SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1929, Page 4

SPORTING

TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) Punters pay. # * # * Brought to book. % « Good odds—34o to 6. ##. # * The bigger you are the better you are. Charlie O’Connor is starting—for Sydney this time. * Quantum is the first Winter Cup ficratchiiif. Quantum sufficiat? =:? «■ * South Taranaki restauranteurs realise that you cannot have fish without “chips.” r « # * '# Hector Gray has been so long out of the game that a Manawatu scribe refers to him as “Grey.” * * * ■ Bill Russell reckons New ,Zealand too cold in winter, and is off to Sydney. Bill is a good judge, too. # « # # Hobson couldn’t very well ride both Overhaul and Mister Gamp in the Winter Hurdles, but at one stage he was right’ on top of both of them. Jjjs # & * The last race was run in the dark at Trentham on Saturday. There is now an agitation to have the straight illuminuted by electric light. # - :;j * Down the line the other day there was a hurdle race with TWO triers in it. This is regarded as purely a matter of spite/ we are told. 1 # * Things you never see! ’the tote turnover. ' ° Yesterday’s' punting losses. “Morals” that ever win. And trainers’ tips that ard worth following. • # ■* ■ * * At a recent public engagement five or six prominent people appeared - bearing at; least two days’ growth—careless fellows.

The Chief Buler filly Zarene is reported to have lightened np cofisiderably on the Wellington trip. The pockets'of Wanganui punters did likewise.

“Jock 2 ’ Caldow is in Taranaki again, but this trip he has no Euphonium. But “Jock” whistles gaily, and all the - “Dewars” hope to see him “in the band again very soon, ° * * *

The bibulous one blew the froth off another “handle” as he came to the end of his vivid, harrowing tale of the ’quake at Westport. “B’lieve me,” he said, “in the pub I was staying at every bottle of spirits was broken. Allowing this astounding fact to sink in, he concluded. “But thank Gawd the BEER was all 0.K.” REINSTATEMENT OF GRAY. POPULARLY ACCLAIMED. Sporting writers called upon to make tip social °notes on the Trentham races last’ Saturday would have gleefully started off in this fashion: “Among those, present were Mr. Hector Gray, etc. etc. The disqualification ban lifted by the New Zealand Racing Conference on Friday last immediately became eflective, and the one-time crack jockey —probably the best rider New Zealand has seen for very many years—made his appearance on the racecourse the next day, free and unfettered. This wag the first time for four years that he had done so (writes the Auckland Sun). k True, it was not his first appearance on a racecourse within that period, for he had been granted special permission to take his employer’s horses on to courses. Now the raising of the disqualification means that he is free to attend any race meeting. RIDING AGAIN SOON? But the fact that Gray’s disqualification has been raised does not necessarily imply that he will be able to take up riding in races right away. Indeed, there is much to be done before that time arrives. No doubt Gray will at once apply fen- a jockey’s license, but that does not say that it will-be granted to him. That is a matter for the Auckland District Committee, if it recommends a license for him, and then it will have to o-o before the licensing committee of the New Zealand Racing Conference. Just what view that body will take of the application is problematical, but even if the district committee does make a recommendation, it remains to be seen whether that >ecommendatioir will be endorsed. In the meantime, Gray will be ible to obtain employment in a stable, so that for the time being at least he will be able to earn the means of subsistence. And one can picture many owners and trainers who would be only too pleased to have a man with Gray’s experience and knowledge assisting in the preparation of horses for important engagements. At present, however, this may be as far as the authorities will care to permit the horseman to go. His occupation in a stable for the future may be only a term of probation preparatory to his being granted a conditional liding license. WHY NOT NOW? But has not Gray really gone through his probation period while employed by Mr. W. C. Ring, sent-., at Hinuera? This sportsman has been emphatic in his confidence that Gray is worthy ci bein<v given another opportunity as a jockey,"and surely he should know. In his appeal to the conference last week Gray gave hie age as 41, so that it will be seen that he is advancing in years. Therefore, from his point oi view, the sooner his riding license is granted the better. As has been pointed out, the granting of a license is only during the pleasure of the licensing committee, which is empowered to review any license. At the present time there would appear little reason why Gray should not be seen actively participating in horseracing by the time the spring meetings roll round. Whether the licensin’ committee will be of the same opinion is a moot point, and therefore its decision on the mat.ter will be awaited with more than the usual interest. STILL POPULAR. Gray’s entrance to the Trentham racecourse last Saturday was not unlike that of an Eastern potentate He was eagerly shaken by the hand by hundreds, of sportsmen, and by those

to whom he was little more than a name. Incidentally, there were those keen to greet him who in the. distant past—but perhaps not too distant — Were loud in their condemnation of him. It is the way of the world and ityBut there is no denying the.popularitv of the conference’s decision to reinstate Gray. The officials of the Wellington Racing Club and the telegraph messengers were kept busy all Hay at Trentham on Saturday handling telegrams addressed to “Hector Gray, Racecourse, Trentham,” and the letterrack held sheaves of these wires. Justice tempered with mercy is the Briton’s idea of fair play. Let us hope in this instance that the remission of the sentence of disqualification will bear fruit, not only in this connection, but also on the 'part of those connected with horse racing who are tempted to wander from the path of rectitude. In this case • j consider the Racing Conference has not made a mistake.