NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 54, 27 November 1907, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

(By Glencoe.)

Among the many candidates for the St. Andrew's Haii'dicap at Feilding on Friday next, none, perhaps, is exciting so much interest as Rillemaid, by Needleguii—Rus'-.ley Belle. Last season this speedy little filly was started once or twice- over a mile,and a half 'course, but she failed on each occasion. Sinco coming out two yeijrs ago, Rillemaid has done a lot of racing, winning in all seven events—four as a hack, and three-,in open company. A notable feature of her career is tho large dividends she has always returned. When she , won her first hack race on tho Tauherenikau course in January, 1906, she'paid over £25, and last December, when sho prevailed in the Ashhurst Cup, her backers received 1 a £22 dividend. As a three-year-old, racing in tho hack division. v sho won a littlo over £200 in stakes, her wins including two on tho Tauherenikau course, one. at Opaki, and one at Trentham. Last season tho (laughter of Needlegun was a long time in striking form, and bado fair to prove a disappointment. At the Taratahi-Carterton Meeting she secured a second, and later on was third in tho Borough Handicap at Woodville. Then on the second day of the Manawatu Club's Summer Meeting she ran secoftd to Flotilla, and finished in .front of one or two useful gallopers. This form, however, did not appeal to the public, for when slip won the Ashhurst Cup next day she was thp outsider of tho field. In this latter race she was weighted at 6st. 71b., but she carried 51b. overweight, and won easily. Her next start was in the Wairarapa Cup. where shp tool: tho lead before the straight was reached, and never let anything reach her. Her only other win was in tho Waipipi Cup at the Masterton Meeting, which brought her earnings for the season up to £910. On tho ninth of the present month, sho was one of the field of fifteen which contested tho Wairarapa County Cup at Claroville, and ran second to Moral. On that day : sho looked a trifle big, but she has made great improvement during tho past threo weeks. She is weighted at 7st. 91b. in the St. Andrew's Handicap, and ivill probably be ridden by that capable horseman Luko Wilson.

\V. Uavies takes Yosami, Anc.vlo, and Pardon to the Feilding meeting; whence he will proceed to Woodville. Pardon does not seem to bo making verv quick progress -at the jumping business, but should improve with experience. v ,

The Workman gelding. Shrapnel is undergoing a special preparation for tho Auckland Cup. After Snrapiiel won the Grand National Hurdles many held the opinion that he would be able to hold his own in a twomile handicap on the ilat, but his running in tho Avondale Cup did a lot to discountenance that idea.

Nominations for the Poraugahau Racing Club's meeting close with the Secretary tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. For the Kaikoura Racing Club's meeting nominations are also due to-morrow.

The majority of the local bookmakers have already applied for licenses , for tho Feilding and • Woodville, meetings, and are anxiously awaiting to see what stand tho clubs wil' take up. Among the fielders there is a consensus of opinion that if the maximum fee of £20 a day is demanded ny the clubs, tho , game will-be worth very little.

In the palmy days at Auckland, where so much straight-out betting was done, the bookmakers were charged something like five guineas a day for the privilege of betting on the Jiiivn. In Australia £2o per annum is the fee demanded at Randwick and £75 per annum at Flomington. Seven guineas to ten guineas a day the local fraternity thinks is what will be asked. Even at that figure it is contended the bookmakers, will have mi uphill game, for straight-out betting' lias been so little practised in the last couplo of years that it will be very hard to compete against the tote and its system of two dividends, while with the largo number that are likely to be licensed competition is sure to be very keen.

A visitor from Foxton informs mo that Toa I'iihi continues to do good work, and, all going well, the Conqueror gelding is a sure starter at Keilding on Friday. The chestnut is a trifle unruly at the barrier, and it is always a lottery now whether he gets away well or not.

Last year there were sixteen starters in the lUaiden Hack Scurry at iVcilding, and there will probably be a larger field this year. Golden Eagle, Fliinsnap, and Wnihuka wero nmoMg last year's candidates. liotli hurdle races at I'Vilding should provide first-class races, and the betting promises to be exceedingly brisk. >