TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1574, 24 June 1920, Page 31

TURF TOPICS.

Messrs. W. T. Jewell and L. Freeman will represent the Foxton Racing Club at the conference of country clubs to be held at Wellington next month.

'After the Maiden Hack Race on the concluding day of the Gisborne Racing ; Club’s steeplechase meeting, the stewards held a meeting to enquire into the matter of the alleged interference by Jovial (R. Reed) with Ana}ta (E. Manson). After hearing evidence, it was decided to fine Reed £2 for crossing over on Anata, as a breach of Section A, Rule 2, Part 26, of the regulations. A rider was added that the fact of Reed being mounted on a “green” horse had determined the stewards in imposing a light penalty.

When Acquittal fell near the five furlongs post when contesting the Waikanae Handicap on the concluding day of the Gisborne Racing Club’s steeplechase meeting, sustaining a broken fetlock, as a result of which he had to be destroyed, the stewards were called together after the race enquire into the cause of the accident. The evidence of E. Lowe, rider ‘of Acquittal, was to the effect that the horse was sore before the race started, and his instructions from the owner and trainer were to the effect that Acquittal was to be kept moving at the post before the race started. Lowe also stated that he was in no way interfered with, and the horse’s fall very nearly brought down Cleft. The rider was of the opinion that the fetlock breaking caused the fall of the horse. A verdict was given that there was no blame attachable to anyone in connection with the fall of Acquittal.

Auckland horsemen experienced a successful time at the Napier Park R.C.’s winter meeting. E. Warner piloted Oakleigh to victory in the Petane Hack Steeplechase on the opening day, while A. J. McFlinn had the mount on Heather Sprig when that gelding scored in the principal flat event, the Stewards’ Stakes Handicap. On the second day H. Robinson rode Sanacre in his winning engagement in the Meanee Hack Handicap, and later in the afternoon was on Gold Kip when he led the field home in the Winter Oats Handicap, while J. Roach steered Peneton to victory in the principal jumping event, the, Park Steeplechase. It is cabled that bookmakers who do ;an illicit business in Paris and jockeys riding there have been working'together, and punters have suffered. j A jockey accused of pulling a favourite admitted his guilt, and said that he and other jockeys had received bribes from bookmakers, who are: stated to have an army of touts in cafes, restaurants, and elsewhere. It is estimated that £400,000 is being daily placed with the bookmakers. The amount seems so great that it is possible some mistake was made in cabling, as there is also the betting at the racecourses to be taken into account. In order to cope with illicit betting it is probable totalisator offices will be opened in Paris, and bookmakers’ penalties are to be increased. The statement as to the tax on betting yielding 51 million francs probably means the totalisator deduction for the year. Before the war the deduction was only 8 per cent., but last year it was increased to 10 per cent, and it is now proposed to send it up to 11 per cent.

Several of the acceptors for the Marlborough Hurdle Race at the V.R.C. birthday fixture at Flemington on June 7 were scratched on the course. This arose from a. somewhat unusual development. It was announced that horses competing in the hurdle race at the meeting would be relieved of any liability to carry a penalty in the Grand National Hurdle Race and the Grand National Steeplechase in the event of winning. Investigation showed, however, that while this provision appeared in the Grand National conditions, it was omitted from the Grand National entry form. The view is taken that the entry form constitutes a contract between the owners and the club, and is binding on both parties. Rather than run the risk of incurring a Grand National penalty several owners" decided not. to run their horses in the jumping contest. Those horses were withdrawn included Main, and Silver Heart. The diifejpct was widely discussed on the (fetirse, and the opinion gained ground th'at no penalty would be incurred winners of jumping races that afternoon. Consequently Kinlark was tSie only withdrawal from the Prince of Wales Steeplechase.

The removal of the Auckland Trotting Club’s grandstand at Alexandra Park a distance of some five or six chains forward and on a line of rails specially laid, has been effected without breaking so much as a pane of glass. Mr. J. Rowe, who engineered the job. has been congratulated on all sides. It is considered an unprecedented feat so far as New Zealand is concerned of shifting so large a building bodily.

With horse feed at prices not experienced for many years at Ellerslie, a good many owners are finding the cost of keeping their favourites going more expensive, but there are fortunately many in the racing game who can afford the extra outlay, and some of them have met their trainers fairly under the circumstances.

During the winter months the pinch is most felt. Trainers are pleased that the shortest day of the year has passed. They are hoping that difficulties that have . presented themselves through the action of the Seamen’s Union will soon be righted.

The principal winning owners at the Napier Park Racing Club’s winter meeting were: —B. T. Bennett £550, J. Molloy £5OO, W. G. Emeny £3lO, E; R. Murphy £270, E. T. Batt £235, H. S. Keesing £195, Peach Bros. £195, W. L. Luscand £155, Mrs. M. A. Perry £l5O, C. E. Twist £l4O, P. A. Herman £l2O, L. H. Mathias £l2O, D. Bohan £l2O, J. Bull £llO, C. F. Vallance £lOO, W. Rayner £lOO.

Perfect Knight, by Amadis from Panacea (the dam of Panmure, owned by Mr. J. G. Johnston, of Palmerston North), is in the King’s stable, and is supposed to be pretty good. He is own brother to Penon, who won six races last season, ran second four times, and was fourth in his only other start.

Stirrup Cup has gone into E. J. Rae’s stable, a patron having effected the purchase from Mr. R. ActonAdams. He is a maiden, and has not raced for some considerable time.

Through an error made by a Christchurch firm in labelling a compound as linseed oil, a Heathercote trainer, Mr. J. D. Smith, has lost a couple of valuable trotting horses (says the Christchurch “Sun”). A third horse was saved by a veterinary surgeon after it had received a small quantity

of the “medicine.” Mr. Smith decided to treat his horses to a course of physic for worms, and he fixed on the old-fashioned linseed oil and turps. He purchased what, according, to the label, was a gallon tin of linseed oil. Soon after the compound was' administered the horses showed signs of poisoning, and an examination of the tin showed that it held a mixture evidently intended for external application, and presumably contained a considerable proportion of carbolic acid. It also contained much linseed oil. The horses which succumbed are Silver Heir, conjointly owned by Mr. J. McGregor and Mr. J. Fairbairn, and Kaweah, owned by Mr. J. Webb. Another trotter. Albert Wallace, is recovering from his dose of “physic.”

An idea of the immense popularity of Soccer football in England is furnished by the fact that the 63 ties in- Association football cup competitions recently won by Aston Villa were witnessed by no less than a total of 2,034, 700 spectators, the takings in connection with the matches amounting to £164,301. The recent Association football cup final, decided in London, between Huddersfield and Aston Villa, which was won by the latter, who now enjoy the unique distinction of having captured the cup no less than six times, was witnessed by more than 50,000 people, representing a total “gate” of £9722 10s. The lowest price charged for admission was 35., and the highest a guinea. This makes an interesting contrast to the opening match of the British Northern Union League team in Australia against Sydney, which was witnessed by 65.000 people, and resulted in a £5500 gate. Undoubtedly it costs far less in Australia and New Zealand to witness first-class football than is the case in the Old Country.