SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12087, 16 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RACING AfIDJROITING. (Bv "ARGUS.") FIXTURES. August 17—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August IS —Canterbury Jockey Club. Tho Metropolitan Trotting Club's August meeting was commenced yesterday. I'nfortunaielv, heavy rain fell during the previous day, and the track was not in good order, being very heavy, although it greatly improved towards tho end of the afternoon. 1 expected to see it a good deal worse than it really -turned out to be, butevidently the niin had not penetrated vei\y far, and there was not so much mud as I have seen afto r wet. weather. The times were slow, particularly for the harness races, but the last saddle* race was a great improvement: as regards speed, the track then being at its best during* the <lay. It was a. day for the success of outsiders. The favourite won the first, event, but not another success came, the way of the mostl fancied until Huia Gray won the concluding event. There was a large crowd present, both in the paddock and outside, and the racing was watched with interest, but the contests were not of a very exciting nature, the state of the track probably accounting for the poor showing of some of the horses. The starting was not altogether satisfactory, the second race being a very poor effort, after two false attempts, and in some of the other races tho lie-Ids did not seem to be well under control. It would have been almost impossibly for any starter to make a great sucee.s:; of the mile and a halt race, which had no less than twentythree starters, with only four seconds between them. I heard a. good deal of comment in connection with the starting, mam- keen judges being at a loss to understand why the yards system was so rf.iiekly discarded without a fair trial. During the day Ml horses started for the eight events, there being two fields of twenty-three each, whilst ten started in the chief event of tho day, which was thp smallest field. A weakness in the day's arrangemeiu.s was tliof delay in getting the horses out, there being numerous instances in which some of the competitors only made their appearance on the track a few minutes before the time for closing the. totalisator. The club could greatly improve its August meeting in another direction by put lint* the programme forward, so that the last race would bd dispatched half an hour earlier than was the case yesterday, when it wa.s almost impossible to distinguish the horses, save when they were in tho straight. For the Improvers' Handicap, of two miles, in saddle, for trotters only, the Southland-owned ma.ro Gemma was made, a hot favourite. Bidden an excellent race by J. M'Lemian, who was in no great hurry to get to the front.' in the early stages, Gemma, trotted throughout without any mistake and mod rather easily. The winner is an aged in,are by Bellman, and: has done! a lot of racing in Southland. Always possessed of a great turn of speed, she was not too reliable, being a bad breaker. At the conclusion of the May meeting at Forbury I'ark the winner was leased by Mr P. Delargy, who has quickly been successful with her. Tin* mare was in capital condition and did not seem to be troubled in any way by the bad track. Treasure Seeker wont, very fast over the last mile and got second place, accomplishing a most attractive porfoniianee. I/ike the winner, Treasure Socket* was excellontly ridden, F. Holmes, j-.in.. b?ing in the saddle, though he is not often seen riding trottors. It was a fine contest all through, Ma.rvolo a.nd Arcadian being early out, in frouj», with the West Coast mare, Fairy Whispers, always handy. Tho scratch mare lost a lot of ground at the start, and -was never dangerous. Armamenter broke up early, whilst Dubosc did not get away well. Craibwood trotted fairly well, but lie looks as though he is iki'w on the down grade. Bed Bell Avent a, good race and showed improved form, but ho left his feet more than once when going well. M. Edwards's horso finished strongly, however, and got third place, beating the tiring Fairy Whispers. Marvolo was iji the firing line for a mile and a half, and then, broke up- The tiimo, -tmin s(j '2-ssec, was a capital go on tho had track. Tho large field of twenty-three started in the Trial Handicap, of a milo and a half, in harness, and the TV a. in-mate-owned Gladoye was made a littlo better favourite t-him the bracketed Nancy Stair and Silver Quick. The race was not an interesting one. After two false starts General TVvILe began quickly, led all the way, and won easily, paying a dividend not often obtained on the course. Tho winner did not appear to at his best, but hj« paced in solid fashion and was evidentlv favoured by the going. General' W.ylic has always been a horse of whom groat things were expected, but early in his career he went wrong, and has been \indor suspicion of unsoundness ever since. A free, bold paocr and a. rare stayer, the. heavy going just suited him. fly was excellently handled by F. Holmes. The North Island mare, Maliinga, got second, a.nd with a clear run early in the. raoi'. might have troubled tho winner, as she wiL.s finishing very fast, Lady Rothsoon got away smartly, but had to cover a good deal of ground in tho early stages through having to go round the iiekl. Tho Gore-owned mare pacjed a line raeo and finished well Gladeye went well for n, mile and a quarter, but w*hon iu an excellent position broke up and finished fourth. T'lite Australian-bred Chid showqd some speed in the lirst rohmd, but did riot seem, to stay well, and the Ashburton mare, The Linnet, was also prominent for a mile. Bank Note put in a lino run and Uiroatenk'd danger going down the back the last time, but, like Gladeye, left her feot. Xeither Nancy Stair nor Silver Quick was over near the front division, but Miss Havoc was pacing attractively in the early stages. There were l'ar too many horses in the field, and a lot of them lost all chance at the start. The chief event of the day, the August Handicap, was not an interesting race and not much excitement wa.s shown by the public over the contest. Oinnko, Princess Sherwood and Persuader were, scratched, and Cora Kllon and Childsdale, Bryce's coupled pair, were favourites, with Agathos and John Dillon noxt best backed, Adelaide Dirpct being the outsider of the party. Tamarisk and St Kevin led tho field, but. just before reaching tho mile post Tamarisk went to a tangle and St Kevin took charge. With a round to go St Kevin was in trouble and going down the back John Dillon raced to tho front, stayed out the concluding stages and won very eas.ily. The winner is a. fine pacer, who for some time was unsound and did little racing. After winning a few races over short courses In M. Edwards's stable, ho was sold to an Auckland sportsman, who on going to tho war sold the horse. As soon as the handicaps appeared it evidently became, known that John Dillon had developed great -staying powers, as he was supported in all the doubles. With such an easy action, provided he remains sound, John Dillon should win over the samo distance again. Adelaide Direct went a fine race. Not hurried over the early stageß, she camo home fast and gained second place. The mnro is not partial to soft going, so that her race was ail exceptionally good one. Admiral Wood paced a line race. Ifav-

ing the track to lirimself in the early part, he gradually overhauled the. front division, but over the last round he did not get at all a good run and got into serious trouble at, the turn into the straight. Agathos, too, got into bother, which appeared to In? caused through Stanley's Child making a mistake and boring out. Cora Dillon lost nil chance at the start, through stumbling, and Ohildsdale did not go off right. After settling down Brjce's horse paced fast and looked like getting to the leaders, but ho left his feet. St Kevin went a fast mile and so did Tamarisk, but both stopped very quickly. General Link, who had a good run all the way, did not finish at all well. Bt-nmleVs Child went very patchiLy. Slip was early in Hie firing lino arid was Pacing well, but later lost her place. Slie came again round the hoi,torn turn, but made another mistake, interfering with several of the other horses. There was a large field for the Queen Marv Handicap, of two miles, in (saddle, but again there was a poor race, the field being strung out all round the course before half the distance was covered. The Xort.li Island-owned "Waiteranui was made a hot favourite, but he did not go off the mark until after the KCrateh mare had left. The manner in which "Waitiornnui paced once he got away showed that lie would have been hard to beat had be got away to liis right bell. In the early stages Stormy Way and Schnapps cleared out from the field, and the latter went on better than Mr Tutton'.s mare, stalling off a late run by Branston and winning comfortably. Schnapps is not n big one, but is a rare good stayer. He is by tlio Rothschild horse Torn Savers, and is owned and trained by the Ohoka sportsman, Mr J. 11. Power. The horse was ridden a most confident race by F. M'Dermott. Branston, who went amiss last week, and had to be eased in his work, found the soft goinn to his liking and paced a fine race, being excellently ridden by F. Redmond, who handles pacers in fine style. Stormy "Way finished third, and Energy came away from the ruck at the end and got fourth. The well backed Zara was never sighted throughout the race, but Neigh went well for a mile and a half. Dainty Dillon and Great Britain both paced fairly well. but. many in the field must, have disappointed their connections. The first and second horses paid substantial dividends. Waiteranui and Zara being backed for nearly half the investments on the race, although there was a field of twenty-three. The Oamaru-owned but Canterburytrained Hon Ami was made a little better favourite than Billy Parole for tho Stewards' Handicap, of two miles, in harness, for trotters only. Bon Ami never seemed to get going at any stage of the race, but Billy Parole wa.s in the front division for five furlongs, when he broke up and never made un his lost ground. Hardy Wilkes went "off well, and. trotting in great style, without a mishap, was with his field with more than a mile to go. In the back jtret.ch he trotted past tho leaders with ridiculous ease, and won very easily. The. time for the race was faster than that of the chief event of the day, and, even allowing lor the improvement in the track llardy Wilkes's performance wa.s full of merit. Hiis is the first occasion I have se-'ii Hardy Wilkes trot solidly all through a nice. He has exceptional speed, but until yesterday ho has neve;- properly governed it, and in bis latest effort he had no gear on or tic down. Tt would be difficult to say how fast he could- have gone on the track. Lady Wilmington, who is apparently <|iik© sound, went a, fine race, but, she had no chance with tho winner, who is a trotter of exceptional merit. The Auckland-owned marc pulled up sound. Theseus began well, trotted solidly throughout and finished third. Syne went- well for a mile and then stopped, and it looked as thotogh she could have been improved with a few more fasi work-niits. Lady Patricia began slowly, never seemed to get "oing 011 the soft track, and gave a very poor display. Trugmiini went a solid race, and Fox had his mare looking bright and well. I was very disappointed with the showing of Imperial Grown. He began well, and was with the. front division early, but, he did not put any dash into his work; Olive L. looked as though she, had had! too much work, and Michael Galindo, who had been trotting solidly in his work, left his foe.t lor no apparent reason. Paul Huoti is not at his best, and Galieian has trotted more resolutely. "Whispering Willie went, a good race, but lUvl Heather's display was disappointing.

There was ;i good field for the miitn anci :i quarter race, in which Hryce's coupled pair. Childsdale and Cora Dillon. were only a. 1 iliJo better supported tluin Sungod. Sungod went away very ci'aickly, and Tod the field until halfv,ay up the straight, when St Ursula, who had always been handy, came, along and won easily. The winner was owned hy .Mr W. Abbott, of Aurkhmd, and had Rome smart performances to her credit on the northern traek, but since being sold and raced in the south the mare, has not shaped up to her North Island record. She was evidently favoured by the right-handed course, finding a good deal of difficulty in going round the corners left-handed. A. Fleming, who has had her since shp has been owned in the south, has persevered with St I'rsula, and she lias at labt, rewarded his efforts. .She is a, long striding mare and a rare stayer, so that the mile and a quarter was an. easy race for her. provided she raced right. Sungod, who raced brilliantly in the early part of last, season and then lost form, has evidently comeback again to his best, as he paced a. capital race all through. Frandocia found the speed too solid, and is evidently not sMcli a food horse as he was a, couple, of seasons ago. Childsdale. after l>eI'inning slowly, put in a fine, run oiku the last part of the race, as did Antonio,who lost a lot of ground at) the start. Tommv O. was not in his mood but (ilendaloiigh paced well for mile Kvelvn and Jewel Chimes did not go impressively. Kcccntrii: did not get away as fast as usual, and was hard at) it all the way, but the grey is not at present so brilliant as lie was a couple of seasons ago. The field did not appear to be a particularly strong 0110 lor the mile harness race, and Trix Pointer, on the limit, was made a hot favourite, tho Auckland-owned horse, Huon Patch, driven by A. Pringlo, being next host supported. Tho favourite got away badly, and lluou Patch mood on the mark. Sir Pulliam went out smartly, led the field practically all the way, and won comfortably. Tho ox-Außtralian pacer has always been a brilliant horse, out he has raced not too solidly over two miles. Ho had some smart performances to bis credit before he was purchased by Mr J. Fleming in Australia. On several ocasions he has paced very badly in races, showing no solidity in his work, and failing to go round turna at all well. He paced with great determination in this race, and won very easily. He is by Marvin Wilkes, and now that he has struck form ho should not l>e long before he is again successful. The ex-Aucklander, St Michael, went a surprisingly good race, following the winner nearly all the way, and Prince Poole went one of his usual consistent races, getting third. Nancy Pa.tch showed a. good deal of speed, but Gold Crest was not in a. generous mood. Lindetta did not find the ground to his liking, and Rothannie was outclassed. Lord Dillon is bo unreliable that it seems useless persevering with him. Tf he would only keep to his gait 110 race would' be beyond liis powers. Annie Dillon and Tho Whip performed fa^ly. Tho mile saddle race was the medium of the heaviest speculation of the day. Tho Auckland-owned. Huia Gray was made favourite, and ho just got up in time to win by a narrow margin from Winston M. A few months ago Huia Gray went into 13. Jurdca's stable, and

ho was started at Canterbury Park in June, when he showed a fine turn of speed. He is by Specialist, and lias been successful on Auckland tracks, but this wa.s his first success in the south. "Winston M-, who finished second, showed reatly improved form since racing at (')eytown in June, and tho Kaikoura horse must he accounted unlucky in just being beaten after going such a, good race. AVillie Lincoln paced well, and looked at one stage of the race n« if ha would prevail, but he stopped at the end of the journey Sceptro began well j" iT° n k pn^'f^.v f°r. balf the distance, hut Huon Pal eh again misbehaved him< self at the start, failing to get off right. \\ oodverc went: a solid race, being with the leaders for more than half tho distance. M'Connachie, who appears to linvo liglitonpfl n Jot. sincp last X raw him racing, was well placed in theoarlv stages, but he quickly faded out. anri several of the others gave very indifferent displays. NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION. MEETING- OF BOARD. Tho. board of tho New Zealand Trotting Association mot evening; present---Messrs P. fcolig ;chnirm«n), H. \V. Hatchings h 'iru, C. F. Mark. W. H. Denton, R. W. SlmrU T. T. Ritchie, \\ r . J. M. Hopkins, .T. H. Will i;i in a and H. F. Nicoll. A. legal opinion ivn? receiver] from tha board's solicitors to the effect. the. r tho charge for costs rnr.de by the New Zealand Trotting Conference against the a -socifttion in connection with tho F.niilius appeal case was a fair one under tho circumstances. Tho letter was received, and it was decided to pay the. costs. T]>e New Zealand Racing Conference wrote forwarding a resolution affirming that the association and th;< conference should agree to rcfti.'-e to accept the registration of thenam? of any hor.se if the sajno name were already roistered with either body. A conference on the, subject was invited with the president of the Racing- Conference. After a short discussion it was decided tliJit the chairman should meet the chairman of the Racing Conference to discus's tho m-al- 1 tor. The New Brighton Trotting- Club wrote in regard to the- complaint of Mr Charles Cross, particulars of which hml been forwarded .b'y tho association to the club. Mr Cross's complaint was that his horso Bidens had been declared ineligible 1o start iu the club'a Ladies' Bracelet event, on tho second day of the club's last meeting, after the nomination had been accepted, <ind that, the return of his nomination fee was refused. The club explained that the liorse was ineligible because on the first day of the meeting it kad made fastest, time, .'imin 41sec, in a mile and a half race, and the Ladies' Bracelet rnc* was for horses whiih had not done 2min Slsec for the mile or its equivalent,. It was decided to rule that the horse -waa properly entered and properly declared ineligible. The opinion wan expressed by., members that the matter of retaining tha nomination fee was within the club's juriadi'tifin Tho Waikato Trotting' Cltib wrote making j inquiries regarding tho status of the liorea'q Merrymaid, late Alba Rose. _ j It, was decided, after examining the _ deuce available, to remove tho disqualifies- j tion imposed on the horse severnl years "-(J 0 ' It was decided, to grant, ;l bouus of £1(1 ins to the publishers of the "New Zealand Turf Register." Mr 11. F. Nicoll was reappointed the asso- t ciation's representative on the Stipendiary ! Stewards' Committee. A sub-committee, consisting 'of Messrs Selig, Williams, Hopkins, Denton and Nieoli, was ret up to consider the resolution regarding "starting before time" regulations applying' to the. past. Reason, to report to the newly-con.4t ituted board, mid it wpjs decided lo keep the resolution in force for one month. Tho programmes of tho Mangahua' Trotting Club, Oamaru Trotling Club. North Canterbury and Oxford - Jockey- Club and North Otngo Agricultural and Pastoral .Association were passed. Tho Kurow Jockey Club wrote asking fo? permission to hold optional races (saddle or harness) during the" war. The application whs disallowed, members being of opinion that an the meeiinr;- win being held in Oamaru, the necessity for the concession was not pressing. ■ Tho Licensing Committee recommended that, the regulations should be relaxed during the, w,ir to allow of the licensing by the Licensing Committee of riders under seventeen, and, in exceptional cases, . under sixteen, owing to the diminution • in the -number o! riders owing to the war. Tho board's previous resolution on tha subject wa.s rescinded 1 , r.nd the recommendation was adopted, on the understanding that, great care must be exercised by the jjicensing Committee in exercising its discielionarv* power, and that, the power should be exerciser only by the. committee. A special resolution wa~, piisued that no temporary licenses must be issuad to riders under seventeen, and that any li-crises granted under this power must be for saddle races _ only. Ir. replv to a question by Mr Ritchie as to whether the evidence forwarded by the Ashburton Trotting Club in its case against B. Jarden was in order, (ho chairman said that, if Jarden bad mu* complaint to make he should bring it before the board in trie proper manner. , Mr Ritchie said he w.i* informed that the evidence was not read over to Jarden, ana was not signed by 'him. Tlie chairman said that members of tha board, who sat, as judges, should not aJlow themselves to bo buttonholed by persons with grievances. If the board wished to reopen the matter, it could do so. ho t*v as ho could remember the evidence was in order. . Mr Ritchie said his in forma ion was that it was not in order. He would bo pkd to hove the matter investigated. The chairman said he would have tn<* m-iHer looked into, for his own satisfaction us well cr to Fittisfy Mr Ritchie. Mr Ritchie »ivn notice of motion to hava the evidence produced at next meeting. • Members expressed tho opinion that the matter ought to be cleared up nt ;, o!l ™\. , . It was finally decided that Mr Ritchie should be given an opportunity to examine the papers lha following day.