SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 18968, 15 June 1923, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED. Napier Park Racing Club’s Winter meeting opens to-day. Beauford is reported to be in more jobust condition than ever before. Napier Park Racing Club's Winter meeting will be brought to a conclusion tomorrow. Three Southland sires. Four Chimes, Harold Rothschild and Adonis are high on the winning list. Trespass has gone into retirement and will not be asked to race again until the spring •cason arrives. Mr J. B. Reid has purchased a two-year-old colt in England for the Wellington trainer J. W. Lowe. The Winton owner-breeder. Mr J. Duffy, is seventeenth on the light harness racing list of winning owners (£1695). Several southern horses have displayed symptoms of soreness since racing in the holding going at the Wingatui meeting: Weights for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, for which entries closed on June 5, are due on Monday week (June 25). During the current season 233 owners have raced on registered tracks in Westralia, while £22.610 has been won in stakes by horses bred in W.A. Statistics show that totalisator investments at Randwick for the season just closed were £1.374,033 15s, an increase of £112,400 over the previous season. After winning the Queensland St. leger Seremite was overlooked by backers in the Brisbane Cup, with the result that he returned a half-century price. Sergeant Murphy, the 13 year-old winner of the English Grand National has been retired by Mr Sanford to his. father’s Hurricana Stud Farm in America. Cross-country horseman J. R. Kaan. who is well-known in Southland, is reported to have ridden a great race on Dick (second) in the Great Northern Steeplechase. The Wairarapa correspondent of the N.Z. Sporting Review has a good word to say for the rising three-year-old Suggestion, by Kilbroney—lmagination. He claims an engagement in the New Zealand Derby.

Visitors to the Dunedin J.C. Winter meeting on the King’s birthday sympathised with the ladies present who had their clothes, stockings and shoes ruined by mud and water, but it seems that patrons of the gentler sex in attendance at Addington on the same date had an even worse experience. The space surrounding the totalisator at the Christchurch trotting ground was recently treated to overcome the dust nuisance, with the result that on the race day referred to a mixture of water, sand and tar smeared and clogged expensive dresses, footwear, and flimsy limb-coverings to an extent never before experienced on a Canterbury racecourse.

The following appeared in the N.Z. Sporting Review last week from the pen of the Wellington correspondent of the well known Auckland journal:—“The many South Island friends of the Invercargill trainer Roy Woodward, will be pleased to learn that he is recovering rapidly from a serious accident that necessitated his being an inmate of the Wellington hospital for the last ten months. Just at present Woodward is well enough to take walking exercise and he expects to be leaving the institution within the next two weeks. It is Woodward’s intention to again take up his residence at Invercargill, where he should receive ample support from owners of gallopers and trotters. It will be remembered that Woodward was private trainer to Mr W. Watson, of Invercargill, for whom he won many races, his principal successes being on Cerise and Blue, wham he >ode to victory on several occasions.”

If Mr A. B. Williams’ horses are submitted at auction at Hastings during the current month as announced, there will surely be keen competition for at least one of the string, viz., Rapine. The three-year-old son of Martian and Pineta proved himself a genuine racehorse when he won the Wellington Cup (one mile and a half) in 2min 31 4-ssecs, and, under the circumstances, no surprise will be expressed if there should be Australian buyers in the market eager to secure the Maorilander. Rapine has been extensively engaged in Spring events in the Commonwealth. Mr B. Irish, owner of the Epsom Derby winner, Papyrus, who it will be noted is referred to as a tenant farmer, is one of Dame Fortune’s favourites in his turf ventues. He has never figured largely as ai owner—that is to say he has rarely had more than a modest team in training And yet he has furnished the winner of two of the greatest races of the turf. In 1921 Mr Irish won the Ascot Gold Cup with a four-year-old named Periosteum, and with the Derby now included among his captures we have a good illustration of luck on the turf. “There is no royal road to success on the turf,” is an old saying that receives many a powerful illustration during a season’s racing. There are many men (including the King) who annually breed on a large scale, and yet year by year they have to be content with a range of very moderate performers to carry their colours. The uncertainty that overhangs the breeding and purchase of youngsters is indeed great, but it adds its quota to the charm of racing. The N.Z. Herald writer “Phaeton” recalls the fact that the successful galloper Royal Abbey was passed in at auction in June, 1921, at a disposal sale of Mr R. Hannon’s horses in Auckland, the best price offered being 700 guineas, while the reserve price was 750 guineas. On the succeeding day the horse won the Fitzroy Handicap at Ellerslie for Mr Hannon. The following season Royal Abbey won £1535 in stakes, and this season his share has been £2llO, so that the Waikato owner-trainer has good cause to feel pleased that the reserve was not reached at the sale quoted earlier. It is reported from South Australia that Mr Alfred Drake died there during the first week of June at the age of 76 years. He was born in England, came to Australia when about eight years old, and made a reputation for himself as an all-round athlete. Old-timers will recall the matches in Melbourne between the pedestrians Frank Hewitt and Drake. About 40 years ago (says an Auckland paper) he migrated to New Zealand, where he became a prosperous owner of racehorses. He claimed that Dick Mason trained for him the first horses that trainer ever looked after. About the two best gallopers he had through his hands were Spade Guinea and Peter Orbeck.

The Australian chronicler of the 'death of the late Mr A. Drake is not quite correct n some of his statements in the foregoing paragraph. Mr Drake, for example, was not the first employer of R. J. Mason as a trainer. R. J. M. first trained horses for Messrs F. W. Delmain and Gilligan, (pllowing on the termination of a five years’ engagement to ride for the late Mr Henry Redwood. He next prepared Le Loup and Trump for a time for the late Mr G. G. Stead. About that time he entered into partnership with the late Mr R. Vallance, and raced, among other horses, Caraballo, winner of the Great Autumn Handicap, 1880, who was purchased in Australia; Bundoora, another Australian, always held in high esteem by Mason as a racehorse; Pinfire, winner of the Wanganui Cup, 1879; Salvage, winner of the Auckland Cup, 1883; Turquoise, and others. During the continuance of the partnership, which terminated in 1884, Mason trained a few horses for outside owners, and purchased he Yaidhurst property, which he hid made <ua headquarters practically from the time

he entered upon his career as a trainer after leaving Mr Redwood. For a time he had charge of the Hon. W. Robinson’s horses A anguard, Liverpool, Oudies, and Winchester, before they were placed in the hands of Mr W. E. Dukin in Victoria. Then he owned Spade Guinea, and sold that mare to Mr A. Drake, but trained her and other horses for that owner, and brought off a big coup when the daughter of King of Clubs and Rupee won the New Zealand Cup in the year 1886, besides winning the Dunedin Cup, Auckland Easter Handicap, and other races the same season.

Aucklanders are of the opinion that a recent winner at Ellerslie is going to develop into a valuable jumper, like many other descendants pf his sire. The gelding referred to is The Curragh, Spalpeen—Lady Gwendoline, who is a five-year-old, and ranks as an excellent fencer.

Now that Papyrus has won the Derby Mr Alison’s scheme for bringing Tracery back from South America is sure to eventuate. In a recent edition of The Sportsman to hand, the “Special Commissioner” writes: “I have already stated that Tracery is coming home, whether my co-operative purchase scheme goes through or not, but I think it will go through as soon as breeders understand it, and that the reserved ten nominations are for the owner and not for the International Horse Agency and Exchange, who act simply as his agents. It is well that this should be clearly understood, for Tracery is probably the best stallion in the world at the present time, and if Senor Unzue does not part with him to a syndicate on the terms suggested by me (which he has fully approved), he will stand him in England at a higher fee — say, 500 guineas or even 600 guineas—for a limit of about twenty mares outside his own. The position is one of very great interest to all breeders, and I have very little doubt that the syndicate scheme will go through, for it only amounts to subscribing for three years to Tracery at 400 guineas and paying up the full sum. 1200 guineas, for each subscription. This is secured by an insurance which covers the whole three years in one premium, a thing which has never been done yet. The amount secured is reduced each year, as the subscribers (thirty in number) have had their value in services of the horse, but they are covered for the full value of the remaining services, and, at the finish, they have the horse, that is to say, three-quarters of him, and the owner has the remaining quarter. Tracery might well go on for five or six years after that. Anyone wishing to have the programme of this scheme has only to write to me. It is no special interest of mine, for Tracery is coming anyway. The point is that they can get a share in him at 400 guineas fee, as proposed, and otherwise, they will haVe to pay more without getting a proprietary share at all. For myself, I shall be satisfied if I bring him back. I sent his sire and dam out on the same ship to the U.S.A., having sold them to Major August Belmont. I tried the best I could, as Major Belmont w’ell knows, to get him to stand at Cobham, and that would have happened, but for his connection with the Rothschilds. I offered 40.000 guineas for Tracery on behalf of Lady James Douglas, and it was refused, but Senor Unzue, later on, tempted Major Belmont with £53,000, and that did the business. I remember writing to Major Belmont my surprise at this sale; but chickens come home to roost, and, in view of the above facts, it is in keeping with the rules of common justice that Tracery should come home to Cobham.”

A well-known country light harness owner is advertising for a lad of about 9st or under to assist in the private preparation of three, or possibly, four horses for the incoming season. The successful applicant will be afforded opportunities of competing in public next season.

A wide circle of racing friends and acquaintances will learn with regret of the death of a well-known Southland ownerbreeder and highly-respected racing club official in the person of Mr A. Provan. Mr Provan, who passed away at Riverton on Thursday, was a keen supporter of all forms of outdoor sport, including bowling, football, athletics jwtid the turf, while he took a very live interest in church and public affairs and in person strove to further the interests of the local districts in which he might reside, as hundreds of residents in Winton, Heddon Bush. Otautau, Riverton and other Western district centres can testify. During the course of a lengthy residence in Southland Mr Provan took a leading part in the establishment of the Western District as one of the most productive areas of the home province and when he disposed of his residential property at Heddon Bush He settled in Riverton, where he speedily made his mark as a municipal legislator, enthusiastic supporter of beautifying endeavours and a friend and official to boating, bowling, football, racing, poultry - breeding and athletic clubs. As he once laughingly remarked to the writer, “he gave up farming to take on hard work,” the obvious inference being that he found his various interests in his new seaside home trenching heavily on his time and strength, but this did not deter him from rushing into the breach when a new bowling club was to be established or undertaking to supervise and help in effecting improvements to the local racecourse or providing shelters for picnic visitors to the beautiful beach of the old capital of “The West.” The deceased sportsman was a noted bowler and was one of the mainstays of a New Zealand team that recently enjoyed a never-to-be forgotten trip to Great Britain. During his active association with the turf, Mr Provan owned some very useful horses, including Office Girl (twice winner of the Winton Cup), Queen's Prize (winner of the Southland Cup' and some lesser lights. He was also very fond of breeding a few thoroughbreds, but was remarkably unfortunate in his stud enterprises. However, he bred several useful performers, the best of which was probably Recharge, who, despite a twisted limb, was a cross-country performer of more than average merit, winning the Great Western Steeplechase at Riverton on two occasions, but not in the colours of his breeder. Mr Provan was a clean-living lover of the open and upheld his belief in sport in the counsels of laymen and the inner circles of the church, and at least one Presbyterian congregation has good cause to remember with gratitude the leading successes of several of the horses bearing his purple, gold sleeves, purple sash and black cap livery. In addition to acting as an honorary official of the Riverton R.C., Mr Provan was for many years an official of the Winton Jockey Club and a sturdy adherent of the Wairio J.C., Heddon Bush H.R.C., Drummond H.R.C. and a valued contributor to the funds and management of the several A. and P. Associations located in his favourite districts. The sympathy of the racing public of Southland wall be sincerely extended to Mrs Provan in her bereavement.

BOOKMAKER FINED. BETTING WITH CONSTABLE. (Per United Press Association). WELLINGTON. June 14. Reginald Charles Stone was charged at the Magistrate's Court today with using premises in Panama street as a common gaming house. He pleaded not guilty. An application that the hearing should stand over until the trial of Stone in the Supreme Court on a charge of bookmaking was refused. Chief-Detective Kemp, prosecuting, said accused was the holder of a licensed billiard-room which was watched by a probationary constable who visited the premises, secured a bet, and later betted on an extensive scale. The police evidence showed that a constable put 10/- on Kareoa at Feilding, but on calling to collect the dividend was refused payment by Stone, who called witness a . Witness said he saw a number of day cards in a room and a number of bets were made. Other police evidence was given regarding the finding of day cards and Stone’s note book showing sums of money entered

opposite the names of horses. A detective stated that during the raid he answered the ’phone, receiving two bets. The Magistrate held the charge proved, and fined defendant £75, or two months’ imprisonment.

FOOTBALL

EASTERN DISTRICT MATCHES. WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS. At Gore on Wednesday, Mat aura defeated Pioneer by 11 points to 6. Pioneer put up a good showing, but their forwards were not good enough for the Mataura pack. The standard of play was poor, but the match was not wanting in exciting moments. In the last few minutes, Pioneer, requiring five points to draw, made a great effort to score, pinning Mataura in one corner with a series of scrums, which were contested with the utmost vigour. The defence was too good, however, and there was no further alteration in the score. At Edendale, Albion defeated the home team by 25 points to 6. Edendale made a good showing in the first spell, leading at half-time by 6—o. In the second half, they went to pieces, and Albion put up 25 points with little difficulty. SUNDAY FOOTBALL. WELLINGTON, June 14. In reply to the letter from the Buller Union as to whether it had power to make Sunday fixtures, the New Zealand Union Executive decided to adhere to its previous decision that it was a matter for local jurisdiction, but that it disapproved of Sunday fixtures.

SOCCER

PROPOSED CHINESE TOUR. WISDOM QUESTIONED. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 14. The question of the proposed visit of a Chinese Soccer team to New Zealand, was again before the New Zealand Football Association to-night. The secretary read the letter which had been sent to the promoters stating the terms upon which the New Zealand Council was willing to consider such a tour, also a letter from the Wellington Football Association questioning the wisdom of having a Chinese team if a speculative element was behind it and suggesting that the matter be placed before the local associations. The letter was received. It was decided to forward a copy of the correspondence as to terms to the local associations for consideration.

NEW ZEALAND TOUR AMENDED. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SYDNEY, June 14. The amended tour of the New Zealand Soccer team is:—June 20, play Metropolitan team at Manly; June 23, N.S.W.; June 30, third test at Newcastle; July 4, Maitland; July 7, South Coast at Wollongong; July 10, Western Districts at Lithgow. NEW ZEALAND BEATEN. THE MAITLAND MATCH. SYDNEY, June 13. Several thousand spectators witnessed the match between New Zealand and the South Maitland district, at Maitland. The local team did most of the attacking, but the visiters’ strong defence kept them out. Half-time scores: Maitland 1, New Zealand 0. The second half was brighter and evenly contested. M‘Groary scored for Maitland and Brownlee for New Zealand, the final scores being: Maitland 2, New Zealand 1.

HOCKEY

EASTERN DISTRICT MATCHES. Hockey matches played in the Eastern District on Wednesday resulted as follows: Ex-High School (6) defeated Mataura (2). High School (3) defeated Edendale (1). Gore Ladies (3) defeated Wyndham (2).

GOLF

DRIVING COMPETITION. (By Telegraph—Preus \ssn_—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 13. (Received June 14, 7.45 p.m.) Being an off day the day’s play at Troon was utilized for the driving competition. Wethered won the prize for the best aggregate distance in three drives, 809 yards one inch. Bournemouth, a youth, and Curtis made the best single drives of 278 yards 30 inches.

CRICKET

ENGLISH MATCHES. LONDON June 14. (Received June 14, 7.45 p.m.) .. Yorkshire dismissed Northants for 50, Waddington taking six for 21, and Robinson four for 25. Sussex dismissed Glamorgan for 86, Tate taking eight for 30. Makepeace playing for Lancashire against Worcester scored 203, the third double century this season.

BOWLING

NEW ZEALAND DEFEATED. SYDNEY, June 14. (Received June 15, 12.15 a.m.) Manly defeated New Zealand by 154 to 153.