RACING CALENDAR.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1304, 22 April 1915, Page 7

RACING CALENDAR.

FIXTURES April 30, May I—Hawke’s1 —Hawke’s Bay J.C. May 5, 6 —Marlborough R.C. Autumn. May 6, 7 —Ashburton County R.C. Autm. May 20, 22 —Wanganui J.C. Winter June 3, s—Dunedin J.C. Winter. EVENTS REQUIRING ATTENTION. Nominations for the winter meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club go in on April 26th for all events.

THE AVONDALE MEETING AND THE TRAIN SERVICE. Such fine weather has been experienced throughout the season that when there came a sudden change from the exceptionally brilliant day that Wednesday of last week proved at Avondale, racegoers were not prepared for the cold snap that followed. Fortunately, Saturday did not turn out so bad as many feared It would, and though occasional lusty, fitful showers fell during the afternoon there was not more than sufficient rain to lay the dust on the roads, and the course was just as fast as on the opening day, and some good times were registered. The fields were excellent in number taken all through, too large for all the horses to show their best, since so many must get hampered at the starts or during running, still, in nearly all, form was fairly consistent, and the last of the racing fixtures to be removed from the Auckland calendar until we reach the June meeting of the Metropolitan Club, will be remembered as the most successful financially in the history of the Avondale Jockey Club, as have proved both that club’s gatherings this year. Though an increased number of trains were run, there was the same long delay with the last train, an exasperatingly long wait for the hundreds that crowded the road at the gate and the platform before the train was brought along to convey its big load to the city and suburban stopping places en route. Such struggling and pushing to get seats and standing room is rarely

witnessed and scores of people were glad to get out as soon as they reached the tram area. No doubt some of the trains went away only half filled, but this was before the racing was concluded. To cope with the last crowd is a big problem, and the size of the crowd depends upon happenings on the course. The time the last race is run and the numbers of people that have to wait to get their dividends enters into consideration. If favourites prevail then there are more people to be served at the pay-out windows and consequently they swell the ranks for the last train. As a rule, they are good natured over the inconvenience they suffer, but when men and women have to stand through the greater part of the return trip to the city huddled together in an atmopshere that is sultry, to say the least, then it makes even those who are not easily displeased complain bitterly. The last race was timed to start at 5.12 p.m., and it was 5.50 p.m. when a large crowd was being held in check awaiting the departure of one train already just comfortably filled. They waited on impatiently until 6.25 p.m. before their turn came, and the scrambling for seats and standing room followed. It was seven o’clock before the last train reached the city, and as the first left for Avondale at 10.27 a.m., it can be imagined what a long day some city and suburban dwellers had.

Perhaps if all the committeemen and stewards and members of clubs were to travel home by these last trains for a change they would consider the advisableness of reducing their programmes on Saturdays at least by one race, so that their patrons could get to their homes earlier. We write in this connection in the interests of a large section of racegoers though fully conscious in the belief that many people would remain on the racecourse so long as there were races to be decided, and the allurements of the totalisator were before them. When night is coming on and people on the stands can only tell where the starting post is by seeing the flicker of match lights, as was reported to have been the case quite recently on a course in the south of this Island, then there should be a limit to the number of events some clubs have on their programmes. It is not in the Interests of the sport that so many races are provided on short days. We fully appreciate the difficulties of the Railway Department in trying to cope with holiday and race crowds, and there has been some improvement of late, but it is up to the racing clubs to second their efforts. The one way to do it is to lop off a race in the short days of the season. If some member would move in that direction at the next Racing Conference such a suggestion would certainly receive more support now than previously—support which should be unanimous on a question of this kind, unless our law makers are desirous of seeing all the plea-

sure of afternoons of racing marred by strenuous hard work in the getting home.

WANGANUI JOCKEY CLUB.

The Wanganui Jockey Club’s May meeting this year comes on the 20th and 22nd, and that tact should be noted by owners, as it allows twelve days to elapse between the Wanganui and Auckland meetings, and they can thus have horses running at both if they wish, under more favourable conditions than when the meetings came closer together and travelling facilities by rail were not so easily arranged. The programme this year is well worth perusing. The Wanganui Steeplechase is worth 600sovs. and the Grandstand Steeplechase 350sovs. There is also a Hack Steeplechase worth 150sovs., run over a two mile course. These races afford opportunities for fitting horses for later events, and the country is as suitable for beginners as any there is—all plain sailing. There are the Century and May Hurdle races, worth 400sovs. and SOOsovs respectively, and two hack hurdle races each worth 150sovs. The Borough Handicap, of 23050v5., Connolly Handicap, of SOOsovs., the Empire Handicap, of 25050v5., and Winter Oats, of 200sovs., are attractive flat events, and there are three hack fiat races, each worth 150sovs., to suit horses that can race over distances from six furlongs to a mile and a

distance. The programme . should draw good fields, seeing that it Is amongst the last of the season to be decided before the weights go up to the 9st. minimum. Nominations go in on April 26th for all events. AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. Now that the autumn meetings are nearly all over owners will be looking about them for races in which to run such of their horses as are not to go into retirement for the winter. The chief races of the Auckland RacingClub’s winter meeting will requre attention very shortly, and such a number of substantial prizes cannot fail to attract patronage of the best, if we mistake not. The following halfdozen events are those for which nominations are to be taken on Friday, April 30th: — Great Northern Hurdles, 125050v5.; Isov. Great Northern Steeplechase, 1250 sovs.; Isov. Winter Steeplechase, 75050v5.; Isov. Cornwall Handicap, 65050v5.; Isov. Prince of Wales Handicap, 65050v5.; Isovs. York Welter Handicap, 65050v5.; Isov. GARLIN’S DONCASTER WINNINGS GO TO THE BELGIAN FUND. The secretary of the Australian Jockey Club has received the following communication from the owner of the racehorse Garlin: — “Dear Sir, —Associated with the success of Garlin winning the Doncaster Handicap, it has occurred to me that

it would be a happy opportunity of assisting the brave Belgians in their dire distress. One must not forget the part these brave Allies have played in the war, and we owe them a debt of gratitude, of which Australia should show its fullest appreciation in a generous and practical manner. I have, therefore, pleasure in directing you to pay, on my account, the proceeds to which I would personally be entitled to of the prize, including the added money, through Garlin’s win to the fund for the relief of the Belgians. —Yours faithfully, J. Wren, Hotel Arcadia, Sydney.” The first prize for the Doncaster Handicap amounts to upwards of £2260. Another generous horseowner in Australia has donated £5OO out of his winnings to the same fund.

A BOYCOTTED MEETING IN AUSTRALIA.

The Licensed Victuallers’ race meeting at Broken Hill, N.S.W., was held under strange conditions. The Barrier Labour Federation had declared a boycott against the meeting because some of the publicans, whom the Hotel Employees’ Union had determined were “black,” were running horses or were acting as officials. Un.il after 11 o’clock in the morning it seemed doubtful if there would be enough horses to make up a meeting, but the owners and trainers, at the last moment, decided to brave the anger of the B.L.F. Cab drivers and taxi drivers were also placed under the ban, but many of the these defied the unions. An attempt was also made to stop a train from running, but this was withdrawn by the A.AI.A. president. The attendance on the course suffered, and the club will lose money over the meeting.

ANOTHER ENGLISH SIRE.

Mr. J. Hawkins, of Taranaki, in purchasing the English-bred Alarcavis for 450 guineas at the Randwick sales has, it is hoped, secured a useful horse for the district. New blood was badly wanted there.. The horse referred to is a chestnut, four years old, by Marccvil from Lady Birdie (dam of winners), by Ayrshire 8, dam Lady Helen (dam of Grace Melda and grandam of Les Ormes), by Sweetbread 10, dam Heirloom (dam of winners), by Scottish Chief 12. Marcavis is of the No. 7 family, that gave us West Australian, Wisdom, Parmesan, Wild Dayrell, King Monmouth, Donovan, The Miser, Persimmon, and in New Zealand, mongast others, the noted performer Bobrikoff.

THE REMOUNTS ENCOURAGEMENT ACT.

The Prime Minister has stated that under the Remounts Encouragement Act about forty stallions will be subsidised by the Government next year with a consequent reduction for service fees by about one-half, with the object of providing strains suitable for military purposes. From the enquiries made by Dr. Reakes and officers of the Department of Agriculture, the head of the Government says that he is satisfied that a- sufficient number of horses are in sight to fill up requirements to the end of the year, and that they are taken from five years old up to ten and twelve years old. From another source information is to hand that very few mares have been finding their way into the camp at Trentham of late for remount purposes, which is fortunate. The subsidising of sires is a good move, but the great thing is to get good mates for them. “Good mothers, good soldiers,” said Napoleon, and if we are to breed gocd remounts much also depends upon the selection of the right stamps of mares as well as of sires. Records were established in a majority of the races at Trentham for an autumn meeting on the first day. Ladoga’s 1.39 3-5 in the Thompson Handicap, Desert Gold’s 1.2 G 3-5 in the North Island Challenge Stakes, Chakwana’s 1.12 4-5 in the Railway Handicap, and the times recorded by Kaiminohe, Hyginas and Captain Glossop, respectively, were the best for the particular events won by them.