SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1124, 18 December 1914, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING.

NOTES BY 'ARGUS."

FIXTURES. December 26—KaikouTu Rating *- ,lu % nn ,- no . December 26-Taratahi - Carterton R»«*=>

Club. '.'-m, December 26-Hurunui Turf Club. December -26—ForangaW Raoiug December '26, ae-Dur.edin Jockey uuo. December 26, .28-Taranoki Jockey caw. December 26, 28- Cromwell Jockey V- u°December 26, »-B«ofton Jockey Cluo. December 26, 2S-Th&meß Jockey \'V, , December 26. 29, January 1. 2-AucKiana Racing Club. , ~ .__ f>i,,i, December 26. 28, 29-Mana"ratu RRcin^mo. December 26-Ashburton Trotti"? C.uo. December 26—Gore Trotting C'Ub. , December 2C. 28-Weatport Trottm* December 30, 31-Auokland Trottine um>. December 81, January l-Greynwutti JocKey Club. ' «i v. January I—-Waikouaiti Racing Club. January. I—Cheviot Racing Club. January I—Wyndbam Racing Club. January 1, 2—Marton Jockey cum ' January 1, .2-Stratford Racing Club,_ January 1, S-Hawke'a Bay Jockey cub. January 1, 2-Wairarapa Racm? Club. January 1, 2—Vincent JoekeyC'ub. January 1, a-Canterbury Park Trotting January 'fl, 4-Greymoutli Trotting Club. January 2, 4—.North. Ota<?o Jookey Club. January 3, 4-Southland Racing Club. January 5, 6—Westlaud Racing Club.

The summer meeting of the New Brighton Trotting Club will be concluded to-morrow. The club was favoured with unusually large fields on the opening day,'aM the prospects are equally bright for to-morrow. The principal event, the New Brighton Trotting Cup, will be 'an exception, but it will not lose anything on that account. Out ol an original entry of five, Albert ti has been allowed to drop out, leaving King Cole, Emmelme, Country Belle and Denver Huon to contest the principal event of the meeting. What the field lacks in size, however, will be more than made up inequality, and the prospect of seeing four high class performers racing over two miles on tree for all'conditions, all from the scratch mark, should ensure the successof the meeting A special tram service has been arranged, and the first race will be started' at 12.30 p.m.

For some considerable time past the Breeders and Owners' Association has been endeavouring to get the various trotting clubs to adopt a system ot handicapping which it has formulated. "With several of the proposals I 'im in accord, though, on the other hand, thero are some which are open to considerable criticism. Tho Association does not assert that its proposals are perfect, but considers them worthy pf a trial and that they should eventually form a basis from which a solid, workable scheme could be evolved, The Association approached the New Zealand Trotting Association and put its proposal! before the governing body, with a request that the various clubs should bo written to, with a view of ascertaining their views on the question. A number of clubs have already replied to the circular of the Breeders and Owners' Association. Some favour the scheme, others disapprove of' it, whilst some approve of some portions. The New Brighton Trotting Chib, however, agreed that for its. chief handicap race, the Mace Memorial Handicap, the adjustments should bo made pn the system brought forward by the Breeders' and Owners' Association, and therefor© the handicapper (Mr H. Brinkman) was instructed to frame his adjustments, on that basis. The race produced a good contest and no fewer than twenty liorses started for the Stake given by the club. As the important; question of handicapping has got so'tar as to have a trial under another system,' although in- a modified form' it-"would b©:well to review itj on the results shown from last Wednesday's race. There are several close followers of the sport who assert tnatj the handicapping in the majority of is bound to result an good contests." at the same time stating that a perfect handicap, if one could be made, may produce a bad race and ,-m uneventful finish. No one will dispute the fact that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction existing, from the! method at present in force, and even f this could be obviated a better state ■|f things, would, prevail. There is just no point I wouldJ like to mention in this connection. Several horses were e ater'ed for .the* race in which the s :hbme was tried without any know-1 hdge of. the fact that it was to be put into force, and naturilly they relt aggrieved when they found that their horses were handicapped on a totally diffeu-nt basis from recent adjustments. The New, Brighton Trotting Club is to be commended for giving the system a trial, but it would have been better if it had informed intending nominators that the race in question would be adjusted on a different basis to other races on its programme. One has become accustomed to find the progressive seaside club in the van on all matters that are likely to be for the betterment of the sport, but on this occasion it missed' a point in not informing owners of its intention to instruct the handicapper to frame the adjustments for the chief event on fresh, lines. The,success of the race under the new conditions admits of no argument, and if for no other rensou than that it prevents owners finding fault with adjustments it is worth a further trial. lam not sure that all owners and trainers thoroughly understand the system, but it is not a complicated one in any way, and on6e it becomea clearly understood, and clubs decide to adopt it for varioxis races, a etep forward towards a betterment of the sport will be achieved. One thing is certain: owners entering horses for races in. which tho system is to be adopted will know beforehand the starts their horses are to receive, and therefore by their patronage of races will clearly. prove to clubs their acceptance of it. It was intended that a deputation from the Breeders' and Owners' Association should wait on the president and secretary of the Ashburton Trotting Club at New Brighton on Saturday, < with a view to securing a further trial of the system in the chief event at Ashburton on Boxing Day. The proposal was finally abandoned, however, it being pointed out that there was very little time for tho committee of the club to discuss the suggestion, but I understand that the scheme may be tried by the Ashburton Trotting Club at its winter meeting next June.

There are usually several horses from Canterbury competing at the Christmas meeting or the Auckland Trotting Club, but thia year very few were nominated, and I have just learned that neither Cameos nor Antonio will make the trip. Cameos struck her knee again rather badly, and her owner has decided to give her a spell until she thoroughly recovers. M. Edwards, with his team, will go North, leaving here on Monday.

fftsars W J Morland, F. Amor and B. Grice intend visiting the Gore Trotting Club's Boxing Dny meeting, at which they havo horses engaged.

Golden King, who showed attractive form at Eiccarton last month, is reported to he sore in the shoulder muscles, and he may not bo raced at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting next month.

Magdala is understood to be amiss and though he Ins been nominated for the Southland Racing Club's meeting lie nay not be a starter.

Acceptances are due to-night for the gammer meetings of the Auckland Racing Club, Dunedin Jockey Club, Reefton Jockey Club, Hawke's Bay Jockey oub, Taratahi Carterton Racing Club,

Marton Jockey Club and Aucklan Trotting Club.

In the One Mile and a Half Trot a! tho Hurunui Turf Club's meeting Clevewood is handicapped osec bohim scratch, while ho has ssoc start in tin Two Mile Trot.

Tho Hon Francis Lambton was killc' in action on October 31. Deceased who was the youngest brother of th Earl of Durham, was closely identifier with racing in England, having been •■ traTnor for a number of years, durinr which he turned out a hundred winner of 162 races. On the outbreak of th war lie volunteered for service and se cured a commission as sub-lieutonanl in tho tloyal Horse Guards.

The six-year-old mare FVrly Morn by Tilgrim's Progress—Midnight, w:v among the winners at tho Ascot pom meeting, Melbourne, this month.

The Awfipnni trainer, T. Wi'ion, lias been seriously ill of late, and is contemplating a.sea trip. Ho to dispose of hj' horses at Woed'ville this week, and will retire from training.

,T. M'Qregor, the steepleoliase rider, who was severelv hurt Inst June, ha* so far progressed that he wa* able to visit tho CauhSold tranks reeentlv._ without his crutches, but aided by a stick. The steel plate attached to his broken leg, which would not knit at the time it was set, has now been removed, and M'Gregor hopes to resume riding in the near future.

Fees for seme of the high priced rtallions in England are . being reduced, as a result of the war.

Tt is reported' from Australia that Mr E. J. Craven refund IOOOgs for the St Savin—Lady Medalist eolt foal before it was dropped and GOOgs was refused for a colt foal by the same horr- from Destruction. St Saviri, who rame to Australia, via America, was got bv St Simon from Abnynp. by Hampton from Morven, by Barcaldine.

The Victorian trainer R. H. F"*>w is a believer in giving horses intended for junroinc; an idea of the business early in tlieir career, and results have often proved him to. be correct. Chelsea, who subsequently turned out a crack cross-country performer, was given some hurdle practice as a yearling; and Sir Prim was an expert jumper as a two-year-old'. , Frew is now schooling the two-vear-o!d Loch Doon, who shaped we'll at Mooneo Valley recently. Locb Doon, ridden by P. Kopps, was Kiven a lesson over the brush jumps at Flemingtou, and went about the work like an old stager.

A question that has been much discussed in Australia relates to the right of the lessen of a horse to withdraw that horse from engagements he has made for it which extend beyond tho term of his lease. On nil such matters opinions differ. Even those persons who have had leased horses in th,eir possession are not agreed on the {>oint. Let' it be assumed that the esseo has nominated his horse for one or more races on Boxing Day, and his lease expires before that date, the question is, has he the right to withdraw the horse from those engagements at any time prior to the termination of his 'lease, assuming that the actual owner declines to extend the period of the lease. Some, racing men argue, says a writer in the Sydney "Daily Telegraph," that the lessee's authority extends only to those engagements which, are included within the limits of his lease, others are of opinion that he has absolute control over others th«*t he'may have entered into while he remiins the lessee, and this appears to be the correct view. The person who made the entries is the one liable for payments of whatever bind that may attach to the entering of such horse, and it is fair to suppose that he may please himself as to whether he transfers the engagements to the actual cwner or strikes the horse out of them. Those who tire responsible for the rules of racing would appear to have recognised this, 'otherwise' some law woli'd have been laid down to prevent the lessee taking such action. The fact of an owner having leaded a horse to someone else does not debar him from making engagements for that horse in. mces which are to take place after the lease has run out; The rules give Mm •authority for it in order that Tie shall not be placed at a disadvantage. The lessee may for some reason or other desire to lessen the value of tho horse by omitting to noirinate it for races which closed during the currency of his lease and are to be run after its termination. He may want to " cot oven" on the owner because of the latter's refusal. to grant an extension of the lease, and that is probably one reason why the lessor's authority was denned in the rules, it being laid down tint "the lessor of any horse leased for racing purposes may, during the currency of such lease, enter such horse for any race to be run after the expiration of such lease." Therefore, if he is "left," it is as a consequence of his own neglect. The lessor - does not*profess any right to withdraw a horse from any engagement entered into by the lessee, the rule relating to scratching setting out clearly that no notice for the withdrawal of a horse shall be accepted from any person other than tho nominator or the trainer, except in pursuance of an pithority in writing signed by one or the other.