TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1599, 16 December 1920, Page 16

TURF GOSSIP.

It is anticipated that the highpriced Martian—Secret Link filly, who has been hitting out well in her track essays at Trentham, will fulfil engagements at the Wairarapa R.C.’s New Year gathering.

The irrepressible gambling spirit. On most Sunday evenings there is a sweepstake among the boys as to the number of the first hymn to be announced, said a speaker at a Merthyr Tydvil, Glamorgan, Wales, conference on public morals. —London “Daily Mail.”

Although Premier Barwell’s new betting Bill had for one of its objects the total suppression of bookmaking in South Australia, the position has not been greatly altered So far as bookmakers are concerned (says the Sydney “Referee”). The Bill went through the S.A. Legislative Assembly at an early hour on a recent Saturday morning, but a majority of the House opposed the imprisonment clauses and they were deleted. However, the fines for illegal betting were made stiffer, and are now as follow: First offence, not less than £5 or more than £5O; second offence, not, less than £2O or more than £100; third offence, not less than £lOO or more than £2OO. It was agreed that offences prior to the passing of the Bill should not be taken into account. •

■Old Gold (Hymettus — Florigold) gives distinct promise of turning out useful as a jumper, his showing at the Woodville meeting last week bearing out the good impression he created in his schooling tasks. On the opening day at Woodville he ran third to O’Rane and Pawerewere in the Hack Handicap Hurdles, while on the second day he won the hurdle race in a manner that augurs well for his prospects as a hurdler. He was ridden in both his engagements by the capable hurdle horseman J. Kaan.

Doping of racehorses by administering- strychnine and other drugs has again called for severe warning from the French race stewards. A mare belonging to a well-known French owner was found to have been doped, and the trainer was fined £2OO. Latei* the stewards’ committee announced that medical evidence showed that another horse had been doped at Longchamps, and the trainer, despite the fact that he was in complete ignorance of the occurrence, has been warned off the turf. Frequent chemical tests of the saliva of horses running in races will be made to detect any future attempts at. foul practices. It has always been contended (says the “Lexington Thoroughbred Record”) that the horse which makes pace is handicapped several pounds —some experts say as much as 71b., while others aver that 51b. would be nearer the mark. The great coloured rider, Isaac Murphy, whose superior as a judge of pace has never been seen in America, wanted to wait with Salvator on the occasion of that horse’s race with Tenny at Sheepshead Bay in 1890. He was overruled, and there are many alive to-day who recall the masterly fashion in which Murphy nursed the white-faced son of Prince Charlie through the last hundred yards of the contest when Garrison brought Tenny up with one of those electric rushes for which he was famous. It took all of Murphy’s horsemanship to sav e the day by a nose. Later on there was talk of another race between the rivals, and Murphy told his employer, J. B. Flaggin, to make the match even if he had to concede 71b. That was the difference in the two methods according to the coloured Archer, as he was termed by his admirers. That he was accurate in his estimate was shown when the horses met in the Champion Stakes at Monmouth Park. Although Salvator drew the outside position and. had to run around Tenny on the big oval, he laid at his rival’s girth every inch of the first mile and aquarter, and when called upon shot away in a manner that astonished ■hose who had thought the son of Rayon d’Or the superior of Salvator or any other horse of the day.

Mr. G. D. Greenwood, who has been spending a holiday in Queensland, intends being present at the Auckland R.C.’s summer meeting, where he will have his colours carried by Gloaming and other members of R. J. Mason’s team.

At a meeting of the committee of 'he Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club a letter was read from the Auckland Breeders and Owners’ Association with reference to the obtaining of railway concessions on the carriage of racehorses similarly to the concessions granted to A. and P. societies. It was decided to support the Auckland association, and to write also with reference to accidents and injuries sustained by horses while being conveyed by train.

In his annual report presented to members of the Manawatu Hunt the other evening, the president (Mr. S. R. Lancaster) said it was gratifying to be able to state that practically fresh hunting ground had been broken in, and’ that hunts had been held at Waikanae and Foxton. The steeplechase meeting had been a great success. Affairs in the field had been carefully looked after by the actingmaster, Mr. Norman Short, and the various deputy masters were most painstaking in their duties. Mr. E. Short, master, had unfortunately been away in America nearly the whole season, and he was consequently unable to take part in the sport, but it- was hoped that in the coming season he would once more be to the fore. Improvements had been made to the kennels, a bedroom and a bathroom being added to the huntsman’s cottage. The pack was also in fine condition and numerically strong. The position of the hunt was now thoroughly sound —with the kennels property clear of debt and a substan- '. ial cash balance in the bank. The prospects for the coming year were brighter than ever. They were now assured of an annual totalizator permit, which should make matters in connection with their finances much easier than they had ever’ been before, and taken altogether the hunt should become an exceedingly strong institution.

The crack Sydney handicap performer Kennaquhair has now won £16,926 in stakes.

At a special meeting of the Masterton Racing Club a letter received from the Racing Conference stated that the horse Caricature had been permitted to start at the recent Masterton spring meeting without the accident fee having first been paid, and that the owner had been fined £1 in consequence. The secretary (Mr. A. Hathaway) explained that he had seen the horse’s name as a starter at the Avondale meeting on September 23, and had therefore concluded that the accident fee had been paid. The Racing Calendar had not reached his office until the night of the second day of the meeting. Under those circumstances the club could not be held responsible for the offence. It was resolved to reply to the conference in terms of the secretary’s explanation.

At the annual meeting of the Manawatu Hunt the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—President, Mr. S. R. Lancaster; senior vice-presidents, Messrs. J. A. Nash, M.P., and E. Short; hon. treasurer, Mr. L. H. Collinson; master, Mr. E. E Short; deputy-masters, Messrs. W. and T. R. Taynor (Kiwitea), N. J. and G. S. Perry (Waituna West), W. E. L. Banks (Rongotea), D. B. McEwen (Kairanga), J. Shaw (Rangitikei line, Bunnythorpe), H. R. Lancaster (Te Matai), L. H. Collinson (Palmerston North), W. F. Gilligan and W. Scott (Aokautere), D. K. Buchanan and T. Parata (Waikanae), J. Purcell (Foxton); auditor, Mr. N. H. Sinclair; hon. veterinary surgeon, Mr. R. H. Mead; committee, Messrs. S. R. Lancaster, E. Short, W. Taylor, T. R. N. J. Short, E. E. Shorty D. Pringle, J. S. Parsons, D. B. McEwen, J. Purcell, S. W. R. Evans, H. R. Lancaster, L. H. Collinson, H. D. Buchanan, H. Roberts, G. S. Perry, W. G. Shannon; executive, Messrs. S. R. Lancaster, E, E. Short, D. Pringle, L. H. Collinson, D. B. McEwen, H. D. Buchanan.