SPORTING.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17220, 10 August 1921, Page 9

SPORTING.

After the Grand National Steeplechase at Riccarton yesterday a protest was lodged by S. Henderson, rider of Loroglen, against Coalition on the p-ound of interference at the second to last fence. After hearing evidence the stewards unanimously dismissed the protest.

Messrs J. Cameron, J. Henrys, and A. Keith have been re-appointed judge, handicapper, and starter respectively to the Foxton facing Club. The "club immediately put in hand the improvements to tho course, recommended by the Racing Commission, and thev are now nearing completion. As was the case last season, tho conditions attached to the various events to be decided at Ellerslio during the coming racing year provide that winners alter the declaration of weights may bo re-handicapped, not later than 72 hours after the advertised .starting time of the race won.

Mr If. Coyle has been re-appointed Tmndicapper to the Egmon't Club, and ile-ssrs O'Connor and Cameron will :--gain fill the roles of ,=tr.rtor and judge respectively. The light-weight Australian horseman C Stepb-ns, who recently arrived in New Zealand under engagement to "the patrons of H. Telford's stable, has been granted a license by tho "Wellington District Committee.

The Wellington horseman, A. Beed, is returning to tho Dominion from his j Australian visit .shortly, but it is understood will go back to Sydney and ride at tho A.J.C. Spring Meeting. A Melbourne message says there are _nine final acceptors in the Australian Steeplechase. No New Zealand horses aro among the number. In their annual report tho committee of the Reef ton Jockey Club state:—Wo have to congratulato tho club upon the very suco;'ssful year just closed, from both a racing and financial point of view. The committee wisely adopted the progressive policy of considerably increasing the stakes, which resulted in record nominations,' large fields, and the very considerable increase of £'8478 in the totalisator turnover for the three days' racing. There is also a large incrcaso in nominations and acceptances, gates, privileges, and members' feos. . . W« would earnestly recommend tho incoming committee to con-, tinuo the progressive policy of further increased stakes for the 1921-22 racing season, also to put into operation the scheme suggested to the Racing Commission (and heartily approved of by them) of considerably increasing Ihe accommodation for the general public on tho lawns, and in the luncheon rooms, as well as an increase in the size of the totalisator housw, and as soon as it is possible to arrange finance, 'to increase the size of the racing track to at least seven furlongs. The meeting of tho Board of tfcte New Zealand Trotting Association will be held at 7.80 p.m. to-day, to be followed at 8 p.m. by the annual meeting, when the result of tho voting will be declared..

Amongst the horses to''be sold by auction at Tattersall's this week are Hardy Wilkes, Billy Dillon, and Lady Freda. The- Blenheim-owned and trained Ballin arrived from the North yesterday, and will be raced at Addingtou this, week. For the Australian racing season which t>nded on July 31st, Mr E, Lee Steere topped the lisjl of winnlna owners with £21,251, which is a record. All but £256 of thi3 total was won by Eurythmic. Mr E. E. D. Clarke was second with £13,495, Furious and Isa being his best winners. Poitrel placed Messrs W. and F. A. Moses < N.S.W.) third with £11,286, while Salitros put Mr W. V. Manton (U.S.W.) fourth with £10,360. Other successful winners were MrE. J. Watt £7997, Messrs E. J. Brodv ahd'H. M. S. ;Simpson (N.S.W.) £7170, Mr C. B. Mellow (Vic.) £6103, and Sir J. J. Leany (N.S.W.) £5966. '

The Welkin (imp.) regained tho premiership among winningjjqrgs, which he held for the season His total this year is £32,112, and ho had 26 winners of 60* races. Eudorus (imn ) was second with £55,945, Linacre (imp.) was third with £MM. Comedy King (imp.), who headed the list in the previous season, was fourth, with £23,369. Then, came Stanem £18.144, St. Alwyno (imp.) £161,178s Coditrim (imp.) £15,268, Pistol <rap.) £14,259, Sea Prince (imp.) £13.557, ■. and Syce (imp.) £12,721. The. first 16 horses are imported. Since the Welkin entered the winning sires' list in 1913-14 he has sired the. winners of 378} races on registered courses, of a total value of £162,021. In the same period Linacre sired the winners of 728 races, aggregating in value £161,758. POIi SALE. BILLY DILLON, b g-, by Harold DillonrThresher, 6yrß, Pacer.. Record lm, 2.23: has done 2.17 (unplaced). Good in saddle and harness. ! ' ' For price and further particulars apply G. S. SIMPSON, 45G "Press" Office. Chrlstchurch.