SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12407, 27 August 1918, Page 2

SPORTING GOSSIP.

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(By “ ARGUS.”) FIXTURES. t September 4—Marlon Jockey C!b, September 11—Dannevirko Peeing Club. September 12—Ambcrley Racing-Club. September I!)—Egmont Racihg Club. September 19, 20—Ashburton County Racing Chib. September 23—Otalci Maori Racing Club. September 26—Geraldine Racing Club. October 3—Kurow Jockey Club. October 11, 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 17, 18— Masierlon Racing Club. October 19—Auckland Trolling Club. October 21, 25—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 26—Otabubu Trotting Club. October 26, 23—Wellington Racing Club. October 26, 28—Gore Racing Club. October 28—North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club, October 28—Waverley-Waiototwa Racing Club. „ October 28—Oa'ir.aru Trotting Club. NOMINATIONS. August 28—New Zealand Trotting Cup. August 29 Racing Club. September 2—Ashburton County Racing Club. September s—Geraldine Racing Club. September 9—Kurow Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. . August ,10—Ambcrley Racing Club. August 31—Dannovirke Racing Club. September 7—Ashburton County Racing Club, September 9—New Zealand Trolling Cup. September 12—Egmont Racing Club. September 14—Geraldine Rnciti" Club. September 16—Kurow Jockey Club. : ACCEPTANCES. August 27—Marton Jockey Club. September 4—Dannevirko Racing Club. September G—Ambcrley Racing Club. September ll—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 14—Egmont Racing Club. September 21—Geraldine Racing Club. September 21—Kurow Jockey Club. The-rain which started last night) gave the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s, track at Addington a great soaking, and the proposed attack by Our Thorpo on the Australasian mile record had to he postponed. The time of the trial is, of course, dependent on th© weather conditions, but Mr A.'Fleming hopes to make the attempt with his champion as soon as the truck is- in; favourable order again.

Nominations for tlie blew Zealand Trotting Cup will close at noun to-mor-row, V

The, annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association will be hold to-morrow, afternoon, when the result of tho election for the representation will be announced.

Three of the progeny of Kola Nut,* the dam of King Cole, Betel Nut and Sweet Nut, have just been taken in hand by their; breeder, N. IT Price. They are all colts, the eldest being tour years old, by Wiidmoor, while tho three-year-old is by Driftwood and the two-year-old by Wildwood Junior.

,It ■is reported _ that a" syndicate of New Zealand racing clubs is negotiating for the Now Zealand rights of the new Jitlius electrical totalisator.

The largest amount ever carried by a single horse in any race in tho Dominion is £5339 10s, which sum was invested on Estland in tho last Great Northern Derby,

Tho Auckland mare, Lady Hester, by Bt Leger—Musket Maid, foaled to Elysiau on August 1, but the youngster war, smothered at birth. Lady ,Hester will be mated again with Ely'siim this 1 season.

Among the North Island sportsmen idvatyu in the last ballot were Mr L. MKenzie, the owner of Ladoaeur, and tho trainers K. Quinlivan, W. Kirk, C. Pilcher, H. Nodder and J. Walker.

■_ ■ Richmond has leased Colonel Soult, and the veteran Soult gelding will bo a.member of the team which J. M- Cameron is to take to Sydney. St Elmn is working along nicely at Trcn•tham, and he will also be in the party.'

It has been- decided that Coalition shall not fulfil his engagement in the Itangitikci Steeplechase next month. During the past twelve months Coalition has won £IB4O in stakes, so that he has earned a rest.

Hevocation, the half-brother to■-En-core,- has been ■■ shaping well in his schooling at Trentham, and lie will probably be raced over litirdles- at the Dannevirke meeting next month.

Menelaus is, hitting out freely in his training at Trentham. and he will probably bei racing at some of -the eafly spring niceiings. .He comes to hand quickly, so he should soon he at his best

A Press Association message received from Sydney last night says that Rod vPennont has been withdrawn from the Handicap.

cThe twenty-eighth'annual report of the \\airarupa Racing Club states that the year was commenced with a. credit balance of £294 17s lOd, and ended with a credit balance of £606.12, sod. For .tli©;. first time the racing , days were other than Easter and New, Year, being December 13 March 16. and under the existing conditions the stewards are .satisfied the step was in the right direction. Although the . one-clay summer mooting, rendered necessary by the curtailment of racing in the Dominion, ..was looked forward to with a; certain amount of trepidation, the stewards are pleased to state the samo was most successful. The 10s machine was used at the summer meeting, hut the experiment did hot recommend itself to the stewards, and the £1 machine was reverted io for the autumn meeting. Since the war the club has made patriotic grants amounting to £2256, and made the totalisator house suitable for a military hospital at a. cost to the club .of £350, and this year lias taken out £IOOO in the "War Loan. The grounds and,buildings are still used by the Defence "Department free of rent, and the offices in Fcatherston are at the use of local patriotic committees. Taxes to the Government during the year totalled £3853 18s lid. The; Feathcrston offices during the year were improved at a cost of £3501

In a recent-'article in the “ Australasian,'’ “Chiron’’ discusses at length the fact that very fewv great racing mares ever did much good at tho stud. His views are borne out by the Eldcrslie breeder, Mr J. B. Koid, who, in a letter to a friend, states that marcs which have never raced are better milkers and in consequence do their foals much better than marcs which have raced much. Mr Keid states that his experiences are most, convincing, and he should think a lot before bo purchased for breeding purposes the very best performed mare. The Camara breeder states that the progeny of tiro mares ho sold at his dispersal sale in 1912 have already won over £'100,009 in stakes, and Carlita. who was out of Couronne, won more than ho got for the whole of his mares.

Up to the middle of June Lack James Douglas was right- away from all the other winning owners in England this season, .the three races accounted for by Gainsborough being worth a- little over £IO,OOO. Mr Sol •loel was next with £SOBI, the result of ten wins by seven different horses.

Despite the various restrictions as to tho moans of reaching Xewmarket, England, there was an immense crowd at the Derby. The supply of race cards was so limited, that by eleven o’clock on the morning of the race they wore selling in the Newmarket streets at 2s (id each, while at the racecourse their mice advanced.-to os. then to 10s, nn ,] hy tlie; time racing started as much as £1 each was. paid for them. ]t was

a day on which a card was badly needed, too, the starters lor the eight races totalling 179. Tho largest field was thirty-one for a two-year-old race, land iho I author (by Tracery), who was favourite, fairly walked in. “The larger the field, the greater the certainty,” is an old racing saying, ami it proved correct in this-instance.

The decision exempting H. Hogarth (Mr ,T. B. Joel’s stud groom)'fron/military service was appealed against in England by a. representative of the National Service. The appeal was heard by the Herts Military Tribunal, and in its report of the case tho “Sportsman” stated .that Sir William Adkins, whoappeared on behalf of Mr Joel, explained that Hogarth’s work was of real national importance, and that it was not such as could be performed by a_ man above military age. With a view to' helping the exchange between Great Britain and America, Mr Joel l|ad sold all his racehorses to the States, and had received something hko £IOO,OOO, while lie had also paid a sum of about £6OOO in excess profit duty on tho stud fees paid to him. Sir William argued that the stud at Child•wickbury ’was maintained- in tho national interest. In dismissing the, appeal the chairman said the tribunal had decided to _ grant Hogarth' six months’ exemption, as they regarded the brooding' of thoroughbred horses as one of the leading industries of the country.

_ Writing after the race for the New Derby, The Special Commissioner ”of the “ Sportsman ”, said he had seldom seen a Derby field that pleased him'better in the paddock. A nicer filly than’ /inovia was seldom seen, and Gainsborough was a finer specimen of horse than Gay Crusader, last rear’s winner. JJe added he did not wish to depreciate the latter, but that Gainsborough was more conspicuous for his power, bone am conformation that would best sijit a hunting man. Although Gainsborough did nob display the electric dash of his sire (Bayardo) or Gay Crusader, the writer 1 quote is of opinion ho is a greater stayer, and that the further the field had gone the further lie would have beaten them. Gainsborough S height, by the; way, is about 10.0. ; ‘ ' '

Commenting on the recent Australian Steeplechase, a. writer in the Sydney ''Sim 5 ' says:—The first Australian steeplechase was run in 1882; when it was known as th e Caulfield kraud .National; but in 1908 it was giveiii its present title. The distance was, two,' miles and a. half for the first five years; hut in 1887 it wns-altered to four miles, and that.ground has been, covered in the race every , year since. It m-as, perhaps, fortunate for the connections of a great weight-carrier in Blue Mountain that the change to four miles was made in 1887. If it had been a two and a. half mile event he would, have been hopelessly beaten at. the start, for he, baulked at the first fence, j The event being a, four-miler, however, he was able to jump the fence at a second .attempt, catch up with ms field, and win in James Scobie’s capable hands. The raco has been responsible for some remarkable weightcarrying performances. When Bedloap won in 1892 he carried i3st. 121b. lie had just Avon the Fleiuington double, the Grand National .Hurdles, and Steeplechase, but despite his treinen-dous-weight he again, scored : w,ith cpnsummatb ease. Jn j the Australian Steeplechase, Daimio scored with 13st 31b in 1895, after having won the Flemington Grand National with 21b, less on his hack, hut Domino did even better in 1899 when ho ran home an easv winner with 13st 51b.' Another who carried over 13st to. victory. Avas Colonel Shilinski, who scored in 1902 with. 13s i 2lh, after having run. second to Bawdon in the Grand National Hurdle Handicap.. Colonel Shilinski w,is.sold for oOOgs after his second to BaAvdon,. and straightway Avon a hurdle, race worth £6OO, and the Australian Steeplechase worth over £IOOO, for his U6AV oAvner. Colonel Shilinski subsequently ran second in the Great Eastern Steeplechase Avith 13st 81b, in South Australia, and it,. Avas this failure, after putting up such a meritorious pprforriiauce, that brought about, the fixing of a. 12st 71b maximum to he’cnrried in the event. This is the only race in Australia with such a condition. Bribery: ran a great race in 1909 witli 13st 71b, hut had, to he content with second place to Confederate, to whom he conceded .3st less 21h. Grafnax was third, and the following year ho brought off the Fleiuington and Caulfield double, Aviuning the Australian, Steeplechase with 12st 121b up. In 1913 Bullawarra Avon the race with 12st 111b, Avith Aavo heavy-weights in, the places. Vanguard carrying list Hh. and Leah Kleschna 12st Hb. Cnibye Iliad 12st 31b Avlien he won the event ■last year, and Old Mungindi, who had beaten him in the Grand-. National at Flemiugton, was in third place Avith a pound less.