NOTES AND COMMENTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 177, 29 July 1932, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

! Racing at Gisborne and Timaru tomorrow will mark the close of the ' 1931-32 racing season. Wanganui Club’s Auditor. At the annual meeting of member.'of the Wanganui Jockey Club on Wednesday night, Mr. C. S. Swan was unanimous/ re-elected auditor for the ensuing year. Decrease in Nominations. Evidence of the decrease in revenue which has affected the Wanganui i Jockey Club's operations during the past year is provided by the figures for nominations for the three meetings held. Last season £1375 10s was received for entries, whereas for the preceding twelve months £2142 10s was handled. Normandy Gallops. At Trentham yesterday morning, on the course proper, Normandy (H. Hunt) ran from the mile to the halfmile at half pace, and picked up by Sage (N. 8. Jones), came home the last half-mile in 51 3-ssec. He was going well a length in front of his companion at the end. K. Voitre has been engaged to ride him in the Winter Cup. Pahu at Trentham. Pahu, with Wilson in the saddle, ran a mile on the outside of the course proper at Trentham yesterday, going a; a strong three-quarter pace to the halfmale and coming home from that point in 54 4-ssec. He looks very fit and should be a hard horse to beat in the G.N. Hurdles if he goes on right after his trip across the Strait, comments' “Rangatira.” He has been booked to leave to-night, but his trainer will wait till Monday if the weather is at all uncertain. No rider will be definitely fixed for him till a reply has been received from M. H. Nicol, Who, in the ordinary course, would be on Adventus. 1 Caught by Bridle. Many strange mishaps have been seen on racecourses, but few more strange than that which spoiled iDark Fox’s chance in the Godfrey Watson Steeples at Caulfield on Saturday, July 16. Kings Street fell at a fence near the half-mile post the first time round, and, as Dark Fox jumped over him, his hind legs became entangled in the bridle of the fallen horse. This was wrenched from Kings Street’s head, and wound around Dark Fox’s legs in such a manner that it securely hoppled him. His rider (T. Taggell) could do nothing but pull up the horse. Considerable difficulty was experienced in removing the tangled bridle. Unprofitable Tips. Owners, trainers, jockeys or newspaper tips are not the road to wealth in any country, and touching on this, Mr. T. Franklin, who has been railway stationmaster at Newbury (the location of a well-known English race.course) recently remarked: 1 ‘lf I had put my shirt on every horse I had been advised to back by oWners, jockeys, trainers, tipsters, and optimistic punters I should have given away enough to clothe the entire population of the Cannibal Islands.” Funeral of L Tilson. The funeral of Ivan Tilson, held at Riccarton on Monday morning, was largely attended by representatives of all sections of the racing community. A service was conducted in St. Peter’s Church. Riccarton, and at the graveside by Archdeacon H. York. The pallbearers were: R. McSeveny, C. Carmont, A. E. Ellis, D. O’Connor, J. King and M. Kirwan. An indication of the esteem in which Tilson was held at Riccarton is given by the fact that all funeral expenses were defrayed by a collection contributed to by several of the owners, trainers, riders and others resident in the district. Uiftucky Position. The reduction of totalisator tax (dividend and other taxes are not affected) made last session was passed for one financial year only, but it is pretty certain that it will have to be renewed. If it is not, clubs with Easter dates will be unfortunate. The reduction operates from April 1, 1932, to March 31, 1933. This year Easter fell at the end of March, and clubs racing on the holidays were too early to profit. Next year Easter comes in April, and these clubs will be too late to benefit unless , the matter is adjusted at the September session. Skull Caps. Comment regarding the wisdom of the rule which compels jockeys to wear skull caps in all races hag drawn a suggestion from some of Melbourne’s leading riders. It is that tho system emplayed on West Australia should be followed here. This does not permit a jockey to weigh out with a skull cap, but he must wear one in races. It does not seem to be a big matter to the layman (says the Globe), but jockeys point out that if wasting it makes all the difference. A jockey may take off 61b. or 71b. in weight on the morning of a race and feel that he will do the required weight. But when he gets his saddle cloth and skull cap, each of which weighs approximately 41K, he finds he is over-weight. It may be said that he should adjust his weight to allow for the extra impediments, but it wil] be admitted that to take off an extra pound or two after a hard race entails a severe hardship on jockeys whose bodies seldom carry much superfluous flesh. Jockeys consider the saddlecloths on some courses are made heavier than is necessary. The cloths are made of heavy material so that they wil] resist the effect of the wind, and not blow up, thus hiding the number from a spectator. AMMON RA AMISS? ABSENTEE FROM TRACKS. BRUISED HEEL REPORTED. Received July 28, 7.50 p.m. SYDNEY, July 28. It is reported that Ammon Ra left rhe Randwick tracks on Monday slightly lame, since when he has been ; a notable absentee. A veterinary sur- | geon is now in attendance, .but it is } believed that tho trouble is nothing ! more than a. bruised heel.