TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1531, 28 August 1919, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

The Poverty Bay Turf Club have made a donation of £lOO towards the Cricket Association’s fund for the formation of the sports ground at Gisborne. . The ex-Aucklander Bingham claims engagements in the two principal flat events to be decided at the spring meeting to be held on Wednesday and Thursday next by the Marton Jockey Club and Rangitikei Hunt.

Among the regular attendants on the Bulls racecourse are Mr. J. Gaisford’s pair, Stetson and Mattock, while a two-year-old the property of the same owner, is also exercised at the headquarters of the Rangitikei Racing Club. The Charlemagne 11. gelding Charley was recently sold in Christchurch to’ Mr. R. Wright, of Hawarden, for 25 guineas. Charley started on five occasions last season, but failed to run into a place in any of his engagements.

A contract has been let by the Forbury Park Trotting Club for the erection of a combined members’ stand and stewards’ building, at a cost of about £7OOO. The building, the lower portion of which may be ready for the club’s races in November, is to be one of three storeys.

The Auckland horseman, J. Roach, was on Art when that gelding came to grief at the second fence _ from home in the Grand National Hurdle Race. Roach received a bad fall, and it was feared that he had sustained serious injuries, but beyond a severe shaking, the Aucklander was little the worse for the mishap. The Bulls trainer, M. King, has four of Mr. McManaway’s horses under his charge, the quartette consisting of Rio, a three-year-old filly by Autumnus —Rill, a two-year-old colt by Hallowmas —Rill, and a yearling by Boniform —Rill. The two-year-old colt promises to take a prominent part in the settlement of forthcoming events, and he has demonstrated that he is possessed of undoubted pace.

R. McSeveney, rider of Sir Medallist in the Spreydon Hurdles on the second day of the C.J.C. National meeting, was called before the Judicial Stewards for allowing his mount to cross Reformation at the first fence. His explanation that Sir Medallist swerved when drawing to the fence was accepted as satisfactory. Art’s fall in the Grand National Hurdle Race is attributed to a collision occurring between the Sarto gelding and Cynic as the pair were racing together at the top turn leading across to the straight entrance. At the time, Sir Solo had a pronounced lead of the field, and it is unlikely that Art would have troubled him had the mishap not occurred.

In connection with Lochella’s victory in the Grand National Steeplechase it is interesting to note that previous to the success of Mr. R. Acton Adams’ gelding a .Dunedintrained horse had not won the big cross-country event at r ßiccarton since Katerfelto scored in 1882, W. Clifford being in the saddle. Katerfelto was owned by Mr. D. Christie, an uncle of Charles Christie, trainer of Lochella. It was Lochella’s third appearance over big country, and the fact that the son of Grafton Loch completed the three and a-half miles course in record time (7min. lOsec.) speaks volumes for his painstaking trainer. The Canterbury horseman L. Hagerty had a great innings at the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, winning the Grand National Hurdle Race on Sir Solo, whom he also piloted to victory in the Sydenham Hurdles on the concluding day, when, by his winning efforts on Tip-up in the Styx Hurdles Race and Merrie Lad in the Lincoln Steeplechase, which events were run respectively before and after the Sydenham Hurdles, he accomplished the “hat trick.” Hagerty also rode Manawapango when the All Black gelding won the Enfield Steeplechase on the opening day. Other successful riders at the meeting were: Sid. Reid, J. Tapp and H. Lorrigan, who rode two winners apiece, A. McFlinn, H. Robinson, S. Henderson, J. McChesney, W. Bush, C. Emerson. G. Feilding, R. Reed, H. Young, A. McDonald, T. Humphries, Mr. Howard and Mr. Barr each rode a winner.

The Calibre gelding. Gunrest, is now being trained by G. Hope, the one-time crack cross-country rider.

Anticipations that the contest between such a high-class collection of trotters as that engaged in the Avon Handicap on the second day of the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s August meeting at Addington would produce a great struggle were sorely disappointed (writes our Christchurch correspondent). The greatly improved form shown by Bon Patch quite spoilt the race from a spectacular point of view. Going off at a great pace, the Oamaru representative had lost little of his initial advantage at the end of a mile, and from this out interest was confined to the struggle for second money. Entering the concluding circuit Billy Parole, Red Heather and Winall were all doing their best, with Reta Peter gathering them up. In the back straight the last-named, trotting in faultless style, worked her way into second place. Although her chance of overhauling the leader looked hopeless her driver kept her going for all she was worth. It was a spirited effort on the Petereta mare’s part, but she was still half a dozen lengths to the bad when the post was reached. This was easily the best race Bon Patch has run to date, and with the services of A. Pringle in the sulky, he lost nothing in the matter of horsemanship. Whist, who carried the confidence of the Oakhampton stable, ran a fair race, but most of the others beat themselves in trying to go the strong pace set by Bon Patch in the first mile.

In responding to the toast, “The Sport of Trotting,” at the annual reunion of the Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association at Christchurch, the Mayor (Dr. Thacker. M.P.) advocated the establishment of class races and good sweepstakes, which would do away with the “stumers” that now spoiled so many races. Horses that finished up a quarter of a mile or more behind the rest of the field, or that retired after going a few hundred yards, should never be allowed to run- in such races at all. Class races would improve the sport out of all knowledge. He also advocated the improvement of the various courses, which would mean the improvement of the sport, and

also suggested that the men who were coming back should be provided for by making rows of seats in the stands comfortable for those who were disabled. Speaking of the permits given for trotting. Dr. Thacker spoke strongly of the disparity between the numbers granted for racing and the numbers for trotting, and, amidst applause, promised that if the matter were brought before the House, he would give it all the support he could as a member of Parliament. In conclusion, he spoke of the benefits of competition in not only trotting, but all sports, and expressed ‘the hope that there would in the future be more frequent interchanges of visits between Australian and New Zealand trotters of good class.

When Coalition won the Wanganui Steeplechase in May last it appeared fairly certain that Messrs. E. and V. Riddiford’s ’chaser would add further successes to his credit before the termination of the season’s racing. As matters turned out, the Patronus gelding experienced a period of illluck, which did not, however, end with the opening of the new season, for symptoms of lameness caused his withdrawal from the Grand National Steeplechase on the eve of the C.J.C. meeting. In consequence. Coalition was unable to take part in any of the richly-endowed steeplechases at the C.J.C. Grand National fixture, and was shipped back to Wellington. It will be remembered that by an oversight Coalition was not accepted for in the Great Northern Steeplechase at Ellerslie in June last, and though he claimed an engagement in the Winter Steeplechase on the concluding day of the A.R.C. meeting, it was decided not to make the trip to Ellerslie. Coalition’s next engagement following his two starts at Wanganui was in the Wellington Steeplechase, on July 8 last, and he succeeded in accounting for all of his opponents in that event with the exception of Vascular, who defeated the Trentham-trained representative by a head. Coalition subsequently started in the July Steeplechase on the concluding day of the Wellington winter meeting, but ran unplaced, this being his last start prior to being shipped to Riccarton, where lameness rendered his mission an unprofitable one.

The Thames Jockey Club is making improvements to the buildings on the Parawai course, and a new weighing machine, jockeys’ casualty ward, stands for owners, trainers and jockeys, loose-boxes for visiting horses, and accommodation for attendants.

On the second day of the C.J.C. Grand National meeting, the Judicial Committee held an inquiry in regard to the bumping which Parisian Diamond. Hiero and Form Up were subjected to during the running, of the Winter Cup on the opening day. A number of riders in the race in question were called upon to give evidence, but the Judicial Committee decided, after hearing their statements, that in the circumstances it was not possible to affix the blame to any particular rider.