SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 March 1926, Page 6

SPORTING

DANNEVIRKE RACING CLUB. (Par Press Association.) DANNEVIRKE, March 3. The tote handled £15,743, compared with £16,781 on the opening day of last year. Remaining results : — Dannevirke Cup.—(2) Opa 1, (4) Gauntlet 2, (9) Sanctuary 3. Also i;ni .._(s) Martulla, (1) Kilbronsyth, (3) Star Ranger, (6) Malatour, (8) Son o’ Mine, (10) De Luxe, and (7) Fillette. Time 2.7 2-5. Oringi Hack Handicap.—(2) Royal Damon 1, (3) Bonideer 2, (7) Merry Imp 3. Also ran—(4) Minstrel Boy, (I) Nastori, (5) Cherry Pie, (9) Sole Alio, (10) Rippling, (6) Idanoe, (8) Seakist and (11) Hakuyai. Time 1.0 3-5. Rakaiatai Welter. —(4) Willow Wai 1, (3) Tuahine 2, (1) Archeen 3. Also ran—(7) Gaze, (6) Battle Knight, (5) Glandhu and (2) Wristlet. Time 1.28. Makirikiri Welter. —(1) My Hobby 1, (2) Othon 2, (5) Butter Scotch 3. Also ran—Sarty, Charleston, Desert Knight, Revel, Strongholt, Inoe, and Royal Mint. Time 1.29.

NEWS AND NOTES. The nominations for the Westport Meeting are disappointing, and it looks as if the meeting will be confined to horses owned on the Coast. Counter Attack has been entered for several races at the Westport Meeting, after being off the scene for a long time. Ayrovski put up a good gallop at Rliccarton on Tuesday. If he has a professional jockey on Saturday he will carry a lot of money. Recent purchases made by Mr Percy Miller (owner of Windbag) bring the strength of his stud up to 134 brood mares. Machine Brick returned to Australia last week, but may pay another visit to the Auckland meetings later on in the season. As the result of an enquiry into the running of Alabama at Foxton, the ■ Wanganui Club have accepted the explanations' of the trainer (Higgott) and Mackie (jockey). The owners have expressed themselves as quite satisfied with the trainers’ explanation. In his recently written confessions, R. S. Sievier makes the .following reference to his purchase of Sceptre : — Nothing in this world succeeds like success- After my sensational coup in the. City and Suburban of 1900 with The ■ Grafter everything came right to me. Fortune smiled on all my speculations, and I launched out on the fascinating career of an owner, feeling that there were no giddy heights to which I might not attain. Out of my winnings I purchased a string of useful horses, and engaged the redoubtable trainer, Charles' Morton, to take them. A fair amount of success came our way, and then there came that great opportunity which was to result in my acquiring the most famous filly of all time —the peerless Sceptre, whose name will for ever be remembered in the history of the British Turf. When the first Duke of Westminster died in 1899 he left behind him a collection of bloodstock without equal in the country. I had always looked upon him as the finest breeder in England, and when he died, and it was subsequently announced that all his horses should be sold, I determined that I would not let the opportunity of buying some first-class horses go begging. At the sale ring I secured a chestnut colt by Orme out of Console for 700 guineas, and the bay colt by Orme ‘ out of Gauntlet, since known as the Duke of Westminster, for 5600 guineas. At last the filly since known under the name of Sceptre was led in. There she stood, what I can only describe as a mass of perfection. Such a filly as perhaps for many years would not be offered for sale again, or could be matched the world throughout. Sired by the King’s horse, Persimmon, her dam, a full sister to the mighty Ormonde, she walked round the ring, comprised of millionaires —and others—ready to become the property of the man who would bid most for her, and I felt I was the man. I opened the bidding at 5000 guineas, when John Porter, who represented 'the Duke of Westminster, bid 100. I replied, “6000.” Porter added “100.” I said “700Q.”’ Porter added “100.” “8000,” I said quietly. Porter added “100,” somewhat aglqist. “10,000,” I replied immediately, and as the hammer fell to my bid excitement was at its height. Considering the vast amount of money that is kept on the move by racing it is really astonishing how seldom those closely connected with it resort to law in order to recover debts. The “books” take their clients’ word for hundreds of pounds and big transactions (in betting business are made without the scratch of a pen and in a • manner that would paralyse an ordinary business man. Racing clubs, however, do not allow nearly so much latitude as formerly, but most of them are content to wait a reasonable period for those who may be temporarily financially embarrassed until better days. At Palmerston North on the 23rd inst a case of interest to owners was investigated. Failure to pay nomination, acceptance, and riding fees on. a horse at a race meeting was the basis of a claim heard in the Magistrate’s Court, when the Manawatu Racing Club pro ceeded against F. Stairmaid, of Maraekakahae, claiming the sum of £lO 10s. The evidence of J. M- Johnson, secretary of the Racing Club, was to the effect that he received the nomination of the horse Ranui by telegram for the club’s autumn meeting, the trainer stating at the time that fees were to be charged to defendant. An account was eventually forwarded without result. In reply to Mr Oakley, who appeared for defendant, witness said that the horse had been nominated by the trainer in the owner’s name, as was a common practice. The horse was duly run and the club paid out £4 10s jockey’s fees. The defence was that the amount had been handed to the trainer for payment to Hie club and that- .defendant was therefore not liable. The trainer had since been disqualified. Defendant was not called', but his written evidence was handed in, and this admitted that the trainer had acted under his authority in nominating the horse. Holding that the owner was liable the Bench gave judgment for plaintiff club for the full amount and costs £5 16s.