TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 883, 8 December 1916, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

The splendid efforts of the Me'thven liiu'ing Club to justify its grant of a totalisator permit met with due recompense at yesterday's fixture. Visitors from all parts of Canterbury mustered in strong force, and they were rewarded with a pleasant if not exciting afternoon's entertainment. Despite the plethora of racing now being experienced in the South Island, and that the Melhven Club is one of those responsible for the undue crowding, the fields were of average strength, both as regards numbers and quality. No fault could be found with the course, while the improvements effected in the appointments were generally appreciated, especially by those who had the management of affairs in band. The club certainly showed every enterprise in providing its patrons with such up-to-date facilities, and judging by results its progressive policy is going to meet with adequate reward. The only difficulty in connection with yesterday's proceedings cropped up in the matter of penalties. By some mischance no provision was made in the programme as advertised in the official calendar for penalising llororata winners, and as the entries were taken under these conditions, it is questionable if any extra poundage could have been enforced. Fortunately the owners concerned, with characteristic sporting spirit, came to the rescue by agreeing to carry the penalties imposed in the race cards, thereby letling the executive out of a somewhat awkward position. Evidently there is no shortage of lloating cash for speculative purposes, as yesterday's turnover on the machine exceeded that of 12 months ago by £155. This satisfactory state of affairs was largely contributed to by the two trotting events which gave rise to very spirited betting. Golden Prince, who is in rare form just at present, continued his winning sequence by appropriating the Mount Harding Welter in most convincing style. lie was backed down to a very short price, carrying more than twice the investments recorded on Spyglass, the next fancied candidate. Jumping out with his accustomed smartness, Golden Prince was soon out in front with Gallupin handy. The favoured pair drew right away from their field, with Golden Prince always a length to the good. This advantage he increased in the home straight, eventually winning easily by three lengths from Gallupin. The Chokebore representative, Spyglass, showed a good turn of speed in the early stages, but could not sustain her effort. Bomb ran a fair race, but it would have taken a lot of weight to bring Golden Prince back to his field. Subsequently the Menschikoff gelding was purchased from Mr J. G. McDonald by Mr .1. Parsons at 500g5., and he will in future be trained by S. Trilford at Timaru. He has been a very profitable investment for Mr McDonald, who originally secured him for £lB. There was a very big field seen out in the Drayton Trot, and though Nora Crcna was installed a staunch favourite, plenty of money was forthcoming also for Silver Prince, Accelerative, Capsicum, and Dainty Dillon. Starting off particularly well Dainty Dillon and Nora Crena soon drew right away, and with half the distance gone the pair were quite 50 yards in front of Accelerate, who was heading the others. Going well within herself, Nora Crena had Dainty Dillon well beaten at the home turn, eventually winning comfortably in the smart time of 3.1 3-5. Nora Crena is a very promising four-year-old daughter of Hothschild and that speedy mare Noreen. She handles herself like a good one, and is bound to lake still higher honours. Dainty Dillon showed a lot of improvement on her llororata form, while of Ibe others Salcombe, from scratch, gave the best display. The contest for the Springfield Plate was spoilt by an indifferent start. Tantalus and Donnata got such a break on their field al the

barrier rise as to leave the others with lilik' chance. When a couple of furlongs had been lefl behind Tantalus drew away from Donnala, and from Shis out the issue was never in doubt. Hie Treadmill colt winning with a lot in reserve by two lengths. No doubt the advantage he obtained at the start made the winner's I ask all the easier, but such a

high-class col! would probably have won under any circumstances. Donnata put up a creditable race in defeating all hut the winner, while of the others Matty, Fan Hamilton, and Charley shaped best. Packers had a rare surprise sprung on them in the Mcthvcn Cup, which attracted half a dozen competitors.

Wardancer, who slood out in a class by himself, carried nearly twice as much money on Recorder, who was racing in the. colours of Mr H. Cassidy for the first time. The actual outsider of the field was Ogier, who only a few days previously had finished last at Ilororata. (Hen Helen and Bellshire cut out the early running at a very solid pace, while Recorder dropped back last as the result of interference. With a mile gone Glen Helen had faded out, leaving Bellshire in charge from Ogier, who was galloping really well. Racing round the lop turn Wardancer made a forward move and with heads in line for home his victory was loudly proclaimed. His effort, however, was a short lived one, for half way down the running he was under pressure, and failed lo respond. This left the issue lo Ogier and Bellshire, and after a spirited contest lo the post Charlemagne's uncertain son outstayed bis opponent, gaining the verdict by half a length. Bellshire stuck lo his task with the utmost gameness, and it was hard luck for his owner lo run against Ogier when the latter was for once in a generous mood. Though well beaten, Wardancer was by no means disgraced. He had a lot of leeway to make up in lite last half mile, and under his big weight put up an attractive display.

The withdrawal of Bon left hut a quartet lo dispute possession of the Yiewmount Handicap, with the result that the totalisator -pool was the smallest of the day. Pyjama was made a much better favourite tru.n Chudic, the other two being neglected. The former pair got particularly well away, Pyjama, on Hie rails, showing the way into the home straight. Then the held bunched, and at the distance lan Hamilton was out in front. Easily stalling oil' the attentions of Eormola, the Cronstadl colt won nicely from Formola, his achievement of gelling over the six furlongs in lmin It 4-osec being a meritorious one.

A big field went out to contest the ! Farmers' Trot, and with nine of them on the 13sec mark some of this (division had to give away more than | their handicap. Muriel Star, the favourite, spoilt her chance by dwelling ,on the mark, while Tassy M., the | public's second choice, absolutely re- | fused to strike a gait. Getting to [business very smartly, Merivale led : throughout, and, staying on a little | better than Lord Minton, defeated I him in the run home by three lengths. Few of the others were persevered I with, Muriel Star and Miss Havoc being at the head of a long drawn out procession. Merivale is a nice gaited marc by Galindo, trained at New Brighton by H. Frost. For a first attempt her showing was a distinctly promising one, as was that of Lord Minton, who followed her home. For some unaccountable reason Sir Hamilton was entrusted with the public confidence in the Publicans' Purse, but he was one of the last to finish. Countess Tolstoi got a break on her field at the start, but, as was only to be expected on her short preparation, she failed to sustain the effort. When half the journey had been left behind Bill Terry raced past her and from this out had matters all his own way, winning without' an effort by half a dozen lengths from British Bose. The Ashburtoft representative was vigorously ridden by L. H. Hewitt, and as was the case when the same combination prevailed at Timaru last month, a useful divi- . (lend was returned. British Bose outstayed Multum in Parvo and Peronilla for second money, the latter evidently being none the better for her Cup exertions. Usually when horses are put to hurdle racing it has a prejudicial effect on their speed. Evidently this is not the case with Bill Terry, who has run two of his best races on the Hat since joining the ranks of jumpers. On his excellent race behind Ogier in the Methven Cup Bellshire was sorted out as the best of good-things for the Mount Hutt Handicap. The Downshire gelding ran a fair race, but his earlier efforts left him without a punch in the concluding stages. Early running was made by The Finn, who compounded badly when half a mile had been left behind. Then Aaland assumed charge, and, slicking to her task in fine style, the Finland mare passed the post' with a slight advantage of Bellshire. It is understood that Aaland is shortly to be taken to the West Coast, where she will exploit the Christmas and New Year fixtures.

The Oakhampton Dodge trainer J. Bryce intends leaving with a small team for Auckland on the 19th inst. He anticipates racing his charges on the first and second days of the northern fixture, and returning in time for both days al Canterbury Park.

Most of the Canterbury owners I who have representatives engaged in the Auckland Trotting Cup are dissatisfied with the lenient treatment accorded Lady Haldane in that ! event. So far the Bakaia trained daughter of Ford Chancellor has an | unbeaten record, and it looks as if; at least one more important race is wed within her capabilities. When doing his preliminary for the Farmers' Trot at Methven yesterday Blackford turned a seven as the result of tripping in his hopples. No other sulky being available to replace the damaged one, the horse ! was withdrawn from the race by the ; permission of the stewards.

I The very attractive programme ! issued by the Ashburton Trotting [Club for its Summer meeting, providing for the dislribution of £ISOO in slake money, is hound to meet with the approval of Canterbury owners. They should not overtook l (lie fact that nominations fall due with Mr A. A. hooks at !) o'clock (his | evening. : When racing in the Mount Hull i Handicap at Mclhven yesterday /alalia broke a leg, and was subscuently destroyed. ! In one of the events at Meihven I yesterday—the Springfield Trial j Plate —the live first horses lo pass the post were backed in the order in j which they finished. Owners should not overtook the fact that entries for the Dunedin J. (',., Ifawke's Bay .1. C, and Waiirarapa P. C. Summer Meetings close ; I his evening. TEMPI, All. RACING APPEALS. THE KEYNOTE AND MASTER MOUTOA CASES. I Two appeals arising out of the I Ilorowhenua Pacing Club's annual

meeting were heard at Palmerston North on Tuesday, and the following decisions have been given by the judges:— In the mailer of the appeal by the stipendiary steward against the decision of the Wellington District Committee in upholding the appeal lodged by W. G. Trask, trainer of the horse Keynote, against the decision of Ihe stewards of the Horowhenua Racing Club in suspending him for two months for administering a stimulant to the horse Keynote, prior to racing in the Obau Hack Welter, on September 20, 1916. JUDGMENT. We consider that in this case the administration of whiskv was a breach of Part XXXIII, Rule 1, Clause C, of the Rules of Racing. The appeal of the stipendiary is therefore upheld. We hereby impose an additional penalty of £5 upon W. G. Trask. (Signed) EDMD. GOODBEHERE, GEORGE HUNTER, E. A. CAMPBELL, Judges. Palmerston North, sth December, l!)l(i. In the matter of the appeal by S. W. Tatham, owner of the horse' Orleans, against the decision of the Wellington District Committee, in not upholding the appeal lodged bv him against the decision of the stewards of the Horowhenua Racing Club, who dismissed the protest lodged by him against the owner of the horse Master Moutoa being awarded the slakes for the Horowhenua Cup, run oil September 28, 1916, on the grounds that the jockey who rode Master Moutoa did not weigh in with the strap and rings which were attached to the bridle. JUDGMENT. In our opinion the strap and rings attached to the bridle which was used on (he horse Master Moutoa in the Horowhenua Cup, run on September 28, 1916, was not a martingale within the meaning of Part XXIV, Rule 7, and we therefore dismiss the appeal. (Signed) GEORGE HUNTER, E. A. CAMPBELL, EDMD. GOODBEHERE, ~ , Judges. Palmerston North, sth December, 1916.