NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1599, 16 November 1912, Page 14

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

IBi Glincoi.J Nominations for the Woodvillo meeting close to-night, Acceptances l : or tho Peiiding meeting aro duo this evening. Tlio Auckland light-weight jockey, J. Conquest, is leaving Auckland to-day, and Will bo riding at tho Blenhoim meeting. The brood mare Maude, dam of Mahutonga, Ivopu, aad Mangaroa, is at tho Waikanae stud, and is to be mated with Achilles. Tho rivalry existing in racing matters in Isngland between the Bros. Joel has a counterpart in Sydney, the opponents there being the Messrs. John and William Brown. The former owns Duke Foote, who carried all before him till he failed in tho Melbourne Cup, and Mr. William Brown is tho owner of Perditi, who acted as runner-up to Duke Footein the Chelmsford Stakes, and Piastre, wio won the Melbourne Cup, The old veteran Dyed Garments fell and hurt himself seriously while contesting the Hurdles at F'lemiugton 011 Cup day, and his owner lias decided to pension hjm off. Dyed Garments was by Malvolio, from Bosra, and was foaled as far back as 1901. He won tho SydEey Cup and other good races under ilr. I'. A. Connolly's colours. ■ " DquUc-event backers are making Culprit and Heatherbrao their fancies for the Flying Stakes at Feilding,' coujled with Los Angelos, Bon Rove, Bon G'on, Autumnus, and Brown Owl for the St, Andrew's. Tho writer would not pick any of-tho last five, as certain starters with tho exception of Brown Owl, who is well in with 7st. 121b. on her form in Derby and Oaks at'Riccarton. Mr. Morse got a splendid response from' owners for tho Marlborough meetitfg. In the five open handicap events on the first day only the Porirua pair, Dirge and Lace Collar, who will not be required to rate until later in tho season, and Gold l Braid, dropped out. The last-named had none the best of it, compared with Wild Bird on Greymouth running. • The . successful trotting stable, presided over by.D. Nyhan, will bo represented in the; trotting event on the first day by Molly Wood, who is on the limit mark. Sho is a wellbred mare by Willowood—Dolly.: It now appears that the black colt by Vasco—Rosalia, sold .at the Burnside sale of yearlings, became the property of Messrs, Dw r an Bros. -Rosalia, tho dam of tho colt, Dover raced. She was by Stepniak from Rosella ■ by Seatcra Delaval. The 'Marlborough Racing- Club's meeting takes place at Riverlands, Blenheim, on Wednesday and Thursday'" next. Generally the fixture 'attracts a large number "of people from Wellington, and no'doubt tho steamers, to Picton will carry many racegoers on Monday and Tuesday. Southland Now Tear meetings include the Wyndham Racing Club's fixture on January 1, the Southland Racing Club's Summer meeting oa January 2 and 3, and the Wairio Jockey Club's meeting on January 8. > Mr. H. Whitney's horses, Mount Victoria, Aema, and Nauiuai.have all made the acceptance, for .the..,first day's events at the South Canterbury., Jockey Club's meeting, so that-tho Wellington ' sportsman's colours, .Which are now; familiar on most of the' South Island courses, will be seen at Washdyke on Wednesday .next. . ' : Countermine's form - last year was only moderate, but sho won on two'occasions over a mil® and .a quarter, and defeated Coroniform oil each of those occasions. Thero can b» no doub.t; that ;When„dn a generous mood-' Countermine' can gallop very fast, and with -7st. 71-I>. she reads very well in the Timaru Handicap, to be decided next. Wednesday. The Rangitikei Racing Club has received very. large nominations for its meeting to bo - held on December 11 and 12, and it certainly appears as. if the club was fortunate -in being allotted those dates in preference to two djiys at New Year, when the fixture would have clashed with several others. Weights for the first day's .events will be!declared oh. Tuesday, December 3. The bay colt Glenfinnan, who failed to justify a big reputation last season, is engaged, in tho hack races at the South Canterbury, Jockey Club's meeting nest week, ana' will not require to I>9 very brilliant to distinguish himself in the moderate company there. Glenfinnan is by Clanranald from Lady Annie. Among the events ho contested last yeaf ,was tho_ Russley Plate at Riccarton, in ' the autumfl, in'which' he. was very heavily supported by local, backers. Ho failed to gain a place, however, and was also beaten on the following, day, and later on again suffered- defeat , at Trentham. Several horses that have not raced for some considerable, time appear among the nominations,Jfor the Rangitikii'meeting, but whether 'or not they will see the post is another matter. Heavy betting; is.'-.tuteßOTfu-, , -India, and in pointing: ,o»t, >that there is-no necessity for 'legislation in: connection .with wagering, Calcutta sporting: writer declares that the 'heaviest speculation on any fixture there is small by comparison wih: those made-at th?. minor meetings in . Australia and England. "There'is no' heavy gambling on racecourses .in India for of all possible reasons,-that tho avorage racegoer is a small bettor and cannot afford to be otherwise," ho adds; "The men whodo bet in big sums can be counted on the fingers of one handj and can well afford to' indulge themselves in this or in. any other hobby. There are few coses, comparativoly ispeafc ing, of men who have been ruined on the turf in India, and the Defaulters' List and the small amounts for which default las' been made are th© best answer to 'tho stupid agitation which' has been started on the other side of India. It is the exception rather than the rule to find a backer who has the equivalent of a ten-jiound note on a race in India, the majority of the backers, being content with a ten-rupee note, representing the large sum of IBs. Id., and any bookmaker with any experience at all of India and the average run of the speculations at ,tlio various meetings will bear out this statement."

FIXTURES. November 20 and 21—Marlborough R.C. Spring. . November 20 and 21—South Canterbury J.C, Spring. November 27 and 80—Takapuna J.C. Spring. Nov«mber 80 and December 2—Feilding , J.C. Spring. December 4 and s—Woodville District , J.C. Summer. December- 11 and 12—Rangitikei R.C. Summer, December 26 and 27—Dunedia J.C. Summer.