SPORTING.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16274, 26 July 1918, Page 5

SPORTING.

FACING AND TROTTING NOTES. (BY "Looeeu-ON.") Mount Victoria is back in. his old quarters in C. Pritchard's stable. The trainer nanjed is not taking any of his team to tlie Grand National Meeting. The Auckland hurdler Ghietanus 1 is to aake the. trip to Riccarton. He was Juo at Wellington yesterday in, charge of F. Burns, who will rido him in tho Grand .National Hurdles. Trainer D. Aioraghan will como to Riccarton later to supervise the final gallops. Cardrona and Hydrus arrived .(iccarton yesterday morning. According to the "New Zealand Times," a prosecution is ponding against i.e Wellington Racing Ciub for alleged jroacli of ine legulatioas relativo to tho ringing up of money after the start of a race. The alleged infringement occurred in the Trial in whicii there was a large field. The ordinary method of the club is to give the totalisator hands five minutes to adjust their figures, and the starter is counselled accordingly. In the case in point tho starter got his field' away most expeditiously, but he was somewhat ahead of tho machine. Local racegoers will bo pleased to know that the popular Thompson Handicap Meeting will again find a place on the Wellington Racing Club's programme next season (writes "Sir Lancelot" in tho "Evening Post"). It will be a one-day fixture, to be held on May 3rd.. The dates of the other meetings are as follows: —Spring, October 26th and 28th; Summer, January 22nd and 25th; Winter, July 11th and 14th. News from England by a reccnt mail states that "Mr Robert S. Siovier has caused a writ for malicious libel to bo served on Mr Richard Wootton. The cause of action is in connexion with an extraordinary pamphlet purported to bo printed and published by the defendant."

It is bad enough to have a racehorse drowned, but it is the height of misfortune for such to happen in theso days of paucity of water (writes "Pilot" in the Sydney of July 17<.ii). Yet two instances have been provided at Randwick within three weeks, tho first being Agincourt, who won tho A.J.C. Filial Handicap of 1916 from end to end. In both instances falling into a drain caused the trouble, there not being enough space for the horses to extricate themselves. Silver King, an aged New Zealand-bred bay gelding by Sylvia Park—Ruby was the latest viotim. He came to Sydney with a big jumping reputation over two years ago, but failed to act up to it. He carricd Mr E. S. Luttrell's colours over both 6ets of jumps.

(Bt "Searchlight.") News has been received, in Gore that the well-known trainer and reinsman, J. R. Mc,Murray, has been wounded in the back while fighting with the Mounted Rifles. The Eastern District horseman, who left New Zealand for Egypt in company with J. Hamilton, owner of Bellflower, was present in uniform a few days prior to sailing to see Cathedral Chimes win the New Zealand Trotting Cup at Addington. Guynemer, winner of the Washdyke Hanuicap decided at "the South Canterbury Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting yesterday, is a three-year old gelding by Brent Locanda, by Locanda (2.02), dam Ferns, by Rothschild from Ruahine, dam erf Dan Patch, Gladiator, Phingari, Glendalough, Innisfail, and St. Kevin, and is owned by his breeder, Mr J. Farrell, the Hinds sportsman, and /this marked his first win this season. Guynemer, who is a wellbred youngster, being a half-bro-thcr to Acrushla Machree, was freely engaged in the three-year-old classic races this season, but failing to race np to expectations in the early part of the 6eason was added to the list. King Cole Junr., runner-up to the winner, is a brother to the unlucky and speedy Colenut, who finished second to Albert Ciing in the • New Zealand Trotting Derby, and recorded 3.27 for a mile and a half, both being owned and bred by Mr J. Burke, of Orari. The two-year-old oolt High Admiral, who finished third, is by Wildwood Jr. from Jenny Lind, and raced jft the Sonth Wairarapa Trotting Club's Annual Meeting last month, finishing third in the Ladies' Bracelet and unplaced in the Birthday Handicap. Ho may bo expected to play a more important part in the coming season's racing. In addition to the stake money, the winner of tho New Zealand Trotting Cap will receive a handsome silver cup, presented by the president of the club, the Hon., C. Louisson. Mr W. Hatpin, owner of the promising trotting gelding 3>e Why, has decided to put the eon of Bingana in work again, and intends sending him to one of the leading Auckland trainers to be prepared for future engagements.