SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16219, 23 May 1918, Page 5

SPORTING.

♦ ■ ■■ RACING AND TROTTING NOTES. (BY "Lookeb-ON.") Finiil payments for tlio Great Northern Stccplechase, Great Northern Hurdles, and Cornwall Handicap, together with acceptances for tho minor events on the first day of the Auckland Racing Club's Winter Meeting, are due at 9 p.m. to-morrow. Tho North Otago Jockey Club's "Winter Meeting, which takes place to-day, promises to provido some very inteiosting racing, although in one or tv.-o events the fields aro small. Tho Wanganui Jockey Club's "W inter Meeting, which opens to-day, ivill be looked forward to with much interest, as it is the first steeplechase fixture or tho season. Tho principal events on the card are the Wanganui Steeplechase, Century Hurdlc3, and Conno ly Handicap. Tho field in the steeplechase includes Master Strowan, Braeburn, Gluepot, and Coalition, awio represent good class, while Bore is n very priraising novice. Our Wanganui correspondent telegraphed last evening :— The weather is alternately fine ana showery, and the going is heavy. Present indications are that showery weather will prevail for the Meeting. The town is full of visitors, and accommodation is at a premium. Mr Spencer C'ornford ("Early Bird'') one of the first Turf writers on the Svdney "iteferee," in the early eighties, died recently in Sydney, nt the age of 68. He was before that associated with the "Sunday Times" in Sydney, and when he joined the Sydney J 'Ref eree" one of his colleagues was Nat Gould. Mr Cornford afterwards became a member of the staff of the "Star," now the "Sun." A clauso of an Act passed by the Federal Parliament early this month makes it definite that drawers of prizes in Tattersall's sweeps will have to pay 10 per cent, of their winnings to the Federal Government. There will be no chance of evasion, either, as Tattersnll is made agent for the collection of the

percentage. (Bt "Searchlight.") Acceptances for the South Wairarapa. 1 Trotting Club's Annual Meeting close tfday. ' •Acceptances for tho Canterbury Park dotting Club's Winter Meeting close on Tuesday, at noon. The Now Brighton trainers, 31. Edwards, J. Messorvey, W. Warren, T. Frost, and It. lieay, are daily attendants on tho local course with their teams. The grass track is open to work upon, and provides excellent going. Reggie Huon. worked with the straps on yesterday for the first time since the Now Brighton Meeting. The son of Denver Huon did not please his trainer, but after a good straightening op, displayed better manners, and worked satisfactorily. Tho Auckland-owned trotter Auckland. Girl, iis fast getting into form, but it is. doubtful if the ltothschild mare has yet done enough work to run out a solid two miles. The Greymouth Cup winner, Sympathy, has been responsible for some good pacing of late, and is showing improved form. The Dominion mare will represent Brooklyn Lodge in the principal two-mile race at Asliburton next month. M, Edwards has Adelaide Direct in strong work again. Although the Aus-tralian-bred mare is doing well, she cau- ' lit bo at hei best by the time the C&n- ----• terbury Park Meeting rolls round. Leo Bell, Calton, Vice Admiral, Miss Bye, Sweet Lilian, and Antonio are teing kept up to the collar, and are linking well. W; Warren's pair, Nancy Stair and Iryar, continue to move along satisfactorily, and will be raced at Canterbury Park and Ashburton. J Messorvey is giving Miss Havoc plenty of solid work in harness. She promises to race well at Canterbury Park.

It. Reay is doing long steady jogging Tamarisk, and Bidens. Xcithcr b$ any immediate engagements. Sunrise has teen thrown out of comj Bnssion until next season. • Ho General Lyons mare Succeed Wing failed to train on, has been returned to her owner at Ashburton. It ttquito possible she may go to the stud i sert season. .Sir Gavin and Young Weary, owned Jy the Southland sportsman, Mr J. : ■ Duffy, have vacated Oakhampton Lodge ■ tad returned to their owner. ; iß._McDonnell is keeping Evelyn and < Emilias up to the collar at Ashburton, • Jj'k a view to racing them at Cantcrway Park and Ashburton next month. . E.-Carlyon, owner of the pacing , B®wiuor Odd Sock? goes into camp next ' month, The Lyttelton sportsman, Mr J. Olli--was amongst those drawn in. tho ' ; decent , ballot. Elsie and a maiden pacer by wuamoor have been returned by J. wsservey to their owner, as there aro for. them until next spring. ( Edwards lias an addition to his ;■ a five-year-old trotter by Quini'"

Owing to being detained oil business in the South, after the Forbury Park Meeting, the Auckland owner-trainer, A. Jirown, did not arrive with Harold Junr., Quadroon, and Shanghai until Tuesday. At present his team is quartered at the Railway Hotel stables, and, all going well, he; will remain hero tmtil after t'ho Metropolitan August Meeting. WANGANUI TRAINING NOTES. (MESS ASSOCIATION TELEGHAII.) WANGANUI, May 22. There was showery weather for tlio final pallops. Teka and Hydrus ran Bix furlongs in linin ltoc, Lady General five in lmin | 53ec, and -Rude a Bimilar distance in lmin , 4Jeec. Lady Black, assisted by Ouiorc, raa ; the same distanco in lmin Iscc. I'ur&efiller beat Cleft and Hexton over seven furlonga in lmin 35sec. jloutoa Queen ran six furlongs in lmin 20sec. Gang Awn jumped nv? huTd!ea nicely, and Lord Nelson and Styrax finished abroast over a mile in lmin SOBec. Warmth ran five furlongs in lmin 6£sec.