SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12408, 28 August 1918, Page 2

SPORTING GOSSIP.

n$ MB TROTHS. (By “ ARGTJS,'’) FIXTURES, September 4 Marion. Jockey Clh. Sontetubor I]—Danncvirko Racing Club. -September 12—Araberlcy Racing Club. September 13—Egmont Racing Club. September 19, 20— Ashburton County Racing Club. * September 23—Otnki Maori Racing Club. September 20 —Geraldine Racing Club. October B—Kurow Jockey Club. October 11, 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 17, 18—Mnaterton Racing Club. October 19—Auckland Trotting Club. October 24, 25—Poverty Bay Turt Club. October 20— Otahuhu Trotting Club. October 20, 28—'Wellington Racing Club. October 20, 28—Corn Racing Club. October 28—North Canterbury and Oxford •• Jockey Club. October 28—IVnvorlev-'W’niototn.ra Racing Club, October 28—Oair.nru Trotting Club. NOMINATIONS. August 28—Now Zealand Trotting Cup. August 29—Egmont Racing Club. September 2—Ashburton County Racing Club. September n—Geraldine Racing Ciub. September 9—Kurow Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. August 30—Amberloy Racing Club. August 31—Dannovirkc Racing Club. September 7 —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 9—Now Zealand Trotting Cup. September 12—Egmont Racing Club. September U—Geraldine Racing Club, September 16—Kurow Jockey Club. ACCEPTANCES. Auguot 27—Martoa Jockey Club. September 4—Dauhevirko Racing Club. September 6—Amberloy Racing Club. September 11—Ashburton County Racing Club. _ The committee of fclie Canterbury Jockey did) has approved the conditions of the New Zealand Cup. Ihe .stake is £2OOO, the same as last yean, but the penalty conditions have, been modified. Last year the winner of any race, after declaration of weights, ot tho value of 150 sots, bad to carry 31b extra; of any race or races of the value of 200 sovs, olb; 300 sovs, / lb; and 500 sovs, 101b. This rear, how.r ever, the first penalty is 51b for the winner of a raco or races of tho collective value of 250 sovs, while winners of 350 sovs incur 71b, and of 500 sovs 101b extra. The alteration is one which, will meet with funeral approval, as it will enable owners to race their Cup horses more liberally, without endangering their Riccarton while it will ocneiit owners hi another direction, by removing the chief obstacle in the way of increased stakes at many of the early spring meetings. Margerine has been taken in band again by R. Dcrrett, and she looks in good order to commence her preparation" for another season’s racingThe imported horse, Cynic, may shortly be sent to Riccarton, negotiations being in progress for F. D. Jones to train, him for the New Zealand Cup. Mr A. Cl. Wood has been reappointed starter to the Poverty Bay Turf Club and the Winton Jockey Club. Vascular, who has been on the easy list for a few weeks, is again in commission, and he may be a competitor at the steeplechases at the Kurow and Gore meeting*. The once speedy gelding, Oxenhopn, was purchased by Mr W, B. Clarkson after the Grand National meeting, and ho will'be trained by J. Bryce, who has already demonstrated that ho can handle gallopers successfully. A two-year-old filly by San Fran-cisco-,--Tikitore, has joined F. I>. Jones’s team at, Riccarton. The youngster is a half-sister to Bomb, these two being the whole of tho ,pro r geny of Tikitero, who died last year. The steeplechaser Waimai has been turned out on his owner’s farm in the Waikato, where he will remain until it is time to get him ready for next winter’s racing. R. D. O’Donnell will leave New Zealand by the next boat for Sydney, with and Kilmoon under Iris charge- The three-year-olds arc both vcry_ forward, and'they -should lack nothing in condition when they make their appearance on the Randwick tracks. According to northern reports, FDavis will be on board the next steamer for Sydney,- with Mr T. H. Lowry’s team, consisting of Dgscrt Gold, Estlaud, Finmark, Kilhope, aud Killpwen. Gang Awa, one of the big disappointments of tho Grand National meeting, has been sent home to his owner’s place for a spell. Sir Fisher, Sleight of Hand and Reformation have been on the easy list since they returned north fom Riccarton, and they will he spelled. , At Wellington yesterday the Minister of Internal Affairs stated that supplementary inspectors would bo appointed from the permanent staff of fcno Internal Affairs Department) to carry out the --duties of totalisator iupectors. Tim departure of Colonel Soult for Sydney has been delayed for a coupHc of weeks, it being found impossible to get him to Wellington in lime to catch the boat- as originally arranged. Tho thrce-year,-old colt Active, bv Bomform—Effort, is getting through .good work on the Trcnthnm tracks. It Wl! l be fie surprise if this) colt is one of the best of this season’s oldsHie National Steeplechase winner, St Elmn, lias been,-at Trontham,since’his return north from Riccarton, but ho is definitely booked for a trip to Sydney. Tt is reported that the present owners of Ibex aud Turangapito inteucl taking steps to .have the disqualification of their horses removed. . Moutoa Ivanova., the thvec-year-old sistei to Sasanof, claims an ment in tho Trial Plate at 5 far Ton next month. Other relatives to wcllpci formed horses figuring in the same event are Bobnkoff’s half-brother, Kipling, who is reported to have boon sold recently for 1200 guineas, and JiiHcloim, by i'ormby—Jingle, dam of tlic Grand National Steeplechase winner, Captain Jingle. ’■ Alexandra Park is set, down on the balance-sheet of the Auckland Trotting Club as valued at £31,500, and 'the buddings thereon at £ISOO. Land at Gieeu Lane £OO/ 55,. carriage and monertvatmnD£lA°°i P urha ™ Street pro4‘Tnrvi u< , : i as Company £3OOO, and war I.oan £2OOO are other items included amongst the assets rt.el w £31,965 « 3d. All SS& considered, 'the Auckland Trotting Club tm^ arS in a 501111 finaneial posi- . Appearing in the annual balancesneet of tlm Auckland Trotting Club as ° dui % year ended July 31, 1018, is an item of £24-55 10s tor nominations and acceptances. This urnt he accepted' as highly satisfactory oi nvo days racing, and once the, wax teammates and the club relieves itself T improvements ‘ no doubt the call from owners and train-, ors~that a considerable reduction in nomination and acceptance fees Lm made-will be approved of by the ruling authorities The general opinion of Auckland trotling ('ni.uiMasts who wore present-* at j tho Addington mootin'*:, says jm Anck--1 laud writer, is Uiat the system olAsUuv

ing in practice .at Alexandra Park I: superior to the old system adopted in Canterbury, ami, though Air Nonnan is given some credit for his dispatches, there is no desire on the parr of northern patrons of the. sport, to revert to the old order. Until some better system is unearthed it seems fairly sale to conclude that Iho yards system trill remain in rogue in this portion of Urn Dominion, and rightly so, too. The gales and stands at Auckland Trotting Oinh meetings last season were worth £3993 9s, raids £772 Ms (id, privileges £459, rent £297 I Ms, ami members’ subscriptions and entrance foes £136 10s. Of course, the totalisa,tor revenue was Uto main item ou (Jus fight side of tlio ledger. Tina item ran into £13,387 os 8(1. On the. side of expenditure salaries and wages amounted to £1323 8s 2d, repairs and maintenance £2070 8s (id, general expenses £6Ol 10s Id, and course requisites and expenses £lOl (Is id. Of course, the largest item appearing as expenditure is that of stakes £7700. Though Carbine’s name has completely v disappeared from the winning sires’ list in England, Musket's wonderful sou ii,gores amongst the sires who claimed winning representatives in Australia, last season. This is entirely duo to the exploits rtf ids English-bred son Defence, who captured £3803. it-is interesting to chronicle Dial, no less Ilian twelve sires claiming Carbine as parent were represented by winners in Australia last season, and their descendants won £29,542 in stake money. Pistol, who stands out as the m'ost noteworthy descendant of Carbine at Hhe stud in Australia., has year by year worked his way near the top, and on this occasion he is found in sixth position with £9033 opposite his name. The annua] meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club was held ou Alon,day night, Air T. Elliott presided, and in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, ho said that _ the dub had experienced a fairly satisfactory year, both from racing and financial points of view. If the usual number of days’ racing bad been ncld they would have been in a position; to give more liberally to patriotic funds; Imt. with only four days’ racing instead of six, they could not expect to" have much surplus funds, considering the largo amount paid for rates and taxes for Forbury Park, in addition to upkeep, etc. With such a limited number of days good stakes were offered, and owners responded very' liberally, tho usual high standard of trotting at Forbury Park being fully maintainedTwo years ago it was decided to have a race for three-year-old unhopplcd trotters, and both results proved thoroughly satisfactory, keen interest being evinced. In nfli,. t!orty-ei|jht entries were forward for tho next Now Zealand Trotting Stakes. Other dubs bad their classic races, hut Forbury Club wav tho only one catering for the unrpppled trotter. Tho question of starting by yards or seconds had been given consideration, and they bad adhered to tho yards’ system, which had been a, success. With regard to improvements. people said they should have a new stewards’ stand. He pointed out that they catered more for tho public, there was one thing, however, that was absolutely necessary—that was the inside totalisator building, which war quite out of date, and not capable of coping with tho business. They had let. tho contract for the building, ■which would bo built in brick- It bad been stated in the press that the building should bo of wood, as it was cheaper. He stated, however, that the difference in cost between the two’materials was small, and brick made a permanent job of the work. Air AV. .]. Hero seconded the motion, and eaid that, while tho racing days had been reduced from six to four, there had been an increase of stakes, Referring to. tho decision to erect the totalisator budding in brick, ho said that they wore looking fifteenyears ahead. Probably; in the' near future they would sec their way clear to erect another stand with stewards’ appointments. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB, [Pkr Press Association*,] AUCKLAND, August 27. The Auckland Racinjr Chib has adopted, a programme for tha season with stake money totalling £37,000, the Auckland Cup bein'? £2700. The committee decided to rename the City Handicap at the spriny mccliiiK the Mitcheiaon Clip, in compliment to the president of tho club.