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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1418, 28 June 1917, Page 11

Mr. G. D. Greenwood’s two-year-old colt Immortel, winner of the Juvenile Stakes on Saturday at Rosehill, is evidently smart, as he won by three lengths in He had only, started once previously this season. He is by Martian from Everlasting (imp.), by Padlock from Azalea, by Galliard, and a member of the No. 2 family. It is to be hoped that Biplane will be none the worse for the accident he met with last week, as he should prove useful in Australia in the spring.

The amount of stakes represented by the various races for which entries were taken in Australia on June sth is several hundreds of pounds over £71,000. Of the total, the A.J.C. contributed £24,000, the V.A.T.C. £19,050, and the V.R.C. £18,040. The V.A.T.C. has never exceeded this total, but in 1914 and again in 1915 the A.J.C. hung up £26,000 in stakes for patronage on the “first Tuesday in June,” while in each of those years the V.R.C. total reached £21,150. Considering the strenuous times, horse owners probably regard the sums now given by the principal clubs named as somewhat princely, though, as compared with 1914 and 1915, the general total is about £6600 less. This is an excellent record for the Commonwealth. The entries received for the chief events compare most favourably with previous records.

There is no chance of Waimai being taken over to Victoria for the Grand National. Waimai would need to meet moderate company or show better form than he did at Ellerslie to do any good'. On Winter Steeplechase form he was a big lump behind El Gallo, and possibly something inferior to Braeburn, and only a little better than Gluepot in that race. Bigger fences and a less solid pace and a dry track might make a difference.

In view of the fact that the Workmen’s Compensation Act, 1916, will come into force on July 1, the committee of the Australian Jockey Club has under consideration a scheme for protecting the interests of owners, trainers, jockeys, and stablemen, by the institution of an accident fund on the lines of the funds already in existence in South Australia and New Zealand. The scheme will be submitted for the approval of members at the annual meeting in August next, but subject to the necessary approval and authority being given by the general meeting, accidents occurring ■on or after July 1 will be treated as coming within the scope of the fund. While the fund is not intended to be. in the strict sense, an insurance or indemnity fund, it is believed that it will meet all the requirements of those interested in racing as successfully as has been the case with the South Australian and New Zealand funds. De tails of the contributions which it is proposed to levy on owners and trainers will be available after the next. Australian Jockey Club committee meeting, and it is believed that practical protection can be afforded at a comparatively low cost against liabilities incurred by owners and trainers under the Act.