TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 243, 17 November 1914, Page 8

TURF TOPICS.

The Spring Meetings of the Marlborough Racing Club and the Tapanui Jockey Club will be commenced to-mor-row.

The appeals of Stanley Reid and J. *R. Kaan against the disqualifications imposed on them by the Dunedin Jockey Club were enquired into by the District Committee of .the D.J.C. last evening and dismissed. '

The Hororata Racing Club receives entries for its <annual meeting up till to-morrow evening.

The Australian trainer, P. Riddle, expects to return home with his team of six horses by the Sydney boat this week. Though not over successful at last week's meeting, Riddle expects -to make another visit to New Zealand next November.

It is quite possible that Denver Huon and Dillon Bell will be raced at the Summer Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club. Acceptances for the Fqrbury Park Trotting Club's Spring Meeting close on the 21st inst.

In England recently a correspondent wrote in the following humorous strain to the editor of the "Pink Un":— "Sir, —Now that the whole country is cheerfully responding to the 'Call 'to Arms,' a hint only is required for the bookmakers to join as a cavalry corps, to>be named 'The Fielders,' and to be mounted on horses lent by training stables. Their 'genteel pencillers,' carrying an aluminium flask holding a gallon of brandy, and mounted on ponies, could render first aid to the wounded.

In England the Jockey Club has reinstated the once-prominent jockey Lester Reiff. No doubt Reiff will get good opportunities when he resumes riding, says an exchange, but it will be surprising if, after being so long out of the game, he shows his old ability. He .will be an exception if he does. The once great Tod Sloan did not shine when he resumed riding in America after a retirement that was not unduly long, and had to make way for jockeys who could not be compared with him when in his prime. It is wonderful to what extent riders deteriorate, and I have in mind a few Australian jockeys who, though really good once, and still comparatively young, are now of little account in the saddle. Nor is this due to their mode of living, those to whom I refer being men who have always been careful in that respect. The New Zealand owned steeplechaser, Forest Prince, one of whose legs was so badly cut when he fell at Randwick last month, that eight stitches were necessary, has made excellent progress towards recovery, but he is to be spelled at Windsor before any further attempt is made to train him.