RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12707, 31 July 1919, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

(% "ARGUS”)

* FIXTURES August !?, 13, lo—Metfopolitaji Trotting Club. August 12, 11, 16—Ganierbury Jockey Club. August 23—Te Awamutn Trotting Club. August 27—EgmontAYa.uganui Hunt Club. September, 6, 4—Mar ton. Jockey Club. September 18, 19-Ashburton Countr Baring Club.

nominations. August i Egujont-Wn.nga.rmi Hunt Club. August B—To Awamutu Trotting' Club. August 15—Mar ton Jockev Chib. August 27—Now Zealand 'irollitig Cup. beptomber i Ashburton County Racing Club.

HANDICAPS. August 1 Canterbury Jockey Club. August, J2—Tc Awa.mutu Trotting Club. August lb—Egmonl-Wanganui Hunt Club. A agusv 21. —At arton Jockey Club. September 6—Ashburton Countv Racing Club. September’S—New Zealand Trotting Cup.

ACCEPTANCES. August, s—Metropolitan Trotting Club. August B—Canterbury Jockey Club. August 15—To Awanmtu Trotting Club. August 20— Egiuont-WaUganui Hunt Club. August 28—Marion Jcckov Club. September .10—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 24 New Zealand Trotting Cup.

/I. he conditions were somewhat mixed while training operations wore in progress at Riccarton this morning. Following on a good fail of imin during the night, there was a break early in the morning, but a light drizzling shower set m shortly alter eight o’clock, and thongh.it did not last long, rain started again later, and the conditions were very unpleasant for the late workers. The number six grass track was open for fast work and provided good going, though it was rather dead.

"Pretty Bobby and TTiero occupied I min 36 2-osec over seven furlongs, but neither of the pair was on a recordbreaking task.

Hleightiof Hand did strong pacing on the sand, while Reformation and Miramar were companions in a working gallop.

Bon Here covered a mile and a quarter on the sand in 2min 28 2-osec, without being unduly hurried at the end.

Lionskin. ran down from the halfmile mark, while Sara Pan went twice round the sand at a. useful pace.

Gieusliiuc and Art were together throughout a gallop over seven furlongs, which they covered in linin 36 3J>sec, while Marveliic was a little better than 'Winslow at the end of a useful- spin over six furlongs. J

Master Lupin and Omahu were together throughout a run over six furlongs, which occupied linin 22 2-osec.

Potentiality and Form Tip sprinted half a mile in 54 4-osec, while Hands Off and Single Rose finished together rtffcer a similar task.

Cynic, Tiger!and and Sir Solo finished in that order at the end of a mile and a quarter, the last nine furlongs occupying Train 59 l-sseo, hut Sir Solo looked as if he could have been closer up at the finish.

Wairnai and Signature ran five furlongs in lmin,.lo'4-ssec, finishing together. .

St Curio occupied Imin 42sec over seven furlongs, while Elocution, Kilkee and Fahisco finished in that order, after covering a similar journey in linin lOscc.

Parisian Diamond ran six furlongs in Imin 20, sec. finishing alongside Goldshine. to whom he conceded a start of several lengths.

Sonny did a couple of rounds at a useful pace, while tSir Ralph did strong pacing - .

Tip Tip and Achilledes were together after covering five furlongs in Imin 9 2-usco. ■

All Over occupied Imin 36sec, over seven furlongs, and Rubicon covered a rnjlo. th© last seven furlongs in liniu 47sec.

Pos+. ; Hast© did a sprinting task, and Gay Lad ran down from the half-mile mark in 59scc, going in leisurely fashion.

Comment and Sweet Smile were together after sprinting five furlongs, the last half-mile occupying 54 3-sscc.

Gamecock. moving well, covered five furlongs in Imin 6 3-ssec, and Moorabb© sprinted half a milo np the back in 51 3-sscc.

Gaziquo was restricted to useful pacing. and Kilboyno covered half a mile in 51 4-osec, moving very attractively.

Parana went onco round at a sound pace, moving freely all tho way.

Troublesome was given a lot of trotting work in the centre. He has not had any severe tasks since he has been tore.

Ocrlmrns covered fire furlongs in Imin 6 4-sscc. moving very freely all tho way and finishing well.

Jeannot and "Wild Pilgrim wore companions in a. schooling task over five furlongs. .1 cannot jumped in fine style, and looked as if ho could have registered a useful performance had,he been allowed to stride along, instead of being hold hack waiting for Wild Pilgrim, who shaped in somewhat slovenly fashion, due possibly to the fact that his rider allowed him to set his own pace, instead of shaking him np a bit.

Master Strowan went once round the steeplechase fences.. He was only out to do his work at a slow pace, hut ho cave a, good display at most of the obstacles.

11 od Ken. Lawsuit, Vascular and .Dardanelles set onfc together for a school over tho big fences. The "first named pair were pulled off at the end of a round, laving Vascular and Dardanelles to continue for a. second circuit. All four jumped well.

Merry Lad, Sir Agnes, Ma.na.wapango and Gang Awa were among the horses who did useful tasks on the sand.

The steeplechaser Coalition, under the oa.ro of J. W. Lowe, arrived from the north this morning, to fulfil engagements at the Grand National meeting.

The rising three-year-old pacer Saints Bell, by Logan Pointer from Ala. Belle, has been taken in hand again, after about a month's spell. His legs still shop- the effects of contact with 'a wire fence, hut the accident should not trouble him seriously. Saints Bell showed great promise when raced in June and he should develop into a htoh class three-year-old. ' “

The speedy pacer Silver Shoe has armed from tho south, in charge of his owner-trainer, G. Reed, to fulfil engagements at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting.

Messrs W. Ct. Stead, and W Rich mend have again revised their plans tor the spring. Some months ago they made a fbw purchases, getting together a very strong tea&, with a view to racing at_tho principal spring meetings T 1 Australia. Then came the interruption jn the steamer service, as a result ot which it was understood that the trip had been abandoned. It is now stated, however, that Spanner, Sasanof, Surveyor, Golden Bubbles, Tanna-ha ■ Lady ..Ball and Delight will bo raced in .■Australia in the spring. They have

CLEAN Fruit Trees. Good Fruit. Use proved by the local Coftutierr.ial G-iower*. Prepared Hod Spraying Oil {or Apple end Pear Tices, Pint* Is 3d InilLgallons 3s 3d, gallons 6», 4 gallon tine 19s 6d. Bordeaux Mixture or Lime Sulphur {Or Peach arid Ann cot Trees, Success Spray Pumps, .with adjustable Nozzle, Lightest Pump, GtOateStrorce, 30s each. Special oiler in Pruning Shears, 4s pair. Spray nOvr or it will ho too late. Mason, Strutters and Co., Ltd., Colombo Street.

left Napier for Auckland, under the care of G .Jones, with a view to joining the Niagara, ou which they will travel to Sydney next week- The presence of this team will add to the interest in the spring campaign in Ausprovided the horses go on. well, but New Zealanders will -regret.that they are not to have these useful peit’ormers competing nearer homo.

Mr William Campbell, whose death occurred at M ellingtoit a. few days ago, for some seasons past acted as course detective for a number of clubs in the Wellington, Manawatu, Tv a i rata pa, ami Hawke’s Bay districts, also for the Nelson Trotting and Jockey Clubs. The deceased, who was seventy years of age, had the entire confidence of his employers, and wa.s generally respected by the sporting community with whom he came in contact.

The matter of making the ‘'yards” s.ysccin of starting universal has'been shelved by the conference for another turn of the calendar, but judging from the remarks of some members of the controlling body iir seems safe to conclude that the method aimed at will eventually ho adopted, says a writer in the “ Auckland Weekly " News.” It is plain that the Canterbury clubs are quite as strong supporters of the " seconds ” system as the northern clubs are for the “yards” method, hut that uniformity is required is beyond question, for there does not seem any reason in asking horses and drivers to act to a moving start at one place ami from a standing start in another. While both systems are in vogue, general satisfaction cannot ho expected and the whole crux of the question hinges on which is the host method. So far a# Auckland is concerned, both have been tried seriously, and the general opinion is in favour of the Standing start. Our public trainers, owners and officials are most.lv agreed that the system adopted at Alexandra Park has been a. large factor in the marvellous progress of trotting here, and if it was compulsory to revert to the 'moving start there would certainly bo a. doubt about trotting maintaining its popularity with Auckland enthusiasts. Nevertheless, the Canterbury authorities are quite entitled to their belief. But have they given the "yards” system a fair test? The writer thinks not, and until they have done so. it is impossible to expect their When the standing start was first tried at Alexandra Park it was treated as an experiment pur© and simple, and had many opponents in our midst; but it did not take many serious trials to convince the dubious enthusiast that for fairness to all concerned the moving start did not compare favourably with the “ yards ” method. The argument has been used by opponents, of the standing start, that it is unreasonable to expect a highlystrung thoroughbred to stand the strain and move off from a stationary mark at its right gait, hub surely that contention cannot_he treated too seriously; and the writer is one of those who believe that the thoroughbred will be found capable of acting under circumstances he is trained and accustomed to. There may he a few exceptions, hut surely the peculiarities of those few' are not to he taken into deep consideration when it is a matter of reaping the greatest good for the greatest number. How about the other branch of racing, vyhere thoroughbred's stand the strain of the harrier dispatch, and where the starter ha s power to rule out the fractions competitor and chibs have the power even to refuse noiniimtioiiß of such animalsAnd in such cases everybody is agreeahly_ satisfied, except perhaps the'connections of the horse who happened to have made a had. deal ■■ in horseflesh. Let _us have uniformity as speedily as possible, whether it'he under the “seconds.” “ yards,” or some other more improved method, for to carry on'as at presest is hot entirely fair to either horse, trainer, rider or driver.

adopted, fic]y-£nifl|iDLopwOLl It,

ANNUAL MEETING.

NORTH CANTERBURY AND OXFORD JOCKEY CLUB. The annual meeting of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey C'lub was bold at Rangiora last cveuing. Mr H. C. D. van Asch presided over a good attendance of members. The committee in its annual report congratulated the club upon a, successful year. Tbo acceptances for the meeting, it was stated, were not as good as in the previous year, but upon- the whole the events were yell contested. The index of a good meeting was usually reflected by lire amount put through the totalis-ator, and the committee believed that this year a record was attained in that respect, tho sum of JEII.SIS 10s being handled on the totalisator for the day’s meeting. ’Jiao Ground Committee was authorised to spend a sum not exceeding £IOO upon improvement of th© course, but owing to the continued dry weather the improvement was not carried out, It was hoped, however, that before tho next meeting the course would be in hotter order, and that in the near future the dub would be able to afford a now people’s stand. The membership, thanks chiefly to tho energy of the secretary, was steadily increasing, and now stood at 146. The committee, however, considered that the community of such a prosperous district could and should display more interest in tho club by becoming members. Einca tho 1 a,sl, meeting they had lost Sergeant 10. E. Crawshaw, who made the supreme sacrifice whilst fighting for King and country. The influenza epidemic took two vorv prominent members,. Messrs J. H. Rower and A, E. I'eir The‘thanks of tho club were due to Mr R. 0. Duncan, who acted as honorary judge in an efficient manner; to Mr W. Parsons, who had spent a amount of time in supervising the club’s property and live stock, the latter of which had been a source of profit to the club; to Mr Crothere, who had carried out his duties as clerk of the course in n, capable manner; and to Mr M. Scott (treasurer) and Mr W. Mackenzie (auditor) for their gratuitous services.

The balance-sheet nhowcd the receipts to have been £'2185 14s Od, including' balance brought forward £363 19s €d, nominations and acceptances £327, totalisator revenue £1244, gate money £255 13s 6d and snbgcnp J tions £llO, sheep account £46 11s, refreshment booths £6l 3s 9d, and sal© of cards £65 10s. Tile expenditure was £2048 ISs, leaving . a credit balance of £436 16s 9d. The chief payments weroj Stakes £B6O, dividend duty £572 19s sd, work on the course, etc, '■MOO ilOs lid, and interest on mortgage £lsl 12s 4d.

The chairman, in -commenting on the cl' tho past year, remarked that the financial position must bo regarded as highly satisfactory, considering that the stakes had been increased by £369 and over £IOO had been spent on the grounds. He inoved the adoption of the report and balancesheet, which was carried. The election of officers resulted as follows: —President., Mr H. C. D. van Asch (reelected); vice-presidents, Messrs A. Henderson, J. G. Macdonald and W. A. Kelchcr; .stewards, Messrs F. Wotherspoon. W. Parsons, F. Johns, C. C. M/Lachlan, S. Ryan, A. Howard, G. Cndby, Y. Hopkins. W. Gun. mngham, T. Frame, J. Kinloy and W. Croth©Tß; judicial committee, Messrs W. A. Kelcher, W. Parsons, 6. Oudby, J. G. Macdonald and W. Cunningham; treasurer, Mr Mr J. Marshall. , Mr Mark Scott w«a-s elected a life member in recognition of his long service as treasurer and the general interest bo had taken in the club.

Eighteen new members were elected. On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to forward letters of sympathy to the relatives of Messrs J. H. Power, A. E. Fear and E. E. Crawshaw*

It was resolved to recommend to the comrnittee thfct a uniform charge should be made to ail those who use tho course "for training purposes; also that the desirabiKtv oi' applying for a second day's racing during the year should be considered.

It was intimated that the annual race meeting would be held on Labour Hay, October

A kecvly vet© of thanks was accorded to Mr H. A. Archdall lor the capable and energetic way m which he had carried out liia duties as secretary; also to Mr V. Parsons for the interest he had taken in the racecourse and tho club’s flock of sheep, and to tho president for his efficient services. A motion to increase the stakes for the next mop I inp; to £IOOO wo* reacted bv a substantial majority.