RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19807, 26 November 1919, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

(By “ARGUS.”)

FIXTURES. ’ , November 2S, 98—Forbury Park, Trotting Club. ' November 29, December I—Fcilding Jockoy Chib. December 4—Metbvfn Racing Club. December 13, 16—New Brighton Trotting Club. November 23, 26—Takapurw, Jockey Club. November 25, 26—Wirrton ,Jockey Club. Dvcombo- 10—Bay of Plenty Jockey Club. December 10, 11—Woodville Jockey Club. December 17—Taumaxunui Raring Club. NOMINATIONS. November 20 Woodville Jockey Club. No ember Racing Club. ' HANDICAPS. Dumber l New Brighton Trotting Club. November 27—Woodville Jockoy Club. Dumber 2—Tanmamnui Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. Nov ember 27—Mothven Racing Club. December 9—New Brighton Trotting Club. November 20—Winton Jockey Club. December B—Woodville Jockey Club. December B—Taumanmui Racing Chib.

A big batch of horses, under tho care of their trainers, went south by special train to-day, to assist at the Forbury Park (Trotting Club’s Reeling, to bo held at Dunedin ou Friday and Saturday.

There is a large number of horses now,in work oh the Hcafhcotc course. Several public trainers are now living in the vicinity of tho track, and they have, a good many horses, and in addition there are a lot of ama tenrs with one or two horses. Most of the work is done early in the morning. J. ,D. Smith has the. largest team in work, but most of them are maidens, several of whom are font getting into good form. B. Hart has Nutwood Junior and a couple of maidens working along steadily. A. Wright has Refer Heir and Silver Heir, both bred by him. H. Norman is busy with Melisande and his two younger half-brothers by Wildwood Junr. and Peteretn. J. Wilson is working General Pershing and Merry Soul. It is understood that Tamarisk, Wooddrift and Dandy Jack will iu future be trained at Heathcote. In addition to those mentioned a lot of young horses are receiving theli education under the care of their owners on the same track;

The jockey, ' K. 1 W. Ellis, continues to make a good. recovery from the injuries lie disdained in his fall at Riccarton.

U is possible that Air 0. 1.. Stead will he represented at the summer meeting of the Southland Racing Club this season; The presence of’a couple of horses from the Yaldhurst stable ' would arid to tlie interest in the southern fixture.

The price paid by Air G. L. Stead for the 'two-year-old Right and Left, liy .Merry .Moment—En Parole, has not transpired.- •It is evident, however, that if, was substantial, as an offer of IOOOgs-was refused by Mr T. H. Lowry a tow weeks asio. ■

’Tlve -'Oania.ru stndmaster, Air Bruce CFifititiA.; contemplates holding a sale ofyeiirltegs,;iri' Dunedin during the ItebAiafy' race 'week - ..

Sembrie’s good displays at Tima.ru suggest that Air \Y, Gardiner secured a, good bargain when he purchased her d/nn,- Ale/io, at §o<js a-t the'dispersal of tlic-hlflerslie'shid; Alozzo has since produced a-cqll to Kilbrouey, and has been sent on a visit to Sunny Lake.

the South Canterbury Jockey Club contemplates making extensive alterations and improvements at the Washdyke course. When they are taken m hand it is to be hoped the committee will not overlook the need for making a belter turn out, of the straight.

Bright. Spot, who ran second to All British in the Trial Stakes at Winlon on Tuesday, is a four-year-old inn.ro by Treadmill—Bonnie Brae, s'o that she is a sister to Heathcrbrao (dam of Hea. t.hcreote). Briar Patch, Botanist and Bra mb let ye.

. All British., winner of the Trial Stakes at Win ton on Tuesday, is an aph.v named three-year-old, being by Solterina from Marta, by Martagon Worn the imported mare llounetta, bv Bay Ronald.

Adelina, the fonr-year-old sister to M.ichaela. has been boomed for soma time past as liuich 'above the average, hut so ; far she lias done nothing to justify the opinions of her admirers. She was favourite for a raco at Win ton on Tuesday but finished out of a place, and sho will need to make great im-provement-before she can,be considered oven useful, while her chance of reaching her sister’s class seems very remote. ;

Calauri.a. who won tin? Tradesman's Handicap at the Whiten meeting on Tuesday, is a threo-ycar-old gelding hv Demosthenes from tiio imported maro Stresa, .who was imported to Now Zealand by the late My (5. G. Stead, but did not turn nut nearly so well as Ottendon, another English purchase made at the same time. Oalauria, raced at Riccarton this month, but tonne the company a, trifle too good. Ho should pay his way in the south however, as lie is a useful galloper ’

The five-year-old Dausellon. by Lhauoor, purchased by Air' J. C. Gaistaun tor 7Coogs for raping in India died MiotTly alter his arrival'in that country.

From Melbourne comes word that when Mr S. Green again goes to England next year ho purposes buying sonic Jttares, and will locate them’ at Ship, icy. where he still lias a few. One thing certain is that he will have to payJiigh prices for anything of class in England, Shipley is now principallynsed for .dairy farming by one. of Air Green's sons.

It. is contended by some peoule (hut there is no such thing ns luck. Perhaps. lint it might he safe to hot that bir Samuel Hordern does not entirely uphold that view. Artilleryman, of whom be is half-owner, won the Melbourne Gun, and Sir Samuel also drew Richmond Main—£lsoo for second-j n one of Tattorsnliks sweeps on tlm race.

A fresh note H being struck in EimIfiiul- in favour of tho introduction of Mm parimutuel, or. as it is kuoun in these lands, the. totalisator. Before this can lie, accomplished, however, a, lot of harriers have to be cleared away' and. with the Government unlikely to give any encouragement to those agitat•ng for the machine, the pencillers seem bold undisputed possession of the betting field for a long time vet

The tlirce-year-old Richmond Alain is given great kudos for the win he rogistered m the Ynlhamstown Cup, which i "int. he won easily under -31h in I -I time. Considering tho convincing i.'imner in which Artilleryman dressed d; vn Richmond -Main in the. Melbourne •up, and that the latter should have Liken such high rank when his three-year-old rival was out of the way makes the claim of Artilleryman to high rank- all tho stronger. It is urged, in fact, that Artilleryman is one nt the host three-year-olds seen in Australia in . recent years.

An interesting fact to he noted in connection With the recent yearling sales in Cliristchurch was the number of first tools that figured on the catalogue. ancl- further that such was duly ; notified in ,a. painted manner. Tin's is to he voted highly interesting, for prejudice fit one time existed ag-hnsf. lirst

foals. Tho colt Tot Martinn from I’inetn. who realised the top price (lloOgs) at last week's sale, conics under the heading of first foals, and it is quite evident that the Gisborne sportsman, Mr K. S- Williams, who silenced tbo opposition in the spirited competition that ensued for tbo possession of tho youngster in question, is not to be counted amongst those who aro prepared to line np with those, who stand off first foals. At one time—and. Unit Pot so very long ago—a- marked prejudice existed against the first offspring of a mare, and though one. dees not in these days hoar so much of that oldtime prejudice against first foals, there aro those of the old school who will rather chance tho later offspring of a marc than her first foal. It is somewhat difficult to say on what grounds such an absurd prejudice got its start. The English stud book-furnishes quite a number of marked instances where the first foal of a mare has proved of great value, and illustrious names that come readily to mind are Touchstone, Uastrel, Sultan. Buccaneer, Mild Barrel 1, Sir Hercules, Vedette, The Baron, Pocahontas, Barcalclino, and Bendigo. Of Wild Bay re! 1 it is recorded that ho was so feeble at first that lie had to be wheeled about in a barrow —thus causing- his owner to observe—he had never bred a thoroughbred beforethat if that was the class of animal ho Ji.-id gone in lor raising ho had better go hack to oross-breds, for be was sure ho could never make up his mind to have his foals wheeled about in a barrow. Yet this sickly foal eventually grow into a fine horse, and, trained by His owner’s groom, he won the Derby 1 Spread Eagle, Daniel O’Eonrkc and Fnronius arc another trio of first foals that captured tho coveted blue ribbon at Epsom, A glance through the New Zealand and Australian Stud Books also furnishes some striking illustrations where first foals reached the nigh class. The most noteworthy first foals entered up in the New Zealand Stud Book are Templeton, Trenton, Mata, Foul Play, Grip, Budu, Mitrailleuse, Forme, Antares, (Told Medallist Frisco, Maniapoto, Captain Jingle, Kmperador 11., Croesus, Martian, Nightfall, Artillery, Betrayer, Miss Delaval and Bobrikoif. ■ First, foals that earned distinction in Australia also hulk largely, amongst the number being many celebrities, to wit;--Richmond, AVellington, Portsea, Chester, Barnwell, Sheet Anchor, Malvolio and Wakeful. It may be mentioned that Chester and Sheet Anchor (who each have their names enrolled as Melbourne Cup winners) were got when their respective dams were two years old.

Comedy King has given us a. number of very useful horses, but be has also sired at least two really great ones, writes ‘‘Chiron” in the “Australasian.” When ho gets them good they are very good indeed. In Biplane and Artilleryman be sired two eolt-s who will rank with the greatest of Australian throe-year-olds, and they more nearly approach his own class as a. racehorse than any of his other progeny. Cctigne is a horse of the highest class, and' ranks next to Carbine in the list of great Australian stake winners. Yet he was beaten like, a commoner by Artillery man in the C. G. Fisher Plato. None but a truly great colt could have done it. Artilleryman is just ns brilliant as Cetigne, but stays better, and the way he left tho field at the bottom of the straight in tho Melbourne Cup was a revelation. In the light of bis subsequent form it is abundantly deaa that he should have- won the Victoria Derby and the A.J.O. Derby outright. Tho success of Artilleryman ha,s more than justified the belief of Air Green in Stepniak mares. AVheu the Elderslio Stud was broken up in 11)1*2, Mr Green was tho biggest purchaser at tho sale, and he bought all the Stepniak mares ho could get, among them Gross Battery, tho dam of Artilleryman. Mated with Posita.no, Gross Battery was not a success, but her first foal by Comedy King was Queen Battery, who was the host two-year-old l of. her year in Tasmania. She was very good, hut did not stand training. Folly Queen followed, and she was equal to winning the Oaks, and then came Artilleryman. Atthe Shipley dispersal Air Ben Ohnffey bought. Gross Battery, with.'a. brother to Artilleryman at foot, for 72ogs, and she was in foal again to Comedy King. The foal is n. sister to Artilleryman, and then* is now a half-sister to him by All Black. The trio would bring big prices were they sent, into the sale ring now. Cross Battery is seventeen years old, but her days, as a, brood mare are by no means ended. She will be good for a few more seasons.

TROTTING.

ELLESMERE COUNTY TROTTING CLUB.

There was a large attendance at the last meeting of tiro Ellesmere County Trotting Club, Mr 11.I 1 . Dolargey presiding. The secretary of the New .Zealand Trotling Association wrote stating that at the last meeting of the beard, when (.ho question of obtaining' further lota.lisu.tor licensed tor (rolling was considered, it was decided, in view of ihe next. General Election, to emumn meats with all clubs, recommending them to appoint a small executive, say three, in Ihrir districts *o work in conjunction with the New Zealand Sports Proton lion League. Tim object, was (o make representation lo ,Parliament through the now mc-mber for each district with a view to Securing additional totalisator licenses for trotting clubs, and candidates should bo interviewed fo as to obtain their views to 1 enable votes lo be oast in the right direction.

president and Messrs ,7. If. Prosser and E. Itowoii were appointed a committee and weru instructed lo interview the candidates ipr the Ellesmere sent to ascertain whether they would support the granting of additional permits if elected to Parliament. A further letter from the secretary of the association- stated that at tiio last 'meeting u£ the board the application for registration of tho Ellesmere County Trotting Club was granted. With rcspc.w, lo the Cheviot Racing Club’s totalisator iiccnso, the board decided to do all that was possible in tiio matter, and would bring it under the notion of the Racing Conference. He inclosed the official certificate of registration and rieeipu (or iTo ids, Wing ices tor registration, annual subscription, and passing tho programme. Another letter from the, association stated that l ho programme of Hie club's inaugural mooting, to be. bold on January 10, had been duly approved, subject to ‘ a minor alteration in'ono of Hie rules. A copy ot tiro programme should bo sent to the association when printed. Fifty-three- new members were elected. Tho following -were appointed stewards: Mosers G. AY. C. .Snjthsun, I. M'Gill, ,1. Nixon, S. Johnston, J, F. Free, P. DMargey, J. 11. Pressor, F. Howell. James Quiglev, AY. J. Doyle. AV. J. Lemon. J. Nixon, A, if. M'Evp.mlv, A. Quigley, 5, .1. AVicklifte, F. B. Clansat and -li. Patterson. Messrs AV. J. Lemon, J, H. Prosser, 11, Patterson, J, • Nixon and T. M'Gill were appointed u Judicial Committee. Mr Free moved ami Mr A, Quigley seconded, that nominations should clo»: on HiUurday, December 27, at 8 p.m. Air Prosser moved and Mr Doyle seconded nit amendment that December- ji> should he the closing date. The motion was carried. it was agreed that tire handicaps should bo published on January J, and that accept .uncos should close on Janitarv 7, at 8 p.m. It was decided to apply to the Kllesmn-o Licensing Committee for a conditional publican's license, lor the day, and to advertise for tho right of publican's and luncheon booths. Tin hesident reported that the track had been graded, but that gome further worn would have to bo dona before the day of the meeting, bevenvi other matter.-- required attention. It. wae agreed that tho Track Committee should race*, the El'nsmero Domnin Board members at tho Domain and arrange for measuring tho track mid the erection of tho furlong poles. ■ Tho secretary was instructed to write tlw various clubs in Christchurch soliciting' financial assistance. An admission fco of Is for non-members was agreed upon, with 2s fir! for motor-rors, members to have fne admission. The secretary was instructed to call tenders for a, hind. Tho president and Messrs Prosser and Johnston were appointed a committee to dea! with, tenders {or the books and lia.net. It was decided to «sk (lie Railwav Doparlme.il to delay the evening ;ruin on January Ui. to leave Southhridge at i> p.m.. and also (r, ask tli.it excursion lairs 1.0 gran icd.