SPORTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11359, 10 April 1915, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TOTTING. NOTES IY "ARGUS." Finum. April 10—Australian Jockey Club. April 10—Auckland Trotting C.ub. April 14—Kosfton Jockey Club. April 14, 17—Wellington Racing Club. April 15, 17—South Canterbury Jockey Grab. April 21, 22—ilanairatu Kaoing Club. April 22, 24—New Brighten Trotting Club. April SO, May I—H&wWs Bay Jockey Club. Although more than six months will elapse before the next New Zealand Trotting Cup will be decided at AddingTon, owners, trainers and others interested are already discussing the probable condition? of this year's big race. There seems to be a unanimous opinion that the stake is not likely to be increased; in fact, many are of opinion that too much money is given for one race, when the next highest stake at the meeting is worth £IOO. There is some difference of opinion, however regarding the conditions that should govern the race. During the last few voars Lor/r.js have improved their spoed considerably, and a race under the conditions that were quite suitable for the chief event five years ago, would be absolutely impracticable for the present time. The limit has been gradually cut down, and a further condition added making it compuJaory for horses to have done the time specified before bfti/ig allowed to nominate. There is not the slightest doubt that the last condition should be a fixture; in fact, it might with advantage apply to all races at Addingfon. No horse should be allowed to enter for a class unless it had done the time, and this would prevent many from entering for races on the off-chance. There are far too many horses entered ox;t of their class, and if the Programme Committee restricted all races to horses that had done a certain time far better racing would be the result. When the Programme Committee last season wisely decided that the big race should be for horses that had done 4min 38seo or better, manjr followers of the sport were of opinion that it was too tight a class, and that there would be a poor response from owners, on account of so few horses having covered two miles at that speed. There were, however, nineteen nominations for the event, and several horses who were eligible were not entered. Since last November a largo number of horses who at that time had not qualified have done tho time, and it is quite possible that many more will do it before the nominations are taken for this

year's race. The club should not look for a large nomination for its big race, j but should endeavour to so frame the conditions thai a select held ot the j best horses would contest the event. A field of ten is plenty, and' provided all are at their best on the day they are moro likoly to provide a good race than if, twenty or more were in the field. One of the difficulties, however, of tightening up the limit is the fact that it usually causes more horses to i receive the maximum etart. There are thus too many on the limit to ensure i an equitable start, and at the eame time allow those handicapped behind to get a good run in the early stages, on account of the crowd in front._ There is also the faot that it is possible some S remising horses will, through the conitaons framed, be unable to quality, although capable of doing the time specified, but this always Wo bio to happen; in fact, no matter what conditions are ma-da, they will cmwd out some promising candidate. If the oooimittee decides to cut off two soooncs for this year's race, and make it for horses that have dene 4rain 30>so or better, for two miles, it will not be going any too far in fact, anything slower than that time will doom the rn.ee to faihiro from a racing point of view. If, however, the olub is desirous of providing high-cinsa for the best hordes over a two-ir-ils course, I would suggest the trial of a schema which I formulated when discuasing the conditions of the racejiwb year. The conditions could remain ib© same as last year as regards time, but the race could be contested in a series of socalled heats. During the three days meeting in November the chief event on each day is usually for horses that have done 4irun 38seo (New Ze?'wid Cup), 4mm -ICtseo and 4m-n 42pee. These could be abolished and nominations taken for the New Zealand Cup, for horj-es that can do 4min 385e0. On the ftast day ran ■ half of the entrants as a race (to take the plrwie of the ordinary chief event), and do the same on the second day for the other half. The stake for each cf these rices co-aid be £100!). On the last day let the fest fovr horses in each race_ compete for another £100!) on the original handicaps. This woo. Id. ensure ttireo raocs instead 'of one for the be-rt harass, and would give them a double "chance of securing a stoke. It may be argued that the horsss running on the first and second days would fight out the finish on the last day, but even if this were so the hor&es would have to race twice to secure the sumo amount of prize money that can now be secured at one effort. But it is no certainty that f'jc-Ii would be the result. The element of luck plays a. far more important part in races than many people imagine, and it is for this reason that I advocate this scheme. Horses that contest a two-mile race under the conditions specified have had to under go a severe course of training, and few

THE G'Ell-VIAN SPY AND HIS OBSERVATIONS IN UHItfSTCHUIICfI Returned Mjldit'i'.s an- Lo bo «v» in iln* directs. They wear tnan.v j tibials. .-tmoiur.sv- iliom Y irtorift. (. 'I licy .'ipponr to be vetennu Irons K;?unxi. Tlmy Mispioious Hack l);*gs. i pnwauu: Uiohe uag.s contain infernal machines and Lmuibi;.

people the amount of time unci care that, is reyxurecl to prepare a, horse for finch ;i. hard nuv. In addition, the cost of-, keep .and training fees have to bo con.sidored. Tn .a ra<" for the large stake a horse may got away badly, have a bad passage during the contest, or ;i, linmliv.d and one things may prevent him from showing lxis best, and. thereby his owner receives no compensation. This to a great extent would ho obviated were tho raco contested in tho maimer suggested, for, assuming tliat an accident or bod luok came in the way in the first race, provided the hor.se got into hi place he would ■still have a, chance of showing his ability ili another trial. In any oa.se, the stake money would bo liable to bo better divkbd amongst the owners instead of going into the hands of a few. as is now tho case. The question of conditions for this vear's big race will ooca sion the Programme Committee* plenty of 100 mto exercise ite thoughts as to tho best means to be adopted to suit tho present requirements. Ono thing seems certain. To have the race this year for horses that have don© 4mm HBsco is absolutely out of the question and to take one second off will afford little relief. Nothing .slower than 4min Msec should be given a mo incut's thought.

Idealism, lmve been purchased by Can* terbury sportsmen. They should form welcome additions to our jumping contingent. ( The Otago two-year-old, Redstone* by Downjslure—Red Peony, attracted some attention «at the r«3ent meeting at Riccarton. lie looked backward, but took the eye as a good galloper who may make a useful performer later on. It is nothing to his detriment tliat he is a half-brother the brilliant Palisade, and possibly it v&a this faot that caused many people to take notice of him in the first instance. Peg was galloped on while racing afr the Riccarton meeting and one of his hind legs is somewhat swollen, but no serious consequences ure anticipated. The two-yeftr-old Downstcepy, by Downshire—Neva, has made a good recovery from the accident that Zaidhim aside in the spring. He still carries the mark of the wound caused by contact with a fence, but shows no sign , of lameness. He has done well an<s now looks in good health, so that hQ may suffer no serious effects. When tried in the Fpring he was a speedy galloper and he should win races next} sepjson. P. M'GratJi has broken In tho yeaj^ ling oolt by Martian.—Lady Lillian* He is a sturdy youngster and should grow into a fine looking horse, C. Pilcher has just taken in Eans- - geloing bv Clanranald—Matuku. Hfl is very much in the rough at present, The two-year-old colt Battle Ere Js still being kept in aotive commission* in case it is thought advisable to senig him to Awapuni for the autumn meetoi ing of the Manawatu Racing Cub, Jhe son of Treadmill—To-morrow is ft speedy galloper, but he suffers badly s •by comparison, with his stable oonyt pan ion. Flying Start, when it come® to fighting out a hard finish. The pacing mar© Princess Lot&Sl who was leased some time ago, kaf been returned to her owner.

The autumn meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, which is to bo held on Thursday and Saturday ot next weak, will be the occasion, of two important events in the history of the clulk—the opening of a new grand stand and tho revival of steeplechases on the Washdyko course, after a lapse of many yeax-s. For some years past tho club has been making steady progross, and its policy has been to utilise its increasing funds for the provision of additional facilities for horse-owners iind improved accommodation for the patrons of the sport. Its course has come to be considered one of the most attractive and best equipped outside the metropolitan centres, and the new grand stand will put the ooping stone on the club's endeavours. The new building,' of brick, is handsome aui spacious. The floor space available for spectators of the raoes measures 100 ft by 42ft, and seating is , provided for; about 1200 persons. Access to the' stand is made easy by three sets of steps and roomy 'gangways, and the, view of the course is almost unobstruct- j ed, the ends of the stand comprising large sheets of plateglass. The front supports of the roof are two small steel columns. ' The ceiling is flat—a desirable protection against the rav-. ages of small birds-—and the roof is covered with ornate tiles. The luncheon rooms and cloak rooms occupy the ground floor at the rear of the stand, | and they have been built on sufficiently generous lines to satisfy the, requirements of many years' develop- 1 ments. A new teahouse has been built on a commanding elevation behind the stand, and this also is a very handsome building and should prove equal to the demands made upon it. It ooraprises a main room, measuring 60ft by 22ft, and a well sheltered verandah, running the full width of the building, and artisrfcic gables make the teahouse a feature of the appointments. As the number of visiting horsoa grows larger at each meeting, the club has had six new built and there should nc-w be ample accommodation on the course for trainers and their charges. The steeplechase course has been carefully prepared and there is promise of good fields in both stuepleohasss, local stables being well rooresented, while horces tbafc rr»Cv>d prominently this week nt siccari,i>n and at Rivevtoei are ospeefcod to v>lt Timaru. On the SROond day (Sai-.irr'.rvy) npecial trains will be run from Christenurch and I>a?nviiti to Timaru, and will return at nighk

Acceptances for tk« first day of the | South Camrerbury j'ookay Club'fl aut- | UiOii mating will ticca tonight. j Tli© Siccorton. tramars who Lava i tenzas at the Wellington iiao- S u»g Club s meeting iwxt vvook wlii; lfeava to-night for the north. H. Quite I will take iive homes, R. J. Majou five, i Gr. Murray-Avn&ley two i,nd 11. Long- j loy t:ro. A. O'Donnall \rill loaves vriuh ® the Yaldhurst team on Monday nigJw. j _ The thrce-ysaj>oLd ocit X>oa Pr-9-n- i cisoo, bv San i?i-aito.isco- -Madovria, "hAs i boeneold by Sir (t. Clifford to lie hi. i Cassidy, and he will g.> mio W. H.; Thomson's stable. j R. J. l£sson has broken in the year-i ling colt bv Dsnube^—-Inyala. This j young marts nas had no prcgoXlJ r : ioiag i so far, but she comes from a sruocosrsful family, baing by l^nown—Eland, by St Leger—Antelope, by Apreaont— ; Miss Kate. . ~ : I i The yearling sister to. Cherabirii, j Tannhauser 'and Soldiara' Chorus, by: Martia.n —Grand Opera,, has just- been j broken in by P. T. Smith. She looks' a good sort. Andrea and Snowraben gsre a good j display of jumping over four hurdles! this morning.' !

Nightwatch was only seen out one® at tlio recent meeting. _ This was in the Great Easter Handicap, in which he failed to show up prominently at any Stage. An-, excuse could be in&tb for him, however, as ho burst one of his feet a few days before the race. Naturally he was a bit tender on it, and the hard ground would not induce him to hit out. Night-watch came through a solid preparation, and except for his damaged 1 foot ho showed no signs of unsoundness- at tho end of it all. This is a matter for specie! congratulation when it is remembered that ho has been more or less under .suspicion since early in his two-year-old season. It is unlikely that he will compete again this autumn, but if lie continues to go on as he has done lately he should prove a, very useful performer at the spring meetings. Autunmus broko down in the Great Easter Handicap, which accounts for his poor showing in the seven-furlong i race. Groat care has been necessary j to keep the big son of Treadmill—Goldleaf going so long, but lie has amply rewarded his connections for their patience. Now his racing career is over and lie will be retired to the stud. In addition to his racing qualities, Au-t-unuius has good looks to re-commend him, and altogether he takes tho eye as a horse likely to make a name as a .sire. Tajrmliauser," who has beau off the scene for a long time, was given a run in the final event at the recent j meeting. He failed to inakp any show j and was. very lame when ha was pulled j H)). Tho Martian will now bo J turned out/ for twelve months' rest,.! at the end of which, Jf ho is sound, ; he mav be given a trial over hurdles, i MartigutJs, the three-year-old sister to Immer. has never done well since she has been in training, and her own- i er, Mr J- F. Buchanan, has decided | to give her a- long spell at bis stud j farm. ] Tho imported mare First Glance raced very consistently at ';. ho recent meeting. With a. .slu.de oi' luok she might have won the Groat Easter Han- | flic.ap, in.sl.c-ad of ha ring to be content with second place. She was third in the Great Autumn, but whs a. long way behind Warstep and Ladoga,, and it iocks as if a mile and a half \nv; just a ti'ifle too far for her in good company. Up to a mil/* and a quarter, ! however, the is more than u&etul, but j I should My ,«ho is at her best over a ! mile. It is unlikely that she will bo i raced again this season. j Reval is making: a good recovery • from the injury which prevented him from fulfilling his Easter engagement's. Ho shoulci soon be in active commission again, and he may be seen out at some of the. late autumn fixtures. ft is reported that, the North Island j i hurdlers, Oaher X>a-von 3 Bollin and i