THE TURF.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143765, 13 April 1912, Page 8

THE TURF.

(By Field Glass.)

FIXTURES. April 17—Reefton J.C. Autumn, April 17 and 20—Wellington R.C. Autumn. April 24 and 25—Manawatu R.C. Autumn. April 24 and 25—South Canterbury J.C. Autumn. May 1 and 2—Marlborough R.C. Autumn. May X and-2—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Autumn. May 9 and 10—Ashburton County R.C. Autumn. June 1 and 3—Dunedin J.C. Winter.

The absence oi' the totalisator from the Ratea Club’s meeting on Faster Monday made a vast diiforence to the attendance and also to the acceptances. The meeting proved very conclusively that by far the majority of people do not attend a race, meeting tor love of the sport, hut rather for the purpose of gambling. Although the fields on the whole were small, the racing was interesting, some of the finishes being very exciting, none more so, perhaps, than in the Flying, in which there were only two starters. The race was only won, after a very keen struggle, by inches.

Mr. J. C. Montefiore had a good innings at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting, Erin’s Tracey winning the Cup and the President’s Handicap •on the first day, and Pukekura secured the Ballance Stakes on the second day. A boy named J. Stenning secured the leading position amongst the winning jockeys at Auckland with three wins. Then came B. Decley, C. Brown, and J. Buchanan, two each ; and J. Deerey, E. Jones, C. Jenkins. F. O’Shea, j. M‘Cinsky, and J. Xachen each rode one winner.

The news of Sanch* Paul’s success at Auckland was received with a great deal of satisfaction locally, for the St. Paul gelding has been very unlucky lately in not gaining .several wins. He lias‘finished in second and third place on quite a number of occasions during the last few months.

Towards the closing stages of the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn Steeplechase the locally-trained horse Pleiades was occupying the lend, but he could not respond to the, challenge of Sol and Webfoot in the straight, and finished thirds The famous mare Sceptre, which was sold last July for 7000 guineas, has foaled to Lord Rosebery’s Derby winner Cicero.

Mr. R. H. Campbell’s St. Paul gelding Simple Sam, who won the Railway Hack at Masterfon, ancl also a double at the recent Opunakc meeting, a Wanganui writer says, is one of the speediest hacks on' the coast. Ho is just the cut to make n jumper, and, all going well, he is likely to earn distinction over the hurdles later on.

Lady Medallist is. evidently in her best form just qow. She put up a fin© performance in the Doncaster Handicap last Saturday. Giving Lochano, a three-year-old filly, 301 b., Lady Medallist carried her Pat. 71b. to within half a length of the winner in Imin. 40ser. Handioappers seem inclined to hump the weight up too much on Lady Medallist. Messrs.. P. and W. Mitchell's chestnut horse Trafalgar. Wallace—Grand Canary, gained another woight-for-age victory on -Saturday, winning the Autumn Stakes nt Bandwick, after a slashing race with Malt King. In Australia douhu had been expressed as to the ability of Malt King to get a full mil© and a half. Mr. O’Brien’s fine hors© quite disproved this, and Trafalgar only beat him by a neck in 2min. 3-kspc.., after a truly great race. The Canterbury Times ha.s published some very strong remarks in regard to an alleged jockeys’ ring in the North Island and what follows in the train of that organisation. The Times says: ‘‘For a long time past it has been apparent that there was a lot of crooked running on North Island courses, while cases of interference have been growing increasingly frequent. In thus latter connection, in fact, it lias become quite a usual thing to look for stories of horses having their chances spoilt by unwelcome attentions from other competitors. All the time, too, there has been an unpleasant feeling that the situation was ruled by a small coterie comprising some of the leading jockeys. Just how far their operations extended could only he a matter for surmise, but it lias been freely arserted that on many occasions the owners interested were »quite as much in the dark as to what was doing as the general public. The existence of a ‘jockeys’ ring’ has been frequently spoken of, and though laughed to scorn in some quarters, there can he no doubt that something of the sort has been operating for a long time past. Its effect has probably not been felt much at Biccarton meetings, but the questionable tactics have been introduced by northern riders at times on other South Island courses. Wo do not wish to suggest that the jockeys in this island are all models of virtue, but in the main they are simple as babes compared with their northern rivals when it comes to the baser tricks. 0° their own ground the clever members of the North Island contingent make it very hard for an outsider, and more than one Southern owner, after an experience of their tactics, have abandoned all further ideas of racing their horses in that part of the Dominion, feeling satisfied that they had only a remote prospect of success under the existing conditions. The- good sportsman does not mind being beaten, but he likes a fair run. and that he certainly docs not always receive if he sends his horses North.”

By this time (says the London Times) vnost owners of marcs have decided the important question of matinee thorn, and the choice, of sires is certainly extensive from various points of view. For no animal’s services is 500 guineas now asked, this having been the fee at which the Duke of Portland’s St. Simon stood for a number of years—and little short of it was asked in France for the grey horse Le Sancy. The present highest is 300 guineas, and there 'is a descent to zero. Nil Hi Seenndus, of whom at one time a very high opinion wan entertained—he used to carry the Royal Colour?—being announced as gratis. A son of St. Simon and Nunsnch, a winner of races, second for the Dowhurst Plato and for the valuable Princess of Wales ® Stakes, there is no reason why Nuln Sccundus should not bo a brilliant success at tho stud.