SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17978, 31 December 1921, Page 10

SPORTING.

*"■ ' -" R-AGING PJ^TURES. December 31—Auokland Trottirar Club. .Unuary 2. 3--Auckland Racing Club. January 2, 4—Grevmouth .Jockey Club. January 2— Tirau Racing Ciub. January 2—Houhcura Racing Club. January 2—Tolaga Bay Jockey Club. January 2, J—Stratford Racing Club. January 2, 3-Hawlcd's Bay Jookey Club. January 2. U—iiarton .Jockey Club. Jav.ary 2, 3— Wairarapa Racing Jinuary 3, 4—Southland Racing Club. Jan-iary 7—Waikato Trotting Club, '-ii it; 7, 9-Reetton Jockey Chib. Jan i-ry 11-Northern Wairoa Racing Club. Js;: iary 11—Rotorua Rncius Club. '.: ...:-y 18—Manawatu Trottms Club. ~ in ary _i— Kawakawa RaciE2 Club. Ja-.uary '-'?. 30-Takapuna Jockey t'lub. ! eb: an 9. li-Taranaki Jockey Club. I ■• r :tn 11-Te Kuiti Racing Club. leriarv I'.. 16—Hamilton Racine Ciub. '• :.).-.• .-. :o- Otahuhu Trotting Club, r'fbrjary .'}— Qpol.ki Racing CiubIVbruary 25 26—Thames Jocktiy Club. March i. 6—Te Aroba Jockey Club. Much 17, 18—Oh.iicniuri Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. in :ary 2-Great Northern Derby. January 3—A.RC. Handicap. .' .nuary 3—Auckland Plate. January 3—A.R.C. Royal Stakes. Unuary 28— Takapuiia Cup-fV-bruary 15—Hamilton Cup. ,«SWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Lochiel "-Many thanks for your kind letto. " Uncle SaK."-Horses canying the colours nf the late Mr. J. R. Keene were credited with winning stakes amounting to £76,000 <x\ a single season in America. In England the Duke of Portland still holds Uo r«crd wi'h £73.855. "Manxman" Rotorua.-The greatest sum won by a three-year-old is credited to Donovar. Toy GalopinJ. who captured £38,666. Isinglass only won in stakes £18.860 at that age. Donovan did not race beyond his three-year-old career. "Wager."—l. The highest weight carried to victory in the N«w Zealand Cup was 83 under which impost Tasman (1883), "Vanguard 1.1884). Lady Zetland (1896), and Sasanbf (1918) •respectively won. 2. Lochiel did not win the Now Zealand Cup and the Auckland Cup in the same season- He won the first-mined race in November. 1887. and the latter in Decemboi.- 1888. " Wager"—l. Machine Gun carried 11.5 when ho 'iron the Randolph Handicap (five furlongs) in 58s. That record still stands. Machine Gun only raced .in Auckland on one occs&icn, viz., at three years old, when he won tiw Boyal Stakes of 1904. '2. Abimrdum (8,12/ was credited with running five' ! irlonss in 58is at Trenthamlaar. Jipii], .whai he won the J?lunket Nursery Himdicap. NOTES BY 'PHAETON. THESPIAN, THE BBILLIANT. . Tlio victory registered by Theanian in the Islington PLite, run at Ellerslie on "Wednesday k»st. -was accomjiliahed under conditions and in such jstyle as to leave not .a -particle of doubt as to the high-class character ,-of the performance. With the doughty 'GJoam-' me in the field the son df Absurd was called • upon .to measure litrides Twith.ttite .jff ttlay greatest milcre that has .*ver carried .ailkin the sputhera hemisphere, and-it is'to befi regarded .as .eapeciilly ittiae ibai 'in Bccompliahing the defeat -of auch a worthy antagonist a iimo jtacard-bredsinj leat; Rhould be enteifid -up ;in iconnectioji therewith.. v Indeed. the contest ;in the ardle. weight-ior-sjß iaoe w«3 so well ■&*£»& nnjiler hiShiy-stiiranif conditions Jhat it t?UI Jwe'doae ao memory. The;Eawi tadding ;Gloaminir wJiatithellatter; sought to :«xtiicat« himself ifrom ;tha oopno«tion,at the sn'l .of ,the Irat 'furlcins tnr>j dbubtedly played .the .Meai.paxi in .a .contest that was.all through joharacterieed -rath', great pace. Ikespianiß dash ior'(victory :'inside the distanos yne of : the itnily MUiant : order, arid Gloaming a lieaten horao directly the 'bay colt reached "him. That' the pace waa i* cracker from the jstort :is amply testified by the fact that the -flight furlones weee oast 'behind in 1m 36 o-5«, ■which constitutes a fresh record for tito dig-' tanee named both in New Zealand and Aus- ! tralia. Thespian was bred .by hia.owner, Mr. G. M. Currie, and. /rem the leading lines of his pedigree, which .are appended, it will be teen that ruany jHuatrip.uß names aro included therein;;-* • . I ■-.'• THESPIAN. ' £ire: Absurd, by Bundridse feon xif Amphion)' feom Absnrdity.jby Melton (son oTMMter' . Moan)- ixm SmmsA, » TMoto (son of Hermit). j , SDaon.: fceta. hy Ayr Xaddie (son h! Ayiahireii from Leading Lady, iby Grafton (son nf ofM^itr roCI Brami " fem As bearing.nn Theapian'u Derby jprospectß. B is intereeting to relate >«bttt four -winners of the English JOtxbr are inoludsdiin.-the. Sf^r^¥- aba M' ,! hB 'fe" 6B .-I'iih-.classio distinction being Melton. Hermit, Ayrshire/ and Galopin. Tft wiU therefore ntting should Thespian be ranged up with winners of the Great Northern Derby. VESPUCCI AT LAST. I must confess to havinsr been .among those! who viewed Vespucci's ■prospects in the A.B;C. ; Surcmia Cud in an indifferent vein, hut, -when l tho fact ia borne in mind that the big chestnut had only a Novice Handicap .(in which, race he had a Tib allowance) to ibis icredit and that he iad figured among the alsowa division in his previous .engagemßnte tbia, eeason. it could ho validly .contended that eohd grounds esiated for doubting the chestnut'e ability to win the mile and .quarter race. Vespucci, however, answered all demands at the end of a ewiftly-run mile *nd' a-qua:rtei. and, whatever he may ia- m »y not bs able to accomplish over a longer distance he is clearly entitled to a good certihcate at t, mile ana a-ouarter. THE M3LB RECORD. Prior tt.Wednesday last, when Thespian won tho Islington Plato at Elleralie JS B6 1-oe, Cetignes performance of lm 87a stood at the head of the list. Cetigne put 6. 1919. in the Lmathgow Stakes, which event, waa contested nudar weight-We conditions. Tte New Zealand-bred colt q„V veyor. who carried Mr. W. G. S& wloi,™' put up a fisht with Cetlgrfi "tor eupremacy, and he ran the winner toThea? Cetigne was,seven years olTat the <Sf: bo reduced the mile record to g 3 75! tUn9 LEAVES FROM MY NOTEBOOK. Bloodstock sales in Auckland of the prcpared with the days when Auckland's fame bl£^ g ?&* V* M A sale at Ellerslie wis ot « £he least - ***&* that has Jeen held here for very many years. The ™Iw l M P au i »tww«cy ruling at present probably played a part at yeßterda/s sale, but still with increased prize money a fea- • S&fc. 1 ! tfj? h V ex E ec{ °d thai the bidding would have been protected from dwindling to a low standard. In a few cases Messrs. Brookes and Hardwick, the auctioneers acting yesterday, managed to 6 [tract bids of lOcns, but for the most part 1 guinea bids ruled, and m one case a bidder actually called " Half "?Sff ea, "v : ? fa i W f W a , cce P, te d. The days of lOOgns. bids at Auckland sales seem to be % lar way off. When Mr. Euco Priediander purchased rughtraider Iron Sir George Clifford some 12 months ago he ,vau quite optimistic that the son of Martian and Glenowlet was a good speculation. The bay gelding, howpver, only carried Mr. Friedlander's colours on one occasiorjL and he was sent into .the ta.a nne at Ellerslie yesterday Nicht-raj-ier looked well served on the score of condition but the auctioneer had to wait for ictue little time for a bid. snd it only amounted to one of sCgn« when it came Th* price went np to 92gns. and Mr. G Brown was anuoun.H ae the owner. It will be interesting to n-.te whether a change of quars&sSter* about an impro - a -'» The colouri of Mr. R. H. Nolan it is pleasing to record were carried to victor? m two races at the Taranaki meeting th2 week by Sarory » four-year-old ae ding by Husbandman—Mssuma Mr 1M« K.. been ivmg in Auckland .See hVirturJS from .London, where he was in <-W«.,> VT< .u New Zealand Soldier!' "ifosW el) Souare. He w?6 very p opu ] ar eoldiers, and h.» wuw at New Plymouth r-ere most cordially received. u On the same day that Cold Pt».i - for Mr. Bruce Jolf. at EuVrslie hil ml Armorel, captured the for him at New Plymouth. Armorel ruled fourth in the order of favouritisai d Mr. A: N. Gibbon's gelding Pi ne , #rch secured a comfortable victory in th«, C aaki Christmas Handicap, Jgr whi CCl event Z was third favourite. Rm Arch Ud nearly all the way. and pawed the post lengths in front of Crucejle. He »na not produced on the second day. The ETlewlje-tra&ed mare Dactyii, ao- ' counted for the Huatoki Plate, seven furTonga, on the first day of Jie Taraaiki meeting and on the second day **« a , d teloarito for-tha-Fitpoy H*ck HawfiSS

After Vespucci distinguished himself at 'ElleTslie .-on Wednesday iby -winning tthe Summer .Cup the .chestnut-eon of WarcoJand; Far Away obtained a large amount of recognition, and some curiosity was-evinced as to whence his name was derived. A reference to history repeals .that Vespucci was a Florentian navigator, whose writings 'on the discovery of America brought him into great prominence. His full name was Amerigo Vespucci, and, by a remarkable procedure never /properly cleared up. .his Christian name was transformed into America, and it is thus the great country embracing the United States received its name. There i 3 a prospect of a second meeting between Thespian and Gloaming at Ellerslie during the summer meeting. The two bays fixiire among tho entrants for the Auckland Plate, which event ccmes up for decision on tho concluding day of the AJB.C. Summer Meetins. The Derby contest on Monday will have shown Thespian's capacity over a mile and a-half course, and should serve to indicate his prospects of coping successfully w >'h Gloaming at 12 furlongs. At the AJt.C- Summer Meeting last New Tear's Day Mermin won the Midsummer Handicap under 10.3. Epitaph is down for an engagement in tho same race op Monday with a like impost. The chestnut filly is quite up to carrying a stiff impost, and she will gallop a great five furlongs. Refinement waß injured at Ellerslie on Wednesday while contesting the Criterion Handicap. The filly was in a rather bad way for some little time, but, though her condition has improved, it is Quite certain that she will have to remain in retirement for some time. 'Mr. Ernest Alison is to be sympathised with in losing the services of Refinement at this important stage, for matters shaped promisingly lor her to put up -a. good record. The committee of the Rotorua Racing Club has been successful in arranging for a special horso train to leave Ellerslie for Hamilton at 5.30 a.m. on Hie day of their annual race meeting at Claudelnnde, on January 11, and it will ri/turn the same evening. The arrangement will be received with much favour by owners, and it may be expected to play an important part in encouraging owners to send their horse 6 to Claudelands. One of the highly-pleasing incidents of tho A.R.C. Summer Meeting, now in.progress, was the victory rjgistored by Mr. \V. Casey's gelding, Poanui, in the Waitemata Handicap. The Potoa gelding had cf late been chiefly concerned in hurdle-racing, but that ho ie still useful in a flat event he amply demonstrated when he won the mile and a-quarter race on Wednesday. Though Silver Link was beaten into third place in the Islington Plate, she can be accounted to have registered a really good mile. The bay mare got a cleaf run on the Tails from the distance, and for a iew strides a hundred yards from the post ehe really looked like submitting a stiff challenge, but she could not sustain her run. On the concluding day of the A.R.C. Summer Meeting, a meeting between Winning Hit and Epitaph, the loading performers respectively in the three and two-year-old events, may be looked for. Both have incurrsd the maximum Ifllb penalty. Winning Hit will have to carry 9.2, and Epitaph 7.6. The two stallions', Romeo (by Plying Pox) and Tea Tray (by The Tetrarchl, imported to Auckland from England by the Hon. E. W. Alison, were paraded at Ellerslie yesterday, after the concluson of the sale. Both tho .highly-bred horses were seen to advantage, and they were greatly admired. A feature of the present summer meeting at Ellerslie is the number of trainers who hove furnished winners. So far as tho Ellerslie gathering has progressed 16 races have been decided, and the respective win--.nera have come from Id different stablesWhen Explorer won the Grafton Hurdle Race xm Boxing Day he carried 10.8. ia the Ponsonby Hurdle Race on Monday he is , called unci tp carry an additional 141b, but he will not have to battle this time with Poanui, tod that.may he to his advantaee. Eleven jockeye competing at Ellerslie have Peered "winners «tHhe AJR.C. Summer Meet- j ing. Ashley Reed .heads the list with three •wins gained—"Radiant Light. Epitaph, and , Cold Steel. Raceful was one ol the unlucky ones in .the .contest tor the Summer Cup. The Utartian gelding was disappointed on two i .ncoaeiops in endeavouring to get through. Ih'stowfil carried -the "field alontt at a slaah- ' :ing pace in the Summer Quo. and he flattered She hqpes of his admirerß right inside the brilf.distaitce. STUD NOTES. it VALUABLE WORK. IBIE WILLIAM HEERIES' BOOK. BT SIOCKWELL. The title, "The Successful Running and flire .(Lines of the Modern Thoroughbred Horse," gives, an epitome of the contents of .this .book, -with the emphasis on the word' "medem," lax, as .Sir William points out in the introduction, Bruce Lowe, Hermann Doos, and other writers vitiate their conclusions by a too extended field of observation, and iby basing their argunienta on the performanoes of horses helowring 'to lines of descent that are long since extinct. , In the sct3 of tables contained in the book under review the principal winners and sires .of modern times, both in 'Great Britain and Australasia, are dealt with. The term "modern times" is, for the purposes of the hook, considered to be from 1860 to 1920. "By thiamcans the tables are not encumbered, with lines of "descent that were 'flourishing •in bygone times, 'tut have 'languished and 'become extinct. Dne -set of 'tanles for Great Britain ahowe 'the descent in the male line nf all the selected winners and Bires from the three eraat fhe DarleyArabian, ithe By.erbr Turk, and the'Godorphb Barb .or Arabian, and ihowß which lines are s alive *nd <virile at tthe ajresent time, another i set of talQes shows the descent of the selected 1 winners and sires in the female line from I the original mares in the General Stud Book, end are arranged according to their Bruce t Lows families, but by a method which is a | feature *3 ibis book ihe selected Siorms aro i aronped in their respective T3ruce '(Lowe •families under some prominent Ltufl matron. f ■who is a common, ancestress nf the harees 1 islonging to the cruup, and for tkti purposes • ■of the book is .called a tap-root mare. Budb. * mares are Ellen Homo (ancestress of "Bend' ■Or. Ladas. Lord Lyon, Cicero, etc.) in Kb. 1 i family. Queen Mary (ancestress of Blair J -Athol. Bayardo, Hampton, Lemberg, etc.) in No. 10 family, and Agnes (ancestress of Or- i monde. Sceptre, St. Gatien. Pommern, etc.) in s 2Jo. 16 family. In all there are 70 audi tap- t root mares. This .system, Sir William claims, ■enables the student to see at i, elancß whether J any particular horse whose pedigree may be i under review belongs to a winning family or \ not._ Sir William lays it down in his intra- ', ductaon that, though the breeding or purchasing of bloodstock ia commonly supposed 1 tO*.,* lottery, "there must be a shade of 1 Odflfc «od olten a considerable "shade of t odds, in favour of the breeder or purchaser i w«o breeds or purchases only from stiainß of blood that have provod themselves " successful rat the racecourse." ' " f Another sot of tables shows the descent in f the male line of the dams of winners and • *ho\V6 those stallions that have been specially successful in producing great brood mares, lis British section concludes with a full and. complete index which gives the colours, pedigrees, and, chief performances of aU tho horses treated in the British tables. Sporting < and those -who ooxapile pedigrees •ntll ' find in this index a mine of information The pnccipal winners and aires in Australia and < Aew Zealand sines the beginning of recorded i racing to the end of the season 1919-20 , are treated ia a simvlar manner, two sets of i tables being given, one showing the descent i in teii male from the three Eastern sires and ■ tue other set showing the descent in tail " female and arranged, like the British tables according to the Bruce Lowe families. This 1 set also showß the grouping under tap-root 3 mares, which are not always the same as l those, occurring in the British tables, and, in addition, to the lap-root mares, the name of the original imported mare is given. Two l tables are also given containing the names ( of those horses who cannot trace to the En?- J lish Stud Book, and these horses are grouped under the names of well-known colonial brood mares, such as Sappho. Yatterina, Cutty Sark, etc. The tables for Australia and New ! Zealand are also furnished with an index t The whole series of tables are well arranged I and laid out and beautifully printed on good t paper. The whole arrangement must have taken years of etady. and it is safe to say , that no such complete analysis of the'podi- i grses of the principal horses of the (two , hemispheres that have flourished during the l last ,60 years has ever been put before the public , Sir, William's all-too-short introduction ( contains matters of absorbing interest tfcat one would have liked to have seen i trented at greater length- There are also tables of successful sires, both English snet Australasian, which will well repay study, j Where there is so much excellence it seems ; almost hypercritical to find fault, but two t points strike one after a careful study of the ' book Firstly, it appears unwise to nave ineluded the winners of the Grand Prix in the list of,horses selected for considflration in } the British tables. The reasons are given j in tho introduction, but it seems tiat It ] would have been better to have given :» separate table for French winners, which » would have included the winners, of all the French classic races, because under the system adopted of admitting the French winners of the G-and Prix, a foreign element is introduced into the British tablps, and this is especially noticeable in Table V. Secondly, the omission of the winners of the Melbourne Cup from the list of horses treated in the I Australasian tables fs a matter for regret. Sir n William rives his reasons for this omission . in the introduction, but, considering the (act n tnat the Melbourne Cup is the outstanding raoe of Australasia and that onb a horse of great stamina can possibly hope to win it. I we think .that the winners, should all have appeared in the tables. But. after all, these „ are only matters of detail and do .not detract 2 kora the great value of the work as a whole. Thick and thus exporters of the Brace Lowe 1 siJ'w-rr w be with the attitude his remarks in the introduction ar* * te|»»fi SapdliaS of thatTuW a ranecte the mature opinion o most breeders I Si v« *i m Is , *° V heartily congratulated .

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB. ELLERSLIE SUMMER MEETING. The Auckland Raring Club's Summer Meeting will be continued on Monday next, and the character of the acceptances for the eight events forming the programme are auch a* to give promise of the gport in every respect reaching the standard of an Ellerslio gathering. The 48th Great Northern Derby is fixed to come up for decision, and with a prospective meeting between Winning Hit. Tliesr>ian. and The Hawk & very keen interest will be centred in the classic event. Winning Hit's form at Riccarton last month, when he won the Derby and Stead Memorial Cup, is on all hands rated highly, and both the performances registered by the son of Autumnus on the CJC. ground will stand the full strength of the searchlight. His defeat of Amythae in the Stead Cup was especially meritorioue, for not only did he clip the wings of that doughty son of Demosthenes, but he succeeded in cutting down the mile and a-quarter record to 2m 3 l-ss. That Thespian is endowed with a fine da9h nf brilliancy he very oloarly demonstrated at Ellerslie eon Wednesday, when he defeated the flying Gloaming over a mile in record time. Of course, a mile race ie very different to one extending to a mile and a-half, but there is no reason why Thespian should not stay, and in physiaue it can be further urged he fills the eye as a eoit in every way fitted to capture the Derby insignia. In the decision of the Njw Zealand Derby The Hawk ran second to Winning*-flit, a gap of two jengths eeparating the pair. The son of Martian undoubtedly pcesesses the game Quality, and he will play his part well. With 13 engaged in the A.R.C. Hundicap the mile and a-half race is invested witfi considerable interest, for the winneT is well concealed. Malaga, Uncle Ned, and Insurrection, who finished in that order in the Auckland Cup contest, are engaged in Monday's race, and opinion seems well divided in summing up the prospects of that trio.

GREYMOUTH ACCEPTANCES. [RT TELEORAfS.—PftESS ASSOCIATION.] , GBEYMOtJTB. Friday. The Greymottth Jockey Club acceptances are aa follows:^TRIAL HANDIOAP.-P.alsorM. S.T; Embezzler, B.£i CfclHbUfn, 7.11: Hallucination, Lady Mac, Miss Florence, Markie, IJi, PABOA fiANI)ICA?,-Boset«ar, 9.9; Tantalus. 9.4; Woodfow, 8.11: Lady Middleton, 5.9; Lord Abhlea 8.6; Cheer Up, o.S; Benefit, 82; DemonßtfaWu. 8.0: Stttbath. 7.15; Divorce, 7.6; War unit, 7.0. A VALLE? j HANDICAP.-Battle Boone, 10.4; CaVWock, 9.4: BoseveW, 9.2; Mythology. 8.12; Prince Fetous. 8.10; Orange Mart. 5.4 : Faktitff. 6.3; Ahika, 8.3; Silk Nusht, 7.10; Tyne, 7.4. 1f.6; Clicauot, 10.9: War Tax. 10.1; Lyre*. 9.11; Trentham Base, Amendment. 9.0. ELEOTBIC HAITDIGAP.--Flyine Master l-®-> Jamarang, Uijfvur Willie. UitKm', 9.4: mm. 8.11; Kilderg, 8.9; Headlong 8.6; Happy Valley 6.2; Wolthea, 8.1; Trentham Rose. 7.12; Lady Pallas. 7.9. STEWARDS' Master. S.lOi Tantahffl. .9.4: Merten, 9.2- Conntsr Attack. 8.11; Missknd. Demonstrate, 8.0; Sandy MaodonalaV7 Timepiece. T. 6; Divorce, 7.6; Marble Bar, 7.5. ' j WBLTEE HANDICAP.-Mythology. Ift2Ahika. 9.8; Tiranga. Missland, Lao> Middleton, 9.5; Lord Ashlea, 9.2; Strayshot Benefit, B.lfr; Ch&eroni*. 8.3; O Duchy, 8.2.

BRUNNER HANDICAP.-Lady Middl, ten. 9.0: Lord Forabyrß.ll; ImK?' aiO; 8.5; Steepholm, B.| Tyne. 7.13; Marble Bar. 7.7. ', KAWAKAWA RACING CLUB. fbo following nominations hav& been received for the Kawakawa Racing Club's meeting, which takes place on January oi-— MMDFN HANDICAP.-Election. p r i ncc Charles. Lady Brothrick.iLady Varro, RoinlIns, Mangahawa, Wee Archie, Woori Mcnt mor*. Miss Theory, Kaitohi, Brown E«T* Piaha Jack, Otiroa, Homeric, bay gelding by KUwmning, black mare by Santa Rosa--Phaeton. Danton. Lady Hill. Wairoa Rep HANDICAP.-Pttgoda. Lu'cr French, mukura Lady Brothricli, Rojullu? Lady Herman, Glad Tidinss. Master Awanui. Connemara. v .KAWAKAWA. GUP HANDICAP.-Scrap o Paper, Election. Narrow N«k. Canowindra, Bezant Gold Plane, Arch Laddie, Mimi-y-hangata. Multiplane, Irish Knight, Tom Moore,. Doric, Welshman, Armorel, Came Guardian, Lady Hill, Arrowfield. P MOEREWA HANDICAP. - Merry Prince, Mentmore, Mies lheory, Kaitoki, Brown Eagle, Often, Piaha Jack. Royal Red, Honey Belle, Manuhu. Otirea, black geldmg by Kilwinning—unknown, Homeric MaRAMAHU HANDICAP-Tom Moore. Miss Theory. Lady Kerman, Welshman, Master Awanui, Ohiti, Lucy French, Otakura, Canowindra. Beiant, Multiplan«. OHAEAW.U WELTER HANDICAP.Welshman, Brown Eagle. Often, Manuhu, Ohiti, Narrow Neck, Gold Plane, Lady Varco, Manjtakawa, Mimiwhanjati, Multiplane, AVoori. Arrowfield. RUSSELL HANDICAP.-Tom Moore, Doric, Welshman, Often, Camp Guardian Master Awanui, Royal Red. Honey Belle Scrap o" Paper, Prince Charles. Caiowindral Bezant, Arch Laddie, Multiplane, Irish Knujht, Arrowfield. PAKARAKA HANDICAP.-Merry Prince •Mentmore, Lady Kerman, Kaitoki, Glad Tidings, Manuku, Otiroa, Homeric, Pagoda, Election, Lucy French ; Utakur*, Csnowindr». Beiant, Lady Varco. Rosullus, Mimiwhangata, black mare by Santa RosaPhaeton, Wairoa Rep. Connemara. , ALEXANDRA RACING CLUB, The Alexandra Racing Club's annual race meeting, he'd at Pirongia on Boxing Day was somewhat marred by wet weather Them was, however, a large attendance, and tho programme was got off in good order. The following were toe multe;— MAIDEN HANDICAP.-Gipgy Quia. i. Flying Shadow, 2; Te Kara, 3. MAIDEN TROT.-NiU Wood, 1; Ghoai, 2; Cluster 3. ALEXANDRA CG?—K*ystono l. Sihtt Pine. 2; Kuzanui. 3. SHORTS HANDICAP.-Mwnorial 1. M*. tangi, 2; Sir Musketry, 3BEETS MEMORIAL.-Te Kara 1; Lafy Petain, 2; Kuranui, 3. HANDICAP TROT.-Teddy MoKinney. i. AUea tho Great. 2; young: Dick, 3. j

TROTTING.

A.T.C. SUMMER MEETING.

CONCLUDING DAY'S PROGRAMME.

The Auckland Trotting Club will bring its summer meeting to a conclusion to-day, and it should only require fine weather to once again attract a large assemblage to Alexandra Park, for there is material in the eight events forming the programme to ensure somu very exciting contests. The leading event of the programme is the President's Handicap of £1000. and with the Cup winner. Man 0' War, engaged, that in itself is to be viewed as a highly-interesting feature in the impending race. In the Auckland Cup contest Man 0' War was 96yds behind the limit division, but in • to-day's event he is placed 120 yds behind.

THE ACCEPTANCES.

NOTES BY PICADOB'. Meetings held at Alexandra Park under :the ausoicea- of the Auckland Trotting Club, continue to win popularity in such pronounced form that the progressive policy put m force- by the committee of that body has been endorsed in a manner that it may be: said, has exceeded the most optimistic predictions. It will be cordially admitted' that any good fortune that come* to- the A.T.C. is well deserved, for they went into a big undertaking in extending the ground and bringing about the transformation at Epsom. In addition the- oversight of everytoing connected with Alexandra Park is of the complete order, and the sport has been raised to such a high, standard at Epsom- .as lb make the future particularly bright for trotting in this district .Tj'ff.raw for the Auckland Trotting Cup 0 1921: will go down in history as remarkable for more reasons than one. The fact that Comedy Chief, after losing his driver at lite start, ran to the front and, pacing tho 1 race- out as. though he> were beinaj driven by an inspired reinsman, led the field from snd to end. would be sufficiently remarkable to attract notice. It is also worthy of not* that the scratch horse, Man 0' War, won for the •second year in succession. It was a fin» peKfornwnce, which thoroughly' bore- out the*contenfcon that Man 0' War would be capable !of showing- hus best form in the race. On tho. other hand,, a number of competitor* were seriously, handicapped through the-, presence of a- dnverfess horse in the Tead. This applied partioularly to- the limit horses;; who went out to-; make the. pace* Tire 1 , .drivers; would naturally be averse to racing a'.onj. side - an tmpiloted horse for fear of accident, and this doubtless resulted in a. slower Pace being set than otherwise would have Been the case. Childe Pointer, Wild Briar, and Blue Mountain Kini wore the greatest i sufferers, and, in a d'flerently-run race mignt have been, much further away from the backmark; horsea when the final struggle commenced.

The Great. Northern Trotting Dwby on Tuesday provided a great strusgte between the three placed horses. The race. in. fact, was jugMy mfcresting throughout, and when tlw final stretch was ! commenced it was- difficult ta- pick the winner. Great) Hope had .the advantage of position and managed to hold it to the end, jott in front of little Eatana. Latopa, who did not be?in quits aa well «a the other two, made a fine* effort fit th» straight, but faulted under pressure. ■It is worthy of note- that tie whols of the competitors in the Derby were visiting horses, and;, it would appear that tbev breeding- 'of JJigh-clae* .trottingr stock will require to be develope-d in this, district if Auckland is to be worthily represented in the classic; event

'That Steel Bell,, tie veteran dauohter of Gold BeU, is carrying her ore' rematfcably -well she gave tery pointed nroof on Wednesday, when sh» cut. .down the 'opposition at the business end of a solidly-donUsted two nutea and won the- brnmnwr Cn-p. The grey mare, who was handicanped 36yds behind th'glimit division, came alpnic in quite her old etylfl. and, hsr final effort in cutting down Moneymaker and Comedy Chief was brimful .of gttU Steel BeU was foaled in 1909. so that she l* now nsing 13 years old.

The smoke concert f» the visiting owners, trainers, aild rcinAttten. for which <3ie North •' Island Owners and Breeders' Trotting Assouiation was responsible, and which was held on Wednesday night at Bt. Benedict's Hall, was one of the many .happy steps taken: by that body. The chairman. Mr. A. Lowe, was the leading spirit in fostering the function, and tally 300 persons were present. The Kaiheriflg \»&A the largest of Its kind that has been held in Auckland. In a Tiappy speech, Mr. Lowe welcomed the visitors, and Mr, J. Bowe, president of tho Auckland Trot tins Club, and Mr. H. R. Mackenzie, president of the Otahuhu Trottine Club, delivered speeches, which it is'hardly necessity to state were cast in a key every way fitting to the occasion. The whole entertainment went of most pleasantly, and with a.true sporting spirit permeating the gathering that; of course, played a strong part in the success of the function. So,far as the Auckland Trotting Club's Summer Meeting has progressed the totalisatory receipts (£133,076}) are £6877 in advance of last year for the same days. With fine wetther to-day last year's record (£190.6421) will probably be excelled. The Australian-bred gelding Tradesman, who wa3 brought across to Auckland recently, was purchased by Mr. C. L. Hill during the progress of the A.T.C. meeting this week, una he will go into J. Bryce'e (Canterbury) stable. Tradesman is an aged gelding by First Voyage.

HANDICAPPING TROTTERS. Sir,—lt would be interesting to have an. explanation as to why the winner of the first race at Alexandra Park on Wednesday, whose official winning time is 3m 45 4-os, is handicapped for Baturday' & race on the 3m 49s mark- It ie customary for a winner to j b« tightened tip a eecond or two for » win.! but why a horse should be let out 8s fori winning, it is hard to understand. As a comparison, take Bon Bon. for instance. This : horse in the dim and distant past once ran second in 3m 48s. and is now handicapped on 8m 455. 8p to draw a comparison the be«sen bono is conceding a winner 6a on actual performances. Hom-OwxEß

TAKAPUNA JOCKEY CLUB, With prize money to the extent of £7850 offered for competition by the Taltapuna Jockey Club- at the Summer Meeting fixed to be held at Devonport on January 28 and 30. it will be quickly recognised that; some interesting figures are involved. The Takapuna Cup carries the fine 6taie of £1500 £800 i* opposite the TJ.C. Handicap, and the Stewards' Handicap is worth £700. The two-year-old division is catered for in the shape of a brace of handicaps each of the value of £600, while the four hurdle races which figure on the programine are collectively worth J-1100. J<orainationa for sll events close at 5 pan. on Friday. January 6, with the secretary, Mr. R. Wynyard

THE ACCEPTANCES. FERGUSON HANDICAP, 6 for. _ „ at lb Bt lb The Reaver . . 9 11 Amiform ... 7 7 Lady Ghssas . 9 0 Arch Laddie . 7 7 1*%, • V • • 8 u prs - Charming 7 7 Golden Dream 8 11 Geld Bud . . .1 7 7 Ruruwai ... 8 11 Gwenette ... 7 7 Eoyal Blood . 8 6 Jolly Gay ..77 A angavhero . 8 6 Battleplane ..77 Miss Kofeland 8 2 Uncle Jack ..77 Golden Glass . 7 7 Midget .... 77 Machreo .... 7 7 Gold Jacket . 7 7 NEW YEAR HURDLE RACE, 2 miles. ,r u- 8t lb - st lb Multive .... 1113 Ben Bolt ... 9 7 Explorer ... 11 8 No Bother... 9 3 Mamahera . . 11 3 Kipling .... 90 Guerre a Mori 11 0 Signature ... 9 0 Sea Deil . . . 10 13 Shake .... 9 0 Crosswords... 10 5 Pepin 9 0 Tenaoious ... 9 12 MIDSUMMER HANDICAP. 5 fur. _ .. , »t lb Bt lb Epitaph ... 10 3 Just ', 6 10 Mountain Lion 8 13 SheiSeld , 6 9 The Cypher . 8 4 liuapana, .... 6 9 Lady Lois . . 713 Tactful .... 6 7 Ad Astra ... 7 7 Bretland ... 6 7 Te Tahi .... 7 4 Royal Van* . 8 7 jJofcny Canny . 7 4 Dorinda . . .87 The Dunce ..72 TEE 48th GREAT NORTHERN DERBY, 11 miles. at \W Sir Geo. Clifford's b o Purple Spur, Antagonist—Heatherbrae ., .. 8 10 i Sir Geo. Clifford's ch c 'Winning Hit, Autunmus—Winning Way .. .. 8 10 G. M. Currie'B b c Thespian, Ab3Urd— Lota g jo Ejcors. late W. J. Douglas' b g The Hawk, Martian—Spafrowbawk .. 8 10 G. T. Nicol's br o Spirit Level Chipilly—Lady of the Level .. .. 8 10 J. Williamsoh's ch c Loyal Irish, Absurd— Moira Machree 8 10 NEWMARKET HANDICAP; 8 fur. at lb Bt lb Silver Link . . 9 12 Pavo 7 U Solfanello .... 9 10 Dovelet ... 7 0 Rational ... 8 12 FiilsonK ... 7 0' Golden Bubble 8 6 Humboldt ..69 Tama-a-roa . . 7 12 Prince Abbey . 6 7 A.R.C, HANDICAP, 1| milts. bI lb at lb Uncle Ned . . 8 13 Lovematoh . 7 S Royal Star . . 8 11 Tinoboro . . 7 4 Rouen .... 8 10 Insurrection , 7 C Vagabond ... 8 3 Egoiiem ... 6 9 Manga 7 12 Jtangamahoe . 6 7 Starland ... 7 8 Boonrarday . . 6 7 ELLERSLIE HANDICAP, I mil* fit lb at lb Some Fashion 9 4 Salvaless ... 7 8 Zircon . . . . 8 1 Bright Light . 7 5 Hytax ..... 8 3 Marble Slab . 7 U Fort Regal ..83 Esplanade ... 7 0 Marble Bell ..82 Glen Cairn ..70 Vindictive , . . 7 12 Pengwen ... 7 0 Whipping Boy 7 8 Salvor , \ . . 7 0 GLASGOW HANDICAP, 7 fur, St lb Bt lb Gold Kip . . . 9 7 Pr. Charleroi 6 10 •Bacelul .... 8 13 Black Lwe ..'67 Mustard Pot . 8 12 Night Time . 6 7 Landslide . ..85 Narooters . .,87 Miss Miraid . 8 4 Actifid 6' 7 Truthful ... 7 7 Clonmel .... 6 7 Hyginaa ... 7 1

TAMAKI HANDICAP, li miles. Ldy. Lonsdale limit Mat Patch . 36yds Audei .... limit Lee Nonis . . 36yds Loid Eoberts limit Tidewater . . 18yds Shr. Surprise limit Aranui . . . 48yds Guava .... limit M. M. Downs 72yds Rosalie Patch limit Aeriel Bingen 84yds Normica Heir limit Elsa Nore . . 84yds Fairbairn . . limit Loch Lomond 96yds Hnia Girl . . 24yds Amberite . . . 108yds Peter Kae . . 24yds Bon Bon . . . 120yds Timbell . . . 24yda My Junior . . 132yds PAEK HANDICAP, 1} miles. Gold Flako .. limit Mindful .... 12yds R'a Pere . , limft Ballin .... 24yds Regret .... limit Heather Girl . 24yds Reliance . . . limit Our Patch . . 24yds Louvima . . . limit Peter Scott . 48yds Conscript . . , limit Pani 48yds Ivy Audubon . limit Peter King . . 48yds Coal Light . . limit Ratana .... 00yds Jewel .... 12yds Red Star . . . 84yds PRESIDENTS HANDICAP of £1000; '2 miles. Wm. the First limit First Carbine 24yds Woodvale . . limit Gold Boy . . . 24yds Wild Briar . . limit Nita Bell . . 36yds Pitaroa .... limit Steel Bell . . 60yds Comedy Chief 12yds Lean Dillon . 60yds Moneymaker . 12yds Man-o'-War . . 120yds ASSOCIATION HANDICAP, 3 miles. Sebisca . . . limit Bluev.-ood . . 24yds Roi Alto . . . limit Stmy. Voyage 96yds Mutu limit Speculator . . 96yds Tradesman . . limit TELEGRAPH HANDICAP, 1 mile. Prince Childe limit Prinzora . . . ,')6yds Ruanui . . . 12yds Queen Pirate 36yds Hedgewood'. . 12yds Molly Chimes 36yds Illumiiiation . 12yds Doro. Dimple 48yds Prince Poole 12yds Te Awa . . . 48yds Ben Wallace. 24yds Prize Pearl . 8iyds Enid 36yds

ONSLOW HANDICAP, 1 mile. Wakanui . . . limit Hnon Grattan 24yds Ldy. Dunmore limit Wm. the First 24yds L&dy Swithin limit Pitaroa .... 36yds Rothcliffe . . 12yds All Bell . . . 36yds SalaniandeT . 12yds Gold Girl . . 36yds Nelson Darby 24yds First Carbine 48yds NEW YEAR HANDICAP. 2 miles. Hint .... limit Kg. Capitalist 72yds Hostaivor . . limit Wild Lad. . . 84yds Lena. Patch . 12yds Whisht .... 96yds Stormy Voyage 24yds Bronze Patch 120yds Wonderland . 60yds PREMIER HANDICAP. 1) miles. Bluswood t . limit Promenade , . 24yds Tiny Locanda limit Geo. the 4th 24yds Treanac . . . limit Prinzora, . . , :)6yds Profiteer . . . 12yds M. Councillor 3Gyds Prince Poole . 32yds Manuka Park 38yds