SPORTING NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 1, 10 July 1914, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Vladimir.

The nominations for the New Zealand Cup, which were published last week, disclose a falling off in numbers compared with those of last year, the total for this, year reaching b"6, as against 7!) last year. A glance through the list shows that syr-o!ds are the strongest

numerically, totalling 17 candidates;

ovr-olds are represented by 14 and 4yro! is by i(i, and it is strange to see such a strong stable as Sir Geo. Clifford's without a representative. It must be many years now since such a thing as this has occurred, and evidently leads J one to the conclusion that the horses in | this ownership are not up to their ' usually strong standard, and the chairI man of the Racing Conference would ! most certainly have had something to | carry the bhie-and-gold chequers in this I important race if any of his horses had • any credentials at all likely to prove I worthy of representing him. Three Otago owners are represented with each one candidate—viz., Moonglow,' Palisade ami Rongahcre, whilst Magdala is Southland's only candidate. The llawkes Bay owner, Mr K. ,1. AVatt, has four nominations, and Hon. ,7. D. Ormond and Mr F. Hall are each credited with three representatives. At this stage there is very little interest evinced in the New Zealand Cup, which is a very different state of affairs to that which used to obtain in the earlier history of this important handicap—a feature which is due entirely to the legislation of the present day, that makes it illegal to bet except through the medium of the totalisator. The New Zealand Cup in the days when the bookmaker was allowed to ply his calling without restraint, was probably the biggest betting event of the year in the dominion, and the amount of interest that, was attached to this race was simply astounding, books being made for very large amounts all over New Zealand, and in some instances large, amounts were invested Jjy owners and the public months before the actual event took place. But this is all a thing of the past, and a new generation has taken the place of those who followed the sport, and the present patrons now get a run for their money, the previous generation having to take the chances of that, with perhaps the extra inducement of longer odds, which, however, as a rule, proved a snare, so many horses being backed by the public for iarge amounts that actually never saw the post. The present style of betting is much better for the public, although owners may not agree with this; yet it is admitted by all that the racing"clubs prefer the present system, which is a very sound testimony to its efficiency.

-Mr Hunter's Bill to aincinl the present law so as to enable the authorities to grant :!<» extra totalisator j>cnnits for the incoming season is meeting with strenuous opposition right through the Dominion from nearly all the religious bodies, and judging by the efforts they are making to oppose it the Bill is going to cause .some lively discussion in the -House when it comes up for debate. It was thought last session that it would go through all right, but in the meanrime the opposition to it has become very much stronger, and seeing that we are Hearing a genera) election it will oc.-asion no .surprise to see ..Mr Hunter's Bill shelved, as members will be taking precautions to do nothing that their constituents may take exception to, and this is just such a measure which may alienate some of their supporters. An easier solution of the difficulty would be to take a vote in those districts where there is a desire to re-establish a. club that was wiped out and see how the local people feel on the subject; there could, be no objection by either party to a trial of this sort, and it would be of considerable value to the local member of that district to have his constituents' ideas placed in concrete form, and would certainly help, the rest of the Jloujc to reach a decision favourable to the majority.

The Wellington winter meeting', which takes place next week, lias attracted a very iine list of acceptances for the opening day's racing. The .Steeplechase lias the very large field of 1!) horses engaged, and as the majority of these are well-known 'chasers, and include recent winners in Peary, The Spaniard, Exotic, Captain .lack, Sir Lethe and Sportsman, this year's race should prove the most interesting and attractive contest ever held on the Wellington course. It is more so on account of the C.J.C. Grand National Steeples being so close at hand, when almost all the candidates seen out at Trentham will probably also take part iu the Christehurch event. The acceptances are a very flattering testimony to the handieapper, as every race has received equally good response from owners, and with decent weather at all the club should easily establish Records in both the attendance and the amount of money that will be handled during the week.

Kilmeny, who was shipped to Wellington with a view to taking part in the hurdle races, is reported as a doubtful starter, which would look as if he has gone amiss.

Grey King, a recent winner at Gisbome, is said to be a hurdler with excellent qualifications. He is already spoken of as being a strong favourite for the Grand National Hurdles.