RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16497, 6 August 1921, Page 11

RACING AND TROTTING.

(By “

"ARGUS”)

FIXTURES. Augruat 8, 10, 12—Metrpolitan Trotting Club. Ampist 9, 11, 13 — Canterbury Jockey Club. August 24—Dimnevirk© Hunt Club. NOMINATIONS. August s—Danaevir&e Hunt Club, HANDICAPS. August 16—Darmqvirke Hunt Club. ACCEPTANCE. August 19—Dannevirke Hunt Club. At tho annual meeting of the North Canterbury and Oxford Jockey Club, which was held this week, the committee was recommended to Apply for a date for the second day’s racing, which will be available if the report of the Racing Commission is adopted. It was also decided that three trotting events should be included in each programme. In coming to this decision regarding trotting events, the members of the club apparently overlooked a seixcus stumbling block. The question of trotting events on racing club programmes was discussed by the Racing Conference last month, when a new Rule was passed limiting the stakes. In a memorandum to racing clubs as to tho effect of alterations in the Rules of Racing, Sir George Clifford. President of the Racing Conference, has attached tho following note after tho Rule bearing on trotting stakes: — ‘‘ In relation to this Rule it must bo noted that by arrangement with the New Zealand Trotting Conference not mold than two trotting races per day may be comprised in the programmes of race meetings where this has been the custom hitherto, but no further assent is to be given to the inclusion of trotting races under, other circumstances.” In view of this arrangement, it will be recognised that no racing club is likely to have its programme passed if it contains three trotting races in one day. This, however. may not be the end of the trouble so far as the North Canterbury anti Oxford Jockey Club is concerned. The club may find that, while it is allowed two trotting events at its meeting on Labour Day, it will have to hold any subsequent meeting without the benefit of any trotting races. Addition al meetings held by old clubs, as well ;is meetings of newly licensed clubs, appear to be covered by the clause which provides that £< no further assent is to be given to the inclusion of trotting races under other circumstances.” There has been a disposition, in some quarters, to criticise the Racing Conference for its adverse attitude to the trotting sport, as shown in the decision regarding trotting events on the programmes of racing clubs. This, however, is not fair to the racing authorities. Trottipg enthusiasts must look much nearer home for the cause of the trouble. It all traces back to the illadvised action of the Trotting Association, early last season, in connection with the stakes to bo given for trotting races on racing club programmes. Nearly all the candidates for the principal events at the Grand National meeting are now at Riccarton and there is an assurance that there will be. no lack of competition. Coalition bears a thoroughly seasoned | appearance- and it will not be on the score of condition if he fails in the | Grand National Steeplechase. The ; history of tho race, however, is against the top-weight. Levanter won with I.2st Gib in 1897 but since then the heaviest load carried bv a winner is Te Arai’s list Olb in 1910. Lochelin lias been a ranch discussed horse lately. Me has had an interrupted preparation and though, according to his trainer, C. Christie, he can be regarded as a sure starter in the Grand National Steeplechase he does not look ready to show’ his best format the end of three miles and a half. Coroglen has made many friends since he has been at Riccarton. He has done some good gallops on the flat, while his schooling exhibition over the fences this week was one &f the most attractive that lias been teen for a long tune. His prospects in the Grand National Steeplechase look bright. Wnimai will be taking part in his fifth Grand National Steeplechase if he lines up in tho field on Tuesday. He won in 19IG with list 81b and two years biter he carried 32st 51b into second place, while he was unplaced in 1919 with 12st 71b and last year with 12st •51b. Compared with these burdens he will find 30st 71b a luxury next week He looks well but his habit, of running down the fences may prejudice his prospects. Rtuvdee bears a thoroughly trained appearance and bis performance in the Grand National is being awaited with •uch internet. Orinions r *’-° someWb; Gv-j'Vd in fiow bo would have fared in the ’Wellington Steeplechase but fm* h’ s Id ad luck in falling on the flat. There is an idea in some quarters that the last part of the journey will find him out. Master Hamilton, the sole hope of I Ricesirton in the Grand National Steeplechase, has got through a lot of solid work lately and! has done it well. He is a good jumper hut his ability over three miles and a half has to be taken on trust. Heatbersprig, who rail second to Killowen in the Winter Cup last year, is likely to play a prominent part in the same race next week. His track work has been very attractive. Onslaught has been galloping well lately, but he may be found wanting at the business end of the Winter Cup, in which he will meet opponents who have been thoroughly seasoned by a lot of hard racingMustard Pot has lost some of his admirers by a couple of poor efforts on the track this week. On his latest form his Winter Cup chance does not look good. Kareao will be one of the popular fancies for the W inter Cup. He has some good North Island form, winding up with a useful effort at Tientham last month, and he looks just the sort to show up prominently in the mile race next week. Pine Arch has proved himself a fine galloper since ho lias been at Riccarton. He has beaten more than one opponent decisively on the tracks, and he looks like winning -a. race next week. Some Kidt is in good trim, his recent racing having brought him on nicely. He can run out a mile, and his Winter Cup chance cannot bo ignored. Fabrinade, though very fast, may be In trouble at the business end of the Winter Cup. His stable mate, Hiero, has done well lately, and he is a much more likely prospect for a mile race.

Alteration will be a warm favourite for the Grand National Hurdles. His pace on the flat will carry him a long way on the road to success. The veteran, Kauri King, has got through some great work since he has been at Riccarton. He is a proved ! stayer, a useful qualification at the end of two miles and a half over hurdles. Gladful has been galloping well since he arrived at Riccarton, and he should get some of tho money in the hurdle races next week. Gamecock lias not shaped well in some of his recent ti-ack efforts. Jt is against his chance in tlio Grand National Hurdles that he cannot be schooled except over the pony hurdles, as he has I a strong dislike to the schooling hurdles Ho IS a bold jumper in a rare, hut want of practice over the big obstacles may tell against him. . Tl l° of the Vaikanne foals arr7ed 7 1 pun. on Julv 31 in the shape of a fine chestnut filly by Boniform from Lady Stewart, by Bezonian from Sister Frances. This youngster ranked as ft yearling a few hours after her birth, and is consequently put out of court so far as two and three-year-old classic races are concerned. The Auckland Placing Club will shortly take in hand the erection of an up-to-date tea kiosk, and it is proposed that when completed it will be open daily for the convenience of the large number of visitors who delight to have a ramble round the lawns and flower-beds. The imported horse Callaghan will have a big following from Wellington in the Winter Cup. Recently ho badly defeated Dainty Step in a gallop at Trent ham, and his admirers think that hei only requires the going firm and he will repeat his English form at Riccarton. Though New Zealand’s Prime Minister is engaged in considering momentous questions at the London Confer- j once, says a. northern writer, that lias not protected him from appeals on the Pacing Commission’s report. So far as can be gathered, the answers returned by Mr Massey have not served . to alter the position. The imported horse Swift Flight was recently placed under offer to a Hawke's Bay breeder, but so far no deal has resulted. Swift Flight is only doing the lightest work at Ellerslie to keep him from getting above himself. Swift Flight, who is by St Martin from Maxima, by Ayrshire, has so far proved a failure as a racehorse. Surveyor has finished his racing career, and the brilliant. Nassau horse will go to the stud in Hawke’s Bay. A three-year-old brother to Foo Chow is in regular work at Hastings. Northern reports state that Mermin, the crack two-year old of last season, has wintered well, and he is now shaping nicely in his preparation for spring engagements. The retirement cf Mr J. Goring Johnston from racing is due to the fact that ho contemplates residing jn England for a few years. Sasanof is in regular work at Napier, and he is expected to take part in the Eclipse Stakes at Wanganui next month. Another English-bred sire has been secured for Australia. A commissioner, acting on behalf of Messrs J. E. and C. H. Rrien, recently purchased Rossendale, by St Frusquin—Menda, by Gallinule—Glare. by . Ayrshire Footlight, by Oremqyne—Paraffin. Other members of this line who have’ come to Australia include Traquair, Syce, Bright Steel and Magpie, while Bezonian and Sanquhar are two sires of the family imported to New Zealand. Romeo, who was recently purchased in England by the Auckland sportsman Mr E. W. Alison, is by Flying Fox from Glare, tho grand dam of Rossendale. After a successful racing career, Rossendale went to the stud in England, and he has already been represented by several winners. He commanded a fee of 95gs in England, and his new owners are making a similar charge for his services in liis first season in Australia. Racing clubfttave in the past accepted the taxatida imposed on them with a deal of coin:- .ure, but there is evidence of a growing spirit that the Government hand is exacting more than a fair share. The president of the Wanganui Jockey Club, Mr E. A. Campbell, in the course of a recent speech, stated that last season tho club received. £2B.(XX) from the totalizator, and paid £15.000 to the Government for taxation, or more than half the amount that came to the club from investments on the machine. Now, like Oliver Twist, the Government was holding out for more, and still more. Matters in connection with the Racing Commission’s report remain unaltered so far as any action on tho part of the Government is concerned, says an Auckland writer. Advices received from Wellington seemed to point to the prob ability of the Minister of Internal Affairs receding from the position he took up i»i regard to refusing licenses to clubs affected, but so far nothing has eventuated in that direction. Tho coinj mi.ttee of the Ota.huhu Trotting Club I continues to display considerable activity, especially in marshalling forces to protest against extinction. The president of that body, Mr H. R. M’Kenzie. stated the club’s cnise very fully at n meeting, and it is very evident that he is going- to put the full weight of bis influence into tho agitation to protect the body of which, he is so prominent a figure from being wiped out. The committee of the Avondale Jockey Club has held several meetings to discuss the situation, and some people professed to he hopeful that the spring meeting at tho western suburb would be held as arranged, hut, though the club received a reply from the Prime Minister, to whom it cabled to London on tho subject. the situation has not so far altered in its favour. Interviewed recently in connection with tho Gambling Commission’s report as it affected Gisborne. Mr If. do La.tour, a member of the Gisborne Racing Club committee, and a: prominent owner of successful racehorses, stated that in his opinion it would mean the end of Poverty Bay a». a breeding centre of line horseflesh if the Park racecourse was done, away with. All tho good blood sent away from the district had been trained on the Park. Many of the local horses have brought great eredi* upon the Bay by -their successes, and had given Poverty Bay a name for firm breeding. The Makaraak course, o” the other hand, was too hard for training purposes; no horses pradically were trained there, although it was adjacent to several stables. “The Racing Commission, T believe.'* said Mr de La tour. 11 made its recommendations with no knowledge of local conditions. The amalgamation had been suggested to the local clubs by Mr Earl, chairman of the Commission, when that body had sat at Gisborne, but only as a recommendation. Mr Earl had intimated that it was not within the scope of the Commission to make such a recommendation officially.