NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8457, 17 June 1913, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By “Finland.”) A special general meeting of the Auckland Racing Club is to be held for the purpose of considering the proposed alterations in the club’s rules. Two proposals are to be put before the members, No. 1 being to extend the limit of the number of members to 300. At present the membership is limited to 250, but there are quite a lot waiting for vacancies to occur, and so that they will be eligible for election it is thought that a higher limit should be made. The question of the election of stewards has been one that a number of members of the club thought they should have some say in, and notice of motion was given some time ago by Mr John Rowe for the alteration of the present system. The committee, however, announced their intention of making some move in the direction indicated, and in confirmation of that announcement the members are asked to vote on the proposal giving them the right to elect three stewards out of the total number required. At present nine stewards are elected annually .by the committee, so that if the proposal is carried this number will be reduced to six, leaving the members three positions to fill. This is not as far as Mr Rowe’s motion would go, the proposal being that the whole of the stewards be elected by the members. Auckland will be well represented at the forthcoming Gisborne meeting. Amongst those nominated are Pip, Watohchain, The Chef, Scorch, Manuwera, ‘Surplus, Rajah, .Golden Grain, 4 Montiform, Red McGregor, Hautere, Mapuna, Webfoot, Stroller, Tim Doolan, Napper Tandy, Hey boy, Rady Jean, Ambergris, Tragedy King, and Uoromi.

Trainer J. Williamson has four of hia charges in Hautere, Boromi, Watchchain, and Tim Doolan entered for the Gisborne Racing winter meeting, and will probably journey to the East Coast town, afterwards coming on to Wellington, and hence to the C.J.O. Grand National fixture.

At the meeting of the Auckland metropolitan district committee on Thursday last several riders had to appear to answer to charges of misconduct. The committee, after hearing the statement* of those concerned, took a lenient view of the matter, and the lads escaped with a reprimand. The ■hoys must be considered lucky to get off so easily, for the tendency nowadays is to severely punish acts of larrikmism and withdraw the licenses. of the _ orfenders. The day of the hoodlum jockey is long past, and ccAnmittees require that the holder of a license mast be something, more than a good rider. Of course, old heads .cannot be put on young shoulders, and the average boy in the stable has a good many temptations put in his way; but if he wishes to keep his place in hi? profession he must certainly be careful of the com,pany he keeps. Under - the existing state of affairs, there is no room for those who imagine, because they can ride a little, that they own the - earth. It is rather unfortunate for Mr MM. Ellerton to lose the services of his useful jumper, Sea Queen, especially at this time of the year. The St. Ambrose mare promised to turn out more than useful, and her chances of annexing the Hawke’s Bay Hurdles were indeed bright. There seems little hope of her again racing, as the ligament has been injured. The well-known Onehunga sportsman, Mr S. Bradley, has decided to dispose of the whole of his blood stock, and they will be offered for sale by auction by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company. The Horses in training include First Wairiki, Romanui, and Wairiki Rose, while there are a number of untried horses, yearlings, and brood mares either in foal to Wairiki or with foals at foot. Several wouldbe buyers have been after First Wairiki, which promises to be useful as a hurdler.

For some time past there has . been dissatisfaction amongst jockeys riding at meetings on the Sydney metropolitan pony racing courses, on account of registered jockeys being allowed to compete with them for pony mounts. The recent murmurings caused the Victoria Park Jockey Club to fear_ some decisive action at the club’s meeting on May 28th. To keep the club and its meeting on the safe side, arrangements were made for a contingent of Victorian riders to go to Sydney. Accordingly, a dozen Victorian jockeys reached Sydney by train in time for the meeting. Six of seven fines were inflicted at Wingatui last week for the donning of wrong colours. This evil has become almost chronic on all Auckland racecourses of late, and ifr is time the action of the Dunedin Jockey Club’s stewards was followed in the North.

If the Wootton v. 'Sievier libel case ia further proceeded with, the evidence should make most interesting reading, and may prove something of an eyeopener to English followers of racing. Last week (says the Sydney “Referee” of June 11th) the plaintiff applied to the Appeal Court for further particulars in Sievier’s statement of defence. In making the application, Wootton’s counsel stated that the substance of the libel consisted of Sievier accusing Wootton- and other trainers of conspiring as to the winning and losing of races. Furthermore, that Wootton directed His son and apprentices in his employ to puU horses unbacked by him, and that Wootton also ran horses half-trained when they were not wanted to win, and would win with them later. The statement of defence, among other things, specifically sets forth that Wootton backed Malna for the Cambridgeshire of 1907, and induced his son Frank to pull the horse he was riding. Malua, however, failed to win the race mentioned, being beaten a neck by Land League, while Stickup (F. Woottou’s mount) filled third place. According, to cabled news, R. Wootton wishes to be supplied with the names of the bookmakers alleged to be concerned on that occasion, as if he did not obtain them he could not deal with Sievier’s case.