SPORTING.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLVII, Issue 50, 21 December 1920, Page 6

SPORTING.

[By Vladimir.]

FIXTURE. Dec. 27, 2s.—Dunedi.i J.C. Dec. 27, 2S.—Tnianaki .I.e. Dec. 27, 2S, ::u.—Maiiaualu R.C. Dec. 27, 2!>, .lan. J.—Auckland II.C Dec. Jill, Jan. 1. 1.-Grevmouth J.C. Jan. I.—Wyndham R.C. Jan. J.—Waikouaiti R.C. .lan. I, ;!.—lfawkes Bay J.C. Jan. :;, I.—Southland II.C. Jan. 7, B.—Vincent J.C. Jan. .12, ]:;.—Cromwell J.C. Jan. 20, 22, 24.—Wellington I;.C. Jan. 21—Otaulau l.',C. Jan. 2(i.—Tapnnui R.C. Jan. 20", 2!!.—Takapuna J.C.

i'ii.-i >,-ili!te caniinih's io nrrv ;i very might »j.;ii-:ir:ui<".\ and is voted o!!c () ; f the lirt- .- luh'm-s at Kllerslie. Southland. R.C. race card privileges wore disposed nf at £2Ol. Mr 'W. Stone has scratched Silver Peak for the Wyndbam Handicap, be* ing dissatisfied with the weight allotted the daughter of Adjudge. At Riccnrlon one morning last week Malaga, who claims seveiul engagein Southland at hiiliilay lime, beat Warlike over a mile. It is reported from Auckland that H. Gray will have the mount on Statuette in the 'Railway Handicap. As a result the Mai'ble 'An-h mare has supplanted Arriwsmitli in favouritism. It is understood that G. Young has an idea of riding in trotting races. The well-known jockey will probably inake his debut with a pacer in the south at the Southland R.C. Summer meeting. The name of Simple has been claimed for the three-year-old gelding by Solferino—Rosalia in A. D. McTvor's team. The brother to Solfanello is rapidly learning to gallop, and may prove useful 'later in the season. Recently J. Coyle tried the disappointing Kipling over a couple of fences (reports "Glencoo" in the Dominion), and those who saw the Demosthenes "elding perform declare that no horse could have jumped better. The veteran galloper 'Rorke's Drift is reported to lie training on in a satis-, factory manner. He will probably make 'his reappearance at one of the holiday fixtures, but he can hardly be expected to strip at his best for some time to come.

The committee appointed in connection with the local Clutha Trotting Club have met and tilled in the necessary forms, and have supplied ail necessary information to the secretary of the 'Raving Commission, and are waiting :i 'reply as to the date of the visit of'Tlie commission to Clutha. Eleus and Silver ll'oak are both moving freely and looking well, while A. SlcJvoi' has no reason to complain of the progress made .by '.Mantua. The hitherto menu-looking daughter of Solferino would pass i|i a crowd anywhere now, as she has rilled out noticeably of late.—"Mir Modred." There are not many of New Zealand's 'big races that 11. Gray has not ridden a winner in, but he has yet to salute the judyo in the Auckland Cup. This yeas lie rides Oratress, on whom he ,won the X.Z. Cup. The horsemanship of Gray makn- u big difference to anything lie rides in a two-mile race. Kilkce is galloping in a resolute fashion at present (says "Sir 'Modred''), and it is safe to say that the " son of Kirbrojiey will get among the ■winners during the .holiday season. Aliffoner .must also 'be pleasing P. Ilogan, who als>o has l?edshire coming on nicely, and even the disappointing Kokowai has ibeen yalloping'better tihau usual of late.

iAi special meeting of the Board of the N.Z. Trotting Association was held on (Friday to inquire into the 'bona fides of a horse called Nature's Gentleman, and' Miss V. 'M. James and P. Rivers had been summoned to appear before the hourd to show cause why they should not 'be dealt with under the rules. There was no appearance of either of the parties, and it was ultimately decided to disqualify the horse for life, and that further action be postponed pending inquiry. Although he did not race quite up to expectations during the early part of the season, it is now promised- that the pacing three-year-old Copa de Ora Juiir, by Copa de Oro (imp.)—ivy Dillon, is going to make good before the season' closes. The half-brother to Loeanda Billon will be driven in the Great Northern Trotting Derby by X. C. Price for his owner. Mr W. 'II. Robbins. Copa d'e Oro Junr. is a powerful big colt and may take some time to mature, but he •has already demonstrated the fact that he is possessed of a rare turn of pace. While being speeded up to sulky one imomiug last week at Invercargili the pacing mare 'Miss ©iXei'll took fright at a saddle-doth dropped op the track and attempted to jump the strange object. The daughter of Brent Loeanda was pacing in hopples at the time, and a's a result came a severe cropper. Driver Koy Berry escaped unhurt, but was thrown high into the air. There was da-mage to the harness and sulky and \Miss O'Neill was someiwhat knocked' about, but it is hoped that slw •will be herself again in the course of a few days. The Board of the XjZ. Trotting Association on Friday night decided to reHer back to the Forbury Park Trotting Ohib the Dimlight case for information as to 'whether the stewards considered

the interference for which Dimlijrlit was disqualified was intentional or riot. * The ease forwarded by the Winton J.C., reporting that J. Duffy had' been fined £2O for interference, was considered, and the 'board inflicted a penalty of six months' disqualification. The association decided to hold at its next meeting an inquiry into the starting at the Porbury Park '.Spring meeting, and invite the chili to send representatives. It was also decided to suspend till next season the resolution recently passed compelling stakes for trotting events on racing dribs' programmes to be brought up to the average value for the -whole programme.