SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12083, 11 August 1917, Page 11

SPORTING GOSSIP.

HQ AND TROTHS, (Bv "ARGUS.") FIXTURES. August 15. 17— Metropolitan Trottinc Club. &u' o "ust 10, 16—Canterbury Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. August 13— Canterbury Jockey Club. I All important feature in. connection ! with the trotting .<=poro m thv Dominion last season was tho work done l,v the stipendiary s'.-ew ai as. Alt. two or three years' discussion by the Conference the system of control b? paid officials came i:ito operation tl'v,? beginning of last season, and. a sub-committee of the Conference set up to make the .appoint men is and control the stipendiary steward.-, code of regulations was drawn up, based to a. large extent 011 that in force in the galloping sport, and gonerallv spotking these have proved quite sufficient for all purpose?. H;o subcommittee made a wise choice v. a en it appointed Mr T. H. Davey to the chief position. Mr Davey has had a- Jong connection with racing, both galloping and f rotting, and for some t-inio prior to bis appointment as chief stipendiary in the trotting world he had more than once acted in a similar capacity for galloping meetings. He had not kept so closely in touch with the trotting sport, although some years before 110 had taken an active part in it, being a member of the first board ot the New Zealand Trotting Association under its pKese-nb constitution. His keen enthusiasm, sound judgment and general knowledge has been invaluable during tho year, and it can safely bo said that lie has been a gilt'at success, and thoroughly justified his appointment. One deputy was appointed to the North Island and three for tho South Island- 1 consider the committee would have been better advised had it appointed one chief deputy, who could have done all tho work, together with Mr Diavey, and thereby gamed a good deal moiv experience than wag possible under the system in force. As it was, the work was split up amongst the four deputies, and they had a limited amount of work, being only called upon to act when there was a clashing ef fixtures. Even thfcn it, was found that an extra official had to be; appointed to do some of the work. Ono of the chief difficulties in the way of carrying out the reform was the question of expense, but I have, gathered that the basis on which the committee made tho levy on clubs was quite sufficient to meet the cost. ft is not at all likely there will he a return to the old order, and despite tine altered conditions (for this season's racing, those governing the sport will be able to make th 0 necessary alterations to meet the change. The decision of the. conference that the Metropolitan, Auckland and Forbury Park Clubs should havo two officials always present ati their meeting's found general favour, and there is not much likelihood of any change being made in this direction. All the affiliated, clubs havo apparently taken kindly to the, appointment of paid oflicials to govern the sport, and tho work done throughout tho year has shown that their- services have proved of great benefit. Previous to the appointment of .stipendiary stewards it frequently happened that eases that came before clubs, and which had to he forwarded on to the association, had to he referred back to clubs on account of formalities not having been complied with, but I have not, sent any such happenings this season, showing that tho paid official had so instructed club executives that all the rub's luhl been carried out in dealing with matters first coining before the clubs for their decisions. In this way the* work of the, association ha.s been made much easier. It was not to bo expected that- much drastic- action would be taken by tjio stipendiary stewards in the carry nig out of their duties, hut I have knowledge of a great amount of work that; has been accomplished which lias tended towards a better working and general supervision of the racing than that which obtained under the old order. A great amount of the work clone has not been mado public, and the "Stipendiary Stewards' - Committee might carefully review this and give instructions to clubs that all matters brought before them by the paid officials should be supplied to the Press, so that publicity could bo given. It is worth mentioning that some clubs do provide information of happenings, a notable example being tho Forbury Park Club, which posts in the Press-room decisions by its stewards. Now that the reform has boon placed on a sound and. satisfactory basis, those who have its control in hand should extend their energies in another direction, where- it is much needed. 1 refer to the trotting events that aro included 011 racing clubs' programmes. Naturally, tho question of cost plays a prominent part, but as a fee has now been lixed by tho association. it should be a somewhat easy matter for these races to be placed on the samo basis as those run at the meetings of trotting clubs. In tho South Island nearly all tho smaller racing clubs place trotting events on their programmes, and these races provide a good deal of revenue, so that the cost of control should be met by the clubs holding such races. Whilst i,t can hardly ho expected that the chief stipendiary steward should attend all such meetings, there is no reason why the deputies should not do the work, and •so keep in touch with all .tho form of the trotters and pacers during the season. Tho sport lias progressed so much of late years that those who have tho government in their hands must keep up with all necessary requirements. No mistake was made when the appointment of stipendiary stewards was decided on, and it can safely be left to thoso who inaugurated thei reform to see thatall trotting and pacing races of the futuro aro tinder proper control. Reference was made recently to tho fact-' that three of the brood mares at the. Waikanao Stud bad this year foaled before the first of August, the youngsters being thus rendered valueless for classic racing, as they now rank as yearlings, though only a few w r eeks old. There were n few notable cases of early foalings in the early days of racing in New; Zealand, and in the case of two of the most prominent, it is interesting to recall the fact that they camo from families which subsequently earned distinction in Australia, while the fame of one extended as far as America. One of the earliest cases recorded here was July, a member of famous Traducer— Idalia family, to which S'-.-Modred, Cheviot and Idalium belonged. Betrayer, tho eldest of the family, won tho Wanganui Cup, and sired a winner of the same race in Liberator. Betrayer was the only member of the family to remain in the Dominion. Cheviot and Sir Modred were; "both firstclass performers hero, while Sir Mod- j red also won the Metropolitan at Randwick. Both horses_ made a name at the stud in America. July and Idalium both went to the stud iu New South Wales, and the latter afterwards followed lu's brothers to America. Another early foal was the Aucklandbred Too Soon. He also went to Sydney, where ho won the Carrinprt-on Stakes. Ho was by Anteros, from Steppe, and 'was a member of a highly successful running and sire family. "He was a half-brother to Russlev (by Doncaster), who, after winning numerous races in the colours of the late Mr G. G. Stead in tho Dominion, went to Australia and won tho Doncaster Handicap at Rvandwick. Too Soon and Russlev both went to the stud in New South Wales, but neither sired anything as good as himself, thourrh Riisslev sired Picture, winner of the*

Australian Jockey Club's Derby. Other memhers of the family to settle in New South" Wales were Lady Norah (by Cacloganj, winner of the V. augaum Uup, and Tartar (by Musket). She, sister to'Stepninlc. went in Aieloria. where she produced liobadil. .Stopntak raced at Rand wick, and reiurned to .oceanic a successful sire ar Flderslie. S'tepMdt (faster to Sicpniak.) was also represented at Randwick by 1?l----fion, who has taken up stud dutv 1,1 New South "NValcs this season Wro have been other eases of early fonnng> in the. Dominion, a few having occurred in reeenr years, but none of i he norses attained much dist mcnuo. In these <!;>%-■; when iiio~l owners .are anxious to sret hold of precocious youngsters. likely m nm carlv two vear-old races, the three '\\ canines now at. the Waikanae Stud wi 1 not command a ready sale. 1 fact, that tlx-. accident of being foaled too early has ruined their prospects, so far as classic events arc concerned. may, ever, be a blessing in diV'uise. Tho ela<t<; of racing to winch they will be restricted will make it inadvisable to start them much before they are offieiallv four years old. -so that they will have a chance to mature before having to undertake the strenuous tasks apportioned to horses be sup prepared to win distinction on the turf, and in the end thev mav turn out more profitable than would have been tho case had they been set to win early two-year-old events. Die benefit, in that rise, will come to their owners, whereas their breeder ""ill sutler a loss, owing to the fact, that (here is no market for horses requiring a lot of time before they can give a return on the money spent in their purchase. For some years past the " New Zealand Turf liepi.ster " has been published in plenty of time to assist followers of the sport in their deliberations for the Grand National meeting. Tho current number is well up to- date in that respect, a,<s it made its appearance today. As usual, it is very complete, in every respect. The bulk of the volume is taken up with a' full record of last year's racing, the galloping and trotting results being kept in separate sections. Erich race is numbered, and with, an index for each' section it is quite, an easy matter to follow the form of any horse, especially with/wins and planed performances specially marked in the index. Th® racing and trotting statistics for the season and tho results of bloodstock sales; ate other interesting features. The tables showing winners of the principal races again find a place, while a good deal of space is occupied with'nominations for future events, list of registered colours and the Rules of Racing, all of which aro of considerable interest. The book, which is published by the Christchureh "Press" Company, is well printed and stoutly bound. Tt s value is now fully recognised by followers of racing and trotting, so that a ready sale is assured. Tn moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet at tho meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, the president, stated that last season the club paid no less than £29,530 by way of Government taxation. The question of holding a one-day spring meeting was freely discussed by members, and the committee promised that if tho "Works Committee reported the course as safe the meeting would be held. Tt, has recently been discovered that| a. portion of the Wanganui Jockey Club's racecour.se enclosure is public property, and it is indeed a. moot point whether a public road (Tngestre Street) does not, extend into the racecourse, and practically right, up to the racetrack . Tho discovery, say* a. Wanganni writer, was made in consequence of proposed Court, proceedings against a number of men. whom, it was alleged, had used a corner of the ground near the present main Elites for betting purposes. As n. result, the proposed proceedings against the men had to he abandoned. Just »vlint- will bo the outcome of tho discovery is hard to say, but the suggestion has born mndc that. tho Borough Council should cot some back rent from the club for their newly-found property. Apart from that aspect of the question, the matler is a, somewhat serious one from the club's point of view, and it may lead to some important developments. The trotting stallion. Pour Chimes, who is to do stud duty in Canterbury thi.s season, arrived from Southland last night and is now quartered at Lodge's stables at Addington. Tho son of Abbey Bells has so far had limited opportunities but he has left a number of speedy performers, among them being Cathedral Chimes, winner of the Nfew Zealand Trotting Cup last year, and Matehlight, who has qualified for the same event, this season. Tho Acting-Premier of New* South Wales is of opinion that- concession betting interferes with the totalisator turnover at some racing tracks, says a Sydney writer, but loses sight of tho fact that the machine's most troublesome opponent is the place bookmaker. Tho hatter's odds are rarely liberal, but still they divert so much business from the totalisator that if. will nevex come as a surprise if tho Government intimates to racing clubs that it is undesirable they should license men to bet ], 2, 3. This, of course, would be rough on men at present confining themselves to that class of transaction, but as the totalisator was legalised tor State revenue purposes, it would be unwise of tho layers, straight out or place, to expect that they will be allowed to stand in the. l way of the machine. Commenting on thoroughbred importation;-! and wliai. is described as the craze for speed, as against stamina_ on tho racecourse, in Australia, a writer in the " Bloodstock Breeders' Review, cj ;l vs" The Victoria Racing Club r even til v decided to.reduce tho Kings Plate (formerly the Champion Stakes) from three to two miles, so that henceforth—or until other Counsels prevail—the A.J.C. Plate at Raudwiek will be the only flat race in Australia over three miles. Some years ago the Randwick Plate was three miles, but in 1898 j if, was reduced to two and a quarter, and later to two miles. Other races, both ali Randwick and Flemington, have been shortened, presumably with a view to attracting bigger fields. This | movement is to ho deplored. Surely j both the Australian Jockey Club and the Victoria Racing Club can wall afford to encourage th e training of real stayers. 'When a. policy liko that referred to is adopted, there is no tell-, ing whither it will 1 lead, and it will bo a thousand pities if the principal clubs in the Commonwealth gave colour to the idea that they regard stamina in the racehorse as a quah'tv of less importance than it was formerly."