TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1474, 25 July 1918, Page 3

TURF GOSSIP.

The New South Wales totalisator, during the financial year which ended on June 30, yielded to the Treasury £82,802, representing a capital sum of a shade more than £1,182,885. The machines at Randwick alone handled l7s. 4>d. It is estimated that the next year will yield a great deal more, as the machine is only in its infancy yet. For the month of June the totalisator revenue was £11,307, compared with £3522 last year. The betting taxes produced £59,402, which, added to other racing sources, yielded the Government £142,204 for the year.

In America the Government recently asked the Jockey Club of New York —which has a breeding bureau — for four thoroughbred stallions with a view to breeding the highest type of cavalry remount. The Jockey Club thereupon placed six stallions at the disposal of the Government to select from, adding that others would be found if, for any reason, these were considered unsuitable. The stallions offered had all raced with success, and Monty Fox, one of the half dozen, is by Cesarion, who was brought to New South Wales a few years ago by Mr. I. H. Wheatcroft.

There was a fatal accident at the Kedron Park races in Victoria recently. Sixteen horses started in the second division of the Park Purse, and when near the three furlongs post King Hans, ridden by a southern jockey, Bert Faddy, fell. Wet Sail, Barraboroo and Bronze Boy also came down. The riders — Faddy, Lonie and Sinclair — were taken to the hospital. Faddy, who was suffering from severe concussion, died aa hour after admission. Lonie is suffering from injuries to his- neck and head, and his condition was very low when the mail left.

For the racing season of 1917-18 in England, 315 races of the value of £99,461 were run, and in Ireland during .the same period 357 races of the value of £55,971 were decided. In Scotland only 12 races of the value of £2OOO were run. As compared with pre-war times the figures are instructive. In 1913 in England there were 1668 races of the value of £518,673, in Ireland 350 races worth £40,223, or £15,748 less than last year, and in Scotland 86 races worth £13,385. In England and in Scotland there has been less than a fifth of the racing and monetary value of stakes for owners. Under the circumstances a fall in values of racing stock was inevitable.

Various bookmakers have already issued lists of prices for the spring handicaps in Sydney and Melbourne. The shortest-priced horses owe their positions, according to “Pilot,” to the layers’ assessment of their chances, and not to the fact that they have already been backed. For instance, Biplane is one of those heading the Epsom quotations, and is also prominent in the Metropolitan. He has done really well since his arrival in Sydney, but there is no likelihood of his being a runner for either. The colt’s trainer, R. J. Mason, does not like his weight, and is merely awaiting word from Mr. Greenwood before striking him out of both. As remarked last week, adds the writer, if Biplane starts in any big handicap in the spring it will be the Caulfield Cup.

Writing in the “Mataura Ensign,” “Starter” says: Redstart, dam of Neuroma and a Winton Stakes candidate by Vice-Admiral, is running out on her owner’s property at Waimahaka, and is in perfect condition. With her is a racy-looking 18-months-old filly by Soldiers’ Chorus, and the wellknown matron is thought to be in foal to the English horse Markhope. Good Start, by Pallas —Redstart, who ran third in the Winton Stakes of 1916 to Palamon and Porter, is also at present located on the same estate, and may shortly be put in hand for racing.