TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1133, 28 December 1911, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

According to a Tasmanian exchange, trotting in the north of that island promises to develop on similar lines as obtain in the south. The committee of the Tasmanian Turf Club have decided to allow the Northern Trotting Association to use Mowuray for its meetings, and it is understood that immediate steps were taken by the association for putting down a suitable track inside the existing steeple course. Arrangements have also been made to ensure clean sport, which will be under the control of three special stewards.

In sunny Ceylon racing is apparently conducted under most delightful conditions. According to Mr. Owen Symons, secretary of the Ceylon Turf Club, who is at present visiting Australia, there are about sixteen- race meetings each year under the jurisdiction of his club, and, although the most valuable stake is only worth about £3OO, there are plenty of owners, and fields invariably are good. The* most important event of the season is the Governor’s Cup, and while it is worth but £2OO, owners care little for expense in their endeavour tosecure a horse good enough to win it. All the betting is done through the pari-mutuel, and the bookmaker is not recognised, although, of course, there is no disguising his presence. All owners, who are for the most part Europeans, race entirely for sport, which adds to the charm of the pastime. The best horses are two Australians —Knox and and Black Buck—and the Ceylon sportsmen were confident that this year the latter would bring back with him the Viceroy’s Cup.

The Forbury Park Trotting Club are dipping deeply into their coffers in connection with their autumn meeting (says the “Otago Witness”), which is dated January 31 and February 3. The amount of stakes totals 2500sovs, and the various events easily form the most attractive light harness card ever issued in Dunedin, and* incidentally go to show unmistakeable evidence of the vast progress the sport has made here in recent years. The principal event run on the second day is to be the Dunedin Cup Handicap, of 500sovs, 4-45 class, and the event is preceded on the first day’s card by the Forbury Handicap, of 300sovs, 4.48 class. It is to be hoped that these richly endowed events will attract some of the best horses in training, and by doing so help the club in their effort to cater for high-class horses. In addition to the above events, thee are a 200sovs stake, one of 170sovs, one of 150sovs, and eight others ranging between lOOsovs and 140sovs. Nominations are due on Wednesday, January 17. The club is again hanging a lOOsovs purse for the creation of a new track record.

The dispersal sale of the Elderslie* (North Otago) Stud is fixed for Monday, January 29, and following days. The list to go under the hammer comprises the four imported stallions, Charlemagne 11. (St. Simon —Perfect Dream), Downshire (Ayrshire—Seadown), Varco (Marco —Vara), and Vasco (Velasquez—Seabreeze). The brood mares total no less than 62, and form the greatest collection of attractively bred mare ever collected in one stud in Australasia. There are also seven young mares and fillies that have not been bred to the horse, and 23 foals, got by Charlemagne 11., Downshire, Benzonian, Martian, Varco, and the Martagon —Ronetta filly that was sired in England. The salewill form quite an epoch in the his-’n-r of the Australasian turf, and although the dispersal of the famous ’“■-■'prslie stud is a matter of great regret, still, sonie of its inmates should prove rungs by which other breeders and horseowners can climb up the winning list.

Prior tn being sent back to New Zealand, the San Francisco mare Cruc'nella was mated with Alawa.

Kirn won the Port Adelaide Cup by-half a head from Lord Alwyne. The time put up being 2m. 265.

The Hopetown Cup at the Victoria A.T.C. Meeting was won by Gunboat by four lengths from Prince Harold, while Lord Kelvin was a head away third.

The Te Kuiti Racing Club have issued the programme for their annual meeting, which is fixed for February Bth. There are eignt events on the programme, showing added money to the extent of £4 00. The Te Kuiti Cup is endowed with lOOsovs., and that should ensure a strong entry list.

Albert Percival, who was killed as the result of an accident during a hurdle race at Perth on Boxing Day, used to ride in Auckland, and was well esteemed as a steady young jockey.

Santa Rosa’s time for the Cup was three-fifths JDf a second more than that registered last year by Waimangu. This is a very creditable performance, considering the course was inclined to be a trifle dead as the result of the very heavy rains that fell on the two previous days. The fastest time yet recorded for the event is 3min 28 3-ssec. registered by Master Eeiaval in 1906. * « * * Among the winners at the Canterbury Park (New South Wales) races on December 16 was the New Zeal-and-bred Kiimeadon, by Kilcheran — Couronne. , ,

The many friends of the Auckland sportsman, Mr W. Lyons, who has been ill for some weeks in a Sydney hospital, will regret to hear that the amputation of one of his arms was deemed necessary some days ago.

Some big figures were recorded at the various race meetings held this week. The Ellerslie figures for Boxing Day easily headed the list with £4 8,002 10s, next came the Manawatu Racing Club returns for their summer meeting, which totalled £41,943, followed by the Dunedin Jockey Club £23,486 10 s, and then Taranaki Jockey Club put up a record for their fixture with £13,000.

An unfortunate accident befel the Southern trotter, Fidelis, on Wednesday. While doing her preliminary before the St. Holier’s Handicap she reared up, and fell back. The injury she received was so severe that she had to be destroyed. The money invested on this mare was returned to ticket holders.

Jimmy Peachy, of Wanganui, in addition to Euroto has Epsom Downs in regular work. The latter is having an easy time of it, being restricted mostly to trotting. Peachy also has a fine looking three-year-old chestnut in work. This youngster is owned by Sam Woodhill, of Wangaehu. If appearances go for anything he should develop into a real good performer.

It was reported last week from Wanganui that Mon Ami had been beating Equitas on the tracks at Fbrdell recently. Whether this is correct or not the fact remains that the former was a hot favourite for the six furlong race at Awapuni.

Owners of trotters are awaiting the appearance of the programme for the Wanganui Trotting Club’s annual meeting with considerable interest. It is understood that the meeting will be held in March, which should be a suitable time, and the club ought to score a success with the gathering.

A. Neale, of Wanganui, intends taking Overtime* and Confection to Stratford. They have both been galloping very well recently.

Lord Derby is the fortunate possessor of a yearling brother to Swynford. The colt will be known by the rather unwieldly title of Harry of Hereford.

The V.RJC. has decided to raise the value of Australia’s chief sprint event, namely, the Newmarket Handicap, to £2OO 0. Last March it was endowed to the extent of £l5OO.

The St Simon stallion, Diamond Jubilee, who won the Two Thousand, Derby, and St. Leger in the colours of King Edward VII., and was subsequently purchased for 30,00 ogns by a South American breeder, sired the winner of this year’s Argentine Derby.

Ten colts and nine fillies are to be offered for sale at the Waikanae bloodstock sale on January 23. They include youngsters sired by Achilles, Bozcnian, Soult, Martian, Charlemagne 11., Vasco and Sir Laddo.

The Gisborne trainer, George Jones, is shortly to be made the recipient of an illuminated testimonial, which is to be presented to him by several prominent Poverty Bay sportsmen in commemoration of the success of Paisano and Continuance.

The fme registered by Bingana in the Auckland Trotting Cup, 4min 44 4-ssec, constitutes a competition record for the track over two miles. The first mile was covered in 2min 22sec and the mile and a-half in 3min ' ' l-ssec, which indicates that the pace was fairly even throughout.

Wanganui will be represented by about ten horses at the Taranaki meeting. Amongst those that have been taken up to fulfil their engagements are St. Bill, St. Gate, Euroto, Ropal Pakon, Seawind, and East Wind. The two first-named are in splendid form, and Alex. Hall ought to pick up a race or two with them before returning home.

The hurdler Euroco (writes our Wanganui correspondent) appears to have quite recovered from the effects of his accident at Feilding, and is looking really well again. He is engaged on the second day at Awapuni, but it is not decided yet whether he will be sent down or not.

Roosevelt is being restricted to trotting work on the plough, and Alma Rose fs also being treated to the same tasks. All going well, our Wanganui correspondent says that the former may be a starter at the Wanganui Cup Meeting.

Claude Brown, who rode Santa Rosa in the Cup, and Antoinette, the run-ner-up for the Railway Handicap, is certainly entitled to hearty congratulation for the way he handled his mounts on Boxing Day. Referring to the race for the Cup the popular jockey said he had a bad passage in the early part, and after they had gone a couple of furlongs was knocked right back. He was also interfered with going out of the straight, and was a good distance from the leaders seven furlongs from home. He rode Santa Rosa hard going along the back stretch the last time, and ran through the field, and was close handy going through the cutting. Crossing the top he further improved his position, and was lying third three furlongs from home. . When they entered the straight only Domino was in front of him, and when he called on Santa Rosa to make his final effort the son of Soult responded gamely, and soon put the result beyond doubt.

and, more wonderful still, Peter Thompson winning "a fourth heat in 2min Peter Thompson is a twin, and on that account was gelded, as it was thought the operation would give him a better chance co grow strong.

Anyone really conversant with racing in this country is fully aware that during the past two decades the conduct of the sport has improved to a marked degree. There is, however (says “Sir Bedivere”), still room for its betterment and for the cleaner realisation on the part of stewards of the responsibilities of their position. The time for turning the blind eye towards instances of corrupt practises has long passed. Let there be no mistake about it, the man, be he owner, trainer, or rider, who does not go straight is a dangerous enemy. It is up to every friend of sport to expose him that he may be dealt with as such.

Instead of cutting down totalisator permits, as has been done in New Zealand, the West Australia folk are movin an opposite direction. The Premier has stated his intention of amending the Totalisator Act, and it is understood that it is intended to grant the use of the machine to the W.A. Trotting Association. He has also stated that he does not intend this session to introduce legislation dealing with the general supervision of racing. In the way of further evidence as to the sporting crowd that are in charge of public affairs, in West Australia, it may be mentioned that the Government has recently removed the embargo in whippet racing by deciding that the same terms shall be extended to this form of sport as to horse racing.

While anti-turf legislation is responsible for the exodus of American thoroughbreds from their native lands, at least one of the prominent breeders and sportsmen of that country. Mr August Belmont, president of the American Jockey Club, has determined that all the best horses in the land shall not leave (says an exchange). A yeai- ago Mr Belmont made a free gift of the high-class stallions Henry of Navarre and Octagon to the United States Government Breeding Bureau, to be used towards the improvement of horses needed for military service, and last month he supplemented his initial presentation by devoting Footprint and Tipsand to the same end. Both horses are by the “triple-crowned hero” Rock Sand, who during his career on the English turf captured upwards of £48,000 in stakes alone. Fetish, the dam of Footprint, was by Rayon d’Or (winner of the St. Leger 18 79) from Fen Follet, by Kingfisher; while Tiptoe, the dam of Tipsand, is by Hastings from Tarpeia. Footprint was a good performer in his day, his seven victories including the Tremont Stakes at Gravesend, and the double event at Sheepshead Bay, in the former of which he carried 9st 41b., and cut out the six furlongs in lmin. llsec. Tipsand also distinguished himself on tjhe racecourse, and the pair should prove a valuable acquisition to the breeding bureau, which the U.S.A. Government is endeavouring to bring up to the standard maintained by Great Britain and the leading Continental nations of Europe.