SPORTING NOTES BY SIR MODRED.

Southland Times, Issue 17267, 11 February 1913, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY SIR MODRED.

The issue of the handicaps for the first day of the Dunedin J.C.’s autumn meeting caused some comment among sportsmen yesterday. The general opinion seems to be that Soldier's Chorus has received all he is entitled to in the Dunedin Cup, while the other Southland candidate. Sombrero, at 8.9, has been fully loaded tip.

Bobrikoff was very sore when he won the Hawera Stakes the other day. but as the race was run exactly to his liking, he managed to defeat the opposition with something to spare.

The stewards of the Wellington R.C. have decided to proceed immediately With extensive improvements at Trentham racecourse.

The flying mare Blue Lake, by Hoyal Fusilier Blue River, is now running out at Hastings, and will not be put in training again for some time.

At the Ascot (Melb.) races on Feb. 3 the old New Zealand gelding Flying Spark, 10.0, started second favourite for the Sprinters’ Handicap (4f.). The Clanranald veteran looked like winning until within a few lengths of the winning post, when Myndlan 7.3, drew out and beat him by two lengths. Sixteen started.

Slowly, but surely, the light harness ■port Is gaining in favour in Victoria, a fact disclosed by some figures submitted *t the annual meeting of the Victorian Trotting Association. During the past financial year 323 horses were registered, as against 334 the previous year, making a gross total of 1750 since the formation of the Association; 994 riders’, drivers, and trainers’ licenses were issued, as against 811 the previous year; 84 clubs were registered during the year, including seven new trotting clubs in various districts.

cbxcket. THE AUSTRALIAN ELEVEN. (By Telegraph—Press Assn —Copyright.) SYDNEY, February 10. The Secretary of the Committee inquired Into the charges regarding the Australian Eleven. Without discussing the findings, he says that many outside statements that are being circulated are gross and unfair exaggerations. THE THUMPER BENEFIT. SYDNEY. February 10. Received February 10, 9.25 p.m. The weather was fine and the wickei easy. Trumper played a vigorous, masterly, and chanceless inings. lasting three hours. He hit sixteen 4’s, and received mn ovation. Ryder was in great form, 'securing five wickets in seven overs for 15 Tuns. New South Wales, first innings realised 389 (Trumper in 126 and Noble 40). The Rest of Australia, in their second inings, have lost 6 for 163 (Mayne 26. Hill 34, Moyes 25, Armstrong in 33, Byder in 23).

BOWUHS. Te Rangl v. Invercargill on Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. Te Rangi: Marshall, Dunlop, Jgfcoate, Ayling (s): McCallum, J. Peterson, Wilson, Calder (s); Butson, Brooks, Pryde, Findlay (s): Robertson, Brown, McKenzie. Klssell (s); Hamilton, W. Buchanan, Harper, Waugh (s); Roscow, Hannah. Smith. Strang (s). Emergencies: R. Buchanan, Carnahan, Stephens. Four-rink Championship at 5,30 p.m.: McCallum. McKenzie, Wilson, Findlay (a): Butson, Pryde, Strang, Calder (s): W. Buchanan, Jefcoate, Waugh.-Ayling (s); Hamilton, Smith, Harper. Klssell (s).

BOxnrcK THE WHITE HOPE. “SNOWY” BAKER'S SEARCH. PROMISING APPLICANTS APPEAR. i The search for a White Hope instituted by Mr R. L. ("Snowy”; Baker recently described In Sydney Sun, has already had results. Mr Baker has received letters from various parts of New South Wales, telling him of likely applicants, and he baa been interviewed by a score of young athletes from Sydney and suburbs. "I have really been astonished,” Mr Baker said this morning, "by the amount of high athletic ‘finality’ and talent there seems to be in Sydney, still remaining unknown. More and mdre, 1 am becoming convinced that we must have in Australia boxing material as good as anything in the world. If we could get hold of it and train it. The men vyho have come to me. and have told me that they would like to take advantage of my offer. Include some who at the first glance seem to be ideal heavyweight athletes. Take one example. He is only 20 years old. He weighs 15 stone, Is 6ft 3in high, and has a normal chest measurement of 44 indies. , He tells me that he has always been keen on boxing and he looks a quick, free-moving fellow. Then I have had letters from the country telling me of veritable giants. “Of course, I have taken no steps towards a selection so far. I propose obtaining particulars of weight, height, measurements, etc., regarding a large number of applicants, and these details I will submit to a committee. Those who seem 'likely' will be examined by doctors and experts in physical culture, and in that way I hope to arrive at a final choice. But the field of selection wants to be as wide as poslsble. With that purpose, I Intend to circularise the newspapers of Australia and New Zealand explaining my scheme.” Mr Baker’s object Is to obtain the best possible heavyweight athlete, and train him at the Stadium, paying his expenses all the time. If, after a brief training, he does not show sufficient signs of boxing ability, Mr Baker will give him .enough training In physical culture to enable him to make a living as a teacher of it. But if he reveals high boxing promise then lie will be brought on as a boxer, in the that lie may teach champion quality. SMITH BEATS MIDWOOD. TOWEL IN THE TENTH. SCIENCE AND PLUCK. A big house at the Stadium (says Sydney Sun’of Feb. 2) watched a vigorous battle between Dave Smith and Reg Midwood. Smith's weight was list B>/ilh. and Midwood’s list 101b. Outstanding features were Smith's fighting and iris opponent’s fine pluck. Smith Is not the boxer lie was before going to England and America, but lie Is more of a fighter. The pounding lie got on the body played up witli Midwood, despite that ho hit back frequently and often witli effect, but his blows were mild compared with what he received. Midwood was down once in the sixth and twice in the seventh, for nine each lime. On titc last occasion Smith went back and partially sat on the top rope till the crowd hooted him away. He should have been disqualified for resting, and perhaps would have been had the referee not given the whole of his attention to counting. Midwood was sent down three in the ninth to his back later. The bout had hardly begun when a left hook to the mouth dropped Midwood. and when tlie towel came from his corner Smith was declared Pie winner. SPOBTXNd CABLES. (Sydney Sun Service.; DECLINE OF THE HORSE. AMERICA’S , THOROUGHBRED FAMINE, LONDON, February 1, The abolition of betting in New York State has resulted In an enormous fall In the number of registered thoroughbreds. In consequence the army possesses only 87,000 horses, while requiring 320.000. The State Racing Commission advocates the legalisation of betting with certain restrictions, arguing that racing without betting is Impossible, and that without racing the thoroughbred will become extinct, and as a consequence share will be -«h» thoroughbred remounts.

BIG-PEICED RACEHORSE. LONDON. February 1. Mr Robert Sievier has refused an offer from Germany of £15.001) for his racehorse Warlingham. Warlingliam 'is the horse with which Sievier recently brought off a coup that netted him £IO,OOO. LESTER IN AMERICA. ‘MATCH WITH GUNBOAT SMITH. SAN FRANCISCO, February 3. Jack Lestei’ has arrived from Australia. He may be given a match with Gunboat Smith this month. WELLS v. McCARTV. MEETING IN NEW YORK. LONDON, February 1. Bombardier Wells is matched to meet Luther McCarty in a 10-rounds bout at Madison-square Gardens about Hie end of March, or early in April. TO TOUR THE WORLD. AMERICAN BASEBALL TEAM. NEW YORK. February 2. Plans have been completed for a world’s tour by the American baseball ;eam. The players will leave San Francisco ibout the beginning of November, and will go first to Hawaii, and then to fapan. China, the Philippine Islands, \’ew Zealand, Australia, Egypt. France. England, and Ireland. The tour will occupy about five months, the intention being that the earn should return to America in March.