TURF NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 14

TURF NOTES.

CBy WHALEBONE.)

The New Zealand-bred horse Di Gama, who has been in Victoria for some time, has changed hands again, and in future he will race in Queensland.

Bunting, who has a Wellington and a Brisbane Cup to his credit, has evidently recovered from the trouble which caused his retirement some months ago, as he is expected to take part in some of the big Australian handicaps in the autumn.

Bimeter, who was sold quite recently by Mr Greenwood, appears to have lost all form, and his recent displays on the track in Australia have been most disappointing.

The sporting writer in a Taranaki paper states on the authority of a friend of Mr G. D. Greenwood that although Biplane won over £10,000 in stake money in Australia, Mr G. D. Greenwood's share of this, after the tax on excess war profits and the expenses had been deducted, amounted to just over £200, or about 2 per cent. If Australian gold can win the war Mr Greenwood should be glad he is contributing so much towards it.

A writer in the Wellington "Post" mentions a new way to get rich quick at the racis. One of the new Bank of New Zealand ten-shilling notes neatly folded and tied in a knot is presented for a tensliilling ticket, with the figure 10 printed on the corner showing. The person presenting the note says to the seller, "That is a tenner," and the unsuspecting clerk puts the note away carefully and gives £9 10/ change. The writer understands it was successfully worked at Hastings and Trentbam recently. No doubt the try-on will be attempted at other I meetings.

An American exchange says there will be no more racing at Jaurez, Mexico — at least for several years. The y 'big track opposite El Paso has been abandoned by Matt J. Winn and the men who built it. One of the reasons is vigorous passport regulations. Another is the recent the Mexican border. Juarez, therefore, will remain closed this winter for the first time in nearly ten years. Juarez is just over the border from California, and racing there was kept going by American sportsmen and horses.

The Hawke's Bay sportsman, Mr H. E. Troutbeck, having tired of Simonides, he recently sold the three-year-old son of Demosthenes to Mr J. Harle, of New Plymouth, and the brown gelding now forms one of the team presided over by R. Barlow. When Simonides completed his two-year-old 'performances by winning the Victoria Handicap under Ost 01b at Ellerslie, he carried all the appearance of a high-class colt. As is well known, Simonides subsequently developed waywardness to such a degree that it iwas deemed necessary to add him to the list. Recovering quickly from the operation, Simonides was eailed upon for an early effort, but he has proved a complete disappointment. Possibly a change of quarters may bring about a change of form in Simonidea, and it will be interesting to note whether the transfer from the east to the west coast will have the wished-for beneficial effect on the goodlooking brown gelding.

Hats off to Hardy Wilkes! enthuses ''The Admiral," of "Dunedin Star" in recording that horse's win at the recent Forbury Park meeting. This horse was placed 312 yards behind scratch in the Crescent Handicap, and in the face ,of the strong wind that was blowing he was set a Herculean—though it did not prove hopeless—task. With a lap to go he had got within striking distance of the field, and the experts predicted that he would get second honours, though they expressed the belief that it was impossible to overtake Billy Parole. •But to their surprise he came down the straight at a terrific bat, and just got up to win by a neck. The issue was in doubt till the numbers were hoisted, and then the big crowd let themselves go in doing honour to a great horse and a fine display of horsemanship. The scene on Hnrdy Wilkes returning to the enclosure was worth witnessing. It was the most memorable outburst I can recollect, save when the ancient Wilkie won some time ago. Hardy Wilkes' many good performances would take up too much space torecord. Suffice to say that on both days of the Metropolitan meeting at Riccarton last August he won the two-mile harness event for unhoppled trotters—the Stewards' Handicap and Addington Handicap. Hardy Wilkes was the chief sufferer in the Dunedin Cup on the previous day by Harold Junior's circus exhibition, and those who bore this fact in mind profited by the good dividend he returned. He ie probfibly the best straight-out trotter in the Dominion.

Thpre have been instances of a weigher not knowing his luck, and in connection therewith the following is from the Durban paper. The Latest:—"A member of the welshing fraternity had a marvellous bit of luck at a meeting held on the Diamond Fields in the early days." When the last race of the day came on he was not quite 'broke,' but only badly 'bent.' But this fact did not dismay him, as he had made his plans to 'vamooae' if the favourite got home. The race was regarded as a dead cure thing for the favourite, and when the 'straight' bookies refused to take odds about its chance, the welsher never 'tired' of taking all the money available; in fact, he didn't write the name of any other horse in his betting , book. When the favourite was leading into the straight by several lengths he made himself scarce, and concealed himself in a prospector.? hole some distance from the course. Strange to sp.y, during the time ho was concealed in the 'debris' he heard no hue and cry raised, and long after darkness set in he emerged from his hole, leaving his 6atehel (minus the cash), ibetting book, and part of his wardrobe in the cache. Being an- adept in disguising himself, he strolled into a roadside canteen and called for refreshments. There were only two men in the bar beside the landlord, and the conversation he overheard pleased him immensely. 'Yes, Bill, there was a big rumpus over the last race. The favourite won easily, but the jockey dropped his 'leads' in the race, and the horse was disqualified.' The would-be welsher returned to the cache fc= tb* paraphernalia left by him."