SPORTING.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXIII, Issue 281, 6 December 1911, Page 3

SPORTING.

(By "Minora.")

THE LATE MR JOHN COTTEK

Mr John Cotter, who met with fatal injuries whilst motoring home front Paliuerstoii North on Saturdav, was l)orn in Wellington in 1852, and lived to become one of the most prominent sportsmen in the province. In I.ls early days he was a nne athlete, and won many long-distance pedestrian events and scored heavily with the vaulting pole. He was first seen out as an amateur horseman on the Greytown (Wairarapa) course, and won the Maiden Plate on Pavensf eat her. In 1874, at the inaugural meeting held on the T'auherenihan course, he piloted Liittle Wonder to victory in tlie Wairarapa Stakes. .Many other races, some of which he won on ins own horses, fell to his share, and since he relinquished the saddle he has generally nad something in commission to carry the "hlue jacket, yellow sleeves and red cap.'' Jolly Knar, Jolly .Roger, Great ocott (a reputed hurdler), "St. Alba, and llurimoana were among ins norses racing. _Whilst resident in the Manawatu district, he was mainly instrumental in founding the Ashhtirst Pacing Club, and for some tune ne was president of the ihiniiwatu Pacing Club. The deceased sportsman, lor .such John Cofcer was in the truest sense of the word, was universally known as a straight-goer, and his ueath will be widelv regretted.

i'MK WOODVILLE MEETING

The next meeting to engage the attention of sportsmen is that of the Woodville Jockey Llub, which conimences on Saturday next. Excellent acceptances have neen received lor me urst nay's racing, which promises to be of a most interesting character. Proceedings will commence, with tne Maiden Plate, in widen some smart two-year-okls are engaged. Miriam, the full-sister to Aru;in, appears to possess a good chance or earning distinction, ami no uoubt she will go out lavorite. In tne Hack Hurdles, I'ukctotary, on his snowing at tne r'eildmg meeting, should run prominently, 'i ne op,,osuii>n is very wtak, the omy nor.se tuat might tro\ible film heing ocracinnoira, whose wont of late has Deen very promising. Cullman, who was sold last week, is aitectcu in the wind. Captain, who has not long been in commission, has been doing satisfactory wont, out nothing to warrant his winning the event, i iu> handicapper has set hackers a dnncult task in selecting the winner or trie Grandstand Hack Handicap, in which sucn .good periormers as attention, .uore iUere, iUelalogue, Ja;go.r. ivopane, Cornelian, and Awha are engaged. Ladroiic, who is trained at .t\.apr.."i, lias been accomplishing all that has been asked of iiiin, and Ins connection are making no secret of the fact that he will run well, 'hie Woodville Handicap will produce that good mare fsquuas, Due with .!.,.-> (ner 1] mile, l. am inclined to mink t.ml she will not get a place, l/ii r'cild.ng form vjoromaudel appears ld no.d the opposition safe. Ar..im and \ octguug ..nvc been accomplishing :spie:nii(i work on the HasL.ngs tratK, and no iiouin they will command a good deal of support. 'Hue, wiio holds pride of place in the ('lying i-iacic Handicap, ran two good races at I'Vilding. and as the opposition is not strong in the event named, lie siiouk! make amends for his detents. Lord Palmer and monologue are a pair that will have numerous admirers. 'I ne thorough Handicap v.m bring (lit .Midnight Sun, who scored a cleci.'.ive victory at the New Zealand (.'up meeting. Alaster Sylvia performed exceilencly at feilding, where he ran second to Mill on tne concluding day. he will no doubt he the favorite, with iviidniglit Sun next in demand, who will be ridden by C. Jenkins. Another problem has oeen set backers m the Welter Mack, in winch Gtaliu (a dual winner at the last Otaki meeting) leads the list. E.sineh is nicely'treated with U.o, and may rim well. Good reports are to hand regarding the capabilities of Sir Knox on the training track, and provided he gets a good passage, the chestnut should have a say in tne final stages. Nauiuai and Aurora are being frequently mentioned as likely to upset calculations in the Electric Handicap. 'I lie former accounted for the Koilding Stakes in. a remarkably easy fashion, and keen judges are of opinion that he will repeat the performance.

xoms.

The Dannevirke horses engaged at the Woodville meeting are ijueen of Scots (Korougli Handicap), Florence Nightingale (r'lyirrg Haeii Handier]>)and Sir Donald (I'lying Hack).