SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17158, 10 November 1917, Page 11

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

THE TURF. Bγ Sentinel. — Rattler, the dam of Vice-Admiral, has produced a colt to Comedy King. — About 30,000eovs in stakes is attached to this year's Melbourne Cup programme. — One of John Barleycorn's front tendons filled after his gallop on Saturday morning — Observation stands for tho stipendiary stewards have been erected at the Addmgton track. • , , . — Tho Welkin colt Thrice brought his winnings up to 10,500b0v8 when he captured the Caulficld Guineas. — When Biplane won the Craven Plate it is eaid that three backers supported him to tho tune of £2000 each. — Some of tho Australian sports hold the opinion that Biplane would beat Desert Gold over a mile and a-quartcr. '—-~, — Thelma, tho dain of Adoma and Wildwood junior, has produced a colt to Logan Pointer, and visile him again. — A mare by the New Zealand Cup winner Canteen was amongst the winners at a recent meeting held in Tasmania. — Donnata, who is " tapped in the wind," is one of the smartest half-mije sprinters in work at Riccarton just at present. — Lanius is described as a particularly fine-looking horse, with nice action and a tremendous stride. He cost ISQOgs at auction in England. — Tho Cromwell Jockey Club, has been granted permission to change (he date of its annual meeting from December 26 to December 29.

-Owmg to the restricted railway service there is a growing tendency on the part of clubs to go in for retrenchment in the way of prize money. —Waimai and Tenacious have been brought back from Australia. The last-named hae since run into third place at the Avondale meeting ou Saturday last.

—W. Buddicomb is now looking after United Service and a couple of others belonging to Mr A. B. Armour, and training them on the private track at their owner's station.

— The Australian-bred horses purchased by Mr W. Duncan as yearlings are all likely to prove good bargains. The Cyrus—Cheeky gelding Rude is a smart galloper,, whilst Arrowfield and Acre are both good, useful sorts.

— Informal followed up his success in the Welksley Stakes by also capturing the Avondale Stakes, and his presence in the Welcome Stakes field would , have lent further interest to the Riccarton prize for youngsters.

— The South Canterbury Jockey Club has received permission to change the datea of its autumn meeting from April 24. and 25 to April 11 and 12. The North Otago Jockey Club has made a change from May 22 to May 23. —The Mystification gelding Teka changed owners laet season at £25, and shortly afterwards a half-ehare was acquired at 250sovs. He won £1445 in stakes laSt year, and captured an additional dOOsovs at the 'Wellington snrihg meeting. — The. Canterbury Jockey Club decided to pay the amusement tax, payable on admission tickets 'to Riecarton, and not pass it on to their patrons. It is understood, however, that the Auckland Racing Club will pass it on to the public by raking the price of admission.

— The two-yesT-old Cherry Mart is an at-tractive-looking, filly that should improve as the season, progresses. She is a very lusty, nuggety eort, throwing to the Martian side of her pedigree. She was .got by Birkenhead from Martia, by Martian from Perolina, by Persimmon.

— The Wairio Jockey Club has contributed over 70090VS to Patriotic Funds, * and the president (Mr T. Todd) expressed the opinion at the annual meeting that the contribution to the war funds had probably influenced the District Committee in allowing the club to retain its race meeting.

— Stepniak is the only three-year-old that has ever won the Stewards' Handicap, New Zealand Derby, and Canterbury Cup in the same year. Stepniak also holds the distinction of being the only Welcome Stakes winner that has ever scored in the Stewards' Handicap in its second season on the turf.

— The Taranaki Jockey Club hae, according to reports, cancelled the original licenses issued at the beginning of the season and made a fresh issue. This action, it ia understood, was principally taken in order that there should be no informality existing in connection with the license granted to Hector G-ray. /

— Some of the track-watchers claimed that Sleight of Hand showed indications of training off in his final gallops for the. New Zealand Cup. After working on Saturday he went under a cloud, and was rumoured about as a very , unlikely etaxter. Sleight of Hand, it is understood, has developed bleeding troubles.

— The imported stallion Syce, who was regarded \as the premier eire of Queensland, was poisoned some little time back by some miscreants who held a grudge against Mr Charks M'Dougall, the owner of tho horse. Mt M'Dougall was a strong worker for con.scription, and was warned that if his activities in that direction were not moderated, he would get hurt.

— Biplane is the first New Zealand-owned horse to win the Victoria Derby. Several New Zealand-bred horses have s however, scored in the Victorian classic, and this list includes Carlita, Carnage, Strathmore, Nordenfeldt, and Martini-Henry. The most famous and notable occasion on which a New Zealander did not win was when Carbine suffered defeat by Eisign in 1888.

— When F. Dempsey won the Caulfield Cup on Bronzetti he did so with the disadvantage of a broken finger which ho received as the result of a fall when riding at Randwick. It was hia only ride at the meeting. Derapsey's father was a well-known figure in Dunedin many yeare ago, and in those days was connected with the horsedealing and cab business, ae well as dabbling a little in racing.

— Biplane has landed both the A.J.C. Derby and the V.R.C. Derby. Perhaps one of these daye the Caulfield Club will 'establish an Australian Derby, which will at least in title overshadow the other Blue Ribbons of • the Commonwealth. The Canterbury Jockey Cltib assumed the title of the New Zealand Derby Stakes for the Canterbury classic, some few seasons back, but omitted to have a change made in the Turf Register, where it is still called tie Canterbury Derby, and so carries a name of purely local importance, even though its result is of wideepread interes*.