SPORTING.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19114, 24 September 1927, Page 18

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September 24—Ashburtcm County R.C. September 24, 26—Napier Park K.C. September 24, 26—Avondale J.C. September 29, 30 —Geraldine R.C. October I—Hawke's1 —Hawke's Bay J.C. _ October 1, 3, 5, B—Australian J.C. October s—Slanawatu Hunt Club. October 6—Kurow J.C. October 7, B—Otaki-Maori R.C. October B—Oamaru J.C. October 8, 10—Auckland R.C. October 13, 15—Dunedin J.C. October 15 —Carterton R.C. October 19, 20—Cromwell K.U October 22, 24 —Wellington R.t. October 24-North Canterbury fI.C. October 24— Waverley R.C. October 21—Waikato Hunt Club. October 24, 26 —Gore RX. Ociober 24—Waipawa C ° unt^ r ,'p hlb October 27, 29-Poverty Bay Turf Club October 29—Upper Clutha K.u TROTTING FIXTURES. September 24—Ashburton County R.O. e - c ' October 111 o—Kurow J.C. Spring (two October'"S!" 10 —Oamaru J.C. Spring (four October" I '^—Methven T.C. (inaugural). TURF GOSSIP. Acceptances for the Geraldine Racing Club's Spring Meeting close on Monday. Acceptances for the Kurow and Oamaru Spring Meetings close on Wednesday. In connexion with the Trial Plate at the Ashburton fixture to-day, the rules for the track provide that if there are more than eighteen starters in a race, two divisions will be necessary. The original acceptance for the race waa 25, which was yesterday reduced to 2d by the withdrawals of Don Jose and Money Mart, and it is probable that the non-appearance of some of the remainder may still permit of the race being decided in one division. In the meantime, the official race books provide for two sections, detailed in the programme, published elsewhere on this | page. * Master Clarence has made a good recovery from th<3 injury to one of Ins legs sustained whilst g&lloping ttt Riccarton on Thursday, and. lie will fulfil his engagement in the Fairfield Hack Handicap at Ashburton to-day, a race in which his prospects are considered very favourable. G. Muri'ay-Aynsley was inclined to cancel the trip to . Ashburton with Footfall and Scoff owing to the recent rain, but a change in tne weather and the receipt of a iavourable report from Ashburton prompted him to carry out the arrangements. Neither horse is able to act in holding t?oing, but provided there is no further rain, their • prospects to-day- should not be materially jeopardised. H. Pritchard was at Riccarton yesterday with Royal Game, Frilford, Pegree and Fallow, and the,team will assist at' the forthcoming southern Meetings, commencing, with the A&nburton fixture to-day. The three lastnamed figure irr the Trial, Plate.

When the handicaps appeared for the Ashburton Meeting, Note's impost in the Longbeach Hack Handicap was published as lOst. Her connexions accepted with the filly, engaged a rider, and made all arrangements for the tripj but on Thursday last,- three, davs after the closing of' acceptances, they received telegraphic advice that an error had been made in file transmission of the handicaps and that her weight was 10-10. Note was forthwith withdrawn from her engagement. Erin-go-bragh and Com Rigs arrived from the West Coast yesterday .to fulfil to-day's engagements at Ashburton. Both are expected to pay expenses. 1 The well-known , mare . Boadicea recently produced a 'filly foal to Night Raid and will probably be mated with Last Dart this season.

The following riding engagements have been made for the Ashburton Meeting to-day:—F. C. Porter, Satrap; W. Brown, Bkyguest, Green Cloth, Ophir; D; Cotton, Goosestep, Beaming, Thorndale, Scoif; R. Coveny, Margaret Birney Silver Arc, Gaybird; 11. Beale, Courtly Rose, Miss Trillion, Gold Mint, Wreath of Myrtle; A. Eastwood, Chickwheat, Happy Queen, Martian Spear, First Raid; F. E. Jones, Sagittarius, Footfall; C. Eastwood, I<laming Ray, Royal Flower; C. Emerson, Bolero, Master Clarence, Royal Game, Moorland; J. Morris, Kenmore; E. Shaw, Saxette;" I. Tilson, Diana's Lad; J. Campbell, Rapier, Cornstalk; A. Messervey, Finora, Beau Geste, Luminant, Streamer; G. Salt, Spearman. \

On his two performances at theOtago Hunt OJub Meeting on Saturday last, H. Donovan has decided that it is no use persevering further with Bandolero, the disappointing son of Mountain Knight,- and has turned him out in the paddock.

Donne, who is in the T'rial Plate at Ashburton to-dfcy, is a four-year-old gelding by Clarenceux from La Pais, and forms one of F. P. Claridge's team at Riccarton. He has yet to face a starter.

In expectation that the track conditions would not be favourable today, Don Jose, Money Mart, and Silver Coot were yesterday withdrawn from their engagements at the Ashburton Meeting.

L The majority of the three-year-olds weighted in the Flying Handicap fit the Avondale Meeting to-day, having been I acecpted' for, it should be an interesting race in view of, the Guineas contest on Monday. The field includes Laughing Prince, Paganelli, Covent Garden, In the Shade, and High. Finance—all good ones.

The Dominion-bred Inclusive won the principal ev*nt at the Roseberry (Sydney) pony Meeting the other day. Inclusive, who is by Arrowsmith-Exclu-siveis a half-sister to Spode, The Tank, and'select, and at one time was trained at Trentham.

On good authority it is stated that Saturday night trotting will soon become universal throughout Australia. In days numbered with the past pony racing" used to be carried on in Sydney at night. All went well until one ■night some of the sharpshooters got towork and blew up the secretary's office with explosives, securing the cash stored there.

Equerry, in S. Pankhurst's stable at luvercargill, is working very well, aud is in forward condition for the spring racing. He will be found a much improved horse this season, and a very likely proposition for longer distance race 6. At the present time he still stands his engagement in the New Zealand Cup, but whether that is to be continued will depend entirely upon the form he shows at the early spring Meetings.

An Australian owner has been negotiating for the purchase of Tuki, but so far no business has been recorded. Tuki would be a good proposition for some of the long-distance races in Australia, where a jumper has a better chance than in this country.

New Zealand horses figure prominently in the weight-for-age events at the Australian Jockey Club's Meeting next month. Limerick, Commendation, Piuthair, and Pilliewinkie are in the Spring Stakes, one mile and a half, while they are also in the Craven Plate, one mile and a quarter, in which the three-year-olds Royal Lineage and Merry Mint are also engaged. With the exception of Commendation they are all in the Eandwick Plate, two miles, on the last day, while s Eawhetu is a fresh aspirant.

Commendation has two weight-for-age engagements at the Australian Jockey Club's Meeting next month, these being the Spring Stakes, one mile and a half, and the Craven Plate, one mile and a quarter, but he is-not in the two-mile Eandwick Plate.

W. H. Dwyer has booked accommodaiton for Paleta at Hastings. The Leighton three-year-old, On his form in the Eclipse Stakes at Wanganui, should make a bid for the Hawke's Bay Guineas. In New Zealand division race's arc not uncommon, but so far it has not been found necessary to run a jumping race in divisions. At Mooneo Valley (Victoria) on September 10th the acceptors in the Steeplechase were too numerous to run in one race, so it w&s divided. According to the "Australasian," it ■was the first time in racing history in Victoria that such a course had been found necessary, but two fine races resulted, outsiders winning in each division. Hastings track reports credit Ganymede with having improved a lot as the' result of his race at Dannevirke last week. Ganymede is due to make his next appearance at Napier Park on Saturday. TROTTING NOTES. Acceptances for two events at theGeraldine R.C.'s Spring Meeting close on Monday. The Methven T.C. has received large nominations for its Annual Meeting. The list totals 298 horses, and as the nomination fee is £l, owners have already contributed over SO per cent, of "the stake money. In the Westward Ho Handicap, 46 horses are engaged, in the Drayton Handicap 29, Mt. Hurding Handicap 45, Methven Cup 47, Avonmore Handicap 37, Kiverband Handicap 27, Visitors' Handicap 29, and the Mt. Hutt Handicap 38 and the fields include such useful horses as Man o' War, who figures in the New Zealand Trotting 'Cup, Trampfas,t, Nighborn, Katute, Panto, Huon Denver, Logan King, Vecto, Wenlo, Mate o' Mine, Heribilwin, Salub, Exclusive, Asset, Commander Bingen, Patsy Phegan, Auditress, and Logan Holme.

Fin© weather has prevailed at Auckland of late and trainers are busy preparing their horses for the coming Spring Meeting. Amongst those in work, and doing well, are-—Jewel Pointer, Amaris, Cute Lad, The Tartar, Ursulino, Betty Moko, and Direct Morning. '

The principal' race at the Gore T.C. s "Annual Meeting on Boxing Day, will be the Gore Trotting Club Handicap, of two miles,. 4.46 class, endowed with the useful stake, of 450 sots, while a handsome tr6phy will be presented to the winner.

R. Humphreys has a small but useful team in work at Templeton, including Brutus, a five-year-old gelding by Great Audubon, from Nance O'Neill, dam of Great Actress, Frills, and Vecto. The last-named two are well forward and ate likely to assist at Methvon.

The Wellington sportsman, Mr E. R. Husband, has leased a promising six-year-old trotter by Hardy Wilkes from a Rothschild mare and placed it under the care of E. J. Smith to be prepared for future racing. B. Jarden has sold the three-year-old colt by Author Dillon from Marie Tempest to a patron of M. B. Edwards's stable.

J. J. Kennerley is handling a two-year-old gelding by Pedro Pronto from Alone, by Wildwood Jr., the youngster already shows promise at the pacing gait and after receiving his education, he will be turned out for a few months.

ENGLISH RACING.

CRITICISM OF MR J. E. HENRYS

(BT CABLE—PBB6S ASSOCIATION— COPYBIGHT.) (AUSTBALIAH AND JI.Z. AND SUN CABLE.)

LONDON, September 22. Mr J. E. Henrys, who is handicapper for several New Zealand racing Clubs, is visiting England. He considers the British turf authorities are playing into the hands of greyhound racing promo tors. He does ? not wonder, in view of the high admission charges, that people resort to the cheaper sport. Though English race tracks are beautiful, public facilities and prize money do not compare with those offered in Australia and New Zealand, where everyone can see the racing. English horses are perhaps superior to colonial horses, but the prices of yearlings prohibit Dominion sportsmen purchasing extensively. Mr Henrys pays a tribute to the clean riding of English jockeys. HAWKESBURY RACES. (BT CABLS— fSIM ABBOCUTIOK—COPimiOET.) j (AtSTBALIAN A.VD K.S. CABM ASSOCIATION.) SYDNEY, September 23. New Zealand is not largely represented at to-morrow's Hawkesbury races, the last of the series of suburban fixtures leading up to the Australian Jockey Club's spring carnival. Battlement, Marry Mint, and Drawbridge are among the acceptors for the Spring Handicap, and The Hawk and First Acre for the Rowley Mile. New Zealand has a single representative in each of the three other races. ■