TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1517, 22 May 1919, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

During the Forbury Park meeting J. Bryce acquired the four-year-old grey gelding Blue Chimes, and the son of Four Chimes raced in his interest on' the concluding day.

At a meeting of the committee of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club it was decided to apply for April 30 and May 1 for the dates of the next autumn meeting. Mr. J. S. McLeod and Mr. H. A. Russell were appointed delegates to the New Zealand Racing Conference.

Mr. H. Chisholm and Co. report having sold, on behalf of Mr. S. P. Mackay, of Victoria, the imported brood mare Lady Victoria, to Mr. Norman Falkiner, at a figure, one of the highest paid for a brood mare in Australia. Mr. Falkiner has also bought the yearling half-brother to Kennaquliair, and has handed over the colt to E. J. Marsden to train.

Among the juveniles which the Flemington trainer James Scobie has taken in hand for the coming season is a s’ster to Gloaming, who will race as Refraction. The sister to Gloaming (says “Goodwood” in the “Australasian”) is a 'fine raking filly a hardy bay —that on appearances, apart from breeding, should do well, but it is quite possible that she will require a little time.

At the annual meeting of the Amberley Racing Club, presided over by Mr. G‘. B. Starky, the balance-sheet showed a debit balance of £295 2s. 3d. The total expenditure was £2407 12s. 2d., including Government tax £584 45., and the debit balance of the previous year of £547 7s. sd. The patron, president, and vice-presidents and stewards were re-elected, with the addition of Messrs. A. J. Blakely, R. O. Duncan, and A. R. Turnbull. Other officers elected were: —Judge, Mr. A. Dickson; handicappers, Messrs. H. Brinkman and J. E. Henrys; clerk of tire course, Mr. Holmes; clerk of the scales, Mr. Noall; treasurer, Mr. C. H. Wylde-Browne. Mr. Parsons resigned from the secretaryship, and the stewards reported that Mr. F. ■Crowther had agreed to accept the office for twelve months. The annual fixture will be held on September 23.

A further indication of the increasing popularity of trotting, throughout the Dominion is the formation at New Plymouth of a trotting club, to be known as the Taranaki Trotting Club. Light harness racing is going ahead in the North Island in leaps and bounds, and it is plainly apparent that additional meetings-will have to be provided in the near future in order to cater on a more liberal scale for the increasing number of owners.

Mr. A. Ramsay, of the staff of Blomfield and Co., was married to Miss Edith Scott, of Kingsland, Auckland, last month, when the principals and the staff and sporting friends united and presented him with a substantial cheque. It is needless to say that Mr. Ramsay, who has been associated with the firm for a considerable time, is held in high esteem by his employers, co-workers and those with whom he comes in contact in business.

Owners and trainers should note in connection with the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter meeting, which takes place on June 20 and 21, that the Hunt Club Steeplechase Handicap, to be run on the second day, has been changed to the Hack and Hunters’ Steeplechase Handicap, of 150sovs., for hacks and qualified hunters (four certificates). The second horse will receive 20sovs. and the third horse lOsovs. The distance has also been reduced from 2% miles to two miles. Nominations for all events to be run at the Napier Park winter meeting close with the secretary, Mr. J. E. Gleadow, Herschell Street, Napier, on Friday, May 30, at 8 p.m. The death is announced of the pacing stallion St. Elmo (2.17), owned by Percy Miller, of the Fairfield Stud Farm, Windsor, N.S.W. Particulars just to hand show that St. Elmo died suddenly when walking along a road, having burst a blood-vessel. He, being a popular horse, was mated with a large number of mares at Bega, where he did stud service this season. St. Elmo was by Elmo 11. by Yarraman, by Berlin (imp.), and his dam was Lady Bentwood, by Bentwood, by Baywood. St. Elmo was a fine type of the bulldog racehorse, a bay, and stood about 15.2 hands high. He was raced with success, and among his wins was the Champion Trot, at Melbourne, when he beat Dixie Alto (imp.), Vaunt, Directaway (imp.), Miss Vera Capel (imp.), and Myrtle Dear (imp.).

Among his progeny are Chid (2.13), Prince Elmo (2.13), Sweet Elmo (2.17), Lady Elmo (2.16 as a two-year-old), Head Lady (2.19), and many other well-known performers on the trotting track. St. Elmo was foaled in 1901, and was purchased as a three-year-old by Percy Miller from the breeder, S. J. Shanley, of Campbelltown.

The need for more trotting permits in order to enable the clubs to cater for the interests of the sport was urged by Mr. Selig, president of the N.Z. Trotting Association, at a recent meeting of the Board in Christchurch, and after the question had been carefully considered by members it was unanimously resolved that the president, vice-president, and Mr. Short be appointed a committee to go to Wellington to confer with the executive of the New Zealand Trotting Conference apd the New Zealand Sports Protection League with a view to a deputation to the Cabinet.

The Poverty Bay sportsman, Mr. K. S. Williams, owner of Vagabond, who won both the principal handicaps at the Manawatu R.C.’s autumn meeting, was anxious to secure Gay Lad after the Great Easter Handicap, and though he is reported to have made an offer of 2000 guineas, Mr. J. Grigg refused to part with the English-bred horse. Gay Lad was until recently on the disabled list, but is reported to have made a good' recovery from the injury which he met with whilst contesting the Great Easter Handicap at Riccaj’ton.

At the monthly meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association (writes our Christchurch correspondent) the Licensing Committee reported that it had no recommendation to make with reference to the case of B. Jarden, who had been called off a second time this season for starting before his time. On behalf of the committee Mr. Denton stated that this course had been adopted because the situation had changed somewhat since the board passed the resolution dealing with horsemen who anticipated their bells. The present position, with its lack of uniformity, was very unsatisfactory, for some clubs started by the yards system while others used the clock; but, even so, many of the latter followed the yards system. He thought that in the majority of infringements at the post the drivers did not anticipate their bells deliberately. Mr. Nicoll contended that the

system in vogue on some courses was practically a compromise between the two starting methods. This struck him as being an admission by the starters that they could not check the clock. According to Mr. Denton’s statement they were on the verge of acute disorganisation of the sport. Mr. Selig said the fact of such a substantial fine having been inflicted on Jarden was proof that the offence was regarded as serious. No doubt members would agree that there was some excuse under present conditions, and the whole question reverted back to the unsatisfactory position caused by the clashing of the two starting systems. Eventually it was decided to warn Jarden that any further offence on his part would be severely dealt with.

In “The Note Books of a Spinster Lady,” published in England and dealing with notable men, a story concerning the visit of the late Fred Archer to the famous surgeon, Sir James Paget, is thus told: —Archer, having been severely bitten by a horse, went to Sir James Paget for advice. “And when do you think I shall be all right?” said he, after the wound had been examined and dressed. “I think you will be fairly yourself again in about six weeks!” said Sir James. “But I shall be all right for the Derby?” asked Archer. “Let me see,” replied Sir James, “when is the Derby?” The famous jockey, with a compassionate smile, enlightened the other’s ignorance. "Yes; I think you might go,” replied Sir James. “Go! Yes; but, Sir James, what I mean is—shall I be able to ride?” “Perhaps better not,” said Sir James; “better drive!” “I am afraid, Sir James,” cried Archer in despair, “you haven’t the least idea who I am!” “No . . . really, except that I have the pleasure of addressing Mr. Archer.” “Then I must tell you,” said Archer, “what you are in your profession, I am in mine.” And he proceeded to explain his position. Sir James Paget, much interested, among other questions, asked him; “If you are not able to ride, what difference will it make to you, do you suppose?” “About £2090.” “Indeed! And might I ask, if it isn’t impertinent, what may be the average income you make a year by your profession?” “About £7OOO or £8000.” “You may well say,” exclaimed Sir Janies, “that you are in your profession what I am in mine. I only wish my earnings equalled yours.” '