Sporting Gossip.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 4

Sporting Gossip.

FIXTURES,

Rati i SAYS' M

December SO, January 2 —Greyxncutli Trotting- Club. January I—VVyndham Racing C'ub. January I—W-aikouaiti1 —W-aikouaiti Racing Club. January 1, 2 —Canterbury Park Trotting-Club. January 1, 2 Hawke's Bav Jockey Club. January 1, 2 —Wairarapa Racing Club. January 1, 2 —S'ratford Ricinj Club. January X, 2—Vincent Jockey Club. January 1, 2—Marton Jockey Club. January 1, 3 —Groymouth Jockey Club. January 0, 3—Norlb Otapo Jockey January 2, 3 —Southland Racine: Club. January 6—Nor-liern Vairoa Racing Club. January 8, 9 —West'.and Racing Club.

The Wftstport Trotting Club had fine weather for tho opening day of its summer meeting on Boxing Day. There was a large attendance of public and great interest was taken in the racing, especially in the contests confined to local horses. The track was in excellent order, although a trifle d*<isty, but there has been very little rain on the West Coast during the last few months. Tho track is of half a mile, regulation shape, with a good clay foundation, over which cinders are spread and horses gain a good footing, even when speeding up fast. During the intervals between the races a good deal of water was put on, but it did not dry up as quickly as was anticipated, with the result that the track cut up rather badly in the parts that had been watered and afterwards raced on.

The starting was really one of the features of the meeting, Mr Scanlan getting the fields away in excellent style, and no difficulty was experienced in keeping the horses in position before the despatch. The Stockton Handicap, of a mile, was started by the yards but there was only a field of five, in three sections, so that it> hardly had a trial, but while the starting is conducted at Greymouth, Reefton and Westport in the same manner as at recent meetings of those clubs, there ib no special necessity for the yards system to be adopted. The fields in nearly all the races were quite up to the average and the racing was interesting. The local races filled surprisingly well and it was noticed that there were a great many trotters in the fields, it being quite evident that most of the trainers are more capable with the free-legged horso than with the hoppled pacer.

The racing was quite free from anything of a suspicious character and the stipendiary steward, Mr W. G. Garrard, did not have a b-asy day. Billy Ashley, who finished third in the first lace, was disqualified for galloping. Auriferous fell in the preliminary prior to the Denniston Handicap, in which he was a good second favourite, and he was unable to start in the race the Judicial Committee deciding to refund the investments, less the usual commission. The totalisator turnover showed a slight increase over that of the corresponding day last year.

Dillon Eddy, who is owned in Greymouth but trained in Canterbury, won the Maiden Handicap very easily from Eileen,' who raced more honestly than usual, and was most reliable at the start. Dillon Eddy paced solidly throughout, and his form was a great improvement on what n showed at Greymouth last October. He is a useful looking pacer, who should improve.

May Patch, the winner of the Te Kuha" Handicap, of a mile and a halt, in saddle, for trotters only, is an aged mare by George M. Patehen from » King Harold mare. She trotted solidly, although not fast, all the way, the somewhat unlucky Capewell getting second. The winner was well ridden by H. Gaskell, who was successful three times during the day.

The Westport Trotting Cup proved a runaway victory for Chaos. There were six starters, and it was easily the best betting race of the day. Chaos, driven by F. Amor, was on the limit, and going off at a smart pace, he was a good fifty yards ahead of anything else in the race before half a mile had been covered. Although it was stated that the horse was very short of work, he did not show anv signs of stopping, but paced in a bold manner, and won pulling up by about seventv yards. Chaos is owned in Canterbury, and it was unfortunate that his owner, owing to business engagements, could' not be present to see his horse successful, as he is a keen sport, who has had none too much luck, in fact the name of the winner suggested itteelf to him when things looked darker than usual. Chaos is bv Galindo, from that good mare, Lady Linton, bv "Wildwood—Linto, and lie \vas bred bv his owner, who raced the gelding's dam. Ho has only started three times, being # unseed at the Akaroa County Racing Club s fixtiuie last March, while a fortnight later he finished second to Captain Stanlev at Waimate. He is a well furnished, good-looking horse, with a capital action, possesses plenty of speed and evidently stays well. The time of the 4mm 52 1-osgc, did not the backmarkers chance, but Young Dillon and Red Prince both paced' well, finishing second and third. Miss Marion did not stay, but Theseus, the trotter, went more kindly than _ usual. Scenf<re. w lio loked sore, is evidently feeling the effects of her recent racing and she gave a very poor showing, toiling round in the rear the whole distance.

Ohaperone, who had_ an easy win in the Seddonville Handicap, of a mile, is a useful-looking trotter, who is evidently well known in the district'', ns she was a good favourite. There we re fifteen starters. Some of them were far from ready for the raco track, and two. Stella Ashley and Lord Play, were without a single supporter on the totalisator.

Erleen won her first race when she was successful in the Denniston Handicap. of a mile and a half, in harness. She went off well, paced without a mistake of anv kind, and won easily in 3min 41 3-ssec from Dillon Eady, who had been penalised' lOscc for his win in tho first race of the day. Dillon Eady wentJ 4sec faster than the winner's time. The rest of the field were a poor lot.

Although there was only a, field 1 of eix for the two mile saddle race, for trotters only, it was the best content of the day. Captain Rothschild, ridden by Gaskell, was a hot favourite, and he won easily at the finish, after beginning 6lowly. Capewell, Colonel

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Havelock and Quincellyn were aC ting really well, but Captain Rothschild. warming to hb work. went & gcr.cl dt»al better in the last half-mile, and gathered them up in good style. He is a useful sort, who should' win a p;ood race, as he has a fine action, and has not been long ill work. Capewcll again got second, but liad cellyn not broken up a quarter of a mile from home he might have troubled the winner.

There was only a field of five for the Stockton Handicap, of a mile, in harness, and Rosie Drift was made a hot favourite. She made a bad mistake soon after the start, which lost her a lot of ground, and she never afterwards had' a chance, although she put in a fine run over the last halfmile. Gaskell drove Lady : Marion, who began very quickly, and soon goi> a good lead, whicli enabled her to last long enough to just beat Young Dillon, who thus finished second for the second time during the day. Myrtle■wocd would not leave the mark, and Traccy Dillon showed no form.

There was a capital field for the last race of the day, a mile and a half event, in saddle, for horses owned on the West Coast and ridden by amateurs. The winner turned 1 up in Dio tatoress, an aged grey mare by Dictator, who was well known on Amberley tracks. The winner comes from Denniston, and has been racing for a good many years on the Coast. Mer success was very popular. Cloud Lass looked like possessing a chance a quarter of a mile from homp, but she stepped very quickly at the end, although staying long enough to get second, whilst the consistent St Joe was third. The winner paid the best dividend of the day. Acceptances for the North Otago Jockey Club's meeting will close tonight at eight o'clock. Ringform was placed in the principal event each day of the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting. He has raced very consistently for some time past, and must rank as one of the most useful handicap horses in the South Island. Kazan, who>was among' the winner? on the second day of the JLhinedin meeting, is a six-year-old gelding by Vasco— Tsaritsa, by Stepniak—lrene- He won a race as a three-year-old and one as a four-year-old, but unsoundness kept him off the scene all last season. He is a speedy galloper, but in that respect, he is only living up to family traditions, as his dam was a good performer, while theTamily has produced quite a number of smart horses, among them being Petrovna, Master Alis, Kremlin ana Czar Kolohol. Kilrea had an easy task in the two-year-old events at the Dunedin Jockey Club's meeting, only two moderates opposing her, but the success of the 1..i----broney filly showed that she has gone on in the right way. She has won four races this season, and, as she is likely to improve, she may be seen to advantage in the best company before long. It is Erobable that she will be sent to Trent* am to fulfil engagements at the Wellington Cup meeting, where she will be thoroughly tested, as some of the best of the two-year-olds will be racing there.

Teka, who added to his successes at the Manawatu Racing Club's meeting, is a four-year-old gelding bv Mystification—Tattle, by Mahaki—Whisper. It is only about three months since he iron his first race, but he has proved a good performer among the hacks, and he should do well in open company.

By His easy win in the President's Handicap at the Manawatu meeting, Client further justified the high opinion which has been held concerning him for some time. Unsoundness has restricted his opportunities for earning distinction, but if he remains all right he is pretty certain to win even more important races before long. He is a four-year-old bv Elevation from Bonhem. a sister to Nonette and La Valerie, the last-named the dam of Los Angelos, so that he is bred on very successful lines.

The Victoria Racing Club has made several changes in connection with the programme for the autumn meeting. The most important affect the weight-for-age events, there being an all-round reduction of distances. The Essendon Stakes has been cut from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter; the Governor's Plate, formerly the Loch Plalte, fro in two miles to a mile and a half; and the King's Plate, for many years the wuampion Stakes, from three miles to two miles.

Sea Pink is still carrying Mr E. J. Watt's colours in Australia. At a recent meeting at Mo nee Valley he finished third to Torbane and Sir Duff in the Benevolent Handicap.

The Australian Jockey Club intends to spend about £40,000 on the installation of the totalisator. It is expected to be completed in time for the nest autumn meeting.

Polymite, who was recently purchased in England for Mr R. C. Allen, a prominent breeder in New South Wales, is a two-year-old brother to Polycrates t by Polyinelus—Manure. He will probablv be raced for a time before being retired to the fcouth Wambo Stud 5 where Mr Allen already has five imported stallions, Antonio, Persian Knight, Paddington, St Natfiy and Sir Laddo.

It was stated recently that an Australian sportsman had purchased in England a yearling colt by Roi Heroda for 1700 guines* and speculation ran high as to the identity of the owner. There is now reason for saying that tho gentleman concerned is captain H. Alan Currie, a noted Victorian sportsman, and member of 'the Victoria Racing Club's committee, who many months ago went to England and offered his services to the English Government} in connection with the war. The youngster will probably be raced in England during the currency of fthe war.

In New South Wales quite a number of racing men are of opinion that the legalisation of the totalisator is bound to affect 'the price of yearlings in tha future, but in England even among those opposed to tho machine, such an idea is not generally accepted. In rejoicing over the fact, that the English Jockey Club practically shelved a petition asking that a move should be made for the legalisation of tho totalisator. e, writer in London " Sportsman 6ays: —"I can understand any man who breeds for sale signing 6uch a partition, because it is conceivable that tha price of blood stock will rise with the increase in the value of the prizes to bt won." Evidently he believes that thffl price of yearlings is affected more of prize-money possibilities than bettingring contingencies.