SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12405, 24 August 1918, Page 11

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING A 1 IK (By “ ARGUS.") FIXTURES. September 4— Marion Jockey Clb. oentombor 11—Dannevirke Racing Club. September 12 —Ambcrlcy Racing Club, ooptember 19—Egmont Racing Club, ooptombor 19, 20—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 23-Olakl Maori Racing Club. September 2G —Geraldine Racing Club. October 8-Knrow Jockey Club. October 11, 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 17, IS—Mastcrton Racing Club. October 19—Auckland Trotting Club. Jo.obor 21, 25—Povortv Day Turf Club. October 20— Otnhuhu Trotting Club. Octijoer 2(1, 28—Wellington Racing Club. Oct Aar 9rt, 28—Coro Racing Club. October 28— North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club. October 28—Waverloy-Waiototara Racing Club. October 28—Oair.arn Trotting Club. NOMINATIONS. August 28—Dannevirke Racing Club. August 23—Amberloy Racing Club. August 28—New Zealand Trotting Cup. August 29—Egmont Racing Club. September 2—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 6—Geraldine Racing Club. September 9 —Kurow Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. ' August 22—Marion Jockey Club. August. 30—Amberloy Racing Club. August 81—Dannovirks Racing Club. . September 7—Ashburton County Racing Club, September o—New Zealand Trotting Cup. September 13—Egmont Racing Club. September 14—Geraldine Racing Club. September 10—Kurow Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. August 97—Marton Jockey Club. September 4— Dannevirke Racing Club. September 6—Amberloy Racing Chib. September U—Ashburton County Racing Club. The Metropolitan Trotting Club held its first race meeting at Addington in November, 1899, and whilst those who have followed the sport since that date have seen extraordinary changes, UK hoop paco with tho growth of the sport, in one . respect there has been little alteration. I refer to tho position of starter. For a great number of years Mr 11. Reynolds officiated, being followed by Mi- J. H. Tompkins, who acted lor about, two years, after which Mr , W. Black, was appointed. After a short period the club decided upon another change, and at tho first meeting of tho . new season, held last week, Mr W. 7 Norman, of Winlon (Southland), filled Abe important office. During tho last few years I have had opportunities of . witnessing Mr Norman’s work in tho south, and I formed a high opinion of his ability ;• in fact, as a dispatcher under both styles, I have considered .bun, with tho exception of Mr L. C. ■ dlazktt, tho best starter I have ever ; 'Seen. I never saw-Mr Hazlett start under tho yards style, but with the clock ho was an ideal official, and- his 'services were in great demand. Curiously enough, he was never seen officiating on Canterbury courses, but during tho tirno ho acted at meetings of the Forhury Park Trotting Club, tfhen v'lie. had tq chiefly deal with Canterbury , horses, his work was always of a high order, -and tho starting at the Dunedin chib’s fixtures was always one of its chief features. Mr Norman is specially fitted for tho position, being a keen observer of everything pertaining to tho work, and clubs in tho south have been fortunate in securing his voluntary services. When the premier club of the Dominion decided to secure Mr Norman’s services 1 had no doubt about his success, although the class of horses that ridnid boon tinder his control in tho south a wns very different from those ho would • .necessarily have to start at Addington, a His work at Addington last week was ; closely watched by those who have given a good deal of attention to this : important subject, but his first at- ! tempt proved that ho had mapped out , a stylo on which he intended working, . though I have no doubt it will bo modified and improved as ho finds advisable. At tho close of tho first day’s racing, tho general opinion of thoso ■i who saw his work was that ho would allot bo long before he revolutionised all °ld styles and brought tho work up to a . high state of perfection. I interviewed several of tho riders and drivers during tno day, and with one exception till agreed that the starter’s work was of exceptional merit. After tho second day oven the exception acknowledged that Mr Norman’s work had much to commend it, and was highly satisfactory. It is well known that I . ani an advocate of-the yards style, not that i consider it perfect, but for the reason that it places all on an equality, in this I have Air Norman with mo, • but whilst the Metropolitan Club decides to adhere to tho second style, Mr Norman will, I am sure, work hard to .make that mode ns successful as nossible. On the first clay of tho recent meeting tho new official walked his fields a considerable distance before tho c ook was reached, and ho controlled them in excellent style, but tho old fault- of horses being able to. get away before their proper time has not been Stopped, and I doubt if anyone will bo able to definitely stop this practice.

"Mr Norman wa« evidently not tatisfiold with his [work on the first day, as 1 observed, on the concluding day,’ ho did not give such a long walk up, while the fields were dispatched much more Quickly than on tho first day. If Mr Norman’s services are retained by tho club, and I have little doubt on that point, there will be further improveinents iu his work nt. future meetings. If a complete check can be nado horses going before their proper bells tho walk-up start has an advantage over the standing yards system, in that it gives horses a chance to [ recover mistakes made at the beginning. Under tho yards system, once the order is given, horses have to get away as best they can, and it is acknowledged tliat many Jose whilst others gain, but with the slow walk-up is possible. This was very Noticeable in the second race on the Itf-st day. There was a field, of seventeen horses, all within sseo of each other. Xavier, on tho limit, was verv fractious nt tho post, and would not b|gin when the walk-up was started, bht before the starting post was Reached bo had got into Ids gait and picked up his position in the front lino, enabling him to get away at his right Xavier eventually finished'second in the race, but he would, through the way he played up at tho walk-up, nave had no chance of getting iu the money under the yards system. This is'-only one instance of the advantages claimed by those who are tho yards system. But could it not be argued that horses should bo educated to stand, at a start, and this fact is quite overlooked by those who advocate tho seconds stylo. The performance of Xavier at tho start of the Trial Handicap was, to my mind, a clear indication of the fact that, unless a very close ■watch is made of tho various sections, ,a horse can get out of his proper line and by so doing gain an unfair advantage. This was not so with Xavier, as he was on tho limit, and was entitled to start there, never mind where lie got to during the walking up process, With Air Norman in charge there seems every prospect of tho starting question being thoroughly grappled vvftli, and, knowing .that gentleman’s keen Interest in his work, I have no doubt that there will ho a general movement on other courses towards better dispatches, possibly along lines Which' will bo satisfactory to both tho yttrds and seconds adherents. This nluch-discussed question may, in fact, bp, settled for a_ considerable time until class racing is introduced.

Mr A. Fleming has informed mo that s*. a r C . e . r > Thorpe, will do stud > Jnia coming Iseason in tho Gore .W&QMr'hut that before going ptetha

south it is his intention, on tho first favourable opportunity, to send tho son of O.Y.M. against tho mile record. The weather conditions wore very pleasant while training operations wore in progress at llicoarton this morning. The tracks were in excellent order, tho inside of tho trial grass providing fast going. It was freely taken advantage of by trainers, who aro now busy getting their teams ready for spring engagements. Disdainful and Scornful opened proceedings with a smart performance over six furlongs. They kept together all the way and Scornful was going particularly well at the end. Algidus galloped six furlongs by himself, showing a fine hurst of speed in tho early stages, though he was stopping a bit over th e last couple of furlongs. Art and Spanglo were companions over six furlongs, registering a useful performance. Eleus ran five furlongs, Afterglow picking him up at the half-mile post and beating*him homo comfortably. Lionskin and Long Range rattled over half a mile, both going well, while Onslaught accompanied Adjutant in a similar task. War Tax and Matty sprinted half a uulo smartly together, Phil May finishing up in good stylo after going fivefurlongs by himself. Killjoy covered six furlongs, but she was not doing her best at any part of tho journey. Daytime rattled over five furlongs, showing all his old dash and finishing well. Braid aud Tremena were associated over five furlongs, the former showing to special advantage. Tho two-year-old Mustard Pot (General Latour—Prudish) hit out freelv in a three-furlong sprint with Majestikoff. Kimbolton (L. Hegarty) wa-s schooled over four hurdles, giving a good display, with a solid pace all the way. Tho Amhorley Racing Club has secured a fine list of nominations for the meeting to be hold next month. Tho Arabcrley Oup has drawn a particularly good response, class being strongly in evidence. Most of the Riccarton stables are represented, and the fixture promises to provide a very successful opening for the flat racing season in the South Island. According to_ a Sydney writer, Biplane is suffering from a throat affection, which necessitated veterinary treatment, but at latest accounts no serious consequences were anticipated. Finmark and Red Pennant were' allowed to drop out of the Caulfield j Cup at the first payment. Desert Gold and Biplane still hold their engagements, while Desert Gold is also in the Melbourne Cup. Throe, by The Welkin—Tcppo, was sold at auction in Sydney this month, being secured by Mr" Hunter White, of tho Havilah stud. Three was formerly owned by the Masterton sportsman, Mill. Buick, in whoso colours he raced in New Zealand and Australia.

NOMINATIONS.

AMBERLEY RACING CLUB. Tho following nominations havo been received JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP, of 100 sove; about ono milo oik] a quarter—St Cletua, Luff, Golden Prince, Jcannot, More.Cfunbo, Sam Pan, Collector, Crib, Art, Moddito, Merry Lad, Rosebiush, Seville, Vascular. TRIAL PLATE, of 100 eovs; five furlongs —nloorabbe, Bondage, Banopo, Cfinamana, Onslaught, Bounetim, Red Ant, Prudo, Aigidua, Faerie Knight, Irish Elegance, Foilisco, 'KOWAI TROT HANDICAP (in saddle), of UV sovs; ono mile and a half— Rearguard, Energy, Mara, Silver Nut, Merry Thorpe, Lord Cecil, Maud Willies, Annie Black, Wood Lnit, Leawood, Lady Theann, Wild Lass, Volo, King of Lydia, Beeswing, King Cola Junior, Lunsdale, Greta, Knight Errant, Sweet Kathleen, Star Queen. AMBERLEY CUP HANDICAP, of 200 sovs; ono mile—Mnjestiuoli, Kiirush, Hioro, Adjutant, Brambioiye, Almoner, Melou, Oxcnhope, Varnish, Tremona, Koesian, Spangle Kim' Star, Disdainful. ’

HACK HANDICAP, of 300 sovbj sis furlongs—Moorabbo, The Sapper, Silver and Black, Benopo, Missouri, Braid, Bon Spec, Bomb, Red Cent, Phil May, Melford, Subterfuge, Nautical, Derby Day. W EL ILK. HANDICAP, of 100 sovs; seven mrlonga Inbisco, Majcsiikofi, Kiirush, Bolair, Golden Prince, Bandy, Hioro, King Star, Kaminoho, Jeannot, Martial Air, Collector.

WATTLE HANDICAP, of 150 eovs; six furlongs—Missouri, Daytime, Tremona, Braid, Bomb, Pyjama, Lioaskiu, Oxonhopo, Phil May, Disdainful.

TEVIOTDALE TROT (in harness), of 100 sovs; two miles—Whits Crane, Schnapps, Energy, Merry Thorpe, Maud Wilkes, Lima, dale, Beeswing, Some Bov, Wild Lass, Wood Drift, Gentleman Wood, Rakigh, Star Queen, .Golden Pete,