THE CLUBMAN

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1598, 9 December 1920, Page 8

THE CLUBMAN

The financial success of the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s spring meeting has been in keeping with the success of the racing clubs which have held meetings in Auckland during the past two months. They have each had most profitable meetings, and so have all the clubs throughout New Zealand, the Auckland meetings with the larger attendances showing the larger corresponding increases in money handled. This means well for the clubs, more especially those needing all their profits to help them pay for their courses and the necessary improvements to accommodate their horseowning patrons and the public for whom they are catering to the best of their ability. The totalisator is the main source of revenue, and the clubs everywhere are making every effort to get together all the money they can through its agency so as to be able to keep up their status and play the racing game as it should be played if it is to maintain its popularity. Perhaps when we have an increase in the number of days o£ racing the leading clubs may resort to seven races per day on their programmes, only having eight when it is deemed advisable to divide a large feld for safety’s sake. Seven races are quite sufficient under any circumstances with the long intervals the clubs make between the events. There is one alternative if the eight races are to be retained, and that is to start earlier each day. In Australia the leading clubs have six races and it is a pleasure to see how they manage at Randwick, where they cater for the best horse in every department, allowing the minor clubs to cater for the lower class material. With growing attendances it should be a consideration with clubs not only to provide all the necessary accommodation on their courses but to make sure that their patrons will suffer as little inconvenience as possible in getting away‘from the course after the sport is over. Earlier finishing would be much more ' preferable to existing conditions at Auckland meetings, near the metropolis. The Avondale Jockey... Club, and Whangarei .Racing Club led the way and people got back to the city from the meetings of these clubs earlier than from either the Takapuna Jockey Club or Otahuhu Trotting Club’s meetings, earlier indeed than from Ellerslie.

Our Clubman page this week is adorned with a portrait of Major S. Bolton, a well-known and popular personality in the Woodville district, who has been closely identified with the progress of this portion of New Zealand for upwards of a quarter of a century. Born in Scotland, where his father was M.P. for Stirling in the House of Commons, Major Bolton came out to the Dominion when a young man, and engaged in pastoral pursuits. He subsequently married Miss Hindmarsh and settled on hi'; homestead at Oete, • near Mangataihoka, which he has farmed for thirty years and where he still resides. Major Bolton was for many years a member of the Pahiatua County Council, and was recently re-elected for another term. He stood for the Pahiatua seat some years back in the Conservative interest, but was defeated. AH along he has taken an active interest in the Volunteer movement, and for a considerable time was in command of the Pahiatua Mounted Rifles, his admirable work being greatly appreciated, while his promotion to the rank of major was proof of the high regard in which he was held in military circles. Major Bolton has invariably been a keen advocate of all branches of sport, and for many years has filled the position of president of the Woodville District Jockey Club, and in that official capacity he has been indefatigable in his efforts to further the interests of this progressive country racing institution. For many years he was president of the Woodville Agricultural and Pastoral Association, and still retains the position of patron. Major Bolton is well-known in the show ring as a breeder of milking Shorthorns, and many of the

most successful representatives of this famous strain first saw the light of day at Oete, which shelters the highest pedigreed and best milkproducing cattle to be found in New Zealand. It can therefore be readily understood that when Shorthorns bred by Major Bolton are available for sale keen rivalry takes place for their possession. Tn this connection he has made a specialty of the Shorthorn, and his efforts in producing a capital milking strain have been appreciated by those engaged in the dairying industry throughout the Dominion, proof of this being furnished by the excellent prices obtained for Shorthorns that come from Major Bolton’s breeding establishment. Major Bolton has many wide financial interests, while he is also a director of several companies. Through his unfailing courtesy and honesty of purpose Major

Boiton has endeared himself to a wide circle of friends, and as he is still a man in the prime of life there should still be many years of usefulness ahead of him in the district that he has so worthily assisted towards the prosperity which it now enjoys.

The Auckland Trotting Club’s nominations give evidence that there are plenty of owners, local and from outside provinces and districts, who have designs on and are likely to be reaching for the rich prizes at the summer meeting. The entries, indeed, are record ones in the aggregate at least, if not for each particular event. That is as it should be. The track and stand accommodation has been vastly improved, the owners have everything as up-to-date as it is possible for the club to provide at the present time, and the prize money is so good that it was bound to have a magnetic attraction for those with horses that have any pretensions to sufficient class to win. Travelling horses to and from meetings has not been made much if really more con-

venient than it was a few years ago. It certainly costs more. There is more to be won, and proportionately the cost of nominating and accepting and racing, outside of the ordinary travelling expenses, may not have increased in the same ratio. A good healthy nomination list, followed by a correspondingly good acceptance, indicates that there is plenty of money in the game, just as the totalisator returns over meetings point to the spending powers of a very large section of lovers of sport on their chief pastime. It. is a barometer of the times, showing the popularity of the horse-racing sport in all its branches. It has been a wonderful season so far as it has gone, in all respects. Clubs everywhere in the North Island, and nearly all, if not actually all, in the South Island —racing and trotting —have been, receiving larger entries

and more money from other sources c.s well as from the totalisator, and the trotting clubs are quite holding their own in public favour. Mr. C. F. Mark, secretary of the Auckland Trotting Club, has reason to be gratified with the first response owners have made to the first meeting his club will hold this season.

The Auckland Racing Club has the same pleasing experience as in former years. One year’s entries exceed those of another. It has been the same for a considerable time past. Class is thoroughly represented in the different races. The best in nearly each department are as good, no doubt, as anything in our sister States. Allow us to pick our horses for certain contests and there would be a big chance of some of the prizes being retained against all invaders. We would not, go outside the entry list for the Auckland meeting to select a horse to pit against Poitrel on weight-for-age conditions over a mile, a mile and a-half and two miles. Amythas has been placed out of com-

mission temporarily, but is a good four-year-old, and over each of the three distances named would not disgrace himself. The Englishman Arrowsmith would be found playing his part well from six furlongs to a mile and a-quarter with most of the English importations. Gloaming, whose good qualifies were elucidated in New Zealand, though an Australianbred horse from Australian parents, and a splendid Australian record also, would beat anything his age from six furlongs probably up to a mile and a-half. Duo and Gasbag, three-vear-old sons of Demosthenes, aie proved stayers with a bit of class about them. Humbug, Absurd’s son. can go fast up to a mile, and Chrysostom is an improving customer who can go fast and promises to go a good middle distance. The mare that can beat Oratress from a mile and a-quarter tio two miles at even weights might not be discovered this season in the Commonwealth even after a deal of searching. Another Demosthenes, we heard someone remark when she won the New Zealand Cup, ■what a uity we have not more mares by that distinguished sire.

wiermin is the colt most people would select of our two-year-olds. He is another of the Absurd flyers of his age, and travels like a stayer, and though so far only a winner of the four classic four-furlong races he has contested, and against only those of his own age, has given evidence that he can do his bit as a racing machine with all credit —indeed, in such a way as to lead those who have seen him race to conclude that he will follow in the footsteps of illustrious predecessors when asked to go over a bit of extra distance. Rational has not been entered for the A.R.C. meeting. He has won four times and been twice beaten. Mermin beat him with the luck in starting against him, and Gloaming triumphed over him also. Gloaming was the quicker away. The cracks don’t want to loiter when Rational gets going. That gelding is another of Absurd’s sons. He will ,-jfay on, we would imagine. Maunu, by Wolawa, once properly going can get in some great work, and a furlong or two more ground than he has raced over will likely suit him nicely. The Hawk raced well in Canterburv, and may be of the same class. There are a number of others with plenty of galloping ability in the events in which two-year-olds are to run, and some should develop into usefulness when this season has passed over. A bit of time to furnish and grow could be permitted some of them to their ultimate advantage. It seems a pity that some were raced so early.

There are some horses of varying ages in the flat races that we have not seen the best, of. They are in a developing stage, and probably when the season is over there will be reason to elevate a few to higher pedestals than we have so far selected for them. The Derby field may at barrier rise number half a dozen of the eight figuring therein, but should it not be so there may be sufficient to provide a contest for the three prizes. Gasbag is the one commonly supposed to be the best, and he will likely have raced in the Auckland Cup and possibly on the second day of the meeting. There will be others racing of his age, too, before they meet for the classic honours, and Landslide, Listowel and Winter Wind, as the respective winners of the Avondale, Auckland, and Dunedin Guineas; Vespucci, who was good enough to set a solid pace in the A.J.C. Derby and won a race at Randwick; Right and Left, a winner at Riccarton, and Raceful, a winner at Feilding, are each of the field. Vespucci, it is thought, may be improved as much as any of his age that ran at Riccarton. On appearances most like a Derby proposition is Gasbag.

When the two, three and four-year-olds engaged in the Royal Stakes come to meet on weight-for-age conditions, with penalties according to age. sex and value of stakes won, without penalties when the stakes earned have been small, and with al-

lowances when non-winners, it will be very interesting indeed to learn what penalised horses will be set to take on their several contracts. Penalties are bn the sliding scale of 3,5, 7 to 101 b., the maximum for winning a clear lOOOsovs. The penalties apply to-winners this year since August 1. Good winners lact year or. in the previous year, if they have not won this year, do not have their poundage in creased. Those that have never won, if three years old or over receive 101 b., and those two years old that are in the same position receive an allowance of 71b. each. Thus it is possible for the horses of varying ages that have earned the maximum to meet non-winners at a disadvantage of 101 b. to 201 b. Accepting the weight-for-age test as equitable to start off with, 201 b. would mean in some instances a very big pull.

Mermin, of the two-year-olds engaged in the Royal Stakes, has earned the maximum impost; Aureate, sister to Desert Gold, and Smoke Concert are a pair of fillies that will have to carry 6.3 to Mermln’s 7.8. Surveyor, with his penalty for winning the Stead Memorial Stakes, will have 9.5; Golden Bubble, of the same age, 8.11. Rossini, a good winner last year, will not have his poundage added to unless he should win in the interval, as may others. Chrysostom has earned more by way of penalty than Humbug this season, and would therefore have to concede the latter a few pounds. In the Railway Handicap Humbug is weighted at 81b. his superior. At the distance he may be, but it is a debatable point just now. Illumination and Delight will, if they do not win in the interval, meet those of their own age on favourable terms. The first-named would have the full concession. The Royal Stakes may result in quite a good race. It seems a good while ahead to ask owners to become. liable for the whole of their subscription towards the stake, but twenty-five is the number who, with the others that have gone out, have provided such a big slice of this classic prize. We were not prepared to. see Aureate’s name still figuring in the Foal Stakes and Royal Stakes, and though we find it there it is not in any of the handicaps, and as she

has so far given no promise at all it must be presumed that, like some ethers left in the classic events, the necessity for withdrawing to save the forfeit money has been overlooked.

The Shortland Plate entries are numerically good, and a number of those entered are thus handicapped by the owners themselves. Races of this kind are very popular for that reason. There are several entered which, if they can stay a mile, must have a big pull in weights compared with imposts they have received in handicaps. Forest Gold is a recent example. Fort Regel, who seemed well taken care of when entered amongst the horses with hack qualifications recently, is another, but there are others quite as noticeable. It should be a very interesting and fast race. A number of three-year-olds are engaged, and several mares, and the mares are made an allowance of 31b.

The possibility of Gloaming, Arrowsmith, Surveyor, Volo, the best of the three-year-olds in Humbug, Chrysostom, Duo, Vespucci, Landslide, Winterwind, Listowel, Raceful, and a lot of those entered for the Islington Plate being seen out in that event will invest the race with interest. The final acceptance is not due until the 28th inst., but in the meantime some idea will be formed as to which will likely be saddled up. It will be Gloaming’s first race should he train on; and every ,good sport will hope so. also that/ Arrowsmith will, if started, come out of the ordeal of carrying 10.7 in the Railway Handicap satisfactorily. It is a great task he has been set. Surveyor, too, should be a really good miler if he has stood up to his work satisfactorily since the C J.C. meeting, Whether Volo is coming we are unaware. There is racing at the Manawatu meeting, which may keep some of the hroses away on Boxing Day, but they could be brought to Auckland for the New Year and the fourth day of the meeting if their owners desire it.

The material is there for a qood race for the Auckland Plate. With Oratress, Surveyor, Volo, Arrowsmith,

and Gloaming, the best of the older horses, and Duo, Gasbag, Vespucci, Raceful, and a number of others still in, it ' will be strange should therd no£ be an interesting performance for this ’ long-established event, which has invariably been won by a . good one in the past. Enough has been written to show that the classic and weight-for-age races and special weight events, six of the thirty-two races on the programme, should be good as likely to introduce us to the best in their departments of various ages. There are, hoAvever, many good and useful horses in the handicap races, both open and with hack qualifications, and there are certainly a few useful hurdlers.

There are many racegoers who are keen on seeing the best two-year-olds, the best three-year-olds, and the best of these ages and the older horses in opposition, and to learn which are the cracks at weight-for-age over different distances, but old customs die hard, and we still find a lot of people wanting to know what they are to back for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap. Lots of things can happen in the interval. Some of the acceptors may be elsewhere, though we would not like to gamble much on that. The money is alluring at Ellerslie, but the first acceptance for each of the races named gives an idea of what owners intentions were when they made them. What horses are allowed to drop out before the day will do so because they have failed in. some respect in their training. - .There was a big weeding out of both /races last Friday. The cream has been taken from the separator, sb to speak, and when we come to look dispassionately at the new situation it must be allowed that the double and the single problems . presented are not easy with the. races over a fortnight away. . . .

The Cup candidate, Prince Willonyx, is much fancied from the way he won each of his seven-fur? ong races at Takapuna, but has .really not had a cup preparation. He has not raced beyond a mile. Every horse he will meet his been raced over distances extending from a mile and a-quarter

to two miles, most of them over a mile and a-half to two miles. Lots of people usually regarded as “hard heads” would hot have this horse at any/price -before he started winning. He would mot ? have had' his praises sounded .from the house-tops had he been beaten in Gisborne on in his next race at Takapuna. In receipt of weight in his first race at Gisborne and weight from everything in his first race at Takapuna (in with the minimum there), what would have been thought of him if he had failed. Was there a lot of merit in his defeat Of Ohinewairua and Forest Gold and the rest of the field, giving the one 201 b. and the other about the same in his last race? There certainly appeared to be in the way he defeated them, and the way the race was run. Could either of these horses turned loose win an Auckland Cup over two miles? Could either beat such horses as the three with the minimum weight, viz., Kilgour, Walton, and Blue Cross, let alone Lord Kenilworth, who could, no doubt, present either Ohinewairua or Forest Gold with all Prince Willonyx did over seven furlongs and beat them just as the English horse did?

Prince Willonyx would have had a better show of winning the Auckland Cup if he had been raced over longer distances and thus been got fit to run two miles. He will be a surprising horse should he win on the training and racing he has done. If he should win it will discount the value of all training methods and prove him not only a remarkable horse, but a really good one, which we are inclined to believe he is. All the same, it would take a lot of consideration if he were ours before we would go on with him for an Auckland Cup. We would rather chance a shorter race for a smaller stake and a bit more weight than risk him over two miles. The work he ■ does in the interval will be watched with interest. He is up against a pretty stiff proposition even if it is allowed that he has not so formidable a field as we have seen and that he is in 11b. below Gasbag, a three-year-old not yet a proved top-hole one. It is the value of the stake and the pleasure of winning the first one of such a value that may be influenc-

ing his owner to start him, but will it be fair to the horse, the only one engaged that has not yet had something like a cup preparation?

First Salute is another cup candidate much in favour. He has done a good deal of racing, but had a good spell off for a time, and came back to form quickly. It will take him all his time to be quite ready, and he has won at a mile and two furlongs and a-half and looked like running on a good deal further when he secured the Alison Cup. Oratress has more weight than she won the New Zealand Cup with, but she has had the preparation, as did Karo last year, who had plenty of racing leading up to her success. From the easy way Karo won she could have carried another 141 b. to victory. Uncle Ned, with 61b. more than last year, has plenty of weight to carry for a spidery-built customer like he is. He may run up to last year’s form, but we know his trainer does not consider him quite so good at the present time as he was then, and has been hesitating about starting him over so long a course under the circumstances. Red Ribbon showed a glimpse of her form by winning the St. Andrew’s Handicap at Feilding. She was training ion well last year when she collided with a trestle, and that put her out of action for some days at a critical time. She may run a good race, as she did no a previous occasion.

Glen Canny has not had a respite from hard work for months. He worked all through the winter, and the New Zealand Cup was the race he was being got ready for. Shortly before he won the Avondale Cup his work was not impressive, and his southern form and Takapuna form was disappointing. Can he be produced a little over a fortnight hence a good deal better? Tenterfield has had racing to fit him for the task before him. He should master his impost as well as horses like Uncle Ned and First Salute theirs for neither are big. He may be fitter to run out two miles than he was in the New Zealand Cup, though his Metropolitan Handicap running pointed to him as pretty well at the half mile shorter distance, which, despite his second in the Australian Cup with a light impost may be more to his liking. He is one of the wiry kind.

Gasbag there is every reason to believe will be fitter at Ellerslie than he was at Riccarton, where he ran so well. He is a stayer, and from a family of stayers that improve with age. He is the only three-year-old left in', and with 21b. over weight for age has all he has really earned. Three-year-olds have not won the Auckland Cup so often as the New Zealand Cup has been won by horses of that age, but fewer are set the task, as other prizes are so good. From present indications, Gasbag will be hard worked at the coming meeting. Nestor, St. Hippo and Welcome Jack each won the Auckland Cup and Great Northern Derby, and Reputation, beaten by that good mare Warstep, was unlucky to have just missed the two-mile race. Woody Glen has shown staying form over the Ellerslie course, and if he is landed at the post right at his best and again well handled he should give a good account of himself, as he is well seasoned. Dusky Eve, on the score of weight, has nothing to complain of. At his best, two miles was a bit far for him, and one does not look for improvement in this free galloper. Johnny Walker is hardly likely to run up to his New Zealand Cup form of three years back, when he was just beaten by Menelaus, his stable companion. His action is against him, and the right-handed way of the course did not appear to suit him when he ran at Ellerslie last. Sunart and Kilgour are in the same interest. The first-named ran a mile and a-half well at the Prince meeting in Canterbury; suffering a head defeat by Royal Star, who he was conceding 121 b. Kilgour went sore before the Canterbury Jockey Club’s spring meeting, but managed to win a race there. The better of Mr. McKenzie’s pair may run well with their light imposts.

Starland gave promise of making a useful horse when he ran at Ellerslie last, and if he has gone on the right way may yet win a decent stake or two. He has pretensions to staying. Nightraider has been disappointing. Though he has been frequently placed and won but one race last season he ran like a colt that would stay, but lacked in brilliancy. A boy at 6 9 may not get the best out of him. Walton may possibly be found cap

able of winning over a distance of ground before the season is out. Blue Cross has had two previous Cup preparations, and has a third to his credit, but is just a bit wanting in class. Lord Kenilwqfth is the fastest horse engaged, and has such a tempting impost that despite his recent failures over a distance, and since he won at a mile and at a mile and a-quarter at Ellerslie and ran second to Estland in the Derby at the same meeting, beating Vagabond and carrying Estland along for all he was worth, his owner evidently still has hopes of him winning over a long course. He would hardly have left him in otherwise. Oratress, First Salute, Gasbag and Woody Glen at the time of writing appeal to us most.

The Railway Handicap has a decidedly open appearance. Arrowsmith has been set a very severe task with 201 b. over weight for age. Silver Link has 21b. mor e than she carried into second place last year. Rossini’s brilliancy was undoubted last year, but longer distances than six furlongs were mapped out for him. He has only started once since he ran last year. With 21b. under w.f.a. he has a fair impost. Gazique has 21b. more than he ran unplaced with in the same race .last year. Humbug is not badly used with 31b. over w.f.a. Hymestra has 101 b. less than last year, and that he has retained his pace he showed recently at Feilding. ’ Statuette ran well there, too. Chrysostom may prove very hard to beat, and possibly better than Humbug, in the same ownership. King Abbey can go fast. He had severe calls upon his sprinting ability last year, and under big weights at country meetings. Whether this has taken the edge off his speed remains to ke seen. Right and Left may be found running more nearly up to expectations than when chasing Humbug last year. He won at Riccarton, and looks likely to be hard to beat at Te Awamutu. Maioha still shows that he can must,er up pace over short courses. Missgold on some of her form looks decidedly well in, and she has run well at Ellerslie. Landslide reads the best of those below, though each of the other seven are brilliant in their class. Golden Bubble, one of them, seems to be very unlucky. How Cantabile’s position stands depends upon how the appeal pending is settled. Dovelet can sprint fast, but may be a bit overmatched. Crowhurst is very well just now. Arran races consistently enough, but he probably lacks sufficient dash, and though Tinokaha can go fast and begins well it is questionable whether he is quite good enough. Miss Mimic was affected in the wind when we last saw her, and she was amongst the “also started” lot last year. Chrysostom, Humbug, Rossini, and the best of Mr. Kemball’s pair—Missgold and Hymestra—it will be interesting to see in action, to say nothing of the others.