and Florizel 11. Kerb is still a young mare, and might in the next season or two be booked with advantage to the best horse of the St. Simon line procurable.

A recent cable from Sydney stated that the fall of three horses running in a race was due to one of them getting on to the heels of another. The writer has always declared that the bulk of the -trouble caused in races stands due to the fact that Tod Sloaners cannot see where they are going in a race. At Wingatui on Thursday morning, D. P. Wilson was standing on the track'whilst one of his horses was working. As the horse approached he several times waved to the rider to shift his line of march on the track, - but if David had not nimbly stepped out of the road an inquest would probably be a sporting item of the near future.

A double totalisator would be a great draw at Sydney meetings (says “Pilot”), but at the A.J.C. chairman pointed out at last week’s annual meeting it would cost a lot to install. . Another thing against it from a club’s point of view is that it would often lock up a lot of money that might-be invested on intervening races.. The fact of so many bookmakers indulging in double betting. at suburban meetings is fair proof that there is money in it-for them. Of course they get struck, but at the prices they lay they would be particularly unfortunate if they suffered to any extent. Personally I would like to see a double tote operating at Sydney meetings.

When the Duke of Portland bought Carbine privately for 13,500 guineas in JS9S, h , ls ob i ect in taking the great son of. Musket to England was to mate him with daughters of St. Simon, which were then accumulating Welbeck stud paddocks. Carbine aid fairly well on mares of the Galopin strain, though his outstanding success in Great Britain was to get Spearmint from a mare who was entirely devoid of that blood. It has always piqued (says “ Snowden ”) the curiosity of students of breeding that the success of Carbine on mares of St. Simon i °°o W c, s . a wa Y below that achieved by St. Simon on mares of Carbine (or Musket) stirps. Why this should have been so is far from obvious.

The Scotch trainer, J. M Guigan, was greatly impressed by what he saw on his recent visit to Australia and South Africa, and since his return to England has evidently been voicing himself to the effect that, in .respect of racing, the Old Country could with advantage copy the younger ones. Referring to this “ Augur ” recently wrote as follows in London Sporting Life: “Johnny M’Guigan is so full of praise of the appointments and the conveniences at every course he went to, and so convinced that, notwithstanding the different conditions which prevail here—company promotion instead of purely club promotion, and so on—the racegoing public could be much better catered for. the argument that management over here is becoming out of date needs a deal of countering.” While another attempt is to be made to legalise the totalisator in Victoria, many Tasmanian owners are clamouring for the licensing of bookmakers in their State. It is considered probable that another attempt will be made to get legislat on favourable to bookmakers through the Tasmanian Parliament. New Zealand once let the bookmakers back, and then threw them out again. If Tasmania gets bookmakers it will be interesting to note whether racing is any better off with two betting mediums or the totalisator alone. Presumably chances are against the bookmakers getting a footing in Tasmania, as, unless they are taxed very heavily, the odds are against the Government getting as much revenue from “books” and “tote” as from the “ tote ” without bookmakers. We have had some old horses competing in Australia (savs a writer in an exchange), but I do not know what would be said of an owner who brought a horse back to racing in circumstances similar to that related in Collyer’s Eye ul y. A. wire in that paper from Illiopolis, Illinois, and dated July 13, is as follows:—“ Said to be the oldest racehorse in the Middle West if not in the United States, Dr Kelly, favourite of Central Illinois turf followers for a quarter of a century, returned to the track on July 4 after a six years’ rest. He was sired 28 years ago by Dr Kelly, another with an equally illustrious record. To prove that there is yet considerable speed m the veteran his owner allowed him to compete in a race that was part or a July 4 celebration here.” Years ago it was customary for bookmakers to open doubles books on the Derby and Melbourne Cup almost from the moment the weights made their appearance for the Cup. But that form of wagering has died out. Nevertheless it is possible to back one’s fancy for the Derby now, and a surprisingly good price is offering against Mollison (remarks an Australian writer). To what extent this colt could be backed at the pr,ice it is difficult to say, but there appears to be little doubt about Mollison seeing out the Derby distance amongst his own class. He is doine nicely in his preparation, and should he win the Hobartville Stakes, as appears fairly certain, then the price that is now - offering against him in the Derby is likely to shorten a little. A few years ago a colt who was subsequently well in the limelight was backed in the winter for the Derby, the owner accepting a wager of something like £6OOO to £lOOO. The wager proved a winning one. Some of our sporting ancestors left a heap of trouble behind through neglect to record the breeding of their racing stock. lor that reason Silver Paper does not figure in the Stud Book. His lines in tail female can be tracked through the Turf Register and in the issue of 1892-3 Mountain Maid, to whom Silver Paper runs back, figures as a -winner of several races. Silver Peak, the dam of Silver Paper, was got by Adjudge from Oblong by Obligado from Mountain Maid, by Perkin Warbeck 11. Adjudge was got by Blackstone from Invicta, by Gipsy Grand —Emmeline, by St. Clair—Lady Emma. Blackstone was got by Grafton from Consistence, sister to Melos, who was one of the rivals for glory when racing against Carbine, Aberrcorn, and company. It is hoped that further information about Mountain Maid will be found with another search through reports of the racing when she was on the turf.

Some little while back a young trainer asked the writer why horses become broken-winded. A few mornings back a likely sort of a young two-year-old that in all probability money could not buy was cantered twice round at Wingatui, ani came along a bit stronger each time whei. travelling up the straight. The young ster has a longish coat, and after working was brought back to a stall and a canvas rug thrown on over it. The youngster was tied up and left standing in the stall. Naturally, it would chiH and so become laid open to all the troubles that could come its way. Once unon a time a horse, old or young, was carefully rubbed down and cooled out after working. Because something goes wrong under the conditions indicated, people blame the sire, the dam, the weather, the tracks, bad this and bad that, .but not the lack of common-sense knowledge on the methods of the trainer. If the New Zealand trainer F. D. Jones had any doubt regarding Roscrea’s galloping ability, it was surely dispelled in the Three-year-old Handicap at Rosehill, says the Sydney Herald. Fourth at the half mile, Roscrea moved into third place approaching the turn, and when given his head in the straight he simply bowled ahead, and won easily by three lengths. He also rap the seven furlongs in a time two seconds outside the Rosehill record for the seven furlongs. Had he been seriously challenged over the last furlong or so.he would no doubt have registered muck better time. According to Jones, Roscrea and Arikiwai are giving

him some trouble with their legs. Both are susceptible to soreness, but since their advent Roscrea has won his race, and Arikiwai has pleased by the manner in which he disposes of hig tasks on the track. The trainer does not anticipate any serious consequences, but probably they did not run last Saturday.

In his annual address to members the president of the Waikato Racing Club (Mr G. W. Vercoe) dealt with the question of the club’s property. He said that as regards the club’s surplus land, the committee was watching for an opportunity to dispose of it. It was confidently hoped €hat with an improvement in conditions generally a demand for sections would again be created and that the time was not very far distant when sales would be effected. The club’s property comprised 298 acres, and was purchased at £lOO per acre. Of this, area 34 acres were sold, and averaged £241 per acre. A further 26 acres had been valued by two competent valuers at £350 per acre, and this area contained some of the best building sites in the district.- The mortgage to the vendors, which has been renewed for five years at 64 per cent., now stood at £21,408 10s 6d. Against this there was an amount of £3153 Is 9d owing by the purchasers of sections which, when paid, would reduce the mortgage to £18,255 8s 9d. The club had some 80 acres still to be sold, and that at the conservative valuation of £2OO, should realise £16,000. From this it would be seen that when the surplus land was disposed of the mortgage would be considerably reduced.

ContriWinner. Second. Third. of buted by Winner. Owners. £ £ £ £ £ 10,915 600 300 9,815 1000 Guineas (£1050 added) — £ £ £ £ £ 9,660 600 300 9,610 Derby (£3000 added) — £ £ £ £ £ 12,615 400 200 500 10,315 Oaks (£2000 added) — £ £ £ £ £ 9,410 300 100 400 7,910 St. Leber (£4000 added) — £ £ £ £ £ 13,280 400 200 500 9,980