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Star (Christchurch), Issue 1125, 19 December 1914, Page 5

At tho meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association held .last Tuesday it was resolved that no programme would be passed for a racing club haying a totaiisator permit unless a minimum stake of £SO was provided for each trotting event. The resolution was passed chiefly on account of one member asserting that racing clubs derived a. good deal of revenue from the trotting races on their programmes, as they were frequently the most popular events. It- appears as though tho resolution was somewhat hurriedly agreed to by members, and it may not prove to ho successful nor satisfactory to the sport generally. In the North Island there are very few racing clubs that include trotting events on their programmes, but in the South Island, especially in the Southland district, where unfortunately there aro few trotting clubs, racing clubs cater largely for tho trotter and pacei\ I have gono carefully through the list of racing clubs that include trotting events and find a very small proportion of them that do not already give more than the amount specified, and these clubs are racing in a very small way, with no large stakes for any of the events. The stakes provided by these clubs for trotting races, although not quite up to £SO, hear a very fair proportion to the amounts given for the galloping events. If these clubs are now compelled to give £SO for each trotting event, it may mean that.they will abolish these races altogether, and thus the sport will suffer in the districts affected from insufficient opportunities for racing. Most of the clubs that cater for both sports are quite alive to their obligations in regard to stakes' and profit accruing from the individual races. Where it is found that certain races show a good individual profit they aro encouraged, and the stakes aro proportionately increased. The Southland Racing Club is the strongest club in every way in its district, and having proved that it is profitable to have trotting events on all its programmes by the support given to these races, the club gives good stakes for tho trotters and pacers, lhe same remark applies to other clubs in the same district, and also, to an extent, to other parts of the South Island. It appears, therefore, that the Governing body wais somewhat hasty in fts decision. Whilst on tho subject of racing clubs that include trotting events on their programmes, the jNcw Zealand Trotting Association could have done more service to the sport it controls by making it compulsory that competent officials were appointed to see that all rules governing the sport were strictly carried out. Most officials of racing clubs have a very poor knowledge of the Rules of Trotting, and this is frequently demonstrated when ca&es corns before the Association from racing clubs. Tho iNew Zealand Trotting Association has had quite a number of cases to deal with from racing clubs, and it has been clearlv shown that there Is need for some competent official to be In charge of the trotting events, to see that tiitv are competed for with a strict regard for the codes of rules approved by the Association.

Though racing has flourished in Western Australia during recent years it has laboured under the disability that the breeding industry has.been neglected, the- great majority or tne hortes being purchased in the eastern States. The need for remedying this defect has. lately impressed itself on the committee of the Western Australian Turf Club, and as a result several races have be«n provided, restricted to .horses bred in Western Australia. One of these events, confined to two-vear-olds, was decided this month and some comment lias been caused bv the fact that it ■ was won bv Irish Prophet, who is by WallaceProphecy. Tho colt's dam, Prophecy, who rtas for some time the champion of the "Golden West," is an Auck-land-br*d mare, and half-sister to being by Phoebus ApolloProblem, by St Hippo—Ellershe. i'he special gVound for comment over the success o\ Irish Prophet rests on the fact that his sire. Wallaco, has never been \vith\n many hundred miles _or Western Australia. Mated with Wallace in Victoria, Prophecy returned to Western Australia and tho resultant foal ranks ap having been bred in the latter State. This is only in accordance with general custom, recognised all over the \\orld, being based on the same principle) as that which constitutes the owiiW of the mare at the time of foaling the breeder of the foal. The recent win of Irish Prophet, however, directs attention to the fact that the conditions framed in tho special races in Western Australia have not accomplished the object for which they were intended, which was the encouragement of horse-breeding in the State. It seems probable that the original idea wa»> to givo tho sires of Western Australia a. fair chance, but the object will be defeated if owners make a practice of sending ..their mares I to* distant parts to b© mated with j fashionable- stallions. It will, of course, tend to improve tho standard of the horses .available for racing in Western ! Australia, and an owner who sends his nuire away is entitled to the fullest reward for his enterprise, as also is the owner who purchases a. niaro in foal from another Stare. The original intention, however, would bo better met by restricting certain races to horses sired in Western Australia, and n tightening of the conditions in that direction may he the next move of those wJio are anxious to see tho horse breeding industry encouraged in the ! State.

ever, directs attention to xne ihuu that the conditions framed in the special races in Western Australia have) not accomplished the object for which they woro intended, which was the encouragement of horse-breeding in the State. It seems probable that the original idea was to givo fho sires of "Western Australia a. fair chance., but the object will be defeated if owners make a practice of sending ..their mares to* distant parts to b© mated with fashionablo stallions. It will, of course, tend to improve tho standard of tJie> horses Available for racing in "Western Australia, and an owner who sends his nuire awny is entitled to the fullest reward for his enterprise, as also is the owner who purchases a. mare in foul from another State. The original intention, however, would bo better met by restricting certain races to horses sired in Western Australia, and n tightening of the conditions in that direction may be the next move of those who are anxious to see tho horse breeding industry encouraged in the State. A licdit frost was in evidence at the I course tins morning!; but the weather! was beautifully fine, and the cool I o'm'njzw after the hot nor'-westers, was! niiHi appreciated. Some interesting j work was iieri'ormed on the ploughed I gallop, which, having been watered over night, provided capital goiuy'. Quarantine, assisted by .Merry Trick oyer tik' kst sovau furlongs, traversed nino furlongs in Imm 59 3-ssec pulling up fairly well. He continues to show p. tendency to favour Ins near foro-leg tho fetlock joint of which ?s bearing p.u enlarged appearance. •* Martins and Findhorn together gal-

loped a mile in limn 45scc, both horses going pleasingly.

Bold Stroke and Wise Bird brushed over seven furlongs in Imin 33£ sec, while Fabrikoff ran a mile strongly.

in sSnojjni xts .toao paqsnp Alafpojv Imin leasee, and Peg .and Scotch Melody ran a mile in Imin ■J4sec.

Flora Macdonald and Cortes galloped a. mile, the Inst seven furlongs of which occupied Imin 32sec.

Briar Patch defeated Sir Hamilton and Lndrono over nine furlongs, run in 2min, but she had the advantage in tho weights, and was further favoured with a good start.

Charmilla, with a feather-weight up, was slightly better than Emperador (light-weight) over six furlongs, run in Imin losoc, a. smart performance.

After breakfast First Glance and Meltchikoff rattled over six furlongs in Imin 16 2-ssec, and Trilby, with Mussen up, ran a similar distance in Imin 15-} sec.

The visiting horses Killaloo. Beacon and Heeltap, were out exercising. Killaloo went pleasingly in iu gallop with Oleneannich and Gnome, while Be-aoon and Heeltap put in steady pacing. The latter is troubled with shoulder lameness.

The summer meeting of the Canterbury Park Trotting Club will be held on Janua.ry 1 and 2. The programme, with stakes amounting to £2710, is tho best ever issued by tho club, all classes of horses being well provided for. Nominations will closo on Monday night at eight o'clock.

.The Dimedin Jockey Club has secured highly satisfactory acceptances for the first day of the summer meeting. Large fields are assured for most of the events, and the quality of the horses engaged is also above the average, so that the, racing should bo more than usually interesting. Canterbury stables are particularly well re-presented.-about forty horses from this district claiming engagements, and they are such a ful lot that a big share of the prize money should be credited to them. At tho conclusion of the Dimedin fixture a large proportion of the northern contingent will return to Onmaru for the N ?.;'" Ycar meetinc; there, while others will journey further south, to assist at the Wyndbam and Invereargill meetings.

Though tho absence of First Flight will detract from tho interest iu the Groat Northern Derby, there is every' prospect that the classic race will attract a largo field on New Year's Dav. Hie prospect of Reputation and Balboa renewing hostilities will occasion some excitement, despite the fact that Mr Bidwill s colt is generally hailed as tho best of his ago. On lliccarton form Camulus and Ringfonn can have onlv moderate prospers, but thev should botli bo improved, and Cnmuhis, fit any rate, was galloping well before lie left for the north. Don Francisco and Snapdragon have no special cViims to consideration in a strong Derby field, but they may he relied ou to run the journey out, and they may add interest to the contest. Aoart from those already named, all of whom competed at Ricmrton last month, the presence of Mullingar will be welcome. He has proved himself easily the best of the Auckland three-year-olds, but this wilt be his first effort against the cracks from other parts of the Dominion, and tho Derby should serve to show just how he ranks. It. is not often that Auckland can boast a champion three-year-old, but the admirers of Mullingar are sanguine concerning the prospects of tho Marble. Arch colt, whose form has evidently made a big impression on the Auckland Racing Club's handicapper, judging from the weight allotted him in the Railway Handicap. All things considered, the prospects for the Great Northern Derby are exceptionally bright this season.

The death is announced of the stallion Battlefield, who had done stud duty in Southland for several seasons. Battlefield, who was foaled in 1893, was by Artillery—Miss Kate, so that lie was a half-brother to Perkin Warbeck 11., Antelope (dam of Blue Jacket), Sultan. Prime Warden, Catherine Wheel (dam of Treadmill) and Bloomer.

There is quite a strong team of hacks ;in training i n Southland for the Maiden Steeplechase, of 150 sovs, to bo decided at the.Wairio meeting next month. This steke is said to be tho richest over offered in the Dominion for horses that have never won ovov steeplecliasp country or hardies, and' tho race usually atrncts a good field, year tho committeo intends to make the fences a- little sti/Fer than prcviouslv.

"Comet," of the Southland " News," is responsible for the following:—lt is rumoured" that both of the governing bodies of racing, the New Zealand Racing Conference and Trotting Association, are prosecuting inquiries into alleged irregularities of two owners in Southland.

It is reported that Mr T. Sheenan has presented the twenty-year-old mare Pleasure Seeker, dam of' Merrymaker. Hilaritj-. Jack Ashore, Seekashore', Merry Lass, Friwolliti and Pleasure Bent, to Mr R. M'Kay, the owner of Soldiers' Chorus, with whom Pleasure Seeker will be mated this season.

Sir Robin Duff, of the 2nd Life Guards, son of the late Sir Charles Assheton-Smith, was killed in action in October. He was present at his father's funeral three weeks earlier, and had been at tho front onlv a few days when he met his death. Prior to leaving England he had made arrangements with Bobert Gore, the wellknown trainer, to carry on racing in

tho coming season with the fine team of steeplechasers stabled at Fidon, and the services of a prominent jockey baa been secured.

The Continental correspondent of a London paper says that even if the war should cease tho resumption of racing in Franco will be almost impossible before the Deauville meeting, in August, 1915. Nearly every racecourse m France has been requisitioned for military purposes or by the local authorities for storing supplies. Consequently, whatever may be said to tho contrary, although in the majority of cases round Paris a minimum amount of damage has been done, time will bo required to fit them for the resumption of sport. Again tho customary list or meetings and programmes cannot possiblv be published at the commencement of the vear. As was the case in 1871, all the classic events of the spring and summer at Paris and Chantiily will fall out, and sport will be resumed much in the same locality as it was ended, either at Deauville or Caen. There will be no Oaks. Derby and Grand Prix de Paris, and the two-year-olds have been turned out of training. Cross-country sport will suffer the same fate, while the ranks of those who are "poor men. poor labouring men, and have no work to do." will be increased by the influx of thoso who depended on racing.