SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11730, 21 June 1916, Page 5

SPORTING GOSSIP.

FIXTURES. June 23. 24—Napier Park Racing Club June 30, July I—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club July 12, 13. 13 —Wcllinatou Racine Club. July 20—South Canterbury Hunt. August 10, 17. 19—Canterbury Jockey Club The programme of the Metropolitan Trotting Liub's August meeting has been issued. It will bo that the club will race this year on Saturday, "Wednesday and Friday, instead at Monday, Wednesday and i< riday, as in former years. As was to be expected, the club is giving some splendid stakes, and although the classes m some instances have been made tighter than formerly, there appears to be plenty or room lor further improvement in this direction.. The time is fast arriving when only the best horses should be seen racing on the club's course, but the Programme Committee does not appear to have quite gauged public opinion. There are three mile and a half harness'races during thomeeting, for horses that can do 3min 39sec, 3min36sec and 3min 83sec respectively.. In this particular the club might have made a good deal of improvement. At the Easter meeting of the club there was a mile and a half race, for horses that could do 3min 39sec or better, and the winner, handicapped at 3mm 37sec, covered the distance in 3min -o 1-osec, whilst other horses in the race also greatly improved on their handicapped time. If the club had made the threo races 3min""36see, 3min 32sec and 3min 23sec, better class fields would have been found competing and providing improved contests. "Whilst there are not a great many horses that can cover a two-mile journey at a high rate of speed, there plenty who, over a mile and a half, are capable of brilliant performances. The Canterbury Park Club, at its New Year meeting, had a mile and a half race for horses that could do 3min 28sec or better, and the field was a high grade one, the winner establishing a .race record, whilst at the club's winter meeting, early this month, there was_ another race over the same distance, limited to 3min 30see. The -chief two-mile events at Addington for the August meeting are 4inin -lOsec, 4min 39sec and 4miu 37sec, and here also the Programme Committee might easily have cut off a second' in the, second find third day s conditions, especially as the New Zealand Cup is this year to bo for horses that have done.4niin 36sec or better. If the weather is fine and the track in goocs order, there arc sure to be some fast times recorded in these races. A 4min 40sec on the first day s with 4min 3Ssec on the second, and 4min 36sec on the,concluding day, would have filled the' bill excellently, and incidentally, on the last day, would* have given a slight guide to the prottable New Zealand Cup candidates. There are so inanv speedy milers now racing that the club should not have any race .over that" distance slower than 2min 20? Ec, with the race on the last day 2mm 16sec or better. I note there is only one race during the three days over a mile and & quarter, whilst there are sis one-mile races, three in harness and the same number in saddle. The starting point for mile races is not a good: one, especially for harness events, and if .one or even two of the mile harness races had been altered to mile and a quaitei events, it would have _ found more favour. It is worth mentioning that all acceptances for the meeting will close at noon, and I should not be at all surprised if in the near future nominations are advertised to close at the same hour. I would draw special attention to another condition on tlie club's programme : " All nominations made by telegram must be confirmed' immediately bv .letter, giving full particulars of the "horse, breeding and colours to be worn. Anyone omitting to do so will he fined £2. v This condition will be strictly enforced." The only event of interest at Riccarton this morning was a schooling task over four hurdles, those taking part being Art (A. Wormald), Banian (0. M'Kay), Sartosta (P. Wormald) and Hap Dha (L. Hagerty). The quartet negotiated the first three obstacles in good style, Banian giving a particularly -creditable display for a novice, but none of them shaped quite so cleanly at the final hurdle. Altogether it wa3 thß best piece of schooling seen this season. The three-year-old filly Nones has rejoined R. J. Mason's active divisiou. She looks in good health to commence a preparation for spring engagements. The owner of El Gallo did not waste much time in declaring his intentions regarding the Victorian Grand Nationals, the Spalpeen gelding being withdrawn on Tuesday, it is thought probablo that his owner will now have him prepared for the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton. Lnder the conditions of the race, ho connot receive more than 12st 7lb, and even with that burdeu his chance will look rather better than it did in the big crosscountry race at Flemington, in which he received 12st- 51b. Ihere are so many horses coming on in Victoria that the task of the top weights in the yictorian Grand National Steeplechase is more severer than in New Zealand, where the" number of ■ capable jumpers is somewhat restricted. It remains to be seen, however, whether El Gallo is sufficiently expert to negotiate the Grand National country. He has only competed in two both of them decided at Ellcrslie, and it may not be ■ wise to accept these performances as indisputable evidence regarding his abifity over severe country. It is "to be hoped, however, that El Gallo will be given a chance to add the Grand National to his list of successes. He is easily the best class horse seen out over fences for some time past, and his presence at Riccarton in August would add considerably to the attractions of the Canterbury Jockey Club's winter carnival. Reports from Auckland state that Master Regel is being prepared for the hurdle events at the Grand National meeting. He 'has a number of useful performances to his credit on Auckland courses, but his best effort was in winning the Century Hurdle Handicap at Wiintranui lastnnonth. when he boat a good'"field over two miles and a quarter. His credentials as a stayer are therefore sound, and for tlij.s reason he is likely to be a popular fancy for the Grand 'National Hurdle Handicap, as the length of the journey will trouble many of the hurdlers who might run weU'even up to two miles. The steeplechase fences ot Trenthnm are now being erected, in preparation for the winter meeting of the "Wellington Racing Club. It is reported from the north that Koova, Immensity and Bodenham may he sent to Sydney [or the Australian Jockey Clul/s soring meeting. The Auckland steeplechaser, Waimai, is spoken of as a probable visitor to Riccarton for the Grand National u-e-A statement, was current after the Great Northern meeting that the Auckland horseman, C. Scott, intended to retire from riding jumpers. Doubts are expressed in the north, however, regarding the accuracy of the rumour, at any rate while El on the *"-;Yie. Scott lias been associated with

RACING AMD TROTTING NOTES.

(By A&GV&)

the Spalpeen gelding in his half-dozen victories over obstacles, and as he is very much attached to the horse, it seems probable that ho will continue to ride him in futhre. To Onga, who finished second to El Gallo in tho Great Northern Hurdle Handicap, will probably bo sent to Riccarton to take part in hurdle races and steeplechases at tho Grand National meeting. Many trainers are now bnsy educating and gaiting young trotting stock, mostly two-year-olds. I have had tho opportunity of seeing several youngsters this year, and if looks go for anything there should be a fine batch of three-year-olds racing next season. The Oamaru Trotting Club gave away £IOOO in stakes last season, and has assets valued at £1658, Avith no liabilities. Amongst other improvements ly carried out by the Oamaru Trotting Club has been the laying down of a training track inside tho track proper. The raoe track used to be a dHbt an]o and at the last two meetings of tho cjub tho dust nuisance was very bad ; in fact, last Labour Day Avas one of the most unpleasant days I liavo over experienced ou any racecourse. To overcome this tho club has decided to race on a grass track in future. Tha track has been sown in grass, which should be in good order for next season's meetings. • & For some time the committee of th® New South Wales Trotting Club has been aware that persons under disqualification clo not observe their disqualifies tion, and attend race meetings or ponj race meetings or trotting meetings. The committee of the Ncw South Wales Trotting Club, in order to cope with the difficulty, has passed the following resolutions, which it considers will have the desired effect: —"'ln tho event of a disqualified person failing to observe his disqualification by attending a race meeting, pony race meeting, or a trotting race meeting during > tlie period of hi 3 disqualification, the cfiginal sentence of his disqualification shall re-commence from tho date the disqualified person last attended a race meeting, pony race meeting, or a trotting race meeting." This rule will apply to existing disqualifications. The committee of the New South Wales Trotting Club has finally dealt with* a case tiiat arose at the meeting of the Quirindi Trotting Club in April .fhe stewards of the club took exception to the performance of the mare Maud in the Hospital Handicap, and requested the owner of the mare Maud E. to allow her to bo tried by another driver, but the otvner refused the request of the stewards. An inquire w«e held, and as a result, L. C. Norris, driver, and the mare Maud E. were disqualified for six months for alleged improper practices in the race referred to, but no action was taken in regard to the oAvner. The committee of the New South Wales Trotting Club referred the case back to the Quirindi Trotting Club, and requested to know the reason why the OAvngr was not dpalt with in regard to the performance of the mare Maud E., ind also for refusing to permit the mare to be tried in accordance with rule 104. Eventually the authoritative body ordered the case to be re-opened, witti the result that the stewards of the Quirindi Trotting Club disqualified L. C. Norris and die ma to Maud E. for two years for impropei practices in the Hospital Handicap, and Royal Allen for two years for refusing to permit the mare Maud E. to be tried in accordance with rule 104. Royal Allen Qtid h. C. Norris appealed against tne decisions of the New South Wales Trotting Club, and after hearing the evidence the Appeal Board dismissed the appeals, and forfeited the depos'ts, but v'ariod the disqualifications. As the committee was of jbpinion that the new Evidence did not warrant tAvo years' disqualification, it disqualified Royal Allen (oivner), L. C. Norris (driver) and the mare Maud E, for sis months, dating from April 22, 1916; and for refusing to permit the mare Maud E. to be tried m accordance with rule 104, Royal Allen (owner) was disqualified for a further period of six months.