HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 310, 29 December 1900, Page 3

HIPPONA'S NOTE-BOOK.

The new regulation compelling all trainers and jockeys to wear badges when at EUerslle race meetings has caused a certain amount of friction. I know of at least one or two prominent trainers who refused point blank to wear any such Insignia of their office, but preferred to pay at the gates as ordinary spectators. They even went the length when the stipulation was insisted on of scratching their horses. Although this was a somewhat extreme step to take, I cannot help thinking that the regulation is a mistake. I wonder what some of the English trainers such as John Porter, Tom JenSSS jun., and others of that class would have said to such a rule being in force? X aSnii-lt would have meant-a battle rOVal between them ana the Powers that bo" Surely some other system can J>e easily devised which would not hurt the susceptibilities of anyone.

Skobeloff has disappointed his backers or S occasions before, and it was ?hevrfo?e somewhat surprising to find the Southerner so stoutly supporting the son o£ Stepniak for the Cup. Mr Steads horse cut up probably the best race of s life and in the straight at one time 1 looked like winning, but was unable o With the fast-finishing Bluepressioij neiy continues to overrated horse and S Meeting Mr Stead's perseverance S o Puld be ewarded in the near future.

i Q Tinn registered a very fair time of 1.41 2-5.

- i TTnwke'a trip to the Thames was Aam,!rnble one for on the first day he « P™ f the' Goldfields Cup, which he competed «n tne Motori ho defeating Castroline and Motor.

The Hon Mosman would seem to have a "rent preference for the Visitors' Plate, fist tear Henglst captured this event for him, "while yesterday the navy blue and ", L colours were carried to victory by Sa It is pleasing to see Multiform's sister at last beginning to show the form which was expected from her early in her career.

The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Summer Meeting takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday uext.

Old Malabar annexed both hurdle races at i he Northern Wairoa meeting last week.

Regalia 11. is showing live form of late. Hie son of Regel accounted for the Cup nixl Oumdiggurs' Purse at the Northern vvalroa meeting on Boxing Day. On Thursday he placed thu Kaip;ira Handicap to his credit, while the folio whig day he was seen out at the Ellerslie gathering, and in the Welter Race Mr Litherhmd's gelding made a bold bid for victory, but had to put up with, a half-length's defeat from Cavaliero.

A good deal of unpleasantness was caused by the curious tactics pursued by more than one of the riders in the Pony Handicap at Ellerslie yesterday, and the subsequent meeting of the stewards to investigate the matter was inevitable. In. the case of the winner, Blue Paul, who, it -will be remembered, finished next to last in the pony race on the first day, it was decided to take no action. In another instance, viz., that of Lady Avon, the stewards investigated the running of the mare, and after hearing- evidence, it was decided to suspend both Lady Avon and her rider, Sceats, for the balance of the meeting. The Stewards are to be commended for taking steps to stamp out the evil which generally seems to attend pony races, but they would do well to adopt moro drastic measures than is the custom at present.

Cavaliero is evidently not afraid of weight, and welter races would seem to be a specialty of Mr Harris' gelding. His win of yesterday, with the thumping impost of 11.5 on his back, way a most meritorious performance, and stamps the son of Cuirassier as being a good deal above the ordinary.

There has been plenty of speculation at Ellsrslie on the two days of the summer meeting, for on Tuesday, over £20,000 was dealt with, while yesterday rather better than £12.000 was run tTirough the machine. This is £3,f>00 more than was invested last year, and it would seem that a new record is assured, if the weather holds anything like fine next week.

Messrs Alison Bros, had hard luck at the Thames on Thursday with Toroa. The Reg-el mare had won on the first day, and was competing in the County Handicap, and while leading, she fell and injured herself to such an extent that she had to be subsequently destroyed. Probably Toroa1 s best performance was in the' Avondale Cup last September, which event she placed to her credit in good style.

Evidently Mr Kvitt was of opinion that Hohoro could not stay out a mile and a quarter, when he let the son of Tasman into the Summer Cup with the light weight of S.O. which contrasts rather curiously with the 10.10 awarded Mr Lovett's gelding in the Railway Handicap. If Renown bad been absent, it is probable that Hohoro would have gone to the post an actual favourite, and his Victory in the race in question was quite looked for by the admirers of the speecij brown gelding.