SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 19335, 29 August 1924, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED.

Annual meeting of Southland RC. due thia evening.

Highland, last season’s Avondale Cup winner, has retired.

Tenterfield injured one of his joints at the G.N. gathering.

Mantua is in active commission again on Wingatui tracks.

Thirty-six entrants are listed for the Marton Trial Plate (5f.).

The Auckland-owned steeplechaser, Glen otus, goes to Sydney.

Loughrea, reported on the big side, has resumed work on Wingatui tracks.

Gloaming is reported to be doing everything asked of him on Randwick tracks.

The crack NB.W. weight-for age jarformer, David, is getting ready for A.J.C. Spring meeting.

Southlander Te Anau Lad is reported to be galloping well for H. Ellis on Riccarton tracks.

Provided he can only stay, Treshain is going to race well in the N.Z. Derby in November.

Reported from Sydney that F. D. Jones contemplates sending Royal Despatch and Alfonso home.

During the absence of G. Jones in Sydney with Nigger Minstrel, S. Hodge will train Mr Lowry’s horses.

A Sydney apprentice, who rode for J. McCombe for a time, has been suspended for two months for interfering with Sunny Loch.

Ballymena is training well in Sydney and it is reported that the Maorilander has been backed for Melbourne Cup.

Whipcord (who fell away in condition prior to the G.N. meeting) and his stablemate Tigerland, are to be treated to a lengthy spell.

It is reported that the Riccarton mentor, K. Macdonald, who has been fairly successful, contemplates dropping out of the game.

The successful Hawke’s Bay horseman, A. G. Dixon, is the latest New Zealander to take his departure for New South Wales.

Depite the fact that Absurd has headed the winning sires’ list for the past two seasons, he is not represented in the N.Z. Cup.

One of the biggest two-year-olds at Ellerslie is said to be the colt by Lucullus — Avon Park, who has demonstrated that he can gallop smartly.

Bizarro is a promising two-year-old colt owned by J. Williamson, of Auckland. By Absurd—Flora Macdonald, the youngster is a half-brother to Royal Mac.

The Australian-bred pacer, Box Seat, who claims a N.Z. Trotting Cup engagement, is now under the care of the ex-New Brighton light harness mentor, N. Warren.

Amongst the entries for the Trial Plate at the Marton Jockey Club’s Spring meeting is Mr W. H. Gaisford’s Australian-bred colt Serene. He is one of the pupils of J. O. Jones, at Greenmeadows, and is a three-year-old son of Seremond and Blue Stockings, by Havoc (grandson of Musketi Blue Bonnet, by Autonomy—Blue Sleeves, by Trenton (son of Musket) —Blue and White.

A London message, dated August 27, states that at the York meeting, the Great Ebor Handicap (one mite and threequarters i resulted: —Mervex, 1; Norseman, 2; Centurion, 3. Twenty started. Won by three lengths, four lengths between second and third.

Referring to the N.Z.M.T.C.’s Grand National fixture, “Mascot” writes in the New Zealand Trotting Journal:—“lt was just as well for Prince Derby and Downcast :hat Lady Swithin failed to jump into her stride properly in the chief mile saddle sprint at Addington. On her subsequent showings they would have had to take her dirt.” Many experts present, who paid strict attention to the start of the event referred to, will be inclined to agree with the Christchurch writer in his contention.

At a sale of English-bred youngsters imported to Auckland last year by Dr W. C. Ring, a colt by Skyrocket from Ladas Maid came in for a lot of attention, and he fell to the bid of Mr Eric Riddiford at IOOOgs. The English colt is said to be shaping promisingly, and is expected to make his debut under silk at the Wanganui spring meeting next month.

The well-known Riccarton light harness studmaster, F. Holmes, has acquired another stallion to take the place of the defunct champion, Logan Pointer. The American is the pacing sire Drusus (2.13 J who will arrive from the United States by the Maunganui, now due at Wellington. Drusus is a highly bred pacer, being by Zombro (2.11), who was by the great McKinney (2.111). He is also a proved sire, having been credited with several noted performers in the States.

Northern reports state that the jumper Explorer is hitring out with plenty of dash, and he looks in excellent order, as he is carrying more condition than he usually does. Though he is getting up in years, Explorer should still be capable of paying his way.

The local owner, Mr W. Stone, has purchased the useful galloper, Ecuador, by Santa Rosa —Date, from Mr E. W. Rosewarne, of Hawera. This five-year-old gelding will be turned out for a spell near Trentham for some time prior to being placed in commission again. Ecuador can

gallop fast over any distance from four furlongs to a mile, and should win races in the South, provided he can be induced to return to his old North Island form.

Mr W. R. Kemball has several useful two-year-olds in work, including Race Day, a filly by Hymestra—lntention, and an unnamed colt by Absurd—Peroneal. The pair referred to have both displayed pace in their early track efforts.

Indications point to Southlander Glentrain being ready to race at Randwick on September 8, when she claims an engagement in the Warwick Stakes, £lOOO weight-for-age, with penalties and allowances (six furlongs). In the event of Messrs Chisholm and McDonald’s mare facing the barrier, she will have to carry 9.2, as compared with The Monk at 10.0. Heroic, who proved a champion as a two-year-old last season, will be called upon to carry under 9.0, while another prominent A.J.C. Derby candidate in Bedonia, should run forward under 7.11.

Cupidon's half-brother, His Majesty, by Kilbroney—Bebe, who will race in the colours of a Canterbury sportsman as a three-year-old this season, is now being keyed up at Riccarton, in view of spring engagements.

With regard to the claim of our contemporary that the honour of leading jockey in jumping races for the past reason in Southland belongs to A. E. Ellis, and not to T. O’Connor, it may be raid

that in awarding Ellis pride of place all *■ precedent in such matters has been ignored by taking second placings into account, and also by overlooking the fact that the

winning of a flat race for jumpers ridden by jumping horsemen has to be included. As previously pointed out in these columns, T. (/Connor won three jumping events,

and a race for jumpers ridden by jumping jockeys, as against three jumping races won by A. E. Ellis. If the claim of our contemporary was correct, then, instead of C. Emerson and M. McCarten having finished on even terms for the flat race championship of the past season, second placings would have been taken into account and there would have been no dead heat. Again, A. McDonald and J. R. Kaan tied for the New Zealand jumping jockey premiership of New Zealand last'year, but if second placings had been included there would have been no divided honours. Throughout Maoriland racing circles Emerson and McCarten are looked upon as having tied as winning flat riders, and A. McDonald and J. A. Kaan are accepted as the united holders of the jumping horsemen’s premiership, placings being ignored, as has always been the custom; therefore, it is hard to understand why our contemporary has chosen to ignore custom and precedent, and declare A. E. Ellis the leading jumping rider in Southland for the past season. It is also hard to understand why O’Connor’s success in a jumpers’ flat race has been passed over. This can only have been done through ignorance or design, and if by design, why ? Therefore, according to New Zealand turf procedure, and despite the statistics, special pleading, znd home-made rules of our evening contemporary, T. O’Connor must be looked upon as the leading cross-country rider of the past season in Southland, with four wins, while A. E. Ellis and Mr J. Langford tie for second place with three wins each.

Few men on the Australian Turf have had a wider experience of the “slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” than D. J. Price, of Caulfield (the ex-New Zealand trainer), says an Australian writer. Fifteen years ago Price owned the leading racing stable in Melbourne, and through his hands passed some of the greatest performers we have seen. Machine Gun, Pink ’Un, Subterranean, Midnight Sun, and Royal Scotch are still names to conjure with as gallopers, while in the jumping division he had the mighty Bribery, and such hurdlers as Ataahua, Wimmera, and-Bal-lista. If either Pink ’Un or Royal Scotch had captured the Caulfield Cup there would have been no reason for Price to continue longer in harness. How Pink ’Un came to be beaten remains a mystery. Royal Scotch finished third under the disability of a cracked hoof. The lean years seem to have ended this season, when Intriguer landed the Warrnambool Cup, and Rahda (owned by Mr A. C. Colman) looked to have a mortgage on the Grand National Hurdles. However, the pendulum swung in the wrong direction again. Rahda went under to Jackstaff and sprained a suspensory ligament when heavily backed in the V.A.T.C. Leamington Hurdles on July 19. “Troubles never come singly,” remarked Price, as, after the breakdown of Rahda, he witnessed the fall of Intriguer in the Murrumbeena Handicap at Caulfield. On learning at the casualty room that the little jockey, H. Knevitt, had escaped unhurt, he breathed a sigh of relief, and philosophically turned his thoughts to what the future might have in store. The success of Intriguer in the Glen Ora Handicap at Moonee Valley was a welcome set-off to what Price had endured. Intriguer took a lot of money out of the ring, the bookmakers being prepared to field strongly against a horse that had fallen only a week previously. A week ago Price had another smile from Dame Fortune, as he got Rahda over his recent mishap, and won the Adelaide Grand Nationl Hurdle Handicap with him.

GORE TROTTING CLUB, ANNUAL MEETING. (From our Correspondent.) The annual meeting of members of the Gore Trotting Club was held in the secretary’s rooms, Gore, on Wednesday. The President (Mr M. R. Lawlor), occupied the chair, and 21 members were present. The annual report and balance-sheet (already published), was taken as read. THE DISCUSSION. The Chairman in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, said he was sorry to say that the club had made a slight loss on the year’s transactions. The receipts had gone down some £2OO, and the expenditure amounted to about the same as last year. The club’s representative at the Trotting Conference tried to get the date of the Winton Trotting meeting altered, but the powers that be could not see that it would do the Gore Club any harm. Mr J. J. Green seconded the motion. Mr 0. Kelly said it was not for one of the Committee to criticise its work, but the annual meeting was for the purpose of giving members an opportunity of expressing their views. It was to be regretted that there was a debit balance over the meeting, which was largely due to the Winton meeting being held so near. The club’s delegate to the Conference had tried unsuccessfully to get an alteration. The rent of the racecourse was £69 more than last year, and he considered the club was overcharged. He thought a fairer proportion would be for the club to pay l-sth of the interest of the land and buildings. Free access was given to those who train horses, not only for the Trotting Club, but for the Racing Club, and for other meetings, and it was for this they had to pay. The Chairman said they were working on the same system, as other clubs similarly situated from the Gore Club had taken the idea. That was 1 per cent, on the totalisator turnover. He could not see that the Racing Club was treating the Trotting Club unfairly. Mr Kelly: What about the Winton Trotting Club?

The Chairman: The Winton Racecourse is a public reserve. Mr Kelly: They probably hold a lease of the grounds. The Chairman: They might have it On more favourable terms than the Gore Racing Club. Mr F. Wallis, Snr.: Mr Kelly would seem to be satisfied if 5 per cent, were charged, but if taken on the plant, buildings, land and working expenses, it would amount to quite £l6O. Mr F. Wallis, Jnr., said another aspect of the question that seemed to be overlooked was that if the Gore Trotting Club had to provide its own appointments, the cost would probably be £5OO or £6OO. He considered they were getting off very light. After a little further discussion the motion was carried. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Only the required nominations being received for the vacancies, the following were duly elected to office:—President, Mr J. J. Green; Vice-Presidents, Messrs O. Kelly and J. Reid; Committee, messrs M. R. Lawlor, E. A. Pigeon, W. Scott, G. Whittingham, and G. Williamson; Auditor, Mr W. D. Shelton (re-elected). Before vacating the chair, Mr Lawlor thanked all for the support he had received during his term. He would have liked to put forward a better balance-sheet, and he hoped his successor would make up his loss. Mr Lawlor concluded by thanking the secretary for his assistance, and the Press. Mr J. J. Green, the new President, was applauded on taking the chair. He thanked members for the honour conferred upon him. He hoped this season would be more successful. The club had live members who took an interest in the sport generally. He proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Lawlor, who was one of the sports that had helped to bring the club to its present position. Mr Lawlor had a large family, who were all taking an interest in the sport, and he attended the meetings regularly and supported the game in a proper way. The speaker hoped that at the end of his term he would come out as well as Mr Lawlor had. Mr C. Kane asked who was the man who signed the petition against the Gaming Bill. The Chairman: The club has not seen the petition. Mr Kelly said he could vouch that none of the present Committee had signed the petition. GOVERNMENT TAXATION.

, The secretary (Mr Frank Young), referred to the fact that the club had paid out £513 in taxes to the Government to

make a loss of £155 odd. They should not miss the opportunity of protesting against the injustice. He moved that this meeting of members protest through the member for the District at the injustice suffered through continued taxation. This was seconded by Mr M. R. Lawlor and carried. Mr F. Wallis, Jnr., asked if the Committee had considered any means whereby the possibility of a loss on the meeting could be avoided.

The Chairman thought it would not be advisable to cut down the stakes. Owners and trainers were up against the high cost of feed and transport, and he thought the club should leave the stakes as they were for another year. By doing so, owners would recognise that the club was doing its best. The meeting terminated after a vote of thanks to the chair. CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB. WEIGHTS FOR NEW ZEALAND CUP. CHRISTCHURCH, August 28. The following handicaps have been declared by Mr J. E. Henrys, for NEW ZEALAND CUP of £2500. Two miles.

Nukumai - - 6 10 NEW ZEALANDERS IN TROUBLE. JONES-McCARTEN APPEALS DISMISSED. TWELVE MONTHS’ DISQUALIFICATION STANDS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) SYDNEY, August 28. The Australian Jockey Club Committee to-day, heard the appeals of F. D. Jones (trainer) and M. McCarten (jockey), against their disqualifications in connection with the Royal Despatch case. The "stipendiary stewards inquired into the running of Royal Despatch in the First Division of the Maiden Handicap at Canterbury Park, Sydney, on Saturday, August 9, in which he ran unplaced. After hearing the evidence they found the trainer, F. D. Jones, and the rider, M. McCarten, guilty of improper practices under Rule 171$ and disqualified each of them for a period of twelve months. The stewards decided to give Mr H. A. Knight, owner of Royal Despatch, who is in New Zealand, an opportunity of attending, to show cause why the horse should not be similarly dealt with. McCarten and Jones both gave notice of appeal. After the hearing of the appeals, which were heard in camera, it was officially announced that both appeals had been dismissed.

NEW ZEALANDERS AT RANDWICK.

BALLYMENA AND GLENTRUIN PLEASE. GLOAMING EVIDENTLY MOVING WELL. SYDNEY, August 28. (Received August 28, 8.40 p.m.) The New Zealand cracks are doing steady work on the Randwick tracks. Ballymena and Glentruin did six furlongs together in Imin 18secs, Ballymena finishing out the mile alone in Imin 45 J sec. Gloaming and Killoc finished five furlongs together in Imin ssecs, Gloaming having run a mile in Imin 47secs.

In the two-year-old trials at Canterbury Park, the New smartly won his heat.

st lb st lb Roseday - - - - 9 2 Dame Straitlace 6 10 Gold Light - - 8 8 Refrigeration - 6 10 Limelight - - - 8 5 Equitable - - 6 10 Pilliwinkie - - 8 5 Kalakaua - - 6 9 Cupidon - - - 8 3 Count Cavour 6 9 Muraahi - - - 8 2 Tanadees - - - 6 9 Scion 8 1 Martulla - - - 6 8 Duo 8 0 Carpentier - - 6 8 Sunart - - - - 7 12 Zero Hour - • 6 8 Gold Steel - - 7 11 Watchman - - 6 8 Deucalion - - - 7 9 Kilfaire - - - 6 8 Musketoon- - - 7 9 Crishna - - - - 6 8 Bonnie Winkie 7 9 Kukume - - - 6 7 Tarleton - - - 7 9 Prince Ferouz 6 7 Arch Salute - - 7 5 Lucinette • - - 6 7 Kilfane 7 5 Santiago - - - 6 7 Quest ----- 7 5 Bayana - - - 6 7 The Polymnian 7 5 Stream - - - 6 7 Master Killoch - - - 6 7 Sandstone - 7 4 Dominant - - 6 7 Boadicea 7 2 Master Black 6 7 Killocra - - - 7 2 Waetea - - - 6 7 Stork 7 0 Winkie’s Rebel 6 7 Santonio - - - 7 0 Empyrean - - 6 7 Red Wink - - 7 0 Lady 1’Amour - - - 7 0 Clarenceux 6 7 Clandhu - - - 7 0 Phoenix Park 6 7 Mantua- - - - 6 12 Golden Spear 6 7 Bumptious - - 6 12 La Reve - - - 6 7 Tiff ----- 6 12 Coot - - - - 6 7 Helen Rufus- - 6 11 Listening Point 6 7