TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1530, 21 August 1919, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

************************** Mr. R. B. Lusk has been appointed judge to the Wellington Racing Club for the coming season. Burrangong's new owner has decided to send him to Riccarton, and he is to go into F. D. Jones’ stable to be prepared for spring racing. The successful lightweight jockey. L G Morris, has accepted a retainer to ride for H. Telford’s Trentham stable during the present season. The New Zealand entrants for the A.J.C. Grimcrack Stakes include Desert Gold’s sister, Acacia, owned by Mr. T. H. Lowry, who also has the Wolawa —Wairakau filly engaged. Satin Bird, who won the Epsom Handicap at Randwick two years ago, has been brought in after a good spell, and will shortly resume training operations at Randwick. He has benefited considerably by his rest. Messrs. W. H. S. Moorhouse, C. W Tringham, J. G. Duncan, J. W. Abbott, and O. S. Watkins have been appointed members of the Wellington District Committee for the coming season. Mr. V. B. Stratton, secretary of the figment Racing Club, has been appointed secretary of the Waimate Plains Trotting Club, in succession to the late Mr. G. A. Holder. Bon Spec has quite recovered from the trouble that laid him aside since last Easter (writes our Christchurch correspondent). and is quickly getting into racing trim. His stable mate, Belair, appears to be going back. At the annual meeting of the Feilding Jockey Club, the following officers were elected for the year: President, Mr. C. A. J. Lovett (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. W. G. Haybittie; committee vacancies, Messrs. B. N. Sandilands, Hugh Roberts, R. J. Harper, and W. G. Fry (all re-elected); auditors, Messrs. W. R. Walker and G. O’Halloran, reappointed at a fee of £lO 10s. each. Mr. G. H. Waymouth was re-elected hon. treasurer.

In view of the fact that cabled news led us to believe that Germany was in an all-round state of revolution at that time, it is strange to read that racing was going on much as usual in that country in April. According to “Deutscher Sport” of May 6, seven races of the total value of £5BOO were run at Berlin-Grunewald on the previous Sunday. One of the chief events, the Preis von Dahlintz, of £llOO, was won by the Graditz Stud’s three-year-old Glockensturm. a colt by Nuage out of Glockenspiel. On the same day stakes worth £2395 were run for at Madgeburg. The sudden death of Mr. K. S. Brookfield, manager Bank of New Zealand, Hamilton, and president of the Hamilton Racing Club and Gentlemen’s Club, occurred on Saturday week. He appeared to be in his usual health up till the Friday night, but on Saturday, not feeling well, remained in bed, and during the afternoon became seriously ill and died at 7 p.m., much regretted by those with whom he had come in contact during 20 years of service as manager of the bank in Hamilton, where he will be greatly missed. At the recent meeting of the Woodville Jockey Club, a communication was received from the Racing Conference in reference to the alteration to the rules, and bearing particularly on the matter of admissions to the birdcage and jockeys’ rooms. It was decided that the matter of altering the jockeys’ room and the entrance to the trainers’ stand be left to the ground committee to act. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Goldfinch, seconded by Mr. D’Ath, to increase the donation to the Soldiers’ Club to £lOO. It was resolved that during the railway restrictions the club place its loose-boxes at the disposal of the travelling racehorses free of charge. The ground committee are to be asked to consider the advisability of entering upon a scheme to further beautify the grounds. The nominations for the election of officials closed with the secretary, Mr. W. A. Lyon. The following have been returned unopposed: President, Mr. S. Bolton; vicepresident, Captain Grainger; and auditor, Mr. C. W. Allen.

Nominations for the A.J.C. Breeders’ Plate show that Cetigne’s chestnut half-brother, by Tressady, is owned by Sir Samuel Hordern. He is to race as Saturn, and the highpriced Kilbroney—-Flowery Speech colt will be known as Peroration. The Australian Steeplechase resulted in the death, through falling, of that good gelding Jack Rice and also of Sunderland, two of the sixteen starters. Few better hurdlers, than Jack Rice have been seen in Australia, and he was a great public favourite, over Sydney side especially. Gladful, Cuffs, Dorian and Sir Mnemon also fell in the same race. The past season, both in New Zealand and Australia, has been responsible for a number of fast time performances which put those of previous years in the shade, and the present season in Australia has begun with a record performance for the Australian Steeplechase, which Algous won on Saturday week at Caulfield in 7min. 43%5ec., or s%sec. faster time than that race was ever run in previously, and it is a record for a four-mile steeplechase over 24 fences. As Sir Prim was second carrying 12.4 that gelding’s performance was a great one. Toison d’Or’s time, Imin. 55%5ec., in the Balaclava Stakes, nine furlongs, and Pram’s time, 3min. sec., in the Knowsley Hurdle Race, two miles, were records for those particular events. Particulars to hand of the Australian Hurdle Race miles less 92vds.) show that the Elysian gelding Beltane started favourite for the event, in which there were 15 starters, all of whom completed the lengthy course. Rounding the home bend Sir Mnemon, Beltane, Cuffs and Captain W. all appeared to have chances. The victory of Beltane was ’oudly proclaimed at the last jump, but in a ding-dong battle Sir Mnemon landed the stake by half a neck from Beltane, with Cuffs a length and a-half away, third. Sir Mnemon, who is by the imported sire Mnemon, was bred by his lady owner, Mrs. E. McArthur, and was ridden by the exNew Zealand jockey J. N. McGregor, who was given an ovation on returning to scale.

The death occurred in France recently of the brood mare Kizil Kourgan (Omnium II. —Kasbah), who, as a three-year-old, won the Grand Prix and French Oaks, her earnings at that age totalling. £25,000. Among her sons was Kenilworth, sire of those good horses Wolaroi and Kennaquhair. At the Rosehill meeting held recently the chief race, the Rosehill Handicap, fell to British Arch, son of Marble Arch, who was bred in Auckland. The Second Hurdle Race was won by the Patronus gelding Dood from Wavelet, half-sister to Huku and a number of good hurdle performers, from Spray, by Hippocampus from Maid of the Mist. At the same meeting the Australianbred Bimeter, who did most of his racing in New Zealand, won the Autumn Handicap. Mr. W. G. Haybittie said at the annual meeting that he did not like the name “Feilding Jockey Club.” It was not a “Jockey” Club. It was a “Racing” Club. He would like to see the name changed. Of course he would be told that other clubs were called Jockey Clubs, but that was not the point. He would like members io support him in the matter. Messrs. W. G. Fry and B. N. Sandilands supported the suggestion, but Mr. Haggitt said the matter would require a notice of motion before it could be dealt with. It is not unlikely that the subject will be brought up in a formal way. A well-known Wellington sporting enthusiast in Mr. G. D. (“Dug”) Hewitt, who for some years past has been a partner in Messrs. Davidson and Co., motor importers, and exporters of wool, hides and skins, has severed his connection with that 'firm, and has started in business on his own account as a buyer of wool, etc. He has been licensed by the Government to deal in the export trade, and as he has always been known for his straight dealing in land products farmers are assured of a square deal in their transactions with Mr. Hewitt, who is a famil'ar personality at all sales. At present Mr. Hewitt’s telephone number is 2289, -while he has registered “Hides, Wellington,” as his cable and telephonic code.