Topics of the Turf

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 197, 20 August 1931, Page 12

Topics of the Turf

' v : 'Notes and news from everywhere

RACING FIXTURES. August 22—Pakuranga Hunt. August 29—Taranaki Hunt Club. September s—Otago Hunt Club. September 12—Dunedin Jockey Club. September 17, 19—Wanganui Jockey Club. September 19—Ashburton County Racing Club. September 24, 26—Geraldine Racing Club. September 26—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. September 26, 28—Avondale Jockey Club. October 3—Kurow Jockey Club. October 3—Napier Park Racing Club. October 3, s—Auckland Racing Club. October 7—Marton Jockey Club. October 9, 10—Otaki Maori Racing Club. October 10—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 15. 17 —South Canterbury Jockey Club. TROTTING FIXTURES. August 29—Auckland Trotting Club. September s—New Brighton Trotting Club. September s—Otago Hunt Club. September 12—Wellington Trotting Club. _ September 19 —Ashburton County Racing Club. September 24, 26—Geraldine Racing Club. October 3 —Kurow Jockey Club. October 15. 17—South Canterbury Jockey Club

RACING NOTES. The Pakuranga Hunt meeting, to be held at Ellerslie on Saturday, will give the light-weight jockeys and apprentices an opportunity to resume race riding, under the seven-stone minimum. * * 5jS * T. Lloyd has all his team moving along in useful tasks. It is probable that he will have some horses racing at Ashburton next month, but he has not made any definite spring plans for other inmates of his stable. * * * * Taragona has been kept in useful work lately, and though he has not had any fast galloping he looks in good health to be got ready for spring engagements. Though he lacks brilliancy, he has given evidence of staying, and he may win some good races over a distance this season. * * * * Arikiwai developed lameness on the eve of the Grand National meeting, and he is out of commission at present. He has been more or less unsound throughout the greater part of his career, and it I? doubtful if he will be trained again, though there is a possibility that he will be hunted next winter. * * * * The Southland owner, Mr W. T. Hazlett, has booked twelve mares to Nightraid this season, while one will visit Polozel. Nightraid’s mates will include the following mares, all in foal to Chief Ruler:—Gold Light, by Hymettus—Simper; Razzle Dazzle, by Kilbroney—Simper; Illume, by Kilbroney—Simper; Dazzling Light, by Kilbroney—Simper; Glad Light, by Paper Money—Simper; and Moulin Rouge, by Kilbroney—Directoire. * * * * C. Emerson is giving Martian Chief, Sleipner and Rose of Orange a short rest after their racing, but they will be in commission again soon, as it is probable that they will be required for the Ashburton and Geraldine meetings next month. Xochlaggan will not be raced till later on. His two-year-olds, Lady Zephyr (Robespierre—Lady Minerva), Skysong* (Weathervane —Grey Linnet) and Oratorius (Diacquenod— Oratress), are all doing well m their preparation for the M’Lean Stakes at the Dunedin meeting in October. s{e sf: * _ * It is probable that Sir Charles Clifford will be represented at the Wanganui Jockey Club’s meeting next month by the three-year-olds, Cricket Bat, by Winning Hit—Equipment, and Zeebrugge, by Winning Hit —Brave Deed. They are both training on nicely, Cricket Bat having shown lately that he has lost none of his speed. The two chestnuts are engaged in the Wanganui Guineas. * * * * F. Christmas has three of Mr D. H. Roberts’s horses in work at present, these being Red Heckle, Convoy and Jolly Beggar. They are all training on nicely, in view of spring engagements, and they may be seen out at some of the early meetings. Convoy, who is a three-year-old brother to Red Heckle, showed good form when he won at Riccarton in the autumn, and he is being got ready for the Dunedin Guineas.

A. E. Wormald is resting Ranelagh at present, but the Arrowsmith gelding will be m commission again soon, with a view to racing in the spring. It is probable that the Ashburton and Geraldine meetings will find him in action again. Ranelagh showed good form in the Winter Cup, and only needs to repeat it to win some good stakes this season. * * * * Rascal, Royal Mint and Gold Mint are the Riccarton horses included in the nominations for the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting, to be held at Wingatui on Saturday, September 5. * :|c * The Brockville Steeplechase, the open cross-country event at the Otago Hunt Club’s meeting, has attracted a strong field, including Snowfall, Tuki, Tunamoe, Matu, Unitali and Radiac, who should provide a great contest. * * * * H. Gray will ride Biddy’s Boy, Te Hoia and Red Lion at the Pakuranga Hunt Club’s meeting at Ellerslie on Saturday. * * s»« sjc Bonny Boy, who appears in the Greenmount Hunters’ Steeplechase at the Pakuranga meeting, has had an alteration of name. Bonny Boy has been disallowed, and he has been named Trampas. He is a five-year-old gelding by Surveyor, and has not yet raced. * * ♦ v Although Panther is far from being a capable hurdler, the experience he has had lately is likely to stand to him later in the season, when he may win a hurdle race. In the meantime he ha& qualified for jumpers’ flat events, in which his pace will make him a hard horse to beat. * * * * The apprentice C. T. Fuller, who is attached to F. Gilchrist’s stable at Ellerslie, has been granted an apprentice’s license, and will have his first ride on Hampton Park in the Dunedin Handicap on Saturday. This boy has been riding work at Ellerslie for some time past, and shapes well, and as he is never likely to be troubled with an over abundance of weight, should have a good future ahead of him. * * * * Gay Cockade has not had a race since the Taumarunui meeting, but he has done a lot of solid work since then, and he will strip a very fit horse for the Jellicoe Handicap at the Pakuranga Hunt meeting on Saturday. This gelding gallops well in any ground, and has raced prominently in several big handicaps during the last few months. He is now getting up in the weights, but that should not prevent him putting up a bold showing in the big race at Ellerslie on Saturday, in which he will be ridden by A. Parsons. * * * * Malahat, the winner of the Aislabie Memorial Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at the Gisborne winter meeting, arrived at Ellerslie last week in order to carry out his engagement in the Jellicoe Handicap, to be decided on Saturday. With one win and three seconds to his credit in his last four starts, Malahat’s form has been consistent, and he is likely to get some support in his engagement at Ellerslie. * * * * Dominican has been paid up for in the Ladies’ Bracelet at the Pakuranga meeting, an event in which he ran second to Pennyplain twelve months ago. He has raced only once since, but was not quite forward enough to do himself justice, and should be an improved horse on Saturday. The amateur rider, Mr J. Morris, has been engaged to ride Dominican in his race at the end of the week, and this will ensure the big grey gelding being capably ridden, an important factor in races of this description. * * * * An Addition to the schooling list is announced from Auckland in Valstreet, a five-year-old brown gelding by Valkyrian from the General Latour mare Queen Street, and now owned and trained by Mr W. J. Eynon, of Morrinsville. Valstreet won four races as a three-year-old, but last season was unplaced in eight starts. His last three races were at the recent Taumarunui meeting at Ellerslie. **• * * During last season, the clubs in the Melbourne metropolitan area distributed £244,000 in stakes. This amount represented a decrease of £52,000 compared with the prize money for the previous season. * * * * There appears to be a steady growth of opinion in favour of the 5s totalisator, the great argument in its favour being that it will cater for small investors. While this is the case from one point of view, the fact seems to be overlooked that it will not be an unmixed blessing for those whom it is expected to help, as fractions will make heavy inroads in the dividends. * * * * The balance-sheet of the Victoria Racing Club shows that for the year ended June 30 a profit of £3302 was made. The receipts amounted to £147,199, and the chief items of expenditure were:—Stakes £94,353, wages £5738, racecourse maintenance £13,849. The report states that the total stakes distributed by the club since its formation in 1864 amounted to £3,321,604. jfc # * * Steeplechasing in Sydney is becoming quite a farce. There were only three entries for the recent cross-coun-try event at Warwick Farm, and when Prince Arim was fatally injured at Randwick during the week prior to the race only two horses went to the post. Next to no betting on the race took place. Scottish March won easily from Ragatzky. For some considerable time the Australian Jockey Club has attempted to foster and popularise steeplechasing in Sydney, but its efforts have not been rewarded with success, and now it is felt that the premier club will in future be forced to delete cross-country races from its programmes. * * * * In the first week of his spell at Bacchus Marsh all signs of the internal ailment which affected Phar Lap prior to the Lloyd Stakes had disappeared, and since he returned to his training stables the chestnut has done everything required of him, says a Melbourne writer. He is a generous worker —too generous to please his trainer at times —and he has never left an oat in his manger. He is so well, in fact, so full of life, that Telford is really concerned at the possibility of Phar Lap striking himself while in play. There is no vice in the horse, but he cannot remain quiet while being led. Often Phar Lap is so playful that his trainer has him led for a few miles at a canter to quieten him before putting a boy on his back to work on the tracks. One morning recently he threw his rider, but, fortunately, was immediately recaptured. If the weather becomes fine enough to permit of improvement in H. R. Telford’s private track, Phar Lap will do his preparation there instead of being taken to Caulfield as was.the case in the autumn and spring. Much of the worry attached to the care of Phar Lap is taken off Telford’s shoulders bv his trusty foreman, Tom Woodcock, who never is far from the champion. He sleeps in the stable a few doors Away from his favourite.

TROTTING NOTES.

Acceptances for the first day of the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting are due on Fridav night. * * * * Mr G. S. Simpson has been reappointed handicapper for the Reef ton Trotting Club for the present season. * * * * G. Cadd}- has put Danny Boy in work again. He is a useful pacer, who is, however, much better in saddle than in harness. * * * * J. Davidson has the trotter Bonora going well in her training work, and she will be raced at the early meetings. * * * * The Wellington-owned pacer, Zella, is in steady work under J. Fraser at Addington. Zella is a useful mare over all distances, but she is not usually a good beginner. * * * * W. J. Tomkinson has decided not to go north for the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting with Sunchild, who was his only representative at the northern fixture. * * * * Great Nelson is in work again under the charge of F. G. Holmes. It looks as though it may take a little time to get the trotter into his best racing shape. * * * He The ex-Auckland trainer, J. S. Shaw, has taken over the stables of D. Bennett at Spreydon. Shaw has Peter Pirate and Impromptu in work, and there is a possibility of some additions to his team in the near future. * * * * The five-year-old trotter, Todd Lonzia, has gone to Dunedin, where he will be treated to a lengthy spell and will then probably return to his old quarters under A. Cox. Todd Lonzia is owned in Dunedin. * * * * The trotter Koro Peter has made a good recovery from his operation for wind troubles, and he is at present being jogged about by A. Cox at Addington. It will take some time for this brilliant trotter to get into his best racing form * « * * Linkman was no started at the August meeting, but he is being jogged about preparatory to being put into solid work again. The spell has done the Matchlight pacer a lot of good. * Sfc H« Hi The following have been granted licenses by the Trotting Conference as trotting handicappers for the current season:—Messrs C. Gooseman, G. Paul, jun., F. C. Thomas, T. Fogg, M. Fitzgerald, H. A. Pierce, H. A. Jarden and G. S. Simpson. All of them have been regular handicappers for *some seasons past. * * * * N. L. Price did not race any horses at the recent Addington meeting. In conversation with the veteran trainer, he stated that he cannot remember when he failed to race a horse at one of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meetings, but those he has now in work are mostly young trotters, who are not at present class enough. New Metford, who has for some time represented him in the good trotters’ races, has been turned out for a spell. WAIRARAPA NOTES. (Special to the “ Star.-") MASTERTON, August 20. The racing clubs throughout the eastern portion of the Wellington province have had a very lean time during the past year, and heavy losses are recorded. The Woodville Club, like the Wairarapa and Masterton Clubs, suffered a loss which even careful management failed to prevent. A heavy falling-off in entry fees, gates and totalisator investments was recorded. The Masterton Racing Club is in a bad way just now, and there is talk that the club may close down for a season or two, though others are prepared to help the club along by guarantees. The Wairarapa Racing Club closed the season £1520 worse off than at the end of the previous season. The club intends to curtail its improvement operations during the year. The stakes for the year have been fixed at £7OOO. Mr S. Bolton, president of the Woodville Jockey Club, referring to the fact that the club last season paid £3951 16s lid to the Government in taxation, said that it was a very heavy impost in comparison with the revenue, and one which had to be met despite the considerable loss incurred on the year’s working. It seemed apparent, he said, that, unless the object was to tax racing out of existence, the taxation had gone far beyond the limit of safety or equity.