TURF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4004, 10 August 1915, Page 7

TURF.

C.J.C. NATIONAL MEETING

The C.J.C. National Meeting opens at lliccarton to-day. Large numbers of visitors hav.e been arriving in Christchurch during tlio past week, and the meeting is expected to be quite as successful as its predecessors. Local sportsmen are interested, because there arc a number of horses from this district engaged at the gathering. Six out of eight races have horses from this district engaged in them. In the first race, Hunters’ Hurdles, Ormoloid 10.3 lias accepted; Trial Hurdles, Multiply 11.5; Grand National Steeplechase, Fagot 10.8; Winter Cup. Birldine 10.5, Huapani 10.3, Potentiality 9.0; Enfield Steeples, I! iistic. 10.9; Avonhead Handicap, T>ki 9.13, Patentiality 9.7. Besides

! heso the well-known Gisborne owner, ■Nr “L. Furr” has Vi engaged in tlie Jumpers’ Flat with 9.1.1.

As a result of the good track-work she has been doing at Riccarton, Bauksia is now one of the most fancied candidates for the Winter Cup. It is announced that F. W. M'Cabe’s mount ip the Grand National Steeplechase will be Sandy Paul. Seatondale is a Wairarnpa liorse which will carry a lot of money in the Riccarton events in which lie starts. For the fourth year in succession B. Deeley beads the list of winning riders, liis total (91) this season (191415), which concluded on Saturday last, being a record for the Dominion'. Another Aucklander, in A. J. McFlinn, heads the list, of riders over fences, with 16 winning rides, which makes the third time in four years that he has held the honor. In the four seasons Deeley has ridden 299 winners, and McFlinn 56, the' last-named’s •total not including wins on the flat or those registered in Australia. Colonel Soult will urobahly contest the A.J.G. Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps. It is reported that he inn been supported for both the Rand wick events.

Before leaving Wanganui for Riecarton Sty rax is reported to have easily defeated Awahou in a mile and a-half gallop over Hurdles. The time was good, and the achievement gained Styrax many friends.

It is quite probable that C. Emerson will h ave the mount on Banksia in the Winter Cup. Lady Black, which, is-engaged in the Winter Cup, has been doing good work on the Opaki track, and should run well at Riccarton. T. Pritchard, her trainer, will probably ride her in her engagements. Chillies was scratched for all engagements at the Grand National Meeting. A. J. McFlinn will ride Tim Doolan in the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase.

The annual meeting, of members ot the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, was held on Monday last. Mr G. Hunter, M.P., presided. The balance-sheet showed, a surplus of £2970 Ss sd, which has been written off as depreciation. The totalisator receipts had increased from £115,751 to £129,262, which was equivalent to an increase of £2OOO per day. The gate receipts had increased from £2134 to £2316, notwithstanding that 54 additional members had been elected at the annual meeting last year. The surplus profit this year was £2970 (after payment of interest) as against £2BOO in 1914. These increases were very satisfactory. The following were elected a committee for the ensuing year:—Messrs. F. Armstrong, H. M. Campbell, J. H. Colebourne, H. Hassall, Paul Hunter, T. H. Lowry, J. S. M‘Leod, W. Richmond, 11. A. Russell, and W. G. Stead.

The Hon. E. Mitchelson presided at the annual meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club, held on Monday last. The totalisator figures for the year, said the President, showed that at Ellers! ie the sum of £527.799 passed through the machine as against £495,651 last year—an increase of £32.118. The amount paid to the State by way of percentage on tfie club’s receipts totalled £13,656. This included the totalisator tax, as well as that on other receipts. The amount paid awav in Stakes during the year amounted to £41,450 —an of £5710 over that paid away last year. So much depended on when and how the present war might end that one could not at the present time say with any certainty what increases, if any, might be made in the next season’s stakes further than that, seeing what a large amount of expenditure was necessary—from £20,000 to £30,000 —- to give effect to the promise made to provide increased and up-to-date accommodation for the outside public, there would not be any very large decreases in any of the stakes. The land fax, road rates, and the amount paid, for the use of water, absorbed tho large sum of £1593. It was announced that the following officers had been returned to their positions unopposed:—President, Hon. E. Mitchelson; vice-president, Mr H. T. Gome: committeemen, Messrs R. W. Ruder, Murdoch M‘Loan, N. Alfred Nathan, E. A. Price, and W. O. Somers: stewards, Messrs J. D. Jones, M. M. M ! Callum, and G: A. V’ynyard.