TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1122, 12 October 1911, Page 4

TURF TOPICS.

A good deal of indignation was expressed at a meeting of the C.J.C. _ members last week when a sugges- ’ tion was made that in future members should receive two instead of three ladies’ tickets for each day’s racing. Evidently Canterbury sportsmen have a fearsome dread of docking the free privileges of the fair ones. Surely the C.J.C. must have a goodly proportion of young bucks on its lists of members, for what would sedate married men want with three ladies’ tickets? ft ft ft ft The time (48 2-ssec) put up in the Hastings Stakes by Glade last week is a record for the race. The winner, says a Southern critic, is nothing to gush over as to looks, but there is no doubt about her ability to gallop. w ■> w Reports from Melbourne state that Soultiform is amiss. The trouble is not very serious, but it is sufficient to keep him off the tracks for some little time. ft * ft * The Metropolitan Committee of the Taranaki Jockey Club met on Monday night to consider the appeal of R. Barlow against his disqualification by the Egmont Racing Club- The committee delivered a lengthy judgment, of which the following is the closing paragraph:—After full inquiry, at which the Egmont Racing Club and Barlow have had full opportunity of being heard and adducing evidence, and with much additional evidence now brought before it, as well as the material before it in June, and that before the Judicial Committee in May and August, and that before the judges of the conference in July, the Metropolitan Committee again deals with the matter on its merits. It decides that it is proved that Barlow has not been guilty of any corrupt or fraudulent practice in relation to the riding of Master Sylvia in the Railway Handicap fit the Egmont race meeting on May 17, 1911. If it be necessary in the peculiar circumstances of the case to make a formal order. It is therefore ordered that the appeal of Barlow be allowed, and the decision of toe Judicial Committee removed. Barlow’s deposit will be refunded. ft ft * ft The question of limiting the membership of racing clubs is one on which there is a great diversity of opinion, and it is therefore interesting to record the opinion of A. Boyle, a representative Canterbury sportsman, who presided over a meeting of members of the C.J.C. last week. He stated that the accommodation at ■‘•be Riccarton course was only just adequate for the present membership list. It would be an unpopular move to take away from the public accommodation further room for members, and while they did not desire to limit the membership for other reasons it would not be fair to accept members to whom thev could not offer adequate accommodation. A member suggested that raising the subscription might achieve the desired end, but the chairman opposed the proposal, as being distinctly unpopular. ? “It would not,” he said, “be good policy. We don’t want to stop people joining, but we simply have no room for more members.”

It was agreed to hold a special meeting to consider, this question, and notice of motion was given that at a special general meeting, to be called for the purpose of altering the rules, it would move that the membership should.be limited to 300, and the subscribers to 100. At the present time the membership of the C.J.C. is 292 members and 75 subscribers. • * * V E. J. Watt must be accounted lucky in his purchase of the speedy chestnut filly Ventura, he paid 420 guineas for last autumn. No filly had previously won both the Breeders’ Plate and Gimcrack Stakes at the A.J.C. spring meeting. Considering Ventura had to carry a 141 b. penalty in the latter race, her record in gaining these double brackets is particularly meritorious.

Cadence, a two-year-old Obligado filly, has been placed in W. Gall’s stable to receive her early training.

Solitudo resumes work again after a short spell.

Malwa is at present attracting many admirers by the consistency of his track work. He is expected to give a good account of himself at Ellerslie next month.

Aucklanders, who were across at the A.J.C. spring meeting, tell a very doleful tale about the way the New Zealand bookmakers fared at Randwick. To use one of their own expressions they got fairly “tommyhawked.”

Frank Loomb has moved his team to Ellerslie, where he can now get the benefit of a grass, sand, and tan track.

W. Wallace, of Mangare, has his four-year-old Makura in work. He has also a likely looking yearling by Conoform that he is said to have refused 100 guineas for.

The Takapuna Jockey Club have now definitely decided on their programme for the ensuing season. It will be remembered the Racing Commission docked three out of the seven racing days previously held by the North Shore Club. It was at first suggested that the four remaining days should be allocated as follows: — Two days in the summer, one day in the spring, and the fourth day in midwinter. This, however, did not fit in with the recommendations of the Racing Commission, which, in addition to reducing the racing days, also reduced the permits to the club. This mean's that in future the T.J.C. will only be able to hold two meetings a year. In the circumstances the T.J.C. had to abandon their winter fixture, and add the day allocated for it to the spring meeting.

The principal event at the spring meeting, to be held on November 29 and December 2, is the St. Andrew’s Handicap, of 200 sovs. The two pony races that previously figured on the programme have given place to the Borough Handicap of 100 sovs and the Pupuke Handicap.

John Findlay, Kt., the Ministerial candidate for Parnell, was asked at his Remuera meeting this week what he thought of the action of the A.R.C. in refusing to allow respectable men on the course at . Ellerslie, because they had at one time been bookmakers or bookmakers’ clerks. The reply, which met with applause, was that the candidate thought if an exbookmaker sought to exercise the rights of a decent citizen, and attend a race meeting, that man had a perfect right to do so.

The same candidate was very outspoken about the attitude of racing clubs towards bookmakers when their calling was recognised by law. These were his words: The racing clubs had deliberately tried to bring the legislation (legalising bookmakers) into discredit by admitting anyone to their courses, without due regard to the character of the person applying for a bookmaker’s license. It was clearly a fight between those who wanted the tote and those who wanted the bookmaker.”

A branch of the Sports Protection Deague was formed this week at Parnell, of which J. H. Brown was elected chairman and B. L. McCabe secretary. The Mayor of Parnell (R. S. Briggs), in supporting the formation of the League in. the borough, said the time bad fully arrived for the moderate man to organise to protect his interests. Unless immediate action were taken, the extremists would deprive the people of every form of liberal pleasure.

The local trainers and jockeys at Ellerslie on Tuesday entertained C. Hill, who has recently retired from the position of caretaker for the A.R.C. During the airernoon F. McManemin presented the popular veteran with an excellent pair of field glasses, while D. Moraghan handed over a silver tea service for Mrs Hill. There were many kindly words spoken which went to show in what high esteem the late caretaker of Ellerslie was held by those who were most intimately brought in touch with him in the discharge of his duties.

Los Angelos and Lady Lucy are due to arrive back in New Zealand this week. x Lady Lucy will go into F. Tilley’s stable at Fordell to be prepared for her N.Z. Cup engagement.

Master Soult has resumed work at Ellerslie, and although he is looking well he is carrying a lot of condition, sj: sf: ❖

W. Gall has a promising looking filly by Obligado from Cadence in his working contingent at Ellerslie.

Master Wairiki continues to get through good work at Ellerslie, and is in the pink of condition. He is under the watchful eye of W. G. Irwin.

Sunbonnet is on a visit to San Fran.

The Gisborne Racing Club has reappointed A. G. Wood, of Greenmeadows, starter. # s’: * ft Comedian (Merriwee—Variety) has now taken up his quarters at Dannevirke, and in future his mentor will be A. Raynor. * sh * » According to Wellington advice J. H. Prosser, the Porirua trainer, has a useful team in work for the Wellington Racing Club’s meetings. Horses from this establishment have not fared too well of late, but better prospects are entertained for the future.

In winning the Randwick Plate last Saturday Trafalgar put up a somewhat remarkable record. For three years in succession now he has won this event, and improved on his time each race. On this occasion the brilliant son of Wallace covered the two miles in 3 min. 27sec., which is equal to the Australasian record. It is a coincident that Bridge, who finished third to Trafalgar on Saturday, holds the record for two miles —3min. 2 ssec.

Scots Fusilier had to be destroyed at the Hawke’s Bay J.C. meeting last week. He was leading the field in the Tomoana Hurdles, but stumbled in front of the stand and broke a hind fetlock.

Selling racebooks on the train the night before the races is generally a lucrative business and the vendor can usually rely upon finding several, customers in each carriage. Last’

night, however, says a Hawke’s Bay paper, he had the unique experience of a severe frost in two cars. Seeing the windows labelled “Reserved,” he bounded in thinking he had struck a big congenial party of true sports, doing the journey in real Cabinet-Ministerial-Sir-Jimmy-Carroll style. But stern repressive faces and stiffened black cloth backs stayed his blatant “Race Books” bleat. The cars were full of Baptist ministers on their way to the Napier Baptist Conference. — The vendor had been ambushed by the enemy, or, as he expressed himself, he “had fallen among wowsers.”

Krom present indications the field to compete in the Wellington Handicap on October 21 will be considerably reduced. “Glencoe,” in the “Dominion,” says:—Fort William is unsound, Equitas may be reserved for other events, Miss Mischiex is not ready, and Vice-Admiral has had plenty of racing in Sydney. Rauparaha is being schooled over fences. Te Puia has no chance on recent form, while Sir Tristram and Formby may be deleted in favour of Miscount. Byron is not ready. Kilosteri, if started at all at the meeting, will probably race in the Wainui Handicap. Masterpiece or Counterfeit, but one only, will carry Sir Geo. Clifford’s colours. Another candidate Bellah is laid aside with strangles.

The following petition (signed by several owners an dtrainers- was recently presnted to the stewards of the English ockey Club: —“We, the undersigned, in view of the great scarcity of suitable light-weight jockeys under 7st, and taking into consideration not only the risk to both horses are riding awkward horses, but also the enormous drawback to any horse’s chance of success when obliged to be entrusted to such light and generally inexperienced jockeys, are firmly of opinion that it would be a decided advantage to racing in general if by rule the handicappers could be directed that the top weight allotted shall in no case commence under 10st, and that the minimum we ight allotted shall be not less than 7st; and if more margin is required, then it shall be added to the top of the handicap. * * * When the Queensland sportsman who races as “E. J. Craven” purchased Lady Medallist in the autumn he stated, says “Glencoe,” that he would endeavour to win the Craven Plate with her. A New Zealander who was present suggested that the Caulfield Cup would be a good race to back her in, and the owner then replied that he would have a shot at the double. The first “leg” has already been won, and it rather looks as if the mare has a chance of doing well in the Caulfield Cup, especially when the handicap is studied. One of her

most dangerous opponents, Sandbath, has now been rendered much less formidable by incurring a penalty for his win in the Waverley Handicap last Saturday at Randwick, while the success of Lady Medallist in the Craven Plate carried no increased poundage for the Caulfield Cup, which comes up for decision on Saturday week.

After his signal success at Hastings and his victory at Napier Park yesterday Bobrikoff is almost certain to contest the Champion Plate at Trentham, and later the Stead Cup at Riccarton.

G. P. Donnelly is evidently of opinion that Gold Thread is good for another race, for she appears in the list of nominations for the C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap.

Bobrikoff put up another good performance at Napier Park on Wednesday when he won the Park Stakes after a brilliant race. His impost was 10.13 and he covered the mile and a-quarter in 2.10 4-5.

The Chokebore stable (Clifford’s) had a day out at Dunedin on W’ednesday. Three races in succession fell to the stable, while the next was won by Thistledown, a cast-off of the racing Baronet. This is a good record for a seven-event race day.

Splendid weather prevailed for the opening day of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s spring meeting on Wednesday and some fine racing was witnessed. The totalisator investments amounted to £8758 10s or an advance of £1350 on the money passed through the machine on the corresponding day last, year. S 3F T J. O’Keefe, a well-known South Island jockey, met with an untimely death at Greymouth on Wednesday. He was having a friendly spar with a companion when he dropped dead. O’Keefe was about 24 years of age- * * * S? The Victorian Amateur Turf Club’s spring meeting will commence at Caulfield on Saturday, when the principal events will be the Caulfield Stakes, of lOOOsovs, and the Toorak Handicap, of 1200sovs. The Caulfield Cup, of SOOOsovs, will be run on October 21st, the concluding day of the meeting. * * * * A. Oliver’s name is at present at the head of the winning jockeys’ list, with F. D. Jones and Ben Deeley next in order. «** . w Lady Medallist has gone to Melbourne to prepare for her Caulfield Cup engagement, for which the New Zealand mare is strongly fancied.