THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1608, 27 November 1912, Page 8

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bi Glkncoi.] Up till 8 o'clock this evening Mr. 0, J. Gothdrd, secretary of tho Woodvillo Jockey Club, will receive acceptances for tho spring race tine, which is to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, December ! and 5. At tho same. time, entries olose fot tho Jl-aiden Plate and Hack Scurry. There will bo racing at Takapuna, today. Tho fields are on the large size, ia all the events, except th<j Cambria Handicap (four furlongs), for two-year-olds. In this race the top weight; (Lady Alicia, Bst. 71b.), is likely to start-favourite, as (iho is a very 6mart beginner, which will bo all in her favour on a circular couvsa such as that at North Shore. At. the last Auckland meeting this filly finished third cach day, running Ijchind two; such "good ones" as Merry Koo and Tinopai. The recently-appointed, stipendiary stciyard, Mr. .las. JPMahon, is expected to arrive from Sydney by the Warrimoo today. ' ' ■

T. Priteliard, the well-known hurdle horseman, who has been laid up for tho past .eight months with a broken leg, is now able to get .about with the aid of crutches. Ho is at present on a visit to Masterton. ' The Officer gelding, Full Hate, ia bowling along freely oil I lie Ciarevillo tracks, and it is expected, that, he will be nomine ated at the Maaawatu meeting, which opens on Boxing Day. Nat Williams, the ClareVillo trainer, will shortly be shifting his quarters to Otaki, where he will act as private trainer to Jlr. Hodge, owner of Bally Shannon, J3ore.il, the' Negative, and several youngsters. ■ ■ Sir Knox is 6tated to be striding out very, freely in his work, and appears.fco have thrown off all signs of the oorenesa which troubled hi'm last season. It is expected that Palmerston will'be the chestnut colt's next outing. Otter, in the same stable, has improved a lot of late, and seems to stay on. better. He will be a competitor.in the sprint events at Feeding. A rider has 60 far not been engaged to ride the Kilcheran horse. Record nominations have been received by the Taranaki Jockey Club for its Christmas meeting.; Amongst the horses •engaged are the Wellington-owned Byron and Makara.' Whilst doing pace work at Feilding last week, the bay maro Fashion Plate went wrong, and is ■ consequently a doubtful 6tarter at the,Feilding meeting. .The Handsome Jack mare has a fine record over fences. She has started seven times, won on four occasions, was twice second, and once unplaced. Yesterday morning C. Pritchard received advice from Bieahfeim intimating that the condition of his apprentice, H. Jl'lntosh, who'was injured when Biddy fell with him at the Kiyerlands meeting, was unchanged. The unfortunate lad was still unconscious. St. Petersburg, .the half-brother to Danube, who was recently sold, by Hi. J; Buckley to a Winchester sportsman, will make his first .appearance' ■ in his new owner's colours at Jlorveh on December/12. At Blenheim last'week the writer met Mr.-Phil. Rush, the old-time handicapper, : who for many years adjusted the weights for the Meirlborough Racing Club. Probably the oldest handicapper in the Dominion'- is Mr. John Walton. For thirty years he compiled th«, weights for lha Greymouth' Jockey Club, and he still acta as steward-to that body. It has been decided to retire Biddy from ths racecourse, and the chestnut mare.is •now-' running out at Trentham. She'is to go to the stud next season. - .. Frank Wootton, who headed the list of winning jockeys in England for the sea* | son just closed, has ridden over one- hundred winners in each of the last five | sons.' A remarkable fact in connection with his record is that during the present season he was incapacitated for some weeks owing to an accident, while in previous years he has lost time through disqualifications. The Indian "Field," in referring to ,the .trouble, he has struck iu England on/various occasions owning to alleged 'careless'riding, says: "When Frank ' Wootton came out to India, the secretary of the Calcutta Turf Club took a positively avuncular interest in him, and even went so , far as to caution all the other jockeys not- to interfere with him or knock him about. Poor lamb! It was,-however, as-Neil Angus M'Tod would say, .'humorous, varra humorous!"' ■ The Paris correspondent of the London •'Sportsman" says that twice in one afternoon racing at Maison-Laffitte was marked by a couple of incidents due to tho custom prevailing amon§r-some American jockeys of knotting their reins. When they use the one hand to pick up tha whip they invariably pull the bridle with the other, , and the horse, answering to the touch of the bridle, swerves in the direction given. This happened twice ■to the same jockey, M'Gee, who was riding for Mr. W. K. Variderbilt.'".ln the first-race on ■the card Tessin, who swerved, but afterwards was put straight, won, and was distanced for having interfered with' his horses at the finish. Due to similar tactics ill the. fifth race,. Pirpiriol, in: the same . stable, and interests,, also swerved .at the post, but this time to his own disadvantago, and no objection-was lodged. , \ . Owners are reminded that entries, for events. at •. the ■ 'Reef ton Jockey Club's meeting close with the .secretary .Mr. W. Irving, at 9'o'clock this evening..

FIXTURES. ... ' Nov. 27 and 30—Takapuna Sprins. Nov. SO and Dec. 2—Fei)ding J.C. Springs Dec. 4 and s—Woodville .. District J.C, ■ Summer. Dec. 11 and 12—Rangitikei R.C. Summer, Dec. 26—Toratahi-Cartei-ton R.C. Annual, Dec. 26 and 27—Dunedin J.C. Summer. . Dec. 26 arid 27—Taranaki.J. C. Christmas. Dec. 26, 27, and 28—Mauawatu R.C. Sum.' mer. Dec. . 26 and 30 ' and Jan.'l and 2—Auckland R.C. Summer. Jan. 1 and 2—Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer, Jan. 1 and 2—Marton J.C. Summer.

Jan. 1 and 2—Wairarapa R.C. Summer, Jan. 1 and R-.C. Annual.