TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 13, 29 September 1909, Page 11

TURF TALK FROM THE SOUTH.

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Evidently Mr Greenwood hgs decided to retire Armlet from the turf, as she has been booked to Martian, but will fulfil her C.J.C. engagements first. J. McComb who will act as principal horseman for the Messrs Stead during the present season, was wearing the familiar “yellow and black” at Ashburton last week, when Ringdove and Guinaforte sported silk at the meeting. Mr C. Piper is laying down a new trotting track, of about five furlongs in circumference, at Middle Park, where his horses are trained in private. The fact of North East having been withdrawn from his Wanganui engagement makes it look as if the son of Euroclydon is being reserved for the C.J.C. Stewards’ Stakes. The New Zealand horseman, R. Cameron, has been retained to ride the Wallace — Australian colt, Sunny South, in the A.J.C. Derby. He will also have the mount on Montcalm in his spring engagements. The injuries sustained by the trotting brood mare Jessie, on her voyage to Melbourne, were not nearly as serious as at first supposed; as a matter of fact the cut she received only necessitated one stitch being put in. The speedy Dupulite is again in work at Dunedin, and will be racing before long. Satisfactory nominations were received for the Now Brighton Trotting Club’s spring meeting, which will be held at the Metropolitan Club’s ground, in consequence pf alterations at the seaside track being in an incomplete stage. It is stated on reliable authority that disastrous results to layers of Grand National fixture events have done more to put down street betting in South Island centres than did the passing of “The Gaming Act,” which legalised bookmakers acting on racecourses, and provided heavy penalties for wagering away from the tracks. Lady Medallist, which won the Wanganui Guineas, was purchased in Sydney as a yearling Mr J. B. Reid for 90gs, and was leased to Mr J. 11. Prosser for her racing career. As a two-year-old she started six times, and won one race. At the , annual meeting of the Christchurch Racing Club, held on Friday afternoon-, the balance-sheet showed • that the season’s operations had resulted in a loss of £156. caused mainly by bad weather at the Dec Amber meeting.- Amongst the-chief sources of revenue were: Nominations, 1£237; acceptances. £179: totalise tor. £914; gates. £251; and bookmakers* fees. £593. On the .expenditure side the largest items were: Stakes, £IS7O; and Government tax. £lfl2. The season started with a credit nf £SO7, which had been reduced to £fisl. All the outgoing officials were re-elected.