WELLINGTON NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 37

WELLINGTON NOTES.

Bt Onlookb*.

Boreas and Vanderdecken will not make the trip to Sydney. The weight awarded Boreas is considered too flattering, and Vanderdecken is not sufficiently forward to make such a trip. Had they gone over, C. Jenkins would have accompanied them as horseman. The Epsom is run on September 9, and Metropolitan 12th. The illness P. White contracted at the last Grand National meeting terminated his career on Friday last. Although physically incapable, lie rode at several meetings during the season with success, several times being unable to ride throughout a meeting, and generally being laid up afterwards. He was induced to have a . couple of rides at Axickland at Christmas, where he rode a brilliant finish on -Coronet in the Summer Cup. His last meeting was Wbodville, in May, -where he won on Castashore and Daphne. He was on his -way to Sydney, but jould not get farther than Auckland. He returned to Hastings with his wife about a week before his death. He leaves one child. Deep regret was expressed among local sportsmen ■when the news of his death came through. Morag and Defiance are favourites here for the Grand National double. Nor'-west had at least 7lb too .much weight in each race. Tom Scott's pair, Whangaroa and Hangfire, were generally expected to make the journey. Bar- ' ring the 'top weight, the field in the Steeplechase is very ordinary. With decent going, Social Pest -will take a lot of beating in the Hurdles. The going at the Hutt did not suit Mr Rutherford's horses. • Martin Taylor, the Christchurch sport and penciller, passed through this week on his way to Wairoa, to see his brother. Alick Hall, who rode Ruby at Hastings, will again ride Ellingham's mare at Riccarton. Hall ie the best hurdle and steeplechase rider in the country. Ngaparu is a strong tip at the Hutt for the Winter Handicap at Riccarton. Tom Clarke had a narrow squeak at the Hutt. It ivas generAllg known in town that the goiag the first d*j

did not suit her, although she got second. The motion that Ideal should get the race wa3 decided only one vote in Ngaparu's favour. That was close enough for anything. W. E. Bidwill has purchased the Forester — Putaugitangi colt, who is engaged in the Wairarapa Guineas and will be three years old on Tuesday next, for 120gs. A strong effort is to be made by the Greytown North people to form a racing club .and use the hospital benefit 1 meetings' totalisator permits. The course is at the Moroa — the headquarters of the old Wairarapa Jockey Club. C. Winteringham, formerly a well-known Wairarapa horseman, fractured a leg this week at Masterton through his horse slipping on a frosty crossing. He won the first Wairarapa Champagne Stakes on War and the Wairarapa Cup on Diver, and was brother to Tommy Winteringham, a well-known rider on the flat and over hurdles. Mr Platt is still on tho look out for winter oats with the useful pair, Castashore and First Blood, and left for Christchurch this evening. Dan O'Brien is shortly to get a Forester gelding sent to him from Palmerston Xorth. He is untried, fairly well come, and was bred by Mr James Siddles. The late Percy White won his first important race at the Forbury on Nelson. I hear Ike James is taking a tenm to Riccarton, to include Trask. The Wellington Trotting Club was not represented at the Conference. Tho management of the local club was freely discussed by the delegates and the Colonial Secretary. Mr T. E. Taylor mover the second reading of the abolition of the totalisator. Messrs Duthie, Meredith. Wason, and Pirani spoke in favour of the motion, and Messrs Lawry, Hon. Carroll, Herries, Wilson, and others against it. The motion to adjourn the debate was carried by 40 to 18. The English horse Cyrenian will come offLowe's Island, where he is quarantined, on Tuesday next, and be shipped to Auckland this week. 1 have to thank Mr T. S. Clibborn (secretary A.J.C.) for a copy of his club's book programme. 1899-1900. A local punter has offered to take 1000 to 10 — Hon. J. D. Orniond for the trehle Grand National Hurdles and Steeple and New Zealand Cup. John Coyle, handicapper to the Marton Jockey Club, and a popular hotelkeeper at Ohjngaiti, is just pulling through lifter a very serious illness caused by an internal complaint. Ostiak, who scored in the Maiden Hack Race at the Hutt, is owned by a Dunedin legal gentleman, and leased to a local member of the same profession. The name Ambrosia ,-bestowed on r. sister to Culverin, in training at Riccarton, belongs to a Wairarapa colt. Volume X of the New Zealand Stud Book does not give Rosen eath's progeny after 192. The name Ambrosia is more appropriate to the Wairarapa horse, who is a son of Nectar. The food of the Grecian gods was called Ambrosia and their drink Nectar. The well-known sporting writer " Silverspur " has joined the fctaff of The Critic. Percy Johnston went south on Monday with Dummy and Muscatel.