SPORTING NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17729, 13 September 1919, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sentinel. J

AN URGENT NECESSITY. Wingatui is far away from town under existing raihvuy conditions. To go and return _ occupies a day's journey, although measuring cniy about 10 miles each way, and no bolu-r evidence could bo furnished as to how the railway restrictions hamper tho action of tnoso ocnnccted with racing. A visit to tho course on Tuesday morning | found a fairly largo number of horses at I work and being sent through useful tasks j by their trainers in the hope of some of | tho spring meetings taking place. Tho 1 plough gallop is still in rou£h furrow, and | the course proper closed to business Tho I inside grass tracks were open and presented a bare and chopped-up appearance, showing that they had bcrai supplying trainers ; with all tho galloping ground at their dis- | posal during the winter months. Tho , tracks have boen shut for several days at i different times, but etill the ground was I practically devoid of grass, and worn to tho i bone, as it were. "With 6uch a small • amount of ground at his command, the | caretaker is placed in great difficulties to j supply good going on a grass gallop for j horses required ior spring engagements, I unless trainers are allowed part of tho I course proper, and this is invariably shut | until the evo of the spring meeting. If ! tho club laid down a winter or wet weather track tho grass gallop could be preserved and given a chance to show a turfy going I that will never be obtainable under existing | conditions. The club will require a great I amount of spoil to fill up and terrace tho ground for the new outsirio enclosure, and I a considerable amount of tho quantity could j be obtained from tho infield by cutting a ] lake, which could bo utilised and approci- ] ated by trainers -who desire to swim a horse. Part of tho spoil could bo used with great advantage by first filling up the dangerous dip on tho' north side of the schooling double, and next by making grouud for tho winter track. The schooling fonoea could be shifted in a few feet, and a new and very desirable order of affairs would be—wet weather track, steeplechase fences, and a permanent schooling ground for hurdlers. * The old plough gallop or No. 1 grass track could then be kept in reserve for trial gallops or fast work on tho eve of a meeting, the j two inside grass gallops for ordinary training work, and the plough gallop as favourable weather permits it to be in use. Under such conditions the grass gallops would be in use only when in jrood going order, and not, as at present, liable to bo chopped and cut about because they arc the only gallops that can be placed at tiie disposal of trainers. The course proper would bo required for raeirg only or a final gallop or two, and something on the above lines must be carried out if tho club is desirous of studying the reasonable requirements of trainers using Wingatui as their headquarters. Something of the sort is bound to come, and as-the existing committee has displayed very progressive ideos in tb% way of stakes it is to bp hoped that the very important requirements of trainers will also link up with their good work of the near future. — Atnythas has joined F. J. Jones's 6tabl© at Riccarton. — The two-year-old sister to Kilboy Baa been named Cycle. —L. A. Walker will ride Biplane in his spring engagements., — Snub ia in work again at Caulfield after being treated to a spell. — The imported maro Winter Cherry will visit Martian this season. — The two steeplechases havo been cut out of the Gore spring meeting. —P. T. Hogan's team is etill quartered at Wingatui, waiting on opportunity to get away home. — Rewi Poto and Henry Clay were included in a shipment of horses taken to Sydney last week. — The broken weather experienced during the past few weeks has hampered training operations at Wingatui. — Emilius spoilt a good chanca of success

by breaking up in tho principal event run at Addington last week. — The Tapanui Racing Club has appointed Mr A. Jones as handicapper for their race meeting- dated for February 5. — Tho Vice-Admiral—Red Start thrc&-ye<ir-old in Hogan'e team ia a well-grown eort that looks like furnishing into a winner. — Kilboyno is to bo built up and treated to a spell, and in consequence is not likely to bs seen out at tho spring meetings — Olive L. ha d a ckanco of getting in the money at Aldington on Saturday, but broke up when prominent at the homo turn. — Tho Martian gelding "War March has built lip, and bears an improved appearance since lie raced at the TVaimat-e Hunt meeting. — The Mew Zealand Cup candidate Xqbleman is reported to have wintered well, and mn/ be rcc:d at the Wanganui spring meeting —Mr R. Horley lias been reappointed starter to tho Gore Racing- Club, and Mr A. J. Gibbs will, as .usual, compile the handicaps. — John Barleycorn is onoo more in evidence on tho track at and was trotting around soundly enough when noticed at easy work thi3 week. — Michaela has grown np and lengthened sicco she last appeared in public, and looks in excellent order to train into line for spring engagements. — The eister to Braid in G-. Reed's stable is doing useful exercise. She is a stronger looking sort than her eistcT, and not nearly so much on the leg. — The Solferino gelding All British has built up in condition, and now presents a far more pleasing appearance than -when G. Reed took him in hand.

— The New Zealand) Cup candidate Volo was amongst tho winners at the Marton meeting. His win does not inflict a penalty for the big rac<> at Riccarton. — Reports from the south state that RoTke'3 Drift will be spelled for threo or four months, and may then receiva a chanco to win over hurdles. — Instead of forming a trainers' association, the Wingatui trainers will in all probability join the Otago and Southland Owners and Breeders' Association. — Surveyor ha 3 not been given a great deal ot strong work since his arrival at Randwick, and ho may be kept in reserve for his Y.K.C. Derby engagement. — Tho annual meeting of the Southland Racing Club was attended by 75 members, and the fact 6peaks well for the keen interest taken in the sport by southerners. — Sid. Reid, who was in charge of the Highden team during the time George Price donned khaki, has purchased stables at Hastings, and intends setting up as public trainer. — The threo-year-old chestnut gelding Herbert, a half-brother by Kentloch to Michaela and Thcddeu3, is forming into racing shape, but is inclined to misbehave himself when in company on the track. — It i 3 understood that Hector Gray faikd to rcccivo permission to ride in Australia, and hence tho engagement of F. Demnaey and D. O'Connor to ride for tho' Messrs Stead and Richmond-stable. — Hot Air lias thickened out almost beyond recognition during the winter, and in this respect' is like several nioro Wingatui-trained horses as a result of bad weather, which has held up training operations. — Kilorogan is looking in particularly fine health and carrying far more condition than he has ever previously displayed. In fact,

ho will ink© eomo fining down to get him back to the form Ik> displayed Inst season. —The Otautau Hack Racing- Clnb has purchased Mr Norman's farm, situated two mile 3 from the township. The area of th» farm, is 300 acres, and the cltib inteads to retain 100 acres nnd offer the rcet for aa'e. —Tho Kcw Zealand Cup candid&to "Warlike got amongst the winners at Dannevirko Ha is a four-year-old gelding by Martian from labour Day, a descendant "of a good staying family claiming tho Ouida taproot. — The Nov/ Zealand Trotting Association has high',;.- commer.ded the action of tho Metropolitan Club in deciding to inflict disqualification on all_ guilty of intcntionally sterting before their handicap time in a race. — Most of tlie TVingatui-tTainod horses look rather big and lusty in condition at present. The fact that the tracks have not been continuously available largely contributed towards building up tho bulk condition. — At the annual meeting of the Southland Racing Club Mr W. T. Hazlett eaid that, if any extra permits were granted, there was good reason to believe that the Southland Trotting Club would bo one of tho first to claim recognition. — Only two horses got outsido of tho Dominion, in Locliiel and Frisco, have succeeded in the New Zealand Cup. Gay I/ad and Bonny Briar are two "foreigners" remaining in this year's race after tho declaration of flOcopUmces. — Mr V.\ I{. Kemball's recent purchase, Tx>rd Nagar, won tho hurdle race run at tho Willianretown meeting Held on Augiurt 22, and scored oga-n at the Melbourne Hunt meeting held on August 29. Stan Iteid was in the saddle on each occasion. — John IHlion has been rather a difficult horse to train, and when raced at tho National meeting was bcaton more by lack of condition than lack of speed. He went 4.32 last we-ok, r.nd the rrjark stamps him as I a front-ronk pneer over a jcumev. — Kilgour, who got amongst the winners j at Dannevirke, is a throe-year-old bv Kil- j broney from Angelina, by Bownehire ' by Multiform. Kilgo'ur ran third to K-oyal Str>~ ant} Some Kid in the Autumn Nursery, run at the C.J.C. autumn meeting ( — The Kilbronoy—Parable two-year-old colt i Raconteur is striding alon~ nicelv in tho i steady work ho gets at Wingatui. Sinco l joining J. Ruttlodge's stable the colt has j been doing well, and promises to develoo i more size than most of tho Kilbronoy stock." i

Tho Nassau—Star dancer t hreo-yoar-old gilding is said to hav© been supported to win about five figures in conneo tion with tho JSew Zealand Gup. Stardancer is the sister to "Waretep, who dead-heated with Bon. Itevo in Uid Stewards* Handicap. Her turf career came to a bait as tho result of an accident. —Mr W. It. KembaH'e Rebuff (Martian—* Lady Disdain), Vasikov (Autumnus—Ukraine), Miss Gold (Lrttcullus —Recoup), and Raceful (Martiap—Rose Red) were shipped to Sydney last week. Raoeful is & bxother-in-blood to Sasanof, end Yasilkov is a half-brother to the winner of tho New Zealand Cup end Melbourne Cup — Author Dillon put up on attractive pet* farm anoo when he won at Aldington on Saturday in 2.41 2n5. Ho had til© race won at the home turn, and was a comfortable winner when be equalled Our Thorpe'6 mark fur 10 furlongs. Reports from Christ church elate that private watches made AutEoi Dillon go faster than the official time. —-Maxsa is in commission again, and in addition to looking in fine robust health &he walks soundly and has derived considerable benefit from the treatment J. Stewart has bestowed on her legs. Silent King, in 6ame atable, looks healthy and in good condition, but will take some time to furnish, as ho etill appears to bo growing" into the air. P r Trotter baa been re-elected president of the Riverton Racing Club. The race nieeting hold last season in very bad weather t v° k 9 first over which tho club has over showed a loss. The club is strongly situated in finance, and the officials u* i f orw ard to holding many moTe of the highly successful meetings which have marked the club's efforts to • eater for sport. k. C. Hazlett has shipped the mare Sister Radius to Sydney on a visit to Suck* wheat, whoso list is full for tho season at a 100-guinea fee. Buckwheat was got by Marlagon from Sesame, by St. Simon—Maze, by Hampton. Sister Radius was got by Charlemagne II (son of St. Simon) from St. Regis, by Hotchkiss—St. K-velvn, by St. Leger —Dady Evelyn, by Perkin Warbeck— Pulchra.