RACING.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18393, 29 July 1931, Page 11

RACING.

FROM TRACK AND STABLE. (By “Martian.”) FIXTURES AHEAD. July 30.—Gisborne. August I.—Poverty Bay Hunt. August 11, 13, 10 —Canterbury. August 22—Pukuranga Hunt. August 22 —Hawke’s Bay Hunt. August 29 —Taranaki Hunt. September s—Otago Hunt. September 16—Birchwood Hunt. September 17, 19—Wanganui. September 19 —Ashburton County. September 24, 26—Geraldine. September 26—Hawke’s Bay. September 26, 28 —Avondale. New South Wales List. August I—Warwick Farm. August • 3—Canterbury Park. August B—Moorefleld. August 15—Rosehill. August 22—Rosehill. \ugust 29 —Warwick Farm. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ’’Shorty,” Frankton.—Star Stranger won the President’s Handicap on the opening day of the Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn meeting on April 19. The Autumn Handicap, on the second day, was to the credit of ■Nassock, Star Stranger being unplaced in this event. '‘lnquiry,” Hillcrest.—On Top carried 8.8 when he won the Hot Springs Handicap at Rotorua in February. He carried 9.0 on the second day when he annexed the lileetric Handicap. ‘Wager,” Hamilton.—The Dunedin Cup of 1926 Hvas won by Count Gavour, who won from Mr L. C. Hazlett’s Overdrawn by two lengths. ’’Scotty,” Te Rapa.—Valcuir was in R. Martin’s stable at Matamuta when he won the Hinuera Handicap, at th<S Matamata Racing Club’s annual fixture last season. LORD DERBY’S SUCCESS.

REMARKABLE BREEDING SOME HAPPY PURCHASES. In a reference to the remarkable success that has attended Lord Derby in his breeding operations “Chiron” remarks:—“Lord Derby is either an extraordinarily lucky man or an unusually good judge in all matters appertaining to horse-breeding. He has made some wonderfully successful purchases of mares In the past few years. Take, for instance, the brood mare Gondolette, for whom he gave Lord Wavertree 1500 guineas in 1912. Gondonlette at the time had Serenissima, a daughter of Minoru, at foot. Serenissima became the dam of the St. Leger winner Tranquil, Selene and Bosworth. Selene has bred three first-class horses in. Sickle, i Pharamond and Hunter’s Moon. Gondolette later on bred the i c Thousand Guineas winner Ferry, who was followed a few years later by the Derby winner Sansovino. Another equally fortunate purchase was the mare Anchors, for whom he paid 1300 guineas. Anchors, produced five moderate winners for Lord Derby and was then sold to go to France. One of her daughters was Scapa Flow, who has proved one of the most valuable mares Lord Derby ever had in his stud. Scapa Flow’s first foal was Spithead, and Pharos was her second foal. Then came Fairway, who won over £42,i00 in prizemoney."

GOSSIP FROM ALL PARTS The Gisborne Racing Club’s Winter meeting will be held to-morrow. Repudiation is the name registered in Australia for the ■three-year-old filly by Double Court from Federal Tax. Nominations for the annual meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt at Ellerslie, on August 22, close on Friday, at 5 p.m., with the secretary, Mr W. S. Spence, 97 Shortland Street, Auckland. Radlac and Pangolin, two acceptors for the Grand National Steeplechase, figure among the nominations for the Enfield Steeplechase on the same day. T. Green will not be able to resume riding before the final day of the Grand National meeting. His services for that day are being sought already. Carinthia was physicked on his return, from Wellington, and some reports state that his National appearance In indefinite. He has made the first payment and Is in demand. ,'Hlgh Pitch has not had his first day programme at Rlccarton settled yet. He is an acceptor for the Winter Cup, In addition to being nominated for the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap. Though West Dome is an acceptor for the Grand National Steeplechase he cannot be regarded as a certain starter, as he has been nominated for the Jumpers' Flat Handicap, a race he won last year. From the raoing point of view the season has been excellent, but from the financial outlook it has been disastrous, very many clubs having experienced a severe loss over their transactions. Singleton was lame after the W'ntcr ■Hurdles at Trentham, but he must have made a quick recovery, as he Is an acceptor for the Grand National 'Hurdles, besides being nominated for the Jumpers’ Flat Handicap. Wiltshire and Wako King are the onlv horses eligible, after the first acceptance, for the, Grand XMional Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdles, while High Pilch figures in the Winter Gup and Grand National Hurdles. Mr J. H. Davis, handicapper of the ' Victorian Racing Club, nas been taken to task for the impost that lie has , allot led to Phar Lap in the Mel- ; hourne Gup. It jiid not seem to aired him much, his reply being. "Last year I was blamed for giving too little: this year it is too much. What will be the cause of complaint next year ?

To date Mosstrooper holds the record of being the most successful earner of stakes as a jumper in Australia, his winnings totalling £12,850. Second place is occupied by Roisel, who secured £11,295.

J. Mulcahy, trainer of Cockcrow, winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, was foreman at Coreena Lodge during Carbine’s occupancy of a box there. He will not have it that Phar Lap is in Carbine’s class.

Rangihaka, who was taken to Victoria after racing at the Franklin meeting in May, was defeated by a narrow margin when starting at . a liberal price at Moonee Valley recently with W. Duncan in the saddle.

At a meeting of the committee of the Westland Racing Club the secretary reported that the accounts for the combined Greymouth-Westland meeting had not been finalised, but that the profit was not likely to exceed £BO.

When the weight suits. M. McCarten will ride the team that is to be racing in Australia in the Spring under the tuition of the Auckland trainer, J. T. Jamieson. One of McCarten’s rides will be on Ammon Ra, in the A.J.C. Derby.

The ex-Western Australian jockey, W. Sibbritt, has been riding in flrst.class form since he returned from India to France. At Bois de Boulogne, on May 14, he rode three winners and a second. His winners respectively paid 7 to 1, 6 to 5, and 5J to 1.

No decision has been made yet as to whether Autopay will be taken to Sydney for the Spring carnival at Randwick. The present Australian taxation and the possibility of an increase on existing rates do not find favour with the horse’s owners.

The rider of the Derby winner at Epsom every year has to contribute the prizes lor a Shetland pony contest in which the leading horsemen can lake part. Considerable interest is manifested over the Shetland Pony Derby, likewise the Donkey Derby, which has had quite a long run.

Mrs McDonald reports great improvement in the condition of Corneroff, who seriously hurt himself on the first day of the Wellington meeting, states “The Watcher.” Red Fuchsia is also Improved, but neither is likely to race again without a spell. Birkbeck is another jumper in the stable practically recovered, but It is too late for him this season.

.Flamingo is the name that has been selected for the rising two-year-old colt by Tea Tray—Afterglow, who is having the rudiments of his education imparted to him by L. Gray, at Hastings. The dam of Flamingo is Zealand-bred, having been bred by Mr G. D. Greenwood, by Demosthenes —Sunglow (half-sister to Martian), by Multiform.

In Germany owners and trainers are feeling the financial depression now affecting most countries. This year’s German Derby meeting at HamburgHorn was reduced to four days, and the stake distribution to about £12,000, against £ 15,3 °5 last year. The International Club of Baden Baden has also been forced to reduce its stakes from £5600 to £3OOO.

Inclusive of £SOO to the breeder, the English Derby won by Cameronian, carried £12,161 5s for first place; while £1442 10s went to second, making a total of £14,335. Of that amount only £3OOO was added money. Without owners’ contributions the value of many important English races would be behind those of Australia, where clubs provide the greater portion of the stakes.

One of the band of professional wrestlers now starring in New Zealand visited Trentham Saturday week and asked for five tickets on No. 6 in the third race. He was sold five on No. 7. Returning to the totalisator window he asked for the mistake lo be rectified, but his request was not granted, and he was left with the tickets tie did not want. However, No. 7 won and paid a handsome dividend, while No. 6 ran unplaced.

If an owner wishes to change (he name of a horse racing under the rules of the American Jockey Club after March 1 of 11s two-year-old career the payment is 100 dollars (£2O). No name that has been used during ihe previous 15 years, either In the stud or on the Turf, can be duplicated; and if the name for a horse has not been claimed before 'March 1 of Its two-year-old career, the cost of subsequently claiming one Is £lO.

The New Zealand-bred horse Mystic Peak has finished his racing oareer and is to be retired to the stud. When submitted to auction In Melbourne recently he was purchased by Mr E. Y. Sheil, owner of Kakwool, for 500 guineas. Mystic Peak is a five-year-old horse, by Romeo from Refinement, and was bred by Ihe Hon. E. W. Alison. One of his best performances was to run Phar Lap to a neck in the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. It is anticipalcd Ihere will he a New South Wales Slate lottery at least every fortnight, each bringing in about. £20,250. Of that amount £16,300 will he distributed in p"ir.e,s, leaving a balance of £9950 to he paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund. After payment of expenses, some of that £9950 may find ils way lo Ihe hospitals, though liicre is nothing in the Act specifically earmarking anything for that purpose.

Among the drawers of Cameronian in one of the Irish sweeps on the Epsom Derby was an unemployed boilermaker of Waterloo (England) who had worked only eight weeks in the previous five months. He turned down an offer of £3OOO for half his ticket. Others who drew Gnmeronian were of opinion it was better to be sure than sorry, and sold halfshares in their tickets. One accepted £3OOO, and two others—one a blind furniture manufacturer —£3400 each.

John McCormack (now Count McCormack), of wonderful voice, had something to sing about at Manchester on May 31, when his ihree-year-old colt, Santillo '’Sansovino — Tillywhim) won the Red Rbse Stakes, of £2099. He was but little fancied, starting at 8 to I, hut easily seltled the 6 to 5 on favourite Leminrchus, who is in the same stable as Cameronian. Santilio. who was bred at the National Stud in Ireland, was sold as a yearling for 400'0 guineas.

In the way of important three-year-old races, F. Carter, who trains in France, has done even better this year than F. Darling, who took the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby with Cameronian, and the One Thousand with Four Course. Following the successes of Indus and Pearl Cap In the French equivalents to the Two Thousand and One Thousand 'Guineas, he took Brulette to England to score an easy Victory in the Oaks at Epsom, and at Chantilly, a few days later, he carried off the French Oaks with Pearl Gap.

The "daily tote double" has taken strong hold in England, and in Hungary it was such a great success when tried at Budapest that the Vienna Jockey Club decided to adopt the system at Its 'Derby meeting. Probably it is only a matter of time for the “daily double” to be given a trial in Sydney, but when the totallsator gets going in Melbourne the chances are some of the clubs over there will give the double an earlier run than those on this side, says “Pilot."

Another Son-in-law horse has beenpurchased in England for New Zealand, Mr S. Higgs, of Riccarlon, having brought the flve-year-old Phllamor, who was bred by Loi)d Furness and was sold as a yearling for 8500gns. Phllamor belongs to the successful llluminata family, his dam being Loveoil, by Amadis from Paraffine Lass, by St. Frusquin from Yvonne, by Sheen from Phosphine, by Foxhall from llluminata. Phllamor is being shipped from England Immediately.

There must he some exceptionally speedy two-year-olds -racing in New York this year. At Belmont Park on May 30 a colt named Morfair (Morwich —Mormaw) was credited with running four, and a half furlongs in 51 1-5, which, as he carried 8.5, was exceptional travelling. The Australian record for that distance is still Woorak’s 541 at .Randwick. The track must have been very fast and presumably the races were timed from a flying start. In nine other two-year-old races the times for the four and a half furlongs ranged from -52 4-5 to 54 1-5.

The latest from England Is that the bookmakers have been hit hard this season. The Grand National, on which there is invariably heavy an!impost betting, was a bad race f r them, as was the Derby, in whicn they suffered; both straight out and for places. According to the books mug punters are decreasing in England. Nor is bookmaking the business it was in Australia, and so far as Sydney is concerned, some of the paddock men are crossing over to the leger, and there Is also a feeling that the clubs should do something in the way of lowering license fees, — “Pilot” in the Sydney Referee.

In connection with the recent Victorian National double, a quaint story of animal friendship is told. Before they commenced their training for the Grand National Hurdle Race and Grand National Steeplechase respectively. Cockcrow and Rakwool were spelling in the same paddock at Lysterfleld. Although there were a number of other horses In the same paddock, Cockcrow and Rakwool became inseparable, and would eat together, exercise together, and sleep together. •Both horses appeared to be entirely oblivious of the other horses in the paddock and any attempt to separate them was resented. That both should become equally famous within a few months of their separation was a happy coincidence.

Epithet (Epinard—Fairy Wand), one of America's prominent two-year-olds of last season—his winnings totalling a little over £ll,OO0 —was submitted to auction in New York on May 23, and was sold for £4OOO which was a little less than anticipated. Another of Gifford A. Cochran’s lot in the two-year-old Caerleon (a brother to Epithet) made £6OOO on the strength of his private reputation. He had never started in a race, but those who had seen him work boosted him as something quite out of the common. In the Dominion it would need something more than that to cause an unraced two-year-old to reach the figure mentioned. Flying Heels, a four-year-old florae, made £2900, and The Beascl, a mare of the same ago, £3700. The 28 horses sold on behalf of the Cochran estate averaged 5905 dollars (£1181).

The tracks in the South Island have been affected by the recent cold weather to such an extent that early morning work had been carried on under great difficulties. At Riccarton, for instance, training operations were seriously restricted one morning last week by the frozen track, and galloping was out of the question. Some trainers waited until well Into the forenoon to work their horses, while others sent their teams home and returned in the afternoon, when a more satisfactory surface was in evidence. The hurdle and steeplechase tracks were not so badly affected, and this encouraged one or two schooling tasks.

Mr E. A. Connolly, [he well-known Victorian owner-trainer, must have had one of his good days on the first day of the Winter meeting of Ihe Victorian Racing Club, as he prepared a couple of winners in Voridique and Dark Mar. The former was a good favourite, Ihe quotation about Dark Man being 6 lo 1. Gne of the most daring bettors on the oilier side of the deep. Hie penelllors must have suffered severely fi am Connolly’s patronage of thorn. In Ihe race that Dark Man was successful in, the Winter 'Handicap, a couple of Now Zea-land-bred horses, in Princess Betty ami King Marl, were amongst the opponents, hut their eflorts were not, productive to any great extent, the peril produced by the pair being Ihe third placing of King Mart, whu vygs at a good price to wia.

Starting price betting in Victoria although illegal away from the course, must be a profitable business in Victoria, for (hose who engage in that form of book-making have paid in the last five years £46,000 in fines. The chairman of the Victorian Racing Club has stated that he would commit to prison without the option of a fine any person found guilty of starting price betting, which he characterises as being the greatest menace to the continued propserity of the turf. By the huge lines collected by the authorities from those who do so, it would appear as if it is a better proposition to keep them out of prison. The late D. Campbell held a lease from the breeders, Messrs J. \Y. and I-. W. Storrev, of the two-year-old filly Rose of Orange, a half-sister to Lord Thomond and Ephialtes. On his death the Ally reverted lo her owners and is now an inmate of C. Emerson’s stable at Riccarton. Campbell’s own horses were bequeathed to R. McLennan, who has been associated with the stable for many years. These comprise Night Recital, Battle 'llero (a brother to Battle Colours), Cinders (a rising three-year-old 'Ally by -Solferino from Firestick), and a foal by Lord Warden from Satisfy. Battle Hero has been leased to the West Coast owner-trainer J. Adamson, but the other -two in training will be kept going by McLennan, who has also in his charge a rising two-year-old filly by Arrowsmith from Thea, dam of True Shaft, the property of her breeder, Mr F. Amor.

At Epsom (England) the "flat.” is open to the public, free of charge, and the crowd is something tremendous. There ts no control whatever over the men who make books outside, with practically no bank, and little intention of remaining to pay if a favourite wins. It was with an alleged “tote,” however, that the biggest haul was made by a party of welshers when Cameronian won the Derby. In referring to the incident the Daily Express (London) says:“That great unofllcial Tote ramp near the enclosure, where the St. Dunstan’s fleet of omnibuses were parked, will long rankle with Derby day visitors. The perpetrators left a worthless old lorry—which had no engine—and decamped with everything while the Derby was in progress. They had not meant to pay out, whatever won. It is unfortunate when successes of popular Epsom favourites leave an unpleasant taste In the mouths of carnival racegoers.

Jamestown, who distinguished himself In two-year-old races In America last year, led off with a brilliant win at seven furlongs at Belmont Park (New York) at his first rfin this season. Weighted at 8.7, and starting at 5 to 1 on in a field of six, he won at his ease In 1.23 4-5, and then continuing on for another furlong ran a mile in 1.36 4-'5. The object of the extra furlong was to wind him up for the Withers Stakes, a three-year-old race, to be decided on the same ■track three days later. Jamestown duly won the Withers Stakes, worth £5600 for first, and started at 5 to 2 on. There were seven other runners, and Jamestown won, easing up, in 1.36 3-5 for the . mile. Morstone set such a merry pace that the first half-mile was cut out in 45 1-5, and the six furlongs in 1.10. As has been frequently written, American Jockeys do not like wasting time after harrier rise. Jamestown’s two recentwins increased his' earnings to £24,047.

J. E. Pike, the crack jockey, who has ridden Phar Lap in most of the races he has won, Including the last Melbourne Cup, expressed surprise that the champion had been allotted 10.10 In the Melbourne Cup this year. Pike said that, like others, he expeoted Phar Lap to be awarded 10.7 or 10.8. “Of course," he added, "he is a great horse, and, fit and well, would have a good chance even with that weight, but it all depends on the three-year-olds. There is where the danger lies, especially if some oi them turn out to be real stayers. 'Such horses are a danger in any race at their weight, and, as the weights are, I think that a three-year-old of quality, if It can stay, will beat Phar Lap. Still, Phar Lap, even at 10.10, is sure to give a good account of himself. He is hard to keep down when he is well and nobody can set his chances aside."

The sale of Sion In Sydney the other clay for 1050 guineas and his re-sale a few hours later for the stud at an advance of 200 guineas, recalls the fact that Vaals, his fullbrother, is standing at ‘the stud in the Auckland district. Vaals was a firstclass performer, among his wins being the Epsom 'Handicap, Cantala Stakes and Tattersall’s Cup. All his races were won In very fast times. He Is the only son of Valais at the stud in Wellington, and If he follows the example of another Valais horse, Heroic, whose stock have created a stake-winning record for Australia in his first season, the owners of Vaals will have no reason to ■regret their enterprise. There are two strains of 'Musket In his pedigree on the dam’s side, one througn Carbine, and on the sire’s side he has Martagon, the sire of Martian, so there should be plenty of suitable mares available for him.

The drift in South Australian racing appears to have been stopped. Prize money, which has been reduced consistently during past months, is likely to be increased in the near future. Attendances are increasing almost every week, and. ns the result, lolalisalor Investments are larger. Results of recent meetings will rase Ihe minds of committees of all racing clubs, and will, probably slop the drift in slake money." says ‘Mr S. .!. Pullman, secretary of Ihe Port Adelaide Racing Club. “From every point of view Ihe outcome of the Adelaide Hunt Club Hireling was satisfactory, and the club will make a profit.“ Credit for Hie Liming point in raring in Ihe Elale is given lo Ihe introduction of doubles totalisator.

The statement of accounts presented at the annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club recorded that owing to the general depression and the heavy burden of taxation under which racing is being carried on today, the club, in common with others, had suffered a serious falllng-off in revenue for the past year. The amount of this decrease compared with the previous year is £3218 12s 7d, made up 'chiefly by totalisator £1825,13s Bd, gates £985 Is, race cards £213 12s, and entry fees £146. The committee foresaw a shrinkage in receipts and curtailed expenses accordingly, but did not consider it advisable to make any drastic cut in stake money to meet the situation. This was appreciated by owners, who nominated liberally, with the result that the usual high standard of racing was maintained at both meetings. A point deserving of comment was the fact that Government taxation (not including dividend or stakes tax) was increased by £B7B 14s 6d over the .previous year, although the club lost £732 8s lOd on the year's operations.

An unfortunate accident occurred at the Stonyhurst Stud at the end of last week, resulting In the death of a very promising yearling. The black filly Streamline, by Day Comet from Sailor's Hope, was being broken in preparatory to being sent to Riccarton, when she reared over and broke her back. She was a half-sister to Waterline, who has done so well since he went to Australia, also to the three-year-old Sailor's Love and the two-year-old Fast Passage, two fillies by The Ace, now in work at Riccarton. Streamline was a particularly handsome filly, concerning whom high hopes were entertained, but as she came from a family that required time, she was not broken in early, there being no intention of racing her until she was three years old. Her death is a serious loss to Sir Charles Clifford, who looked forward to the filly turning out far above average class.

It did not take the Southland Steeplechaser West Dome long to get up in the handicaps among the crosscountry horses. Prior to going to Wellington he had won only one 1 steeplechase, on the second day of the Dunedin meeting in June, though he had frequently run well in hunters’ events over country. He won both the hack steeplechases last week in good style and finished up by giving all his opponents weight In the July Steeplechase last Saturday, and this though he is still eligible for hack company. West Dome was making up ground in good style on Saturday when he went out at the fence five furlongs from home. It was too far off Die finish to say that he would have been in the money, hut it is likely. West Dome appears at his best now. and he ought to he a possibiiily in the National, for lie jumps and stays well, states “The Watcher.” Ills dam Lady Lowburn is out of Flower o' Chitlin, a prolific winner in the South Island, while his sire Hallioa has been responsible for several good horses. AUSTRALIAN HURDLES. FINAL ACCEPTORS. The flnnl acceptors for Die Australian Hurdles are Cockcrow. Drake, i dins. rnlyuonnm, Ccnliglil. Longixuds 4 ..Uah'Juj. iiuil HamJ, and