TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1456, 21 March 1918, Page 25

TURF GOSSIP.

Country racing clubs of the annual picnic order are to have their racing days restored to them in Australia by the Federal Cabinet, who will not permit of an increase of meetings in the metropolitan areas of the various States during the current racing season. Applicants for permission to hold meetings in such areas for patriotic or charitable purposes must make arrangements with clubs which had already had dates granted them. A very limited number of meetings for patriotic or charitable purposes might be granted in country or provincial centres, under special conditions, the Minister of Defence has stated. * * * * At the Melbourne yearling sales Mr. E. J. Watt, of Queensland, bought the Wallace —Beacon Light chestnut gelding for 220 guineas, and gave 500 guineas for a brown colt by Roseworthy from Nalurmi, by Positano. Mr. T. A. Stirton, owner of Cetigne, gave the same price for a colt by St. Anton from Princess Aura. A colt by Comedy King from G'lenluce, by Wallace, realised a similar amount, which was the top sum reached of 28 lots., which made a fine average. * # * ♦ A message from Perth states that the missing racehorse Aversion, in connection with which four men were charged with ringing-in at Boulder races, Western Australia, and thereby defrauding the club, has been found in thick bush, miles away from any road, in the ranges between Bullsbrook and Gin Gin, about 50 miles from Perth. The horse was apparently killed about a week ago by a blow on the head with an axe. ❖ Bookmaking is not all beer and skittles. It is stated that one Sydney operator was liable for a sum of £40,000 over the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, and had to rush down to Melbourne and back various candidates for each race so as to remove part or all of this heavy responsibility. No less than £20,000 was wagered against the Newmarket Handicap winner, Cetigne, while as much as £15,000 was at stake about Defence, who won the Australian Cup, in straight-out bets and doubles which began with the Newmarket winner. These heavy liabilities had to be reduced considerably in the last few days, or, if possible, manipulated so that books on these races would return a profit. The operator who had this task was faced with some frenzied finance when it came to actual figures, but he got through the ordeal with profit to his firm. Kill-’em, the three-year-old full brother to Kilboy, who last week was withdrawn from the C.J.C. Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps, has so far proved a disappointment in Australia, but it is prophesied that he will soon make a name for himself upon his return to the Dominion. Kill-’em was backed for a lot of money in his race at Caulfield recently, but ran badly. Since then, however, his track work has been of the brilliant order, and the other morning he easily defeated Good Day at the conclusion of six furlongs on the grass in Imin 16sec. It is no surprise that Australian turf enthusiasts still retain a good opinion of the son of Kilbroney. * ♦ • * While the totalisators and the bookmakers were in competition side by side in Western Australia, the practice was as scon as the machines were closed to allow the pencillers to go on betting up to the start and during running. That plan worked out all right. * * * ♦ Lord Kenilworth’s exertions at the A R.C. summer meeting knocked him out of time apparently, as he ran indifferently and has been allowed to drop out of the Easter Handicap. The fact that in the A.R.C. Easter Handicap he was set to receive 371 b. from Estland, to whom he ran second in the Great Northern Derby, and that Vagabond, whom he teat in that race conceding 31b., had to give him 101 b., has been the subject of some comment. At the time we suggested that he was lucky to get second in the Derby, but we are not so sure that Vagabond would have much to spare over the shorter course if both were all right. Vagabond wants time perhaps, and will likely win a good race when older. He had some severe races at two years old, and he met a very moderate lot in the Great Northern Guineas, which is an easy mile course at any time, being down hill most of the way. It suits some horses w r ell.