RACING AND TROTTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16737, 19 May 1922, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING.

(By ARGUS).

FIXTURES, May 1f». 20— New Brighton Trotting Club May 19. f?o —North Otago Jockey Club. „\i n v oo- Wanganui Jockey Club. Mav 2T--Methven Trotting Club. May ;JO. June 1. 3—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 1. 3—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. June 3. 5. 7 -Auckland Racing Club. Jnu6 s—South Wairarapa Trotting Club. HANDICAPS. May i'2 o—Dunedin Jockey Club. May f 22—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. Auckland Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. Mav IS—Methven Trotting Club. May 22 —South Wairarapa Trottihg Club. Mav 24—Dunedin Jockey Club. Mav 2S—Auckland Racing Club. May 29—Canterbury Park Trotting Club. Acceptances for the Methven Trot ing Club's meeting are flue this evenThe R<icea-rtou tracks are very soft from the effects of the recent rain nnr* very little work of any interest is taking place on them at present. The Wanganui Steeplechase marc, Khartoum, was handicapped at 9st ’.n the. Great Northern Steeplechase but Avlth the Eginont Steeplechase also to hi* credit, he will probably receive :: substantial rise in weight, under the club's system of rehandic.nppin-g winners. Paonui has 9st 91b in the Great Northern Hurdle Handicap hut ho *•* liable to be rehandicappod for his vii. in the Century Hurdle Handicap at Wanganui yesterday. The hick of yearling buying is exemplified iu thro? of .Lord Glanelv s pur e’-asCs. He bought Katerfelto for

-HCOgns. Wesiv.va rtl Ho for 1 i .dOOgus and Blue Ensign for U.oOGgns. The;, have won three races between them e! the total value of 0 little over £IOOO.

and. with £30.85*3 entered as the >ll expended in their purchase, the Eng lish sportsman lias m» reason to re joice over bis speculations.

An interesting incident recorded :n connection with the two last contc.»ts for the Liverpool Grand Notional Steeplechase is that the respective win ners—Shaun Spadah and Music Hall were ridden by two brothers. V. 1* RO2O steered Shaun Spadnh .and I. H. Rees had the mount on Music Hall. Another interesting incident in con

nection therewith is that neither of t?i< brothers mentioned had previous? l been selected to ride in the great cross country race.

An unsuccessful attempt to purchase Roitrei was made recently by a leading breeder in the United States. Writing in an American paper. Floyd M’Keener, who is regarded as one of the best judges of the thoroughbred in that country, said; ** 1 believe the greatest match it would be possible tor the world to see would have been a match at even weights between Mano’AVnr and Uoitrel at one mile and three-quarters or two miles, and although it may not be ir* for me to say / €*o, J believe Poitrel would win.”

Mr Janies White is following th. a example of his predecessor at J>nly s Theatre. London, the late Mr George Edwardes, and finding names for his horses from the theatre. Three of the many two-year-olds at his stables at Foxhill. Wiltshire (which are among be largest in the country), arc named

• The Lady of the Rose,” after the ilav of that name now running at Daly’s, and Phyllis Dare and Jvy Trcsmand. the two leading ladies. Mr Ed-

wardes‘.«* most famous theatre-named horse was Sontoi, v ho won the Ascot Gold Cup and the Jubilee Stakes, but there were :nanv others. including Unity More. Daly, Daly Girl, Country Gill, and Geisha. Jordon, another l orse. was named after his butler-

H. L. Cottriß, trainer of Granely, winner of the Lincolnshire Handicap, has come to the front with leaps and bounds. A few' years hack he was comparatively unknown. but now. with over fifty horses in bis establishment at Seven Barrows, he takes his place among the lending flight of trainers. Undoubtedly the best horse Cottrill has bad under his care was Irish Elegance, who won the Royal Hunt Cup in 1919 The same year Cottrill turned out th<= Ccsarewiteh winner in Ivanhoe, both th*se horses being owned by Mr James White. Before Cottrill had the misfortune to lose the sight of an eye. he was one of the leading amateur steeplechase riders in the north of England.

S. Donoghue began the present English racing season most brilliantly. At the opening meeting at Lincoln, on March 20, 21 ajid 22. he rode six winners. including Granelv, who captured 1 lie Lincolnshire Handicap, the first of the important handicaps of the year. It wap the first time that Donoghue had won this event. He is now riding as a free-lance. Donoghue has beeen champion jockey of England for eight successive seasons. Up to March 23 he had ridden 964 winners in England and Scotland, and he has also scored many victories on the Continent and in Ireland.

The Tracery horse Monarch is experiencing a remarkable run of bad luck in he important spring handicaps in England this season. He led off with a second to Granely in the Lincolnshire Handicap, followed it up with a similar placing to Paragon in the City and Suburban, then was beaten in the Victori a Cup by The Yellow Dwarf, and jrt the Great Jubilee Handicap this month added another second to his account, being defeated by Silver ImageThe latter is a four-year-old sister to Silver Urn, who recently won the One Thousand Guineas. Another sister, Silver Jug, is also racing in England. Their sire. Juggernaut, is a St Simon horse, and in England last season had only two winners of a race each. He was doing stud duty in Ireland in 1.916 an 18gs fee, and it is improbable It w#s any higher when h* aired Silver end Silver Urn. Owe good thing for Monarch's owner. Sir H. Bird* is that he has started at a good price for each of his last, two races, and place hots should easily cover anything lost on him straight out. Still, in the way of bad luck Monarch's record is hard ;o beat. His half-sister, Teo (by LittleIon), is owned in Sydney, where she has raced in uhe 14.2 class at unregistered meetings, as well as at registered

Tn may astonish the racing men of to-dav says an English writer, to leatn that up to IS4S it was the practice for winners of great stakes to make a present to- the judge. The custom was a vicious one. and T.ord Bent wick wisely moved the Jockey Club to abrogate it.

The North Island trainer, G. Price, has returned home from a visit to Sydney. Ha is undecided as to hi-, future- movements and it is possible that be will try his fortune in Australia. He has proved himself a very capable trainer and given a decent chance he should do well in the Commonwealth.

The steeplechaser Waimai is reported to be doing well, in his training work at ElLrslie and ho is expected to race prominently in 'cross-country events at the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting next month. Waimai is nonin his twelfth year and seven- yoa'rs have elapsed since ho scored his first success as n steeplechaser.

■The Gaaeley gelding Over There, a brother to Gazique. was.among the winners at the M est Australian Tmf Club’s May meeting.

Autumn us was very much in evidence at the Wanganui Jockey Chib’s meeting on Thursday, when two of his progeny. Prin temps and Kinsem, won the principal flat events, the Connolly Handicap and the Borough Handicap. Autumnus did his first stud season at Trentham. Printemps and Kinsem he ing two of his first’ crop ol foals, while a third was Royal Stag, whose dam. Kirriemuir was sent, north to be mated with the Treadmill horse.

Printemps. the winner of the (Jonuo'lly Kantiwar- the chief flat event on the opening day at ‘Wanganui, carries the colours of the Trentham trainer, A. Goodman, for whom lie has been a very consistent stake earner this season, as In- has won five and been placed on ten other occasions, gathering in a total of £2860. He is a versatile customer, who seems at home over any distance from six furlongs to a miie and a quarter.

Kinsem was responsible for a smar performance when she won the Boroiig Handicap at Wanganui on Thursday.

it was her first race for about tbn • months. Earlier in the season she won three good stakes, while at Trentham, in January, she carried 8s t llh into

second place in the Summer Handicap, one mile, won by Songbird, fist 101 b. with Printemps, 7st 101 b, third Kinsem is by Autumnus. her dam Nicotine, by Sr Clements, from the, Gipsy King hi are Hr l Ran being half sister +• > Coroneted. Harbour Light, Quo A aclis and Welcome Nugget, all useful performers. Orchid, who ran third in the Borough Handicap at Wanganui, is an Absurd three-year-old. his dam being Gladiole, a good sprinter a few years ago. Orchid looks certain to pick up a stake before the end of the season. V/ANCANUI RACES, FIRST DAY(Special to the “ Star.’*) WANGANUI, May 18. The weather was dull and threatening for the opening day of the Mangamil Jockey Club’s winter meeting, but except for a short shower after the first race, it remained fine. The track was heavy after the recent rains, but it was by no means in bad order. There was some go-ul racing. The big crosscountry event provided a remarkably fine contest, resulting in tli© locnlly- ' owned Khartoum scoring a very popular win from the favourite, Omahu, with Kohu in third place. The Auck-Inncl-own?d and trained Poanui won the Century Hurdles in capital style, while the big flat race, the Connolly Handicap, fell to the Trenftham-trained Printemps. Racing opened with the Borough Handicap, the whole of the thirteen acceptors lining up. Rational was entrusted with most money, though Kil reid was strongly supported, with the coupled pair, Missgold and Wei done, also well barked. Orchid made the pace a cracker from the barrier, Kinsem and Rational being his nearest attendants. Crossing the top Orchid had several lengths' lead and his victory looked assured, but after leading into the straight he stopped. Kinsem passing him at the distance and winning easily, while Rational also beat Orchid. Missgold, Rirkie and Kilreid followed in that order. Comic and Blackmail fell at the three furlonga post. The horses were uninjured, hut the riders, A. Dixon and E. Garret, both had collarbones brokenGeneral Raven, Kato. War Loan ana Lady Lyddite were withdrawn from the Hack Steeplechase, leaving seven to saddle up. Master Boris finished up a slightly better favourite than Hvttus. with Ngakanui most fancied of the others. The Baronet and Hyttus went off in fi'oot. Dumper hanging a bit. After going half a mile Master Boris was well out in front of Hyttus, Ngakanui and Te Maire. As they raced past the stand, over the double brush, Master Boris was still in command, with Hyttus and Ngakanui close up Dumper fell at the first jump of the double. Master Boris- clearing the obstacles in fine style, continued in th? lead round to the bend, where he was nearly down, striking hard. Te Maire was running second at this stage. As they swept into the straight Master Boris had a slight advantage from Oak Rose, who took charge at. the last jump and went on to win nicely from Ngakanui, with Master Roris third and Te Maire fourth. Hyttus was beaten a mile from home and finished last. The winner was well handled by P. M’Guire and paid a big pnw. General Raven was withdrawn from the Wanganui Steeplechase, leaving nine to saddle up. Omahu carried over twice ns much money as Coalition, the second favourite, Sir Sola and Khartoum also being well backed. Tt was a splendid race and for two miles the jumping was excellent- Then .Sir So»o enme to grief at- the second fence of the double, opposite the stand, and Maniahera toppled over at. the last jump. Sir Solo led the field for nearly two miles, when Maniahera took charge and was in front passing the stand. Omahu being second, with Khartoum and Kohu close ijr». Maniahera showed the w-fiv down the back, but Omahu and Khartoum were both very handy and going well. Crossing the top Kohu moved no and he \va* in front as they turned for home. Khartoum a length a wav, followed bv Maniahera and Omalui. with Coalition next. Khartoum was firsf over the lad nhdruJo where Maniahera toppled over. Khar- ’

toum drew out to win by a fair margin from Omahu, who jubt beat Kohu out of second money. Coalition was fourth and War Loan fifth. Jt was i fast-run race. Coalition, with all his weight, ran a great race and looked a winner half a mile from home, but his big load and the heavy going settled his prospects. Omahu might have won had he had an.v schooling over big fences lately. Kohu should be all the better for this race, and he must be hard to beat at EUerslie. where Coalition should also run better. •

Spook, Circulate and Halcyon were withdrawn l'rom the Jvaitok© Hack Hurdle Handicap. Simonides was sorted out as the most likely winner, though there was good backing for Ladogeur, with Wamba and Whizz Bang most fancied of the others. Whizz Hang and Ethiopian made the early running- Simonides jumped right across Guianform when the harrier went nP and both lost n lot of ground, hut Simonides soon made tip most of his leeway and he was handy as they raced paFt, the stand. Vhi zz Hang and Wa mb a were in front going down the back the last time, but Simonides was up sides with Whizz Hang as they turned into the straight. The lastnaiped stayed on the better of the pair in the run to the judge and won nicely from Simonides. Voluble was a good third and then came Ladogour and Guianform. There were eight starters for the Century Hurdle Handicap, Spook carrying £l4 more than Whanoko, witli Alteration also well backed. Alteration was rather slow to begin. Poanui taking the lead from Spook. Whanoko and Kyoto. They raced in that order to the hack, where Whanoko went to the front, followed by Poanui. Explorer and Spook. At the bend Kyoto struck hard and toppled over. Whanoko continued in the lead until six furlongs from home. where Poanui was up level with him and then came Spook, Explorer and Alteration. Crossing the top Poanui was just in front of Whanoko, but Spook ran up second a.s they raced round the bend, with Alteration next. Explorer dropping back. Poanui led into the straight and went on* to win comfortably from Spook, with Alteration a good third. Then came O'adfuk V. bnnoko and Explorer m the h i order named.

A!! {lie twelve acceptors went to tile post (nr ihr ('onnolly Handicap, Scion

hr-inr; suit out a slightly better favourite tin;n lame Fox, with Maneamahoe and Mnrqijcteur next in demand. Manga maluK* and Correspondent got badly. I’rintcmps getting into his stride quids I \ and being in front as they settled down, with Cleasanta and Sunny C orner as his nearest attendants* At the six furlong post the order of the leading division was Printemps, Correspondent. Sunny Corner, CJeasanta, Mangamahoe and Tame Fox. Prmtemps kept command down the back and turned for home first, followed by Frio and Marqueteur. The last named made a big effort in the straight and fought out a great- finish with Prim temps, the latter getting the verdict by the narrowest of margins, with Bonettcr a good third. Stork was fourth and then came Erie, Tame Fox, Correspondent and Scion. The big field twenty contested th<3 Purua Hack Handicap, Hen Nevis and Pa.ntler being scratched. Mort Avis found most support in a good betting race, Te Kuri. Left and Marble Crag' being backed in that order. From a good start Marble Crag was first to

show out. but All Cerise soon toos up the running and led down the tone* from Yankee Dan and Merry Queen. Crossing the rop Merry Queen was in front from Santiago and Mort Avis. As they raced round into the straight Merry Queen was still in the lead from Mort Avis and Gold Star. Mort Avis had too much pace in the run home and he mn nicely from Merry Queen, "with Gold Star a good third. Then came Starlight, All Cerise and Lady Nassau. HAWKE’S BAY NOTES, (Special to the ‘‘ Star.’’) XAFTER, May 18. TVhanoko’s form in the Century Hurdles Handicap at Wanganui was very disappointing to many folk in Hawke’s Bay, but some good judges were not surprised, the distance being just too far for his liking. In any case, he was meeting a much better field than any he had previously encountered and in giving weight to Poanui he had none the best of the handicap. Enrthshine is jumping hurdles in good style'at Hastings and when next season comes round he may do better at the hurdling game than on the flat. There have been several enquiries fo» Slave Mart, who has invariably finished well in her races and who give* the impression that, like most of the All Blacks she will improve with age. G. Oldfield is at present handling four yv*ung ones for Air Frank Ormond. These are Martinique, by All Black Martina ; Misgovern, by King Mark Parula ; Stymie, by Sarto—lVaiohiki and a filly by Dtvmosthen.es—Mangaroa. The quartette are comporting themselves well in their education and should be good property by and by NEW ZEALAND RACING. A TRAINER'S VIEWS. The following interesting comments on New Zealand racing are taken from the latest number of the Sydney " lloferee ” to hand:— New Zealand visitors to Sydney during the past fortnight have included G Price, who rode in Sydney when ho made occasional trips here several seasons ago, hut for most of the past thirteen. year* hoh trained for the Highden Stable. He was away for a | time on war service. There was recently a dispersal .-ale of the Highden stud and racehorses in training, and while Price may eventually continue to follow his calling in New Zealand, he determined to get an idea as to the opportunities in Sydney before making ft definite decision as to his future movements. He has always had a good grip of the raring position in Now Zealand, and is interesting on matters i associated with the sport. Discussing things as they are at present in the Dorai nion, he remarked : “ Racing is altogether too costly for many owners just now, owing to overtaxation and heavy travelling expenses. The cost of taking horses to and from meetings in New Zealand * much heavier than ever it was. As compared with before the. war, railway charges are 160 per cent higher. We now have to pay both ways, whereas it only used to be one. Jockeys’ fees have increased, and where you could get board and lodging for boys for 6s a dav at town- you visited, it now range-, from 8v to 12s. Boxes were £1 each for ;i horse, but row vou cannot tret

them under Cl 10s, except where the clubs make special provision on their courses for the accommodation of train t»i\s, boys and horses. AVairarapa caters well, and is about the cheapest place to visit. There are 70 or 80 boxes on the .course. Ihe meals are cooked there, and there is good sleep ing accommodation. Wellington, too, makes similar provision, though I think charges are slightly higher. " Trainers of standing get from .£ > 3s to. £4 a, horse. Some take them at £2 10s. but T should say it was difli cult for them to make ends meet at that price. And if you get £1 «» week it is only right you should be able to show an owner where he is to get that and the other incidental expenses out of a horse. It is hard, too a* a recent experience of my own will show. “ I took a horse by train from Palmerston to another town about 100 miles away. The prize-money was on the light side, and for a win and a couple of places •.'•he total earned by the horse was .-CIGO. As a set-off against, that, the expenses were as follow; Nomination and acceptance, four races, £10; riding fees, one winning and two losing mounts, £3 2; train charges—horse, trainer and boy, £7 board and lodging and box, £4; trainer’s 10 per cent on prize money, £l6 ; Government tax on stakes, £l6; total. £65. The deductions left my owner! £95. so you will see expenses were out of proportion to the return. I don’t see liow owners are to carry on unless travelling is made much cheaper, and the tax on stakes is reduced.

“ Things will probably improve, but meanwhile racing is going to get i set-back, as many clubs cannot avoid reducing tlieir stakes. Pacing was’ never more popular in New Zealand, but though attendances are larger, toto betting, as you know, has fallen off. How is the decrease accounted for? Well, while the war was on there was a. lot more money floating about, and when it was over a lot of the gratuity money found Us way to the totalisator. That has gone, and, in addition, the slump in the value of various commodities since the war ha*i further tended to a, shortage of cash. There are few big bettors in New Zealand now. Some who would invest £IOOO in a day hare been forced to shut right down. Notwithstanding the recent falling-off. totalisator investments are still greater than in 1914. just before the war.’* In reply to 1113- query as to the horsee racing in the Dominion just now, the % New Zealander expressed doubt as to whether the form was quite as good as over here. “ Gloamyig makes everything he meets look cheap,” he remarked, ‘' and if he makes a noise it is slight- Arnythoe is a marvellously good horse, but gets very sore, and that would tell against him if he mot Gloaming at a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half. The latter goes much more kindly in liis races than he used. The Hawk is brilliant, but little can be said about him one way or the other as a stayer, as he has never really been trained for a distance. Winning Hit is too hard a puller to be a firstclass stayer. Thespian, a fine-looking colt and a great guLLoper, and Gasbag and Grotesque are also good. The two-year-old, Rapine* strikes me an likely to make a rattling threc-year-old. He is one of whom I have a very high opinion.”

Chatting about the fast time© made at Trentham (Wellington) Price said he did not see any reason for supposing there was any mistake. “ Private watchholders make the time© the same as those returned by the official timekeeper, and a white flag which goes up with a barrier makes it easy to tell when the horses get away. There is no better track in New Zealand than Trentham, and it is nothing unusual for horses carrying good shoes to run six: furlongs on it in 1.15, fast times in races are easy to understand. In sprint races at Riccarton (Christchurch) a strong wind often helps the horse©.” Special tribute was paid "by the New Zealand trainer to Air. Air. O'Connor’s ability as a starter : “ Good anywhere, but for some reason or other he gets bettyjr results at Wellington than at ally other course. His starting there* is wonde ,I*l.■ ’ He went 011 to say' that with those clubs now using the automatic totalisator the horses are unlikely ’ in future to be sent to the starting post as early as was previously customary. Touching on "betting in New Zealand ho stated that most of the illicit bookmaking was restricted to doubles, both backers and layers giving preference to that form of speculation. The petition favouring the readmissi-on of bookmakers to raoecourses for business purposes is being numerously signed, and “ they think they will get back,” he added. In the event of Price deciding to try his luck in Sydney, hi© excellent record should command itself to some of our owners* and lie should also be sure of a few horses from New Zealand.