SPORTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16983, 20 April 1917, Page 6

SPORTING.

NOTES BY SENTINEL. — The luck of tho start seems to be tho great deciding factor in the Great F-sslor, as well »b, of course, in other sprint races. Ventura slipped through her field from *lio word "Go" when she won in 1013, Chudic was rshvava in the van in 1914. and Revnl was first out and led all tho way in 191G, and in 1917 Nystad was one of the very few that had a chance from the start. — Kilboy ran a particularly game and solid race when ho won the Great Axitumn, and is obvioasly a sound stayer, as ho was Gnishing on full of resolution. Tho Kilbroney colt was not too well placed as they ran towards and round the turn out of the straight, and in order to get and hold a position he was kept fairly busy from end to end. In the run from the home tuxn Kilboy had to sustain a long run, and his performance was full of merit and attractiveness. Dceley was forced to make a good deal of use of his mount, and at the finish drove the colt home with one of'the most vigorous displays of horsemanship he lias ever shown in the saddle.

— Tho entry for the Champagne Stakes, contested by Gamecock and Es'land, totalled about BS. Only two, in -oipl;mo and Hymesira, out of these originally engaged •vould have, had a chance with Gamecock, despite the fact that many others for which engagement had been made had shown winning form, but not good enough to meet tho above-named duo. —No one was more confident than Mr J. C. Bennett-, the owner of Gazique, that the Gazrloy gelding would make a bold show, at Riccarton. He made anything but a secret of his opinion, which was justified by Ihe Templeton iiandicap win, and Mr Bonnett informed the writer - that he recently lest a fill' brother to Gazique through an accident, which resulted in a broken leg. Paulsen, the dam of' Gazique, threw three foals to Gazeley, and in 1915 was bred to Multiple, and in 1916 to the imported horse Heather Mature. A mating with Heather Mixture should produce something speedy, ao that sire is inbred to Thormanby, a great sire of speed. Heather Mixture was got by St. Serf (son of St. Simon) from Sprig of Heather, by Mncbea-th (son of Macaroni) from Panache, by Morion (son of Barcaldinc) from Horteuse, by Hampton. ,

— The Kilbroney youngsters made comparatively good prices at the Sydney sales, one being Gold at 600gs, fmofher at 400:13. and six others at prices ranging from 150gs ! o 370gs. The principal figures do not read extravagant in face of tho fact that tho Kilbroney colt Kilboy proved himself one of the best, if not Ihe best, three-year-olds of the year in Australasia. TJie top-figure oolt, making 600gs, is from Mazurka-, and as tho youngster marks her first contribution to tho Stud Book, the price seems very satisfactory, and v.ould no doubt be better if the dam had been a producer of a winner or two instead of marking a first foal. M mirk a was got by Martian from Two Step, by Stopniak—Faraway, by Bill ,o' Portland—Happy Land, by Musket. Tho 400-pruiaca youngster is from Siberia, a- sister to Two Step, and hence both yearlings are closo relations. The other New Zealand-bred youngsters also mads fair prices, and altogether the Bales Will be instrumental in bringing a good few hundred pounds to the Dominion, as well as giving it further advertisement aa a nurserv for the thoroughbred. v

Special reference was made by the Hon. G. W. Russell at the Children's Hospital ceremony at Auckland on Saturday, to the outstanding importance of the preservation of child life, and the good work being done in tho dominion in this direction. During 1915, 7500 children had been dealt with in the public hospitals. The death-rato in New Zealand among children under five years of ago was 30 per 10C0. of the population, as compared with 70" per IODO in England and Waies, while between the ages of five and 10 the death rato was 3.6 in New Zealand, as against 6.7 in the latter countries. If tho methods so successfully applied in New Zealand were applied in England, there would bo an enormous accretion to the population by the' saving of life which was now being allowed to go to waste. Air Russell also sipoke of the efforts which were being made by the Public Health Department to combat infectious diseases. In 1915 v there wore 151 deaths of children under 15 years of age, from tuberculosis, and 47 of these were under five. Tho infantile paralysis epidemic had now been practically stamped out, and every moans was being taken to impress on the public both white and native, the absolute necessity for hygiene and sanitation. He also looked to tho local authorities to carry out their responsibilities as regarded tho enforcement of health regulations. At a sitting of the First Auckland Military Service Board, a young man who appealer] for exempiton on tho ground of being the sole support of his father (a cripple), aged 56, and mother, aged 51, explained his earnings and caid his father received a pension of £1 4s per week. It was pointed out to him that, financially, his parents would not be worse off if ho'went away. "Yes, that is all right; but supposing I come back without an arm and leg," replied tho appellant. " Ah, yes." replied tho chairman (Mr Burgess, S.M.). "but -we can't deal with probabilities." "I'm quite prepared to go if they give a married man's allowance for my parents " added tho appellant. "It doe. saern a reasonable way of looking at it," the chairman remarked. " A mother requires just (lie same as a wife docs." It was pointed out, however, that tho Govommnt had control of such matters. Appellant was granted leave until tho end of next month.

Some eight years ago two young men camo out to Now Zealand together from England,' and both have resided in Taranaki since (says the Herald). A compact was made between them one day in a moro or Jess jocular manner that should one of them survive the charms of the New Zealand girls ho should Mot ."is best man at his friends's wedding. Thar, was a long time ago. Since then one of the men has been «way to the front and returned wounded, whilst the other will shortly leave with a draft of reinforcements. Both men became engaged, and. the returned soldier's wethiing ivaa fixed for midday on Thursday, and he looked up his friend, who was on leave, to act as best man, as had been agreed. "When is the wedding?" asks the friend. "On Thursday at 12 o'clock," was the reply. '"Sorry, old man, I cajrt keep my promise. I was just seeking you. Tho fact is I am getting married' myself on Thursday morning at 9.30 and want you to be best man." Quito unknown to each other they had fixed upon the same day for their wedd.ngs, but fortunately at different times, and so tho compact was fulfilled, the best man at wedding No. 1 a little whiles afterwards again standing before the altar, but on this occasion as the hridegroom.