TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1930, Page 5

TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Tick-toxcuma! ... ft ■ X ft * ft Punters money will be going "south” next week. .«« * • At most winter meetings the two .best bets are an oil-skin and gum boots. # * ft Paddon has now struck form and >he should play a prominent part in the Dunedin Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting on August 23, a race in which he was second twelve months ago. ft . * * * ‘■Look before you leap” is a motto for horses and horsemen when that sft. fence at “Cutts’ ” comes .into view. . « » • • Nominations for the Taranaki Hunt Club meeting, at New Plymouth, close on Monday night. . . ■ • • * ‘ ■ '* ft * Final payments for the ' National treble and-acceptances for. the minor events on the opening day of the meeting are due to-night. ft * • On two ■ occasions Hector Gray has ridden more .winners in New Zealand in a season than the total which stands to, his credit this year, 7'5. In 1910-11 he won ’79 races, in 1913-19 his record was' 82. ~ . A. E. EHis will take the mount on Mister Gamp in the National Hurdles. Ellis rode ' tlie ’ Bronzetti gelding in the Great Northern and National last year; * . * * . * . The. .Grand National candidates Matu and bmeo were shipped south by the Malieno oh Monday night. Five of Mra. Alan McDonald’s' team went to Lyttelton on the same steamer. , « •. # * * Broad Acre,; who won the last race of the season at Awapuni last week, •had not won since taking the Wharangi Handicap- at the Foxton .meeting in January. Broad Acre gave considerable promise a few seasons ago, and the popular Foxton mentor, Fred Carmont, seems to have-the Acre gelding back to hie be.st form. # ft According- to -“The Watcher,” Marjoram’s form at the Manawatu meeting will probably convince his connections that he has a chance of picking up a stake at the Grand National meeting. If he goes south he will not have the services of A. Tinker, who rode him at Wellington and Awapuni. Tinker has a big team of young horses in work at Te Rapa, and cannot afford the time to take a trip to Riccarton. ft ft ft ft During the past seven seasons A. E. Ellis bus ridden 293 - winners. In 192728 he finished third on the list with sixty-nine winners to his credit; in 19-28-29 he was first with sixty-one wins; and the season which just closed last week he was second on the list with seventy winners. During the last three years Eiiis has been riding as a free lance, and he has ridden 200 winners, «> * *• * Harry Burt Retires. Among those at Awapuni last week taking their racing from the grandstand was A. H. Burt, a.popular cross-country rider, who has definitely retired from the saddle. He handed in his licence at the-end of last season, and is now following a less exciting but safer calling, states an exchange. Burt rode his first winner, in England in 1911. He came to New Zealand, and during the war was a member of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. For a long time Burt rode more than his share of winners over fences in this country. He was never lucky enough to bring home the winner of a big steeplechase, but scored in the Grand National Hurdles on Gladful and Comical. He also won many of the hunt cup steeplechases and minor jumping races in the Dominion. * ft * * Stud Book Volume Xi. Volume XI of the New Zealand Stud Book will be on issue this week. It comprises a comprehensive volume of 580 pages, containing nearly twice the matter of any previous issue. It is a monument of the patience and industry of the compiler, Mr. A, H. Bristed, and -he deserves the thanks of all who have occasion to rely upon this essential production. The Stud Book in the past has never paid, the burden having to be carried mainly by the Racing Conference. This "is largely due to the dilatory attitude of clubs., owners, and others

connected with the sport, and their lack of support for what really, to racing, is an indispensable aid. Only ten clubs in all the Dominion subscribe to the Stud Book, a sorry state of affairs, while owners and trainers are equally indifferent. The value of thoroughbred stock is greatly enhanced by inclusion in the Stud Book, and with such a valuable market as Australia at our back door it will pay owners, breeders and others to take a more lively interest in the latest result of the editor’s laborious work. :

G-nashional week. #'* * * Good horses will be winning money by leaps and bounds. 1 # * * ft This season's premier horseman, Hector Gray,-commenced riding in 1903. He began to learn the art with Dr. Paget, h Stratford sportsman who rode as an amateur in Taranaki years ago. Later he went to the late J. George at New Plymouth, and with him was associ-

ated for many years. He had eighteen rides in his first season, winning three races and being placed four times. His ‘first win was on Mr. J. Mouatt’s Rustique at Patea on April 13, 1903. He won again later in the day on the same horse. ft ; ft ft ft Handy’s third in the Awapuni Steeplechase last week suggests that the two-mile Enfield Steeplechase at Riccarton should suit him perfectly, « ft ft # The usual number of mishaps to aspirants for National honours has evinced itself in the past few weeks, and it is doubtful if Lord Ranald, Radiate, Snowfall, Seaboy, Lancer and Aberfeldy will survive the final payments for the jumping double. Hymestrason, of course, has been destroyed.

National Week opens on Tuesday. » « “ « ft 11. N. Wiggins will ride Havering in the Winter Cup. # # ft ft ‘Silver Paper has been placed on the easy list once more and will not be raced next week. * « * * J. b ,M. Walsh and A. E. Ellis, who each rode four winners at Gisborne and Riccarton respectively, top the list of winning horsemen for the new season, ft * * ft Lancer is sporting a doubtful leg and that accounted for his withdrawal from the Longbeach Hurdles on Saturday. .This news will not be tasteful to his army of supporters for the National Hurdles. * # ft ft * Mr. F. Ormonds brood mare, Te Aupaki, dam of Toxeuma, arrived at Riccarton last Friday on another visit to Arrowsmith. The same owner's Matty, half-sister to Marsa, dam of Nightmarch, was also sent down to visit Night Raid, but died when being unshipped at Lyttelton. Mr. J. D. Ormond's mare Marty, dam of many winners, was another arrival by the same boat, and is to be mated with Night Raid. ft « ft » ' HymeMraeon Destroyed. The Awapuni mentor, R. E. Hatch, suffered a severe loss on Saturday morning when it was found necessary to destroy Hymestrason, who was injured during the running of the Awapuni Steeplechase on Thursday. Hymestrason, it will be remembered, showed promising form at the recent Wellington meeting, when he won the two hack steeplechases. He was allotted 9.11 for the Grand National Steeplechase and was not without admirers for that event. Hymestrason, who had just turned eight years, was a gelding by the Hymettus horse, Hymestra from Native Lady, by Formative from Edith Cureton by Castor from Frailty (dam of the great Musket horse Trenton), by Goldsborongh. It had been hoped to save Hymestrason, but his injuries were, too deep-seated to readily respond to treatment.