TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1458, 4 April 1918, Page 14

TURF GOSSIP.

Following her unsuccessful efforts at the Wairarapa Racing Club’s autumn meeting, Mr. W. E. Bidwill’s mare, Devotion, has been turned out for a deserved spell.

“Dick” Coombes, of Sydney, according to the “Bulletin,” the best-known and certainly the best-informed writer on athletics in Australia, reached the 60th pole the other week. Richard, among other things, is vice-president of the Great Public Schools A.A.A. and of the University Athletic Club the only man not connected with the schools or the ’Varsity who has been elected an office-bearer on either.

An old-time jockey, Fred. Martineer, died a few days back at his home, formerly known as the Melton Inn, near Parramatta. Before Local Option got to work he had kept the old place as a pub for 35 years. Amongst Martineer’s victories in the saddle were with Cooramin in the old N.S.W. Leger (one mile and ahalf), in 1853, and the first A.J.C. Derby, in 1865, on Judge Cheeke’s mare Clove. Martineer himself owned some good racehorses, notably the steeplechaser Melton, with which he won some dozen events.

The following were the principal winning owners at the Rangitikei Racing Club’s autumn meeting last week:—Messrs. J. K. Jackson, £280; G. Beatson, £245; J. H. Prosser, £205; James Bull, £195; W. H. Powell, £120; Mr. Egmont, £115; R. Acton-Adams, £115; F. T. Hall, £105; C. Lepperton, £100; Hall and Woon, £100; G. Penfold, £100; Mrs. A. E. Bremner, £100; E. Short, £95; E. Nash, £9O; F. S. Easton, £65.

Biplane’s two-year-old sister, Steel Wings, may, or may not, prove good, but her brother’s deeds have had a marked effect upon her price in 12 months, says “Pilot,” in the “Referee.” As a yearling she was sold in the autumn of last year for 475 guineas, again in November last for 700 guineas, and last week for 1500 guineas. We hear a lot about judgment in the purchase of young stock, but the odds are always in favour of the brother or sister to the latest important winner bringing considerably more than something equally well bred, and perhaps better looking, but whose close relatives do not happen to be in the limelight just before the yearling sales come round. The ease with which some trainers discover good points in almost anything closely related to a prominent performer has been costly to many owners, and should cause some of the former to be very diffident in offering opinions concerning young stock. The fact that, year after year, so many of the important two and three-year-old races are won by comparatively lowpriced youngsters, is in itself strong commentary on the luck attaching to yearling buying.

Johnny Walker’s absence from the C.J.C. Easter meeting was due to the Martian gelding having pulled up none too well after a gallop the week before, and as a result, he was not included in J. Lowe’s team for Riccarton.

Sister Regis, winner of the first Hazlett Memorial Stakes at Wingatui, was sold under the hammer at Invercargill the other day for £l5. Mr. A. Chisholm, owner of Samiel and Benzowen, was the purchaser.

At a recent meeting of the committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club, a communication was read from the United Press Association stating that it was intended to charge metropolitan clubs £5 ss. per day’s racing for transmitting weights and acceptances, the charge to come into force on March 30 last. The meeting declined to pay this demand on the ground that the news was of value to newspapers, and was eagerly sought by their readers.

According to the Melbourne “Herald,” shortly before his death the late J. Loy expressed the wish that the steeplechaser, United Kingdom, with which he was so long associated, should be allowed to take part in his funeral. The request was complied with, the horse following next to the hearse. The funeral was welt attended.