NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 88, 10 October 1912, Page 2

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By Sir Bedivere.) Mr. F. C. Thomas, editor of the Trotting Stud Book and handicapper for the Plumpton Park and other trotting clubs, returned to New Zealand yesterday by the Tahiti, after spending three or four months in America. Racing, Re iells me, is quite dead in the States, and, although certain enthusiasts are making endeavours to have the restrictive laws repealed, it is unlikely that their efforts will meet with any success. ' The fact is that the sport was carried on in so disgraceful a manner that the public, who were robbed by owners and officials on every hand, became absolutely sick of the whole business. So much co. indeed, that as far as Mr. Thomas could determine, there is still but a comparatively small percentage of the people that are really desirous of racing being again made permissible. Trotting meetings are, as hitherto, held regularly, and the sport witnessed at some of these is firstclass. All 'forms of betting being prohibited, however, the attendances are far from large, and in the consequent paucity of revenue from this source and the absence of the returns formerly derived from bookmakers' fees, the clubs are able to do very little in the way of giving added money. The stakes, some of which are still large, are mainly subscribed by the owners, and owning trotters in America has, therefore, become a most expensive amusement The conduct of the sport leaves little to be desired, and in connection therewith, and the laying out and maintenance of trajeks, Mr. Thoroa« gained a lot of useful information that will no doubt in due course be passed on to those in control of troting in Canterbury. Reverting to the passing of the American thoroughbred, it was, said Mr. Thomas, pitiful to Bee some of the magnificent privat* training quarters now standing useless and untenanted. Many of the big breeding establishments have long since been broken up, and a similar fate assuredly awaits the remainder, it having been found unprofitable to breed for the English and Continental, markets. The Finland mare Penza goes South this week, and will be mated with Antagonist. Any resultant progeny will inherit two strains of Nordenfeldt. Owners and trainers are reminded that acceptances are due to-morrow evening in connection with the Masterton Spring Meeting. Coroniform's success in the Mosgiel Handicap yesterday was well overdue, for he had not scored since he 1 . w,on,.tHe j Autumn Handicap at Plumpton Park in 1911. Last season he was unlucky, and ran second four times Mid third once out of thirteen start*. 4|> Warstep, who put down Lightwatch in the Dunedin Stakes, has been favourably spoken of by Riccarton track watchers for -some time paßt. She was bred by her owner, Mr. C. G. Dalgety, and is own sister to Stardancer, who won the Russley Plate fiom Oxenhope, Obligant, and ten others at the C.J.C. Autumn Meeting, and finished third in the Electric Handicap at Wingatui yesterday, after being interfered with. The Cup candidate, Soldiers' Chorus, shaped attractively yesterday, and if, as is Btrongly suspected in Southern racing circles, he can stay, he majf prove difficult to beat. He is an elder brother of Tannhauser and his dam, Grand Opera, is half-sistev to Obsono. At last one of ours has scored on the flat at Randwick. Shuja appears to have made an exhibition of his opponents, and it is evident that he is racihg into form. His success probably means that he will be taken on to Flemington to contest the Melbourne Cup, in which he will have to carry a 101b penalty, bringing his weight up to 7.3. Paisano put up a smashing good performance yesterday, and in the circumstances he was unlucky to be beaten. Peirene ran well at Randwick yesterday, ahd should be worth watching at the C.J.C. Metropolitan Meeting. Ermengarde agaic showed' pace, but failed to stay, but her stable mate, Adelicia, seems to have done no better than she did in the Breeders' Plate. The decision given yesterday by the judges appointed to deal with The Native case makes interesting reading, bo far as it goes, but it fails to determine whether, as has been contended, an appeal can lie against a decision resultant upon a finding on a question of fact. Presumably, however, failing satisfactory proof to the contrary, both Mr. James Bull and C. Price will be able to appeal against the decision of the C.J.C. stewards on the grotyid that they refused to hear certain available evidence. It is clear that a considerable amount of time must yet elapse ere the case is finally disposed of. "Vigilant," of the London Sportsman, says it is understood that when Wootton senior leaves for Australia the horses now under his guidance will be trained by his two sons. Frank Wootton, who was laid up in August as a result of a fall off his motor.bicycle, was walking 9st 141b, ahd it meant a lot of hard

work for him ere he could get down to a reasonable riding weight. Prince Palatine has won upwards of £20,000 this season Up to the end of August the next biggest winners were Tftgalie (fill.gBO), Stedfast (£7105 10s), Sweeper 11. (£6105), and the two-year-old filly Prue (Cicero— Rune), who has annexed £5492.