SOUTHLAND

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1365, 22 June 1916, Page 13

SOUTHLAND

Wyndham R.C.’s Patriotic Grants— Trotting Facilities at Middlevale Farm —Buller to be Tried Over Longer Courses —Racing Gelding Rialto Changes Hands — Alleged Cases of Dummy ism inquired Into. INVERCARGILL, June 16. The Southland Racing Club have announced their intention of appealing against the decision of the D.J.C. District Committee in the Berry case. It is alleged that the S.R.C. are in a position to throw new light on the case. The Wyndham Racing Club have voted £l5O to the Southland War Funds Association and £2O to the local branch of the Red Cross Society. During the past week the pacers Antonio, Raeburn and Zara were brought down from Christchurch to undergo a spell at Mr. J. B. Thomson’s recently-established Middlevale Stud Farm, Charlton, Gore. This leaves the Hornby trainer J. Bryce with Cathedral Chimes and Muricata in work for Mr. Thomson. A very large amount of southern money was invested on Zara (Wildwood Junior — Daphne Belle) at the Ashburton T.C. meeting, but the short price returned did not compensate when Antonio was defeated later in the day in the Winter Handicap (one mile and aquarter). Zara, it may be mentioned, is the highest-priced light harness racehorse so far introduced into the Southland district. A dirt track has been completed at Middlevale Farm and a grass track is to be laid down for summer use. This will enable horses to be trained by manager Scott

for racing at home, while Mr. Thomson’s high-class animals can also be worked up close to the edge of their form prior to completing their preparations in Canterbury for outside competitions. It is the intention of Mr. Thomson to mate the majority of his own mares with Antonio, by Harold Dillon —Ocean Wave. The Southland R.C. have decided to have their racing track top-dressed and otherwise attended to, and as it will not be required for over six months it should be in the best of condition by Invercargill Cup day, January 2, 1917. Lengthy use and four wet racing days during the current season played havoc with the track.

The Canrobert —Follicle gelding, Creusot, has been taken up t gain after a long spell, necessitated by a severe attack of strangles. The four-year-old full-brother to Cannonade and half-brother to Jock is an inmate of J. Gray’s stable at Winton. He is a commanding horse and a proved galloper, and it is sincerely hoped that his sickness has left no ill effects.

The well-bred pacing stallion Lord Derby, by Rothschild from the imported American mare Norica, is to be introduced into the Gore district during the incoming season. The highly-bred American trotting stallioir Russell Patch is to take up his residence at Mr. J. B. Thomson’s Middlevale Stud on or about September Ist. Eastern District breeders will have a wide scope of sire choice this season, with Russell Patch, Harold Rothschild, Coldstream Bells, Four Chimes, Wallace L., Lord Derby, Antonio and other stallions to select from.

It is stated that the Canrobert gelding Buller will be tried out over middle distances next season. There is no reason why the son of lugela should not stay, as his dam was more than a sprinter. The pacing gelding Rialto, by lour Chimes —King Harold mare, changed hands in the Gore district the other day at a price round about £3OO. Although quite a number of valuable horses of the trotting class have changed hands here of late years, this price constitutes a record for Hie province. Rialto, by the way, is said to be a promising' horse, and will in future be trained by Mr. W. N. Wilson, who i.as passed Eccentric, Matchlight and a number of other smart performers through his stable from time to time. It is announced that Mr. A. Provan has become disgusted with the recent efforts ol Canrobur and that the son of Canrobert and Tomboy (dam of Office Girl, Recharge, etc.) is to be sold. It is hardly likely that the black horse will be long on the market, as he has shown special ability when called upon to clear the schooling hurdles at Riverton. Among other horses now being schooled on the Southland R.C.’s

tracks is Master Jim, by Ahei — Primula, who has been added to the list since he was last seen out in public. Mr. D. R. Jones’ horse has the make and shape of a performer likely to win success over the battens.

The Judicial Committee of the Southland Racing Club last week were assisted by the South Island stipendiary steward, Mr. E. G. Curry, when inquiring into charges of alleged dummyism in connection with the training of the horses King Torrent, Teviot, Olga Kolmar, Captain French and Jubert. After dealing with a voluminous amount of evidence, it was decided to disqualify C. A. Campbell for corrupt practices, to w r arn H. H. Townson that he had been guilty of a breach of the rules in employing C. A. Campbell in his training stables without first making inquiries from the latter’s previous employers, and to administer a caution to “E. Renshaw,” “G. T. Right,” and W. Wallis, for their connection in the affair. The facts of the case revealed that C. A. Campbell, who last year acted as trainer for “E. Renshaw,” was refused a license this season, and a trainer’s license was obtained for W Wallis, a lad in the stable, and in whose name “Renshaw” and “Right’s” horses appeared as trained by on the several race cards where they had been engaged. After the Clifden H.R.C.’s meeting in March last there was some disagreement between Campbell and Wallis, and the latter was dismissed. Though the horses, still remained in the same stables,, the next time they appeared on a race card H. H. Townson, who has a training stable near-by, was stated as trainer. It is rumoured that an appeal is to be lodged in the foregoing case.