NOTES AND COMMENTS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 151, 23 December 1921, Page 16

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(IT "SIR LANCELOT.")

Visitors to the Wairarapa Racing Club's Meeting at New Year time will notice a groat transformation at Tauhoienikau. Tho lawn has been graded-' and turfed, and an oxcellent view can now bo obtained from any part of it". Tlio stoop slopes at each end of the grandstand have been done away with, and at both ends of the stand are terraced of concrete steps. The di'ound alongside tho lawn ' fence, facing the middling paddock and courso, has been excavated, and will prove a decided advantage t» spectators viewing the parado and llnitmcs. Tho fence that previounly did norvico has been done away with, and in its place is a wire-work fence, which i» a threat improvement on anything of th« kind tho writer has scon, .tt' docs away with the necessity of peopto crowding up to or hanging on the fence to Rot a good view of the railing and (iiiinli. A'now road for the entnmeo of motor-cars has been made through llui bush. This will enable the road formerly used to be rosorved for the raeotionws engaged at tho meeting going from tho club stables to the saddling paddock. Another improvement that will bo appreciated by the club's patrons is tho concreting of the ground around tho folalisatov. The now entranco gates aro substantial and artistic, and the painting of the buildings gives tho popular racing rendezvous a spick and span appearance. Caretaker H. Blake has tho course proper in first-class condition—probably hotter than ever it was before. Tho plough and grass gallops are also in excellent order. Tho accom-modation-houso and boxes are all ready for tho reception of risitors for trie com ing meeting. The catering arrangements will again be in the hunds of Mr. E. G. Robertson, who has assisted at tha meeting for a number of years. H. Gray intends to be present at Awapuni on the second and third days. A. Rore and P. Eeardon with a team of eight horses belonging to Mr. John J. Corry were railed' through to Awapuni yesterday. The team will probably be -divided at Now Year time between Marton and Tauherenikau.

Aeterina' was engaged at Maiton, Wairarapa, and Hawkes Bay at New Year time, and he has been paid up for in two events at the last-named fixture, and will no doubt be competing at Hastings, where he raced twelve months ago. Tlie withdrawal of Multive from his Manawatu and Hawkes Bay engagements means that the useful Multifid gelding will be racing at Ellerslie. The programme of tho annual meeting of the Nelson Jockey Club includes a Glen Memorial Handicap, named after Mr. John Glen, for many years secretary of the club. Interesting sidelights were thrown on racing during the hearing of a case at Melbourne recently, when Louis Robertson, the ex-New Zealand trainer, was charged with making false Federal income tax .retifrns for the years 1516, 1917, and 1918, and fined £60, the P.M. saying that as he had won so many thousands he must have known It was his duty to submit returns and let the 'Department decide what amounts were taxable. Robertson had contended he was taxable only on his salary of £5 per week, relying on it and not on turf winnings to Keep him. He came from New Zealand with one horse and small capital in 1908, and became trainer and manager for A. and G. Tye at thenracing stables at Allendale Park and their stud farm at Blackwood Park. When Wingarra won the Grand National Hurdle Race in 1912, Robertson won £6000 in wagers, £1000 from winners of Tattersall's sweep, and over £2000 in stakes. Later, when Tye Bros, were short of ready money, Robertson made them advances, and agreed to carry on and pay all expenses and niake bets on Tye's account on receiving 50 per cent, of winnings and refund of all expenses from their share. When" Lavendo won the Caulfield Cup the stable won £5000, Robertson's share being half. When Robertson left the Tyes" employin 1918 they paid him; £5935 in final settlement. .

Loyal Irish was left in tlie Great Northern Derby, but he is also in the Christmas Handicap, a mile race, with 81b above the minimum, and would have a better chance in the last-named event. He is well treated, being in recipt of 241b from Pluto. Her' Excellency the Viscountess Jellicoe has leased for racing purposes two yearling sons of Boniform torn Mw Waikanae Stud. One is from Prelude, dam of Peronilla (Welcome Stakes), and will'be trained at Trentham by T. F. Quinlivan. The other is from Peace, and therefore full brother to Prosperity (M'Lean Stakes winner). This youngster will also bo trained at Trentham by Hugh Telford. /