TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1541, 6 November 1919, Page 16

TURF TOPICS.

Of the £35,837 distributed in stakes at the Australian Jockey Club’s recent meeting, New South Wales horses won 55., New Zealand horses secured £5289, and Vic-torian-owned representatives £2125 15s. England’s share of the stake money was £540, which went to R. Wootton, as the result of Whitefield carrying his colours to victory in the suburban Handicap on' the third day. One of the provisions of the Moonga Handicap (seven furlongs), decided at the. V.A.T.C.’s recent meeting at Caulfield, was that the runners be ridden by apprentices who had not won 20 races, and another was that the riders were not to carry whips. In Victoria apprentices in races confined to riders of that class are never permitted to carry whips, so that the . suggestion that it was made a provision at Caulfield for fear the youngsters might fall off at one of the various sharp turns has no foundation. In fact, the reason is that it is an indication of the view of the racing authorities that there is more in riding than the mere application of the whalebone. The death of Mr. C. A. Durie, one of the best known of Wanganui settlers racing in the late seventies and eighties on the Wanganui-Tara-naki coast, in conjunction with his brother James most of the time, has been announced. Amongst the horses raced were the descendants of the St. Patrick mare Crinoline. Nine in number from that mare were Elsa, Leita, Gladiola, Frivolity, Tuna, Waitotara, Taipo, Christmas, and Zip. Elsa was dam of Audacity, Leita left Grey Msuket, and each of the other mares bred winners, Zip being dam of Castashore and others. Elsa left Lady Sarah, dam of those good ones Hautapu and Princess of Thule, the last-named granddam of G‘eneral Stephen and Escaped.

M. Connell, the well-known Sydney jockey, celebrated his nineteenth anniversary as a jockey in Sydney on October 11. During that time Connell has had 5343 rides for 1008 wins, 857 seconds and 686 thirds, so nearly half his rides have resulted in placings. In his computation Connell does not count five small races he won before going to Sydney. A new rule of the Australian J.C. with regard to apprentices came into force on November 1. The main feature of it is that “no apprentice who shall have become bound after November 1 shall be granted permission to ride in races (as explained in section 84b) or a jockey’s license unless he shall have been bound for a period of not less than five years, or until he shall attain the age of 21 years.” The stake money at the Wellington Racing Club’s spring meeting was distributed as follows: —Mr. G. D. Greenwood, 825sovs. and a cup valued lOOsovs.; Sir G'eorge Clifford, 79550v5.; Mr. A. McAulay, 500sovs.; Mr. A. B. Williams, 42050v5.; J. Goring Johnston, 400sovs.; Mr. K. S. Williams, 395sovs.; Estate late W. J. Douglas, 38550v5.; Mr. I. G. Duncan, 310sovs.; Mr. A. F. Lawrie, ISOsovs.; Mr. G. Hume, 16550v5.; Mr. G. Seifert, 145sovs.; Mr. W. Richmond, 14550v5.; Mr. L. G. Paul, 14550v5.; Mr. G. L. Stead, 14550v5.; Mr. A. McDonald, 13550v5.; Messrs. V. and E. Riddiford, 120sovs.; Mrs. M. A. Perry, 70sovs.; Mr. W. E. Herbert, 60sovs.; Mr. T. H. Lowry, 55sovs.; Mrs. H. M. Campbell, 50sovs.; Mr. J. G. Collins, 40sovs.; Mr. A. Goodman, 40sovs.; Mr. F. O. Weine, 35sovs.; “Mr. Loring,” 35sovs.; Mr. F. A. Jensen, 25sovs.; Mr. H. Barrett, 20sovs.; Mr. R. A. McKenzie, 20sovs.; Mr. J. G‘. Emslie, 20sovs.; and Mr. F. S. Easton, 20sovs.