Turf Notes

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 840, 7 December 1929, Page 16

Turf Notes

CONDUCTED BY

"EARLY BIRD”

At Te Awamutu The popularity of the one-day meeting at Te Awamutu of the Waipa Club is once again illustrated by the tine acceptances received fo.r the annual fixture next Saturday. Racing at Woodville The summer meeting of the Woodville Jockey Club is to be held on .Wednesday and Thursday next. Over the Sticks A half-brother to Civility. Saiosi, Wilderness and Co., in Calculation, was a runner in the hurdles on the second day at Peilding, and he recorded a very fair effort by running sixth. This product of California and Civilisation won an event at the Te Matai point-to-point steeplechase some little time ago. Big Offer for Rabbi Mr. J. J. Corry, the Blenheim owner of Habbi, was approached during the coarse of the Peilding meeting by a commissioner who was anxious to effect the purchase of the Jubilee Cup winner. A good four figures was mentioned as the price of the Paladin colt, but Air. Corry was not prepared to accept it. Rabbi has proved a great stake-winner of late, and while the price might prove tempting, his owner might well equalise the amount on the racecourses of the Dominion. Three thousand guineas is said to be the latest offer under consideration. Skyrider An instance of how quickly a horse can go out of favour with the public was evidenced at Peilding when Skyrider, who had been supported to the extent of 202 tickets on the opening day, was entrusted with but 65 at her second essay. Possibly the change of horsemen played a part, for whereas the mare had R. S. Bagby in the saddle on the first day, she had apprentice J. Gunn on top the second day. However, whereas slie did not finish in the first eight on the Saturday, her second on the Monday enabled those who had kept with her to reap a substantial double-figure reward. Belgium in Australia The colours of the Belgian sportsman, M. Jacques Wittouck, will shortly be seen on metropolitan courses (says a Sydney writer). The Australian, Prank Bullock, who is established in Prance as private trainer to M. Wittouck, has persuaded his patron to send a horse to Australia to race, and he. will afterward be sent to the stud. Accordingly, the French horse, Lorraine, by Sweeper from L’Oubliue, will shortly arrive in Melbourne by the steamer Port Huon. The horse has been consigned to Mackinnon and Cox proprietary, and after undergoing the period of quarantine and resting from the trip he will be put into training by P. Lewis. Lorrain is aged eight years. French horses have been tried in Australia with varying degrees of success. Kenilworth proved to be one of the best, both as a stayer and as a sire of stayers. Among his progeny are Wolaroi and Kenniquhair, and the jumpers Kentle and Moss Trooper. Other horses are Shepherd King, Cyklon, sire of Trivalve, Tidal, Rionscup and Apremont, who figured as a successful sire in New Zealand nearly 40 years ago.

The Marton Programme Owners and trainers are reminded that nominations are due on Friday next for all events at the Marton Jockey Club’s New Year meeting. The programme includes the Maxton Cup, of £6OO, run over a mile and aquarter, and the Railway Handicap, of £275, while on the concluding day of the meeting the Ald worth Stakes will carry a stake of £350, and the Telegraph Handicap £2OO. Kiosk’s First A fine batch of foals by the Tea Tray horse kiosk is to be seen at Waverley, it is reported, though in numbers they do not compare with some of the more fashionable sires. Kiosk was mated with several of his owner’s own mares, and the result should be awaited with interest in the next few seasons. Appreciated A kindly act on the part of the Feilding Jockey Club, and one which members of the Press gallery appreciated, was the presentation of a racebook cover with the name of the .writer thereon. It will serve as a happy reminder of the Peilding jubilee meeting of 1929 in the years to come. Racing Supervision Under the present scheme of divided control of racing between stipendiary and honorary stewards, there are many anomalies and the unsatisfactory state of affairs now prevailing needs little emphasis. The present stipendiary officials, with their limited powers, it is common knowledge, have received so many rebuffs that tlieir obvious and very natural policy is to take the line of least resistance. There have been on© or two incidents of late in races in which small fields have been engaged, which have demonstrated forcibly that racing is full of surprises, comments the “Evening Post” writer. There is also the question of penalties for breaches of the rules. There has been a good deal of interference in races of late, and several accidents, fortunately not attended by serious result. If as the result of the perfunctory inquiries instituted on the courses an obscure jockey or apprentice has the racmg crime erf crossing or interference sheeted home to him, invariably it means a term of suspension. On the other hand, if one of the

older and more experienced horsemen is the culprit, he is severely censured. One has had to stand up to this extreme sentence four times during the last three months, and very decided and marked cases of interference they •were. Has not the time arrived when stipendiary stewards should be in full charge ?