SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17658, 16 February 1916, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY "SIR MODRED," It is announced from Christchurch that In the event of the Wingatui course being heavy or holding to-day Bee will not be started in the Dunedin Cup. A northern paper tells a good story concerning a horse who won at TTontham and returned double figures to bor supporters. The owner is said to have hepn averse to starting the horse on the day, but the trainer was convinced that all was well, and he stuck out for a gallop for her. The owner agreed on condition that the trainer paid the foes, guaranteeing a totalisator ticket for everv pound paid in expenses if the race ■were won. As often happens in wild-cat arrangements of this nature the horse did win, and the owner had to part up more than half the stake (which was a large one) to get clear of his obligation to the trainer.

The Societc Sportive d'Encouragemcnt Of Finance, which lias already allocated a sum of 2000 sovs. for the National Stud Administration’s competition for saddle horses, now .proposes to offer prizes to the value of 4000 sovs. for a series of classification tests for racehorses. The Society’s proposal will be submitted to the French Ministry of Agriculture, where it seems likely to bo well received, since the stud authorities realise the gravity of the crisis in the French breeding industry. The races proposed would be of particular value to the small breeders, who ere at present keeping in their stables a number of horses of whose real value they arc Ignorant. After these horses had competed with others of their own class trainers would have a valuable indication of their real quality, sales would be facilitated, and the National Stud authorities would have some working basis for the making of future purchases. The Societe Sportive d’Encouragement's suggestion is that forty-eight races should be held, four a day, on twelve days in April, May, June, and July of next year. They would take place at Maisons-Laffitte, the French training centre, which, being within easy access of Paris and having an enclosed course, would be particularly suitable for the purpose. The meetings would' be open to trainers, breeders, and others professionalij interested.

Black Northern is a horse of moods. One morning recently when working in company with his track companion at Ellerslie he took it into his head to ease up, as the pace seemed' solid, and would not go out of a canter. The son of Salvadan repeated this erratic behaviour two mornings later.

In the Hawera Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, before Mr \V. R. Haselden, S.M., a case of general interest to the racing community was heard, when Jacob Fryer, horse-trainer, Hawera, proceeded against John Gray, dentist, Hawera, and Johnathan Mears Currin, stock dealer, Hawera, for the refund of £129 17s 3d, moneys paid to the defendants “under protest,” being 15 per cent, of piece moneys paid to the plaintiff respecting the racehorse Welcome Xugget at different race meetings. Messrs Spence and Stanford, of Stratford, appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Powell, of Messrs Welsh and McCarthy’s office, for the defendants. The statement of claim set out that on the 15 th day of March, 1913, the defendants leased to the plaintiff the racehorse Welcome Nugget for a term expiring on 10th February, 1916, which lease contained a right of purchase by the plaintiff at any time during the term of the lease of the horse, for the sum of £150; the plaintiff agreed to pay to t.ue defendant.", 15 per cent, of the winnings of Welcome Xugget while racing during the term of the lease; the lease was duly registered in accordance with the Xew Zealand rules of Racing with the Xew Zealand Racing Conference. The racehorse Welcome Xugget won certain races—to wit, at Xew Plymouth, the Open Hack Scurry on 29th July, 1915, first place, £4O; at Marten, the Hack Welter nr, 2nd September. 1915, first place, £55; at Wanganui, Moutoa Hack on 25th September, 1915, first place. £100; at Christchurch, the Otaio Plate on 12th November, 1915, first place, £2lO, and the plaintiff duly paid to the defendants 15 per cent, of these sums immediately after in each case the plaintiff received these respective winnings. On 23rd December. 1915. the plaintiff paid to the defendants the sum of £l5O, being the agreed purchase price for Welcome Xugget, but the defendants refused to give a receipt for the same, claiming, in addition thereto, an amount of £39 Ss 4d, being 15 per cent, of moneys paid to the plaintiff in respect of races in which the racehorse Welcome Xugget had finished in either second or third place; but the plaintiff denied that he was, and still denies that he is, indebted to the defendants for this latter amount of £39 8s Id, or any part thereof. On 27th December, 1915, Welcome Xugget won the Manawatu Cup at Palmerston North, and the plaintiff received the winnings,, £550, and on 28th December Welcome Xugget run second in the President’s Handicap at Palmerston North, and the plaintiff received an amount of £33, and on Ist January, 1910, Welcome. Xugget ran third in the Stratford Cup at Stratford, and the plaintiff received an amount of £25. On 20th January, 1916, the defendants demanded from the plaintiff, and the plaintiff paid to the defendants, “under protest," the sum of £129 17s 3d, made up from the 15 per cent, of the place-moneys referred to previously, being as follows; Third place moneys paid to the plaintiff respecting Welcome Xugget at the Manawatu Racing Club’s Meeting on 21st April, 1915. £1 10s; second place moneys, Waverley Meeting on 25th October, 1915, £5 ss; second place moneys, Canterbruy Jockey Club's Meeting on Sth November, 1915, £32 13s 4d; total, £39 Ss id. Also 15 per cent, of winniiigs at Manawatu Racing Club’s Meeting on 27th December, 1915, £Bl 13s Gel; second place moneys at Manawatu on 28th December, 1915, £5 3s lid; third place moneys at Stratford on Ist January, 1910, of £3 14s 3d, making a total of £9O 11s Sd, and in all a total amount of £l3O, less an amount of Gs 3d overpaid by the plaintiff to the defendants, leaving £129 13s od, and to which must be added 3s Gel exchange on cheque. After evidence of plaintiff and defendants had been heard, decision was reserved.

At Gisborne last week Mr John Clark Offered for sale five gelding:; by Sabretache. For a three-year-old out of Frolic, dam of Rupahu and Cally Bridge, there was keen competition, and 51 r W. Jo. Davidson secured him for 500 guineas. Mr H De Latour and 51 r F. ,1. Lysnar

each bought two of me remaining •*r»artet.

A leature of the Wanganui Cup to tie (Secided on February 24. is the strong representation of Auckland. No fewer than six of the horses weigh toil hail from Auckland, and five of thorn may he expected to take their piano in the field. Mullingar, 7st. 41b., winner of the A.ICC. Handicap, reads well in.

Goldslzc has played a prominent part In the decision of the last three Taranaki Cups, having filled a place each time. He was first in 1014, second the following year, and third on Wednesday.

G. Price has reason to foci satisfied with tire result of his trip to England last year, when he secured throe horses for his patron. IMr Highden says "Argus'' itr Christchurch Star).- One of the trio, Par.mure, did particularly well on the voyage out, and has since conic* to hand rapidly, with the result that ho has already won throe races, while ho ranks wRi; the best sprinters .’.i the dominion. Revalenta, a half-sister to Pan in u re. lias shown nofliing special in public so far. According to report, however, she is coming on nicely, and she may pick up a race before the close of the season. The third importation, Crown Imperial, has not come to hand’ so quickl> as his companions, and lie is being given time to acclimatise. He is, however, a colt of considerable promise, who may bo seen to advantage over a distance later on. Panmurc and Revalenta should also improve still further by next season, so that the prospects of the Highden stable look bright at present- . WESTERN DISTRICT NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) _o suit the mail service, which now goes via Tuatapero to Clifdon, it should be noted that nominations lor the Clifden Hack Races on lath. March will close on Thursday. 21th February, and not on 25th February, as previously intimated. The decision of the District Committee In throwing out all the appeals made to it to upset the decisions of the stewards of the Wairio Jockey Club have for tho

time being at anyrate act aside discussions on the questions at issue, and probable winners at the D.J.G. meeting are now being tli-x-ussed freely by all sporting men. As usual the Western District will bo well represented at the fixture, both by outlines and sportsmen.

The owner of Lady Duller, who sent the mare to Mclvor some time ago, informs mo that she has had to bo turned out and placed on the easy list for the present. Waimahaka is another who lias had to bo spelled. This 'chaser was sporting a sore shoulder prior to Wairio, and has since been blistered by his owner and turned out. Mr Stcnhouse has had very little luck with the halfbrother of Silvciblazo during his racing career.

| While the question, "Can Rorkc's Drift I bent Martian Maid and Magdala in the j Cup," is of considerable moment just | now, still almost equal interest in the i performances of lire • local hurdlers, Peerless. Lord Frederick, and. King Torrent is being shown. Another local owned horse, in Pinnacle, is to make his first bid tb win on foreign territory tit the D.J.C. meeting also. A popuar young sportsmen, one of that well-known family of sports, the Boyles, of Hcddon Bush, took unto himself a bride last wee;;, when |te was wedded in state to Miss Cairns, eldest daughter of Mr T. Cairns, also of Hcddon Bush. The bridegroom, .Mr Frank Boyle is now mine host of tiio Nightcaps Hotel. There was spirited bidding for the race-cards in connection with the Ciifden races, which were disposed of at auction at the Otautnu stock sale on Friday last. They were bought finally for £2O on behalf of a well-known Otfiutau sport in the person of Mr ‘Mick’ Gonley, who drops the flag' at the Birchwood Hunt and Otautau Hack Race meetings. The booth for which a permit was granted was bought by Jas. Gordon, of Otautau, for £lO. The auctioneering was done free of commission by Messrs J. R. Mills and Son. The erection of a totalisator house and other improvements on this club's course lias now been completed and everything is in readiness for the meeting in March. BOWIIITG. The following players will represent the Invercargill Club in the four-rink championship on the Southland green to-day at 5.30 p.m. ;—Lambeth, Gilbertson, Domigan, Hain, Rallinshaw, Bates, Macdonald, Bremner, Cowic, McLean, Strang, Crowther, Stead, Irving, Stevenson, Wilson. Following Vill represent Te Rangi against Bluff, leaving by 1.45 p.m. train to-day : —Marshall, Stott, Henry, Smith (s); Bewiey, Dunlop, Froggatt, Ayling (s); Stephens, Roscow, Jcfcoate, Waugh (s); Peterson, Glen. Brooks. Pryde (s); emergencies : Thompson and Robertson. FLY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP . (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright) LONDON, February 14. Received February 15, 10.5 p.m. At the National' Sporting Club Jimmy Wildcx boat Young Symonds in the 12th round for the fly-weight championship, the Lonsdale belt, and a stake of £SOO.