SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12410, 30 August 1918, Page 2

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RACING AND TROTTING. (By " ARGUS.”) FIXTURES. September J-Marton Jockey Clb. hontember U-Dnnnsvirko Boeing Club, ■plumber 12—Ambevloy Racing Chib. ■ c.ptoiubor 19—F-gmonl Racine Club. ° P Chib° r 19 ’ 20 ~ J^9 ' I ' 3Urton County Racing September 23-Otaki Maori-Raring Club. ■ ejnemoor 2(l—Geraldine Racing Club. Oc obor :i-Knrow Jockey Chib. October 11. 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. Or r I 3 —Afasterton Racing Club. October 19—Auckland Trotting Club. . n' " (r “!■ 25-Foverty May Turf Club. Oc ober 26—Otiihuhu Trotting Club. • O " " B' Racing Club. cr 2 * 28—Gere Racing Club Octo , b ° r , Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club. Cf< Chib ” b ~^ | t v ’ c dcy-Wniolotnrft Racing October 28—0*rr.nru Trotting Club. „ . , nominations. SVn r!’!l ber 'r^ hburton County Racing Club. September 5-Ocratdim, Racing Club. S-ptember 3—Kurow Jockey Club. HANDICAPS. August 31 Dannovirke Racing Club. ember .-Ashburton County Racing Club. S' m w Zealand Trotting Gup. Sep ember 12—hgmont Racing Club, rcpiembcr U—Geraldine Racing Club. September 16—.Kurow Jockey Club. ACCF.PTANCKS. September <—Dtnuevirko Racing Club. September t—Amber icy Racing Club. b ° P Ciub U *“ Ashburtw County Racing Mm. ploughed track at Riccarton is now receiving attoniioii from the earotiilvor. Alter being cut of use for some tnno past it has been freshly ploughed, and later it will bo harrowed and rolled, whoa It will again, bo available for training. The trainers will welcome the recommission of the plough, which, audor fine weather conditions, is easily, 7 ne most popular track at -Riccartoii. The three-year-old filly Counterscarp, by Antagonist—Countermine, bus rejoined Cutts Brothers’ active team. >slio has not raced yet, but she showed a good turn of speed on the trucks last ■season. Cuffs Brothers have eight two-ycar-olda in their team this season, bu,fc three of them were not gone on witli after being broken in. A start has now been made, however, with Miss Mimic (Sailquhar—Counterfeit) and » Steepholm (Trca'dinill-rßonnie Brae), while Checkmate (Antagonist - Winning May) will bo, taken' in Miami shortly, so that tho whole of the stable’s juveniles will soon be* in commission. In the meantime, -the five youngsters that have beenavorked along since their arrival iat Riccarton are progressing fairly well, though they have. hud a quiet Umo lately on account of colds. .Bon Spec is going on nicely in ,his preparation for spring engagements, and ho looks like doing good service for J. M’CombcV stable this season, iio showed 1 n. fino turn-of speed Tost autumn, ami ho appears certain to get among tho*winners again very soon. _ Subterfuge is still backward, bub she is beginning to move along attractively in her work. She was one of the most unlucky performers in the Dominion last season. In the spring she won a race at Ashburton, after which she was seven times in second place, without scoring another success. Pro-vided-she trains on, she may win in. good company before the present season ends. Mr 0. G. Dalgoty has completed, nil arrangements for the brood mares in his stnd for the present season. Stepdancer, by Stcpiuak'—-Pibroch, will be mated with "Martian, -while her two 'daughters,Stardanccr and Warstep, both, by Martian, will visit Sanquhar., Lady Disdain, by The Officer —Oriflanvmc. and Prim, by Pilgrim’s Pro-gress—-Xante's, will go to Bonny Glen, while Nantes, by Stepnink—Huguenot, will not be bred from this season. Mr 6. L. Stead's two-year-old colt Surveyor, by Nassau—Pedometer, will be sent to Rieearton this week and placed Mncler the care of AT Hobbs* who will-train tho youngster until the return of B. D. O’Donnell from Aus-" tralia. TV. Hobbs is in charge at in O'Donnell’s absence, having Melee, and the two-year-olds Golden Crozier and Orange Bitters in work. Surveyor, however, is n highly strung coif, whose attendant, H. Were, having just completed his apprenticeship, has been engaged to ride for Mr TV. A. Xieholls. This influenced Mr Stead in mailing special arrangements for Surveyor. Were will remain with the colt, while still being available to ride Mr Nieholls’s horses in their work and their races. A prominent New Zealand sportsman, who has just returned from Sydney, states that he was talking to B. j. Mason at Randwiek, and the latter expressed the opinion that Biplane would meet Desert Gold during the approaching spring carnival. Since the sale of, Fisher to a "Wellington owner several sportsmen have decided that lie is just the sort of horse , they have been after for a long time, and two offers have been made for the Manianoto gelding, hut his new owner is not disposed To sell him. ‘ The well known Hastings trainer, J. M. Cameron, was married in Wellington this week, and his bride will aceouinany him to Sydney, where lie, goes in charge of Mr TV. Richmond's team, consisting of St Elmu, Impediment and Lingerie. An insurance, of £3OOO was taken out to cover Almoner while on the voyage to Sydney, It is understood that Desert Gold was insured tor nearly double that amount. The Wolawa. colt Pontoon, who was presented by Mr E. J. Watt to the veteran trainer H. Raynor, when Mr Watt retired temporarily from racing, tilled second position in a throo-year-olcl handicap run at the Warwick harm meeting on August 17. Tips is the tjdrd time the colt has been placed since being sent to Australia. Tho Wellington Cup winner Bunting wont amiss after winning the National Piute at Queensland Turf Club’s recent fixture. After Ids winning effort it was found that out- of bis legs had filled, and his trainer eased the sou of All Black up to try to get him sound for his engagements at Randwick, Caulfield and Flcndnglon. TV. M’Laehlan. who was in the saddle when Bunting won the National Philo, said that ilic. hay horse was the best performer carrying silk at the meeting. ami would have wou tin; treble if he had kept sound. Mr T. H. Cowry's horses, who arc to compete, at the spring meetings in Australia, will shortly make, their appear-, ante on the Randwiek training tracks. The team consists of the champion. Desert Gold. Finmark. Esllaml. Killowen and Kilhnpo. Desert Gold looks well, and has the appearance of having done, plenty of work. In conversation with her trainer. (F. Davis). “Glencoe.’’ of the “ Domipion, ’’ gathered that so far it had not been definitely decided as to whether the mare, would take her place in the Melbourne Cup field, and no arrangements would be come to under Hm betid until her owner arrived in Sydney and had seen her race. Some of the three-year-olds would mu in the Chelmsford Stakes, nine furlongs, at TattcrsalTs meeting next, month, ami also in the Roschill Guineas a week later, while Estland, who, is engaged in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicap, may be given a pipe-opener in the

Uosohill Spring Slakes, one mile. Desert, (laid would not be rnecd until the big Unndwick fixture, and ber first, appearance would be' in the Spring Stakes, one mile and a hall, run on the opening day. After Hint there.was the Craven Plate, one mile and a,quarter, and the Kuadwick Plate, two tulles, to engage -her. attention. . A win in any of those races would not entail a penally for the Melbourne Cup,,and they would greatly assist hot*-prepara-tion should it decided to .start her m the Klcmmgtun event.. If all goes well with the three-year-olds, both Kinmark and Tvillowcn will contest the. A.J.C. Derby. J. OSboa is already in Sydney, and will do the riding of 'the team.

At tlie annual meeting of Uic Auckland Trotting Club, bold ibis week, the president, Mr .1, Rowe, said Unit during the past year Hie sport luul gone .ahead in leaps and bounds all ov\- Hie Dominion, and the club bad sucb enormously increased attendances that it was almost impossible, even on the oil' day, to attend the meetings with comfort. The revenue from all .sources increased to an abnormal extent, and the racing equalled anything seen in the Dominion. The increased attendances put the commit too-almost at their wits’ ends to provide accommodation for the people. They could not start the largo scheme of improvements under present conditions, and decided to do the host in a temporary way. With that object they had added to the grandstand accommodation for about 1500 oktra people," and altered the location of some of the boxes, and taken in another portion of the ground, so ns to provide more room for the public wbo are not on tbo lawn. Those were only temporary measures. In* the larger scheme they were taking a long lease of the old training track (which lease is-not yet comokied), an area of seventeen, acres, which would enable them to provide ample accommodation for many years to conic. Should the lease not _bo completed they had an iuter"mediatc scheme that will equally provide. _ 'Tlic committee was thoroughly satisfied with tho'barrier as being a. very great- improvement on the old method of time startin|, and he trusted the day was not far away when'distance starting with a barrier,would be in use wherever trotting racing is carried on. As each ■ year rolled found tho Programme Committee clipped its little off the limit in each race, until now it is the exception io ace a handicap of more than live seconds to the mile in any race This season the Cup limit had been reduced to 4.39 for the two miles, while all other races were equally reduced.*

Tlio Programme Commitice of the Auckland Racing Club lias concluded its labours, and as a result an increase of stakes amounting to £2150 has been decided on for this season, injiking a total to be given away during the opining .season -pf, £37,000,. which is considerably ahead of the amount' distributed by any other club in the Dominion. The increases are spread over the four meetings, and are as follows: Spring, 250 sovs j summer, 600 sovs; autuiun, 550 sovs; and winter, 1050 sovs, no race now being of a less value ■ than 250 sovs. The Auckland Cup remains the most-valuable event; in New Zealand, and. is now worth 2750 sovs, 2000 sovs of which goes to the l winner, 500 sovs to the second horse and 250 sovs to the third horse. The winter meeting has, been most favoured, and both the Northern Hurdles and Northern .Steeplechase arc, endowed with 1500’sovs, which makes,the former still New most important hurdle «racc, while the Steeplechase is of the same value as llio Grand National Steeplechase. "One important increase is in the Brighton Hurdle Ilacc, run at the autumn meeting, which’has been raised to oOOsovs, and this increase will p.rqbiibly induce owners to school their -horses .earlier than usual for the winter.'- Although perhaps one would have liked to r scb ’ the Auckland Cup raised t0,3000 sovs;, writes “ ‘Whalebone” in the Auckland ‘'Star,” still the commit tec appears, to bare made a good distribution of the amount at its disposal,, and horse owners arc lucky to have such a programme to consider.

HORSES FOR AUSTRALIA. [Pm Pukss Association.] TV ELLINGTON, August 30. Tho Cabinet has decided that no more racehorses will be allowed to leave the Dolniniou. IT is considered that tho shipping space which horses-would occupy could bo put to better use in the carriage of produce. JUUUS TOTALISATOR. [Pm Phess Associaxiox,] WELLINGTON, August 30. Mr A. E. TVhyto, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, will-leave for Melbourne after tho Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting. The visit is probably connected with the proposed installation of tho new Julius machine at Treiilham. HANDICAPS.

AMBERLEY RACING CLUB

The following handicaps have been declared for the Ambcrlcy Racin': Club’s mcctinsr:—

JUMPERS’ FLAT HANDICAP, of 100 fovs; one mile and a quarter—Art list 91b. Jcannot list 51b. Crib 10st 9lb, Golden Prince lOst 51b, Luff 9st 15lb, Collector '9=l. 121b, Seville 9st 91b, Mofccambo 9st 91b, Moddite 9st Gib, Merry Lad 9st 61b, Vascular 9st 21b, Sam Pan 9st 2lb, Rose Blush 9sl, St Clelus 9st.

AMBERLEY CUP, of 209 sovs; ono mile— Adjutant Oat. Kocsian Bst 101b, Disdainful Sst lib, Oxrnhopo Bst lib. Varnish Sst, Almoner 7st lib, Bramblctye 7st 91b, Trcraena 7=t Sib, Majostikoff 7st .lib, Kilrusli 7sl lib, Kinsj Star fist 133b, Mclcc fist 13ib, Spangle fist 7lb, Heiro fist 71b.

HACK HANDICAP, of 100 sovs; six furlongs—Phil May 9st, Subterfuge Sst Hlb, Braid Bst 81b. Silver and Black Sst 6lb, Missouri fist 21b., Bomb Sst, Dcrbv Dav fat, Bou Spec 7st Hlb, Moorabbe 7,=t 6lb, Mclford ist Alb, Red Cent 7st 2!b, Na.utical 7st, The Sapper 7st, Bcnliope 7st. B ELTER HANDICAP, of 100 sovs; seven furlongs—Majcstikofi Ost-llb, Jeannot B=l llllb Belair Set 131b, Kilrnsh Sst 1-tib, King Star Sst 12lb, Heiro fat Olb, Golden Prince Sst 41b. Martial Air Sst 3lb. Fabisco 7=t Hlb Ivaminolic rst 111b, Bandy 7.H Hlb, Collector 7et 71b.

WATTLE HANDICAP, of >]so «,vs; six furlongs— Daytime Osl. Disdainful Bsl 7lb. Trcinona .SH 6!b, Oxenhopn Ssl -lib, Lion skin r \ Vr' 1 Ma . v 7s ' r,!b ’ Pyjama- Ist. Braid 6st lub, .Missouri list Tib, Bomb 6sl 71b. KCnVAI TROT HANDICAP (in saddle), of 1W fovf.; onn milo and a, half-Maud Wilkes scr. Rearguard ’2fier, Wood Drift ’’see, Energv 4scr, &b r Queen nsec. Lonsdale Ssec. Kin* Co e Junior &ec. Wild Lass Ssec, Delta Ssec" Volo flsec. Beeswing 3sec, Koraki 3 se e. MenmwV u r Mara . K,!W " Kin * of Bvdii aw W l i' r r l ose Sw " BOt Kathleen lOaef, Lady Thelma lOscc. Leeveod lOw Amne Black I]see. Ixird Cecil Usee, Silver i\ut Usee, J.hornagc Usee.

TEVWTDALE TROT HANDICAP (in harness) ot 100 sovs; two miles—Maud Wilkes scr, Schnapps Iscc. Wood Drift 3sec, Ener„y Osec. Star Queen ,sec, Some Bov 7scc Tun? dale llscc, Wild Lass n?oc Koml-i‘ i' , Beeswing 13sec, Walter Raleigh loscc White’ Crane 15sec, Golden Polet Viscc \,“ lte Thorpe loscc. Gentleman Wood losec. 5