SPORTING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1844, 19 June 1920, Page 10

SPORTING.

NOTES. (By Flankub.) Tho full sister to Desert Gold Las been named Aureate. Mias Love and Whizz Bang, trained at Bulls, are enjoying a spell from active work. There is a rumour all oat that Amythas has been sold to an Indian buyer, the price being 8000 guineas. Tommy Metcalfe, formerly of the Highden staff * but now located at Dunedin, has been on a visit to Palmerston. The Taranaki sportsman, Mr J. R. L. Stanford, who acted as judge in that district, is now resident at Marten, Mr Chas. Koeble has purchased the full brother to Master Strowan, who will shortly be taken in hand by T. Garment. Mr W. Handley, tho Waikanao studmaster. was booked to leave England on the return journey by tho Athenic on Thursday. The sum of £14,740 10s was invested on the totalisator in connection- with the Great Northern Hurdle Race, run at Ellerslie. Nursing Sister and Rangiata have Itoen put into active work- on the local tracks, while two young ones go through the usual routine. They are in the charge of J. Fanner. The Levin trainer, A. Oxenbam, has additions to his team in Arch Lassie and Parewanui. Idleness, in the same stable, has been shaping attractively in her work. Birkenvale is to bo given a chance to earn distinction as a hurdler. In his schooling efforts tho son of Birkenhead lias shaped well, jumping quickly and cleanly. The Horowhonua Racing Club is considering an alteration in the date of its next meeting to January next, which, it is considered, might work in better with the established meetings, and secure increased support from owners. It is reported from Wellington that one of the Dominion’s leading lawyers is drafting a bill, which is designed to overcome tho jockey’s trouble, and which will be brought before the House of Representatives during the coming session. The light-weight jockey, George Clarke, who has not followed his calling for some time, recently returned 1 to tho Dominion from Australia, and was riding at the Auckland meeting. Clarke has,taken up his residence in Palmers-ton-North, and will again bo associated with the Highden statf.

The stewards of the Foxton Racing Club have decided to agree to the 7.0 minimum. Messrs W. T. Jewell and L. R. Freeman were appointed to attend the conference of New Zealand Country Racing Cluba, to be held at Wellington.

Six out of the seven races on the last day at Ellerslie were won by first favourites. There has probably never been a racing season in the Dominion's history in which so many first favourites have been successful-as during the present season.

In referring to the suggested match between Amythas and Arrowsmith a lew days ago, "Sir Lancelot" says he omitted to mention that the Foxton owner wished, if such a meeting eventuated—which is very unlikely—that the owner of tho winner would take the two horses 1

Mr Harry Moore (one of Now Zea land’s most proficient hurdle riders it days gone by), who has been in tin hotel business in Australia for a num her of years, returned to the Dominiot recently. Air Moore, it is understood has accepted the position of manager it one of Palmerston’s leading hotels. Tho little affair enacted) at Avondah in April last may have the effect ol bringing a now rule into tho New Zea land code. The following is a text of $ notice of motion to be submitted t( the New Zealand Racing Conference next month: “In tho event of-a ‘strike' by virtue of riders 'refusing to ride, Hit stewards may permit persons to ridt without a license for that particulai meeting only.”

To the list of game riders add Harry Hyland, who piloted Ulandra in the recent Albury Cup, says a Sydney writer. The distance was a mile and three furlongs, and when about halfway Ulandra was bumped heavily on to the rails, breaking his rider's leg. Hyland stuck to his job, and after one of the best finishes seen on the course won by a head. He had to be lifted from the saddle and carried in.

The hurdle patented by the late Mr T Taylor, of New Plymouth, appears likely to come into favour. A couple of flights were erected on the Wanganui training track last week, and three or four horses have been schooled over them once or twice with satisfactory results. The writer "Achilles" witnessed a trial of the hurdle last week, when Khartoum, Pretty Bobby, and Florist were sent over a couple of times, and the patent appeared; to work in a manner that had been claimed for it. When the top rail, which works on a bolt, was struck by Pretty Bobby, it went forward, this being brought about by the action of hinges on a batten about a foot' from the bottom. After being knocked forward the top rail immediately fell back into position. None of the horses blundered badly, but it is claimed that if one did so, and crashed right into the hurdle the obstacle ' Would' collapse bodily and-, remain in that position. Judging from the way the hurdle is constructed this is what one would expect to happen, and that being so the risk which both horses arid riders run to-day would Be minimised. In any case the way the top rail acts on being hit would prevent a horse from falling. The jump is made of Oregon pine, height 3ft 6in, with 14iri lean; the top rail is 9 x U, while other battens are 6 x Is, and rae stays 4 x I£.