RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 116, 22 June 1914, Page 8

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Juno 24 and 25—Napier Park R.CJ. Autumn. July 2 and 4—Gisborne R.O. Winter. July 15 and 18—Wellington R.O. Winter. August 11, 13, 15—C.J.0. Grand Natiraaf. ACCEPTANCES. June 20—Napier Park R.O. Winter. June 27 Gisborne R.C. Winter. July 6—Wellington R.O. Winter. July 24—C.J.C. Grand National. TROTTING FIXTURES. Aug. 10, 12 and 14 —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Winter.

ACCEPTANCES. Aug. S—N.Z.5 —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Winter,

TURF TOPICS.

Don Charl (Douglas) and Overton (M'Seveny) were companions in a schooling task over five flights of hurdles at headquarters this morning. Both horses gave a good display, although the latter clouted the hurdle at the top of the straight fairly hard. He is still a trifle backward in condition, but has improved wonderfully during the-last twg or three weeks, and has a good style of jumping. Obligate (Macintosh) negotiated a round of the steeplechase course, commencing at the double, which he cleared in taking style. The sod wallj post- and rail, and brush fence were cleared in a like manner, after which he was taken back and jumped the post and rail fence a second time, finishing up over the hurdle opposite the winning post. He gave a satisfactory display. The jumper Opuka was stretched out over half a mile on the sand track at headquarters this morning, hitting out freely. He is evidently on the improve, and has settled down to his work nicely since being taken in hand by King. He may repay his connections for the trouble expended, as he is to be given a chance to earn distinction, over the big jumps. The retirement of Duke Foote from the post for the paddock robs the Australian Turf of one of its most brilliant racehorses. During his first two seasons the handsome son of Sir Foote was not seen at his best, being troubled with bad joints. This he subsequently threw off, and last season established his claim to be considered the best of the older horses, his victories including the Warwick Handicap, Chelmsford Stakes, A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, Spring Stakes, Craven Plate, and Melbourne Stakes. This season he practically swept the board in the weight-for-age events at Randwick in the spring, and was subsequently installed a very warm favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Much to the disgust of backers, however, "Mr Baron'' declined to let his champion contest that event, preferring to keep him for weight-for-age racing. This led to a lot of ill-feeling, and On Duke Foote making his appearance at the A.J-.C. Spring Meeting, both he and his owner were given a hostile reception.. Evidently the horse has failed to stand training, and he will no doubt take up stud duties at "Mr Baron's" breeding establishment. ; .

The Australian horse Cider, by Ayr Laddie —Praleen, has now passed the stake winning records of Newhaven and Comedy King, and his full total of nine wins and £13,951 has only been excelled by five racehorses in Australasia. Those to do better than Cider in the matt®if of prize money were such great efluind celebrities as Carbine, Trafalgar, Posei? don, Wakeful, and Prince Foote. bine easily heads the list with a score of close on £30,000. During the progress of the Hawke's Bay meeting the Canterbury sportsman,! Mr E. Luttrell, purchased a half share! in the much boomed hurdler, Silver King. The joint owners of the Sylvia Park—Euby gelding intend to race him in Sydney. Friday next is nomination day for the C.J.C. Grand National meeting. On that date entries close for the Grand National Steeples, Beaufort Steeples, Lincoln Steeples, Grand National Hurdles, Sydenham Hurdles, and Winter Cup. Gondolier pulled up lame after contesting the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, and The Spaniard was also amiss after the same race. The steepleeha'sing ranks look like being very weak by the time the Kiecarton fixture comes on for decision.

It is reported that the Auckland Racing Club intends making all its hack races worth 250 sovs. at future meetings. This is a step that might well be followed by the Canterbury Jockey Club. The royal purple was carried to victory at Ascot by Sunny Lake, a three-year-old son of Sundridge and Pearl of the Loch, in the Sixty-first Triennial Stakes. Evidently his Majesty's stable is in greatly improved form this season, and in Friar Marcus it shelters one of the best two-year-olds of the year. The Auckland horseman, F. W. M'Cabe, has been engaged to ride Obi in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race on July 11. He leaves for Melbourne on the conclusion of the Napier Park meeting, where he has several engagements to fulfil. Twelve months ago Hatana was submitted to auction, but the reserve of lOOgs. placed on him prevented a sale. Since then he has won five races," so Mr Wood must be pleased that the gelding failed to find a new owner.

The Riccarton Trainers' Association intends holding a smoke concert on July 7, and '' Templar'' wishes to thank them for an invitation to be present. Though he is making a satisfactoryrecovery from his recent illness it is doubtful if Mr J. H. Pollock will be well enough to compile the handicaps for the Wellington Racing Club's meeting. It is understood that H. Coyle will take up Mr Pollock's duties 'at that fixture.

After assisting at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's meeting Mr R. O. Duncan returned to Christchurch by Sunday's boat.

Handicapper Henrys is at present on a holiday trip to Sydney. He will be back in time to witness the racing at Trentham next month.

B. Deeley's success on Mysteriarch at Hastings on Wednesday brings his total for the season up to 53. This number, says "Sir Lancelot," is eight less than his total for the previous twelve months. This is the fifth occasion that the horseman mentioned has topped the list. A. J. M'Flynn, who headed the list over fences last year, has been kept out of the saddle a good deal during the present term by accidents. He rode the winner of the Hawke's Bay Hurdles. Now that L. Traill is incapacitated, F. Flynn, the Hastings horseman, may head the list. He has already ridden twelve winners, which total is one more than last year. THE TETRARCH MYSTERY. THE CAUSE OF HIS BREAKDOWN. When the last mail left England all the sporting writers were in a state of excitement consequent on The Tet-

rarch's withdrawal from the Derby. Concerning the event, one of their number in the London "Evening wrote as follows:

Whatever action they took Captain and his trainer had to run the risk of popular disapproval. The one fact that stands out most clearly in the whole business is that if one could seek by far the most perilous road to public estimation he must own a favourite for the Derby. As one who has had a lifelong experience of horse-racing, I must confess that the financial side of the "great mystery'' puzzles me. It is now admitted even by the most influential men in the ring that Captain M'Calmont and Mr Persse did not back The Tetrarch for more than a few sovereigns, if at all, so that what I am about to write does not concern them in the slightest. The oft-repeated statement that the bookmakers simply lengthened the price against the grey in order to encourage custom of which, at one time, there appeared likely to. be an absolute dearth, is not borne out'by the facts as we now know them. *

It is now beyond all dispute that, even as late as last night, certain substantial bookmakers, among them a.man who can afford to lav a horse to lose him £IOO,OOO or more, thought fit to back The Tetrarch in at the best price they could obtain. This clearly disproves the contention that no money has been won by the scratching of' the grey.

What the total amount is will never be known, but I have . the authority of a very responsible turf financier for saying that it might easily be anything between a quarter and half a million—certainly not less than the first-men-tioned sum. '

I did my best to obtain a few moments' conversation with Mr "Atty" Persse, but each time I tackled him he politely, but firmly, refused to speaki I was not in the least surprised, v r for wherever he went the Stockbridge trainer, who looked "very worried, /was pursued by a number of what were" apparently '' anxious enquirers.' 7 I have, however, obtained from a source which I am .entitled to consider every whit as good as ''first-hand'' an explanation of The Tetrarch'a trouble. I have every reason to believe it is the true one.

Shortly before the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster The Tetrarch showed a tendency to hit himself behind his near fore knee "whenever he was put at full stretch on the training ground. The tendency increased until it had such serious results that it was found impossible to allow the colt-"to take his chance in the big Produce Stakes at Kempton. The ablest advice was called in, and every thinkable device was tried to cure the horse of his bad habit. He was fitted with a special boot, and this had good results until the colt was again asked to stretch himself, when the ol# damage recurred.

TEMPLAR.