IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 4032, 23 June 1931, Page 50

IN A NUTSHELL.

Desert Glow pulled up lame after racing at Timaru. R. Beale broke a collarbone when Valves fell with him at the Timaru meeting. It is reported that Mr G. F. Moore has sold the two-year-old Belvoir to a southern owner. It is reported that the Stewards’ Handicap winner Autopay may be raced at the Sydnej' spring meeting. The Paper Money mare High Finance has been purchased by Mr W. Kemp, and may be retired to the stud. The Smuggler showed slight signs of lameness behind after racing at Wingatui, but is now right again. The. revised rules provide for a judicial committee of three or not more than five persons. .In the revised Rules of Racing provision is made for the replacement of riders in certain cases after weighing out. Taramoa and Cossack Chief are booked for Wellington this week to join Apache and Paris at Trentham. Barrington was handy to the leaders when he struck trouble at the second last jump in the Pakaki Hurdles. Mr J. Trengrove has placed his youngster by Last Dart —Fairy Rose in J. Crawford’s stable. Red Boa and Miss Redowa went on to Timaru last week, and will remain until the Grand National meeting. The price required for Cricket Bat recently is said to have been 2000gns, which went 500gns over the figure on offer.

Aladdin was pulling hard in the early stages of the Pukaki Hurdles, and after being with the leaders dropped back at the home turn. It is understood that one of Camieader’s front joints has been showing signs of trouble, and. this did not help his chance on the hard going at Timaru. Over the final six furlongs in the Pukaki Hurdles Troilus set a solid pace, and cut out the mile and a-half in 2.46 4-5. The King’s Birthday fell on Derby Day. In order to avoid a clash the King asked that the official celebration should be postponed to June 6. In addition to training Tuki for Mr J- M. Samson, P. T. Hogan has also the imported colt Lord Cygnus, belonging to the same owner. Limited was a strong tip for the Seadown Handicap, but, after making all the running, Mount Boa beat him handsomely at the finish. The Paper Money—Vicereine filly that ranks as a rising two-year-old sister to Gold Tinge is creating a favourable impression when she appears on the track. The French filly Brulette, who won mis year’s English Oaks, was got by Bruleur from Seaweed, by Spearmint— Seadown, by Ayrshire. The totalisator turnover in England from _ January 1 to May 9 amounted to £1,085,000, as compared with £760,000 for the same period in 1930. .The South Canterbury Jockey Club’s winter meeting was insured against loss, lhe policy was based on 20 points of rain falling during a period of six hours. The Paladin—Limelight filly Stately has trained on well since going to Sydney, and at the Randwick winter meeting carried 8.13 and won over a mile in 1.37 J. The response from ’owners to the M Lean Stakes, Champagne Stakes, and Dunedin Guineas make a pleasing list of entries, and as usual will tend to enhance the interest in the Wingatui meetings.

cAi CO °f le revisions to the Rules ot Racing, together with the business to eome before the Racing Conference to be held next month, is to hand and acknowledged with thanks. . Lady Pam is being kept in easy exercise Inis procedure produces much better results in spring racing than treating a horse to a spell during which condition is lost. L. J. Ellis suffered a good deal from a . blow* on the head after Topere fell with him at Wingatui, and it now transpires that he sustained a fracture of the skull. There was a good deal of money for Elude in the Novice Handicap, and he finished a close fourth. He is a three-year-old gelding by Elude from Tini Hangi trained by R. Longley. A loose bandage appeared to stop Craigmore from rising at the sod wall when he was leading the field in the steeplechase at Timaru. He chested the jump and shot H. Dalieu out of the saddle. At one time dashes over five furlongs were popular with owners, but judging by the recent response to races over the distance named, they seem to have dropped out of favour. The Oamaru Jockey Club has been struggling along in recent years, but the winter meeting set down for July 4 has met with such an excellent response from owners that success seems assured. Gallivantes appeared to be going the wrong way -when the barrier rose at the start of the Pukaki Hurdles. He lost nearly a furlong, and then made up sufficient ground to finish fifth. An inquiry was held into the cause of Silver Salver falling when running in the Novice Handicap. After investigation the judicial committee decided that the fall was accidental. The going was hard at Timaru, and this was perhaps the reason why Camisader did not jump so well as when schooling on the softer ground at Wingatui. The latest mail to hand conveys the information that the English Government decided to provide no facilities for a dismission of the Racecourse Betting Act Bill, which seeks to prohibit credit betting on the totalisator. The London Daily Mail ran an offer to pay 5000sovs to the person who could place' the first four in the Derby. An extra -lOOOsovs would be paid if the successful picker was a registered subscriber to the paper. The Kempton Park Great Jubilee Handicap of 245050 v, 1| mijes, was run on May .9,. and won by Racedale, who started favourite. Racedale was got by Buchan, the sire of the imported colt Lord Buchan, now in training at Wingatui. Gay Fashion is still in the slings at Wingatui as a result of her mishap when racing at the winter meeting, but making excellent progress. She severed a tendon” but may be released from the slings in a few days. The Goodwood Estate, Sussex, including the Goodwood racecourse was recently registered as a company with a nominal capital of 350,00050 vs in £1 shares. The

Duke of Richmond is to he permanent governing director. JR. Lyall, who won this year’s English ■Grand National on Grakle, was made a presentation of several gifts at a complimentary function accorded him at Lincoln, his native city. Over one hundred citizens .subscribed to the presentation. Mr J. A. Smaill, the owner of Town Major, has purchased the rising two-year-old by Air Balloon—Orteile from P. I. Hogan. The youngster, who shows considerable promise, will remain in Hogan’s Stable. Sleipner is. trained by C. Emerson, and he seems to infuse the Valkyrian gelding with more stamina than he showed when previously raced. Sleipner looks a bit big and round in condition, and will probably improve as a result of his race at Timaru. Taragona was regarded as a .certainty for -the Temuka Handicap, and after waiting with the field until reaching the straight won comfortably at the fuiish. The distance troubled the others. Jock o’Hazledean walked sore after the race. For -a number of years the writer has been tilting against the existence of the 9st minimum, and it is pleasing io note that the revised Rides of Racing provide for its termination in connection with flat races. Arikiwai was racing handy to the leaders in the Prince Edward Handicap up to the home turn, then he drifted back in the straight The Paladin gelding is no doubt, short of work, but if he stands training should win a good race ©ver a distance. A writer in an American exchange says that Henry VIH in 1530 dressed hia jockeys in colours to make them more easily distinguished on the racecourse. The custom became increasingly popular, and by 1765 nearly all jockeys wore colours.

The writer holds a strong objection to the extreme crouch eeat, but there is also the. other extreme. At Timaru last week a rider over fences rode with his leathers about two or three holes too long, and in consequence a loose eeat accentuated the weight carried by his mount. Unitali lay a good way from the leaders in the early stages of the steeplechase at Timaru, but he was on terms with West Dome at the last fence, and then won comfortably. Thurnia might have won if he had not dropped his rider at the second last jump when well out in the lead from West Dome. Royal Saxon won the Prince Edward Handicap in good style, but was set too hard a task to come out later in the day and carry 11.4 against a fresh field of horses. He made a bold show, and looked to have a chance down the running, but the load proved too much in a fast-run race. A. E. Ellis rode a well-judged finish on Sleipner in the Novice Handicap. Ilkley challenged inside the distance, and got a short neck in front, but Ellis waited until about fifty or sixty yards from the post. He made a vigorous call on his mount, and beat Ilkley by a head. Tippling was always well, and finished a good fifth. ■ When a trainer loses a big string of horses through a transference of stables there, is sometimes a feeling of resentment left behind. That is not so with F. Trilford, who, after the transfer of Mr J. M. Samson’s horses from Timaru to Wingatui, wrote to say he hoped they all arrived safe and sound, and wished them the best of luck in the future. W. Sibbritt, the former West Australian jockey, is having another good season in France. At Longchamps in April he won the Prix La Bourse of 40,000 francs on Shikari, owned by Captain J. D. Cohn, and the same day was successful in the Prix de Villeron, of 25,000 francs, on Fouquet. Sibbritt had a successful season in India earlier in the year. ■ > : ■ - ■

When doing a round of the .studs recently the special commissioner of Sporting Life said he was particularly .attracted by a grand colt by Coronach from Pagan Sacrifice This youngster is a half-brother to Iliad, and three-parts brother to a colt that made 7100gns at the Doncaster sales last year. It is said that the youngster is one of the best-looking yearlings likely to be found in a catalogue this year. No regular occupation, -except perhaps that of am aviator, calls for so many risks in a year ( says “ Femhill ”) as that of a cross-country rider. 'There are thrills in; riding horses “ flying * fences at racing • pace. There are also great risks. Fear does mot enter the thoughts’, of these boys! and men who regularly take their lives in ■ their hands. Confidence on the part of a; rider .often is instilled into his mount. Any weakness in that respect by a jockey may cause the horse to fall. , " The standard of hurdle racing has improved vastly since the days of Redleap,” says the Victorian owner Mr Counrhan. "Pace is on now from the word ‘Go.’; The record for two miles over the battens at Flemington has been brought down to 3min 36isee. This time would have won ■ many a Melbourne Cup. There is only i 14sec difference between the flat race and ' hurdle race records for two miles at: Flemington. This is less than an average : of one second per furlong, despite obstacles . having to be negotiated.” The -Queensland Turf Club’s committee dismissed the appeal of the starter, Mr: A. V. Ralston, against the -decision of its stipendiary stewards in fining him £lO for effecting a moving start in a race at the May meeting in contravention of specific instructions that the stewards had issued to him. The case excited much interest, especially in view of the fact that’ all the jockeys who rode in the race,, with one exception, have given evidence favourable to the starter’s view of how the Reid was dispatched. , There was a double on the Great Metropolitan and City Suburban, run at Epsom (England), in April. No one selected .the .successful combination of Summer Princess and Anfhurium, .and it wae announced by the Racecourse Betting Control Board that the poo] would be divided between, those' who commenced with S.ummer Princess ot ended with AnfJmrinm Backers of Summer Princess fared best. They received £56 5® each for IQs, and those of Ai/hurium £ll ss. Summer princess started at 20 to L

The best two-year-olds seen out in Eng- : land up io the beginning of May were ’ Dastur, a colt, and Tarte Maison, a filly.. The former is by Solario from Friar’s 1 Daughter, and Hie filly is a daughter of' Tetratema and Blanc Mange, by Hainault. ■ Both were bred by the owner. The dams of both youngsters were purchased for ; 250gns each by B. CL Dawson for the Aga Khan. At her last appearance Tarte Maison won this year’s Sandown Park Stud Produce Stakes, of £2058, and as she, /started at a -short price in a field of 17! her easy win was anticipated by those j who knew most about her.

.One minute forty seconds has always been considered. a very fair time for onee round over the Hastings schooling steeplechase fences, although the record is held by one of the late Hon. J. D. Ormondes ’chasers —a Birkenhead gelding called Audax—who did the circuit in 135. The other morning (says an exchange) Beau Regal and Cloyn? surprised when the watch recorded 138, which shows that this pair will later on be a serious consideration in a hack steeples. Beau Regal went exceptionally well. Cloyne ran off at the double, but when taken back made mo mistake.

The late Lord Glasgow, one of the pillars -of the turf in England, who, by the way, bred Musket, used to have such a great number of thoroughbreds that he bred and described them as the sister to this or the brother to that. He never named the dam of Musket, whom he described as a daughter of West Australian and Brown Bess. He was also very peculiar when he did take it into his head to give names to some of his stock. On one occasion he had three horses to be nominated, and when asked for their names replied, “He has not got a name, he is not worth a name, and he has got to win a name.” Mr Fred. Goodman, who has been in Dunedin for several months on business, paid a visit to the Timaru meeting on his way home to Gisborne. He expressed very high opinions about the Timaru racecourse, and declared, as far as he could see, it to be one of the best in the Dominion. M?Goodman owns several borses, and if business brings him back again for any lengthy stay we may see his colours unfurled .at some of the southern meetings. Mr Goodman has Merry Mint and others in J. Cameron’s stable, and if they could be inspired and emulate the deeds of The Hawk everyone would be very pleased to see them in action at South Island meetings.

The Rules of Racing, which have been revised and consolidated for presentation to the annual meeting of the New Zealand Racing Conference next month, are now in proof form. A special feature is the marginal indexing of the rules, as is done in statutes. This will enable search for any particular rule to be made much more expeditiously, and will be welcomed by all who have occasion frequentlj’ to refer to the rules. The revision is actually the first that has been undertaken since 1905, nevertheless the rules have been fully amended and reprinted every couple of years or so, and have thus been kept up to date.

One of England’s best hurdlers of the recent season was the seven-year-old gelding Arctic Star, winner - of the 1928 Cesarewitch. On April 25, with the going very heavy, lie successfully carried 12.7 in the Great Sandown Handicap Hurdle race. The fact of the two miles taking 4.26 4-5 gives some idea of the state of the track. The same afternoon the fourteen-year-old Done"al won the Grand International Handicap Steeplechase, at Sandown Park. The soft track was entirely to the old fellow’s liking, and so little to that of most of the others, that seven were pulled up. Their riders evidently appreciated the mud as little as did their mounts.

Geldings were barred from the English Derby in 1902. This was principally due to the fact that in 1895 a geldin" named Curzon ran second to Sir Victo. In addi; tion to being a gelding, Curzon was labelled as half-bred, and the possibility of such a horse winning the world’s most famous classic created a tremendous fuss in the English sporting world. Curzon suffered defeat by’ a short'length. Another famous gelding, was Democrat, who won the Middle Park Plate. Dewhurst Stakes. Champagne Stakes, National Breeders’ Stakes, and Coventry Stakes of 1899. and ranked as one of the best two-year-olds of hia year. Democrat was afterwards used as a charger by the late Lord Roberts.

The doubles totalisator, introduced to South Australia for the first time when operated at Oakbank last Easier, has become so popular that country dubs, as well as metropolitan turf bodies in the ■ sister State, are gradually falling into line : with the ■scheme. In .addition to this : method of betting,, the payment in the main totalisator of three dividends instead i of two is finding favour in Adelaide, j mostly, of course, among the small, but ’ nevertheless keen, punters. For the first i time m the city area in South Australia ■ three dividends will be paid at the. Licensed Victuallers’ meeting at Victoria Park. The scheme will apply only in races in which there are 12 or more starters, instead of ten.

Mr Lang’s Winning Bets Tax has been a farce in more ways than one since its inception. At first the bigger Sydney punters showed hostility by refusing to bet, but, says the Globe, finding loopholes in the Act, they soon -discovered how easy it was to evade paying the tax. Bookmakers assisted these punters in escaping obligations to the Government, but in future the State Treasury is not likely to ‘be outwitted. Drastic amendments to .the Betting Tax Act are projected, and when the new Bill is drafted it will probably be found that there will be an all-round tightening up of the Act. Already it has been reported that inspectors have been commissioned to bring offending fielders to book. These officials may cause a temporary scare, but, though they may detect minor breaches, they will find it difficult to catch defaulting bookmakers redhanded. In a discussion as to the best hurdler seen in Australia, the Globe recently said that unanimity of opinion, of course, could not be expected. Nor are the authorities consulted at al] positive in their individual views. Men who saw him perform over the -battens cherish fondly the form of Malua, while others support Redleap’s

claim to superiority over the son -of St. Albans. More modern jumping heroes have loyal admirers. Percy PadCcld, who has specialised for years past in tlie .education of timber-toppers, unreservedly gives his vote for Redleap on the ladder of < “.Redleap ” .says Fadfield, was .a dinkum jumper, whereas Mal.ua had W De °?’ er the battens. The late Mr Albert Miller once remarked to me that Carbine might have beaten Bedleap in a three miles journey on the flat, but it would have been no certainty for Carbine.”

Im reply to a correspondent, the Sydney Keteree said that judged -on" actual performances, Iffiar Lap and Carbine seem to be entitled to the distinction of the best .Australian racehorses. There have been so many outstanding sires, with so little, between them, that it is impossible to give a definite answer to the .question regarding sires. Imported Grafton sired winners of more races than auy nther horse in this country, but The Welkin, Comedy King, Wallace, Lochiel, Bill of Portland, Maltster, Bobadil, Linaore, Valais, Positano, Trenton were .great sires. Few sires anywhere have equalled Wallace in the production of classic winners,- Present day sires who have already won enduring fame are Magpie, Bossendale St. Anton, Woorak, Spearhead, and Night Raid. Great -earlier sires were Fisherman and his grandson Robinson Crusoe, Goldsbrough, Yattendon, and his son Chester.

Tn view of the possibility, even probability, that another “ triple erown ” winner will be added to English records this year in Cameronian, already winner V ?e wo thousand Guineas and the Derby, it is interesting to note what horses have to dale had their names so enrolled. First on the list comes West Australian (by Melbourne), who won distinction in 1853, and at an interval of twelve years came the series of victories on the part of the French-bred colt Gladiateur, by Monarque, who carried the colours of Count de Lagrange. Eleven other horses have subsequently won thetreble, these beings Lord Lyon (by Stockwell), in 1866; Ormonde (by Bend Or), in 1886; Common (by Isonoiny), in 1891; Galtee More (by Kendal), in 1897; Flying Fox (by Orme), in 1899; Diamond Jubilee (by St. Simon), in 1900; Rock Sand (by Sainfoin), in 1903; Pommern (by Polymehis), in 1915; Gay Crusader (by Bayardo)., in 1917; and Gainsborough (by Bayardo), in 1918.

What some of our jumping riders go through in the matter of injuries is remarkable. . Collar bones are frequently broken, owing to riders usually falling cd one of their shoulders, but this is loosed upon as the most minor of injuries. It is doubtful (says a Melbourne paper) whether any rider-of recent years had so many falls and suffered such serious in juries as did J. N. M'Gregor. His falls in races numbered 200. He sustained fractured collarbones on 17 occasions, and his leg was broken three times. Once preparations were made to amputate one of his legs. He objected, and eventually it was mended with a silver plate and screws, which he carries to this day. M'Gregor has had every rib in his body broken. On one occasion, as the result of a horse standing on his after a fall, he had 4? stitches put in his face to mend tne wounds. Concussion of the brain was a frequent injury from which he suffered. When riding in New Zealand M’Gregor won the Grand National Steeples on Slow Tom and the Wellington Steeples on Kiatere.

At long last the high command of racing in. England is making a move in the direction of appointing stipendiary stewards, or “paid secretaries to local stewards,” as it is sought to decribe them. I doubt (says “Friar Marcus”) that there is unanimous opinion in. the councils of the Jockey Club in favour of such a projected change, but there has been for many years a public, demand for racing to be m a tiguter official grip. It is appreciated that the local social magnate does not necessarily make the best steward at the races, and then one can imagine that the zealous honorary steward has to sacrifice some of an afternoon’s enjoyment So if the old -order changeth he and bis associates will be relieved of some of their former responsibilities, and . will have at call a, person of trust, like a magistrate’s derk, or. the manager of some bank or big industrial concern, who is right-hand man to his directors. It is a reasonable surmise that if paid secretaries are appointed the posts will be chiefly filled bv ex-army officers, so many of whom look to racing to keep the “wolf from tlm door.”

In 1926 tlie progeny of Hurry On (leading sire that season) won no less than : £59,109. During the past 20 years other leading sires had winners of the folowing amounts:—Cyßene, £38.000; Sundridge £33.284; Persimmon, £21,993; Desmond,’ ; £30,9/3; P-olymelus, £29,607; Folymelus, f £17,738; Folymelus, £16,081; Bayardo, I £15,650; The Tetr arch, £27,976; Poly-! melus, £39,704; Folymelus, £34307; Lem-: berg, £32,988; Swynford, £37,897; "Son-in- : Law, £32,476; Phalaris, £41,475; Buchan/ £45,918; Phalaris, £46,393; Tetratema, £53;025; fion-in-Law, £44,754. The first three seasons of Folymelus, 1914-15-16, were seriously affected by the war, as there was little racing. Bayardo and The Tetrareh were also affected. Of these leading sires Cyffene, Pffiymelus, Phalaris and Lemberg belong to the Bend Or; family, and Persimmon and Desmond to that of his one-time great rival, St. Simon. The Hampton family is represented by Bayardo and Bon-in-Law, Roi Herode by The Tetrarch and Tetratema. and Isonomy by Swynford. Buchan’s sire. Sunstar, was a member of the No. 5 family and his dam, Hamoaze belonged to the No. 16, which produced Lily Agues (dam of Ormonde!) and Sceptre.

Victorian racing will be the poorer next season for the loss of the support of Mr E. M. Pearce, who, owing to everincreasing expense and the dedine of the wool business, has gone out of the game. Mr Pearce was one of the pluckiest buyers it is possible to imagine. Sime years ago he caused astonishment by paying about 5000 guineas for Avant Gourier, a brother to that grand mane Valicare. Avant Courier was practically a failure, his only success that was reallv worth while noting being the Caulfield Guineas. Mr Pearce was one’ of a syndicate that paid the record price of 67:50 guineas for the Saltash gelding who races as Dominant. He has won one race only, and has therefore returned a very small percentage

■of his -purchase money. The greatest horse that Mr Pearce ever owned was Mollison, winner of nearly £30,000 in stakes. The son of Seremond and Molly’s Robe was unbeaten as a two-year-old, and subsequently he caused a sensation by defeating Gothic in the Caulfield Futurity .Stakes, Fsobably he would have been a greater horse than he was had not an attempt been made to make a stayer out of .him. It was the New Zealand-owned J? 1 ? 1 ? 6 Humphrey who accounted for Molhson in the A.J.C. Derby.