TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1508, 20 March 1919, Page 14

TURF TOPICS.

B. Deeiey, who won the Wairarapa Cup on Bonnie Maid, acounted for the race last year, when he piloted Red Ribbon to victory.

Collector has been accepted for the First Hurdles Handicap (1% miles) to be run on the opening day (March 21) of the Ashburton County R.C.’s meeting.

The Auckland two year-old Canowindra claims an engagement in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, to be run on April 3 next.

The sum of £51,068 10s. was handled at the totalisators during the two days of the Ohinemuri meeting.

R. E. Brown, who was riding Shining Light when that gelding fell at Ohinemuri, was injured about the face and had to be taken to the Thames Hospital.

H. Gray fined another tenner. This time for changing his place on Active at the post in the Hikutaia Handicap on the second day of the Paeroa meeting.

E. Pope was fined £5 for taking Northland off the course at Paeroa without having the rider weighed in when he finished fourth.

For conversing with a prominent horseman at the post before the start of a race at Paeroa,. two persons were brought before the stewards and told that such conduct was not allowed.

Mr. J. D. Kemp has found Plenipotent a very unprofitable horse, but persevered with him in the expectation that he would win over fences. The chestnut son of Powerful finished up his career at Ohinemuri on the second day of the meeting when he ran in the steeplechase. He had covered the greater part of the journey when be fell and evidntly broke a blood-vessel and bled to death.

The Opunake Cup fell to Gipsy Gem. a descendant of the old Peeress family.

The tote turnover at Opunake showed an increase over last year of £1672.

The death of Shining Light, the property of Mr. Edwards, of Greenlane, through falling at the Ohinemuri races on St. Patrick’s Day, is a bit of real hard luck for his owner. He was a promising three-year-old. Eusebius, who won the V.R.C. St. Leger, also won the V.R.C. Derby. He is a son of Eudorous (imp.) and the once useful mare Lager, who won a number of races before going to the stud.

Wishful and Gladful were not taken over from Sydney to Victoria to race there at the recent meetings. The fall Mahzoltov had on the. first day at Ohnemuri evidently frightened her. She ran off on the second day.

The horses of the Takapuna owners, the Hon. E. W. Alison and Mr. W. M. Taylor, were in evidence at Ohinemuri, Rockfield winning on each day and Taiamai in her only essay, in which she once more demonstrated her marked superiority. over Queen Abbey, to which filly she was giving 141 b. over that 'filly’s favourite distance (five furlongs). Taiamai has won five times of late.

L. Morrs was the most successful horseman at the Wairarapa R.C.’s autumn meeting with four wins (Old Gold twice, Sacramento and Kiltess). H. Gray, who was not riding on the second day, registered three victories (Torfreda, Sweet Tipperary and Affectation), while B. Deeiey (Bonnie Maid and Battle Array twice) and A. Reed (Vascovia. Red Signal and Hydrus) also piloted three winners each. F. Corlett (Chimera), W. McEwan (Missgold) and Sid. Reid (Rebekah) each rode a winner apiece.

Under ordinary circumstances Mr. G. L. Stead would no doubt have been taking a team across to Sydney in the spring. The most likely member of it would be Surveyor, the best two year old in the Dominion. Returning from Dannevirke, writes “Sir Lancelot.” I was informed by a friend recently back from Sydney that there was some error of omission in the entry of Surveyor for the A.J.C. Derby. To make sure I looked through the entries of the A.J.C. Derby, 1919, but cannot find any in Mr. G. L. Stead’s name, although he engaged four, including Surveyor, in the A.J.C. St. Leger. This is rather an unfortunate omission, as had he trained on Surveyor might have added to the excellent record put up by New Zealand-owned horses in the Australian Derby in recent years.

Mr. F. Armstrong, owner of Sleight of Hand and other well-known performers, who has been in indifferent health for some time, is recuperating at Mt. Egmont. By the way, Sleight of Hand has been taken up again after a long spell, and later on will be pre pared for winter engagements. Cynic has been entered for both hurdle races to be decided at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting. Bon Reve claims a nomination in the hurdle race on the second day. Parisian Diamond, who during last autumn accounted for five races out of seven starts, including the A.R.C. Easter Handicap, figures amongst the entries for the open sprint events to be decided at the Hawke’s Bay J.C.’s autumn meeting on April 2 and 3.

Northland broke down at Paeroa and Whitehall also pulled up lame. The first-named was so bad that he had to be left at Paeroa.

Quite a number of ancient gallopers have been brought forth from their retirement of late to prepare for the Disposal Stakes at the Southland R.C.’s gathering, and of their number Fitzosborne and Miss Finland have been in evidence on the local tracks of late.

A portion of the Karamu estate of the late Hon. J. D. Ormond is to be sold in small areas on March 29.

The want of proper facilities for dealing with casualty cases on our country racecourses is often commented upon. At Ohinemuri there were many complaints on this head. It is someone’s duty to make provision.

The progressive policy adopted bv the Dunedin Jockey Club in connection with their winter meeting, to be held on June 3, 5 and 7, has made a favourable impression with owners. The leading jumping events are: Otago Steeplechase, lOOOsovs, three miles (first day); Wingatui Steeples, 400sovs, two miles and a-half (second day); Dunedin Steeples, 500sovs, two miles and a-half (third day); Trial Hurdles, 200sovs, one mile and a-half (first day); Otago Hurdles, 500sovs, two miles (second day); Victoria Hurdles, 300sovs, one mile and a-half (third day). The chief flat races are: Birthday Handicap, 500sovs, one mile and a-half (first day); Provincial Handicap, 350sovs, one mile and aquarter (second day); and King George Handicap, 400sovs, one mile (third day). A six-furlong race is to come up for decision on each day of the fixture, being of the value of 300 sovs, 250sovs and 300sovs respectively.

There were only two pounds invested on Warchop in the Maiden Handicap at Ohinemuri. It is surely a long time since the machine laid such a long price against a starter. Punters evidently thought the gelding “no chop.”

At the yearling sales in Victoria on Monday Mr. W. R. Kemball purchased the colt by The Welkin —Lady Rose for 900gns. The filly by The Welkin from Carissima was bought by Mr. G. D. Greenwood for 430gns. The bidding for the half-sister to Gloaming reached 1900gns., but the reserve was 2000gns. and the filly was passed in.

The death of Mr. W. H. Potts, a veteran settler at the Thames, who held for many years amongst other positions that of secretary to the Thames Jockey Club, took place on Sunday at the age of 76 years. Mr. Potts was chairman of the Thames Harbour Board. He was born at Belfast in 1843, and arrived in Victoria in 1858, and came to New Zealand three years later. Mr. Potts was an old volunteer officer, holding the rank of captain, and was for many years in command of the Thames Navals. When the volunteers were disbanded he retired and received a long-service medal.