SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING. NOTES BY "ARGUS." FIXTURES. March 17—Opunake R .0. Mnrcli 19 —Waimate R.C. March 25, 2(j—Rangitikci J. 0. April 1, 2—Southland R.C. April 2, 3—MasLerton "11 .C. April 11—Tuapeka J.C. • April 13—Beaumont .J.C'. April 11, 13—Auckland K.C. April 11. 13—Yv airarapa R.C. April 13—Waipukurau J.C. April 13—Kumara li.C'. April 13, 14—llivcrton lt.C. April 13, 14—Canterbury'J.C. April 13. IJ—Fcilding J.C. April 15—Westland U.C. April 15, 18—.Metropolitan T.C. April 22—-Hoe[ton J.C. April 23, 25—Wellington li.C. April 29, 30—South Canterbury. J.C. April 29, 30—TvTanawatu K.C.

In view of his three excellent performances at the autumn meeting of the Victoria Racing Club, at which lie won tho Sfc Leger, Loch Plate and 'Champion Stakes, there will ho a. disposition now to boom Radnor as tho champion three-year-old of the. season. Iji summing up. tho situation, however, it will be as well to hark back to the spring. I think Radnor made his first appearance as a three-year-old in the Chelmsford Stakes, at Sydney Tattersall's September meeting, Duke Footo winning by a length and u half from Beragoon, who beat Radnor by lour lengths, with Andelosia unplaced. A week later Beau Soult beat Radnor in tho Rosehill Guineas, but Beragoon was not iu the field. Then came the Australian Jockey Club's Derby, in which Beragoon .beat Radnor by half a neck, Andelosia being some distance away. On the second day of tho meeting Radnor finished second to Soltano in tho Clibborn Stakes, with Andelosia a The cracks next met in the Victoria Derby, Beragoon winning easily by four lengths from Radnor. who was two lengths in front of Andelosia. Beragoon and Radnor were a- long way back in the Melbourne Cup, and on the last day of the meeting Atidelosia heat Radnor by over two lengths in the C. B. Fisher "Plate, with Beragoon a. neck away. Beragoon was then put asido for a spell, as he was evidently going off. Ilis owner decided, soon afterwards, iWt to trouble about the Victoria Racing Club's autumn meeting, but to get his colt ready for the autumn fixture of the Australian Jockey Club. In his absenco Radnor only did what might have been expected of him in beating Andelosia and the rest of tho three-year-olds so comfortably, while . the "older horses competing in the weight for age events were such a, moderate lot that no special credit attached to beating them, tho task being only ijvliat any good three-year-old should have been equal to. It will be interesting, however, to note how Radnor fares with Beragoon at the Australian Jockey Club's meting at Easter.' There have been vague rumours afloat more than once concerning Beragoon, but at latest accounts lie was doing good work on the Randwick tracks. It would appear as if he was quite sound at present, and, as lie will be able to got a lace or two to sharpen him up, the Multiform colt should be in his nest form for his important engagements at Easter. This should provide a thorough test of Radnor's ability, ■ and history, will only be repeating itself should, the trial of strength result in Radnor having to take second place,- thus providing a confirmation of spring form.

Townit, the winner of the Newmarket lownit, the winner of the Newmarket Handicap, was bred in New South Wales by Messrs J. and AV. Thompson, at Widden. Cider and Aleconner, who finished second and third in the same race, were also foaled at the'same stud, though not bred by the Thompsons, their dams having been sent to Widden to bo mated.

Mr G. D. Greenwood was a visitor to Riccarton early this morning to see his horses working.

The grass track at Riccarton was open this morning for horses engaged at the Waimate meeting, but only Taskmaster and Flower of til© West took advantage of the opportunity to gallop on it.

I had a short conversation this morning with Mr A. Williamson, well known to owners and trainers in all-parts of the dominion on account of his champion linament. He has just returned from Australia, where ho has been for about two years and 1 a half, during which time he has visited every State in the Commonwealth'. He lias ha'd many of the cracks under his care, Radnor among them. During a visit to Perth at Christmas Mr Williamson had a serious illness, of which he still shows some effects, though ho is gradually building up again. He will probably remain here till after Easter, when he will once more take himself off to Australia.

F. P. Claridge lias taken a couple of three-year-old geldings for Mr Hamisli M'Lean. One of thein, a half brother to Sir Hamilton, is by Terrapin—Miss Hamilton, while the other is by Terra-, pin—Resound, by Explosion—Sybil. Ke r sound is very closely related to Uladsome's dam, Miss Gladys, who is oy Cuirassier —Sybil

The well-laiowii-Sydiiey'~owner, Mr t'. Merton, intends to pay a visit to England shortly, and he will look out for a few horses to race on !i?S return. Mr Merton, by the way, diaers from most owners m one important particular, as lie has his horses distributed in all directions. P. T. Beywood trains a few of his horses in Melbourne, while J. Siely and I. Foulsham both have members of his team under their care at Raudwick. Now T. J)'. Scully will be added to the list of his trainers, as he will have the handling of four untried animals which Mr Merton lias recently leased.

Australian breeders have shown considerable enterprise for some years past, and though some of'the English importations have not been of, the most desirable class, there have' been others that have gained notable distinction. With a few exceptions,_tliß Austraiianbred sires have been pus'hed into the background, and even Wallace, tor long one of the bulwarks of the colonial lines of blood, is dropping off. Scarcely a meeting is held ill Australia now without the progeny of imported sires figuring prominently among the winners, aud at times they pretty well clean up tlio programme. At a meeting held at Rosehill, Sydney, on February 23, a new sire came into prominence, when Barboune won the Nursery Handicap. Barboune is by Bardolph, by Bay Ronald—Farandole, by St Frusquin— For Ever, by Doncaster. He was imported by Mr P. Rr-ynoTds in 1910 and great things are predicted for him with the first-class patronage ho is certain to receive.

Tlio pacer Silver Black was recently sold in Auckland for 1:35. Ho was imported from Australia some years ago, with some smart mile performances to' his credit, and was raced in the south for some time. Subsequently bought by Mr J. Smith, TTo raced in Canterbury with little success, and finally found his way to Auckland, where iast October lie won a mile and a half race, on a slow track, in siiam 4S ,3-ssec. Ho was never accounted a good stayer here.

The winter meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club will .be held on A.uril '-"J and May -. The chief event

on the .first day is the President's Handicap (in harness), of £250, two miles, for liorses that can do 4min 44sec or better, whilst 011 the second day the prize-money is £2OO for the same class. Entries for all events close ou Friday, April 3, and handicaps for the first day are due on Monday, April 20, with acceptances on Friday, April 2<i. There is no doubt that the success of the club in the past lias to a large measure been brought about by the good stakes offered, which have induced Canterbury and Southland owners to freely nominate. Curiously enough, although the Ihinedin public attend in crowds to witness the racing, there are very few highclass Dunedin-owned horses. The two intervening days between the races are very irksome to visiting owners, who have to practically waste, a wholo week to attend tlie meeting, and the club should consider the convenience of those who provide the sport by racing on .following days. I have referred to this feature of the club's policy before, and hope that when future programmes arearranged the club_ will recognise the justice of the position. The club races on the Friday and Saturday for its November meeting, but in February and May the racing is held on Wednesday and Saturday. The November meeting is just as successful as th© other meetings, and there is always a largo number of visitors from Canterbury and Southland, and usually better fields. The change would impose no hardships on the local contingent, whilst it would confer a boon to the visitors.

The classes for trotters and pacers will form a strong attraction at the Royal Show at Sydney next month. Nearly £SOO will be distributed in prizes, of which £350 will bo devoted to the speed tests.

The West Australian Trotting Association has held five meetings under electric light on successive Saturday nights, and the sport seems to liavo " caught on." Good attendances are recorded, and although the Association gives £2OO a meeting, a profit has been shown over each. The Association intends to continue these meetings until the .weather gets too cold.

They are still far from being up to date in England in nianv of their arrangements for tlio conduct of race meetings. Some time ago the stewards, of the English Jockey Olub caused an announcement to be made defining the procedure to be followed in declaring that a winner had passed the scales, tho main idea being to abolish tho old verbal signal of " All right." In spite of the new arrangement, some confusion and avnoyanco resulted from tho disqualification of a winner later in the season. Richard Marsh, the King's trainer, recently wrote an interesting letter on the subject, in which he gave a simple suggestion that might, ho thinks, be considered by the authorities as meeting tho case. "My idea," ho says, "is that the winner of a race should bo weighed in before any of the placed horses and the others in rotation according to tho placings in tho race. Then if therowere. any objection it would be lodged by the time the fourth jockey had passed tho scales. No objection need be entertained after that unless on the ground of fraud. The ' All right 1" could bo called or signalled immediately _ after the fourth liorso had been weighed in. and' the public nnd tho bookmakers would know there was no chance of any objection. The roason I have made a point that the winner should be weighed in first is because I have seen jockeys that were placed gallop back, weigh in, and be in the jockeys'- dressing-room before tho winner has passed tho scale. By waiting for tho winner and tho other three jockeys to pass the scale, tli<s owner or trainer would be given time to make an objection if necessary before tlio last of tlio four has been weighed'in. It is the simplest way, aiul I think it is clear to everyone. I am not certain, but I have a recollection of some years ago that an objection had to bo lodged before tho winner passed the scale, or it was regarded as being too late." In New Zealand it is the custom to weigh in the winner first, and this seems such a cominonsense idea that it seems surprising thero should be any need to urge the adoption of tho practice in England.