TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1124, 26 October 1911, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

Both S. Waddell and J. H. Prosser had thirteen horses competing at. the recent Trentham meeting, and neither were as successful as Southern sporting writers anticipated. Had the “Devils Number” anything to do with It?

R. Thompson and H. Telford, both met with accidents in the steeplechase at Trentham on Monday, and each sustained a fractured collarbone. This will prevent “Rangi” Thompson fulfilling his engagements next month in Victoria.

“A reatiure of the nay’s racing at Trentham on Monday,” says a Southern sporting scribe, “was the horsemanship shown by the Auckland jockey, Ben. Deeley, who rode three winners.”

It is not every day that a donor oi a handsome trophy has the peculiar satisfaction of winning it himself, yet this occurred on xMonday at the vv.K.C. Spring Meeting, when the Champion Plate of 400 sovs. (3’oo sovs. and a very . substantial and beautifully-designed silver cup, valued at 100 sovs.) was annexed by G. D. Greenwood, of Canterbury, through the agency of his bay colt Byron. At the conclusion of this finely-contested event Byron was introduced to the admiring crowd on the lawn before the grandstand, where a pleasing little ceremony was enacted.

“Good man, Greenwood!” shouted a voice as the well-known owner mounted the steps to the box, where the president of th e club congratulated the winner on securing the magnificent cup, which he had so generously donated.

At the recent York meeting in England Mr. Melrose, the veteran chairman of the race committee, was present. He saw the historic match between Voltgieur and The Flying Dutchman sixty years ago, and has been present at every meeting on the Knavesmire course since then, but has never made a bet in his life.

The Whangarei Racing Club’s programme for its summer meeting, to be held on January 12th and 13th, appears in our advertising columns. There are sixteen events to be decided —fourteen gallops and two trots—for which practically £5OO have been allocated as prize money. The Whangarei R.C. is one of the most progressive country clubs in the Northern province, and is fully alive to the future Whangarei promises to become as the most important sporting centre north of Auckland. Their policy is one of steady progress, consistant with sound finance, and this combined with the growing popularity of racing in the North of Auckland will undoubtedly assure the Whangarei Club a promising future.

The £lOOO that was paid for Lady Medallist last autumn has turned out a profitable investment for her Queensland owner, for she has already won this season £2650 in stakes, which in all probability is only a small portion of the wealth accumulated out of her successes by E. J. Craven, as it is stated he had backed the New Zealand-bred mare heavily in both the Craven Plate and Caulfield Cup. ' * * . The totalisator returns for the first day at Trentham showed a very substantial increase on the corresponding day last year. The figures on Saturday totalled £18,952, as compared with- £9618 for opening day of the last Spring Meeting. On the second day (Labour Day), however, these figures were quite eclipsed. The totalisator transactions amounted to £26,378 10/, which was £11,875 more than last year. Taking the two days this spring, and comparing them with those of last A.R.C. spring fixture, we find the respective totals to be £45,330 10/, and £24,121 10/. « * * * Cup day at Caulfield drew the big gest crowd that has ever witnessed this important event. The win Of Lady Medallist, with 8.5 up, in the Cup was a meritorious one. She finished six lengths ahead of Flavian, while Aurofodina was third. The St. Alwyne-Diploma mare ran the mile and a-half in 2.34%5ec., which is equal with last year’s record. The Gwyn Nursery Handicap, at Caulfield, attracted ten starters, and was won practically from start to finish by Gold Brew (Malster-Aurous).

The Great Sapling Plate was run last week at Sandown Park. Coriander beat Absurd.

At the present time the virtues of the totalisator are being criticised and landed with great vigour in both Australia and India, on account of the agitation for its 'adoption in both countries. Dealing with the pros and cons of this contentious subject the “Sydney Referee” says: — “Even among the people who have had experience of the totalisator there is difference of opinion as to whether it restricts gambling. New Zealand and South Australian opponents of the machine say it has the reverse effect, but the stewards of the West Indian Turf Club, in a statement of their views of the Bombay Government’s action in regard to racing, said they recognised that betting by means of the totalisator in its involved 'action of cash investments would have a restraining effect upon the speculative spirit. Against this the opponents of the machine contend that in nearly every large factory or warehouse in totalisator countries there is some individual who does a bit of bookmaking at totalis'ator odds, and that as they are prepared to bet to the smallest of amounts the prospect of getting a very long price about something or other tempts individuals to bet.”

An English' exchange referring to this year’s St. Leger, run at Doncaster last month, says:—“The authorities at Doncaster run the races there on a thoroughly business-like footing. In fact racing is with the corporation a purely 'business speculation, and they run the Doncaster meetings exactly as they do the tramways or the gasworks, or any other kind of municipal side-show. Roughly speaking, the two meetings of the year mean a net profit to the town of £20,000 per annum. The outgoings are very small in comparison with the revenue, for the corporation own the racecourse, and all the stands the paddock and the sale-ring and thus are spared the heavy ground rent which adds so rniich to the expenses of race meetings elsewhere. It is recorded that at one time the corporation were very liberal in dispensing the profits thus accrued. That they gave free dinners and entertainments to the principal visitors. At one time they even maintained a pack of municipal hounds, and kept a first-class hunting establishment going, in addition to cock-fighting, ratting, bear-baiting, and a prize ring. Municipal activity in these directions has in recent years been somewhat curtailed, and the profits are now applied to the reduction of the rates. It is no wonder, therefore, that the ratepayers look very kindly on their races, and would soundly resent any Interference, either Imperial or local.”

Keierring to the prospects on the “Trotting Thousand” at Richmond, N.S.W., to be decided on November 16, the “Sydney Referee” says:— “The New Zealand crack, Revenue, is considered the best of the lot handicapped. He is asked to concede 16sec. to the scratch horses who number a ’score. Several horses in the race will claim amateur allowances'. With the exception of about half a dozen professionals, the amateur riders and drivers hold their own. On the scratch mark Lou Doble, Lady Mazy, and Osterley M. are favourably handicapped. Tuxedo Chief is 3sec. behind scratch, and in his best form would prove difficult to beat. Coldstream Bells, by Abbey Bells —Sal Tasker belonging to R. O. Duncan, of New Zealand, is on the sarpe mark, and, it is said, will be brought across for the event. A Melbourne writer says that Huon Boy is a very smart horse, and may, from 4sec. behind, trouble the best of them. Bill Whips, on the ssec. mark, is well placed. William C. is a horse that may be considered well handicapped. Delavan Chimes concedes him 2sec. start. Vant, in his best form would be one of the most favourably handicapped horses in the race, starting off the 12'sec. mark. It is rather early to make choice, as the race does not take place until November 16. The following, says the same writer, appear to possess chance's: —Lou Double, Lady Mazy, Tuxedo Chief, Huon Boy, Delavan Chimes, and Vaunt.

An Australian paper states that E. J. Watt, the well-known ; Hawke’s Bay sportsman, may take up his permanent residence in Sydney.

R. H. Skipwith, who acted as starter at the Waverley meeting on Monday, and will be starting at the Poverty Bay meeting on Thursday and Friday, made his first appearance at the Wairarapa Hunt Club’s meeting a little over a year ago, he has since then been appointed starter to the Wairarapa, Dannevirke, Manawatu, Wanganui, and Hawke’s Bay Clubs.

The following were the principal winning sires at the Trentham Meeting: Charlemagne 11. (St. Simon-Per-fect Dream), £505; St. Paul (St. Leger-Satanetta), £300; Martian (Mar-tagon-Otterden), £260; The Officer (Robinson Crusoe-Marie Louise), £215; Birkenhead (Orme-Tragedy), £l6O.