RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 164, 17 August 1914, Page 6

RACING AND TROTTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August 29—Amberley Steeplechase Annual. September 2—Mar ton J.Ov Spring. September 9 —Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase. September 10 and 11—Ashbtirton County R.C Spring. Seiitember 24 and 25—Gevaldino R.C. Spring September 24 and 26—VYanganui R.C. Spring ACCEPTANCES. August 24—Amberley Steeplechase Annual. August 25—Marlon .I.C. Spring. September I—Dannovirkn1 — Dannovirkn R.C. Steeplechase. September 4—New Zealand Cup. September 4—Ashburton County R.C. Spring September I?—Geraldine R.C. Spring. v September 21—YVanganui J.C. Spring.

TURF TOPICS.

The following trainers are due to leave by the ferry steamer for the north to-night:—J. Cameron, J. J. Gravestock, C. Pritchard, A. Rhodes, J. Hathaway, T. Llovd, and E. Watson. i\ Hogan, C. Christie, T. Hobbs, and C. R. Grant left for the south with their representatives this morning. The Timaru trainer, S. Trilford, has purchased the Maniapoto-Secreey gelding Ngatiruauui, who will be taken south with the other members of Trilford 's team to-day.

The Hon. J. D. 'Ormond has disposed of his four-year-old gelding Banian, by Birkenhead from Banzai, to Mr G. Fulton. He is to be placed under the care of the Riccarton trainer, R. Longley, to be prepared for future engagements.

When Otehau fell while taking part in the Aylesbury Steeplechase on Saturday, he sustained a broken neck, death being instantaneous. The rider of Otehau was thrown clear and escaped unhurt.

By whining the Selwyn Handicap run over six furlongs "on the concluding day of the meeting," Iliad's Hero fully justified the opinion of track watchers, as prior to the meeting he had been responsible for some attractive spins oyer six furlongs. Although the opposition he met in the Hunters' Plate on Saturday was not of a select order, The Pole registered an performance by bearing his i:sat olb to victory. He will in future be a stable companion of the Grand National winner Tim Doolari. Old Medallist still retains some of his old time dash. His showing in the Woolston Plate oil Thursday came as a surprise to r many, as the old fellow received but. a. short preparation, as it was feared that he would not stand sufficient work to enable him to win another race.

The Yaldhurst trainer, K. O'DonnelJ, paid a visit to headquarters with Sauci, Culross,and four other members of his team this morning. Sauci .is looking in fine buckle, and Culross is also bearing a healthy appearance. They each did steady pace work on the sand, track.

i At least one Christehurch sportsman 'will have good cause to remember The Chief's victory in the Lincoln Steeplechase on Saturday, though not with the usual pleasant recollections of those who back a big dividend payer. The sport referred to went to, the ten shilling machine, and, so he informs the writer, asked for three tickets on No. 10. Everything was lovely till he went to participate in the: big, dividend on examining the bits of cardboard, he found they were numbered eight instead of. ten, and so vanished the thick ejid of a century. Mistakes like this are always happening, and always will till investors take the precaution of seeing that they receive Avhat they ask for.

•"Under ordinary conditions the second sod wall is an obstacle' that presents less difficulty to the average 'chaser than many of the others, that bar his way in the steeplechase course at Riccnr'ton. The obstacle in question is omy four feet high and of similar breadth, with a three foot ditch in front of it; yet in the Lincoln Steeplechase on Saturday it settled the prospects of no less than four reliable jumpers in Paritutu, Silver Monarch, Sportsman, and Tim Doolan. The jockeys who came to grief state that their downfall was brought about through the horses being unable to get a proper sight of the jump, having the sun shining right in their line of vision, while the dust stirred up by the leaders was another contributing factor. In Tim Doolan's case the horse actually put his foot into the ditch.when -taking off, and shot his rider over the obstacle. So well was he going at the time that only for this mishap there is every probability that the National hero would have been returned a dual winner.

To many it looked as if Morecambe's rider was caught napping at the finish of the Sydenham Hurdles on Saturday. The big son of Birkenhead landed over the last obstacle well clear of the field with his jockey apparently confident that the result was in safe keeping. When Fashion Plate came with a late challenge _the leader was slow to respond, with the result that he suffered defeat by half a length. Riding honours were fairly evenly divided at Rieearton last week. The northern liorseman, A. J. McFlynn, was successful on four occasions, and B. Deeley placed three wins to -Jiis credit. These were the only jockeys to earn more than a single winning bracket. Cheddar has been sold to Mr 0. McLaren, owner of The Chief, ami will do his future racing in that sportsman's interests.

Those owners who intend engaging their charges in the Now Zealand Trotting Cup should not overlook the fact that entries close on Wednesday next. The entries received for the Amberley Steeplechase Club's Meeting on Saturday are decidedly above the average anil look like producing a capital day's' sport. Quite a number of the 'chasers seen, out at last week's meeting have been engaged, including Tim Doolan, The I'ole, Kings-way, Jlimitangi, Terry Flynn,Selwyn,'andKia Ora, while class is also well represented in the minor events. ' On the conclusion of the National Meeting Mr 11. A. Knight disposed of Clenroy to the North Island trainer, J. Ceorge. Exotic, was only seen out once at the National Meeting, but his display in the Lincoln Steeplechase suggested that a race ejirlier at I lie lixture would have done him no harm. There is a. probability of Corrie going to Australia in the near future, as 'a Comiiioiiwenll li sportsman was in treaty for her before the National Meeting. Altogether there was a. falling off in the totalisator receipts at .Iticcarton last week of .C:J2,.'!OL'. The Metropolitan Trotting (Mnh was not affected in anything like the same proportion for it sustained a shortage of only £.'5517. Starter Piper was present to witness a, few races at Riccarton last week, but it will be some time before he is iit enough to take up his duties again. After being debarred from starting through incomplete registration in any of his earlier Australian engagements Merriniax made amends* to his owner by winning the Second Hurdles at the Rosehill Meeting on Saturday last. As Mr Ryan, who owns the Merriwee geld-

ihg, is "back again in Auckland, there would probably bo little more than the stake money attached to the victory. The majority of the *, North Island visitors who attended the Xational Meeting went back on Saturday night, the ferry steamer being; crowded to excess.' .There was also a big contingent for the south by the night train for Dunedin." The biggest winners at the National Meeting in the "matter of stake moiiev were:—Messrs G. L. Stead, £1148; J. George, £920; A. B. Williams, £665; Hon. il. IX Ormond, £515; C. McLaren, £420; J. R. Stanford, £420; Burrell and Taylor, £410; W. A. Hall, £385; J. O'Meara, £350; R. Sutherland £280; M. Hobbs, £l9O, and F. Armstrong £lB5.

Gisborne trainedfhorses have invariably played a prominent part at past Grand National Meetings, and this year they were just as much in evidence as ever. Mahutonga, Medallius, Te Aral, Paisano, and Continuance have all upheld the reputation of the Poverty Bay District in the chief events at Riccarton in years gone by, and Chortle followed in the footsteps, of the firstnamed by accounting for the Winter Cup at last week's fixture. Other Gisr borne representatives that carried winning brackets were:—The Pole, ■ Stroller, Ruapani, Gazette, and Multiply, so that altogether sportsmen who followed the fortunes of the Gisborne rep r resentatives must have had a good time at the meeting.

After the declaration of first forfeits for the two Cups, 161 of the 246 horses nominated last June for the XJaulfield Cup, and 199 of the 260 nominated for the Melbourne Cup, remained. The only withdrawals of note from the Caulfield Cup were St. Medoe, Marculfus, Audacity, anil Hartfell. ' The first three-year-old race of the new season was decided on Saturday when Blague, a' Victorian owned son of Bobadil and Circle won the Adelaide Guineas. The fact of his winning by no less than ten lengths in record time for the race makes the winner out to be a pretty good one. During his .career Blague has run four firsts and a third' out of nine starts, his total winnings amounting to £835. He* is engaged Hi the Epsom Handicap (6st 131b), Metropolitan (6st 101b), Caulfield Cup (6st 91b), and Melbourne Cup (6st 91b). At Adelaide last September Blague won both the Fulhain Park Plate and Dequetville Stakes. TEMPLAR.