NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7020, 7 January 1910, Page 10

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By "Augub."] Acceptances for tho first day's eyenta of the Pahiatua Racing C'iub and entries for the Trial ttaeu l'late and Maiden Hack Scurry close with AllDrew, at Pahiatua, up to 9 o'clock tonight. Iho sum of £SO was voted by the Now Zealand Trotting Association on Wednesday last, making £2OO in all, for tho detection and conviction of the perpetrators of the dastardly outrage on tho trotter Rothschild junr. at Auckland recently. It is to bo hoped tho reward will lead to the unearthing of the miscreant.

Neil Miller, whose death by drowning in Wellington was announced in our Wednesday's issue, will be remembered by old-time sports as the trainer and rider of that good performer Angler, the property of the late Mr J. K. Hamilton. It was when riding Angler when that horse fell and broke its neck in a hurdlg race at New Plymouth about eighteen years ago that Miller received severe injuries to his spine that necessitated him laying up for a lengthy period. On his return to good health Miller subsequently took employment with Dr Cohill, in whose employ he remained up to the time of his death.

To show the sympathy that exists amongst the various jockeys it may be mentioned that the associates of Fred. Whitehouse, who was fatally injured at Bulls on New_ Year's Day; (have issued an appropriate memoriam card.

A. MoConnon, the well-known crosscountry rider, will leave for Tauherenikau to-morrow for the purpose of echooling Longner, Gold Bird, and Silken Rein, over tho small sticks. The trio are under H. Fletcher's care and are expected to give a good account of themselves at the winter fixtures.

Nero, who has been having an idle time at Greenmeadows, will shortly be put into work in view of the autumn and winter hurdle events. Artillerio was withdrawn from the ■Wellington Cup at 10.20 yesterday morning, and Full Bato was "scratched for the Telegraph Handicap. Mr F. S. Easton, of Foxton, has two promising aspirants in training on his private track at Moutoa. The oair are reported very fit, and will probably compete at the Foxton meeting.

Buoyant ha 3 nearly recovered from the accident that befell him at Woodville, and Lambess has hopes of soon .putting the Captain Webb gelding into work again.

Alf Wright will give Sir Antrim a thorough preparation for the Wellington Cup, and competent judges anticipate that the full brother, to Lord Soult will have to be reckoned with in the decision of that race.

Mr E. J. Watt has a strong hand in the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham in Killindini and Theodore. Both are possessed of more than ordinary pace. Killindini is the local favourite for that event.

J. Hathaway is putting some solid work into Marathon at Awapuni, in view of the Pahiatua and Foxton meetings, at which the Phaeton horse will be competing.

S. Messena, the Foxton trainer, has engaged a good team for Trentham, and some of the stake money should find its way to the flax district.

With the approach of the Wellington summer meeting, the tracks at Trentham are beginning to present a busy appearance, trainers being anxious to give their charges some fast work, and thus help to sharpen them up for coming events. Merrivonia is pleasing her owner with her work at Trentham, and the Merriwee mare is expected to strip very well for the Wellington Cup, in which she has the handy impost of Bst. An effort will be made to secure E, Lowe's services as pilot.

The good opinion of Himitangi that was occasioned by that. gelding's good displays over tie small sticks at the Woodville meeting is being considerably discounted by his poor displays at Rangitikei, where he finished considerably in the rear when carrying the confidence of the stable. The recent accidents to hurdle riders, whereby the services of Jack O'Connell and F. Whitehouse have been lost to owners, raises the question whether such men are adequately paid for the great risk they run in imperilling their lives on horses that can only jump indifferently. The fee for a losing mount in a hurdle event is £4, which, considering the hazard, seems a rather paltry remuneration. Probably when the next meeting of the Racing Conference takes place this question will occupy a position on the order paper.

Owing to the absence of Mr A. E. Whyte, no date has yet been selected for the opening of the inquiry by the Wellington Racing Club in connection with certain racing folk being connected with pony racing. The stewards of the club intend to hold an exhaustive inquiry, when some revelations are expected.