OTAGO.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 911, 22 August 1907, Page 7

OTAGO.

Tod Sloans in the Saddle—Comments on the Ferch Seat—W. P. Douglas Carpeted—Boses ECis Temper —Scratches all His Horses —Totalisator Supporters at Work—Eight-item Programmes—J. McComhe’s Style of Seat—Taggart’s Hard Buck—St. Kooringa—Pipi’s Great Jumping Form— How the Tote was Run at the C.J.C. Meeting—Re Phaetontis —Shrapnel’s Time—Buccleugh’s Condition—Kiatere the Hero of the National Meeting.

DUNEDIN, August 21.

There is no rule in the laws of racing which permits a club to say what style of riding jockeys should adopt, but it is time that somebody stepped in and prevented Tod Sloans r ding over country. On more than one occasion last week saddles were emptied simply because they were never properly filled, and a horse only required to rap a fence in order to part company with its pilot. The old style of horsemen would rarely leave the saddle unless a horse fell, but the Sloaners fly, like a missile from a catapult, even If a peck on landing does not follow a rap of the obstacle. The calf of the leg is shaped in a manner that assists a rider to sit a horse, and the perch seat will never be a complete success until its users disregard rid’ng boots and grip. the saddle with their toe'- in the same manner as the monkeys in a circus.

After the conclusion of the first race on the final day of the National Meeting the stewards requested Mr. A. F. Douglas, the owner of Needlework, to explain the difference in form exhibited by his horse at Wellington and Riccarton. It is understood that Mr. Douglas replied in effect that his trainer was the proper person ;o ask as he (the trainer) knew more about that sort of thing than the owner did, and followed up his remarks by scratching Waipu, St. Albert and Merriwa: for the remainder of their engagements a:'the meeting. The pro-totalisatorites were not idle during the National Meeting at both Riccarton and Addington, and during the progress of the racing at both places signatures for a petition in favour o) the machine were gathered by the hundreds.

Despite the fact that each day’s racing at the National Meeting started promptly at 12 noon, the final event was always run in a bad light. An eight item card is far too long at this time of the year, and the only thing which prevents so lengthy a programme deservedly receiving a severe condemnat on, lies in the fact that a flat race was always made the final event No doubt our clubs would not so strictly adhere to the eight-race card if they were free from tne impression that they’ “need the money.” The well-known horseman J. McComb is to leave in the near future for Sydney, where he will r de Mr. G. G. Stead’s horses in their engagements at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting. McComb has never ridden in Australia, and it will be interesting to note how critics beyond the water .'compare his horsemansh'p with that of Hewitt and other New Zealanders who have crossed the sea. Unlike other peers of the pigskin, McComb has not adopted the monkey perch on his mounts, but rather a sensible compromise

between the old and the new style, which permits of a horse deriving the benefit of both, and at the same time allows the rider to sit up to finish when it comes to a close thing. If there is one big fault the extreme disciples of Tod Sloan possess it lies in the fact that only about one in a hundred is of any use to a horse when it comes to a genuine battle at the finish of a race. The trainer who is entitled to tell the best “hard luck story” of the past 12 months is W. J. Taggart, who has, unluckily, lost the fruits of two important races after winning them. Leeside won fair and square at the November meeting, but, unfortunately, the race had to be run again because it was started before the advertised time, with the result that he was defeated in the second go. And now Slow Tom has been deprived 0/ the Lincoln Steeple on the result of a protest for crossing after landing over the last fence.

The Southland chaser, St. Kooringa, found the company at Riccarton too good for him; he bumped his rider out of the saddle at his third fence, in his first race, and was pulled up on Saturday after negotiating a circuit of the course. Old Pipi has raced at the last six National Meetings without once falling, and has compiled a reputation for safe fencing that it would be hard to equal; he fenced as capably as ever when he was stripped at Riccarton last week, but the pace was too hot for him at the finish of his races.

The horses had weighed and dispersed to the saddling sheds after running in the Winter Cup, but even after this lapse of time investments were being rung on to the totalisator. They had been made no doubt before the race was run, but several of the spectators passed some rude remarks about the dilatory method of registering them on the machine.

Phaetontis, who was a staunch antepost favourite for the National Steeples, was travelling very well in the race until about half a mile from home. It was contended that if he had had the benefit of a race at Wellington another victory would have fallen to his lot in the big chase; but he again failed, after being held in reserve for the final day of the mee.ing. Perhaps Phaetontis does not like carrying weight, and this may be the real cause of his defeat, and not want of racing condit on.

Jack Pot’s 3.43 1-5, registered at the last N.Z. Cup Meeting, was the fastest two miles run over hurd es at Riccarton prior to Shrapnel making his record last week. Record Reign’s 3.46 3-5, with i2st I2lb on his back, as a weight-carry-ing effort, will be hard to beat.

The appearance presented by Buccleuch was not at all suggestive of wanting form, as he was as big as the proverbial bullock in condition; nevertheless he ran a great race in the Winter Cup, and the gallop he received in it did him so much good that he cantered home in front of the weaker opposition he met on the second day of the meet ng. It is only on very rare occasions that horses run so well when looking half trained.

Kaitere was the hero horse of the National Meeting, and he gave a display of speed, stamina and capable fencing that is seldom seen. His rider, Wi’son, was probably more harassed than assisted by the riding orders he received on both the days he was in the saddle, and the overconfidence of his party appeared to be the chief cause of the Castor gelding’s defeat.