Sporting AN OVERHAUL IS NEEDED

Southland Times, Issue 25680, 24 May 1945, Page 7

Sporting AN OVERHAUL IS NEEDED

Control Of Racing In New Zealand “SUSPICION AND DOUBT”

By

HAMPTON

There is a growing impression that the race-day control of racing should be more rigid. Doubt and suspicion are rife. Reasons are the huge volume of off-course betting that is being transacted, associated with the activities of some individuals who are without the control of the racing authorities. The support accorded horses on occasions is of such a confident nature as to be amazing, comments The New Zealand Herald. Horses are not machines and do not race alike every day, but some of the recent vagaries of form have been astonishing. Some of the riding has also been often to criticism. Unless the very strictest control is exercised, people who follow racing closely may be Inclined to lose confidence. That would be most unfortunate, especially in a sport that is one of our greatest national pastimes. There can be no doubt of the existence of a serious menace to the welfare of racing. It therefore behoves the racing authorities to take urgent steps to combat this menace. Some people believe that the present raceday control, that is, judicial committees, composed of honorary stewards, with stipendiary stewards as investigating stewards, is in need of overhaul and that some method must be found to make it more rigid. So long as it is a method that will strengthen control it will be welcomed. The system of race-day control by stipendiary stewards is functioning well in Australia. The time may now be opportune to consider whether it is worth a trial in New Zealand. There are difficulties in working the system in the Dominion, but they should not be insurmountable. Under the present control in New Zealand a stipendiary steward is not entitled to vote on any questions decided by the stewards. Therefore, a stipendiary steward is really only an investigating steward for the judicial committees, or honorary stewards. He possesses certain rights of appeal if he is dissatisfied with any decisions. The system is involved and unwieldy. It frequently leaves the final decision regarding incidents with people who have not witnessed the particular race from which the inquiry arose, what happens in races is a matter of observation. Judgment may be best left to men whose experience and knowledge of racing entitles them to adjudicate on such matters. WASHDYKE MEETING The acceptances for last week’s postponed South Canterbury meeting will stand for Saturday’s fixture. DUNEDIN MEETING Handicaps for the Dunedin meeting will be declared on Monday and acceptances will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. TIRED BADLY . _ Minton led practically all the way m the steeplechase at Marton on Saturday, but he tired in the run home and was beaten into second place. MAY BE MISSING A few of the Riccarton horses may have their engagements cancelled for the Timaru meeting. Half a dozen remained at Washdyke, but the others returned home. Some, however, are going back again. Gamble will be one of those missing. PERMISSION GRANTED ‘ The only information given about the South Canterbury meeting on Saturday has been that application has been made to the New Zealand Racing Conference to race on that day. Although the fact has not been telegraphed to newspapers, the Racing Conference has granted the application and the meeting will be held. ALL AGED STAKES x a , Handicaps for the All Aged Stakes at Ashburton on June 4 have been declared as follows:—Worthy Gold, It; Caledonian Girl, Chinook, Emulous, Imperial Lady, Loyal Nurse, Navigate, Scottish Emperor 18; Bronze Eagle, Dusky Sound, Lady Dawn, Loyal Friend, Shadow Maid, 36; Gold Bar 48. FINDON’S CHANCE

Findon, who was not produced at Te Rapa, is a much-discussed Cornwall Handicap candidate, but some Hastings followers deride the prospect of the big grey winning over a distance in his present condition. He is remarkably clean-winded, and has won on practically no work, but he would be a freak if he could win the Cornwall in show ring condition.

CHANGE OF FRONT Last year the Canterbury Jockey Club sponsored a remit to Conference designed to raise the hack limits and so obviate maidens which win a race at Ellerslie or Trentham being elevated to the open class. The remit was defeated, Auckland delegates being among those which opposed it. Now the Auckland Racing Club is moving to have the hack limit raised from £250 to £4OO. FOURTH ATTEMPT

F. J. Smith will be making his fourth attempt to win the Sapling Stakes if he harnesses up Doctor Ted at Ashburton. The first two-year-old he brought south was Chancellor, who finished third to War Buoy and Village Guy in 1933. In 1937 he trained and drove Sandusky, who finished second to Twos Loose. His candidate in 1942 was Karnak, who finished a close second to Captain Morant. Luck was not with Smith in all of his -previous trips. Doctor Ted, his latest candidate, is apparently a much-improved pacer since he finished third to Sprayman and Highland Fling in the Welcome Handicap at Easter, because he won like a seasoned performer over a mile and five furlongs at Claudelands. LITTLE LIGHT ON NORTHERNS

Little .light was shed on the Great Northern Steeplechase at Te Rapa, as some of the most prominent candidates for the big steeplechases at Ellerslie early next month failed to negotiate the course. These were Albino, Rockery, Khurja and Lockheed. The winner was Ramillies, which took the Brighton Hurdles at Auckland at Easter, and he came with a great run down the home stretch to literally snatch victory on the- post from Dauber, the leader when Khurja fell. Sir Percy was always prominent, and in finishing a close third gained more admirers for his northern engagement. The Te Rapa Steeplechase was a most spectacular contest, but, in so far as the Great Northerns are concerned, punters are still left guessing—but, after all, that is all they can do at any time, states an Auckland writer. Actually, Albino, a visitor from the south, looked like winning when he led to the second last fence, but he fell there and brought down Rockery, another South Island horse, which was threatening him. Then on top of that Khurja, now one of the vanguard, fell at the last jump. So much for the northern angle. LEADING WINNERS

The flat racing season of 1944-45 has virtually ended, leaving First In at the head of the winning list with £5672. Some of the horses lower down in the list may improve their ranking, but the position of First In will not be endangered. Other winners of £2OOO and more are Te Hinemoa (£3800), Foxwyn (£3600), Lambourn (£3475), Pensacola (£3150), Landveyor (£3000), Typhoon (£2982), Sleepy Fox (£2975), Kevin (£2630), Lou Rosa (£2370), Tara King (£2325), Swift Quarry (£2295), High Play (£2275), Neenah (£2265), Al-Sirat (£2220), Gigli (£2197), Immediate (£2145), Foxhaven (£2075), Glenfalloch (£2070), and Signal Officer (£2065). The older horses won the majority of important races in the handicap and weight-for-age fields, the only exceptions being the Canterbury Cup, which fell to the Derby winner Pensacola, the Dunedin Cup won by Golden Souvenir and the Te Aroha Herries Memorial Cup won by Artificer.

BOXING OPPONENT FOR R. BAKER An opponent has been found for Dick Baker, Southland middleweight, who will have his first professional bout since returning from overseas at Invercargill on June 25. He is Norm Ross, of Greymouth, a former light heavyweight, who has been boxing well this season. Ross recently beat O’Neill at Wellington. He has been engaged to meet R. Stevens at Dunedin on June 4. RIFLE SHOOTING AT GORE The championship button at the weekly shoot of the Gore Miniature Rifle Club was won by L. Allott, with a score of 79.5. The runners-up were B. Elliott and H. Garrick, with scores of 78.4. The winner of the handicap button was R. Baty (77.5, plus 6.3). The runner-up was H. Garrick (78.4), plus 3.1). The best scores were: L. Allott, 79.5; B. Elliott, 78.4; H. Garrick, 78.4; R. Baty, 77.5; J. McGorman, 77.4; O. Bryant, 77.2; J. Taylor, 76.4; E. W. de Roo, 76.3; W. McKenzie, 76.1. WYNDHAM GOLF CLUB A flag match played by the Wyndham Golf Club on Saturday was won by R. Marshall, who placed the flag a few feet from the 15th green v. Milne was runner-up. R.S.A. BOWLING CLUB At the annual meeting of the R.S.A. Ladies’ Bowling Club the following office-bearers were elected:—President, Mrs Watson; vicepresident, Mrs Spencer; honorary secretarytreasurer, Mrs Thomson; committee, Mesdames Bishop, Doake, Jenkins and Mac Kay; delegate to Southland Centre, Mrs Watson; honorary auditor, Mr D. 9. Davies.