Sporting Review. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1894.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 196, 26 April 1894, Page 4

Sporting Review. THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 1894.

The starting question is a source of anxiety to almost every club in New Zealand, and everyone who takes an interest in the King of Sports is on tiptoe of expectation to see whence comes the successor of Sam Powell, well named the “ king of starters.” Since the demise of Mr Powell several aspirants have tried their hand with the flag, especially on the west coast of the North Island, but so far not one can hold the proverbial candle to him who has passed in his last cheque. Mr E. Chapman, of Fordell, had a grand opportunity to distinguish himself at the Hawke’s Bay Autumn Meeting ; but we understand his efforts were not of sufficient merit to warrant the term “ most successful ” being used in connection therewith. Mr Woods, of Rangitikei, has proved a capable man with the flag, and the same remark applies to Mr Gilpin, who started for the Napier Park and Foxton Meetings. Both these gentlemen endeavour to follow in the track of Mr Powell, and with, a bit of practice we are sure they will make a success of the rather onerous duties they have undertaken. Mr Hill, of Wellington, is reported to be a most capable man, but if he does not come to the front to show his merit, how can he be judged ? Mr O. Ghevannes, of Wanganui, started at the last meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Clab, and he seemed to give satisfaction. Mr H. Pell, the disabled cross-country rider, has also tried his hand at flag dropping, and reports along the coast are greatly in his favour. Taranaki brought, forth Mr J. V. Dingle, who made no glaring mistakes, but we understand that this gentleman is rather tired of the responsibility of the position, and will not officiate again. Mr A. Wills has started for several hack meetings in Taranaki, and on each occasion he has given general satisfaction. In Auckland the difficulty of getting even despatches has been more than once demonstrated, and on that point we need not dilate. Turning to the South Island we find the same fault-finding with the starting, and the question is, how can the matter be remedied ? People will naturally say “ Easily. Appoint a competent man.” But where can we find him ? That is the rub. We all know that the only way to gauge a man’s merit is to try him, and we think it would, be wise policy on the part of Metropolitan Clubs to appoint a starter for their district, to start at all meetings held therein, and pay him a fair salary for his work. If the official does not give satisfaction he can easily be removed; in short the starter should be placed in the same position as a handicapper, and if this course were followed out we are sure there would be less grumbling over starting than we have been accustomed to hear during the past season. That a starter’s duties are more responsible than a handicapper’s cannot be denied. A handicapper may make a mistake in a few pounds, but this error will not stop a horse from winning, on the average, if. he is fit and well. But take the other view of the question. A person has a horse, he pays oat bills, trainer's fees, nomination and acceptance money, travelling expenses, rider s fees, put his 1 pieces ’ on the tote, and thenwell, his ‘gee’ gets left at the post. Through what ? Bad starting. All his trouble, expense, and prospects pass out in one act. And why? Because an incompetent man is wielding the starter’s flag. Let us have starters who know something about the position, and at the same time let Racing Club’s pay them for their duties so that they can be brought to account for incompetency or unfair dealing. It is about time the Racing Club’s of New Zealand awoke to the fact that the starting question is a momentous one, and we strongly urge that the matter should be taken in hand at the next Conference of the Metropolitan Racing Clubs. The continual roar over bad starting is becoming alarming, and it is high time something was done to inspire confidence among owners, trainers, jockeys, and the public generally.

Mr J. Allan will act as huntsman for the Dunedin Club in future.

At the Onslow Trotting Club's Meeting held at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday last a matter came under our notice which should be put down with a strong hand. We refer to that of detaining the start of a race for the sole object of capturing a large amount of investments on the totalisator. In one race in particular we noticed one of the stewards deliberately call’ the starter from his post and ask him not to be in a hurry to get his field away as the public were just commencing to put their money on to a considerable extent. Of course it is natural for the officials of a club to be anxious to obtain as much money as possible in the totalisator as they receive a percentage on the total amount invested, but notwithstanding this they should in all fairness to both the public and the horse owners, endeavour to get the races off to the advertised time. Now the race we refer to was exactly thirty-six minutes behind its proper time for starting when the starter received the communication from this steward, and as all the horses engaged in the race were at the post, we certainly think that the starter should have been allowed to get his field away without any consideration to the totalisator investments. After a lapse of some considerable time we noticed this same steward give the “ office ” from the stand to the starter that he could now let his field away as the totalisator had cleaned the public of all their spare cash for this particular race —in fact scarcely any person could be seen around the machine. We are surprised to think that the stewards of the Onslow Trotting Club should so far forget themselves as to entirely ignore the rules in this way, more especially as this particular instance is so clearly laid down in the Rules of the Totalisator, a copy of which was printed in the official race card issued by the club on Saturday last, and read as follows :— Any starter who shall delay the start of any race after the advertised time of starting for the purpose or with the object of allowing further time for investment of moneys in the totalisator, and any steward or official who shall instruct or induce or endeavour to induce any starter so as to delay a start for that purpose or with that object shall be liable to disqualification. A metropolitan club may receive and adjudicate upon any complaint of any offence under this rule committed within its district, whether such complaint shall or shall not have been received, heard, or determined by the club at whose meeting a starter or other official shall be alleged to have committed the offence.

It will clearly be seen from the foregoing rule that the steward in question laid himself open to disqualification, and we trust this may act as a warning to him and others in the future.

Many of our old sporting readers will be glad to notice that Colonel Fraser has been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms to the House of Representatives, Wellington. He has for upwards of thirty years taken an active part in racing matters in Auckland, having, among other horses, owned and raced The Marquis, The Bell, Woodpecker, Tennyson, and Royal Rose. 'But it was in the early days of racing thirty years ago that his services were of such value to the turf, where his energy, experience, and turf knowledge helped greatly to foster that liking for , racing which we now in Auckland reap the full benefit of. He has also served his adopted country well, both in a military and civil capacity, having, as captain in the Ist Waikato Regiment, been repeatedly under fire, especially at the Gate Pah, Tauranga, where he narrowly escaped being shot, the peak of his cap being shot away during the storming of that stronghold. In his civil capacity he was Resident Magistrate for many years at the Thames, also Goldfields’ Warden for the same district. Three times Mayor for the Thames, twice elected member far the same district in the „

House of Representatives, Wellington. For one session member for Te Aroha, after.a hot contest and law suit with Mr S. Allen, whom he defeated on the grounds of bribery. At the general election just passed he withdrew in favour of the Government candidate Mr Kelly, the present member, rather than run the risk of splitting the Government vote, and so letting in the Opposition candidate. Colonel Fraser also for many years represented Tagranga in the days of Provincial Government.. We have no doubt the Colonel will carry out the duties of the office with dignity and satisfaction, which from his long experience in the House he is well qualified to do.

Rather an uncommon occurrence took place at the Onslow Trotting Meeting at Potter’s Paddock on Saturday last in regard to a number of our local bookmakers. It seems that the club \Us a .Steffi JW. B

demanded a sum of thirty pounds before any of them were allowed to bet. This,' in the opinion of the weilders of the pencil, was such an exorbitant charge that they decided to attend the meeting simply as spectators. However, before the commencement of the second race,

they were informed by the secretary that they would either have to pay the amount demanded or else leave the ground. As each one of them refused to pay they were ordered to leave at once, and as one or two seemed disinclined to obey the commands of this important body the services of the officers of the law had to be obtained, with the result that they

all left the ground without much more trouble, with the exception of one old gentleman who is noted for his stubborn attitude in troubles of this description. It seems to us that the Onslow Trotting Club acted in an exceedingly highhanded manner in warning these men off the course without having first of all proved that any of them were present for. the purpose of laying the odds. Surely any person has a right to enter the grounds of a racecourse by paying the usual admission fee provided he is not a defaulter or has been proved guilty of any malpractice or misconduct on the turf. As no such charge could be laid against these men why should a club of this standing take it upon themselves to treat a body of men as defaulters simply because they would not accede to the demands of the stewards to pay an exorbitant fee for-a betting license ? If the stewards could have proved that any one of these bookmakers were betting on their ground without a license then we say certainly order them off.