RACING AND TROTTING NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18577, 27 September 1928, Page 2

RACING AND TROTTING NOTES

RACING FIXTURES. September 27. 2S—Geraldine Racing Club. _ , September 29—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. October fi—Carterton Racine Club. October 6—Kurow Jockey Club. October 11. 13—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 22—North Canterbury Racing esub. NOMINATIONS. October s—North Canterbury Racing Club. HANDICAPS. September 29—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 15—North Canterbury Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. September 27— Hawke's Bay Jockev Club. September 28—Carterton Racing Clud Octoh.r 5 New Zealand Cup. October s—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 17—North Canterbury Racing Club. PAYMENTS AND FORFEITS. October s—Dunedin M’Lean Stakes and Guineas. October 19—New Zealand Cup. October 26—New Zealand Cup. TROTTING FIXTURES. September 27, 2S—Geraldine Racing Club. October 6—Farow Jockey Club. October 22—North Canterbury Racing Club. NOMINATIONS. October 5 North Canterbury Racing Club. HANDICAPS. October 13—North Canterbury Racing Club. ACCEPTANCES. October 17—North Canterbury Racing Club. RACING NOTES. First acceptances for the New Zealand Cup are due on Friday of next week, when nominations will close for a number of other important events at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s spring meeting. • « . * • * Arikiwai arrived by the ferry boat this morning. * * a|e *• G. J. Pine is keeping the three-year-old Noteworthy going in useful tasks. It is unlikely, however, that he will be required to fulfil his engagement in the Dunedin Guineas. He is not quite i up to classic form and he will be restricted to easier company in the mean- * * * * Countersign has developed trouble in one of her forelegs, and E. Seoullar has found it necessary to stop her work. She has been blistered and will be given a spell for a few months. * * * .* Arikiwai returned home from Sydney this week. He tailed to throw off the lameness which troubled him before he left Riccarton and he will be given a spell. * * * * When Beau Geste won at Ashburton, he was very capably handled by H. Were, who has just made his reappearance in the saddle, after a lengthy absence. Were is attached to F. P. Claridge’s stable, so that he will not riding opportunities, apart from ?he stray mounts he will receive. m * * • The Sutala gelding. Wayward, a member of R. C. Keeper’s team at Crari, is suffering from a swollen hind leg, which will keep him in the paddock until the season is well advanced. * * * * Among the two-year-olds in E. J. Ellis’s stable at Washdyke is Pink Coat, by Hunting Song from Red j Edna, by All Red from Edna May 11. The youngster, who is owned by Mr J. M. Samson, is very tall and overgrown. He has been thickening out and improving during the last few weeks but he will not be seriously trained until the approach of the autumn. * * * * Hoylake was got by Poltava, a grey son of Polymelus and the Le Sancy mare Tagale, the dam of Tagaiie, a winner of the 1000 Guineas and Derby, j Tagaiie was also expected to win the j Oaks, and- L- H. Hewitt was blamed | for riding a bad race on her. A lead-, ing authority in the late Mr W. Alli-j son, special commissioner of th^ ‘ Sportsman,” took up the cudgels, and j in defending Hewitt claimed that the mare was not reliable and of variable moods. Hoylake no doubt inherits his : colour from Tagale.

When the Australian sportsman, who races as “Mr Constable,” gave a high price for the New Zealand bred Raasay after his second to Reonui at Rosehill, he intended running him for the Australian Jockey Club's Derby. The colt's form in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill not only caused him to abandon that intention, but decided him upon spelling the chestnut. Raasay will be turned out and he will not be raced again until the autumn. * * * * Limerick and Mollison are becoming tiresome for members of . the betting ring as well as for the owners of other horses, writes “Pilot” in the Sydney “Referee.” In order to do business, many books have to bet “one, two” in races in which either is engaged, and few owners opposing either of the cracks look forward to more than place money. There have been few champion horses that have not been defeated. and though Limerick has already had that experience, his chance of getting through this trip without a failure in Sydney is excellent. Admirers of Winalot look to him to down Limerick in either the Spring Stakes or Rand wick Plate, but the New Zealander’s form in the Hill Stakes was so impressive that I do not fancy the chestnut’s chance of beating him in anything at the Australian Jockey Club's spring meeting. * * * * Though he has not yet found a successor to Windbag in his stable, G. Price, the Randwick trainer, continues to turn out his share of winners. He is superintending a rather strong team just now, and (says a Sydney paper) his prospects for the spring look bright. Perhaps Price has hopes of The Dimmer developing into a horse of good class, even if he does not reach the Windbag standard. There is room for improvement in The Dimmer, who is bred the right way to stay. If there is real merit in the colt Price can be depended upon to discover it, for he is always thorough in his methods. From season to season Price, since settling at Randwick, has had a good deal of success. It has been well deserved, and as he is still only a young man he may be expected to remain in the forefront of his profession for many years to come. It was a fortunate day for him when he decided to desert New Zealand for Australia, though he possesses ability which would bring him success anywhere. • * » • Among the applicants for the position of starter to country clubs in Victoria is James Redfearn, who has spent a lifetime among thoroughbreds.. For j r ears he assisted his father in the management of an extensive racing establishment and stud, among the horses to come under his care being Malvolio (Melbourne Cup), Churchill (Newmarket Handicap), and Maluma (Newmarket Handicap). Redfearn was a capable horseman in his day. He rode Churchill to victory in the Newmarket, and was also narrowly beaten in the corresponding event on Abner, the winner being Lochiel. • • * • Mr Sol Green has owned many firstclass performers in his time (says the “Sporting Globe”), and the Memsie Stakes winner—Gothic—seems to rank with the best of them. One of Mr Green’s champions was Gladstone, whom he purchased cheaply, and who captured the Caulfield Futurity Stakes (twice), besides winning other good weigbt-for-age races. Mr Green won the Jubilee Melbourne Cup with Comedy King, whom he imported to Australia, and who was the first imported horse to win the big two-mile race. He won the Standish Handicap with Valdes and two Newmarket Handicaps with Gothic. He has scored four successes in the Futurity Stakes, thanks to the efforts of Gladsome (twice). Comedy King and Gothic. Other good horses owned by Mr Green were Star d'Or, Gallantry, Robespierre and Verbius. * Jje * *r I have always thought (says the “ Special Commissioner ” of “ Sporting Life ”) that Blue Ensign would si re a big winner, and his turn came when Navigator won the Stewards’ Cup fairly easily from Endowment and Stranathro. Navigator is out of Chronometer, a Hurry On mare that was bred by the Duke of Westminster, and who is out of Odmtessine, by Count Schomberg out of Cassine, by Xaintrailles. Navigator was sold' at the first July sales of 1926 as a yearling for 2000 gs. * * * * The jockey, Morris, who has ridden in India with marked success for sev- ; eral seasons, struck trouble at Bom- ; bay last month. Morris, who had J only recently returned from England, was nov/here on an Arab horse named ; Robert, on the first day of the Poona j meeting, and won in good style on the second day. The outcome was that the Western India Turf Club stewards withdrew Morris’s license, accepted the explanation of the trainer, and notified the owner, “Mr Marks,” that his entries were in future liable to be refused. * * * *• Up to the end of July the Polymelus horse, Phalaris, was the most successful stallion in England this season. He had sired eleven winners of nineteen races, of a total value of £25,782. Fairway's St Leger win alone would send him to over £38,000, and the chances are that he is now well past £40,000, as against £39,316 for the 1927 season. Hurry On, with £22.631, was next to Phalaris at the end of July. • * * * Like many another great sire before him Hurry On did not start too well at the stud, as amongst his first crop of two-year-olds Invergarry was his only winner, and she only contributed £855 to his account. Since then he has had a wonderful career, which (says an English writer) reads 107 winners of 184 races, valued at £214,134 10s. In cold figures this does not really do him justice, as it has to be remembered that amongst those 107 winners there are two One Thousand Guineas winners in Plack and Cresta Run; three Derby winners in Captain Cuttle, Coronach and Call Boy; an Oaks winner in Toboggan, and a St Leger winner in Coronach. It is doubtful if there has ever been a sire with such a consistent and genuine record, and there is ample time for him to improve upon it, as now he looks no older or less vigorous than he did five years ago. * * * ct One of the first rumours that met me upon my arrival at Goodwood (writes the “Special Commissioner” of “Sporting Life”) was that the powers that be are favourable to my suggestions anent the payment of trainers by their owners through the medium of Weatherby’s in the same way as jocke>-s are paid. Like many rumours, this one may have •little foundation, but on the other hand there is seldom smoke without fire, and I still hope to see the day arrive when the Jockey Club will take the matter up, and put the whole thing on a proper basis. In a previous article of this series I alluded to a dispute between a certain owner and a trainer. I now find that the dispute in question is the subject of an action pending between the parties. I regret that I should have quoted this particular case, and in the circumrtances my criticisms were, of course, premature and onesided.

Last 3-ear Lord Derby was an easy first in the winning owners’ list in England. He won thirty-seven races and £40,355 in stakes, but he is already well ahead of the latter total. At the beginning of last month he had reached £39,412, the result of twentyfour wins. Fairway’s St Leger win of Wednesday last probably carried as much as when Book Law won a year ago, and it was then £13,280. A similar amount would send Lord Derby’s figures to over £52.000, and it is fairly safe to bet that when the English flat racing season closes in November his total will .be very close to £60,000. The added money for the St Leger is only £4OOO, owners finding the rest. Lord Derby, by the way, is a non-betting owner, and races such a large number of horses that, even if he wins £60,000 in stakes, he will not make a tremendous profit on the year. A little while ago, when speaking in favour of the Totalisator Bill in the House of Lords, he said it cost him £650 a year to race a horse in England.

Two innovations marked the recent Belmont meet. One was the “no scratch” rule put into effect and the other was the new arrangements concerning saddle cloth numbers and post positions. The former rule (sa> r s a New York scribe) is nothing more than a prohibition against scratching. That is to say, no horse entered in an overnight event may be withdrawn, unless upon a veterinary’s certificate of unfitness, a change of track conditions since the time of entry, or for other reasons acceptable to the stewards. It resulted in a considerable curtailment of scratcbings and races generally had ample fields going to the post. Under the new post position plan the position of the horse at the post corresponds to the number on its saddle cloth. These numbers are drawn the night before the day of the race. Hence No. 1 horse occupies the rail position. No. 2 next, and so on. The change did away with considerable confusion, and was accepted as a welcome one. The system has been in effect for many years on the southern tracks.

Constant failure often causes owners to lose interest in racing. A few wins' revive it, and though, a couple of seasons ago, when horses in the Royal colours won only three races, of the total value of £536, it was said King George was tiring of the sport, the ownership of a smart filly in Scuttle has put a different complexion on affairs. On this point “Rapier” was emphatic in a recent issue of the “Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News.” “Of one thing I am quite certain,” he wrote, “the King is unquestionably more interested in the breeding and racing of horses than ever before. His Majesty’s interest has grown and kept pace with his more intimate understanding of a subject that the wisest men can never know enough of. Naturally the King is primarily concerned with the welfare of his own horses, and, after that, with those bred and owned by his son-in-law. Viscount Lascelies. His Majesty made a special journey from London to Newmarket to see three of his horses compete on the July course. Time was, I think, when any other engagement would have been regarded as of more importance. Recently on that July course, on which Court etiquette is relaxed and stiff formality largely waived, I have seen the King stand by the auctioneer and note every detail during the selling of a two-year-old selling plater for a big price. I have seen him walk down the course when a race has finished below the stands and take a place inside the tiny little enclosure which is scrupulously reserved for the judge. I have noted too, how the King not oniy moves inti the plantation to watch the saddling ox one of his own horses about to run, but should it have won, look on it agair , inside the unsaddling enclosure for win ners, and then congratulate trainer am jockey while the winner is being rub bed down, sheeted, and sent home tc the Egerton House stables near by.” TROTTING NOTES. Nominations for the Auckland Trot ting Club's spring meeting, to be held on October 13 and 17, will close at five o’clock tomorrow evening. * * * » The Great, Northern Trotting Derby will be decided next month. Final pay ments are due at five o’clock to-morrow evening. * -je The pacer Prince Pointer, who is engaged in the New' Zealand Trotting ! Cup, has been sold to a patron of Tomlinson’s stable and will do his final cup preparation at Addington under the ex Australian mentor. Prince Pointer, who is by Logan Pointer, from Princess Sherwood, has done a good deal of racing and is a brilliant pacer. He i. handicapped on 24yds in the Cup. A 1 though Tomkinson has a large team o horses in work he did not have a Cuj candidate for this season. Prince Point er was foaled in 1919 and bred by Messrs Burgess and Slewart of Rakaia but he has done all his in the names of Messrs Jack and . Stewart. Prince Pointer has won £5339 in stakes, having won eleven races. As a four-year-old he won the Gore Cup, two years later he won the Summer Cup ai the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, and the following season finished second to Ahuriri in the New Zealand Cup. jj- Ht sfcThe three-year-old Hinkler, by Nelson Bingen—Sympathy, xvho is in the Great Northern Derby, is doing plenty of solid work at. Addington. The first classic of the season will be run at the Auckland meeting on October 13. and Tomkinson’s representative seems certain to be a starter. Hinkler looks like furnishing into a good three-year-old late in the season, though he may not show his best form in the classic event. He is a well-grown youngster-, j Rose Marie, who is b\ r Happy' Voyage from Sympathy, has furnished a good deal during the winter. She looks however, best suited for short distances in the meantime. Rose Marie is doing steady work, but it is more than probable that she will be required to do much faster -work in her training in 1 the near future. * * # * Ariki seems to be racing solidly in I his training work, under C. Tasker’s chaige, but there is still a doubt about j the pacer at the barrier. m * * The trotter Bramdean looks as ! though he has improved a good deal since he raced at New Brighton early j in the month. The Nelson Bingen—- | Bidens trotter shows plenty of speed in his training work, but does not, so far, keep to his gait in a race. Possibly he requires some more racing experience. j

Logan Park, since last being put into work, has come along fast in his train ing. He should be at his best for the November meeting.

Curfew Boy' is now a regular attendant at Addington, and the pacer is being kept solidly' at training. Curfew Boy looks bright and well, and is in good form to race. ac * * Dice, who should make a useful sort 'his season, is working on satisfactorily in her training. She is a four-y'ear-old by Happy Voyage from the dam of Little Logan. J. Fraser has St Hubert in good racing condition, but the pacer is best over short courses, where he will have to meet many improving young horses. St Hubert is not likely to show much improvement. * * * *- E. C. .M’Dermott is working a big. solid looking pacer by Denver Iluon. Like most of his sire’s progeny, he seems to favour long courses, and in the meantime has not been asked to go fast. * * * * The trotter New Metford is doing well at present in his training work. N. L. Price is a regular attendant nowadays at Addington, and the trotter’s condition is a credit to the veteran trainer. * * * * The three-year-old by Rey de Oro from Belette is a very attractive pacer. He has not been hurried in his training work, and he is a particularly well mannered young horse. He may not be raced for some time. * * * * Nelson Ata is trotting well in his training work, and it now remains to be seen how he will go away from the barrier. The trotter has had a good spell since last he was raced. * * * Great Audo is now in D. Bennett’s stable. The pacer has a fine turn of speed, and is a very quick beginner. He should be a useful performer this season, if properly placed. *= * * * Kreisler continues to do good work on the track. The Great Audubon pacer has a lot of speed, and when at his best he can go two miles. He seems to have furnished a good deal since his last respite from training. METHVEN TROTTING CLUB. A meeting of the committee of the Methven Trotting Club was held on Tuesday evening. Present: Messrs T. S. Harrison (chairman), W. J. Bennett, R. D. Millar, J. Campbell, J M’Cloy, T. Forrest, S. G. Holmes, J Dowling, F. S- M’Donald, T. Maguire C. Nordquist, J. H. M’Kendry, J. M’Anulty, G. Kelly and A. J. Wilson. Before proceeding with the business a vote of condolence was passed to Mr 11. Green and family in their recent bereavement. The secretary reported that he had interviewed the District Traffic Manager in reference to the race day trains and was assured that a suitable service would be arranged. The chairman reported that the contractors had completed the renovations to the buildings on the racecourse. It was decided to procure new blackboards and the question of the erection of same was left in the hands of the Grounds Committee. Mr J. H, Tompkins wrote accepting the position as starter to the club.

The Ashburton Hospital Board wrote that an ambulance would be in attendance on race day. The resignations of Messrs Black and Bennett were accepted. The secretary of the New Zealand Trotting Association wrote advising chat Mr F. J. Beer had been appointed to act as stipendiary steward for ibe meeting. The Ashburton Silver Band wrote -hat they would be in attendance on race day. The following new members were elected: Messrs Reece Smith. Norman Richards, J. Osborne, C. M. Thomson, A. T. Smith and Hancock. ACCEPTANCES. KUROW JOCKEY CLUB. Per Pres* Association. OAMARU, September 36. The following acceptances have been received for the Kurow Jockey Club’s meeting:—

GOOD RIDING BY G. RICHARDS.

(Special to the “Star.”) LONDON, August 2 My selection for the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood was Queen's Bower, and, after drawing one of the worst positions at the start, she just failed to get a place. Her owner and trainer were so disappointed that they ran her again in the King George Stakes the very next day, and she immediately atoned for the previous disappointment, beating smart horses like Golden Oracle and Tag End. Queen’s Bower would undoubtedly have got a place in the Stewards’ Cup had she had better luck in the draw for positions at the start. Navigator, who won for Lord Glenely, was a real “dark horse,” but the cat was out of the bag before the “ Off! ” G. Richards rode the winner, who was Lord Glenely's representative out of a large fleet, and. though the services of the leading jockey entailed a declaration of 41b overweight, the policy was a good one. When Playboy won the Liverpool Ctip, too, Richards was on his back with a little “ extra,” and again the end justified the means. My followers abroad would not be surprised at the success of Playboy, having regard to what I wrote when the weights made their appearance. The Mohawk could not go to the post, because he was on the sick list (coughing), but I understand that he quickty recovered, and will not have long to wait before his chance comes round. Richards had, by the way, won the Liverpool Cup the previous season on Silver Lark, while he had finished second on Queen’s Bower at Goodwood. If we only knew the mounts of Richards a few weeks in advance, how much easier things would be! Banstar was the principal failure at Liverpool, but I hear that this exFrench horse is to pay a visit to Ostend (Belgium) at the end of the month, to run in the Grand International. He is a good horse, and should be well suited b>' the Ostend course. There are no races of particular in terest to those abroad—or in England, for that matter—during August, and the next ante-post 'betting event wfill be the St Leger. I have already told 3’ou all I can about Fairway, and at this moment I see no reason to alter my view that Lord Derby’s colt is a real good thing for the last classic. Felstead, the Derb>* winner, did not fulfil his engagement at Goodwood, because he had been jarred slightly on the hard ground, and I suppose his next race will now be the St Leger, but he has not the class of Fairway. Royal Minstrel followed up his second in the Eclipse Stakes by running second to Marconigram at Goodwood, and it is now clear that he has not trained on into the good horse many expected him to be. He will, never the less, win a good handicap before the season gets old. Arctic Star is a good stayer and a well earmarked candidate for the Cesa

rewitch, but, after taking the Goodwood Stakes. I am afraid he will get too much weight for the big autumn event. In any case, he will take a lot of beating if he runs, for weight does not stop a good horse in the long-dis-tance race at Newmarket I will deal with the problem of the famous “ autumn double ” in my next message, when I have thoroughly digested the entries. There are one or two good horses which I have in mind for both the Cesarewitcb and the Cambridgeshire, and mahap our labour will not be altogether futile. The colt Sunny Trace, who started so much fancied for the Derby, is lame at the moment, and I opine that F. Darling has a big handful in this three-year-old. .

WAITANGI HURDLE HANDICAP, of 110 sovs. One mil© and a half. st lb st lb Caxinthia 10 5 Antrim Boy 9 3 Red Mime 9 1 Heather 10 2 Tehaunui 9 0 Erin-go-Bragh 9 4 HAKATARAMEA HANDICAP, of 130 sovs. One mile. st lb st lb Taboo 10 9 Ronaki 8 5 Miss Winkle 9 2 Shandre 7 7 Beau Geste 8 11 KUROW CUP, of 220 sovs. One mile and a quarter, st lb st lb Taboo 8 9 Vaward 7 10 Thorndale 8 2 Lucy Locket 7 7 Town Bank 8 1 Miss Winkle 7 2 PUBLICANS’ HANDICAP, of 110 sovs. Six furlongs. «t lb st lb Tripaway 9 2 Donne 7 9 Royal All Comment 7 8 Tractor 8 10 Gay Bird 7 7 Red Jazz ' 8 l Royal Page Boy 7 11 Flower 7 7 Rina The Maunga 7 10 Missioner 7 7 Valves 7 10 BELFIELD HANDICAP, of 135 sovs. Five funongs. st lb st lb Rascal S 2 Royal .Money Mine 7 11 Tractor 7 4 Tripaway 7 9 Martis 7 8 Meadow Erne 7 0 Lark 7 4 First Raid 7 0 NOVICE PLATE, of 100 sovs; five furlongs (special weights) — Royal Flower. Miss Thespian, Pound Note, rage Boy, Claret Cup, Whiffler, Bon Rose, Bridget, Ail Comment, Waving Corn, Tahaunui, Ahuriri. Battle Screen. Membo. WAITAKI TROT HANDICAP, of 123 sovs. One mile and a. half. Logan Fay sor Nelson de Oro scr Princess Oro scr Rose Queen scr Economy sor Onoto scr Roddy scr yds bhd Wild Bingen scr Dan Logan 60 Nona Bingen scr Free Pointer 84 DASH TROT HANDICAP (in saddle), of 123 sovs. One mile and a quarter. Onoto scr Logan Fay scr Bon Hazel scr yds bhd Economy scr Fairy Chimes 12 Wild Spur scr Sid Wilkes 12 Te Kara scr Beta M’Kinney 24 Belle Red Shiner 60 Embrace scr .Dan Logan 36