SPORTING.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14206, 3 September 1919, Page 6

SPORTING.

FIXTURES. Sept. 3—Marten J.C. Sept, 4 —Rangitikei Hunt Club. Sept. 10 —Bannevirke R.G. Sept. 11 —Dannevirke Hunt Club. Sept. 13 —Pakuranga Hunt Club. Sept. 18, 19 —Ashburton County R.G. Sept. 20, 22—Otaki Maori R.O. Sept. 22—Amberley R.C. Sept. 22 —Birchwood Hunt Club. Sept. 22, 23 —Geraldine R.C. Sept. 25, 27 —Wanganui J.C. Sept. 27, Oct. I—Avondale1 —Avondale J.C. NOTES. Otaki nominations close to-night. Marion to-day and to-morrow, first race at 11.30 a.m. Judging by the number of cars engaged, tike county clerk at Stinson should have a busy day checking the numbers. The following is clipped from the Melbourne Leader”: —H. Gray, the Now Zealand horseman, was not among the jockeys licensed by the A.J.C. at its meeting last week. It is understood that his application for reinstatement has again been vetoed by the Sydney racing authorities. Frank Dempsey was offered the riding of Mr W. G. Stead’s horses during the forthcoming A.J.C. and Victorian spring meetings. Mr Stead was informed by cable that 'k prior engagement to the Randwick trainer Frank McGrath prevented Dempsey accepting the offer.

Gay Lad, who is at present in most demand for the New Zealand Gup, has started on six occasions during his two seasons’ racing in the Dominion. He won four, was second once, and third once. His most impressive performance was perhaps when ho finished second to Kilbrogan in the G.J.G. Great Easter Handicap last autumn, when quite a number of people though he had won. The imported candidate recently impressed onlookers at Biccarton by covering 10 furlongs comfortably in the vicinity of 2min. lOsee. A descendant of the Musket tribe from whom much was expected as a sire, but who has proved a marked disappointment, is Machine Gun, the majestic son of Hotchkiss and Bubina. During last season's racing his descendants only captured stake-money to the extent of £443. In his racing days Machine Gun proved himself one of the greatest sprinters that has graced the turf in these lands, and his feat at Biccarton in the spring of 1904, when he won the Bandolph Handicap under the steadier of list 51b and put up a fresh record (58sec.) for live furlongs, stands as an extremely brilliant victory. Another feat for which Machine Gun was responsible, and which he registered at Biccarton in the autumn of 1905, was winning the Groat Easter Handicap (seven furlongs) under lOst. 41b. A throat trouble which came against Machine Gun at two years old no doubt seriously affected his staying capacity, but why he should have failed so pronouncedly at the stud is a bit of a conundrum, for it has to be admitted that ho had splendid opportunities to make a name for himself in New South Wales. It is 25 years since poor “Tommy" Corrigan succumbed to injuries ho received by his mount (Waiter) falling with him in the Grand National Steeplechase at Caulfield. The memory of the deceased jockey is treasured in Victoria, for, in addition to being a great horseman, ho rang true under all headings. In a recent 1 issue of the Melbourne “Leader" “Beacon" writes: — “Good judges who had seen the best j cross-country horsemen in the Old Country did not hesitate to affirm that Tom j Corrigan, in the heyday of his fame, ' was the best steeplechase rider in the ( world; he certainly was the best • we have seen in Australia. He was only a j little chap, but very strong and sturdy; a horse had to strike a fence very hard indeed before he became unseated, and lie won races on nasty brutes, who would run down their fences In the most alarming way. His victories at Flcmington on Wymlet and Egyptian will live for ever in turf history as two of the most marvellous performances ever seen on a racecourse. His greatest j successes were achieved when ho rode j for the big Irishman, as his patron, j Martin Loughlin, was called; and the j combination of Martin Loughlin owner, ! Tommy Wilson, the little Ballarat ! trainer, with the Irish frieze coat, and | Tommy Corrigan, rider, was very hard i to beat, as the bookmakers frequently * found to their cost. On the question of ! brush fences Corrigan once said: ‘I ■ like them to stand at least 6ft away from it, and that is why I am an advocate for putting the brush well out from the jump. Horses rarely stand too far off, and all the awkward falls happen through getting too close in. ’ " Spring is with no, and sports should | bring their clothing outfits up to date, ■ in view of the coming racing season. ! Full stocks of all requirements can bo j procured at Alf. Mahon's, in The j Square, whore tickets for Nursing ; Sister can still be obtained.* I