RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 437, 5 July 1915, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING.

KACING FIXTURES. July 14 and. 17—Wellington R.C. Winter July 28—Pahiatua R.C. Annual. August 10, 12, and 11—C.J.C. Winter.

ACCEPTANCES. July s—Wellington R.C. Winter July 9—Pahiatua R.C. Annual.

TROTTING FIXTURES. July B—South Canterbury T.C. Annual. August 9, 11, and 13— N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. Whiter.

ACCEPTANCES. August 3—N.Z. Metropolitan. T.C. Winter

TURF TOPICS.

The reported breakdown of Clontaft while competing in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles will necessitate his retirement for this season, if not for good. Only for the mishap it is quite on the cards that the Australian crack would have been sent over for the CT.C. Grand National Meeting, and his presence at that fixture would have been particularly welcome. As it is Clontaft's absence will enable Mr Henrys to make a bigger margin in his adjustments, for, if the visitor had been included in the list, the fact of him not being entitled to more than 12.7, the maximum weight fixed lor the race, the handicaps would certainly have been rather cramped. The Riccarton-trained 'chaser Selwyn, who is a particularly fine jumper, will be ridden in his Wellington engagements by V. Coleman.

A final reminder is given those owners who have horses engaged at the Wellington Racing Club's meeting that acceptances close this evening. A well-known Victorian sportsman recently cabled asking Chortle's owner to put a price on the gelding. Needless to say the suggestion was declined. \ Like so many ,of its predecessors the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles resulted In a complete upset of public form. Ratkfamham, the winner, was in at the minimum weight, and his name was not even mentioned in the early betting quotations. Only so recently as last March her was sold by public auction in Melbourne for 4)2$ gns, so his new owner, Mr J. Cowley, can be congratulated on making a very lucky deal. ; Rathfarnham is by Positano from Rattler, a sister to the triple crown hero Seahorse, by Nelson—Moonya, and is a half-brother to Vice-Admiral, the NewZealand Cup winner of 1911. Saturday's victor was bred at the Shipley stud by Sol Green and was sold as a yearling to Mr,T. J. Loughlin at 220 gns. This marked bis first success of any importance during Ids three seasons on the. turf. Mr E. J. Watt has claimed the names of Galore for his Ally by All Black-Orlay, and that of Barley Sugar for the filly by Maori King—Barley Bree. The Gisborne Hurdle Race on Saturday ■was accountable for one of the most peculiar contests ever witnessed on the course. Early in the race Master Timi toppled over briging Monorail down, while Player landed on top of the two prostrate horses, and broke a leg. This left the issue to Black Northern and yi, for Ormoloid, the only other competitor on his feet, was only got round with. the - greatest difficulty. After running off or baulking at every obstacle the Gold Leaf gelding secured third money, though it took him 15 minutes to reach the judge's box. For the second successive year Lord Grey has acted as runner-up in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, his conquerors being Clontaft and Rathfarnham. He was one of the most fancied candidates for last Saturday's contest, and it was distinctly hard, luck for Mr Eric Connolly to strike such an undiscovered smasher as Rathfarijham, who, apart from winning very easily, established! a new time record of 5.154 for what is always a fast run race.

. Fagot showed to' still, further advantage by accounting for the Tc Hapara Steeplechase on Saturday and he must now take rank as one of the few-.likely 'chasers seen but this season. He will sport ,silk at both the Trentham and Riccarton fixtures, and such a bold jumper should not be troubled by the obstacles at either course. .Wingavara, who finished third in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, is owned and trained by the ex-New Zealander Lou Robertson, and he was ridden by B. Price, a son of another ex-New Zealand mentor.

Diavolo showed greatly improved form by winning a double at the Gisborne meeting, his second effort under 11.4 being particularly meritorious. On Saturday's showing he looks like playing an important part in the Stewards Handicap at Trcntham, in which, he will now. have to carry 71b exlra, bringing his weight up to 10.fi.

Sauci's change of ownership in Australia will occasion no surprise, as Mr G. L. Stead intimated before leaving New Zealand that there was a big probability of the gelding not returning. At £BOO the sou of Charlemagne 11. and Jlope Diamond, should turn

out a profitable Investment for his new owner, as he Is quite sound and has not done a great deal of racing. The fact of his having been withdrawn from the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles suggests that his jumpiug left something to he desired, but this should disappear with practice. Saucl will probably be kept to fiat racing till next jumping season, when it would come as no surprise to find him taking high honours as a hurdler, for he lias all the necessary qualifications. The New Zealand Country Racing Club's Association is to hold a meeting in Wellington the Tuesday prior to the New Zealand Racing Conference. In a circular Issued to clubs, the association says:—"We know that our enemies from without, by combination, succeeded in reducing the number of' days' racing by 43 days in 1910, and that our enemies from within wiped out 17 country clubs and reduced the days' racing of the small clubs, principally to make up these 43 days; the metropolitan and larger country clubs being practically untouched. By strenuous efforts, and keeping the injustice to country clubs Constantly before Parliament and the. people, the association beat down opposition to the extent that the Gaming Amendment Act ol' last session was got through Parliament practically without opposition. The unfairness to country clubs exhibited by the report or the Racing Commission is another proof of the necessity of combination. While we. are solid such a report will never again be presented in New Zealand. The association has received full recognition by the Government, and was consulted In regard to the distribution of the 15 permits granted to country clubs under the Gaining Amendment Act, 1014, and we have been assured that the association will be consulted in any future redistribution of permits."

Arrangements have now been completed whereby visitors from Christchurch will be enabled to attend the South Canterbury Trotting Club's Meeting on Thursday and return the same evening. A special train will leave for Timaru at 8.5 a.m. and reach town again at 9.52 p.m. The only election to be held at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club on Wednesday will be that for the appointment of three committeemen, for which no fewer than six nominations have been received. The Hon. C. Lbuisson has been returned unopposed as president, as has Mr G. Trelcaven as treasurer. Mr Geo. Ritchie does not intend seeking office again as vice-president, a position he has held for many years, and that office will be filled by Mr J. H. Williams.

Player, who broke a leg when racing at Gisborne on Saturday, was spoken of as a likely candidate for steeplechase honours. He was engaged in the Wellington Steeplechase and also in the leading crosscountry events at the Grand National Meeting.

Ruapani was sent out for the Farewell Handicap at Gisborne on Saturday one of the hottest favourites ever seen on the course. Unluckily for his partisans the good thing more than met his match in Birkline, who had evidently benefited by his first day exertions.

Judging by Golden Glow's two displays at the Gisborne meeting he has evidently gone' off, and his prospects in the Wellington Steeplechase do not appear any too bright. On Saturday in the Te Hapara Stecplccliase at a stone difference in the weights Fagot beat the Saracen gelding out of sight, and as there will be 181b between them at Trentham Golden Glow will have to show a lot of improvement to have much chance witli his Gisborne victor.

A REMARKABLE DECISION

WHISPERING WILLIE'S RE-

HANDICAPPING

When it was made known in local trotting circles that Whispering Willie had been rehandicapped for his race at the Waikato Meeting surprise was expressed at the action «of the club, and an explanation of It was eagerly awaited. Dealing with the matter the "Sporting and Dramatic Review" says:—

At the Waikato Trotting Club's meeting a race was won by a visiting competitor whose colour and age did not appear in the race card—singular to say, the only omission of the kind in the programme. This was Whispering Willie, a son of Woodland Whispers and Gossip, who had been the subject of more than whispered references from the time the handicaps appeared for the race In consequence of his having won a race of similar distance at Ashburton shortly before the declaration of the handicaps. It was quite clear that the performance had not come under the notice of the .liaudicappcr, who had, in racecourse parlance, "fired him in" by placing him on the limit. It was commonly believed that Whispering Willie would only have to be well to have the race at his mercy. The situatiou was met by an unusual, if not an unprecedented, procedure by rehandicapping. Who was responsible i for this we cannot say, but W T hispcring Willie was put back ten seconds, and his

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owner was inclined to protest against that course of action. At the suggestion of friends, however, ho accepted the situation, and his horse won the race. We contend that he should have not have been placed in that position. If ho had omitted to do any tiling in the way of furnishing Information when he nominated his horse or in confirming his entry, it should have been declared Informal, and the entry cancelled. It appears that the entry could not have been confirmed in writing before the handicaps appeared, and the owner would have no reason to suppose that his horse was not fully identified for handicapping purposes, seeing that he had raced before. There was nothing concealed. The short time allowed to elapse between the taking of nominations and the issuing of the handicaps was due to the.hurry in getting the meeting fixed for as early a date as possible after the permit Avas obtained from the Minister of Internal Affairs.