THE CLUBMAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1578, 22 July 1920, Page 8

THE CLUBMAN

The end of the racing season of 1919-20 was reached last week with the Wellington Racing Club’s July meeting. So far as the winter meeting at Trentham is concerned it proved an unprecedented success from an all round point of view, and financially, no doubt, a long way ahead of its predecessors. The main sources of revenue — receipts from the totalisator, from owners in the way of fees, and from the gates — were never so large. Under ordinary circumstances and with ordinary luck in the matter of weather, it looked likely that the same good fortune as had been experienced at nearly every other meeting held in New Zealand this season would be in evidence at Trentham. A good many owners who it was thought would be reserving their horses for the. New Zealand Grand National meeting, decided on letting them take their chances at meetings preceding, fearing that they might not have the 'opportunity of going further afield. Still a number of horses- : were ; also in readiness in the South Island for the Wellington meeting, and could not. be. brought north. The attendances at nine-tenths or more of the gatherings held in < the Dominion during the season have been much larger this season than in any previous one. but it would appear probable that there has never been so large a civilian crowd at Trentham as assembled there on ’Wednesday of last week. Naturally, there was a lot of money invested per medium of the totalisator, and the club’s new machines were equal to all demands. The racing is referred to elsewhere. . # * * * In most jumping races the element of luck enters more largely than in flat races, but at this season of the year the leading jumping events at the winter meetings are the chief pre-post betting ones. Backers from one end of New Zealand to the other following form were prepared to hear of the Auckland Great Northern double winner, Lochella, winning the Wellington Steeplechase, which, by reason of its greater value, they concluded would be his mission. It was, however, soon generally known thatthe Auckland-Qwned Slowcoach had a lot of friends ■ in that event, and was coupled in the doubles with Lochella, who the betting pointed to as a sure starter in the Hurdle Race. Market operations disclosed the intentions of those behind the scenes, and as is often the case, there is such a run on certain combinations that the pencillers are stopped from laying, more. They all had, full books Slowcoach and Lochella, and could have laid as much again as they , did even at a very short price. Both horses claimed the double engagement, . but Lochella was withdrawn from the Steeplechase. Fielding, who rides Lochella and . who won on Slowcoach in the only race he had previously captured, had the mount on the Auckland-owned gelding, who in private up ■ to about six weeks hgo had a bad reputation for sticking up with his riders when it did not suit him to work or jump. He had, nevertheless, always run consistently with the colours up, .and had schooled well in the intervals, both at Ellerslie and at Trentham. The greatest confidence was reposed in him by his trainer and his connections, and apparently by those who were so strongly supporting him in combination with Lochella and other horses. * * * * Slowcoach was not in a humour for steeplechasing last' week, and after going a short distance in the Wellington Steeplechase and jumping but a few obstacles, stopped and refused to continue in the race despite the persuasive' efforts of his rider. Thus all the doubles were upset in which Slowcoach’s name was the first leg. Without consulting his owner, Julian, the trainer of Sloawcoach, brought the horse out after an intervening race, and had him saddled up for the Hurdle Race, in which he beat Lochella, a stronger favourite than he had been for the Steeplechase. It can be imagined that Slowcoach had few friends for the Hurdle Race after

his dirty display an hour and a-half before, and most of his backers for the first start would be “full up.” The temper of the crowd whose first experience it was of the Australianbred one was sorely tried. This can be readily understood, and a large number of racegoers were found demonstrating disagreeably, which was most unfortunate for his owner, Hon. E. W. Alison. The only pleasing things about the win under the circumstances were that he. was accepted for in both races, and that Turner, who rode him in the race he won has had all the rough work with him, and deserved this, his most important success in the saddle. Incidents of this sort are very rare.- It is no new thing for Slowcoach’s owner to pay

up for his horses in two races on one day, or to start them twice during an afternoon, which was a common practice years ago; indeed, we Jmve seen horses started two; three, as many as four times in one day over obstacles, and can recall occasions when happenings somewhat similar have occurred before. Backers whp supported Slowcoach for the Steeplechase and Lochella for the Hurdle Race will remember' the unlocked for results for many a long day, but will not attribute their bad luck to the machinations. of the pencillers, who are congratulating themselves on still having a “sweet little cherub sitting aloft” who’ sometimes watches over their interests. Slowcoach can be said to have proved a good friend when he so upset the confidence of a large army of his backers.

The greatest sporting event of the week in the eyes of many millions of people is the contest which commenced last Thursday. This is the American Cup race between Sir

Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock IV., the challenger, representing the Royal Ulster Yacht Club, and the Resolute, representing the New York Yacht Club, the conditions of the contest being the first three out of five heats, over varying courses. When the news came through that the first heat had been won by Shamrock IV. there was intense satisfaction, because it was the first occasion on which the first heat had fallen to an English representative, and that was accepted naturally as a pointer to ultimate success. The result of the second heat, which was to have been decided on Saturday last, but was postponed on account of there being no wind until Tuesday, will be awaited with the same keen interest as the first.

The element of luck enters into practically all contests. more or less, but while Shamrock IV. lost about 200 yards through going over the starting line and having to turn back, the Resolute was more unfortunate, her halyards parting when still leading, which resulted in her being withdrawn from the race. According to the cables, Shamrock suffered a mishap to her bowsprit, which might easily have cost her the heat. In a truly sporting spirit, Sir Thomas Lipton, who witnessed the race from his steam yacht Victoria and whose emotions are said to have fluctuated like a barometer, said he would rather not accept a victory • due to an accident or a fluke.

The New Zealand Racing Conference got through another session in its long career last week, and a good deal of necessary business was transacted. Practically all clubs carrying on racing were represented, and certain proposed amendments and additions to the rules took practical shape, the most important changes in

hitherto existing conditions being those submitted on behalf of the jockeys and - apprentices, whereby they are to receive increased payment for their services and be placed on a very much better footing. Races which will appeal to those increasing in weight, and who ride between the flags and over hurdles, will be specially well provided, and there will thus be more demand for their services throughout the year, whereas in the past the months of May, June, July and August have been the chief ones for those who can get comparatively few rides in other races. This change will encourage owners to put more of their horses into the jumping business. The main thing the members of the New Zealand Jockeys’ Association were after when they set out nearly a year ago to form the association was an increase of remuneration, and a branch which disassociated themselves from the main body by their representations have obtained for the whole the increase of pay ’ and other conditions that were put in the shape of “demands.” * V * $ The necessary percentage of votes were not obtained in order to bring about the raising of the minimum weight from 6.7 to 7.0, nor was the suggestion to .raise the weight of the next highest-weighted horse to 9.0 when none so handicapped were accepted for. That a majority of the clubs represented on the Conference favour . the raising of the minimum is beyond question, and if the pro- . grammes for the meetings next season do not reflect more largely than in the past what they have been contending for it will be strangely inconsistent. A fbw clubs, such as the leading metropolitan ones, could get on fairly well with a 6.7 minimum for their leading races when meetings do not clash, and there are visiting trainers who bring their lightweights with them, but the exception is the rule, and wherever the fields reach dimensions such as have been experienced at the metropolitan, suburban and country meetings in the Auckland province there will still be the same difficulty. The limitation of the size of fields is a most important matter? and as one division race only is to be permitted when there are seven races on a day’s programme and the number of horses would be abnormally large, it behoves the framers of programmes to remember this and cater more thoioughly for the horses in training according to their classes and qualifications. The sizes of the fields should be arranged as in New South Wales; where the 'fields are limited according to the size and capacity of the race courses. * * * * The representatives of the many clubs present at the Conference once again threw out the remit the carrying of which would have removed . the licensing of jockeys and trainers from the district committees to a board to be appointed by the Conference. There ar e arguable points in this connection. One principle affirmed is that one district committee may not grant licenses which other district committees have declined to entertain, which is quite right. Though a small section of the representatives at the outset of the Conference proceedings was against entertaining suggestions from the jockeys, trainers, owners, handicap--pers, or anyone outside the members representing the clubs, it was pleasing to learn that the big majority of the delegates were not inclined to take such a view, but were prepared to listen to and entertain any suggestion which might be /thought for the betterment of the sport, no matter from what source * * *. * So few owners of horses have been racing in assumed names of late years in New Zealand that it was not expected there would be any opposition to the new rule, doing away with the practice, which is still allowed in England, America, and in other parts of the world, and has been so for many years.

The Hon. C. J. Anderson, Minister of Internal Affairs, aims at literally wiping out the bookmakers with his Gaming Act Amendment Act introduced for that purpose. That means the odds layers whose books are made for them by the totalisator, as well as the pencillers who give straight-out. prices on some races and have doubles on practically all meetings of any note. The men who come under the category of bookmakers and tote odds layers have had many lives, but at last the game is up—that is if the Bill is passed, and those responsible for it will see that its provisions are enforced and that the bookmakers and backers —that is, the layers and takers of the odds — are each punished by fine or imprisonment. It will be interesting to learn whether such a measure will be placed on the Statute Book. The backer brings himself down to the same social scale as the layer. One sets out to try and win the money of the other, but of the hundreds of cases against bookmakers or layers of the odds no one has yet heard of a backer being fined, or contributing

a shilling to the revenue. The bookmakers throughout New Zealand have had to pay many thousands, and only the fear of having to go to gaol if caught again has had the effect of sending some into retirement. If the Hon. G. J. Anderson’s Bill becomes law and a vigilant detective force gets to work it- has been suggested the gaols of the Dominion will be too small to accommodate all the culprits after the first few meetings.

The Eclipse Stakes, one of the richest races given in England, standing as it does at 5000sovs. and a sweepstake added, was run last week at Sandown Park, and was won by Lord Astor’s , four-year-old Sunstar colt Buchan, -whose consistency as a winner and place-getter in the good races is an indication that he is a class above the average. He beat the three-year-old colts Silvern (by Polymelus) and Allenby (by Bayardo) and also Tetratenia, who could not stay out the distance. As he gets older Buchan retains or improves on his earlier form, and has been shaping better than the large majority of his own age. He must be pretty good to dispose of the three-year-olds as he has done. Buchan has raced with a fair share of bad luck, too, on occasions, and at least lost one good race this season through interfering with another competitor, who ■was awarded the stake. Bullock, the ex-Australian, rode him then, as he did on Thursday last. # * * * The weights for the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Race, Steeplechase and Winter Cup made their appearance on Monday, but with quite one-half of the horses engaged in those races at present in the North Island and still some doubt whether they will be transported from one island to the other, or that any proportion of the number will reach the s'cene, speculation as to what may be expected would be idle. > We hav.e teen assured that the meeting: will be brought off irrespective of what may, be the club’s experience in the way of fields, and no doubt good meeting will result, but after all these years in which North Island horses and owners have played such a prominent part, were it not that there are a few North Island horses in Canterbury, where they were marooned after the Prince of Wales meeting, a Riccarton race meeting, and especially, a National one, would be like a pudding with the chief ingredients left out. It will be worse than bad luck should the Canterbury Jockey Club, who last year had their grandstand burned down and who need all the money they can make to reinstate the necessary buildings, have to bring off their coming meeting with at least a third fewer horses than would race at Riccarton under ordinary circumstances. The seamen surely do not intend to carry matters to such an extreme as to try and prevent the owners of horses in the North Island taking or sending them to compete in the south.

As was expected, a large number of racing and trotting clubs are seeking to obtain permits to use the totalisator and to race during the coming season, and amongst them some who have already the use of the totalisator for one or two days are applying for an extension of days. The new Minister of Internal Affairs has had nothing better to offer than the suggestion that a redistribution of permits is one way out. We have been told seriously that a large body of legislative opinion favours a redistribution of existing permits, but we can hardly believe that there would be found a majority of members so disposed. To think of taking permits or days of racing from established clubs that have built stands and provided appurtenances and conveniences for the people and to give them to other clubs in the kindergarten stage would be not only a mistake but a very grave one, and we feel sure there is not a club of that class whose members would really ask for a permit if it was known that one would have to be taken from a deserving sporting club to gratify the request. The racing community are not asking for a redistribution of permits, but for an increase in keeping with the increase in population and prosperity of the country, and if the people’s representatives in Parliament are against a further increase of permits they will show it when the opportunity arrives for them to vote on the Gaming Act Amendment Bill introduced by the new Minister of Internal Affairs. We believe that a number of extra permits should be given, and which would be justified by circumstances.