TOPICS OF THE TURF

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20266, 28 March 1934, Page 12

TOPICS OF THE TURF

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for the Reefton Jockey Club’s meeting on April 11 close at nine o’clock this evening. * * * * Final payments and acceptances for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting are due at eight o’clock this evening. * * * * Acceptances for the Kumara Racing Club’s meeting close at 9 p.m. to-mor-row. NORTHERNERS OX TRACK. Diatomous and Count Palatine, who arrived from the north yesterday, did useful tasks at Riccarton this morning on the No. 1 grass track. Many other horses were usefully employed either on that track or on the sand. As the morning wore on showers became more frequent, and the tracks, which needed rain, are beginning to show its effects. An improvement in the weather would, however, result in first class going being available for the C.J.C. meeting. VOITRE AHEAD. K. Voitre rode two more winners at Westport yesterday, and .‘s that many wins ahead again on the winning jockeys’ list. TROPHV FOR KUMAR A. There has been a valuable addition to the stake for the Goldfields Handicap, to be run at the Kumara meeting on Monday. The club is giving £lO5 to the race, and the Licensed Victuallers’ Association has given the club a trophy valued at £lO 10s. FLEETING GLANCE. At Riccarton this mornnig Fleeting Glance acquitted herself well in jumping the two brush hurdles twice. This mare is very fit, and seems likely to get into the money next week. L J. ELLIS. After riding at Ellerslie on Saturday and Monday, L. J. Ellis will leave Auckland on Monday night. He will arrive in Wellington on Tuesday morning and will fly to Riccarton, where he hopes to ride Argentic in the Great Autumn Handicap. It looks as if Ellis was going to do a lot of travelling during the remainder of the season in his endeavour to secure top position on the winning jockeys’ list. BRITISH ROYALTY IN U.S.A. Spectators at the Miami Jockey Club’s races at Hialeah Park, Miami, Florida (U.S.A.) cn February 17 included a representative of the British Royal Family. A special train was run from Palm Beach for the British party, which included the Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, her husband, the Earl of Athlone, Sir Bede Clifford, Governor-General of the Bahamas Islands, and Lady Clifford. Sir Bede gave a silver trophy for the owner of the winner of the Hialeah Stakes. This proved to be Time Supply, owned by Mrs F. A. Carreand. In presenting the trophy. Sir Bede said: “ Our party have enjoyed themselves tremendously at Hialeah Park to-day. This is my third visit here and I still marvel at the racing fairyland Mr Widener has built. Each year enhances its beauty. The Princess Alice, the Earl of Athlone and the Lady Clifford must admit that Florida is an ideal place for a delightful day of SILVER SCORN. When Silver Scorn was beaten into third place in the Railway Handicap at Rosehill on March 17, she started at good odds on in a field of nine. She was, in fact, the hottest favourite in a handicap in Sydney for many years. She was ridden by J. E. Pike. Although she met with a check, that is said not to have been sufficient to account for her failure. Her withdrawal yesterday from the Doncaster Handicap, for which she has been one of the favourites for weeks, is not likely to add to the popularity of her connections. ELLERSLIE RIDERS. W. J. Broughton has been engaged to ride Epigram in the President's Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday. He will also be on Senior and April Fool in their races. Other riding engagements for Ellerslie include: H. Wiggins, Melisande (Oaks), and E. Manson ; Baroscope.

W. STONE RETURNS. The former Southlander and exRiccarton trainer, W. Stone, returned from Sydney by the Marama, which reached Wellington on Monday. He then came on to Christchurch. * * * * Permission has been granted the Egmont Racing Club to change its dates for the winter meeting from May 3 and 5 to May 2 and 3. RAN THIRD LAST YEAR. Lordly Knight, Epigram and Melisande have gone up from Trentham to Auckland for the Easter racing. Last year Lordly Knight ran third in the Easter Handicap with 7.12 to Golden Wings and Manawhenua. He has 7.0 this year, and may be a light-weight possible again, as there is no Golden Wings in this year’s field. AGA KIIAN’S DERBY TIP. “ Colombo will justify the confidence of backers and win the Derby,” said the Khan in an interview cabled from Colombo on March 20. He did not agree with those who doubted the colt’s stamina, but thought he would get the distance easily. Regarding his own celt, Umidwar, he thought he would develop into a good stayer. He had decided not to run Dastur or Firdaussi again. They would be sent to the stud. Speaking of Australian horses, he thought they ought to do well in distance races in England provided they were sent over early enough to acclimatise properly before they were due to reach their prime. He was unable to accept the invitation to visit Melbourne for the centenary, as his presence was required in England to take part in the discussions on the fixture Constitution of India. INQUIRY AT WESTPORT. At Westport yesterday, an inquiry was held into the alleged inconsistent running of Haulbowline after he had won the Grandstand Handicap. The stewards expressed dissatisfaction but decided to take no further action. ’’ AGAIN' IN WORK. That good hurdleracer Aladdin is again in work at Riccarton, under the care of A. S. Ellis, who is hopeful that he will stand a preparation. RICCARTON RTDERS, A. Russell w'ill ride Dollar Prince on Monday. It is probable he will be on Custodian in the Champagne Stakes, but in the Challenge Stakes on the second day Custodian will be handled by H. Mackinnen, whose first day mounts will include The Masquerader. Scarlet Rambler and Imperial Spear. Other riders may have the following engagements: A. H. Eastwood, Gavsome. Chidden and Tout le Monde (Great Autumn) ; G. 11. Humphries, Silver Ring, The Smuggler, Grampian, Some Shamble, Synagogue and Polygran; C. E. Eastwood, Friday Night and Importance; G. Salt, Advance Camp or ’A'cade; 11. Turner, Rational II.; M. Kirwan, Croupier; J. M’Girr, Copyist. UNLUCKY. Sympathy will be felt for R. Beale in his misfortune to be out of action at a busy racing period. Beale had the ill-luck to fracture a collar-bone in a fall at Otautau on Saturday. THE KENTUCKY DERBY. Even with a reduction in added money from 50,000 dollars to 30,000 dollars, the Kentucky Derby will still hold its place as the most colourful and most talked-of race of the spring season, if not of the lull season, in the United States, says the New' York “ Herald-Tribune.” The Preakness’ may be a better race or equally important from a competitive point of view; the Belmont Stakes may be deserving, as it has been in the past, of greater prominence because of its direct bearing and value on the breeding industry. But the Kentucky Derby has come to be the extravaganza of racing—the picture which appeals not only to close followers of the thoroughbred but to those irregulars who find it the one race of all the year which they crave to see. This fixture is to racing what the Wimbledon tournament is to lawn tennis. It has been built up to a point where the attraction is something more than a race just as Wimbledon is something more than a tennis tournament. It is cause for regret that economic conditions have forced a cut in value, as it is good to see a full reward for a race so steeped in tradition, but it is safe to say that the entry will be just as big and just as representative as in the past. The prestige of winning a race with such a background w'ill be reward enough. RACING- FIXTURES. March 24, 26—Bay of Plenty J.C. March 31—Hawke’s Bay J.C. March 31—Tuapeka C.J.C. March 31, April 2—Auckland R.C. March 31, April 2—Feilding J.C. March 31, April 2, 3—Riverton R.C. April 2—Kumara R.C. April 2—Beaumont R.C. April 2—Waipukurau J.C. April 2, 3—C.J.C. April 4—Westland R.C. April 6, 7—Greymouth J.C. April 7—Hawke’s Bay J.C. April 7, 11—Avondale J.C. April 11—Reefton J.C. BACK TO SINGLE POOL. Per Press Association. TIMARU, March 27. The South Canterbury Jockey Club tonight decided to operate the totalisator on the two-dividend system, 75 per cent and 25 per cent, at the meeting on April 21. Previously the win and place system operated. GUARDING THE FAVOURITE United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph-Copyright. SYDNEY, March 27. Owing to the favour shown for Rogilla as a Doncaster candidate, he is being closely guarded, an attendant remaining at hand day and night. AUCKLAND SCRATCHINGS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. March 27. Scratchings for the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting are:— All engagements—Palm Queen, Morbury. Cape Fair. Champagne Stakes—Limulus.

RECORDS MAY GO.

Possibilities of Fast Times at Addington. WHEN CRACK HORSES MEET. If track and atmospheric conditions are favourable at Addington on Saturday when Walla Walla, Red Shadow, Harold Logan and other cracks set out to measure strides they will probably start a new' era in light harness racing in the Southern Hemisphere. Harold Logan and Red Shadow have stepped quarters and half miles at better than a two-minute clip in their races, and Walla Walla is capable of gathering the same flight of speed (writes “Sentinel ” in the “Otago Daily Times”). The question arises whether they will be able to maintain such a rate of speed on a smaller track than that on which it has been achieved on the mile tracks in America. The American records show' that the half-mile track record stands at 2min 0-1 sec, put up by the trotter High Noon in 1930, and at 2min lsec put up by Dffii Patch. The record for a mile track stands at lmin 55sec, put up by Dan Patch, so that a margin of about 6sec exists between the records for a half mile and a mile track. Origin of Motion Pictures. Whilst on the subject of light harness racing it is interesting to recall that the moving picture business which now provides entertainment to millions of people in all parts of the w'orld had its origin in connection W’ith trotting. In order to study the gait of trotters a number of cameras were placed in a row and snaps taken as a horse trotted past them, so that the great picture industry grew out of the idea of studying the action of a trotting horse. The development of speed has made great progress since Maud S. created a sensation by trotting a mile in 2min lOlsec. She went to her record in August of 1881. Maud S. went her quarter miles in 32£sec, 32Isec, 321 sec and 32*sec without a skip or break. In March, 1883, a purse of 500 sovs was hung up at Elsternw'ick Park, Victoria, for a Free-for-All for the best three in five of mile heats. The imported horse Honest}', who had an American record of 2min 25-1 sec, beat three others in three straight heats wen in 2min 302 sec, 2m in 23 A sec and 2min 33isec. Enter Fritz. He established an Australasian record, and real speed was not shown until Fritz went 2min 13sec in January of 1899. In April, 1903, Ribbonwood paced a mile in 2min 9sec against time, and in 1910 Revenue, under saddle, trotted a mile in 2min 11 4-ssec. In 1911 King Cole paced 2min 8 3-ssec, and Emmeline went to the same record in i 912. In 1916 Adelaide Direct went 2min 6 2-ssec, and in 1924 Acron set a mark of 2min 3 3-ssec, and another fast record was put up in 1928 when Native Chief went 2min 4 l-ssec. Both Acron and Native Chief compiled their records on the Addington track, which had been greatly improved since the days of Ribbonw'ood. In Ribbonwood’s day the track was about five furlongs, with a very sharp turn out of the straight, and one nearly as bad leading to the back stretch. Even under those conditions Ribbonwood was considered capable of going 2min 6sec, and could cut out quarters at a 2m in gait. Ribbonwood was not driven out when he went 2min 9sec, but merely sent to break 2min lOsec. Smart Records. Since then several smart records have been compiled, and the record now stands at Walla Walla’s 2min 2 2-ssec. Harold Logan is credited with going a final mile in the Trotting Cup in 2min 3 2-ssec at the end of a two-mile journey. He has several times gone a final half-mile in around 58sec, and did so when travelling wide on the outside of a field. Red Shadow has also cracked half a mile under a 2min clip, and other champions of the moment hold reputations which justify them in being sent to measure strides with the Australian champion. It is to be hoped that the conditions will be favourable at Addington when the cracks meet, and the time put up will very probably create a new record.

IN SCOTLAND.

Sport of Racing is Languishing. The Hamilton Park Ra cecourse Com- ; pany, which conducts meetings under Jockey ( lub Rules at Hamilton Park, near Glasgow, is in serious financial straits, and has requested the Hamilton Town Council to grant a moratorium in respect of rent and rates. The company has explained its position to the council, which has agreed to the request for a deferred settlement of liabilities. Racing at Hamilton Park has not fared well for some time, and the executive met on more than one occasion last year to consider ways and means of carrying on It was hoped at one time that the executive had su-mounted their difficulties, but trade in Scotland and the North did not improve to the extent anticipated, and -acecOurse attendances were accordingly small. Thoroughbred racing in Scotland has been a topic of discussion in English racing circles for a considerable time. Only a few horses are trained “ across the Border,’ and it is doubtful if the Scottish fixtures could carry on without the support of English owners and trainers. The majority of -he competitors at Scottish meetings are sent from Yorkshire training establishments, but there are so many race meetings within easy reach of the Middleham, Malton, Ripon and Beverley stables that Yorkshire patronage of racing in Scotland has been gradually falling off each year. IN THE ARGENTINE. Writing to the “ Special Commissioner ” of London “ Sporting Life,” Mr George Macfarlane gives a cheery report of the bloodstock sales in Argentina. He states: “We have just concluded our annual sales, with surprising results. Purchasers seem to have ignored the crisis, and 716 lots were disposed of for 3,330,100 paper dollars, which is equal to £253,854, so averaging £354 10s each. This was made up by 382 colts that were sold for 2,088,900 I paper dollars (£160,684 10s), and 334 fillies, who changed owners at 1,241,200 paper dollars (£95,477). The highestpriced colt made 26,000 paper dollars (£2000), while top price for the fillies [was 20,000 paper dollars (£1539).”