THE TURF. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 58, 6 September 1909, Page 2

THE TURF. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The report and balance-sheet to b» presented to members at the annual meeting of the Wellington Racing Club discloses a profit for the year before providing for depreciation on buildings, etc., of nearly £4000. Mr. W. B. Giesen informed "The Spade " at Feilding that Mona Bell, dam of the consistent Officer gelding Ca,ptain Bell, is by Waterfall— Heather Belle, by Piscatorious — Maori Belle, bv » Figaro Riddlfesworth mare. Moaij/Bell, who never raced, in consequence of meeilng with an accident, was bred by the late Mr. William Douglas at the Te Mahanga stud. She is half-sister to Primrose, who produced a long list of winners. Among the xmwh-zt were Kingrose, Melrose, Violet (dam of Daphne and Jade), Montrose 11., a winner in Australia, T. Rose, Pinrose, Penroso, Primula (dam of Probable), Bush Rose, Queen Rose (dam of Tyrone), Rosewater, Guelder Eose, and others. Mona Bell is also the dam of a three-year-old colt by Field Battery, a tWo-yeaf-old filly by The Officer, and a yearling filly by Vladimir. Another interesting item of stud news supplied by Mr. Giesen was that Noyeau, by Malua — Honey, a half-sister to Kuala Lumper, had a bay yearling filly by Vladimir, and was again on the Thompson Handicap winner's l^st, as also was Mona Bell. The Wellington Racing Club has never received a good response from owners of hurdle horses in "the spring, and in consequence the hurdle events have been deleted at the coming meeting. The Champion Plate and a Selling Plate, of 150 soys, take the place of the jumping races. A half-mile hack scurry, fixed weights, takes the place of one o$ the hack handicaps. The total amount of stake money is £3300. The principal events are the Wellesley Stakes, of 660 soys, Wellington Handicap, of 400 soys, and the Pearce Handicap, of 300 soys. 'ihe Carbine horse_ Pistol heads the list of winning sires in South Australia, his progeny having won £3706 last season. True Shot, who is engaged' in the Maiden Race at Rangitikei, is a three-year-old filly by Pistol from Alveary, and was imported by Mr. Frank Moore. Alveary is a daughter of imported Eiridspord, and came out from the Old Country in company with Castor. With one exception all the daughters of Eiridsrjord that did stud duty in the Dominion have been successes. The number includes Solitaire (dam of Zimmerman), Film (dam of Kairoma), La Notte (dam of Nightfall and Noctuiform), Myth (dam of Mythical), Rumour (dam of Polymorphus), and Waitemata (dam of Porirua and Sir Frisco). It is an exceptional thing for R. Hatch to journey to a meeting without any riding. The horseman named was a spectator at Marton. He informed "The Spade" that be would be riding for Mr. Greenwood this season, and had also engaged to ride Master Soult in the Cup. The Otaki Maori Racing Club has made solid progress since the only meeting held was a one-day fixture on New Year's Day. In those days the sum of £100 was distributed in eight events, and the totalisator turnover amounted to anything from £500 to £750. Last season the club paid away £3035 to owners. At the meeting to be held on Labour Day and the following day, the stakes amount to £1140. It was recently reported that the club was likely to race at Levin. Mr. D'Ath informs me that the meeting will be held on tho old course down by the sea. The club has been a long time getting to its new property, but this will probably be the last] meeting on the old track. THE SPADE.