Turf Topics

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1576, 8 July 1920, Page 9

Turf Topics

The Gisborne Steeplechase winner Brunswick has left P. Malone’s establishment at Gisborne, and is now under F. Higgott’s charge at Otaki. Unless the Caulfield Cup winner Lucknow is sold shortly he will be shipped back to England, Messrs. Robinson and Clark having cabled to Mr. S. R. Bloomfield to that effect. It is reported that G. Clarke, who was a prominent and successful lightweight a couple of seasons back., has taken up his residence at Palmerston North, and will again be associated with the Highden stable next season.

In remembrance of his visits to Caulfield racecourse,. where he “schooled” a hunter on two or three occasions, the Prince of Wales has forwarded to the ranger, Mr. T. Bowes, a neat silver cigarette case, inscribed with the Royal coat of arms.

Mr. Davies, an ex-Aucklander, one time owner 6f the ’chaser Haydn, is on his wav from Australia to England by the Corinthic. During his few days’ stay in Auckland he was laid up with bronchitis, and consequently saw few of his old friends.

Among the 161 entries received for the 1921 Hawke’s Bay Stakes are the names of Gloaming.. Arrowsmith, Silver Link, Sasanof, Hymestra, Surveyor and Humbug. Mr. W. G. Stead has entered no less than 15 horses in the event in question. Amythas has not been engaged, but Mr. F. S. Easton claims a representative in a bay filly by Absurd —Liquify. After their successful efforts at the Napier Park and Hawke’s Bay winter meetings, the Auckland-owned pair Gold Kip and Sanacre were railed, in company with Sir Agnes and Night Time, to Trentham, where they are at present being prepared by Trainer A. E. Cox for their engagements at the Wellington R.C.’s winter fixture. Mr. R. Dysart, who lately, has been training Night Time himself, decided after the Napier Park meeting to place the.gelding under the Te Arolia trainer’s charge.

The annual meeting of the New Zealand County Racing Club’s Association will take place in Wellington on July 13, for the transaction of general business. The most important matter to be dealt with is that of the Gaming Amendment Bill, which has been promoted by the association, having for its object the restoration of the days of racing of country clubs curtailed by the gaming legislation of 1910; increasing the days of racing of existing clubs where the increase of population warrants same, making provision for granting permits to new clubs, increasing the days of trotting clubs, so that the days lost by the 1910 legislation may be restored and provide trotting days for new clubs, also for granting the eight existing hunt clubs annual in lieu of biennial totalisator permits.

The following is a list of the most successful owners at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s recent winter meeting:—Messrs. H. S. Keesing £5OO, G, and F. Peach £450. Mclver and Wright £4lO, G. Green £345, A. Murdoch £3OO, C. F. Vallance £l9O, R. McDonald £175. G. F. Hardy £175, V. and E. Riddiford £165. W. H. Windsor £155. L. Galbraith £155, J. M. Cameron' £ll5. L. H. Mathias £ll5, L. McKenzie £llO. J. R. Jackson £llO, H. M. Campbell £llO, D. Jackson £lO5, T. Lupton £lO5, “W. Ashcott” £75, W. Mountain £75.

Excellent nominations have been received for the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s classic events for the 1920-21 season. No less than 78 juveniles have been entered for the Hastings Stakes, of 35050v5., four furlongs, for two-year-olds, to be run at the spring meeting, 1920. The Hawke’s Bay Stakes, of 700sovs.. 6% furlongs, for all ages, w.f.a., to be decided at the autumn meeting, 1921, has attracted a record of 161 nominations, while 112 horses have been engaged in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas, which comes up for decision at the spring meeting, 1921.

At the beginning of last' month Ernest Barry, the English sculler, who for a long period held the world’s sculling. championship, defeating amongst others the Australians Billy Fogwell, Jim Paddon and Harry

Pearce, and the New Zealander Dick Arnst. over the Thames course, reported to interviewers in Sydney that he was practically fit to race then. The fact that .the Englishman’s race with Alf. Felton is not due to take place until September has elicited the following comment from the Sydney “Sportsman”:—“There is always the danger of overdoing it, and an athlete, particularly when he reaches the age of 38, ’as in the case under discussion, may easily become stale 136101’6 the day of the crucial test; and staleness will beat the best man —or the best horse, for' that matter —-that ever drew breath. In the case of a very young athlete the effects of overwork may be easily removed —if there be a decent, interval between their appearance and the day of trial —by rest and moderate exercise of a different kind to that under which the staleness was contracted: but in the case of a man of Barry’s age that would be impossible. The splendid resilience of youth is lacking, and the rebound is either slow or totally absent. Many a good man of over 30 has gone stale from overwork and to.o-eafly ripening into condition, too long sustained strain of preparation, and found, to his sorrow, that his form has left him forever. Others more resilient have come back fit for one great spasmodic effort, and found that it was their last. Nature had been called upon too often and her reserves were exhausted. For a man of Barry’s age to be really fit on June 1 for a race that is to take place in September is suicidal. It .means that be would require Io keep himself keyed up for three clear months, and no man alive could stand that strain, let alone a man of 38.”