TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1478, 22 August 1918, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

Some horse arithmetic: During the season which ended on July 31, 442 races were run on Sydney metropolitan courses. These were figured out by the “Bulletin” writer to have been secured by 238 horses, of which 164 captured only one apiece. There were 24 horses noticed in front on more than two occasions. Winners of less than £2OO numbered 111 and unless a nag wins a little more than that it isn’t a very payable Proposition at the end of 12 months The English-bred winners numbered 18. They won 29 races. Maonland supplied nine winners. They took out 18 times. Winners of over £lOOO numbered 28. These had 60 wins. Averages: Maorflanders, £2967; English. £2575; Australian, £2072. Aggregate. £61107. Some of last season s winners will win some more thisyear. A fairly substantial proportion will never win again. Taken generally H can be said that of the horses that actually win during a ramng season probably 50 per cent, have been disappointments If you add then to the crowd which battle m the rear it looks as it the best.horse ought to be good enough for anjone—and the chance of getting it about as big as the lamented Buckley’s. Fortrait, an Epsom Handicap candidate, has won two six furlong races in such style as to cause him to be regarded as a possibility for the big mile event. He is a four-year-old brother to Wolaroi, by Flavus, and is an exceptionally smart beginner (an important matter in an Epsom). He is referred to as a strong, wellturned animal, and if, on form, conformation and breeding, Fortrait has not a chance in the Epsom, then these things go for nothing. Unhappily they often do. A favourite for this race is Amadis, in the same ownership as Cetigne, who has been well backed for the Metropolitan and the Caulfield Cup. He would have won if he could at Moorfield, but because he didn’t will be no reason for jumping at rash conclusions about what he can do next time. ♦ * * * It was in the Doncaster Handicap of 1896 that Couralie (J. Delaney)!, True Blue (A. Delaney) 2 and Response (W. Delaney) 3, finished in the order named. « ♦ * * Referring to bookmakers, a Sydney paper says: “Despite competition among themselves being so much keener and the totalisator; now a factor to be reckoned with, they do not intend dropping out ot the game. For that matter, after any man has been bookmaking until he is well up in years, it 'is difficult for him to take up any other business. During the first week in August, business on the Epsom and Metropolitan was quiet. Amadis, Balarang, Dame Acre and Fortrait were equa favourites for the Epsom. Backers, however, were not evincing any particular desire to bet straight out, preferring doubles. For the second leg (the Metropolitan) Kennaquhair was at a slightly shorter price than Amadis, Arch Marella, Court Jester and Prince Viridis. Biplane the Caulfield Cup favourite, with Redfern next, and Arch Marella and Desert Gold were receiving most mention for the Melbourne Cup. The wear and tear among Victorian jumping horses this winter has been unusual, apart from which the disappointments to punters were exceptionally numerous (says the Bui - etin”). Nominations of well-known flat races for hurdle events are always likely to mislead, but this time a number of reasonable expectations came to naught. Several approved jumpers with apparent chances were missing from the National acceptances, and by the time acceptances for the Australian Hurdles came due only a dozen were left in. The castiron Obi was among them. Jumpers come and go, through misadventure or otherwise, but Obi battles on for ever. His record is amazing. Age has brought the horse down in the weights, but in ability to get over sticks he seems as strong, as when he won the National eight years ago. His best weight-carrying performance was in the big Caulfield event of 1914, when he ran second to Capintesta, giving 391 b to the winner and 341 b to the third horse.

Some apprehensive amusement was caused by the antics of a man who was apparently strolling aimlessly about on the track during the running of the first race at Newcastle (N.S.W.) recently. When he suddenly realised that he was in the track of the oncoming horses he ran a few paces towards the centre of the track and then laid down. When the field was almost on top of him he stumbled a few feet further out from them. Fortunately, he was not galloped on. His explanation afterwards was that he was examining the electric connections around the course, and he thought that the horses were racing on the inside track. * * * * The cost of getting the totalisator installed on some courses in New South Wales has been much larger than clubs bargained for, and beyond some of them, though many, considering the small amount of business they do could easily handle the money with some of the discarded machines which have been practically scrapped in New Zealand. The Sydney “Sportsman,” of a recent date, mentions that the Julius totalisator is likely to be seen in operation on the Wallsend course shortly, a satisfactory arrangement with the company having been arrived at. It will be remembered, says that paper, that after the club had paid a big sum of money for the machine, the company made a demand for £lOOO over and above the price agreed upon. A similar demand was made on all the clubs that had decided to instal this machine, and with the exception of Wallsend, they all agreed to pay up. The Wallsend Club considered the demand out of all reason, and it was their intention to fight the matter in the law courts, but later on the company modified the demand somewhat by agreeing to accept £750 deposit, the balance of £250 to be paid out of the sinking fund. It is understood that the club has agreed to those terms, so that it is only a matter of a short time when the machine will be in full working order. The new building for the tote was erected at- a considerable cost, and when required it will be found to answer all requirements. It is a commodious structure, erected in a convenient position, and the design is very pleasing to the eye. The Dugald Thompson machine has been used ever since the Act came into force, but it is a very small affair compared with the Julius, and the club’s patrons will no doubt appreciate and welcome the change. * * * The Riccarton horseman, Bert Donovan, has been passed as fit for active service, and goes into camp on November 4. ♦ ♦ V The remarkable instance of a mare foaling three perfectly-developed colts is reported by Mr. B. Viley, master of the Stonewall Stud, in Kentucky. The mare, Early Love, is the property of Mr. Charles W. Parrish, of Midway. Two of the colts were born dead, and the third lived for about half an hour. * * * * At the annual meeting of the North Otago Jockey Club the president (Mr. W. Gardiner) said he thought it was opportune to bring forward the question of what was called "gambling” on the totalisator. He had come to the conclusion that the public generally did not understand how much Hie totalisator reduced gambling. For example, one speculator in a non-totalisator country would put through more money at a meeting with the bookmakers than any one person who attended Riccarton racecourse on Cup Day. There had never yet been more than 15s. per head of those present invested at Riccarton on Cup Day, and it seemed to him that if even their poorest working man could not afford to spend that amount once or twice a year it was time that his wages were raised. Most of the agitation for a further curtailment of racing came from the arm chair city men who did not realise that the country, people, especially the working classes, had to take turns in going to races, and only managed at the most two or three days in the year. At the annual meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club at Palmerston North last week, Mr. D. Buick, M.P., at the conclusion of the evening’s business, moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the retiring president (Mr. H. R. Cooper),

and in doing so said that the club was much indebted to Mr. Cooper, who had given a lot of time in the interests of the club, and had always been courteous and obliging. This was seconded by Mr. C. Louisson, who said that there was a tremendous amount of work, not only in connection with the club that required not only a knowledge of the Rules of Racing, but also needed a solicitor’s brains to disentangle. Mr. Cooper had also given a lot of time in attending district meetings at Wanganui. The motion was carried by acclamation, and Mr. Cooper, in returning thanks, said that what he had done had been a labour of love and because he took an interest in the club. He paid a tribute to the work of the committee, and said that if they had got through their troubles safely, it was because they had a committee with backbone. # * Twenty thousand people fought their way into the trains to and from the Grunewald racecourse, Berlin, on Ascension Day, May 9th. The newspapers declare that the scramble not only for places in the trains, but also for admission to the course, and the queues leading to the . betting machines, can only be described as a “bloody battle.” Those who succeeded in forcing their way into the trains reached there bruised and dishevelled. Others waited for hours. The newspapers bitterly criticise the railway authorities as well as the Jockey Club, asserting that as long as racing is permitted accommodation somehow must be provided. Some of the wildest hand-to-hand fighting raged round the race-card sellers, the number of cards available having been about one to every ten persons on the course. $ * # * The Canterbury Jockey Club, in dealing with applications for war or patriotic funds, have decided that at any rate for the present they are unable to entertain any such applications owing to the uncertainty of their position in regard to taxation. They have already given £7142 to the different war funds since 1914, and £2346 to other institutions; in addition, they have paid nearly £64,000 in taxation, and invested £7OOO in war loans. They have large liabilities in regard to the stakes already closed, and they have financial responsibilities for the upkeep of the racecourse of those racing clubs who were forced by the temporary reduction of racing days and permits to abandon their meetings, and this amount is not yet ascertainable.