THE TURF

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6995, 8 December 1909, Page 10

THE TURF

EACING FIXTUEES Manawatu 8.C., Dec. 23, 27, 28. Auckland E.G., Dec. 27, 30, Jan. 1, 3. Taranaki J. 0., Dec. 27, 28. Axhliurst-PolLarifrina, Dec. '29. Rajiffitikei R.C., -fan. 1, 3. Wuira.ra.pi>. R.C., .Tan. 1, 3. Hawke's Uav J.C., J;ur. 1, 3. Stratford R.C., Jan..l, 3. VVuikunao K.C., Jan. 1. PONY RACING. tVeilineton Pony and Galloway Club— Dec. 11. TROTTING. Wanganui T.C.—Dec. 1G and 18. NOTES AND COMMENTS [Br " Augub."] The summer mooting of the Woodvillo fookey Cltih will tako place to-day. I'lio fiolds in the different events are ibovo the. average and the winners appear to bo vary much concealed. It. Young will ride Milan in the Grandstand Handicap. Lamsdorff will represent Mr Holdano in" the Borough Handicap. The well-known lawyer and M.P. who races as "Lanco Wood" will havo Ukraine carrying his colours in b'ho Welter Handicap. As is usual with 'the Ashhurst Guineas, a very small field is engaged again tin's year. The club is considering the advisability' of eliminating the event from its programme in future. Th-o nominations received for Ashhurst uro nob very numerous, tho plethora of racing taking place at Christmas time being . no doubt the cause of tho falling off. S. Mcssena, the Foxton trainer, has Wairoto (a full brother to Waipaku) engaged in (ho Ashhurst Guineas. Messena won this event last year with Waitoto. Lord Soult bears no traces of his exertions in tho Fcilding Stakes, and tho littlo fellow is doing well under A. Wright's guidance at Foxton. He is a sure starter in the Manawatu Stakes'.

Killindini, Mr E. J. Watt's representative in the Railway ' Handicap at Auckland, will be amongst the runners at Woodvillo to-day. "Dave" Stewart, who died at the Thames recently,- was a prominent sport in years gone by. St. Crispin was prohably the best performer he owned, and with this gelding he won tho Great Northern Derby of 1898. Scotty, Tingara, HazelmoTe, and a number of others also raced under his auspices. Sir Georgo Clifford will be strongly represented in the Great Northern Derby, the Chokeboro Lodge having Taskmaster • and Kilwinning to do, hattlo for them. B. 'Deeley, the well-known Auckland was disqualified for twelve months: by the Takapuna Jockey Club for interference with Sir Artegal and Tarina in the Cheltenham Handicap at tho recent spring meeting. I J. Fryer has Sir Prize in good racing trim for the Auckland 1 Cup. After tins plain gelding's display in the New Zealand Cup> ho - should • have a lot of j support. ■ . ■ . Tho Christchurch Racing Club will hold its annual meeting on Saturday next, when some good racing should bewitnessed. "Winners at Hororata have been penalised as follow : —King Post, Dominion Handicap and Springston Welter, Tib; Merry Lass and Passion have also been penalised to a similar extent in events they are engaged in. Alf Shearsby, of Levin, is putting same fast .work into Clovelly, and it is hoped that : this trainer ; will soon score. Thetis has been responsible for'good track" work at Levin during the'week, and this Advance mare should soon be j well forward for tho forthooniittg meet- ] ings. "> . I The Westland Racing Club has issued j an attractive programme for a meeting to take place on January 3rd and 4th, at Hokitika. ■" Nominations close on the 21st inst., and the handicaps will appear on the 31st. Acceptances for tho two principal events at the Wellington Pony and Galloway Racing's Club meeting at Miramax on Saturday nest close at noon to-day.

The Wairarapa Racing Club is making very complete arrangements for its" forthcoming meeting at Featheretan. Since its last autuihn meeting the club has carried out extensive improvements to the ><ourse. The 'jourse proper has been practically Te-fovmed, io as to tako'out. the somewhat- Awkward bends formerly existing, ani to provide a larger straight, which now measures thirteen, chains in length. New training tracks have also been made, and the inside fence of the course entirely renewed; the posts are of reinforced concrete, the raal being fixed on a projection at the top of the posts so as to give a clearance of aftout eight inches, which, reduces to a minimum the possibility of a jockey s lee being injured. The taack itself is noTs; said to bo in splendid condition. THE WOODYILLE MEETING PBESS ASSOCIATION. WOODVILLE, December 7. Tie weather promises to be favourable for tho opening day oi the Woodvillo I>i s fcrict Jockey Club's meeting. Most of the horses engaged have put m an appearance. The course is m good The' following horses have been withdrawn from all engagements:—Yorkshire, Hiwera, Bourrasque, Fhngat, and Asite. '