A BOOKMAKER'S BANKRUPTCY.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7451, 26 October 1889, Page 5

A BOOKMAKER'S BANKRUPTCY.

[BY TBI_BOaAX>H.j

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DUNEDIN, October 25. At a meeting of the creditors of Frank Woods, turf commission agent, held this afternoon, the debtor stated that he was struck for £550 when Lochia! won tne New Zealand Cup, and that he compromised by paying 2s in the £. He was absolutely without means, and could make no offer. He had filed because one of his creditors, a tailor, had served him with a j udgment summons. The Assignee said that his Honor was not likely to grant the debtor his discharge unless he could make, a substantial offer to his creditors.

RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES.

Bt Spsctator.

Friday Morning*

Work commenced about four o'clock,. Alsace strode once round and came home at top. British lion and Cynisca galloped once round at their best pace, the filly moving in better style than on Thursday. Dudu went two miles at half pace, the last six furiongs being accompanied by Puraestring. Satan and Yon Tempsky were half pacing at intervals on the plough. Fiesole strode along a mile. Reprisal went two rounds with sweater? on, Vendetta keeping him company. Pygmalion sprinted. Bed Ensign went once round, striding over the ground at her best pace for pix furlongs. , ','':': Whisper went twice round, the first at half, the second at three-quarter pace. Helmsman did two rounds steady. Town Moor and Freedom did sprinting work, as also Gatllng and Hazel alter breakfast.

Peerswick and Ruby went about a mile and a half at a useful pace. Enchantress and Vanity cantered to the half mile, and then strode home fast. Chain Shot and Ahua accompanied each other in long work, tbe first round at half pace, which was increased to good sound going in the next circuit. Sultan put in two rounds at half pace. Catamount was restricted to eaay work. Erin-go Bragh went a mile and a half strong, Alcinons keeping him eoinjpany the last seven furlongs. Tornado did one mile and a quarter strong. Recluse did two rounds with sweater? on at a useful pace. Cyclone stripped, covered a mile smart. Sincerity and Irion started together; the filly going along on her own account for two furlongs. Secretary did steady work. Swamphen led Playboy in balfpao. work twice round. Sankey and tbe BundCora—Lady Hag. worth did strong work once round. Lorraine and St. Malo did slow work. Thursday (yesterday) X was up at 2.20 a.m., out on the track till nine o'clock, and afterwards travelling by coach to Rangiora, did the races there, and got my day's work over at 11.30 p.m. The spirit was willing but the flesh weak this morning at three o'clock, when 1 was called to get up and proceed to Riccarton to tout the training. Nothing short of a trial between Dudu, Sultan and Tirailleur, or an alarm of fire on the premises, could have Induced mc to turn out at that hour. Fortunately I had a good substitute on the track, so I did not journey Riccartonwards till later in the day, when I encountered one of the severest of nor'-west dust storms full in the teeth. It is said that a man must swallow a peck of dirt before he dies. I must have taken my full share before I reached the Racecourse Hotel, when * presented on arrival, so I was told, **a sitcht for sore eyes." If it blows often In Canterbury like it did this morning, there will be very little soil. tan. or anything else left on the gallops, which must been robbed considerably of their required coverings, as cloud after cloud of the yellowish dust filled tbe sky, blowing right over the face of the country, and It would have been simply impossible to have worked any horses then when the gale was at its height. The gales here evidently do for the gallops at Riccarton what the surface water floods do in Auckland for the gallops of the A-R.C, ** Elleralie at certain seasons ot the year. The grounds are so much exposed at Riccarton that a tan track would probably have to be banked in before ft would stand any length of time. Trainers do not want a tan gallop, however, so badly as a grass one. and, considering the quantity of level laud at the disposal of the Club, there should be no delay In pro-' Tiding what is required. It seems a great want of consideration that the trainers at this time of year have not a grass trial j track to work on, and this, too, after the j money annually spent by trainers in fees, | The grass gallop on which the hurdle races ace run Is In a positively disgraceful state, full of holes, and certainly net fit for trainers to work horses ea» asm so ___>

It -«8 abt been used, nor is it likely to be until something is done to put it in better going are, as a rule, very hard to please, but out Riccarton way they aU ieem pretty well resigned to the state of affairs as they have them, but the northern and southern visitors look at the -greensward of the racecourse proper, and wonder how it is that the powers that be do not at least throw open the outer side Of the course for the benefit of two-year-olds and Derby and Cup candidates. If they were allowed to gallop outside of hurdles or trussels put along at Intervals, 410 hurt could be done to the course, by dttbs whioh do not provide good grass gallops such concessions are made. Friday afternoon.

The wind was so strong that very few trainers had their horses out on the course during the afternoon.