RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 118, 24 June 1914, Page 8

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 25 —Napier Park R.C. Winter. July 2 and 4—Gisborne R.O. Winter. July 15 and 18—Wellington B.C. Winter. August 11, 13, 15—0.J.0. Grand Nationat

ACCEPTANCES. June 27—Gisborne R.O. 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. Metropolitan T.C. Winter.

TURF TOPICS.

The Terrapin—Reject gelding, after jumping a couple of the pony hurdles, was given a turn over two big hurdles at headquarters this morning, shaping satisfactorily.

The Treadmill gelding Taskmaster, a member of E. Cutts's team, has resumed work again after a short' rest. The old fellow is bearing a bright and healthy appearance, and should he continue on the right way he will probably be given a run at the National Meeting. The hurdle and steeplechase training grounds at Eiccarton are at present claiming the attention of the custodian. The harrows are being freely used on them, and it is understood 4fhat they are also to receive a good rolling, 'This improvement will be greatly appreciated by trainers preparing horses for jumping events, as the ground between the fences has been sadly in need of repair. From now on until after the National Meeting this portion of the training : ground is sure to receive its full share of work. Erom the balance-sheet to be submitted to the annual meeting of members, it is evident that the New Brighton Trotting Club has had its most successful season-to date. On its. two meetings it showed a profit of £2617-, and has a balance of assets over liabilities of £7079.

The Canterbury Park Trotting Club made a profit of £2860 on its two meetings this season. The balance-sheet to be submitted to the annual meeting of members shows the club to ■have assets amounting to £12,593, with no liabilities; Advice has been received from, the secretary of the Otaki Maori Racing Club to the effect that Haumakaka, winner of the Flying Hack Handicap, run at that club's meeting on June 3, Has been disqualified for that race owing to his being on the unpaid forfeit list, and the race awarded to George, with Merrie Gain second and Ngarua third. At the next meeting of the New-Zea-land Trotting Association, three alleged cases of ringing-in are to be dealt with. In connection therewith a witness from Dunedin has been summoned to appear before the board. This witness, says a writer in the ' f OtagO Daily Times,'' is perfectly willing to attend, but the question of expenses is a matter of importance. As far as he is concerned he has to keep his position open during his absence by supplying another man in his place, and in some cases such a state of affairs is apt to press rather hardly on those who may be summoned to give evidence... The,: authorities should, at least in some cases, give an undertaking that their:., ipvestimations will not tresspass on the'pockeis'M those who cannot afford to make a sacrifice, even though they may be keenly anxious to throw as much light as possible on a case and so assist-the authorities in their endeavours to purify sport. It is claimed that the entry of 260 for the Melbourne Cup constitutes a world's record in connection with any handicap event. The V.E.C. Derby closed with 379 entries, while for Durbar ll.'s Epsom Derby there were 382 ! entries. j

At least one bookmaker in England was a trifle unlucky in connection with The Tetrarch. At Newmarket the day prior to the scratching of the grey for the Derby, he found he had overlaid him, and, for covering purposes, tried to get £4OOO to £IOOO. He failed, and wired instructions to London. He received a reply the following morning stating the commission had been executed, . and an hour later The Tetrarch was struck out. The disgust of that bookmaker can well be imagined. First day adjustments for the Wellington Racing Club's Winter Meeting are due on Friday next. The Gisborne Racing Club receives acceptances for its Winter Meeting up till Saturday evening. Racing will be continued at Napier Park to-morrow, when the leading attractions will be the Park Steeplechase and Poraite Hurdle Race. >

A large number of locally-trained trotting horses have been thrown out of commission since the Ashburton Trotting Club's meeting for a temporary let-up. , As a result, matters at the Addington and Canterbury Park tracks are very quiet at present. According to latest advices, Obi is favourite for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, in which he is to be ridden by the Auckland horseman, F. M'Cabe. Formby has failed to stand training, and it is quite probable that he will never race again. A cable message from Melbourne states that Conn the Shaughraun has been scratched for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. The news is not surprising, as the New Zealander was being flattered by even being entered for such an important event. He was amongst the competitors in a hurdle race at Moonee Valley on the 13th inst., and did not pull up any too soundly. When schooling at Napier Park on Monday morning, Muscadine fell at one of the fences and broke his neck. The Muskapeer gelding was amongst the acceptors for the Petane Steeplechase at the Napier Park meeting. At the annual meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club complimentary reference was made to the manner in which Mr J. E. Henrys, handicapper, and Mr A. A. Fooks, secretary, had carried out their duties during the past season.

The well-known Randwick trainer, Tom Payton, has no fewer than 29 horses in work at present, of which 16 are yearlings. Large as his present contingent is, Payton states that some years ago he had either 32 or 33 horses in work.

At the annual meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club Mr T. E. Upton was re-elected chairman. Other officials were appointed as follow:—Committee, Messrs J. Davison, W. B. Denshire, H. Friedlander, E. F. J. Grigg, J. C. N. Grigg, J. R. Hart, D. Montgomery, and J. D. Stewart j stewards, Messrs J. R. Brown, G. H. Buchanan, W. B. Denshire, H. Friedlander, E. F. J. Grigg, J. C. N. Grigg, J. Hampton, J. R. Hart, D. Montgomery, E. B. Newton, C. W. Nicoll, H. F. Nicoll, J. D. Stewart, and T. E. Upton. When Calcutta sweeps are held in connection with any race, the result is to swell the field to undue proportions, as was the case with the last Epsom Derby. According to a cabled message, the Calcutta Turf Club has decided to

lessen this evil by abolishing the distinction between starters and non-start-' ers, and in future 20 per cent, of the sweep-money will be divided amongst them. This is a lead that the promoters of Tattersall's consultations in Australia might follow with much advantage to racing. - j The destruction of Mr R. O'Donnell 's residence at Yaldhurst yesterday removes a well-known landmark in New Zealand raeing affairs. It was -here that the late G. G. Stead's many good horses received their early education at the hands of & J. Mason; iiideed, it is doubtful if any private training institution in the Dominion has-turned out so many champions as have issued from "Yaldhurst;'' For over a quarter of a century Mason made '*Yaldhurst" his headquarters, but a few years ago he disposed of the property to Messrs W. G. and G. L. Steajd. Since then it has been occupied by Mason's one-time head man, "Dick" O'Dohnell, who can be accounted a worthy successor to his former master at Yaldhurst. Mr 0!Don- - nell will be a heavy loser in regard to his furniture and a number of trophies, and he will have the sympathy of all sportsmen in his misfortune. It is a very fortunate matter that the stables did not suffer, for they sheltered a number of Mr G.-L. Stead's thoroughbreds, all of whom were got out without mishap, v Thanks 'to the efforts of the many willing helpers, a large amount Of racing gear was also, removed from harm's way. -

BREEDERS AT LAW.

A STUDMASTEE'S RESPONSIBILITY. >

PINE EYEBSTFIiTJFENZA.

Just before the last maii-lef t\ Bng* land a case of particular interest: to studinasters was decided in the King's Bench Division before Mr JusticeJßid* ley and a special jury. Brief of the action, Prior sued Major Euitace owner of the stud farms known as Old Connell and Eyresfield in Ireland, were cabled out at the : time, also the announcement that a settlement between the parties had been arrived at whereby Major Loder, after haying thoroughly vindicated his personal character and honour in the case, had agreed to bear a* generous part of the monetary loss sustained by the plaintiff. Mr Prior claimed damages for losses sustained by him, because the defend-' ant, on December 12, 1912, sent to the plaintiff's farm, a mare called. Auspicious while it was infected with a disease called infectious pneumonia, which - was rife at the defendant's-neighbouring farm, Old Connell. Mr Smith, who appeared for the plaintiff, declared that the defendant sent Auspicious to the plaintiff's farm without any warning, with the result that 23 extremely valuable mares were "infected- with disease. Six of these died, the total loss which the defendant sustained from this occurrence was not less than £20,000. Generally the result had been that the plaintiff's stud farm had been shut up, and—at any rate, for the completely ruined.

One of the main issues in the case would be whether the mare Auspicious brought the disease to the plaintiff's farm, and this .point was raised in a letter written by the defendant: te Lord 'BOBebery," "•":whose '■stsHionj•■'"''■■Neil Gbw, had stood during the season at "the defendant's-farm in November, 1912, and yet on December 17 they found that one of the defendant's grooms took two mares over to Reading.

The first horse infected was Glimmerglass on November 19, and then two others followed, May Race and Gallantry, both of whom died. Ordinarily mares which were at the farm would haYe**emairied till after Christmas, but, in fact, they were dispersed long before then, and it was apparent that the defendant knew that hiff farm was infected and wanted to get Ms animals away. Both Spearmint and Pretty Polly, the first valued at £60,000 and the latter at £20,000, were at the defendant's farm, and counsel said they were both moved _, in a hurry. Usually mares were moved four weeks before they; were expeeted to foal, but at this period mares were sent away eleven, twelve, and even fourteen weeks before that period, showing that the defendant must have been apprehensive of the condition of the farm. Yet he took the responsibility of not informing the owners of the valuable horses at his farnn>f the facts. •'■■"■

In the following February the plaintiff began to find infectious pneumonia spreading among his horses, and he then heard that there had been an outbreak of disease at the defendant's farm.

Counsel read a report by an eminent Irish veterinary surgeon that the outbreak, in- which it wasi stated that the disease, was contagious pneumonia or '' pink-eyed influenza,'' which was caused by a germ, and every case of that particular form of disease must be the result of some infection front a previous case. Mr Smith said he contended that the defendant had been guilty of a breach of duty and breach of implied warranty, because he knew, •or ought to have known, that it was dangerous to send the mare Auspicious to the plaintiff's farm, as there was risk of infection. The defendant ought also to have informed the plaintiff when he heard of the mare's illness.

The plaintiff, Mr Prior,, was then called. He said that in 1911 Neil Gpw, a stallion belonging,to Lord Rosebery, stood on his farm for stud purposes at a fee of £149.

Further examined, witness said that when the defendant's mare arrived he was not aware that there had been an outbreak of disease on "defendant's farm.

Witness said Auspicious was taken ill on January 9, 1913, and a veterinarysurgeon was sent for. Later other mares were taken ill, including Lord Penrhyn's mare Catrine and Mr Arthur Collins's The.Whip. The malady spread to other horses, and The Whip died on February 23. This was also the fate of several other horses. On March 9, Lord Rosebery removed his six mares from the plaintiff's farm, and all of these were more or less ill. In the suit 23 or 24 animals were attacked, and five mares, one stallion, and three foals died. Had he known of the state of affairs at the defendant's farm he should not have received Auspicious at his stables.

The plaintiff said that he valued'the three mares and the stallion that he had lost at £7OOO, and in addition five other animals of his were ill and recovered. He put the depreciation in value of these latter animals at £SOOO. He had sustained further loss owing to the removal of Neil Gdw, Lord Rosebery 's horse, and his whole business, except that of breeding yearlings, was at a standstill. On the second day of the trial couu» sel announced that a settlement between the parties had been arrived at and his Lordship expressed satisfactioa that such was the case. TEMPLA&