SPORTING.

Southland Times, Issue 18622, 21 August 1919, Page 3

SPORTING.

"NOTES BY SIR MODRED.

damiel put up a fine fight with %ek at. the Christchurch Hunt meet- . liiii was thought that he would race well at the Grand National fixture, but the Southland-o.<Oed gelding was never prominent in his essays at the C.J.C. gathering. The'lson of Downshire does not retain his best form long at any time, and it may be that the Dunedin J.C. June meeting, the subsequent long walk to Christchurch, and his effort at the Christchurch Hunt meeting took the edge oil his racing keenness. His running at Riccartpn last week was a severe disappointment to his connections.

The introduction of the “double” totalisator to Maoriland racecourses, as proposed by the Racing Conference, formed the subject of many discussions in Christchurch last week and sportsmen of all' ranks were agreed that the idea was worthy of their whole-hearted support. In talking the matter over, controversy naturally arose as to the best way of applying the use of the machine with the result that a suggestion put forth in the columns of N.Z. Truth by its sporting contributor met with almost universal approval. The writer referred to claims that the principal sprint race connected with a “double” should be deemed immediately before the event constituting the “second leg,” generally the leading bugdistance handicap of the afternoon. In support of his argument, the Wellington scribe points out that the scratching-pen is invariably used freely when the sprint race follows the big handicap m combination wagering owners of short distance racers being well aware of the fact that their horses are lavishly catered for and they can safely await anotMer -day when results are to their liking, whereas competition for stayers is restricted by* reason of the more severe training required and the scarcity of genuine stayers. He also contends lhat when horses are wound up for races oyer the more lengthy courses their owners think twice *before they pass by chances of starting them, hence the scratching rule is less often taken advantage of. When these arguments are backed up by the claim that running oS a “double” by means of consecutive races would prevent investment money being locked up in the totalisator throughout the day, it will be admitted that the proposal outlined has very strong recommendations to clubs and people wager by coupling up horses for sped races. n

Kindly regret was expressed in racing circles when Sir Solo succeeded in landing the Grand National Hurdle Race last week at hia fourth attempt that a strange horseman should occupy the saddle, the usual pilot of the son of Sir Laddo, viz., “Rangi” Thompson, should be an inmate of Hastings Hospital as the outcome of a peculiar accident. When at "the starting post for a race in Hawke’s Bay last month a rival competitor bored in on Thompson’s mount, with the result that the dusky horseman’s leg was broken in the squeeze. The limb is alow in healing, but Rangi is not at all dismayed and is looking forward to the day when he will be able to resume the practice of his risky profession.

It jp just possible that the winner of the Hunters’ Hurdle Race, on the first day of the Grand National meeting, will be heard of again during the season as a jumper, as Red Cent is a good cut of a horse and is possessed of a fair turn of pace. The son of All Red was ridden in a confident manner by J. McChesney, to whom a considerable amount of the credit attached to the

win is due, as his mount had not been x schooling too well prior to the Southland jockey riding him in a vigorous manner at the recent Christchurch Hunt fixture.

It is not an uncommon thing at important, rase meetings to see ladies wearing costumes corresponding in hue to the colours borne by their favourite racehorses, but the mere male generally contents himself by mounting a tie to show that he has a horse bearing similar colours, or is at least interested in the performance of somebody else's animal carrying a jacket to correspond. At the recent Grand National fixture, a well-known Christchurch owner got over the difficulty in an original and effective manner, and it may be said that the tip conveyed was accepted by quite a number of people intimately acquainted with the jovial sportsman referred to. His registered colours are mostly concerned with a vivid emerald green and when a horse carrying his popular jacket went out to contest one of the minor croas-countiy races of the first day, it was noted that the owner was wearing a pair of socks corresponding in hue and prominently displayed. The gallant steeplechaser presently cantered home an easy winner, and the horse, owner, jockey, and emerald socks were cheered to the echo when the clerk of the course led the placed steeds to the entrance to tha weighing-room. When the horse raced later in the meeting in opposition to the cracks of the day, and had to be content with a minor place, after putting up a gallant fight, it was noticed that his proprietor had his pedal extremities clad in modest grey socks.

The ex-Southland pacer Rarooga was only produced once at the N.Z.M.T.C.’s recent meeting in Christchurch, when he was started in the Queen Mary Handicap on the opening day and could not do better than finish in fourth place. The Sir Hector gelding was looking bright and well, but did not run up to the expectations of his connections or those who knew him as a saddle performer in the south. It was alleged that he was to change stables following on his disappointing display.

When the Southland .trotter, Ben Bell, won the Improvers’ Handicap on the second day of the N.Z.M.T.C.’s meeting at Addington last week his victory was fully anticipated by his connections and his owner paid a very profitable visit to the legalised mechanical wagering l agent to the tune of a price running close to double figures. The party behind the son of Bellman backed him again confidently in the Midwinter Handicap on the last day of the gathering, but he could not get near the Nelsonowned Wild Pedro and the run-ner-up, Sol, at the finish after ■tarting off slowly. Mr Pettigrew’s gelding is developing into a fine square-gaitcd performer and it is safe to say that he will win again in his turn before the handle upper finds him out as to his speed and staying Emit.

The high-class pacer Sherwood is coming back to form and keen-eyed followers of the light-harness sport have marked him down for a successful meeting before the new season is very far advanced. The son of Kerrwood and Jessie B is now trained by the veteran mentor N. L. Price, who, by the way, has a stronger string of pacers and trotters than usual under his charge at (he present time.

The crack horseman, H. Gray, was prominent in several races at the Grand National meeting, but did not succeed in opening the new season with a win. It is not yet known as to whether he will cross over to Australia to rifle the horses of Messrs W. G. Stead and W. Richmond at Randwick, but usually well-informed people people say that he will not do so.

No horse under P. T. Hogan's care at Biccarton last week looked better than Glenshine did, yet the Glencullnch—Minaret gelding failed U) win a race. The best he could do was to finish third to Black Mountain and Pretty Bobby in the Sumner Handicap, but he did not look like beating either of the horses that finished ( in front of him. He ran well in each of' his starts, however, but was always slow off the mark, a failing which has prejudiced bis chances in many races during his earner.

Ibe victory of Lochella in the Grand National Steeplechase brought much grist to the mills of South Island backers, but it is safe to say that North Island punters won the bulk of the money over his success when double betting is taken into fhe count He was coupled up extensively

with all the Winter Cup and Grand National Hurdle candidates from the other side of Cook Strait. It appears that his racing over hurdles at Auckland and the workmanlike manner in which he disposed of Mana-

wapango in a race across country at the Wellington R.C.’s Winter meeting greatly impressed good judges in the north. When

he followed these performances up with brilliant work at Riccarton prior to the big C.J.C. gathering visitors from the other Island were keener than ever to rally to his support on the day. If they did not back him straight out, as often as not they invested on his chance to s:fe themselves if Bon Reve, Waimai, or some other northern steeplechase* should meat with defeat.

A SPECIAL TROTTING MEETING. HANDICAPS FOR THE JELLICOE FIXTURE. (Per United Press Association).

WELLINGTON. August 20. The following handicaps have been de- , dared for the special trotting meeting in , Christchurch in honour of the visit’of Adt miral Jellicoe: — SYDNEY HANDICAP (harness), one ; mile and five furlongs.—Star Queen, Our Chum and Silver Quick scr, King Karri 1 sec, Inwood, Dillon Direct, Silver Nut. Pax, Xavier, Bundura, Harold Devon, Mako Mako and Peter Mac 2, Breadalbanc, Miss Rolfe and Pleasant Mount 3, Ouimet. Ramitiari, Gold Cresl, The Whip, Lochinagar, Legacy and Energy 5. MINESWEEPER HANDICAP (harness), two miles. —Lord Minto scr, Sungod and Asturib Isec. Cora Dillon 2, Colenut, Capriccio, Dean Dillon, Sympathy, Nancy Stair, Hectorata and Reta Peter 3, Jack Arrah, Rorke’s Drift, Lieutenant, Captain Stanley and Pitaroa 4. / NEW ZEALAND HANDICAP (harness), two miles. —Cathedral Chimes scr, Admiral Wood and Matchlight 2secs, Sherwood, Agathob and Trix Pointer 6, John Dillon and Willie Lincoln 7, Erin's Queen 8, Moneymaker, 'Cello Sydney Wilkes, Sungod and Emilius 9, Miutson and Vice-Admiral 10. VICTORY HANDICAP (harness), one mile and a-quarter. —Sherwood scr, Chid Isec, Moneymaker 2, Pax and Frank Tracey 4, Admiral Hal, Pitaroa and Mako Mako 6, Dillon Direct 7, Pleasant Mount, Prince Coronado, Gold, Crest, Our Girl, The Whip °nd Errirgy 8. tTAGi.EN MARY HANDICAP (harness), n>\^s. —Whispering Willie scr, Reta utes’ wa-sec, Nelson Bingen and Red Hea£72s. t Olive L. 7, Imperial Crown, Whisht, !X -Rf.r'Oeute and Gay Wilkes 8, Bon Patch 9,. Lady Patricia and Louie Drift 11. QUEEN ELIZABETH HANDICAP (harness), one mile and a-quarter.—Author Dillon scr, Admiral Wood 2secs, Cora Dillon 3, Emilius, Trix Pointer, Chid and Sungod 4, Dean Dillon, Vice-Admiral, Moneymaker and General Link 5. IRON DUKE HANDICAP (saddle), one mile. —Lord Minto scr, Huon Patch Isec, Mintson 2, ’Cello Sydney Wilkes 3, Tamarisk, Rorkp’s Drift and Bundong 4, Hectorata, Frank Tracey, Capriccio, Silver Quick,, Inwood, Joan of Arc, I rear, Brown’s Nugget, Sir Fulham, Captain Stanley and Pitaroa 5. v AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. INCREASE IN STAKES ADOPTED. AUCKLAND CUP NOW WORTH £3OOO. AUCKLAND, August 20. The Auckland Racing Club’s stakes for the coming season of four meetings will total £49,550. The Auckland Cup will ba valued at £3OOO. The Great Northern Foal Stakes have been raised to £ISOO, and both the Great Northern Hurdles and G. N. Steeples are worth £ISOO as formerly. The Auckland Plate, worth £750, has been reinstated, MAORILAND HORSES IN SYDNEY. SASANOF AND SPANNER IN FORM, (By Telegraph.—Press Assn, —Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, August 20. Received August 20, 10.5 p.m. Sporting writers in the daily papers are featuring the splendid gallops put up at Randwick by the New Zealand horses under the charge of G. Jones, Spanner ran half a mile in 49 secs, and Sasanof cast a mile behind him on the tan in 1 min. 44 secs. BOXING. CAIfPENTIER v. SMITH. Describing the match in Paris last month between George Carpenticr and Smith, The Times correspondent states that Carpentier’s lightning pace did not leave his slower antagonist a chance. Following • intermittent clinching in the first and second rounds, Oarpentier broke free and pounced like a tiger on his opponent, delivering tremendous blows with his right to the jaw and body. Smith was down for eight seconds in the third round, and for an equal time in the fourth round, but he recovered and in the sixth round sent Oarpentier to the ropes. The Frenchman was soon master of the situation again, and he had Smith groggy in the seventh round. Smith was bleeding profusely and in the eighth round, during heavy infighting, he was knocked out after he had received heavy blows about the face and repeated poundings from the Frenchman’s right on the jaw and body. Oarpentier says that he won easily, but he regards Smith as a good lighter. JIMMY WILDE’S CONTRACT. LONDON,'JuIy 19. The Weekly Dispatch states that Jimmy Wilde (the flyweight champion) expects to sail for America in two months’ time to fulfil a contract of £12,000 to box 16 four round exhibition matches. TENNIS. THE DAVIS CUP. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 20. The Tennis Association has announced that it has been definitely arranged that the challenge round in the Davis Cup will be played iu Sydney in December. AUSTRALIANS IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, August 18. Brooks and Patterson won the American national doubles tennis championship at Boston, defeating Tilden and Richards by B—6, 6—3, 4—6,—4—6, 6—2.