TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 51

TALK OF THE DAY.

By

Sentinel.

THE DUNEDIN SPRING MEETING. The Dunedin Jockey Club was very unlucky in connection 'with its spring meeting at Wingatui. Bad weather necessitated two postponements and the going became so heavy and with such remote prospects of improving that several visiting horses were sent home without waiting to fulfil their engagements. These included horses that were sure to attract good support, and their absence made a considerable difference to the turnover on the totalisator. The scratching pen was also freely used on others figuring on the. card, and a meeting which looked full of promise and prospects of success consequently became considerably deprived of the original interest it carried. A number of visiting racing men also returned home without waiting for the meeting, and altogether the club’s unlucky star was in the ascendant. The bad luck experienced becomes doubly serious, as the club’s affairs have not been too prosperous of late, and for the balance of the season will require all possible assistance. When the meeting finally started there was a pleasing change in the weather, although it did not last for the full card. The opening events were got off in sunshine, but mild showers were falling for the two concluding races on the card. The state of the going and the weakened fields did not inspire courage to bet, and the totalisator returns showed a shrinkage on last year’s figures.

The M'Lean Stakes, the etar attraction of the card drew a very fine field, which under favourable circumstances would have proved one of the most interesting races for' two-year-olds ever seen at Wingatui.. It did supply a good race, although the heavy going found the youngsters showing a disposition to stop and f'hift ground when under pressure. The field was mostly composed of a lot of w’ellgrown and attractively-bred youngsters that promise to play a prominent part on the turf. It is a matter of regret that the race was not decided on top of the ground and so supply a more reliable line to future possibilities. Still, Fair Weather ■won under difficulties owing to being carried out at the finish by Lochlaggan, and also by the fact that he had met with an accident on the previous Wednesday which reemlted in him being a doubtful starter. Fair Weather inflicted a rather bad cut below the knee when in the sand roll, and his presence in the field was really due to the postponements giving him a chance to recover. His pedigree is referred to elsewhere. Lochlaggan did not begin too well, and had to make up a good deal of ground over the final three furlongs. She is a shapely filly, a bit on the small side, got by Woodend from the well-performed Glentruin, the imported daughter of Sunflower II and Castelline, by Cyllene. Hula Belle, who finished third, is an Australian-

bred filly by r Beau Filo—Maxwelton, by Sir Dighton—Annie Laurie, by Charlemagne ll—Scotch Annie, by Grafton. Hula Belle had an interrupted preparation for the race, as she has been suffering from a poisoned leg. Grecian Prince, who finished close up fourth, is an Australian colt got by Polycrates from Black Tea, by Demosthenes —Voetgang, by San Fran from Ngaio, a sister to Tortulla. Song Box, w’ho made the early running with Fair Weather, is a well-grown chestnut filly got by Hunting Song from Toy Box, by Cyntor—Charwoman, by Signor—Charmian, by St. Ambrose—Success, by The Officer. The next past the post was Last March, by Last Dart—March Off, by

Markhope—Officious, by Finland —Busybody, by Apremont. Ruling Pen (Chief Ruler —Penella) and Cricket Bat (The Ate —Equipment) are both likely-looking sorts that failed to show up, but they will both improve on their first displays in public.

THE TIMARU MEETING.

The postponements which had to be made in connection with the Dunedin spring meeting tends to crowd the local fixture with the South Canterbury Jockey Club’s meeting, which will be held on Thursday and Saturday of this week. The Wingatui meeting is not concluded at the time of writing, but it is necessary to take a glance at the acceptances for the Timaru meeting. The acceptances will supply good fields, and at present 13 stand their ground in the Timaru Cup. Town Major is liable to be rehandicapped, and any serious increase in weight seems blocked by Starshooter, who won the Kurow Cup, for which he

was handicapped at 11b from the Barcarolle gelding. Starshooter and Town Major look likely to be most in demand, unless others engaged show improvement. A good field is engaged in the Flying Handicap, and has to be considered with an open mind, because form at the final day at Wingatui may upset preconceived ideas. On his form at Kurow with Compensation, First Raid ie sure to be supported, and Silver Coot has his winning form to recommend him, in addition to the fact that he will be coupled with Noteworthy. Ranelagh was in winning form at the Grand National meeting, and both Rin Tin Tin and Caterpillar should be improved by their racing at Wingatui. Altogether it promises to be an interesting race, and the order of favouritism may be First Raid, Rin Tin Tin, and Silver Coot. In a short distance hurdle race Pangolin is hard to beat, and will no doubt start first fancy for the Otaio Hurdles. Painkiller and The Geisha may make most appeal of those engaged in the Spring Stakes. Lord Thomond, Charmeuse, and Al Jolson will find support in the Tycho Hack Handicap. Appeal won last season as a two-year-old. and this should give him sufficient pull in his favour to find most friends in the Maiden Plate, and Silver Salver may improve on the promising form he displayed at Geraldine. Assemble, Royal Love, and Night Effort are most likely to be backed in the Kerrytown Hack Handicap, and Academy may be selected to prove the best of the lightweights.

A LIKELY SORT.

JThe M'Lean Stakes winner Fair Weather is a well-grown gelding bred at the Elderslie Stud, and picked up cheaply at 250 guineas as a yearling. He is bred on very attractive lines, and got by Weathervane from Victory Bond, by Paper Money from Kilberry, by Kilbroney —Success, by The Officer—Content, by Dreadnough—Lullaby, by Apremont— Hammock. Weathervane has forced himself into notice by the number of winning representatives seen out in this season. He was got by Lemberg (Derby. Eclipse Stakes, Doncaster Cup) from Vain Air, by Ayrshire (2000 Guineas and Derby) from Vane, a sister to Flying Fox. Ayrshire was got by Hampton, a great stayer, and sire of four Derby winners, and whose name always represents great value in a pedigree. Weathervane is a beautifully bred horse full of strains representing winners of all the English classics, and as a result of his almost immediate stud success a keen interest will be taken in his yearlings going under the hammer in January next. Fair Weather as seen above traces to the Hammock taproot, which has been a prolific source of winners. Amongst them are Conqueror (who for many years held the half-mile record at 46 1-5), Daydream (crack two-year-old of her year, and the first high-priced horse sold to go to England), Dundas, Sommeil (Welcome Stakes). Somnus (Champagne Stakes), Siesta (Welcome Stakes), and other good winners. It is a family mostly noted for speed, but some of the tribe could stay. Fair Weather’s win is a pleasing one in other directions, because it marks the success of a set of colours—red and light blue cap—registered by Mr A. N. Smith, who is a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club.

A DERBY FAVOURITE. The great racehorse and sire, Sir Martin, died recently in America. He was bred in 1906. by the Futurity winner, Ogden, from Lady Stirling, by Hanover. He was the greatest two-year-old winner in 1908. He was then shipped overseas and was the only American horse that ever started favourite for the English Derby. When going like a winner rounding Tattenham Corner he fell, but he registered some great performances later. He won the Durham Chaiienge Stakes, the Coronation Cup, was second in the Rous Memorial Stakes and the Grand Prix de Tourville. He was third in the July Cup and the Cambridgeshire. At the stud in England he sired horses which won in four different countries. The horse was then re-purchased by his breeder, the late J. E. Madden, and taken back to America. He was a half-brother to Sir Barton, the great- horse which ran in a memorable match against the mighty Man o’ War. Until Gallant Fox equalled it Sir Barton

held the record as the only horse-to win both the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. Sir Martin had another distinction. He was the only horse that Mr Madden would not sell when his stud at Hamburg Place was being dispersed in 1926. In his will Mr Madden provided that Sir Martin, of all the horses he owned at the time of his death, was the only one that was to be retained ajnd pensioned off at Hamburg Place. The horse is buried in a plot of land set aside as a cemetery for horses (a sort of Westminster Abbey), whose deeds in life entitled them to a final resting place (says the Thoroughbred Record) fittingly kept and appropriately marked. Among those which have been admitted to this select cemetery are Star Shoot, Ogden, Lady Sterling, the famous trotting mare Nancy Hanks, Miss Kearney, dam of Zev, and Princess Mary, dam of Flying Ebony.

TRANSPORTING HORSES.

For some reason or another, racing people have been labelled as “ conservative,” not that the political significance of the word is implied, but rather alleged dislike and prejudice against change and hatred of innovations. It is not fair, however, to say that the turf has stood still during the passing of the years. There are so many instances to the contrary; nor has the dislike of innovation and new methods ever been more than surface deep. It is indeed a better turf from many points of view than the turf our forefathers knew. There is, for instance, the starting gate, the totalisator and strict control; while breeding has become a more exact science, in place of the rather haphazard methods the oldtime sportsmen employed. In dealing with the turf and_ its history (says

a writer m tne i’ieicij, we are apt to forget the truth of the old adage that “ distance lends enchantment to the view.” The accounts of sport in the old days make entertaining reading, but they often crowd the true perspective. Although there was good sport in the past, there must have also been many discomforts to endure. Chief among these must have been the question of transport from one meeting to another. That has always been one of the thorns in the flesh of owner, trainer, and breeder alike. Before the introduction of railways, horses

walked from meeting to meeting, each horse with his clothing on his back, with his liveried lad at his head, and the trainer (or “ training groom ” as he was more generally known) on his cob. Such was the method of the old time, which set the old highways a-smoking with the dust, and the good folks to their thatched cottages to discuss, say, Derby or St. Leger form. In the forties of the last century horses began to be transported by rail, although earlier, Lord George Bentinck had created a considerable sensation by transporting Ellis from Goodwood to Doncaster in a horse-drawn van for the St. Leger, which that good horse duly won. Later, Mr William I’Anson had a similar van constructed to transport Blink Bonny to Epsom from Malton for

my youth I saw that van at Malton, where it was used as a cricket pavilion. It may be still there, and undoubtedly it was the forerunner of the motor horse-box of to-day. Nowadays, however, at any leading race meeting you will see the motor horse-boxes lined up, ready and waiting to take the horses home to Newmarket. Lambourn, Manton, or even farther afield. In this respect, petrol has triumphed over steam. The railway companies, as a general rule, have always been as helpful as possible, but transporting horses to and from race meetings had its risk and penalties. Many horses did not travel well, they sweated and “ funked ” on the journey, often they had to stand for hours in a cramped position, and more often than not the railway

station was some distance from the training quarters, entailing an extra journey by road. Often, too, horses—youngsters especially—were frightened by noises, shunting, whistles, and other railway noises. All these did not tend to improve their nerves—in fact I can recall one particular case where a filly was so badlyfrightened that she could under no circumstances ever be persuaded to enter a horse-box again, and, of course, this is by no means an isolated instance. It was once a stable axiom that if a horse “ propped,” or refused to enter a horsc-box at the first time of asking, then he would not win that time out!

The motor horse-box has changed all this. The trainer can start at a later hour nowadays; he knows that unless the untoward occurs, his horses will travel comforably to the meeting, and, more important still, he will be able to get them home directly after racing. All these mean much to the owner who has valuable horses, to the trainer, whose worries are considerably lessened, and last, by no means least, to the horse itself, who is spared those long weary hours of waiting and standing. So has the motor car, indirectly, benefited the horse, and there is no reason why it should not continue for the mutual benefit of both.

DERBY WINNERS. Derby winners cannot be produced to order. It is just as well, because if it were merely a matter of money, a monopoly would be created. Breeders of limited means would become discouraged and give up the unequal fight. The charm of breeding is, to some extent, in its uncertainty. No one can command success. Millions have been spent in England in pursuit of Derby honours without buying the desired result. In Australia an owner has more than one chance of classic achievement in the season. Still many of our most prominent turf men have been denied the pleasure of gaining Blue Riband distinction. But (says “ Fern-

hill”), like genuine sportsmen, they go on striving year after year in the hope that the luck will change. While some breeders and owners are doomed to disappointment fortune has been lavish in its* Derby favours in exceptional cases. It was remarkable that for the greater part of his racing career James White could find a Derby candidate worthy of the name, and he won several of the classics of his time. All did not come from his own. paddocks. Chester, Trident, Bargo, and Nordenfeldt were pur-

; chased on his behalf, but it cannot be denied that the Kirkham stud, which Mr White conducted, had a wonderful run, turning out high-class gallopers with great regularity. The late Mr W. R... Wilson also got into the right line at St. Albans, his record in a comparatively few years being a highly creditable one. In those days St. Albans could be looked to for a topnotch three-year-old. There came at short i intervals Carnage, Strathmore, Wallace, Aurum, and Bobadil. to mention only a few that the stud sent forth in a decade. They were not all Derby winners, but there could be no doubt about their class. In the case of Kirkham and St. Albans, the success achieved was due in a degree to enterprise well directed, but other breeders have made similar effort only to meet with reverse time and time again. Breeding is a lottery at best. The element of chance must always be senI ously considered. Results in one season j may place the most despised mare in the stud on the lists as the dam of the best horse of his year. _ It has happened before, and will again. Much, however, can be done by adhering to methods that have previously proved sound. It is the only guide to follow with any measure of confidence. The example of Kirkham. St. Albans, and other studs that claim a high place in Derby records, may still be worth heeding. Their main object was stamina, with, of course, also a helping of speed, and turf history speaks in no uncertain voice of the outcome.

IN A NUTSHELL. After being idle through a bruised heel, Coon Song is again in work. When recently priced in Sydney 4000gns was asked for the Catmint colt Sargon. It is reporfed that Prince Humphrey continues to stand up to training. The crack English lightweight rider, Gordon Richards, is said to make over lO.OOOsovs a year.

The price wanted for Sargon was quoted at 4000 guineas when an owner asked a question in that direction. Grecian Prince shaped promisingly in the M’Lean Stakes, and will do well when more seasoned to the game. This year’s Winton Cup will carry a trophy valued at 20gns, which has been presented by Mr J. B. Thomson. The French horse Epinard, after doing well at the stud in his native land, has been sent to America.

Mr A. B. Williams has sold the Leighton gelding Vandyke to Mr H. Lynn, of Auckland.

yhe Derby winner Blenheim is booked for the stud in France, and- a fee of 400gns has been placed on his services.

The New Zealand Cup candidate Prince Palatine could not act in the heavy going at the Auckland spring meeting. The Grand National Steeplechase winner W iltshire is now owned in partnership by two sons of his former owner.

Cricket Bat appeared to get cut out at the rise of the barrier in the M’Lean aiid did not show up during the race.

Hula Bell has experienced an interrupted preparation, and under the circumstances did very well to gain a place in the M’Lean Stakes. The withdrawal of Nightmareh from his Caulfield and Flemington engagements will bring the son of Nightmarch into favour for the New Zealand Cup.

The _Legionnare colt Commandant, who cost 750gns as a yearling, is expected in some quarters to prove a really good three-year-old.

Weathervane and Woodend, sons of Lemberg, who wonthe Derby, Doncaster Cup, and Eclipse Stakes, sired first and second in the M’Lean Stakes. Two men employed in the totalisator at the Calcutta racecourse were arrested and charged with the theft of 15,000sovs, the proceeds of a meeting held on August

Chrysology may prove that Desert Gold can produce a racehorse. He was on the fringe of good form as a two-year-old, and may add to his recenf winning effort as a three-year-old.

Jaloux, Praise, and Greenaway were taken home prior to the Dunedin meeting as a result of the bad weather, which spoilt the going. Star Shooter was also taken north without waiting to fulfil his engagements.

Pink Paper has been eased up owing tl? striking himself in a gallop. The Paper Money gelding was coming on nicely, and a brief spell should soon see him right again. An English writer claims that the crouch seat is equal to 51b off a horse’s back. That may be so, but the way some of our riders use it is equal to an extra stone on the back of their mounts. The A.J-C. Gimcrack Stakes winner Bassanton was got by St. Anton (son of St. Frusquin) from La Bassee, by Pistol—Free Toil, by Grafton—Liberty, by Loehiel.

•T. Metcalf is still laid up with the leg injured by a fall at New Plymouth about two months ago, and it is anticipated that several weeks will elapse before he gets back to the saddle.

Gloaming’s pilot. G. Young, is again riding winners at the Sydney meetings, and coming back into the limelight just when his champion stands in danger of suffering an eclipse to his record. Gloaming will probably be ousted from his position as the biggest stake winner in Australasia by the results of the racing at the Caulfield and Flemington spring meetings.

The racing at Timaru this week should prove interesting because good fields are engaged, and contain several well-bred young horses that may prove troublesome to others with exposed form. The Limond—Waterwings colt Zetes, who cost 2400gns as a yearling, is still in the paddock, and may remain there for another year. The costly youngster failed to stand training. The Catmint colt Sargon, who w’on the Members’ Handicap at Randwick, is a brother to Catkin. Their dam Hukapapa was got by Snow King from Marie Odile, by St. Amant. Quickfirer, who won the Sydney Handicap in 2.31-1, is a five-year-old chestnut horse got by Claro from Black Battery, by All Black from the New Zealand-bred mare Cross Battery, the dam of Artilleryman.

§ong Box is a well-grown chestnut filly that showed a good dash of speed in the M’Lean Stakes. She was in the front with Fair Weather all the way, and only faded in the last few strides. She looks

sure to make good before very long. Cragford, ! the winner of the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, traces back to Sunningdale, a Hampton mare brought over from Australia by the late Mr D. O’Brien. Sunningdale produced Cavalry and Calibre to Light Artillery. Painted Screen, the dam of the A.J.C. Breeders’ Plate winner Movie Star, is a mare by Leighton from Valvote, by Feramorz from Shrill. Mr W. L. Stead bred Movie Star, but sold him prior to the win at Randwick.

Quickfirer, who won the Sydney Handicap, is a grandson of Cross Battery, whom Mr H.’F. Nicoll took to Australia. Cross Battery produced Artilleryman, a Melbourne Cup winner ranking as one of the best three-year-olds ever seen in Australia.

Far too much use was made of Gustavo

in his race on the first day at Wingatui. This looked suicidal with a horse on the big side in condition, but nevertheless he hung on and beat Rire when the latter made up a lot of lost ground. Gustavo was conceding Rire 231 b, which was a big margin to give one of his own age. The A.J.C. Gimcrack Stakes winner - Bassanton was got by St. Anton — La

jßasaee, by Pistol—-Free Toil, by Grafton •♦—Liberty, by Lochiel—Scandal. Gloriole, who finished second, was got by Heroic from Gloaming’s sister, and Ranier, who filled third place, was got by Rossendale from Royal Pet, and ranks a sister to Rampion. The track and atmospheric conditions must have been about perfect on Wednesday la t when Phar Lap Avon the Craven Plat • ; nd established a new record of 2.3 without being fully extended at the finish. A mde and a-half in the Sydney Hardie, p was run in 2.31 J, and the Suburb.-:i Handicap saw a mile cut out in 1.37.

Riri, th? three-year-old brother to Chide, Was: a certainty beaten on the first day at Wingatiti. He got badly away, and at the end of a furlong was standing up Qustavo fully eight lengths or more, and then had him busy at the finish. Gustavo was, however, made too much use of in the early part of the race, and the fact did not help him to stay on. _ ChieL Light (Chief Ruler—lllume) and Irish Chieftain (Chief Ruler—Sprig of Erin),,who were both, withdrawn from the M'Lean Stakes owing to the heavy State of the going, are both likely-looking sorts, They shaped well in a sprint over three furlongs after arriving at Wingatui, and would, apparently, have run well if started at the meeting. Not many daughters of Paper Monev nave been sent to the stud, but they promise to prove good producers when retired to the paddock. Paper Money is out of a mare by Eager, the sire of Glomings dam, and also has a strain of SunS'line, to whom a host of good stayers and sires of stayers trace their origin. Ihcsc include Martian and Positano. A - Newbury (Eng.), the Autumn Cup, run in August, of two miles one furlong, was v. ;1 in rather easy style by the 1’ rem i-br;d horse Brumeux, by Teddy (.sc., of the Flying Fox horse Ajax), from L i Brume. by Alcantara 11. He won by a lev Hi pud a-half from the Irish gelding Ve- Virklcw, with Show Girl half a lengPi _. arthcr off. Thirteen ran, the winner b.ii-1 .i hot favourite. Tow i Major has always shaped like a stayer, .-.nd a though he did not look in particu.arjj- good shape when saddled for the Mo.-ri e ] Handicap, won full of runir.n al the finish. In fact, he should sc;, e ui < :sses over more ground. His 1 _.ed:: •: has been referred to before, but w ! : i.' i i repetition. Town Major was uq. ■ nice Willonyx from Barcarolle, by .. .tian —Grand Opera, by Gipsy Or;:> I. "id goes back to Mermaid. Bar- • i a sister to Soldiers’ Chorus, Tai. ::i r. Cherubini, and Rossini. Loeb,::- ran did not do well after arriving at \. mgatui, and hence her display ’■i j)’ ’, M”Lean Stakes is all the more even t;.;.’". She did not begin well, and Tan in the ruck in the first furlong, but finished on well, although boring out when underpressure. Loehlaggan reminds one of her dam Glentruin, but is not built on such generous lines. Igggan was got by the Lemberg horse VV ood End from Glentruin, a winner of the Stewards Handicap on two occasions, MiildJe Park Plate, Hazlett Gold Cup, Hawke s Bay Stakes, and other races. The means whereby Newmarket, the headquarters of English racing, came to acquire its name is hidden so far back in the -past that only conjectures can be ottered. A London writer suggests the most likely as being that based on the tact that 100 years ago the plague raged eq severely at the nearby village of Exmng that the wiseacres decided to find another site for the market. Little would they have dreamed that this selection of a home for barter and exchange .would come to have a special significance for horse-lovera the world over. In the early days of the A.J.C. Derby, owners found the whole of the stakes, there was no added money, the race being a sweepstakes of £3O each, with a forfeit of £5. In respect of minor placemoney, the conditions read: “ If more than 20 subscribers, the second horse to receive £6O from the stakes.” In 1884 added money was, for the first time, made a feature of the race, the amount being £5OO, with a sweepstakes of £3O each. There were four starters that year, the Hon. J. »» nite providing first and second in Bargo and Tremando in that order, and the other two, Cairngorm and Nepicallina. were owned by Mr A. F. Smart. . One of the most popular betting doubles in England is based on the Cesarewitch ;■ <1 Cambridgeshire. This year the Bet- ; ■ -;g Control Board ran a ten shilling i f able, and accepted bets at any meeting ■ in with a totalisator. In the event of no I t being taken on the winning combination the pool was. to.be divided equally amongst the combinations which included either of the winning horses. A refund was made to backers whose horse did not start in the Cesarewitch, or on a horse scratched for the Cambridgeshire before a certain date. Ten per cent, was deducted from the pool, and the Betting Control Board has announced its intention of running a daily double in connection with every meeting. Some of the Australian bookmakers who recently visited England, combined business with pleasure, and did some fielding. “ There seems as much money in England as ever for racing,” said one of the Sydneyites who put on the bag. “It is not unusual for some of the big men to hold up to £3OOO or £4OOO on a race at an ordinary meeting, and I know of one instance where the turnover of one prominent layer reached over £7OOO at one of the leading tracks. Racecourses do not suggest depression in England. At most of the courses the books have been moved from their old positions in order to give the public more accommodation, so in one way the, changes caused by the tote have improved, things for the average racegoer.” New Zealand or New Zealand-owned horses have a good record in the Australian Jokey Club’s Breeders’ Plate, the big race for two-year-olds on the opening day of the spring meeting. The first occasion that it was contested saw a win for . Bonirorm, and since then Ventura, Beragoon, Almoner, Nincompoop, Gold Tinge, and now Movie Star, have added their names to the list. Movie Star was bred at Flaxmere by Mr W. G. Stead, and is ... a chestnut gelding by Lord Quex from Painted Screen, by Leighton from Valvate, by Feramorz from Shrill. He joined A. D. Webster’s team at Otaki last May, and was taken over when Webster left. No doubt his success would be freely an-, ticipated, for he had shown a lot of promise prior to departure. Movie Star is engaged in the Wellesley Stakes on

the opening day of the Wellington spring meeting this month. In a recent issue of the London Sporting Life there was a comparison of totalisator dividends, and bookmakers starting prices for favourities from March 24 to July 26. The days of racing totalled 61, and the number of races 818. Of these 325 were won by first favourites, and 164 by the second favourite or joint second favourite. In prices of winning favourites the books led the tote 114 times; the tote beat the books 189 times; and in 22 races they were equal. In repect of winning second favourites, the books beat the tote 56 times; the tote beat the books 99 times; and they were equal nine times. The books’ average price for first favourites worked out at 16J to 10; and that of the tote 19 to 10. In winning second favourites’ prices, the tote averaged 4 to 1 to the books’ 7 to 2. In many cases, however, the average price for the whole of the business done by the hooks about a favourite would, owing to market fluctuations, be higher than the tote return.

Mr J. D. Gleeson, new Q.T.C. chairman of stewards, recently arrived in Brisbane to take up his duties as from October 1. Coming from Victoria, Mr Gleeson will find conditions very much more difficult for stipes in the northern capital than down south. Admission of the. press to all inquiries, and the right of persons charged to have legal representation at inquiries and appeals, are conditions strange to a man coming from another State. Unless the chairman of stewards happens to be a man with a fairly keen legal mind, and a quick thinker, used to being cross-examined he ■will have a worrying time, particularly at appeals. The conduct of stewards’ inquiries in Brisbane is governed by Act of Parliament, so that something more than a keen knowledge of racing is required. Where a steward is in a position to mete out “ bush justice ” in other States, he must be very sure of his ground in Queensland before acting. Mr Gleeson is a thoroughly capable man in a racing sense, and he can rely upon able support from other’ Brisbane stewards in the leading part of his difficult job.— “ Vedette.”

Craganour, the 20-year-old bay horse that was first past the post in the Derby of 1913, has died in Buenos Aires. The race for the Derby that year was brimful of thrills. Craganour was disqualified for boring. He finished a head in front of Aboyeur, a 100 to 1 chance, but a protest was upheld. Referring to the race, London Sporting Life says:— “ The stewards interviewed the judge and several jockeys who rode in the race, and found that by not keeping a straight course Craganour had at one point of the race seriously interfered with Shogun, Day Comet, and Aboyeur, and had afterwards bumped Aboyeur, so as to prevent him winning.. An appeal was lodged on the following Saturday, but the stewards were unable to entertain it as it was not lodged within the time prescribed under the ‘Rules of Racing.’ It was in this race that a serious accident occurred, brought about by a suffragette, who ran across the straight. H. Jones, rider of his Majesty’s colt Aumer, was incapacitated for a considerable time; in fact, it contributed to his retirement from the saddle. Frank Wootton rode Shogun in the race referred to.