RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 25, 6 March 1914, Page 8

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March 11 and 12—Nelson. J.G. Annual. March 13 and 14—Napier Park R.C. Autumn, March 19—Waimate R.C. Annual. March 25 "and 26—Rangitikei R.G. AnnualTROTTING FIXTURES. March 11—Manawatu T.O. Annual. April 15 and 18 —N.Z. Metropolitan T.C Easter.

TURF TOPICS. After Flower of the West had won the chief event at the Akaroa County Meeting yesterday, the handsome silver cup that formed part of the prize was presented to the horse's owner, Mr A. Boyle, by the Hon. J. Allen. The Victoria Racing Club's Autumn Meeting will be brought to a conclusion to-morrow, when the long distance Champion Plate will form the chief attraction of the afternoon's card.

For his unsatisfactory handling of Orleans in. the Hack Welter at Dannevirke yesterday, R. Berry was cautioned by the stewards. There was a lamentable lack of stand accommodation at the Akaroa Meeting yesterday, and quite a number of the onlookers saw little of the actuals-rac-ing. Next season it is proposed to make use of a hill just behind the grand stand for viewing the races. If his two performances at Motukarara yesterday can be accepted as correct, Ravenswood must be written .down as a most inconsistent performer.

Judith, the three-year-old sister to Thrax, showed a lot of pace in the Terawera Hack Handicap at Motukarara yesterday, but she fizzled out badly at the finish. •

Displayed in conspicuous lettering over one of the offices at the Motukarara course yesterday was -the word "Secetary." Evidently spelling is not a strong point with some of the local signwriters. ' Glenfinnan's display in the Peninsula Cup yesterday stamps him as an arrant quitter. Turning into the straight his defeat looked almost impossible, but when tackled by Flower of the West and Thrax he compounded like a pricked balloon.

Quite the outstanding performance witnessed at Motukarara yesterday was that of Valhalla, who is credited with running six, furlongs in the Maiden Plate in the phenomenal time of lmin 13 3-ssec. If the time and distance can be accepted as correct, it looks as if a Great Easter or Stewards' Handicap would have been well within the gelding's capabilities. When The Vet fell in the Autumn Hurdle Race at Flemijjgton yesterday, Kelly, his' ridfer, summed a broken collar-bone. * .

Goldseeker, who won the Hurdle Bace at Motukarara yesterday, is a full brother to Autumnus, but lacks his younger relative'is brilliancy. The son of Treadmill was purchased by his present owner some years ago for lOOgs, and is a most proficient jumper. After twice acting as runner-up to Woorrak, Andesine, in the absence of the crack, had a winning turn in the March Nursery Handicap at Flemington yesterday. On her form at the meeting, Andesine now ranks as the best of this season's Australian two-year-old fillies. Only for mistaking the position of the judge's box, L. Hegarty would probably have won the Hurdle Race on Sunbeam at Motukarara yesterday. He mistook a post nearly 100 yds up the course for the, finish, and eased his mount up. Before realising his mistake it was too late to get Sunbeam going again, with the result that Goldseeker won by a neck. After Radnor's hollow victory in the Loch Plate at Flemington yesterday, few owners will be prepared to oppose "him in the Champion Stakes to-morrow. Still, if his owner wishes to seeure the full 1000 sovs attached to the threemile race a much more solid pace will hate to be maintained than was the case yesterday, for the conditions of the Champion Plate stipulate that unless the three miles are run in smin 45sec or better the stake will be reduced to s€o sovs. Word is to hand from Waikato.of the death of the well-known horse owner, Mr Mark Harrison. The deceased gentleman was best known as the owner of Inniskillen and Shrannel, both of whom attained Grand National honours.

If present intentions are carried out, Sinapis will be taken over to Sydney in the course of a few days to compete in some of the long-distance events at the A.J.G. Autumn Meeting. The Field Battery gelding, George, purchased by Mr Marton at W. Davies's clearing sale, has gone into J. Prosser's stable at Porirua.

Hansard, a three-year-old son of Achilles and Report, has been purchased by an Australian sportsman, and is now. on his way to Melbourne. Among the passengers who arrived in Sydney by the R.M.S. Medina recently was Mr H. Ssvabode, Master of the Horse for the" King of Slam's household. His mission to Australia is to study horse-breeding in that country. He will stay about six months in Victoria and " New South Wales. Mr Ssvabode is in charge of about 300 horses, including 'a large number of racehorses, a great portion of which were bred in Australia. iH.e intends taking some Australian horses back with him. TEMPLAR.