LATE SPORTING ITEMS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 2

LATE SPORTING ITEMS.

(By Sir Bedivere.)

The annual meeting of tho Maeterton Racing Club was held yesterday afternoon, and the balance-sheet showed that as a result of the year's workings a deficit of £403 6s ]ld had been reduced to one of £51 7s Bd. The sum paid to the Government amounted to £515 9s. Mr. C F. Vallance was re-elected president, and it was decided that a sum not exceeding £3000 be epent on the erection of new buildings. The withdrawal of Provocation from his Riccarton engagements did not Come as a surprise. It was always very doubtful if he would stand another preparation, and presumably his dicky fore leg has again given trouble. His owner. Mr. W. K. Bidwill, is, I am happy to be able to say, rapidly recovering irom his recent illness, and is already able to enjoy a drive, Kildonan was due to leave Hastings, en route for Riccarton, Ihi3 morning. His stable-mate Wimmera is to be shipped for Sydney on the 11th of next month. Other turf _ items will be found on page 4 of this issue. RICCARTON TRAINING NOTES. The following account of the work done on the Riccarton tracks on Wednesday and Thursday is given in the Christchurch Star: — Togo appeared to have Dorando well beaten at the end of a strongly run ten furlongs, which occupied 2min'3o l-ssec. Eurus and Milo together put in a. Working gallop over a mile and a quarter, and Eiya, Centaur, and Whakaweira covered a similar distance in 2min 26sec, finishing in that order, Appin, who started with them^ finishing several lengths away. St. Aidan, assisted over th© last seven furlongs by Wedge, traversed a mile and a quarter in 2min 28sec, finishing strongly. Espartero (J. O'Connell) and Embrasure (Lloyd) together put in a solid schooling task over eight flights of hurdles. Espartero, who showed a marked tendency to run down his fences, appeared to be going more strongly than his companion at the finish. t Antarctic put in sound pacing over two circuits, the last mile of which he ran in lrnin 58sec. Paisano and Continuance together jumped two flights of hurdles pleasingly. Red_ M'Gregor, who is carrying less condition than he was last year, put in strong pacing over a circuit. Thursday, although dull and cold, was fine, andthe outside of the course proper upon which all the fast work was accomplished provided fair, if holding, going. Fast timeSj of course, were out of the question. Coroniform (M'Cluskey) and Bonny Glen (R. King) were the first pair out, and they signalised their appearance by running seven furlongs in Imin 35 4-ssec, Coroniform appearing to have the better of the gallop. St. Aidan (light-weight), assisted by Wedge over tho last mile, traversed, once round from the winning post, the last ten furlongs being run in 2min 24 4-s?ec, Honest Tom (Retfaer) and Silver Blaze (Lloyd) performed a schooling task twice round over the big fences. Both horses fehced proficiently, but Honest Tom ap* peared to have his,companion easily outpaced on the flat. Espartero's task was a working gallop over once round. Dorando { with a light-weight up, tra> versed a mile and a half in 3min 1 3-ssec, going lazily. 'Togo (R. Parker) and Ite (Stan tleid) negotiated five flights of hurdles fairly satisfactorily, and Flambeau galloped v mile in Imin 55 l-ssec, going pleasingly. Antarctic (Scott) put in a serviceable schooling task twice round over the fences. 'Commencing slowly, ho increas* edthe pace as he went along, and at the finish of his task he was going at a sound pace, and. pull&d up well. His fencing throughout left nothing to be desired,

ta.nd Ins performance was entirely pleasing Yasnmk (Cress) negotiated two rounds over the fences at & hanting pace, fencing safely and well. The following horses performed liffht to medium pacing:— While Cockacle, Eurus, Thr Native. Corazon, Whaka-