THE CLUBMAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1480, 5 September 1918, Page 8

THE CLUBMAN

The disqualification by the Manawatu Racing Club of the trainer-owner A. Hall and the horses Ibex and Turangipito having been endorsed by the Wanganui District Committee, it now remains to be seen how the purchasers of those horses will fare. They were sold before Hall’s disqualification was endorsed; there was no other course open to the club or the committee in including the horses. Purchasers of horses are responsible for the history attached to their horses, but very few know this, and probably the buyer of Turangipito, who was not a racing man, and who has since died, may liave been unaware of this. The gelding was sold again by the executors of his estate. We understand that the late Mr. Harper wanted to purchase Ibex, but the price asked was £lOO more than he was prepared to pay, so he took Turangipito, and Messrs. Gibbons and Lambess secured Ibex. It is hardly likely that they would have done so if they had known that more than a remote chance of disqualification was hanging over the gelding. Such, however, has come to pass, and two horses — and decidedly useful ones when in lacing form —are thus placed out of action. Unless the racing powers that be are satisfied that the purchasers of the horses acted bona 'fide and in full belief that there was little chance of the horses being disqualified, and are prepared to remove the disqualifications so far as they are concerned a very great hardship will be inflicted on men who are desirable patrons of the turf. The rules of racing cannot be lightly set aside, but we have no doubt that the special circumstances .in each of these cases will be given due consideration if appeals are lodged in the right quarter, and there may be a prospect of one or other, or perhaps both, racing again. Turangipito, though equally liable as the property of the disqualified owner of Ibex, was not the instrument whose suspicious running was the cause of the inquiry and the disqualification that followed, and there is' reason to believe that the present owner was unaware of any possibility of such a course being taken. In the case of Ibex, it has been stated that before the sale was made one of the would-be purchasers was informed by one in authority that with the informatian then before him there was nothing to fear. This case recalls that of Hierarch and Cani obert,' who were disqualified some few years ago and went to the stud when it was thought unlikely that either would be permitted to race. Though both were really purchased for the stud, an application for the removal of the embargo on Hierarch, who was not quite in the same position as Ibex, as he had been sold after the disqualification of the owners, was not entertained. The purchasers, however, bought with their eyes open to the facts.

The expressed intention of the Minister of Internal Affairs to endeavour to secure the fractions or broken money from the totalisator for the benefit of hospitals and to assist the country’s poor seems on the face of it a very laudable one. Time after time, year after year, since the totalisator was introduced well over a third of a century ago. this very course has been advocated. For a considerable time fractions of a shilling were not paid to investors, the rightful owners, and there were repeated howls about it, and finally a compromise was effected, and since the fractions down to sixpence have been paid there has not been much heard on the subject. Meanwhile the business turnover has gone on increasing, and as revealed long ago the fraciions represent a very large sum. Now, in the absence of the Colonial Treasurer, the Minister of Internal Affairs is suggesting a further possible tax on racing, for that is what the taking of the fractions will mean, for nowadays, as in former days, the clubs that do not run their own machines have been making contracts to have their work done for a percentage and half the fractions. At one time the clubs paid nothing to the Treasury. Hater followed a tax of one and a-half per cent., the clubs being allowed to retain the fractions. Next it was in-

creased to 2% per cent., the clubs being still allowed the fractions, while they paid a tax upon other receipts as well. Then came the special War Tax of 2% per cent, upon dividends, and Colonial Treasurers in the Seddon, Ward, Mackenzie, Massey and National Governments one and all have never worried over the broken tote money. It has been left for the present Minister of Internal Affairs to say that he wants the money, and, of course, if he can persuade Sir Joseph Ward and other members of Cabinet that everything is quite in order he will get his way. Contracts can be broken by clubs by paying tote contractors an equivalent to half the fractions or such proportion as they receive under their contracts, and there will be so much less to carry to profit and loss account. When the tax was raised to 2% per cent. Sir Joseph Ward said that he was earmarking it to pay the interest on

the Dreadnought New Zealand. The special War Tax was a separate item. If the Government take the fractions, which amount to nearly three-quarters per cent, on an average, they will be getting £5 ss. per cent, out of every £lOO invested without paying anything of the cost of collecting, and a very trifling sum for their new inspectors, while the clubs will pay the heavy cost of installing machines, the working, housing and upkeep, royalties to the patentees, etc., and will have less to return than formerly to owners of horses in stakes as a result by just the amount of percentage the fractions represent. A lot of clubs have been giving all their profits to patriotic objects, but evidently the Minister is well aware that some have not been giving, and taking the fractions in the meantime is one way that he would be getting at such clubs. However, it is pretty well certain that some clubs that have not been giving in the way suggested have not been in a position to do so. The clubs as a body may not complain at having to hand over the fractions when the time comes for them to be ■called upon to do it, but will the Government want more or will they

take over the whole business until such time as the “wowsers” of the country have the reins, and having settled, as they anticipate, the liquor trade to their satisfaction, turn theii' attention to racing and picture shows and amusements smoking, etc., and make this country a model place to live out of.

The totalisator dispute case which came before the committee of the Auckland Racing Club after it had been withdrawn from the law courts was fully investigated, each of the contending parties having signed an agreement to abide by any decision that might be arrived at. Much evidence was taken as to the custom in dealing with business on the 1.0. U. system, and the main point involved, as to whether the investor, who happened to be another totalisator proprietor, had a right to receive on an 1.0. U. investment of £lO made on

Sanacre in the last race at the A.R.C. Great Northern meeting, when that mare paid a dividend of over half a century. The evidence showed that the amount of the investment had not been rung up by the operator and that the dividend had not been deducted from the total investments, consequently the backers of the first and second horses had received larger amounts than they would have done had the investment been run on. The committee, on the evidence, decided against the company on whose account the totalisator is run at their meetings, no doubt recognising that investors under the 1.0. U. system should be on the same footing as those who passed their cash through the race-windows and received their tickets in return. If we mistake not there will be some change in connection with this system all the same. The evidence in this particular case, but which has not been made public, and in one that came before the court some time ago and still remains unsettled, should suggest to all concerned that it has its weak points, and though cases of the kind have been very rare we never hear of any over business transacted in the ordin-

ary way. It is no doubt a great convenience to big investors and to those who do not care to carry large sums of money about with them to make their credit good beforehand and use 1.0.U.’5. The facilities offered in this way have doubtlessly led to more business and larger turnovers than would otherwise have been. When the possible increase in business and a desire to meet the convenience of customers involves losses such as the one referred to, and others that we have heard of that have not seen the light of day or been known to racegoers generally, it will be surprising should the system be carried on unless by making it necessary that 1.0. U. investments must be made earlier and bear the stamp of the responsible officers. There is always the possibility of abuses creeping in, but nowadays, after so many years experience of the totalisator business, they should be reduced to a minimum. Mistakes have occurred on most courses in New Zealand, sometimes to the no inconsiderable loss of clubs or totalisator contractors. At other times the public have been the losers. Many of the mistakes have not become known in time to have them satisfactorily rectified. The mistake in the latest case, the one which has claimed our attention during the last lew weeks, should result in a better condition of affairs.

The departure of Desert Gold, Estland, Finmark, Killowen and Kilhope for Sydney, via Wellington, is an event of more than passing interest. Desert Gold is the best mare that has raced in Australasia for a considerable time if not actually the best of her sex. Estland was a very fair colt last season, a better three-year-old than a two-year-old, and may be seen to greater advantage as a four-year-old. Finmark, his brother, was a better two-year-old than was Estland without being quite a champion as compared with others of his age that have been bred in the Dominion. Killowen has shown just as much pace perhaps as Finmark, but did not finish nearly so well. He had an inclination to run out on a right-handed course. It has been given out all along that the four horses named would comprise Mr. T. H. Lowry’s team, though we ventured months ago to suggest that Kilhope might be also, one of the lot. His inclusion does not. surprise us, because the conclusion we formed of him last summer was. that he only needed to have ordinary luck in training to develop into a. good racehorse and a possible Derby.. Guineas or good handicap race winner. Whether expectations will be realised is a matter for the future to reveal. Not since R. J. Mason took the late Mr. Stead’s great team, including Noctuiform, Sungod, Nightfall and Isolt, has any one trainer had such a useful lot under his care, nor has any owner sent away to do battle a more useful lot taking them all round. Desert Gold is to do battle again for patriotic purposes, and from all accounts is as 'fit as ever she has; been. It can be taken for granted that the other members of the team are not being taken over on a holiday mission. Davis is never hard on his; horses, but they should be very nearly ready now for winding up for springengagements, and we may look foi' the nominations which go in for the spring events, not already closed, with considerable interest. New Zealand horses will be fairly numerous in the lists. It will not come as any surprise to learn that Mr. W. Richmond is sending over some horses, and that the ’chaser St. Elm, the useful Impediment and the speedy Lingerie are to represent the Hawke’s Bay owner. The inclusion of Colonel Soult, who has been leased by Mr. Richmond, according to a report from Hawke’s Bay, may surprise many who were beginning to regard the little bay son of Soult as almost a spent light. Like the others, he can no doubt still be placed to advantage. Mr. Gerald Stead, we were told last week, would send Almoner, who ran like a good two-year-old in Australia last spring. For some time it was thought doubtful whether the son of Boniform would go over, but apparently he has been doing satisfactorily and has encouraged his plucky owner to again be represented at a spring meeting at Rand wick.