SPORTING NOTES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2137, 27 September 1906, Page 5

SPORTING NOTES.

[By "Pekpin-o Tom."] DATES OF MEETINGS. Oct. 24, 25.—Gore Racing Club. Nov. 9,10. Winton Jockey Club. Deo. 14, 15.—Lake County Jockey Club Dec. 21.—Alexandra Jockey Club. Dec. 2b' and '27—Cromwell Jockoy Club. Jan. I.—Wyrwtham Racing Club. Jan. 1, 2.—Vincnnt Jockey Club. Jan. 2, 3.—Sou hland Racing Club. Jan. 9.—Wairio Jockey Club. Jan. 16, 17. —Gore Racing Club. Jan. 24, 25.—Tapanui Racing Club. Mar. 20, 21.- Southland Racing Club, April 1, 2. —Riverton Racing Club.

The programme of 1 ho Luke Ccunty Jockey Club h;vs been passed without comment by the Dunedin Jockey Club. The committee have very wisely increased the added money to the galloping races. This year the Cin> is worth 45sovs. to tho winner and ssovs. to tho second horse. The Jockey Club Handicap is endowed with 45sovs., Saovs, to second horse, while the Flying Handicap and two of the hackraces are increased osovs. each. On the first day there is a Handicap Open Trot of Sosovs., and a Maiden Trot of loso'vs., open to horses that have never won a stake exceeding lOsovs. in value. On the second day there is another Open Trot of JHisbvs. Included in the programme are ft Handicap Maiden Plate of 25sovs., two district races (one-of 25sovs. and the other of 20sovs.), a Shorts of 30sovs., and two hack races on each day make up a fairly attractive bill of fare. Tho distance of the Jockey Club Handicap has been increased from seven furlongs to one mile. and the one mile to one mile and a distance. The Flying Handicap has been reduced from three quarters of a mile to five furlongs. The running trnck will be altered no as to allow of more width nu the back stretch. The botnlisitor house, judge's box, etc., will also receive attention at the hail Is of the Works Committee. The well-known local owner, trainer and rider, Mr J. J. Cotter, havi lg purchased a nice property near Dunedin, will shortly talce his departure from his native town. Jack Cotter has been closely identified with racing on the goldfields during the past 15 years. He commenced riding when a very light weight, considerably under six stone 1 should say. I think his first win was oji old Plunger, in the Consolation at the Lumsden races during the year of the Dunedin Exhibition. The following year he steered the black Son of Sorcerer to victory in the double at Lowburn, Cup and Sportsman's Handicap. It was prob ihly the biggest facer

J.ick L ,'hliu ever experienced en the ■mMliol Is when good old Windsor vveni down before the ragged looking little Plunger. Many who at tended tint race meeting will remember tho struggle over the last iptarter of a utile Young Cotter was li.n-l at hi-, .nount nil the way. ami lioth horse and rider sticking to then task as true as steel, just managed to wear clown tho heavily weighted Windsor and win by a short neck. The following year Plunger, with .1. Cotter in the saddle, easily secured the- Lake County Cup, beating Mihad, Avis, ami Sir Julius. Oi late years Mr Cotter has de.-otod his time principally to the training and riding of trotting horses. His horses were always brought to the post in first-rate condition, and he won many races at Dunodin with Erratic, Aggie and Crevice. Jack is a capable horseman and gei'nine sport that we can ill aft'ord to lose. Ho is without :i doubt the best of good fellows and the most popular rider that, ever donned a silk jacket at our golduolds' race meetings. Needless to say that the best of good wishes from Mr Cotter's countless friends will accompany himself and Mrs Cotter to their new homo near Dunodin. Paritutu is at a ridiculously short price for the New Zealand Cup. He is wit boat a doubt a good horse, but 1 fail to see that, ho holds a mortgage over the race. In my opinion, both lit and well at the post. Boomerang will give him all lie wants and a bit more. Last year < >uariyman, 8.1, just missed the (beat Autumn Handicap 'by a head, time 2.3(5 for the mile and ahalf. Quarryman next appeared in the N.Z. Cup, running third to Noctuiform 7.7, and Paritutu 7.12. On tho second day Quartytnan, carrying S.B. annexed the Metropolitan Handicap in the slashing good time of 3.35 3-sth sec, Paritutu, 8.5, being out of a shop. This year Boomerang, 8.2, romps home for the Great Autumn in his own time, 2.35. I take Boomerang to bo a better horse than Quarryinan. Good judges say that he is an undoubted stayer, a beautiful mover, and a strongly-built horse. Four years is a bad age, but die black son of Merriwee, lit and well, will carry hi-t 8.13 very close to the front in the big Riccarton event. The five that I like best are Boomerang, Paritutu, Multifid, Gladstone, and Stepdancer.

Mr J. R. Mackenzie. Pomaliaka, has decided to close down his racing establishment in Oamaru, and is sending his thoroughbred stallion, Pallas, to North Canterbury for the season. The Victorian Auti-Uambling Rill contains some queer proposals. It legalises betting on racecourses to which a charge of admission is made, and empowers tho loser of the wager to recover his loses by law before the exyiration of 12 months. As the bill only legalises berting where, an admission charge is made, booting on the flat at Fleminglon (the scene of too recent betting tragedy), where admission is free would be illegal.