TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 53

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

Sentinel.

AUSTRALIANS ABROAD. New Zealand-bred or owned horses have cut a fairly wide swath on the Australian turf in recent years, but the invasion has not been altogether one-sided, because several bred in the Commonwealth stamped their names freely and prominently in the racing records of the Dominion. In fact, some of the best performers ever seen in New Zealand were bred in the Commonwealth. Tasman, the winner of the first New Zealand Cup, was bred in Tasmania, and Hilarious, the winner of the first C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, hailed from New South Wales. That great performer Nelson was bred in Victoria, and includes three Auckland Cups, a Wellington Cup, a Dunedin Cup, and several other good races in his record. Occident, Lady Emma, Tempest, Gipsy Grand, and Ghoorka, who all rank as winners of the Dunedin Cup, were bred “ across the water.” Sou’wester, Captain Webster, Bundoora. and other old-time performers of note in their day came across from Australia to enrich the New Zealand turf, and in more recent years we had Biplane, Gloaming, Achilles, and now Laughing Prince, to show that the Commonwealth can produce something

of the champion class. Gipsy Grand was a champion who unfortunately had his turf career cut short by an accident. It would probably be impossible to find one as good_ as Gipsy Grand in training to-day in this country, and a brief glance at his record might prove interesting. He was a big massive two-year-old, but nevertheless won twice, including the Dunedin Champagne Stakes. As a three-year-old he developed a strong tendency to bore out, as a result of being continuously worked on the outside of the Forbury Park track, and wanted to travel over the same ground when racing in his second season. Gipsy Grand suffered defeat as a three-year-old, but principally because he became more than a handful to manage in his races. He started favourite in the New Zealand Cup, in which he finished a close third, a result due to running out of the course all the way. Gipsy Grand was beaten over five furlongs in the Juvenile Plate on the second day of the same meeting, when he again started favourite. The same fault saw him defeated in the Otago Cup, and after winning the Onslow Plate with W. Pine up, he again proved unmanageable with H. MTlroy when racing in the Glasgow Plate. Gipsy Grand did not appear again until the Dunedin Cup, in which be could not be held back to the field, and won by “20 lengths in a canter ” from Skirmisher, Dilemma, and Saracen. At the same meeting Gipsy Grand won the Forbury Handicap; 1£ miles, from Saracen and Barmby, and when saddled up again for the next race won the Marshall Memorial from Saracen. This brief reference to form does not give any real idea of Gipsy Grand’s racing merit, as at that stage of his career he could win galloping away from really good handicap horses Gipsy Grand was then taken north to run in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, but never reached the post, as he wrenched a fetlock through putting a foot in a hole or treading on a stone, and never raced again. He then joined the Elderslie stud, and developed into a tremendous big massive horse, but never did much good as a sire. Some idea of the opinion held about Gipsy Grand can be gathered from the fact that the late Mr G. G. Stead bought several yearlings by him, and although he won the New Zealand Cup with Grand Rapids and races with another in Bagpipes, Gipsy Grand never sired anything within gunshot of his own racing merit. He did sire Grand Opera, the dam of Soldrer’s Chorus, Tannhauser, Cherubini, Rossini, and some fillies who were comparatively poor on the racecourse, and to-day his name is practically unknown both as a sire and a great racehorse.

A STATE LOTTERY. In New Zealand the desirability or otherwise of instituting State lotteries is a subject on which there is a wide diversity of opinion. The same conflict of views exists in England, and the Spectator recently awarded a prize of £5 5s for the best statement for and against a national lottery. The winner wrote as follows: “Gambling is but one portent of that acquisitive instinct common in man. and it is psychologically true that to a greater or lesser extent all men are gamblers born. Up to now all cultural effort to rid man of this instinct has failed; yet each time the suggestion is made to legalise gambling by introducing a national lottery, gambler and antigambler comes into conflict. With all their disputing, the moral question of whether it is better to give freedom to instinct, or risk the possibly evil consequences which psychologists tell us follow when instinct is suppressed, still remains unsettled. Many of us are content to leave it so. Economically considered, gambling is a luxury. A luxury less taxed than any other in a country where all luxuries are taxed which is of particular import when governments are bothered to raise fresh revenue without putting further burdens on vital industries Limited to course and credit betting a tax appears unprofitable; but a lottery bureau at several points in each town would bring to the tax-gatherer millions who formerly were beyond his reach. If gambling is good because it satisfies an instinct natural to man, it should be put to advantage. If it is bad. it should be brought intoi the light and controlled, not allowed to flourish under cover of a doubtful tolerance. A national lottery might not solve the whole problem, but it would at least regularise some • of the existing evil in regularities. It would help, too, to clean up some, of the undesirable features attaching to that greatest of all gambling mediums, the sports field. It might at least be tried and judgment suspended until results are known, results which might be quite.different here from those known to various Latin countries.” THE GERALDINE MEETING. The Geraldine Racing Club’s annual race meeting will come up for consideration on Thursday and Saturday of this week. The idea of extending the meeting to Saturday is not likely to contribute to the popularity of the fixture, particularly at a time when there is a slump in the market. In fact clubs should be compelled to extend their meetings over as little time as possible if the cost to owners is to be a matter worthy of consideration. The acceptances are not

due at time of writing, but the fields seem sure to be of good numerical strength. This is, in fact, a drawback to the success of the Geraldine meetings, as the narrow track and starts near turns makes the luck of the draw for position and the run in a race a matter of much importance. Starshooter won the , Ashburton Handicap rather comfortably, and in the Geraldine Cup will, including a re-handi-cap of 111 b, carry only an extra 21b on what he won with on Saturday. Still the field in the Geraldine Cup promises to be rather stronger than at Ashburton, as it may include Black Duke, Town Major, High Court, and others that can gallop. High Court has been nicely treated, as he is easily the best-performed horse in the race. He may not, however, be quite ready after his journey from the North Island, and many may deem it safer to follow winning form, and so elect Star Shooter favourite. Next to him Black Duke and Town Major are likely to be supported. Charmeuse was in good winning form at the Grand National meeting, and, although eased up since, should be able to run a good race in the Squatters Handicap with 7.7, and they may select her with Sleipner as the most dangerous m the race. If The Geisha is ready to run she would be fancied for the Ohapi Hack Handicap, but it is a race that can be safely left until the declaration of acceptances. First Raid is meetJ°se on 101 b better terms in the Belfield Handicap than at Ashburton, but e main thing to be considered is the fact that the mile start takes place near the turn out of the straight. It is in a bad position, and unless a horse gets well away a double handicap has to be faced. Apart from the two named above Desert bong and Topere may receive support. Haze should benefit by his experience at Ashburton, and the fact will bring him into favour for the Hurdle Handicap, m which Gay Fashion and Pangolin wil] not be overlooked. Assemble, Some Toff and Mount Boa may be amongst the popujar picks in the Raukapuka Handicap, but a change of opinion may crop up alter acceptances convey a better idea of the strength of the fields. - MORE FROM AMERICA. After his surprise defeat by a rank the crack American three-year-old Gallant Fox has completely rehabilitated himself by winning the richlyendowed Realisation Stakes at Belmont Park. Long Island, and bis winnings now amount to the huge sum of £63.500, a record for the New World. The honour of being the world’s largest stake-earner belongs to the French horse Ksar, with winnings and place-money nominally wo’’th £67,068, but as this total was amassed in inflated francs, the merit of the achievement is open to question. However, Gallant Fox will have the opportunity during his four-year-old career of making his supremacy unchallenged, for his owner (Mr William Woodward), according to a New York report, intends to send his colt to Europe to meet the best of England and France in as many of the big events for which he is eligible. A few noteworthy victories on foreign soil, it is explained, would not only add to the I huge money earnings of the “ Fox of I Belair,” but would considerably enhance i his prestige, and increase his value as a sire. After a year of campaigning abroad, he will be retired to the stud at Belair Farm, near Baltimore.

The particular mission of the son of Sir Galahad 111 and Marguerite will be the Ascot Gold Cup. Mr Woodward is sending Gallant Fox during the present autumn so that he will have plenty of time to become acclimatised in England. He will start racing in the spring. The wealthy sportsman already has a sizeable string of thoroughbred horses performingin England. His The Scout 11, another son of. Sir Galahad 111, won an impressive victory a couple of months back at Lincoln. He had earlier been listed among the popular choices for the English Derby at Epsom Downs, but in that race he finished outside the money. Few American stallions have rung up signal successes both at home and abroad. If Gallant Fox should manage to win the Ascot Gold Cup, on top of his many stake victories in the United States as a three-year-old, he would attain an anehallengable position in the thoroughbred world, and retire to the stud supreme. It is said that “ Sunny Jim ” Fitzsimmons, who trained Gallant Fox for all his American stake victories chia year, will not accompany him abroad. In all likelihood the trainer of Mr Woodward’s European string will take over the champion. Gallant Fox’s invasion of Europe wil] follow the lines of Reigh Count’s trip two years ago Reigh Count was sent abroad by the Hertzes with a view to capturing the Ascot Gold Cup. Although he failed, he ran second to the winner, Invershin. APPARENT LAXITY. What’s all this jostling coming to if the stewards don’t soon find a culprit? Jack Cameron has .Goshawk over from New Zealand, and in his last two starts has put nearly £lOOO on him. Nobody can compute how much more punters and the public have invested. Probably some £15.000 or £20,000. Yet at each start Goshawk has been put out of the race by interference. The first time his jockey was simply hoisted out of the saddle, and dropped like a useless bundle. Next

time, all the skill and caution of Jim Pike couldn’t get him safely through. What’s it all going to end i n - . If the A.J.C. stewards can’t occasionally track down the evildoers (says a Sydney writer), or the incompetents who cause this interference, then racing.might as well be run without control. Possibly the Rosehill instance was difficult. Goshawk was running in the ruck when suddenly his jockey was hurled from the saddle, and Goshawk came home riderless. It happened at a position where the stewards would find it difficult to trace the offender. Yet it is the tMk of the town that this incident was the result of a vendetta between two jockeys. Of course, the stewards can’t be slated for not getting a conviction when they into this case. Jockeys, though they may be at each other's throats during a race or away from a racecourse, won’t squeak when they get before officialdom. It is the same silence as is observed in the underworld. Nobody must put away his rival, no matter what vengeance may be sworn against him in racing or any other sort of combat.

among the racing folk who mingle with the inner circles, surely the stewards can ascertain something that will put a stop to tins sort of thing. As we said, the Rosehill incident occurred at a spot where stewards would find it difficult to sue. t home the blame. And with jockeys refusing to tell what they know the investigators became powerless. They simply had to report that there was nothing to show the cause of the Goshawk accident. But the Canterbury interference occurred in full view of the stewards, and if there was one at the turn, that point of vantage should have enabled him to pick out those who with unscrupulous lack of consideration for the horses on the inside, and a total absence of fairness, bored in and put Goshawk almost over the rails. All who closely watched the race could hauenumerated the horses W’ho were involved m the crowding at this stage of the race. There weren't more than three, and if the stewards couldn’t pick out the offenders from these, then the hope of clean racing in Sydney is slender indeed. It simply means that unless cases like this Goshawk incident are cleaned up. racing descends to Rafferty rules. It wouldn’t be safe to back a horse unless, like Holdfast, he is capable of outdistancing his riyals, so that all fear of interference is eliminated. Failing the capacity to get ahead of those who might bear down on him and throw him or his jockey on to the rails, the risk in a betting plunge must become so great that not even a gambler can take it.

The curious thing about the Goshawk ease is that so far as their reports indicate, the stewards did not take official cognisance of the incident at all. Their report involved Rozener. Yet his was an obscure incident. Goshawk was a hot favourite, and the bumping he met with ar two separate points in the race was the talk of the racecourse. In _ fact, it was the most glaring thinj; seen in Sydney for some time. No doubt the stewards’ inquiry into the Rozener interference touched on the Goshawk matter, too, for Pike, Goshawk’s jockey, was one of those who appeared at the investigation to give evidence. But that they failed to mention the matter of the interference to Goshawk in their report to the press has created the impression that they did not see what happened, and, naturally, this hasn’t increased confidence in their control of racing. Their investigations led them to believe that E. Ross, rider of Gipsy’s Land, might have been responsible for the interference to Rozener, but owing to the conflicting nature of the evidence, they were not convinced, and so decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.