Sporting Review. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1890.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 18, 29 November 1890, Page 3

Sporting Review. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1890.

Some time ago we drew attention to the appointment of a Stipendiary Steward by the Victorian Racing Club Committee, and suggesting how desirable it would be for the Auckland Racing Committee to do the same, as the racing season was close at hand. The action of the V.R.C. in appointing a stipendiary steward has already been proved a wise one, as, though he has only been engaged a short a time in his position, he has already discovered and prevented a number of frauds.' The want of one in Auckland was greatly felt at the Pakuranga Race Meeting last Saturday, as the stewards of country meetings are quite incompetent to deal with the cases that must come under their notice. The running of two or three horses was most suspicious, yet there was no notice taken of it, either by the stewards or the handicapper. The latter we are not surprised at. It has been a puzzle to us how he got the appointment, as his antecedents do not tend to prove that he knew much of the business. Another most flagrant breach of the rules occurred in the Hurdle Race —a horse ran round a hurdle and still continued in the race. This is in direct oppo-

sition to Rule 102, where it states : “ Any horse running on the wrong side of a post and not turning back is distanced, and the jockey may be fined a sum not exceeding and may be suspended during the pleasure of the stewards. All these malpractices tend to bring racing into disrepute, and will surely sooner or later get the repeal of the totalisator regulations, and then what will become of one-half the clubs in the colony ? The Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club is now drawing near, and we would suggest to the Committee the wisdom of making some great alterations, so as to make the meeting a success. One complaint has often been made, but they have taken no steps to remedy it —that is, a number of people gaining admission to the saddling paddock that have no business there ; from thence they get to the lawn and grandstand. Their language is something disgusting, and it is quite impossible for anyone to take a lady round to see the horses. The obnoxious parties are chiefly larrikins and the class that generally hang about racing stables. On speaking to one of the active Committee on the subject, the answer was, "“ We cannot help it—everything has been tried. They get in from the gate that goes on to the course when the gate-keeper has his back turned, and some of the gate-keepers let them in on one pretence or another; in fact, all sorts of excuses are made.” How are things managed by other clubs (we leave out England, and confine ourselves to the colonies). Take Christchurch, for instance. There is a sub-com-mittee, who sign all tickets and issue passes to those who have a right to them, appoint gatekeepers, etc., taking care that they are trustworthy men, and are well paid. At the same time they have detectives going about, and if they see any suspicious person they demand his ticket. All the secretary has to do is to act as such, see that stakes are paid, scratchings attended to, and in cases of objections call the stewards, witnesses, etc., together, and take down evidence. This principle is carried on at all the most important meetings we have seen. Now, take the system pursued in Auckland. The Committee as a whole are perfectly satisfied in paying, the secretary a very high salary and leaving the whole management of affairs in his hands. Now, supposing the secretary was a Paragon par excellence, it would be impossible for him to carry out his multifarious duties properly. It is quite time that some of the Committee exert themselves, and not remain content with seeing theiri names figuring as on the Committee and airing themselves on the Stewards’ stand. We are told on good authority that some of them never attend a Committee meeting, while others only do so when compelled by urgent business. The whole onus of work has for some years, rested on the shoulders of Messrs. Morrin, Kirkwood, and Dickey, and to them great credit is due for what has been done, but they cannot do everything. The A.R.C. should pass a rule, as is done by other clubs, viz.: Any committeeman being absent from two consecutive meetings without leave shall be requested to resign. Then new blood would be infused, and a sub-committee formed to do the work. Another matter that we would like to draw the attention of the Committee to is the smallness of the weighing-room, and the. impossibility of those who have to supply the public with information to obtain it. The telegraph and scratching boards are of the most primitive kind, and would be laughed at at any country meeting in Australia ; also it is a great mistake not posting the times the different races are run in, as many people rely on that to make their calculations for another race. There are two other things that we might mention. The first is, that no horses except those engaged in the race coming off should be allowed to come into the paddock, as it is quite small enough already for these horses, and there is a great deal of danger in getting about. The other is, that an enclosure should be made for horses weighing in, so as to prevent the general public crowding round. If this is not done there will be a serious accident some day. Last week we called attention to the steeplechase course and suggested some alterations. We are glad to hear that instructions have been given to have them done.

When Mr. J. O. Evitt issued the handicaps for the Auckland Spring Meeting there was a great deal of dissatisfaction displayed, and justly so, as they were some of the worst he ever issued, and he can Make bad ones. This, however, was nothing to what took place when the Takapuna handicaps appeared. We have had letters and numerous inquiries asking our opinion of them and who this Mr. Knight was, also how he came to be appointed handicapper. In answer to the first we must say that they cannot be called handicaps—the weights being put on the different horses without reason or judgment. That the acceptances may be considered good is easily accounted for. So many of the horses engaged are scrubbers, and their owners know little or nothing of ther capabilities ; therefore they are either going for the off chance, as they have no show at the Auckland Summer Meeting, or have nothing to try with to get a line for the country meetings. It is not our intention to go through the handicaps, but only to point out some of the most flagrant discrepancies. Torment, if she had not gone amiss, was thrown into the Handicap Maiden Plate at 7 st 41b. Fancy a man calling himself a judge of racing placing her within 21b of Ma Boughal, who has never won a race. In the Maiden Hurdle Race, one and a half miles, Sentinel gives Fishmonger 241 b, while in the Open Hurdle Race, one and three-quarter miles, he only gives him lolb. Now any tyro at racing must see that Fishmonger, from the way he jumps, is not a stayer, and that Sentinel is. In the Devonport Stakes—neither Tulloch or Brigade have ever started. One is the top and the other bottom weight. The excuse that some persons make for this New Zealand Admiral Rous is that he takes into consideration the breeding of the horses. What has a handicapper to do with this? We will only call the attention of our readers to one other discrepancy. Taking a line through The Baron, how can Antelope and Capella be brought within 2olb of each other, and the latter have to give Tamora 41b over six furlongs. . All we know of this Mr. Knight is tnat he is a stranger to Auckland, and that he is a friend of the Secretary of the Auckland Racing Club. How he came across him, and what he knows of his antecedents, we do not know, and the only gentleman that does know refuses to give us any information. However, it is quite evident he knows nothing about handicapping, judging from his latest productions. He was only appointed for the Spring Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club, and in all probability he will soon find his level, as he has not been a success so far. It will, however, be determined to-day, and if, owing to the state of the ground, etc., there are two or three close finishes, he may last a little longer in his position.