SPORT AND PASTIME. The Turf.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 14

SPORT AND PASTIME. The Turf.

RACING FIXTURES. December 26 and 28— Manawatu Summer Meeting. pecember 26, 29, January 1 and 2— Auckland Summer Meeting. December 26 and 28— Lower Valley Annual Meeting. December 26 and 28— Dunedin Summar Meeting. December 26 and 28- Tartuiaki Christ*aas Meeting. December Vd6 and 28— Reefton Summer Meeting. December 31 and January I— Hawkes Biy Bummer Meeting. January I— Palmcreton Summer Meeting. January 1 and 2— Rangitikei Summer ■Meeting, January 22 and 23— Wellington. Summer Meeting. [By Lochisl.] MANAWATU "RACING CLUB. Especial intercut attaches to the Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting, which commences on Saturday and wm b* continued on Monday, Tho gathering will mark tho formal christening of the new course at Awapuni, and extensive arrangements have been made to fittingly celebrate tho event. This fact, combined with the promise of good racing, should bo responsible for an unusually largo attendance. The club has not spared expense in its effort to make tho course one of tho most up to date in the colony. It is admirably situated amid pictureaquo surrounding ; tho appointments are modern and well carried out, and tho general apt^aranco of tho ground, generously aided n» it is by Nature, is such as to warmly commend it to followers of the eport. Tho grandstand, which has been built on on elevated terrace, and commands a fine view of the course, is capable of Mating two thousand people. A broad lawn sets off tho building to adVtjitagc, and slopes to the judge's box on 'vho one aide ana the ntewarda' stand on the other. The other arrangements for tho convenience of the public have been cttrofoUy attended to, and the club should have Vie satisfaction of chronicling a record meeting. Judging from the list of acceptors the racing should be good. Tho smallest field will probably bo in the big event— the Manawatu Cup. Tho entries were ou tho small side, and one or two have dropped out, leaving seven to contest the race Among those remaining in at tho present time are Connie Ohiel, Convoy, Khoorka, Tradewind, and Ringtnan. Cavnnio Chiel has top weight, and judging from his performance againßt Hinetaura (who wan weighted at 8.13, and did not accept) at Riccarton. •tst month his chanoen look bright. But Con. voy (who is called upon to carry 8.8, and looks equal to tho task), and Tradetrind ■will have to bo seriously considered. Eighteen out of twenty-two havo paid up for tho Awapuni Stakes Handicap, and this event should furnish as exciting a finish as any during the day. The Grandstand, Nureory, and Hack Flat races will also be worth watching. In the different events on the first day's programme the following may run prominently:-— Cup— Connie Chiel, Tradawind, and Convoy. Awapuni Stakes— Madrigal, Wind, and Livonia. First Hurdles— Aroba, Evening, and Eclair. Grandstand Handicap— Rawiri, Dexterity, and Asteroid. Nursory Handicap— Purdoy, Wet Reef, *nd Solution. Hock Hardies — Fakir or Roer. Hack Flat— Roseihoot, Good Spec, and Moetoropuku. THE AUCKLAND MEETING. Very satisfactory acceptances have been received for tho Auckland Meeting, 'which' also commences on Boxing Day. For the Cup eighteen remain in, against eleven laflt year. The defections included Muskerdalo, Ropa, Gladsome, Lady Lillian, Pallas, Eel burn, and Halberdier; the last three having been out of training for some time. Nonette has also been withdrawn. The Railway Handicap will produce a good field, twonty-two having accepted, and the Steeplechase should also furnish an interesting race. L. Hewitt -will have the mount on Treadmill. The following should be conspicuous in the different events:— Cvp — Wairiki, Hinotaura, and Idas. Railway— -Btohoro, Gladsome, and Idea, Steeplechase — Kanaka, Haydn, and Nor'-west. Foal Stakes — Silkworm or Golden Lily and Stronghold. Hurdle Race— Waiwen^ Trosham, and Rufus. Christmas Handicap — Windwhistle, Bosolla, and Mennra. Nursory— Galahad, Gladstone, and Wairakati. Trial — Gold Seal, Scotty, and Count of JLolmar. DUNEDIN JOCKEY CLUB. For the Dunedin Handicap at«the first Say's races of tho Dunedin Meeting only three accepted. Of these, Ailsa will probably be tho first to see past the post. Boiler looks -well for the Hurtle Handicap, with Ilex and Catherine Gordon next in order. In tho Federal Handicap Red Gauntlet is the top weight with 9.4, then come Blazer 8.9, and Secret Society 7.9. These three should ran well, with Lee Bnfield close up. Canteen and Terrapin axe the only two acceptors for the Otago Handicap. Tie other events may remit:—First Hack— Royal Crown and Kotokoto. Welter— Sychem and Flower o' Clutha. Farewell— Terrapin, St. Peuis, and Juniper. LOWER VALLEY RACES. The Lower Valley Mooting will no doubt attract a goodly number of people. The acceptances are fair, and the racing should be interesting. The following are possible wirfhers : — Welter — Jeanne d'Albert, Capulet, and Silverline. Boxing Day Handicap— Te Taiaha, flomerled, and Turepo. Hack Flying— Kohingo, Waitoti, and Matmnua. Lower Valley Handicap— Sanfoin, Apprentice, and Tho Cluwser. Ruamahanga Hack— Capulet or St. 'Alba. Hurdles— Liasa, T« Kohau, and Manu Mate. Geordie (by Seaton Delavel from Casobinnca) wan offered by auction at Auckland last week, but was passed in at 460 guineas. There died in Auckland tho other day a once well-known and popular jockey, in the person of Ilenry Oillaspio. Some eight or ten years back he met with nn accident whilo riding in «. pony hurdle race at Potter's Paddock, but nd serious effects made their appearance until about a fortnight buck, when he was found to be suffering from a serous trouble in his head. An operation was performed, but it wnfl without nvail ( and the unfortunate young fellow died, <it the. early age of 27 year*. Aicorrling to a statement marlo by a senior polite court clerk in iiuglund, about £1000 per w<;ek is paid by street bookmakers in London in the shape of fines. Speaking of the court he is associated with, the clerk in question said: "Wo very often tak<> £90, and evi-n £100 a week m fines. At Bow-«treet £200 is not an unknown cum, and I havo heiud

of ono week when tho fines amounted to £290. At West Ham, tho 'Bookmakers' Paradise,' they havo taken £100 in »\\ aftornvon. A sum of £1000 per week is below tho average, but, if you take that liguro us the average for tho fourteen police courts in tho metropolitan area, you have £52,000 per annum iv tines, ft may be added that the bookmakers always pay cheerfully. They never oeem to bo linpecunious." Reforirng to tho coming Auckland meeting, a northern writer states that tho Cup favourite, Treadmill, reached -Ellerslie. ou Sunday week, and though tho Bill of Portland colt ha* not given tho l'ouiybcwatchors much cause to let their tongues babble, it can bo «aid that in what exorcise has been Apportioned him ho ba» acquitted himself satisfactorily. Wairikt put in in appearance at headquarters a day or two previously, when he galloped seven furlongs. Tho son of Soult's big condition would appear to point to his having had an ei\«y timo ot it since he returned from the South, and oven conceding tho point that ho luih demonstrated his ability to gallop out two miles strongly on a light preparation, there is just a little reason to feur that ho will hardly be forward enough for the two-mile trip nt lilltTslie on Boxing Day. 'However,' tho brown horso may orighten up quickly, as ho has dono before, Hinetaura only 'arrived from Napier on Friday, so that we aro a little in the dark yet as to her prospects of annexing tho Cup. This much, however, may bo said for the Robinson Crusoe maro, that should she bo in ft position lo register her best form a victory for her will not bo an improbable ovent, as she is credited with knowing how to stay well. Strathavon is another absentee from headquarters, but it is current talk that tho chestnut is giving satisfaction in hia work <it Otuhuhu. It looks very much as though wo will havo to wait till tho day to \>hUiw a sight of Struthavon. Idns is striding along in good stylo, and tho littlo maro promises to bo in great buckle to tackle tho question on Boxing Day. She- hua not co fnr attempted a two-milo journey, but eho has invariably fiuished up her tusk -well.