SPORTING NOTES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2136, 20 September 1906, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES.

[By "PsEriNO Tom."]

DATES OF MEETINGS

Oct. 24, 23.—G0r0 Racing Club. Nov. 9,lo.—Winton Jockey Club. Deo. 14, 15.--Lake County Jockey Club Dec. 21.—Alexandra Jockey Club. Dec. 26 and 27—Cromwell Jockey Club. Jan. I.—Wyndham Raoing Club. Jan. 1, 2,—Vincent Jockey Club. Jan. 2, 3.—Southland Racing Club. Jan. 9.—Wairio Jockey Club. Jan. 10, 17.—Gore Racing Club. Jan. 24, 25.—Tapanui Racing Cluh. Mar. 20, 2L- Southland Racing Club, April 1, 2.—Riverton Racing Club.

The Lake County A. and P. Society are to bo commended for endeavoring to improve the hackney and roadster class of horses in tho district by offering a sum of money to induce tho owners of thoroughbred stallions to bring their horses to Lake County for a season or two. While tho bonus offeied is, no doubt, tempting enough, the primary inducement, is unfortunately, lacking. What the owner of a good pedigree blood stallion mostly desires is to mate his horse with some first-class thoroughbred mares so that the name of tho horse may become a household word amongst sporting men as being the sire of some first-class racehorses. In Lake County we have no thoroughbred mares to tempt owners of even second class blood sires to sond their horses to the district, because the expense of doing so must of a necessity be fairly heavy, and there is no chance of the horse making a name for himself when tho opportunity is not given him. Tho romody is in the hands of some of our well-to-do farmers and settlers. Lot them import into our district half a score of thorough • bred mares. The game is worth tho candle. They need not be racing men or patrons of racing. Tho progeny of good blood mares mated with a thoroughbred stallion will always realise a fair price in open market and return any man who goes in for breeding thoroughbred youngsters a handsome profit on his outlay. Visitors to Riccarton racecourse during Carnival Wcok in November next will, in all probability, bo treated to something outsido of the ordinary bill of faro. Mr G. G. Stead has thrown down the gauntlet to the Rov. P. M. Isitt to debate the question " Totalisator or no Totalisator" from tho grand stand during Cup week, Such a discussion between two men well versed in every phase of the question, will, to sporting folks at least, bo worth a bare-footed pilgrimage to listen to. Yet, methinks, the wily treasurer of the C.J.C. will have the best of the deal. Tho surroundings will be all in his favor. The great temperance lecturer and declaimer against racing, betting, and all tho imaginary sins pertaining thereto, will find himself in somewhat novel surroundings. That is, if he has never visited a first-class race meeting before. 1 write the little word "if" advisedly, because many people run down our national pas- j time and still visit tho racecourse, just as others preach prohibition and still drink whisky. • Well, the rev. gentleman will find himself in tho midst of a well-dressed, well conducted, throng of all sorts and conditions of men and women, from the Governor and his fair lady downwards. There will be no drunkenness or bid behaviour worth noticing in tho vast assemblage of holiday seekeis. Men occupying tho highest positions in tho colonies and farther afield will be there, and beautiful women superbly adorned will i/race the lawn with their presonco. Under such circumstances it will bo difficult for Mr Isitt to make good his oft-repeated charges of tho ovils of racing and betting. Lot us hope that the altercation between Mr Stead and Mr Isitt will not be of a tirosome length, lest some impatient individuals and patrons of the machine may call upon tho stowards to ring down the curtain, and " call the next ease." At tho last meeting of the Now Zealand Trotting Association the disqualifications wore removed off persons and horses taking part at the last Wanaka meeting. The Southland Racing Club's balancesheet has been issued to members, and shows a loss on tho year's working of about L4OO, chielly caused by the failure of the Spring Meeting tried last year. Tho Club has a membership of 114, and a balanco of assots over liabilities of close upon L2OOO. At a recent wedding breakfast in Dunedin, at which .success to two wellknown figures in tho sporting world was being honored, tho clergyman in proposing tho toast, said :—" I sometimes think whon assisting at those functions that tho most suitable person to select to speak on such occasions would bo some old and very much married man—one who has been over the course, and can toll the young couple where tho sharpest turns and tho stillest hurdlos aro, whore they can go the pace, and where they must draw tho rein, can tell them what is best to be clone when either shows a disposition to jib or shy or play up in any way, and can advise thern generally how the team is to bo kept sweet and in good condition till tho inevitable time comes when they take their last corner, and make their final run down tho strait. ... I well remember tho first time I met. the bride, she was only nine years old, but nho talked horses to mo by tho yard, and with an ease and accuracy that showed at oneu she was a true child of tho turf. I could not help saying to myself ' that girl will marry a sport some day, and a good sport too,' and you see what a true prophet I have boon. I said to myself ' when she enteis tho matrimonial stakes she'll get home all right,' and you see she has. And what shall I say about my friend tho bridegroom ? . . . I have known enough about him to seo that ho is as honest as the day, and true and genuine in every way. It is the fashion now-a-days to rail at and denounce almost every pleasure in life —things which in most cases are lawful and innocent, and only become objectionable when grossly abused. Concerning that matter I only wish to say this : Thai in point of honesty and straightforwardness my friend stands head and shoulders above tho tiamby pamby good-goodie." who are forever crying out about things they know nothing about, whose chief pleasure in life, in to hunt for the mote which is in their brother's eye, forgetting all tho time the beam that is in their own."