THE TURF

Southland Times, Issue 17482, 24 July 1915, Page 10

THE TURF

X CITES RV SIR MODRED. The Birch wood Hunt’s first totalisation meeting- will take place at Riverton on Wednesday. Candidates for the G-rand X’ational meeting are now steadily arriving at tna Riccarton tracks. Steeplechaser Tim Doolan and the hurdler Plymouth arrived from Melbourne during the current week. Quite a number of Southland horses have been nominated for the X.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club's August meeting. Tiie AViniun .I.C. have decided to purchase a starting clock for use in trotting races and the Wintou T.C. are ta he asked to bear part of the cost. The Kilclieran gelding, Kilkenny, who has been a very unfortunate racehorse, has been taken up again by trainer C. ,1. Heywood, of Riverton. It is reported that a start has been, made with the alterations on the Winton racecourse in order to provide fop the use of the ten shilling totalisator. The rising three-year-old Pownslure—■ Camille filly in W. Ratcliffs stable is rounding up nicely and looks as if she will be in fair condition to race by the time Die Winton .Stakes Handicap is decided. Excellent reports are to hand as to the progress made by the Glenculloch. —Order filly now being prepared for her breeder, Mr E. Moore, by trainer Georg* Hope. The acceptances received for the Birchwood Hunt Steeplechase fixture on ■Wednesday next on the Riverton R.C.’s properly are of a decidedly encouraging nature. All the events have attracted strong fields, with the exception of the Gardner Memorial Stakes, but it is quite on the cards that even this event will furnish an interesting struggle. The meeting is scheduled to conclud* about 4.30 p.m., hence special train ar»

rangements should permit racegoers atriving back in Invercargill shortly after 6 o'clock in the evening. At a recent recruiting in 2>U- S. Allen, a weii known bookmaker, gave £5 to every' one of the first ten men who enlisted. He also arranged to give £IOO per man to any of those who, besides enlisting, gained the D.S.O. or Other similar decoration. Multiply has been jumping in splendid style at Trentham, and the Grand National candidate has made a host of friends since his arrival there (.says a Wellington writer). He bruised one of his feet on Saturday, but it does not appear as if the injury will interfere with his preparation. It is certain, however, that tic will require all four feet in good order oil the day of the race. Trainer G. Price, who went home to England early in the present year to purchase bloodstock for "Mr Highden,” returned to New Zealand by' tbe Ruahine this week. Price is in excellent health after the trip, and reports that all the horses he purchased have arrived in good condition. On one part of the trip between Capo Town and Hobart, the Ruahine was steaming through mountainous following setts, and Price was rather anxious about one of the horse-boxes —or to be exact, the horse inside the box. Fortunately, however, his fears were groundless, and from July £ onwards the conditions improved.

Teh new committee of the tvinton Jackey Club met immediately after the annual gathering on Wednesday night, and the following officials were elected: Grounds committee; Messrs Baird and A. Gerrard; judge, Mr Swale; steward, Air J. Tobin: trotting starter. Mr VC. Norman; stetvards, Messrs Hamilton, Wilson. and OShannessy; clerk of course,' Mr .1. Ryan; clerk ot scales, Air G. Bain; stewards. Messrs Gerrard and Baird; tota'.isator ’ steward. Mr C. McRae: clerk. Air At. Daly; time keepers, Messrs Baird and Pierce; jockey's steward, Air Archdall: jockey room steward, Air Duffy; vet.-surgeon. Air Aftiler; far-yie-i-p, Messrs W. anil .1. Wilson, judicial committee. Alessrs Jamieson. Afcßae, Norman, Swale and Gerrard. The appointment of handicapper was held over. Programme committee, Alessrs Jamieson, i?wale, Baird, Bain and ilsou. It is understood that the New Zealand Trotting Journal, published in Christchurch, is to be issued early next month as a weekly paper. The journal is to be enlarged and brought thoroughly up-to-date. " Mr Bert Harrison, who is a member of the staff of the light hainess paper, is at present paying a \ isit to Invercargill.

Speculation was brisk over the Grand Rational Steeple, ami the held was regarded as being 'veil matched (says fctvdnev Sun). Since ISS 1 seven first favourites have won the. race. Tim Doolan, -who has been favourite since the declaration of weights, held his place as first public fancy, and started at fours. Bonligal, truncap. nn < i Fireworks were all well’ hacked. The Pole fell at the first lump, and Mnnnharra came down over him. Carimalion fell at the* stone wall, and Guncap and K! Progress** came down at the back. Booligal, galloping boldly, led for about two miles and a half, where Flash .lack went to the front and won easily from Tim Doolan. tvSo was third last for a lone;’ way. but came fast at the last six furlongs. Booligal was third, ahead of Tiuto. Flash .lack is an aged gelding by .Junot. a son of Bobadil. from Princess, aud is a half-brother to Theatre, a well-known ■winner in the Donald district. Plash Jack is owned hv Mr Alan Currie. a member of the V R.C. committee, and is Trained by PTcd Kiuii, tut- celebrated or f ‘-C(try cross-country ridel, w lio tode Bribery and (‘krafnax to victory in this race. Tim Dooian. who hails from New Zealand, ran a great r;cc, ami might have troubled the winner had he been closer to the byol-r in the early stages, f! Price, W!,<l ; ode Flash .lack, is a son of the trainer. I*. .1. Price, and rode as an amateur until last year. P lash * Jack's time, '(min ni'sec. is IPscc outside Zeni;nron's record for tiie race. Twentyit:m r- s were vrossed. In-’ Maorilander I'i re w..rks, wh" had solid luickjnn o;i the e.i'ir.-e. finished last. it was mentioned amongst a gathering of sporting enthusiasts at Minton on Wednesday night that the year before la.-t Mr H >'unningharn. after witnessing ’ Fitzosborne, who was ridden by Beale, run a great race at Dunedin, lie offered tie" for the horse. His offer -was refused, and Mr Cunningham l-.as many times congratulated himself since then" that it was not accepted. At the annual meeting of the W inton Jockec Club, included amongst those present was Mr Thomas Tampert. who in every sense of the word is a veteran sportsman. It was Messrs F. It. White. Tbes. Bremner. and himself who were the means of forming the dull ."2 years ago. and it was they who got the domain invested as a racecourse, through the late Hon. Mr Macandrew; Ilia' being in the old provincial days. At the lirst meeting the stakes amounted to HP', and the three gent lenten named paid it out of their own poekets. Since then the Flub has kept going and for many years saddles ; ,ud bridles and such-like figur'd largely "ti the programme as pri-.a-f Mr Tam pert acted as clerk id' the corns.• for tim tv in ton Jockey I'lu’n ten* P* t cars wioul a break, and at other times had acierl temporarily. His enthusiasm is as keen as it ever was. and lie still takes a most live'y interest in the Club's doings. In reply to Mr W. K. Taylor, the president of the Wimon Jockey Club (Mr B. Jamieson' staled at tie- annual meeting that the club had been incorporated, and was note in a position i" take over -The racecourse. It would be one of the first items that the new committee would deal with. Legislation was required, and the point was whether it could he put th-'.'Ugh t'uis season. A sub-committee bad l.e-p. appointed to d.-al with the matte'. and il would receive every eonsider- ' a:;-.n. Wilting in "The Ant..-ear" a correspondent has something to say of the brav— deeds accomplished of ambulance drivers on the battlefields of Europe. and incidentally.' mentions a horseman whose name will endure on the turf for all Tuu.-f "At tin- battle of Soissons 1 and ~ ~t her'- watched the fearful carla.-’.- v. i i r i glasses from tin- oilier side of ........ : ; m-ar the staff headquarters until T .i:e won tided were being brought d'.wn. when we went across the crazy la.mens to fetch them hack. Time alter time ihes.* pontoons gave out. only tr. Pc repaired with the aid ot a couple : <• f motor launches under heavy tire. Tire river .-.till rose end made the situation

f more desperate as each day went by, and : the attack degenerated first into a doI fence and then into a desperate rctreah 1 before overwhelming odds. U. he last [journeys we made against orders; but a I little Yank, who was, I believe, Sloan. I the well-known jockey, and a good-hu-nioured Irishman, who, by the 'vv&y. Avas a cripple unable to cover a mile in an hour without his car, persuaded us to run the gauntlet, which we did. I drew third turn, and made the journey theie and back twice, with ten up, the only trouble being a hole through the canvas 1 received while going out empty. My i friend the Irishman had the toil of his ' car clean cut off by a shell, but lie went 1 on and returned with a most extraordinarv chassis. The cover of the geai box had been perforated by a piece of shell, one of the gear wheels had been stripped and the whole of the oil had dropped through the hole, leaving the wheels practically dry. The body was riddled with bullet holes, and many spokes in both the rear wheels were torn out. Yet , lie wont on alt right after plugging the holes with canvas.

His escape was a miracle, for he swerved quite a foot on the pontoon when the shell burst, and the pontoon lay right over. I thought he had been shot, and quite expected him to drop in. He came through, and, smart chap that he was went out with a couple of engineers to stop the holes in the pontoon through which the water was sinking the whole bridge.” Mr Walter E. Taylor, at the annual meeting of the tVinton Jockey Club, moved. "That it be an instruction to the incoming committee to substantially increase the stakes during the ensuing year." Mr Taylor said that the club was not giving the amount in stakes that it ought to give. It was the most popular club in Southland, the reputation having been earned by the officials, but its popularity would wane it they did not advance the stakes’ money. He would not name the amount, but would leave tbe increase to the good sense of the officials. The 10s tote was going to pay, and the committee were to be congratulated for having decided to introduce it. it was a step in the right direction, and the club bad made history in taking' it. Mr H. A. Macdonald seconded the motion and also had a good word to say for the 10s tote. Mr Joint McDonald agreed with Mr Taylor. The club had now got over its financial difficulties, and could sail straight ahead. They had a credit balance, and lie thought they could easily hump up the stakes by £.>oo. The increase should be it substantial one. Mr \V. Swale said that, if Mr Taylor watched the programme closely, he would have seen that the committee was alive to the situation, and he instanced the threc-year-old stakes. He was sorry that the officials were not so liberal with donations as formerly. The motion was carried unanimously.

(in tire motion of Mr Swale and Mr C. MeKae. the Winton Jockey Club at the annual meeting expressed its appreciation of the services rendered by Mr H. A. Pierce as a member of the committee. Mi Swale said that M r Pierce had been one of the most energetic aiid capable members of the i^Qinmittee.

At the annual meeting of the Winton Jockey Club, Mr Wm. Norman referred to the loss their caretakej, Mr David Jenkins, had suffered in losing ut the Dardanelles his two sons. Sergeant Sydney Jenkins and Private Cecil Jenkins. Pie said that Mr Jenkins had been an employee of the club for many years, and the loss of his two boys had been a big blow to him. The they could do" was to express their sympathy, and h> moved that a letter of condolence be sent to Mr Jenkins. Mr Cossgrove seconded the motion, which was carried in silence.

in returning thanks for his re-election as a member of the committee of the AVint on Jockey Club at the annua! meeting on Wednesday night. Dr Gow said that occupying the position was one of the ways lie had of enjoying himself, and lie certainly enjoyed such meetings. He would do his best for the club in I he future as lie had endeavoured to do in the past. He had not always agreed with the majority, but lie had worked conscientiously. Neat little speeches conveying til.inks for their election were also made by .Messrs O’Shannessy. .las. Wilson, H. A. Archdall, T. Hamilton, and .1. Duffy.

Ad v ice from Riverton leads to the belief that Black Sea will not figure among the starters for the Grand National Steeplechase. It is said that the Black and Red mare is not being unduly taxed in her preparation.

The entry lists for the New Zealand Trotting Club's meeting contain the names of quite a number of Southlandowned horses, most of which, by the way are being prepared in Canterbury. The crack made. Win Soon, has been no m i iiat ed for all the leading races, while her stable companion. Queen's Drive has also been entered. Of the other horses from this part of the world Harold Direct, The King’s General, (j’omsti-iII, Bindetta and Takio, are all well-known- Among the horses bred in this district, but not owned here are Eccentric and Rummy. The undefeated Goldie, hv Wildwood Junior, as been placed in several events, while those good pacers, Country Belle and Albert 11., have been engaged after undergoing prolonged spells.

The .rack Australian pacer, Denver ; Hut'll, is working along satisfactorily in ('!i rislclm roll. After the N.Z.M.T.C. i meeting next month lie will take op ! stud duties in Canterbury.

I 11 is reported from Auckland that J-a 1 Roina. the bonny daughter of Souit and j Queen Anne, will have to he destroyed, iAs the result of the fracture of her j foreleg in February last, the whole of | the sinews of the injured limb have j been severed, and it is hard to ’see that i she can be of any use under the ciri cuinstances.

I At a meeting of the committee of the Otahulm Trotting Club (Auckland) on July J a discussion took place in regard i to the action taken by clubs in the I south against Mr If. Friedlamler, and it (was resolved that the committee do not | approve of the action taken by Mr | Xicoi in the matter, which did not appear to them to be in a sporting spirit. On Tuesday of last week at a sitting of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, the president. Mr John Rowe, of Auck- ! land, explained that .Mi’ 11. i’. Nicoll, a j member of the New Zealand Trotting I As.-'ociation, desired to address (be j Conference on the reported resolution I of the Otaliuhu T.C. It was resolved to I take tin- matter in committee, aud as a j result 'a resolution was unanimously passed that the Conference had absolute confidence in .Mr Nicoll as a member of

the New Zealand Trotting Association. Mr Kicoll is a vice-president of that body, in which office he is held in high esteem. HUNTING'. A MEET AT SOUTH HILLBND. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) One of the most successful hunts ever held in the district took place at the ’Turi on Monday. ISth, despite the unpleasantness of not getting a more suitable day to hunt on. On consulting some of the older hunting sports of the district, they were all of the same opinion, viz., that a slight had been cast on the ’Turi by the committee of the Birchwood Hunt, in that they gave to other districts a Saturday*, and seeing that these places have only for the last few seasons been able to run a hunt at all. The South Hillend people have controlled a first-class series of meets ever since tlie pack was established, and they* are surely entitled to more favourable treati ment. ft is not good for the sport and the Birch wood Hunt should treat districts as the district treat them. Nevertheless, under the above-mentioned conditions and rain in the forenoon, we had a large crowd of followers and spectators. Crowds thronged the road and the natural grandstands in the paddocks, and they were treated to a splendid display of jumping, while in the second run the pace was as last as steeplchasc gait. After the hunt was over a three jumps competition and numerous sprints were carried out, the competition being keen. Refreshments wore supplied by the ladies, and were done full justice to by the large gathering present on the scene at the hill. The hunt was held over the properties of Messrs fvean, McCarthy, and Crowe. Amongst woll up «it tlio linisii were: —■ Acting - master. Mr R. Utingford on Tied Troon; the huntsman. Mr Vi'. Leddingham. on Cody; the Whip, C. Church, on The Jew; and Messrs A. Langford on Heatherlea, M. Kean on Lady Patrick. J. Uooney on Denial, J, Tavior on Sunset. F. Langford on Tito Deuce. .1. Moore on Home Rule, T. Flynn on The Pose. A. Gerrard on Master O’Brien. J. Poole on a grey. If. Phillips on a brown, D. Sloan on Snowy, and numerous others whose names do not readily occur.