SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING AND TROTTING. (Bv "ARGUS.") FIXTURES. Auprtiat 15, 17—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August 16, 18—Canterbury Jockey Club. The Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting was at one time confined to a .single day. It was extended to two davs in 1892, and to three days in 1899. This week's fixture at Ricearton will not provide the only occasion on which the Grnnd National Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Handicap have been run on the.same oay. That was tho arrangement in the early days of the hurdle race, but the last occasion was in 1891, when Freeman and Conranto won the double. A year later, when Ahua and Kulnino were successful, the races were decided on different days, acour.se which was followed until this year, when the reduction of racing dates necessitated a remodelling of tho programme. Of the horses engaged in the Grand National Steeplechase to-morrow Merry Lad, Rraeburn and The Brewer contested the. same event Inst, season. Gluepot won the Enfield Steeplechase at the same meeting, with Nita third, while CVil) and St Elmn competed in hurdle races. Five horses who figure in the field for the Grand National Hurdle Handicap to-morrow took part in the same race lust, year, tlie.se Leing Art (the winner), Sir (Solo (third). To Onga, Leonta and Marconi. Sleight of Hand, another of to-morrow's field, won two hack hurdle races at last year's fixture. Up til! about a fortnight ago it seemed probable thai the three horses who filled the places in the Winter Cup last year would be in the field again to-mor-row. Since then, however, Cherry Blossom, the winner, lias gone, amiss, but Heeltap and Seddel Bahr, who followed her home, are still eligible to compete. George and J cannot are the only other horses who contested Inst year's race who will again be on hand to-morrow.

Among the horses who will he racing at Riccnrton this week are si-vera I who won races at the Grand National mooting last year. Tncluded in the list are ArK Varnish and Sleight of Hand, each of "whom won a double, while, Gluepot', Traditor, King Star, Heeltap and Compulsion are others of last year's winners who are again on the scene.

The records of the Grand National Steeplechase in recent years are. rather against the chance of Crib winning under list 1.31b. Levanter carried 12sf fill) when ho was successful in 1897. hut in the nineteen contests which have taken place since then the heaviest weight borne to victory is list 9Tb, undei' which To Arni won in 1910. Waimai scored with list 81b last year, Captain Jingle with list 71b 'in 1.Q1'2, Awahuri with list 31b in 1903. Bercola with list 31b in 19J3.

Tile schoolng work at Riecarfon this winter has not been of a particularly interesting character. There are not many jumpers in local stables, but it was expected that there would be plenty of schooling when the visitors arrived, for the (Jrand National meeting. Expectations in that direction have not been realised, however. The hurdlers have provided some fair sport to those who enjoy this class of sport, but the work of the steeplechasers has boon very poor. Most of the Grand National candidates have been over a few fences, but the schooling has not been at all exciting, there being none of the serious contests that enlivened proceedings in other years.

Crib's display over a round of the steeplechase fences yesterday was not calculated to please his Grand National supporters. He slipped at the first obstacle, and went very cmvtiously at the double, after which he jumped safely enough, but took plenty of time at each fence. The conditions wero scarcely favourable for n first-class exhibition, and the connections of the South Canterbury crack were in no way perturbed by the performance, expressing the view that he would shape very differently with a solid pace all (lie way.

Though no definite decision has yet been arrived at regarding 'the nice in which St Klmn will start, to-morrow, the fact tluifc ho was schooled over tlie fences yesterday is generally regarded as ;i, .suggestion that the Grand National Steeplechase will he his mission. Tho St Ambroso gelding lost Jn's rider at the double yesterday through bad luck, Sandy Paul jumping down llio fence in front of him. St Elnin is not a good track worker, and those who know him well give him a big chance of winning the cross-comi'try raco tomorrow.

Parisian Diamond added to his circle, of admirers bv the. Myle .in whieli he galloped over .seven furlongs yesterday. The time was not exceptional, but he appeared to be running very wide round tho turn, while he got "through his task in very aittraclire fashion, finishing strongly alongside Miss Do Val. The sprinting performance registered by Johnny "Walker over live furlongs yesterday was highly attractive. Mo moved along resolutely and finished well, his time being tho best of the morning for the distance. He had a moving start, while ho hns the reputation of being a slow beginner from tho barrier, but if he has the hick to get a good run through tho early stages of tho Winter Cup. he can be relied on to put in some solid work over tho last couple of furlongs. Fiery Cross and Tip-up, two Riccar-ton-trained candidates for tho Winter Cup, went particularly well in their work yesterday, the former over six furlongs and tho latter over seven. They both look liko playing a prominent part in (lie mile race, and it is reported that the connections of Tip-up are very sanguine regarding tho prospects, with tho chance of tho course bojng heavy through rain. Tho well-known North Island jockey, J. O'Shea, will be unable to fuliil riding engagements at Rjccarton 'this week, as ho had the misfortune to break his arm yesterday in an accident. A meeting of tho New Zealand Trotting Association will bo held this ingAcceptances for tho .second day of tho Now Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's meeting will close at noon tomorrow. The Auckland Racing Club has decided to hold a one day spring meeting on November 10, an arrangement which, will bo very popular with northern awiiors and trainers. It is probable ■t'hat the Auckland Guineas, for three-year-olds, and the Welcome- Stakes, for two-year-olds, will bo included in the programme. Tho death of Mr G. Morse has left the Auckland Racing Club without a handicapper. Tho committee had tho matter under discussion last week, and decided to invite applications for the position. The North Island trainer, T. Wilson, who was drawn in. a recent ballot, has passed tho medical test, and he will go jnto camp next week. Chrome, who Avon the. Mornington Welter Handicap, one mile, on the firyt day of 'tho Amateur Turf

Club's mooting tin's month, is by th'.- 1 St Simon horse, Bright Stool, from Cisnoros, a Xew Zoaland-brcd mare, by Field Battery—-St Winifred, by Sylvia J'ark —Lcda, by Castor.

Polygainist, winner of the Australian Hurdle Handicap, run at Caulficld this month, is owned by the cx-A>istralian trainer, R. Wootton, who is at present resident in England, where, ho secured th 0 horse. Until a few weeks ago Polygainist was held on lease by Mr F. F. Robinson, but in his latest effort tho horse, ran in the interests of Messrs Hadrian M.nody un<l P. E. 11. Hope, to whom tho Icnso was transferred. Mr Moody is a. well-known Adelaide sporting journalist, while Mr Hope is a loading South Australian owner, who won tbo last South Australian Derby with Perambulate. F. M'Ca.nn, who trains Polygainist, was until a few months ago located in 'Adelaide. Ho thinks that Polygainist had Merunqna bftateu whon the' lnvter fell at the hist hurdle. According to M'Cann, Polygainist is not a dishonest horse, a.s is generally supposed, but only shows his best form when thoroughly well.

At the annual meeting of tho Marlborough Racing (..'bib, tho balance-sheet showed tha't; the h*jik overdraft on July 1, 1017, was £21(51 10s lOd. Owing to tbo strained financial position of tho club it was decided to issue to members a further £7OO worth of debentures. It was rosolved to support 'the suggestion of tho committee to transfer from the Canterbury Jockey Club's district to iflto Wellington Kacing Club's district.

Referring to Gray's improved starting machine in uso at Canterbury Park, a "Sydney writer reports that it does away vi't'li overhead and sid© wires, and tho'barrier, being of strong rope, cannot bo broken. On the ropo, at abou'ti tho average width of a horso, nro placed numbers showing each rider tho position bo has drawn, and consequently oven inexperienced boys can set? at a ohuico where they should lino up. When th 0 barrier goes up it also releases while flags, indicating a start. Tho barrier travels at such a spowl when tho starter touches tho lever, that thoro is not the slightest chance of the horses being caught in it, and alogethcr tlio maehino is much better than the ono at present in general use.

A dastardly act. intoudod to injure a well-known horse, i.s reported from A\ est Australia. Sir Quin was brought down heavily on tho training track at I" reman tie bv a stretch of fencing wire which someone had deliberately strained across the track from a post to a tree. It was known that the horse would gallop then' that morning. Beyond a severe sinking, neither horse, nor rider was injured.

Thougli Carbine's name has completely disappeared from the winning sires' list in .England, .Musket's wonderful son figures amongst thehires who claimed winning representatives in Australia last season. This i.s entirely due to tho exploit of his English-bred son Defence, who captured £ 11205. It is interesting to chronicle that, no fewer than fifteen sires claiming Carbine as parent were represented by winners in Australia last season, and their descendants won over £40.000 in stake money. Pistol, who stands out as one of most noteworthy descendants of Carbine at the .slud iii Australia, lias year by year worked his way near the top. and on this occasion he is found in sixth position.

Wallace occupied a prominent place among the winning .sires in Australia during 1915-16, when his stock won £24,!M5. but last, season his total dropped to £7528, the smallest for ten years. Since 1899-1900 he lias been represented by winners of .C21.1.-M6. These figures' suffer by comparison with those of Malstcr, who first appeared as a winning sire in 'lDOfi-7, since when he has been credited with .01227,087 m prize money won by his progeny. Bobadil was one of the colonial-bred sires who did well in Australia last season, his progeny winnng £15,152, which gave the Bill of Portland horse third position on tho winning sires' list. The total Avinnings of Robadil's descendants since they first made their debut in the spring of 1903 amounted to £139.016. The success that has marked Bobadill'r career as a sire furnishes :i ?;ood illustration that it is well not to orm hard and fast conclusions in slimming up a horse. '' Terlinga," of the j " Australasian," remarks: "1 can ro- ! member one of tho best judges in Australia saying that Bobadil would never make a sire. He was too delicate when in training, and it was contended that his stock would inherit the delicacy. As a matter of fact, hardiness has been the outstanding characteristic of Bobadil's stock. You never can toll inbreeding. All the plausible theories go to the wall in practice." 11I.OCATITON TRAINING NOTES. Wednesday. Following on the rain which fell yesterday, the weather was fine for training operations this morning, the sun making a welcome appearance. The sand, tan and Not (5 grass tracks wore open, the sand providing fair going, while the other two wero decidedly heavy. The work done was not of much interest. Master Strowan and Ranzn. did a circuit of the steeplechase fences, both jumping well. - Johnny Walker moved freely over fioven furlongs on the snnd, getting •through his task in limn.32 3-ssec. George shaped attractively in a sprint over half a mile on the grnss. Kiltess sprinted with a companion, finishing well, while Prince Dolawaro and Sir Agnes ran half a mile on the sand in good style. Tauira hit out freely in a useful gal- I lop over a mile on the-sand. I Leouta and Sir Solo were associated

in n working gallop on the sand, hotli going well. A large, number of other horses work-i cd, but their tasks, in the main, \ver# of a light order.