SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16113, 18 January 1918, Page 5

SPORTING.

RACING AND TROTTING l NOTES. (BT "Lookek-UK.") As a rule the work on the last galloping morning prior to general entry j day for any of the big meetings is full ! of interest, as a grass track is opened Iso that trainers can stretch their | charges out and roach a decision as what events they should be nominated | for. At Riccarton yesterday the only tracks available were the plough and the tan, the former being so heavy that though anxious to stretch their horses out, were compelled to give them more or less easy tasks, and this i on the eve of general entry day for the J C.J.C. Midsummer and the Dunedin | Cup Meetings. [ P. McGrath sent Battle Eve and | Thestius, separately, over five furlongs, j their respective times being lmin 7 3-sths see and lmin Ssec. i Bondage took lmin 22 4-sths sec to I cover six furlongs. i "Wardancer and. Harlequin were com* panions in a ten-furlong gallop, being brought home by Bore over the last seven furlongs. Wardancer finished a shade in front, his time being a tick under 2min 15sec. After breakfast Margerine was given a gallop over a mile, and took lmin 52 2-oths sec to get to the end of it. Fiery Cross, with Partisan for a companion, was given a. working gallop over half a mile. The pair, pulling hard, finished together. The names of Desert Gold and Biplane both appear in the list of entries for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup, to be run at Flemington, but neither have been entered for the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Clip at the A.J.C. Meeting. Kilboy must be keeping sound, as he has been entered for both the Sydney Cup and Doncaster Handicaps. Kimbolton, Comely, Euripos, Post Haste, and Majestikoff left for Trentham last night. H. Gray will ride Multiply in the Wellington Cup. A. Reed, will steer Parisian Diamond in the Telegraph Handicap. At a meeting of the committee of the Westland Racing Club on Tuesday, it was resolved to present "Mr Whitney," of Wellington, the owner of Rose Pink, with a gold medal to mark the West Coast record put up by the mare in the Hokitika Handicap on the first day of the meeting. A Sydney message says that Mr W. G. Stead's horses—Sasanof, Sweet Corn, Blended, and Almo —are being returned to New* Zealand. Their trainer, G. Jones, who is recovering from an operation for appendicitis, is not yet able to leave for home. Nominations for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Summer Meeting close at 9 o'clock this evening, and at the same time first forfeits are due for the Middle Park Plate. Nominations for the Dunedin Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting close at 9 o'clock this evening, and forfeits for the Champagne Stakes are due at the same time. Nominations for the Egmont Racing Club's Summer Meeting close this evening.

(By "Searchlight.") Reggie Huon, Vermilion, Otarama, Red Heather, Reta Peta, Sympathy, de Why. Waiwera, and Harold Devon left ! by last evening's ferry steamer for "Wellington, to take part at t he Wellington Trotting Club's Annual Meeting. M. Edwards has informed the FOl- - Park Trotting Club that, under certain conditions, he will send his champion mare Adelaide Direct against time, with a view of reducing the one mile track record of 2.S 3-5 at the club's forthcoming Summer Meeting. After doing a successful season in tho Ashburton district, Brent Locanda arrived back at Santa Rosa l"'arm yesterday, looking in splendid health. Aristos has broken down badly, and it is doubtful if the Driftwood gelding will ever face the 6tarter again. This is most unfortunate for his owner, Mr C. Channing, who paid a large price for lum without even getting a run for his money. Paddy Lynd did not remain long in T. Annett's stable, as the Rothschild trotter is again under his owners care at. Addington. R. McDonnell, the Ashburton owner, was so disappointed with the handicapping of Evelyn in the Dunedin Cup that he has thrown her out of commission. Mr T. H. Davey, not Mr Gorton, will act as stipendiary steward at the Annual Meeting of the AVellington Trotting Club on Monday. The three-year-old trotter Peter Zimmerman recently met with a serious mishap to his jaw which necessitated Mr Kyle, the well-known veterinary surgeon, being called in. Although he has had to b© eased in his work, Mr >». "H Young is hopeful that the son of

(Pctcrcta will be able to fulfil his en- | gagement in the Now Zealand Trotting 1 j Stakes at the Forbnry Fark Summer ! Meeting nest month. , I In the Trial Handicap at Forburv I Park, Xiucky Prince has been penalised I osec and Young Weary oscc for their j respective wins at the Wairio Jockcy • Club's Annual Meeting on Wednesday. j At 11 o'clock yesterday morning, j when the New Zealand Metropolitan j trotting track was practically deserted •• by trainers, an unexpected visit was ' paid to tho ground by Mr C. M. Hill, the well-known aviator, of Sockburn, who, owing to engine trouble at an altitude of 2000 ft, found it necessary to descend in the grounds. As the trouble could not be repaired on the spot, the machine was later taken to Sockburn by lorry to receive attention. The recent meeting of the Grevmonth Trotting Club showed a profit, of £-609 8s lOd, which is considered very satisfactory. Nominations of yearlings for the New Zealand Sapling Stakes, to be decided at. the A s h burton Trotting Club's Winter Meeting in June, 1919, close at 9 p.m. to-morrow. TRE NTH AM TRAINING NOTES. (PBESS ASSOCIATION" TELEGEA2I.) WELLINGTON, January 17. At Trentham thi3 morning most of the two-year-olds engaged at the meeting were spurted down the half-mile straight course. Almoner, Demagogue, and 80-peep shaped well on tho tan. Matilda and Ayah ran six furlongs in lmin 18 3-Sth eec, Johnnv Walker and Menelaus ten in 2min 14sec, and Seadown seven in lmin 33sec, Bonnie Maid and Battlesong ©oven in lmin 37sec, Mies de Yal and Adjutant a milo in lmin. -Osec, Probation and Devotion a mile in lmin 46 3-sth eec, Justification and "Whakatina four furlongs in 53sec, Wrestler five in lmin 2see, Prinoe Delaware and Pervolo seven in lmin 33sec, Wishful and Koesian four in 50sec, Gold Soult and George seven in lmin 33sec, Parisian Diamond four in 52sec, Nobleman, Multiply, and Alteration a mile in luin 45sec, Blairfinde four furlongß in Slsec, Exclusive and Cooing six in lmin Msec, Gamecock four in 49sec, Vagabond sis in lmin 17 3-sth sec, Chortle seven in lmin 32 l-sth sec, Rajput and Rook Salt sir in lmin 17 3-sth sec, Simonides eix in lmin 21sec, Elocution five in lmin 5 l-sth sec. Croesus was trotted on the grass. NEW ZEALAND TROTTING ASSOCIATION. MEETING OP THE BOARD. A meeting of the Board of the New Zealand Trorttihg Association was held last evening. Present—Messrs P. Selig (president), J. M. Samson, W. H. Denton, J. H. Williams, H. F. Niooll, and H. W. Kitfchingham. Apologies for absence ware received from Messrs C. F. Mark. R. W. Short, and W. J. Hopkins. A letter was reoeived from Gunner J. B. Thomson, N.Z.F.A., returning thanks for the good wishes expressed for his welfare. A letter was read from Mr J. E. Bennett, explaining the circumstances that had led to his nominating in error a two-year-old colt by Pet-ereta, for tho Now Zealand Trotting 1 Stakes of this season for three-year-olds. He asked that tho disqualification incurred through his hoxse having been nominated without having been registered should be removed. There was also a letter on the same subject from the Timaru Trotting Club. It was decided to remove the tion, subject to the pavment of a fine of £1. The New Brighton Trotting Club forwarded a copy of the evidence taken at an enquiry held in regard to the nomination of Seychelles by R. P. Graj at lis recent meeting. Prior to the start of the Farewell Handicap, S. M. August had reported to the stipendiary steward, Mr T. H. Davey, that the horso was leased to him, and that Gray had no right to nominate and accept in his own name. The stewards, after enquiry, had decided, to fine both R. P. Gray and S. M. August £5, and to return the money invested on the totalisator, the horse being ineligible to start. The action of tho club was endorsed. The Auckland Trotting Club forwarded particulars of a protest lodged by C. R. Bailey against Gold Boy, winner of the Epsom Trot, on the ground' of boring, and also because the driver had flashed his whip to the detriment of his horso, Grattan Abbey. The protest had been dismissed, there was no appeal, and the club's action was en- • dorsed. I Mr W. J. McCutcheon, owner of Minimax, j who had run second' in the District Handicap at the Gore Trotting Club's Meeting I on Boxing Day, wrote complaining about j the timing of hi 3 horse. The original time ! recorded was smin 2 l-stli eec, and the j timekeepers, by direction of tho etewards, altered tho time to -lmin 58 l-sth sec, fifteen days after the races. He asked whether he was bound to accept the club's ruling, .md whether the Association thought the timekeepers could say a fortnight after the races what their respective watches recorded on the race day. The president said that, under the rules the time could be altered, if the timekeepers submitted a sworn-declaration. It was decided to ask the club whether the necessary declaration had been obtained. A letter ivas read from tho New Zealand Trotting Conference, stating that tho suggestion that a standard should be adopted to qualify for entry in the Stud Book had been considered and referred to the Rules Revision Committee. The stipendiary steward (Mr W. G. Garrard) reported tliat. at the Grevmonth Trotting Club's Meeting. X. L. Price, the driver of Jack Arrah in the Grcymouth Cup, had been called off for starting before his time. It was decided that, in such cases, tho caution to the offender should be given by the Association, and that stipendiary stewards and advisory stewards and clubs should inform the Association of all cases where riders and drivere were called off. The president reported that a telegram had been received from the Southland Racing Club, stating that their handicapper had . overlooked winning and placed performances at Gore and Ashburton. and asking whether there was any rule which would permit him to amend his handicaps prior to acceptance. The secretary replied, quoting the new rule passed at the last Conference, giving authoj_ rity for a handicapper to alter his handicap j under tho direction ol the committee of a 1 club, if he submitted a written declaration j that he had made a bona fide mistake, j No action was taken in the matter. | The Waimate Racing Club wrote, asking j the Association not to insist on its decision | that the trotting events at its Annual Mcct- ■ ing should be made for saddle only or harness only, pointing crut thai the events were

included in the club's programme to assist the sport. It was decided that the programme should | be passed on condition that the event-6 were 1 not optional, and that a letter should be I 6ent to the \raimate Club, out. that the experience of racing clubs in Southland | that had done away with optional races had been quite satisfactory. I Programmes, as -passed by the Executive, 1 were approved, and some additional pro- . grammes were passed. : Tho Licensing Committ-os recommended the issuo of a- number of licenses. It was recommended thai J. T. Brady be granted a professional rider's license oniy; Jhat Hector Gray's application be refused; that Harry Honor's license bo cancclled. He had been requested to return his license, but thue farhad tailed to do eo. On the committoe's recommendation tho trustees of the Provident Fund had granted £10 10s to J. Brankin, and £4, io E. iffcCann, final payments in respect of accidents. [ The report was adopted, the case of ,T. Ef*oleen being referred, back to the Licensing Committee for further enquiry. • The application of P. J. Daly to register the nam© of Scin Fhinn was disallowed. The next meeting of the Board was fixed for 2 p.m. on Friday, February Bth.