TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Taranaki Daily News, 21 August 1930, Page 5

TURF TOPICS TERSELY TOLD

Sprint? surprises, ' . . ■ Thank goodness the CrasJiional meeting is' over! ° * # • * Wellington audience pelt wrestlers with bric-a-brac. Brick-bats would have been more effective. ■ - * * * ; Newspaper advt., “Does your car need a garage?” Some that we know of could be° stored in a dog kennel. . . .. #••••• * ■ * .

Riding engagements announced for the Pakuranga Hunt meeting on Saturday include J. Cammick, Day Form, Lady Court and Benriie, and L. Dulieu, Maori Boy, Lady’s Boy, Odin and Gay Cockade. Mr.' H. Dods wil Iride Fall o’ the Year in the Bracelet.

Pink Coat has shaken off the rheumatism which affected him recently, and has been doing half-pace work at Washdyke. He will be sent'along faster shortly, with the object of trying out the leg which caused his retirement last season.

Hannibal, who won the second division of the Jervois Handicap in June, is still eligible for hack company, but he may do better than most people think in the Jellicoe Handicap on Saturday. Anyway, he should win over a distance this spring. - ~ , • * * .-•

Royal Game, who is by Royal Stag — Arihia, is now seven years old. At two years, in the 1925-26 season, he won one race in 13 starts; at three years, 12 in 43 starts; at four years, 6 in 38 starts; at five years, 3 in. 35 starts; at six years, 2 in 45 starts; and now, at seven years, 1 win in 3 starts. His total stakewinnings amount to £4289 10s. for 25 wins, 19 seconds and 17 thirds in 177 starts.

Followers of sport in Taranaki will find the Waitara Coursing Club’s gathering at Brixton plumpton to-day full of interest. The early rounds of the Waitara Cup will be decided, and this contest carries a valuable guaranteed stake of £5O to the first dog, as well as the cup presented by Mr. J. A. Shea, while other prizes will be distributed according to the number of dogs entered.

Among the entries for the two-year-old parade at the Pakuranga meeting on Saturday is Golden Spahi, owned and bred by Mr. B. Goldwater. Golden Spahi is by Catmint from Loloma and is therefore a full-brother to Lomint and Chamour, who were good winners under the 'same colours, and Catoma, who is regarded as a promising hack in the Auckland district.

An interesting novice entered for the hurdle events at the Dannevirke meeting is Juggle, the five-year-old son of Joculator an* Engarie, who beat Otairi, Melissa, King Midas, High Falutin’, Manly and Co. at his last win. At the Feilding Easter meeting juggle carried 8.0 and ran High Falutin’ to half a, length. Juggle has the size to recommend him for the jumping game, and, as he has proved himself up to good handicap company, it will be surprising if this young hurdler does not make good.

Unoco was responsible for a good performance when he ran second to Te Hoia in the Arapuni Handicap at the Waipa meeting. He has not had a race since, but is due to contest the Sylvia (Park Handicap at the Pakuranga meeting this week. If produced in the same fettle as when he raced at Waipa Unoco should be in the firing line at the finish of that race.

. Marble Mount, who shaped well in a schooling bout over four hurdles at/ Ellerslie last Thursday morning, will contest the Hunters’ Hurdes at the Pakuranga meeting on Saturday, states the Star. The Marble Arch gelding has done a solid preparation and it will not be for want of condition if he fails to show up in his coming engagement.

Hack Conditions Altered. Horses nominated for hack events at the Auckland meetings are now able to run out their entries, and the maximum weight in those events has been deleted. Hitherto the conditions read: “For three-year-olds and upwards that have not won a flat race of the value of £250, or flat races of the collective value of £5OO at time of starting.” Now they have been altered to read “at time of nomination,” and the maximum weight of 9.0 has been abolished. Paddon Is Well.

A mile and a quarter is generally thought to be just too far for Paddon, but as the class engaged in the Jellicoe Handicap at the coming meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt Club is only moderately good, this gelding should race prominently. In the Clifford Handicap, decided at Awapuni last month, Paddon finished better than any other runner, to get a close third. Paddon was regarded as the unlucky competitor, and better handled in the principal handicap on the second day of the meeting, he won nicely. On that form Paddon appears to hold fair prospects next Saturday and there is no doubt he will scrip one of the fittest horses in the race.

Mountain Guide Destroyed. Subsequent to his fall in the Grand National Hurdles last Thursday Mountain Guide was in a bad way from head injuries, and during the night broke his leg in his box as the result of violent struggling. It was found necessary on Friday morning to destroy him. Mountain Guide was a hurdler of distinct promise. He was put to the fences only last season, and showed special aptitude for the game. During the winter he had won two hurdle- races and been placed several occasions, his best performance being in the Vittoria Hurdles at the Wellington winter meeting. He was a six-year-old gelding by Mountain Knight from Avanti, by Hallowmas from Avaunce, by Advance, and was bred by Mr. N. A. Brown, and raced by Mrs. B. McLeod, of Auckland, mother-in-law of his trainer (E. C. Rae, of Ellerslie). He had won £612 in stakes since he began racing on the flat as a three-year-bld. • ;

Counter attractions. Handle* of beer. # # * # . New Zealand Jockey R, Hunt caught with a battery. Shocking! * * * * Taranaki Hunt Club acceptances close tomorrow night. a-« « • . ’ Catoma is yet a maiden, but if the Catmint four-year-old does not soon break the ice Ellerslie , trackwatchers will be disappointed « # «: * It now transpires that Best Friend received a severe kick at the post in the Winter Cup and an enlarged hock kept him off the scone for the remainder of the meeting. : — - . e « ■» . « . . Wanganui motorist charged' with doing 50 ‘ in.p.h. pleaded that he was only going to a marriage ceremony. Haste to the wedding. a • # • Standfast carried 8.4 when he ran fifth in the Cornwall Handicap, but in the ten-furlong race at Ellerslie on Saturday he drops five pounds and meets True Blood on xBlbs. better terms. , * # * * ■ “Horry” Dulieu was certainly unfortunate when Mangani fell with him in the Sydenham Hurdles, for the popular Auckland horseman sustained a broken collarbone and missed the winning ride in the Lincoln Steeplechase on Aurora Borealis. He has enjoyed a remarkably successful run over fences and on the flat during the past twelve months and finished well up in the jockeys' winning list with 31 victories last season. # # #> * The big Catmint gelding Rosshire ran two fine races at Trentham last month and that form indicates that he will .probably be found among the early spring winners. He is in a mile race at the Pakuranga Hunt gathering. # # * * ■ Noteworthy’s win in the Longbeach Handicap on Saturday removes him from hack ranks, and he will have to do his future racing in open company. Noteworthy has won only four races, but has been placed on a number of other. occasions. * * # # Singleton was the surprise defection from the Jellicoe Handicap -at the Pakuranga meeting, and on his good form at the Gisborne meeting he looked certain to play a big part in his engagement at Ellerslie. However, the public are not likely to forget his forward condition, and he will find supporters at any of the spring meetings where he race?. # ■» * * When the field parades for the Pakuranga Hunt Cup the bettors would be wise to remember that Mashoor ran a good second to Aurora Borealis in the Winter Steeplechase.

It may be rather early to talk of Derby hopes for next season, but the two-year-old Cornerman (Nigger Min-strel-Drolatique) on appearances appeals to those who have seen him as being more than a possibility. With size, muscle and breeding to commend him, this contention is further strengthened by the manner in which he gets over the ground in his training tasks. The Winning Treble.

During the hours of waiting for the fourth Test to commence at Athletic Park, Wellington, the crowd endeavoured to while away the time with merry quip and jest, and one of the. subjects' touched on was the Grand National meeting. “Well, I fancy Aurora Borealis, Toxeuma and Carinthia for the treble,” eaid one man. The stranger sitting next was convulsed with laughter. “What a trio of. beauts, to sort out!” he sneered. Then, as an afterthought, he inquired, “Where do you come from?” “From Bulls,” was the meek reply. ‘T thought so!” shouted the stranger, “You come from Bulls! It’s easily seen that you don’t come from the place where the good horses come from!” The sally was greeted with roars of laughter, but one wonders what that know-all stranger thinks about the treble now. Had A Nerve!

For pure and unadulterated “nerve” a person named J. Callaghan, who resides in the South, takes the whole biscuit. He presented himself at the recent Waimate meeting, and rode Goldtown in two races. Later he went on to the South Canterbury meeting, and rode ’Peterline and Faloose. It was then discovered that he did not hold a license to ride, but had merely been recommended for a license in the new season. For “beating the pistol” he is likely to do hihiself harm with the Canterbury District Committee and with the licensing body, and in addition the owner of Goldtown will have to refund third money won by his horse, the Rules of Racing laying it down that: “Every horse ridden by an unlicensed jockey shall be disqualified for the race.” Radio Defies Racing.

z Racing and trotting authorities having prohibited the broadcasting of races from the .racecourse, it was expected that the various radio stations would have closed down on the game, but such has not been the case, and it seems that the clubs are openly being defled. Opinions differ as regards the merits (or evils) of broadcasting racing, and m Australia there is no doubt that radio is “feeding” the S.P. men, besides gathering crowds of punters into hotels, billiard saloons, tobacconists’ shops, etc., all of which is detrimental to the success of the sport as carried on by the clubs. Yet in New Zealand it is doubtful if radio made many etay-at-home punters when the course was within reasonable distance. On the other hand, it may have served to keep interest alive in the sport, and may have made “converts” to the game. But the facts of the squabble seem to be that the racing and trotting clubs, which are “up against things” in earnest, are taking no risks of losing either patronage or totalisator investments, and, furthermore, consider that the Government (which makes most out of both branches of sport) should take immediate steps to protect the interests of the clubs, as well ad’ of the Government itself »

Ta—ta—-hiti. # * «■ * Burglar’s haul, .ten shillings. Small fish are sweet. « * # « • Pakuranga and Hawke’s Bay Hunt meetings on Saturday. « & * ' Joy in U.S.A, through rain breaking the drought. It must have been awful swallowing “Bootlegger” neat. «*# „ » At a wayback Victorian meeting a horse named Shandy won three events. Beer with a dash! «■ # Rational 11 did not race with the best of luck at Riccarton, but the Rossendale gelding is in good trim and should not be long off the winning list. - » « Gold Money has won a number of good sprints at Ellerslie and, in the light of her double win in June, she may again be hard to beat on Saturday. # # * * The Arrowsmith gelding Ranelagh has not run a bad race since graduating from hack ranks, and his win last Saturday confirms the high opinion of him. It should not be long before he is in the money again. # * * #’ Last season Desert Song lacked stamina, but the Hunting Song gelding is improving in this respect and, possessing the pace he does, it will not be surprising to find him winning good races. * 1? #. * . Rapina was paying anything in the Redcliff’s Handicap on Saturday and ran a fine race into fourth position. If the half-sister to Rapine does not win in good handicap middle-distance company this season it will be surprising. St. Warrigal competed against some good class ’chasers at the Auckland winter meeting and, although he does not stay on too well he will find the company weaker in the Pakuranga Hunt Cup. # # # For consistency and versatility the hunter West Dome (Balboa-Lady Low•burn) takes a lot of beating. In his last eight starts he ran three seconds, three firsts, an unplaced and a second, and in those races ho was seen over country, hurdles and as a flat-racer, Only a five-year-old, his best days appear to be yet to come. & * # # The grand old ancient Nukumai is not a spent light yet. Following hi* goodvfourth in the Grand National Hurdles he ran a fine second to the champion hurdler, Carinthia, in the Sydenham Hurdles, and a repetition of that form would seem to assure him a success in a minor jumping race this spring. «■ * # * Southerners hold the three-year-old Sleipner in high esteem, and though at present he shapes like a sprinter he should go further with age. Sleipner is by Valkyrian from Keep Watch, whose progeny included, that useful but unlucky performer, Day Guard. « • « « Pennyplain created a favourable impression when he won the Hunt Club Hurdles at Ellerslie in June and does not look to be badly treated in the Harris Hurdles on Saturday,

Nancy Lee had not previously been sent past sprint distances until she contested the Winter Cup, but in that race she" displayed a fair amount of staying ability and it would not bo surprising to find her lasting out ten furlongs.. Under a lighter scale of weights and on a heavy track she will not be without admirers at Ellerelie on Saturday. Turf Prophets. /

Though such practices are prohibited in New Zealand, turf tipsters find a lucrative living throughout the world, and many are the devices of these gentry in “spotting winners." The credulous clientele of these prophets are generally fleeced right and left, and one of the most popular - methods is to select a different horse for every inquirer, and, when the race is won, collect from the extremely lucky winner. Writing on this subject a subscriber to an Irish journal states: “Ono man whose acquaintance the writer made some years ago, and who made several hundreds a year by racing tips, actually confessed to me that he had never even seen a racehorse. He was, in fact, a chronic invalid who never left his house except in a bathehair; and yet he knew more of racing than any man I have ever met. He made a life-long study, of it, and had every horse and its performances at his finger tips. He was gifted, top, with remarkable judgment, and although he had no material more than is accessible to anybody in the daily papers, he spotted more winners than any other two prophets. But this man was at least as honest as he was successful, and spared no. pains to give his customers good value for their money, which is more than can be said of many other tipsters who make , substantial incomes . more easily than any other men I know.” The Law of Averages. Another story is related of turf tipsters, and there is a certain amount of ingenuity in the scheme. One of these fraudulent prophets confessed in a moment of bibulous confidence that his tips never cost him more than sixpence a day for information, although he rarely made less than £5OO a year out of them. His usual method was simplicity itself. He took in regularly half a dozen daily papers, which he considered most reliable in sporting matters, then collated their various tips, and gave his clients the benefit of the result. For instance, if three papers gave Ramrod as the probable winner of a certain race, while two others nominated Matchbox, he would plump for Ramrod, and, of course, his choice was not infrequently a good one. But occasionally he departed from this fairly safe method, and trusted himself to chance. On one occasion he wrote down the names of half-a-dozen horses he fancied most on separate slips of paper, put the slips into a hat, and drew one. As good luck would have it, he drew Aboyeur; and if his clients had the courage to follow his tip they must have scored heavily, for Aboyeur, who started at 100 to the Derby. Hoodoo of Camera. . /', .. "