SPORTING NOTES.

Lake County Press, Issue 2186, 12 September 1907, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

; Bv I'r.riT.vc Tom.; During the past season's racing two or thre* important facts have been brought home to all those who take a keen interest in horseracing, and likewise to every dull of importance that expects to carry on raciim nernianently and have clean sport. The apnohitment of stipendiary stewards must commend itself to the management of every important racing institution that desires to put down fraud and protect the public from boina swindled time and again. The game of null to-day and go to-morrow has become all too common upon most of our race courses and it is high time that something was done to put down a system of palling that has be come only too prevalent, especially in trotting races. Yet, while it is highly necessary to appoint men wno will act without fear or favor as stipendiary stewards, it is imperative that the stewards as a body should act promptly and firmly upon any reported case of wrongdoing on the part of a rider in any particular race What occurred some time ago in the Electric Bell case does not commend itself to me as affording any protection to the betting public, but quite the reverse. If my memory serves me truly the Tahuna Park stipendiary stewards in giving evidence at Christchurch during the hearing of the anpeal of B. Edwards against the disqualification of himself and the horse Electric Bell distinctly stated that they were satisfied that the horse was a non-trier on the first day, and that his rider Edwards made no effort to win No doubt they duly imparted this knowledge to the main body of stewards, yet no action was taken until the horse won on the second day. The public had not an inkling of what the elub had up its sleeve in the shape of the stipendiary stewards report. Punters were allowed to invest oa Electric Bell, when they had not the remotest chance of winning. 1( he lost the race his backers lost their money. If he won he was destined to go out for sure upon the stipendiary stewards own showing at Christchurch. Cases of the kind should be acted upon promptly and the suspected parties either disqualified or exonerated at once.

Another matter of importance is the fact that the totalisator investments at the majority of race-meetings throughout the colony show a decided increase over last year’s figures. Our anti-gambling friends will no doublTseiza upon this as a handle to show that gambling is on the increase. Yet it is not so. Those who bet on horse-races are becoming alive to the fact that, if the game is to be kept going and good stakes provided to encourage the breeding of first-class racehorses, they must speculate through that legalised medium, whereby a certain percentage of their investments is bound to go towards providing good stakes and the general upkeep of contingent expenses, whether they win or lose. Anti-post betting is becoming less and less every year, the majority of small backers preferring to wait until they can partly make their own odds and get a certain start for their money.

A meeting of committee of the Lake County Jockey Club will be held on Saturday evening next at S o’clock to discuss the programme drawn up by the sub-com-mittee. At Brighton Beach (New York) last month a horse named Charles Edwards won a nine furlong race in the record time ot Imin 50 3-ssec. L. H. Hewitt rode Mr George Edwardes’s filly Tinkabelle to victory in the Jack’s Bridge Handicap, of lOOsovs. six furlongs, at the Lingiield meeting, In England, on July 12.

N.Z. Cup Acceptances. After the first acceptances the following remain in the New Zealand Cup (a handicap of 2000 sovs, from the stake ; two miles) ; Maniapoto, aged, 0.0; Master Helaval, syrs, 8.0 ; Paritutu, aged, 8.3 ; Armistice, aged, 8.3 ; Zimmerman, 4yrs, 8.3; Truce, syrs, 7.12 ; Grand Slam, 4yrs, 7.11 ; Seal Rock, 4yrs, 7.11 ; Mahuta, 4yrs, 7.11 ; Harvest, oyrs. 7.10; Aeolus, Gyrs, 7.0 ; Crichton, aged, 7.8 ; Apia, syrs, 7.8 ; Glenullin, oyrs, 7.G ; Seaman, Oyrs, 7.0; Mystification, Gyrs, 7.5; Buccleuch, oyrs, 7.4; Elevation, 3yrs, 7.4 ; St. Joe, Gyrs, 7.3 ; Fusco, 4yra, 7.2; Stariua, aged, 7.2 ; Probable, Oyrs, 7.0 ; Gazaly, oyrs, 7.0 : Fandango, oyrs, 7.0; Bonny Glen, oyrs, 7.0 ; Lapland, 4yrs, G. 13; Astrakhan; Oyrs, G. 13 ; Downfall, 3yrs, G. 13 ; Grafton Loch, 3yrs, G. 12 ; The Rand, 3yrs, G. 12 ; Signor, 3yrs, G.lO ; Waitapu, syrs, 6.9 ; Chatterer, aged, G. 9 ; b.g. by Conqueror —Derringer mare, 3yrs, 6.9 ; Mahavanui, Gyrs, G. 7 ; Saga, 4yrs, G. 7 ; Ontlander, 3yrs, G. 7.