SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 11

SPORTING GOSSIP.

'RAGIKC AMD TROTTING. (Bv " ARGUS.") FIXTURES AtlgiMt' 15, 17— Metropolitan Trot line dwb. August 16, 18—Cantarb-ury Jockey Club. . NOMINATIONS. ' Jhiifn«4 B—CanieroTiry Joeiay CiC?>. HANDICAPS. Jfulr 2a--Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 8— Canterbury Jockey Club. . acceptances. August 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. Auguit ft—Metropolitan Trotting Club, August 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. The list of race meetings for next season, under _ the reduction scheme recently decided on, is or special interest • to owners ana trainers, in assisting them to map mit their raicing programmes. In studying the details of the reduction and tho manner in which it has been applied, one cannot avoid, the thought that many of the clubs are more concerned over their own finances than in providing the best facilities for owners, lhis particularly noticeable in connection ivith -the - holiday dates. There will, of xrnrso, be Jess racing than m the pa*t Dn the popular holidays, but this will be caused by the reduction rather than by a rearrangement of dates. Ihe only club which has relieved the holiday congestion by taking fresh dates is the Wairarapa Racing Club. For many years the club raced on two days at New Year and two days at Easter, but next season, with three days available, it will , hold a one-day fixture early in December and a-two days meeting in March. All over the Dominion thero is likely to be dissatisfaction among owners over the fact that so much of the early "Spring racing has been cut out. Quite-apart from the opportunities they provided to .pick up some decent Stakes, the early meetings were favoured bv' "trainers as a means of getting their charges thoroughly seasoned lor more important events further on m the-season. Auckland owners have tor vears" past "had tho Avondalo Jockey Club's fixture, early in September, but it has been put back to November, taking the place left vacant by the abandonment' of the Auckland. Racing [Hub's meeting. Other big gaps m the early spring programme in the North Island have been caused by cutting out the meetings of tho Wanganui Jockey Club,' Napier Park Racing Club and Hawko's Bay Jockey Club, all ot which were popular with owners of good horses," being prepared for more important 'onsaixomcnts. In the South Island the reduction to one day may nf }t seriduslv prejudice the Geraldine Racing Club's fixture, provided the committee makes a." decent effort to suit owners, who have been deprived ot another oportuility through the Amberley Bating Club going out. Much more lerious, however, will be the dropping of the spring meeting at Wingatm, ' which is understood to be in contemplation by the Dunedin Jockey Club, as fche direction in which its reduction rf fcwo davs can best be effected. Horses being prepared for big races at tho / November meeting of the Canterbury ' Jockey Olub will next season have fewer chinces for a race prior to visitIng Riccarton, an arrangement, which iriU not be viewed with general favour. Owners of two-year-olds will be left r .n (i particularly unfortunate position. In the past the Avondale, Napier Park, ELawke's Bay and Dunedin fixtures have provided oportunities for trying aut. the juveniles, but next season owners will have only two races at Trentbam in October as a preliminary to the Welcome Stakes and other good stakes »t Rircarton. Tho cutting out of the early two-year-old events would not he B, matter for special regret, if only it resulted in tho youngsters being given more time to. mature, but, as it is unlikely that this policy will be followed, the only effect may he that fields at lYentham and Riccarton will bo larger than usual, as they will include many Df the two-year-olds who, in the past, had been weeded out, by the earlier trials at other meetings.

Many of the proposals which come beFore the New Zoaland Racing Conference each year excite little interest, outside a limited official circle, but there was one this year which aroused considerable discussion in n wider sporting community. Ifc emanated from the Auckland Racing Club, and was as follows: —V No trainer shall, whilst employed in training horses for payment, or remuneration, or upon terms, train or start in any race any horse of which he or his wife is owiyir, or in which he -or his wife has any interest required hv thi?se rules to be registered. Any horse so trained or started shall be disqualified for a. period of not less than twelve months.' As was to be expected; tho suggested reform found some strong objectors among the trainers of the Dominion, sixty-three of whom / signed a petition of protest, which was .presentod to the Racing Conference. These sixty-three, it is fnfe to say, did not nearly represent, the strength of thofio who were opposed to the proposal, but it was difficult to secure a fuller or more representative list of fignatures, and those secured served to demonstrate the popular feeling among the 'class most affected by the proposal. That tho views of the trainers were regarded reasonable* shown by the treatment which the new rule received, 'the delegates _ being almost unanimous in rejecting it. xvo more arbitrary' suggestion was ever made to the I?aclng Conference, and its inclusion among the Rules of Racing v.ould have inflicted, a severe hardship on a highlv reputable body of men throughout tho Dominion, amounting to unjustifiable interference with their means of livelihood. The following comments by "Phaeton," of the "Auckland Weekly News," suggests that the proposal originated with someone who had a personal grievance to ventilate: _ tn the history of tho New Zealand Racing Conference instances could no doubt be cited wherein a prominent body has received a sharp rebuff when standing sponsor for a measure held to be arbitrary in its provisions; but 1 know of no such case in which fv body was so completely left standing by themselves under like conditions as that which came to the Auckland Racing Club in connection with the motion tor which thev were responsible seeking to prohibit. traine-s from racing a horse while they are training horses for remuneration for other persons. Not a single word of support camo to tho Auckland delegates from any quarter, and when it came to the vote the Auckland ers stood by themselves. Nov.' that this arbitrarv ruh* which the Auckland Racing 01 ws Committee sought to pmboav iii the New Zealand code has been disposed of in so pronounced a manner, many people will no doubt ho found to l>o exceedingly curious as to how that body was induced to play the part it did, and who was the particular one- thirsting for fame as a reformer. It really doesn't matter who was tho prinio mover in the matter. The 00111mitteo of the Auckland Racing Club as o. body "undersell th<3 proposal bearing on tho measure, and that foes the nFnorisibilitv' on it. To sav the least, of it, the action was ill-advised,. and it is to be hoped that with the recent e.x----pw-K-nce before it- the committee of the Auckland Racing Club will recognise {■.•.le si.'.-ruiig little fact that the cultivation erf the true sporting spirit coasts "for much, and that rules arbitrary i'j.err j,vro visions should bo very exhaustively scanned' beforo they are •' fathered.' " The outside of the trial grass track was <oppo at Riccarton this morning for fast' work,' and the trainers took full advantage of. it. though most of tliem were content to send then changes along for four or five furlongs. Disdainful set out for a six-furlong gallop, but fclip fell just after jumping

off. She i-eemed none the worse for thv rioace, as she* was. walking quite afterwards, while l' ol ' rider, T. Mussen, escaped with a shaking and a few bruises.

Kami nolle moved in his best style over half a tnile, beating Epworth comfortably.

Kirk by was given ft sprint down the straight,"' in company with the Portland L.iss filly, whilo Marc Anthony did strong work by himself, going freely.

SttTnissn *-* r*r customary good stvle in a sto art half-mile sprint, Xurling and Henriette almost equalling the effort later on.

Brambletye did a useful sprint over half a mile, Ascalaphus showing loss than his usual clasli in a similar task.

There was not much between Zuland and Matty at the end of a fair spin over five furlongs. Kirkby Fleatham showed to more advantage than Red Book at the end of a half-mile' sprint, and he looks as if ho would win races next season.

Snub and Wardancer were associated in a useful gallop over seven furlongs, but they were not fully extended.

Majestikoff was under a strong pull to regulate her pace to that of Ebony over five furlongs.

Jeannot and Cherry Blossom were companions over six furlongs, tho former being easily the better of the pair at the end,

Fiery Cross and Killjoy were responsible "for a very smart performance over six furlongs. Killjoy, after being slightly left, showed more pace than her mate, but Fiery Cross was going on with an advantage at the finish, though there was not a. great deal of difference between the pair.

Art. who looks none the worse for his exertions at Trentham, got over half a mile at a sound pace, accompanied by Steperina.

Kimbolton,. Don Francisco, Charley, Dn(n Pacifipo and Kilkee were among those who did useful pacing on the sand.

C. Gieseler's horses were out, but their tasks were of a light order.

Sleight of Hand and Sir Tarka. were companions in a spin over four hurdles. The pace was solid all the way and both horses jumped well, the effort being very attractive.

Arthur George was schooled over five hurdles by himself. He jumped well enough, but the pace was slow.

Sartorze and Star Blue, two mnmtes of R. Longley's stable, have been showing signs of lameness and it may be found necessary to treat them to a soell In the case of Sartorze, this is particularly unfortunate, as he had been galloping well for some time past and looked as if he-might have won a good race before long.

The injuries which Dionysius suffered at Trentham have proved to bo less serious than, was feared, and he is again in steady work, apparently none the worse for the trip.

Don Francisco was schooled over four hurdles yesterday, and got through his task in highly satisfactory fashion. He has been exercised in the jumping Tin" several times, and the training he has° had in that way appears to have been very beneficial.

El Gallo and Penniless were scratched at noon vesterdav. for all engagements at tho Grand National mooting.

Nystad, who won the Great Easter Handicap, has recently gone into work again at Awapuni. after a spell, while G Price is also handling three yearlings', who show a fair amount of promise.

The Coniform horse, Ringdove, who went amiss some time ago, .after joking a Trentham stable. has been Bold, and will take up stud duty m the Marlborough district.

The Hawke's Bay sportsman, Mr H. E. Troui.beck, has cancelled his proposed trip to Sydney with Form Up, Simonides and Silver Tongue.

During the present season Achilles was represented in tho Dominion by twentv winners, who captured twentyfour race?, with stakes amounting to about £3ooo. Heeltap, with three wins, worth £B4O, was the principal contributor.

The successful Australian sire, Malster had fivo representatives in !New Zealand this season. Bimeter did best, being responsible for about £2650, out of a total reaching nearly to £3700. Sweet Corn and Hopfield, though they failed in their efforts on Dominion courses, were both winners in Australia during the season.

I saw a trio of promising two-year-old pacers this week. They are respectively a filly by Croesus from the dam of Vice-Admiral, gelding by Brent Loeanda. from a Rothschild mare, and gelding by John Dillon from Pastime. They have not been long in work, but have already shown some speed Their owner is retiring temporarily from active participation in tho sport, with which he has been associated for some years, but he is prepared to lease the youngsters for their racing careers.

The Soult gelding, Kauri King, returned to Auckland after his successful trip to Trentham, and it is considered unlikclv that he will visit Riccarton for the Gtrand National meeting nest month.

Tho committee of the Avondale Jookev Club has re-elected the whole of thi* season's officials, with the exception of tho handicapper and starter, which positions have _ been left in abeyance in. tho meantime.

71io withdrawal of El Gallo-and Tarara Jack from their engagements at the Grand National mooting were apparently not prompted by dissatisfaction over their treatmont by tho handicapper, ius. it was definitely announced in Auckland on Wednesday that, they would not visit IHccarton next month. Tho owner of El Gallo came to the decision after his champion had come to grief in the July Steeplechase, holding the view that tho two falls the horse had nright tend to make him nervous, and if ho was continued with there would be a chance of his turning pour. El Gallo will probably be given a spell for a, while.