SPORT AND PASTIME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1909, Page 14

SPORT AND PASTIME.

The OOurf. The 'Auckland Trotting Club has issued a most attractive programme for its summer meeting, to be held on 28th and 31st December and Bth January. To promote high-class trotting, the club is offering a purse of 100 soys to the stallion or maTe establishing a record in harness of 2min 18sec or under, and a purse of 250 soys will be given to any stallion or mare establishing a record of 2min 14sec or under, in harness, for one mile. The principal handicap events are the Trotting Club Cup, of 200 soys, two miles; Epsom Trot Handicap, of 115 soys, three miles ; President's Handicap, of 115 soys, two miles. Nominations for all events close on the 10th inst. at 9 p.m. with Mr. C. F. Mark, secretary. The Dunedin scribe "Sentinel" had a conversation with J. M'Comb at the Timaru meeting anent his retirement from the saddle and the fact of some of his riding being questioned at therecent Cup meeting. It is all over now, and M'Comb" has made up his mind to discard the silk jacket, but it will i>& of interest to know that the well-known horseman, who has the reputation of being a bold bettor, "had the biggest bet of his life" on Nautiform when the faint-hearted son of Rattler was beaten by Kilindini. Many of the critics held strong opinions that M'Comb fired the lace away because he did not draw the whip on his mount. M'Comb's own opinion is that if he had hit the colt once he would have been beaten by at least a length instead of a head. M'Comb also mentioned that it was extremely painful to have to sit still under the circumstances in order to get the best out of his mount. Most riders could not have resisted the temptation to give the colt a crack— even if it was after the post was passed. Nautiform had some of the courage knocked out of him by a bad passage in the Stewards* Handicap, and it will be remembered that both the owners and trainers expressed themselves as satisfied with the manner in which Nautiform was ridden. The colt, however, has, it is understood, "developed a leg," and may not train on. M'Comb stated that Ristori cheeked the bit in the Oaks, and he had hard work to keep her from 'going right to the outside of the track as the field turned out of the straight, and it is understood this statement is verified by a well-known Christchurch gentleman m who was, sub rosa, watching the racing " from below Cutts's corner. The gentle- ■ man's name has since been made known to the clut). M'Comb's comment on Los Angelos (whom he had backed straight out and in a double with Prim for the Fendalton) was "that the horse ■would not. do anything until he got to .the rails." Mr. S. H. Gollan's MangataTata Stud is to be dispersed in March. Mr. W. G. Nightingale, a well-known turf writer . and authority on pedigrees, is at present engaged preparing the catalogue. The committee of the Westland Club has resolved to apply to the Canterbury Jockey Club, the. metropolitan authority for that district, for the appointment of a stipendiary steward to control the racing events at the forthcoming meeting. The Hokitika Club is the first on the coast to move in this direction. Mr. ■R. 0. HungerfoTd, who was recently in Greymouth, spoke highly of the advantages which a club derives from the services of stipendiary stewards. The progeny of Phoebus Apollo that J. Bae took out to the West for the syndicate he trained for, have done well there. At the W.A.T.C. meeting last month, Wheelara (Phoebus Apollo — Chrysolite) won the Windsor Handicap, nine furlongs. Annapolis (another of the breed) who is only a pony, has 10.0 in the Railway Handicap of 800 soys* one mile and a quarter, to be Tun at Perth on New Year's Day. In the Cup of 2000 soys, two miles, Annapolis has 9.12, Post" Town being top weight, 10.0. The success of Mr. John Wren's pony meetings, or anything else he takes in hand, is the result of good management. .For going to the starting point without permission, and conversing with the rider of Lady Argyle, prior to that mare winning the first race at Fitzroy, the Fitzroy stipendiary stewards decided to warn the lessee of the pony off the Fitzroy, Ascot, and Richmond courses. , Word from Brisbane states that the racehorse Truce, a brother of FitzGrafton, got away from his attendant on 20th November, and, after galloping about a road, fell, and' broke his neck. Mr. Sol Green's thousand-guinea mare Rattler has foaled a colt to Positano (imp.), and goes to him again. Reciprocity exists between the Australian Jockey Club, the New Zealand Racing Conference, the English Jockey Club, the Jockey Club of South Africa, the Western India Turi Club, and all the Australian States. A disqualification imposed by one body holds good with all the bodies named. Royal Marine's failures at Carterton and Martinborough were probably due ,to the colt not having a strong horseman on his back. At Feilding R. Hatch had the mount, and drove the colt along on the last furlong. D. Nyhan has done well with trotters, but Royal Marine is the first galloper he has prepared. Royal Marine may be given a spelJ during the holidays, and reappear at the Wellington meeting. Judging by the accommodation bespoken for ''foreign" competitors, it looks as if the Auckland Racing Club is going to have a record meeting. Tho. Hon. J. D. Ormond is sending up eight, the Porirua stable the same number, Mr. G. D. Greenwood four, Mr. Watt four, Mr. Lowry five, and Sir Geo. Clifford five — making a total of thirty-four from six stables. The Royal Artillery mare Artillerie returned from Sydney on Wednesday last by the Moeraki. She will probably be spelled until the end of the season. Messrs S. and J. Whitworth return by next week's boat. T. Carroll, the well-known lightweight horseman, who has been riding in the Dominion for the last six or seven years, returned to Victoria yesjberday. The names of two of the trainers of the Hack Scurry candidates at th© Feilding meeting brought back some recollections of the past. Whakaponga is trained by A. J. Death, and Plantation by A. J. Shearsby. When Alf. Shearsby was training old Orient and other horses in the Blenheim district some twenty years ago, Alf. Death was riding for the stable. He was associated with Orient's success in the Wellingson Steeplechase of 1890. J. Lambess shipped Toa Tuhi and ( Bonnie Doon at Foxton last Wednesday for Auckland. Mr. O. Austin, owner of the horses named, now resides in the Auckland district, and wanted them where he could see them race. The Porima team for the Auckland ..jneeting Efll consist? &t Lace Collar, ,

Lady Medallist, Diabolo, Gipsy Belle, All Red, Swimming Belt, and Waimaria. St. Felix, the Otago representative for the Auckland Derby, has arrived at Porirua/ and will journey North with the other members of Prossei-'s string. C. Jenkins has arrived at Porirua, and will put in the time between now and the Auckland meeting recuperating. AUOKLAND B.C. SUMMER MEETING. [BY TFXEOBAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.} AUCKLAND, 3rd December. For the principal events at the Auckland Racing Club's summer meeting, the following acceptances have been received: — Auckland Cup, of 2000 soys ; two miles.— All Red 9.1, Aberbrothock 8.8, Downfall 8.4, Sir Prize 8.4, Roosevelt 8.0, Ngapuka 7.13, Ringdove 7.10, Taskmaster (inc. 71b penalty) 7.8, Advocate 7.7, Mnskerry 7.6, Waimangu 7.5, Diabolo 7.5, Bollin 7.4, First Gun 7.3, Te Aroha 7.0, Sedition 7.0, Compass 6.12, Chanteuse 6.9, Akarana 6.9, Lawn Rose 6.7, Royal Scotland 6.7. Graf ton Hurdles ; two miles. — Compass 11.5, Reservoir 10.7, Scotty 10.6, Hautapu 10.2, Grenadier 10.0, Waimaria 9.13, Dunborve 9.1, Eblis 9.0, Lady Patricia (late Urania) 9-0, First Barrel 9.0. Railway Handicap ; six furlongs.— Armlet 9.2, Cambrian 8.5, Salute 8.3, Lady Medallist B.S, Devonport 7.9, Tamainupo 7.9, Kakama 7.8, Kilindinjl 7.7, Theodore 7.6, Tattoo 7.6, Gipsy Belle 7.6, Wild West 7.4, Sir Artegal 7.3, General Soult 7.0, Full Sail 6.12, Mahinga 0.9, Necktie 6.8, Hohungatahi 6.8, and Ambala 6.7. FORFEITS. After declaration of forfeits, the following horses remain in the Great Northern Derby ; one mile and a half. — Fleet Arrow, First Wairiki, Elysian, Taskmaster, Kilwinning, Tawhaki, Royal Scotland, Kakama, St. Felix, Maori King, Ambala. Royal Stakes ; six furlongs. — Antoinette, Sharpshooter, Full Sail, Tenterhook, Sea Elf, Kakama, Enyo, St. Felix, Maori King, War Song, Madhura, Tetekura, Danube, Zuleima, Apellon, Sunburnt, and Princess Soult. Great Northern Foal Stakes ; six furlongs. — Tenterhook, Tetekura, Obsidian, Lucille, Danube, Zuleima, War . Song, Apellon, Formby, Jean, Madhura, and the chg by Obligado — Rapid. AUTUMN MEETING. Great Northern Oaks ; one mile and a half. — Elegance, Avoca, Tetrazzini, Ploughshare, -Sea Elf, Ambrosian, Masonic, Kakama, Dreadless, Ortygia, Aema, Ingoda, Zemlia, Salute, Kilindini, Lace Collar, Ambala, Bliss, and Celaeno.