SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12067, 24 July 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING AND TROTTING. (By "ARGUS.") FIXTURES. Aafuat 15, 17—Metropolitan Trotlinir OJub. August 16, 18 —Canterbury Jockey Club. NOMINATIONS. August 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. August B—Canterbury Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. August 3—Canterbury Jockey Club. August B—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. One of the fo;tturns of the season which ciids early next work has been the size of tho fields, tliat hnvc contested most, of the trotting and pacing races, especially in the slower classes. With fewer races to compete in during the <on:ing season it scem.s probable that there will he even larger fields. In the best races, naturally, there are not so many competitors, for the reason that owners realise, quite, apart from the restricted conditions, that they have no chance whatever of success unless their horses can pace or trot well up to their handicap form. In the slower clashes, however, it is difficult to understand why a large number ever go to the post, if their showing in the races is their true form, for the reason that they hail no possible chance of securing any of the prize-money. Owners and trainers of trotting and pacing horses are usually given the credit, and rightly so. of being men gifted with average, common sense, but in this particular many seem totally devoid of racing acumen. Many of the clubs have reduced the nomination fees and this in itself tends to bring out a good entry, owners freely nominating to a?*ce.rt.ain the handieapper's opinion of their horses, but the acceptance fees cost a good deal more money, and yet owners seem quite willing to pay up tor their horse?, and start, them when only a miracle can bring any prizemoney. Xor is this the worst feature of the ease. A great number in the slower classes, possessing no chance, get in the way. in many cases, of horses who could go fast and who might, have prospects of success if they got a good run in the race. Large fields do not conduce to srood contests, and it would be far better for the sjjort if not. more than a doz.en houses contests any rrce, provided all the. competitors in the field were thoroughly fit. .and able to improve on their handicap time. The spectacle of a few hotses, in a large field, fighting out. a finish, with three parts of the competitors toiling hopelessly in the rear, is not edifying, nor is it in any way likely to create a good impression amongst racegoers, 'lake any mile and a half race on our he=t courses, for horses that can do, say. !}min 40sec or better. This is evidently a popular event amongst owners. .judged bv the nominations received by clubs and the number that go to the post. Ask any owner or trainer prior to the race his opinion of the likely time of the contest, and he will forthwith remark, Oil. the limit horses will have to go about .3min SOsee to have a chance." That, generally speaking, is a fair estimate, and every ounor who has a horse in the race is coguisant of the fact. It naturally follows that all ilio horses starting will have to improve almost lOsec on their handicap time. Yet horses are started in this class of race that get no interfcrcree. begin right and pace correctly all the way, hut the speed shown is not even as fast as tho horst s' bor-;t. performances. How their owners could delude themselves into hopes of success is unaccountable. I am not overlooking what is called the luck of the race. A horse capable of going fast frequently gets badly a,way, or meets with interference, or a thousand and one happenings may prevent him from showing his true suced. This is all part of the game, and the owner's ill-luck, for which no provision can be made, hut many horses seem to be started only or the " off chance," and it is these to which T especially refer. Owners and trainers would be studying their pockets if they kept such horses in the stable until they were ready to go to the races with reasonable hope of success.

T journeyed to New Brighton this morning, but found that the rain bad made the track unfit for work, and those trainers who use it were restricted to road and beach work. The now president of the. club, Mr W. M. Denton, was on the. course, in conversation with tho caretaker, relative to several small improvements that arc shortly to be taken in hand. In conjunction with the Tramway Board and the "Waima.iri County Council, tho club is making a good deal of improvement near tho approach to the public entrance and in tho vicinity of the training gates. The roadway along tho frontage of the olub's property, from the Racecourse Road to Barker's Road, lias been considerably widened and is now being graded and metalled. There lias always been great congestion at the gates on race days, especially on the return journey, and tho alterations, when finished, will be a decided improvement. Barkers Bond has been widi'iKHl and metalled right to tire old New Brighton Road, .and this will now afford a good roadway for traps and motors.

All licenses to ride, drive and train horses under the Rules of Trotting expire next week, and those who require renowals should make early application Provident fund fees will also be due on August 1.

The rain which fell on Sunday night and early on Monday gave the Ricearton tracks a thorough soaking from which they had not recovered this morning. Had a grass track boon oj>en thero would doubtless have been some useful work, but only the sand and tan were available, and most of /the trainers contented themselves with easy tasks for their charges.

About the only horse sent along at nearly his best speed this morning was Tip-up, who got through a half-mile spnrw. on the sand in attractive style.

Snub and Wardancer were worked together this morning, contering onco round tho tan and then covering six furlongs at three-quarter pace. They look well, Snub having quit© got over the effects of his recent mishap.

Minesweeper «ind Tureha-u, two of C. Giescler's "Wingatui team, strode out freely in a useful gallop over six furlongs this morning.

Disdainful was on the course this morning, buici she was restricted to walking exercise. She still shows a slight trace of soreness, as a result of her fall, but she will probably be reedy to gallop again by tho end of this week.

Snrtorze has l>oen thrown out of work and it is unlikely that she will be persevered with. Tho itrouble is in his suspensory ligament and as his trainer, I?. Longloy, considers that he will not stand a preparation, he has decided to gend tho Sarto gelding home.

Star Blue, who went lame last week, is to be blistered and sent home for a spell. The joint which has caused his retirement does not look as if iiti would stand much more work.

The imported mare, Winter Cherry, has only been restricted to the lightest of /tasks since she was recoinmissioncd, as her teeth were causing some trouble, while she was also suffering from a slight cold. Sho is now on tho mend,

and she will he hurried along shortly, with a view to spring engagements.

Mr .T; 13. Reid is looking forward to the approaching stud season very hopefully. During the..last few years he has added a large nMmber of .'well-bred English mares to the IClderslie Stud, and with one exception they are all in foal. A few were mated last spring with the Sundridge horse, Sunny Lake, but the majority went to Kilbroney, who has already demonstrated his ability to sire speedy performers from colonial mares.

Tt is reported that Mastor Strowan will h,> ridden in the Grand National Steeplechase by Ranji Thompson, who was .successful on Paritutu in 1911.

Several Austral inn sires .were represented by winners in thp Dominion this season, the most successful being Malster, whose, progeny won £3685. Comedy King, cmp next with £IBSO, wlrjoh amount represents Biplane's winnings. Housewife and Marianne placed £745 to the credit of Kenilworth. Grafton's only representative was Plymouth, who won £4(55. Poseidon, who had two winners, Ohoreka and Thrace, . won £370. Tarka was credited with £2/30, as the sire of Sir Tarka. Acre and! Sanaere represented Li nacre, and won .C2.TO bctweei them. Two cf Grafton's sons. Lord Grafton and Grafton Loch, also had wimie/s during the season. Lord Grafton is the siro of Golden Grafton. Grafton Loch was represented by Graftella, Lochclla and Lady Grafton.

Tho English-bred hoise, Polydamon, who arrived in Auckland recently, has gone into N. Cunningham's btable at Ellerslie, and it is probable that he will be given a chance, to earn distinction on the racecourses of the Domin> ion before, he is relegated to stud life. His last appearance in England was made in a mile selling race, which he won.

An effort wns made at the recent sit* ting of the Racing Conference to further restrict the issue of gentlemen riders' certificates by a provision that employment at any time in a livery stable or training stable should be a disqualification. The delegates, howover, considered that this proposal wag much too arbitrary, and it was thrown out.

The delegates to the Racing Conference took a reasonable view of the situation when they reduced the accident fee from £1 to 10s. The fund in no\i in credit' to the extent of nearl; £20,000, which is the sum that ha& been aimed at for some time past. It was therefore felt that the time had arrived to slightly relieve the burdens on owners, the smaller fee being considered sufficient for loquiremcnts when added to the interest earned by the accumulated funds f

Owners -md trainers throughout the Dominion will regret that the Racing Conference threw out the proposed new rule to compel duns, without delay, tc forward to each owner of a horse entered an accurate official list of entries, •weights and acceptances. Some clubf already mnke a practice of distributing this information, which is greatly ap predated by those concerned. As matters stand at present, owners have to rely, so far as th«*. other clubs are con* cerned, on the lists published in th'* - newspnpers, as, as they have no opportunity for checking; the accuracy of the information provided in this way, horses are occasionally missing who might have l>eeii competitors at a meeting but for some error in the handicaps,

Apprehensive, that the war wdl deplete the country of equine breeding stock, the United States Government has prohibited further exportation of mares, in consequence of which the British and French are now taking only geldings. In two and one-half years ■ihout 1 0(10.000 horses have been fieut iieross the Atlantic for military purroses Twenty-five per cent or these were mares. Tt is estimated that close to half a million more will ho required ihi<; year. The United States lot contracts for 30,000 horses and mules on June 1, hut specified that they must; be six to ten vcars old. while the British :,re taking '" short fives." Prices paid on the United States contract will be from £35 to £l7 a head.