SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17215, 18 January 1918, Page 7

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

THE TITE F. Bi Sentinel. THE FORBTIRY PARK MEETING. Those anxious to see light-harness racing make further progress in Dunodin muse feel highly gratified at tho splendid re-spor-se which owners havo made to tlio Forbury Park Trotting Club's summer programme, which will come up for decision on January 31 and February 2. ,Tho nomi-nation-list is so numerically strong that unusually large fields are a foregone conclusion—in fact, if about the average pro- ' portion of thoso handicapped figure as Starters, the fields in some- cases will bo dangerously largo in some of the harness events; nor will anyone envy Mr W. F. Dunne his position "as starter. No fewer than 45 horses have been engaged in the Trial Handicap, and close on a score of them figure on the limit. Such a field ■would make a most interesting sight oven though ft might not prove particularly exciting as a contest Unusually large fields are also engaged in several other events; but whilst there is quantity in Buperabundance, quality is also very well represented by an entry of 23 in the Dunedin Cup, of6oGsovs, and an even larger entry in* other high-claes events on the list. In the Dunedin Cup Adelaide Direct hns been invited 'to give away llsec, or 132 yards, in a 4.40 class, and has thus been let away 1 l-sseo on her New Zealand Cup record, put up when starting near the front of a handicap. Sho will have all her. work cut out to get through what is sure to be a, fairly large field. Next to her is Agathos, ■who ran fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Cup when starting off the same mark as the winner, and who ie now in receipt of 2sec Both of those at the back of the handicap will have to cover about half a furlong more ground than the limit division, and those anxious to anticipate the judge's decision will very probably look nearer the front for the Acceptances for the first day are duo on the 23rd iiist. SIDE-STEPPING SUCCESS.

The splendid list of entries received in connection with the Forbury Park meeting; strongly suggests 'that if the club linked forces with the- Dunedin Jockey Club a. very successful gathering would result if ■ both held their meetings during the same week. The principal meetings held at Kiccarton, when held in conjunction with the Addington fixtures, have for many years filled Christchuich 'to overcrowding, and, whilst building up a great sporting week. incidentally confer a tremendous benefit on the tradespeople of that city. Xhe same thine is noticeable in connection with tho> Auckland Racing Club's and Auckland Trotting Club's_ principal meetings, and Wellington is in a minor degree moving ' along in line with what has time nnd again proved a most successful combination. Our local clubs may be able to advance good reasons for keeping clear of each other; but it was not always so, and, judging by conversations held with many of the principal trotting men in Canterbury, the latter ■would be very pleased to see both meetings held during the same week. It has to be remembered that the sporting publio and very many owners are equally interested in both the thoroughbred and trotter, and •when that is so the linking of forces is nQt only of mutual advantage to tile clubs, but also to the travelling public, who would then require to make only one journey where, under existing , conditions, two are necessary. The continued attractiveness of the two meetings would certainly bring many people along who probably attend only one or the other of our local meetings, but who would be pleaeod to patronise both if they occurred during the same week. The Forbnrv Park Club would, no doubt, be the strongest objector to this frequently-proposed sporting amalgamation,

because it would mean the loss of a halfholiday crowd which they get at present; but it would be more than compensated by larger attendances of tho racing public supplying the sinews of war, and not merely spectators of the game. There is, of course, no possibility of anything being done in tlio matter at present; but one is being continually asked if our clubs will ever fall in lino with what has proved such a great success' in the north—a sporting and commercial success. THE DUNEDIN CUP MEETING. A long-established fixture on tho racing calendar in the shape of tho Dunedin Cup meeting comes a step nearer this week, as nominations fall duo to-day. This year's programme will bo condensed to a two days' card, to bo got off on February 14 and 16. The Dunodin Cup still retains its financial attractiveness of lOOOsovs, and next in point of value comes the Publican?' Handicap, of 400sovs, tho D.J.C. Handicap, of 400sovs, and tho Hazlott memorial, of 300sovs.

— Johnny Walker will be steered by A. Reed in the Wellington Cup. _ — Nominations for the Dunedin Cup meeting are duo on Friday next, January 18. — Both Birkcnvale and Cherry Mart met with accidents at tho Auckland Cup niceties* t. — Robert Bell has been shipped north to fulfil engagements at the Wellington Cup meeting. , , , — Fiery Cross returned from Auckland looking none the worse for hie efforts at the A-R.C. meeting. — Blue Ribbon won the Wellington Cup of 1909, and Red Ribbon is a strong fancy for this year's race-. ' — The imported house Cynic will probably journey to Victoria to fulfil an engagement in the Australian Cup. — Posto Haste has run with bad lock against him in recent engagements/, but ho may do betteT at Trentham. — Hymestra, Almoner, 80-peep, and Demagogue have each incurred the full penalty of Hlb in the Wellington Stakes. — Desert Gold will probably contest the Caulfield Futurity Stakes. Gladstone won it twice, and SoultJine also scored in the same race. — Adjutant has been doing good useful work since arriving at i Trentham, and apparently liia fall in the , Auckmad Cup has not left any serious damage in its wake. — The Forbury Park Trotting Club received a splendid list of entries for their meeting, which will take place on January 31 and February 2. Acceptances are due on the 23rd mst. — A ookraial-bTed stallion in Trafalgar, who sold at 7600g8, still holds the record of being the highest-priced horse sold trader the hammer in Australasia. Comedy King ranks next with 73OOgns as his selling price. —T. H. Gillet, who brought Tip Up to Wingatui. achieved a good deal of success at the West Coast meetings He won four races with Rosevear, four with Merton, two with Gallupin, and one with Achilledea. — Hymestra is reported to have met with a. slight accident a few days ago. He backed into a dram whilst being led by his attendant; but the mishap will not prevent him from starting at the" Wellington Cup meeting. —It is reported that when Torfreda, the sister to Hymestra, won the Juvenile Handicap at the Wairarapa meeting, her owner had not paid the accident foes, and the stakes in consequence went to the second horse.

— When asked to put a price on King Lupin recently, his owner replied, "Nothing doing. I hope to feed him till he dies." It is said that King Lupin, who is tho only stallion got by Lupin, will go to the stud next season.

— The painfully sudden death of Mr W. Charters caused a great shock to his many friends. Mr Chartea-s wae a steward of the Dunedin Jockey Club for some considerable time, and was well and popularly known in sporting circles. — Almoner, Long Range, and Prmka are the three beet-performed youngsters engaged in the D.J.C Champagne Stakes, for which owners are liable for the full subscription if a forfeit of lsov is not declared by Friday next, general entry day. — Adjutant is dropping in the weights, whilst at the same time he is probably racing into form. He wae giving Red Ribbon 261b when he beat her home in the Great Autumn, and in the Wellington Cup v there is only 7lb between them. — The sum of £105,046 10s went through the totalieator at the Auckland Trotting , Club's meeting, as compared with #72,832 10s registered last year. At the Addington spring meeting held during the New Zealand Cup week, £136,339 went through, the totalisator.

— Since racing at the New Zealand Cup meeting Snub has made no show at the business end of a race. In the Metropolitan Teka was in receipt of 7lb and Multiply 221b, an-d in the Wellington Cup the Martian gelding comes in on 13lb and 2Slb respectively better terms.

— Gamecock has been a rank failure bo far this season, but, although not a winner, etill retainn his speed, aa he is credited with galloping half a milo on Iho tan at Trentluim lmdor 50scc last week- Gamecock won the- C.J.C. Champagne Slakes, beating Kutlnoid, and the .D.J.C. Chmapagne Stakes last enuson, but bo far bus failed to reproduce that form again. — The most notable absentees from the Wellington Cup titter the declaration nccoptancce arc Menclaue, Hymestra, Form Up, C>'nio, »uid Seadown. The- light eealc of weights woa uo doubt responsible for the oxodus which occurred in connection with the luil end of the handicap, Alteration being iho only one of tho dozen handicapped utidei' 7.0 to continue in the field.

— Egypt, tho brother to Desert Gold, hfls not been in" tlio limelight this eeaeon; but whilst in his box others have been running up in the weights, and that should give- him a clvanco when stepped out. Nanna, for instance, was in receipt of 10lb in the Newmarket Handicap at Auckland, and although they did not meet there is only 9lb between them in tho Telegraph Handicap at Trentliam.

— Tho committee sot up to revise tho Rules of Trotting lia-s concluded ite work, and tho new rules will bo printed and dietributod in the near future. A number _of alterations have been made, tho most important being the rule regarding crossing. It is now clearly laid down that before a horso is ontitlsd to come in from the outsido and take another horse's running; it must bo two clear lengths ahead. —If Teka can reproduce his Metropolitan form he should help to make matters interesting in tho Wellington Cup. At Riccarton ho carried 8.3, and won in 2.32 4-5 4 giving Multiply 15lb and a twc-lengthe' beating. Multiply finished in front of Teka. in tho Auckland Cup, and again when ho won the A.R.C. Handicap on the last day of the meeting, when in receipt of 111b. In the Wellington Cup they meet on level terms, or 351b in Toka'e favour on thoir last run at Ricoarton

—It is rather notable during the more less uhronic cry for 'increasing the distances of races that the only two w.f.a. on tho AVcllington Cup programme are run over sprint dashes. The Wellington Stakes, for two and throe year olds, is run over five furlongs; and the Kelburn Plato, for twe-yeai-olds and upwards, ie run over half a mile, the shortest distance allowed under the Rr;los of Racing. By the way, is there any rulo to debar a club from running a race over less than half a mils?

— Desert Gold will carry many good wishes during her Australian campaign, because Mrs T. H. LowTy is to receive the profits of the trip, nnd hopes to be able to endow six beds in the Soldiers' Napier Hospital and eix beds in, the Rotorua Hospital. It is Mrs Lowry's intention to endow these beds for all time, and if they are not) iequired for wounded soldiers they will be available for trainers and jockeys. Mr and Mrs Lowry have been very liberal contributors towards the various patriotic funds, and it is to be hoped that Desert Gold will strip at the top of her form in Australia.

— It is rather interesting to note how some hors-es do well in the early part of their career, and then gradually drop into disfavour. Pariform, who figures at the minimum, in the Anniversary Handicap, won the ' North Island Challenge- Stakes as a two-year-old, and dead-heated with Sav.ci in the Hawke'e Bay Stakes. In addition ho put up some very good placed performances in the same season, and as an indication that he is not altogether a ba<;k number it is only necessary to reca.ll the exoellant third he put lip to Birkenvale and Zuland in the Avon Welter at the New ZeaJand Cup meeting. — Teka won the Metropolitan with 8.3 handsomely in 2.32 4-5, and in th© Wellington Cup goes and meets Multiply on level terms, whereas he was giving the latter lolb at Riccarton. Johnny Walker carried 7.11 in the Metropolitan, and ran a good third despite a bad passage, and now meets Teka on 711) and Multiply on 221b better terms in the Wellington Cup. Johnny Walker did not run up to the expectations of his admirers at Auckland, but with a pull in the weights and galloping the reverse way may make a big difference. Teka may also run a much better horse at Trentham than lie did at Auckland. On his Metropolitan form both he and Johnny Walker should be dangerous in the Wellington Cup. — Wrestler has been ono of the unluckiest horses racing this season; but he has not suffered in the handicaps to the same extent as others, who have also reached tho threshold of success, but failed to cross over to the winning side. Wrestler was third in tho Stewards' with 7.7 to Form Up 8.10 and Crcesus 8.13, third in the Criterion with 7.8 to Lingerie 7.5 and Daytime 7.0, unplaced in the Railway with 7.10, and boa-ten a head in the Newmarket with 7.7 by Hymestra 9.G in 1.13 4-5. Wrestler has received 7.8 in the Telegraph Handicap at the Wellington meeting, Hymestra on 2lb better terms, and Ayah, on 81b better terms. Probably Ayah carried some unreported overweight; but if not, she has been very badly treated through Wrestler and Hymestra. _ — Nanna, was credited with being as good as Hymeatra at tho weights prior to the Railway Handicap, in which the la-tter split winning honours with King Lupin when giving his stable companion 17lb, and bea,t her two and a-half lengths. In the Telegraph Handicap at Trentham Hymestra, after giving' further solid evidence of his merit, goes up 17lb, and Nanna xs lifted 15lb. If they belonged to different owners Nanna would be considered badly treated in getting only 21b for over a two-lengths' beating: but the fact of them carrying th© earn© colours is apt to blind that aspect of the handicap. Nanna afterwards beat a weaker field in the Glasgow Handicap, which eho won with 8.0 in 1.27 1-5; but at Wellington blio is asked to meet Croesus on 161b, Wrestler on 17lb, Simonides on 181b, and Elocution on 10lb worse terms. These are liberal margins, and she might find Wrestler as able to take a fall out of her when they next come to grips at those weights. — The Sir Laddo gelding Nobleman, who is a good strong fancy in some quarters for the Wellington Cup, won three times and was one© placed in 11 races last season. One of hie best performances was put up when ho won a hack welter at Feilding with 9.2 in 1.38 3-5, and he also ran second at the last Wellington wintex meeting to Sir Agnes in the Peninsula Handicap. This season he won the Moumahaki Stakes with. 9.0 in 1.43 1-5, second to Devotion 7.7 in th© Manchester Handicap at. Feilding, beaten two lengths in 2.7 5W> when in receipt of 61b, Chortle ]0.1 finishing a neck away. Nobleman put up an attractive performance on Boxing Day by winning \he Mcnawatu Cup with. 6.12 in 2.32 1-5, beating Client 8.10 two lengths and a large field, including Devotion, whom ho has to meet in tho Wellington Cup on 20lb worse terms.

— Koesian reads nicely treated in the Telegraph Handicap at Wellington. Wrestler has been running , well, even if with consistent ill-hick, and it is through him that Ki>esian stands a proof! chanco. In the Middlo Park Plate Koesian followed home Biplane at an interval of four lengths in 1.13 when givine; 71b to Wrestler, who finished third. In the Publicp.ns' Handicap Koosian was asked to give Wrestler 17lb, both finishing out of a place. Koesian won the Hazlelt Memorial on the second day of the same meeting with 9.8 in 1.28. At tho Auckland autumn meeting Koesian, in receipt of lib ; from Form Up, fmish<xl upsides with him when Mill o' G-owrio beat them a neck a. 1.14 i-5 'n the Hnia Handicap. At the Wellington autumn meeting Koesis.n, after finishing third to Kilflinn and I>esort Gold in the Challenge Stakes, concluded tho season by running unplaced in the Suburban Handicap. In the Telegraph Handicap Koesian is ~ivfng 81b to Wrestler, and hence must have a cha.nce, as the latter looks on paper to be one of the hardest to boat in tho race.