TRUF TOPICS.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 915, 25 January 1918, Page 20

TRUF TOPICS.

By Torpedo-

"VTSTITH the conclusion of the Weltt lington Racing Club's Meeting on Tuesday the Tjack of the summer racing was broken, and we shall now drift along until the' most important gathering at Wanganui, and in the meantime swap yarns regarding why we didn't show a profit. The Trentham Meeting was a most successful one in every respect from a racing man's point of view. The showers which fell on Saturday 'twixt races were- light and cooling, and did not seriously inconvenience the by no means large attendance; in fact, if it hadn't been for the presence of the soldiers it could be said that it was disappointingly small, but the money was there as evidenced by the fact that the totalisator figures were in excess of those for the summer meeting of last year. In fact, for the .two days the substantial sum of £102,123 10s was put through, being £1446 10s more than 1917. It's marvellous where the money comes from. To sit on the stand and study the , moving crowd, with its brilliant colours subdued by khaki worn by the boys who have yet to do their bit, and further subdued by the sight of the maimed ones who have done theirs, afforded food for reflection. Take the remark of a one-legged soldier boy, not long out of his teens. This is what "Torpedo" heard him say: "It wants a few humming birds to fly over the top of them and drop some of their eggs (bombs, of course), just to let them know that the war is on!" Secretary Whyte never fails in his part, the machinery of his department ■ running as smoothly as a two thousand dollar motor car out for sale. Handicapper Coyle also igave us of his best, and the Clerk of the Course looked as pretty as ever in his long red coat. The mounted police rode horses that could have beaten Nanna on Saturday, and, taken all round, everything in the garden was lovely. Just let me here voice the complaint I heard on every hand regarding the Tea Kiosk. It is also* surely the giddy limit to charge 3s for the luncheon consistingi of a cold collation, with a menu of lamb, beef, and tongue, vegetable and fruit salads, soft drinks extra^—no tea or coffee. The sporting public is a generous one, but the constant bleeding is apt to cause it to become anaemic, and perhaps die on the game. «• » e * Of the racing, I shall content myself by traversing some of its principal features. On Saturday Nobleman accounted for the Wellington Cup and Sir Geo. Clifford's Wrestler for the Telegraph. Nobleman's win was a most popular one. He held the position of favourite from appearance of the weights to barrier rise, and had Nanna prevailed in the Telegraph in which she started a hot favourite, the books would have had one of the biggest gruellings they have had for a long time, but something, went wrong with the works, and Nanna finished well out of the fighting line. The owner of Nanna is new to the game, but during his brief connection with the turf has earned a name as a straight-going owner, and it is to be regretted that the running of Nanna

had to Tbe enquired into early in the second day, but nothing resulted. The Stewards were evidently satisfied with the explanation, but the way in which Nanna ladled out the mustard to Wrestler in the last race of the day caused punters to ask: "Why the change of riders?" Punters who. backed the favourite Nobleman-Nanna double on the first day made pointed comments on N-anna's failure in the Telegraph. By the way, have you noticed how rarely the favourite double wins when substantially backed ? On the second day the Metropolitan was won by Menelaus in good style, whilst the second leg of the double went to Nanna, as already stated, with Wrestler second. Wrestler ran a sterling race, and it is to be regretted that a genuine trier on both days should bump up against such a proposition. The attendance on the second day must have been a record, both enclosures being packed. The heat was very trying, every advantage being taken of shady spots. There were no sensational dividends on either day, the best , being that on Association on Tuesday, the successful investors receiving a little over a score for a sovereign. Tlie downfall of Desert Gold in the Kelburn Plate, of four furlongs, did not come as a shock to> the admirers of the mare, as was shown by the dividends paid by Croesus and 80-peep. The idol of the people carried a ton of money, but punters were out for the second dividend. Desert Gold was defeatedj but not disgraced. The Westland Racing. Club has forwarded to "Torpedo" a report of the committee meeting subsequent to the late successful gathering. lam pleased to note that the finances of the Club have had a big; access of profits, and that in consequence the stakes next year will be increased by £300. The principal events at the Foxton Meeting were won by Waimatoa (Anniversary Hanicap) and Rose Pink (Foxton Cup). Backers of the latter got a nice price. Young Corlett had a nasty tumble off Demagogue in the Kelburn Plate, and was taken to the hospital. Latest report at time of writing is to the effect that he is doing nicely. That the placed horses were getting a move on in the January Welter is evidenced by the fact that the mile was cut out in lmin 39 4-osec, the honours being with. Messrs. Dwan Bros.' Sweet Tipperary, who didn't get too well away, and only succumbed by a neck to Mr. G. L. Stead's Wishful. The black filly went out sixth favourite, and would have paid a handy price. The starting, taken all round, was not up to Mr. O'Connor's best form, but the man on the stand who criticises has the easiest job when the fields are large

A feature of the Wellington Meeting was the excellent music supplied by Trentham Military Band,, amongst the ranks of which are some of New Zealand's best musicians. Abnormal vehicular traffic on race days is "cutting the tripe" out of the highway between places within motor connection distance /of Trentham. After all, the matter is only one of those inconveniences of the war which the people are endeavouring to philosophically swallow, with every possibility of- a very serious attack of political indigestion when the war is over. Then, the following mixtures will be in big demand for alleviation of the pains occasioned thereby. "Massey's Sophistry," to be taken when the pains are most violent, and to be followed by a brisk rubbing in of "Ward's Ci-eme de la Finance," which will have a very soothing effect, with the result that the patient will fall asleep, later on waking up in a feverish nightmare imagining that he is Minister for Railways - Herries surrounded by a bevy of shrieking women asking him to give someone else the job. * * » # The management of the Wellington Trotting Club is to be congratulated upon the success of its meeting, which took place on Monday last. Despite the fact that there was no holiday, the attendance was most gratifying, and the: financial results most . satisfying. In the Gold Cup much interest was robbed through two or three horses being called off for anticipating their

bell, among them being Whispering Willy, who, on his recent Auckland form, svas reckoned to be most favourably handicapped. The winner turned up in Mr. "Jack" Redding' s Will-o'-the-Wisp, who was driven by hisi son-in-law, "Bobby" Allan, to< whose good reinmanship the win was greatly due. The winner paid a nice price, and many of the owner's Wellington friends participated.