SPORTING

Southland Times, Issue 17789, 19 July 1916, Page 3

SPORTING

NOTES BY "SIR MOD RED. - ’ .In another column the Wlnton Jockey Club announce the conditions of the Wlnton Stakes Handicap, of 100 sovs. (six furlongs) for the annual race of the incoming season. The. event will, as usual, be confined to three-ycar-old horses owned and foaled in the following Counties; —Fiord, Wallace, Southland, Lake, Clutha, Tuapeka, and Vincent. Nominations close on Tuesday, August Ist.

Trainer F. Hogan experts in leave, for Rlccarton this morning in charge of Rorke’s Drift. Canrobur, and Dalton, members of his team with prospective, engagements at thp N.Z. Grand National meeting. During the absence of Hogan the young stock in his establishment will be under the experienced care of John Lawson, who has passed many thoroughbred youngsters through his hands during his career in Southland, Auckland, and New South Wales.

During his racing career the crack pacer. Our Thorpe, has won £2850 in stakes. The son of O.Y.M. is again in work, and may be asked to race to sulky at the N.Z.M.T.C.’s meeting at Addington during the Grand National Carnival.

The following extract from the annual report of the Dates Committee of the Racing Conference ‘may or may not_ be intended to apply to the natural antagonism displayed by the Wyndham and Southland Racing Clubs in connection with their New Year dates having been wrongfully granted in opposition to the North Otago J.C.:—"The Committee greatly deplores the practice on the part of certain ctubs in making, without fresh proof or evidence in support thereof, applications and objections to dates which have been repeatedly heard and decided by the Committee. Further, such objections, they feel sure, lend, in their opinion, to cause unnecessary expense and friction between the clubs concerned."

I It is all very well for the members of the Dates Committee of the Racing Conference to talk of “causing unnecessary expense and friction,” but it is safe to say that they have never seriously considered the position in regard to the rival claims of the W.R.C. and S.R.C. on the one hand, and the North Otago J.C. on the other. After holding the New Year dates undisturbed in the South Island for many years, the local clubs suddenly found the field of activity invaded by the Oamaru body, despite the fact that these clubs race under the control of the Dunedin J.C., which is supposed to see that there is no overlapping in connection with fixtures held under its jurisdiction. Up to a certain point, the people of Oamaru were quite content to fit in the New Year dates with a big athletic and sports display, but the attractions of this outing waned by reason of the carrying of certain alleged social reforms, the N.O.J.C. were called upon to fill the breach, despite the rights and feelings of southern sportsmen, and the D.J.C. and the N. Z. Racing Conference agreed to this one-sided arrangement. A feature of the hardship thus inflicted on the local clubs, quite apart from many other considerations, lies in the fact that they were in a fair way to establish a South Island New Year Carnival, Just as Christchurch and Dunedin do at present with their Cup gatherings, but the N.O.J.C. were permitted to play the part of interlopers. What would the Dates Committee have to say in the event of a Dunedin club seeking to usurp the dates of the C.J.C. Grand National gathering and at the same time placing on offer stakes which would serve to intercept travelling Southlanders at Wlngatui?

It is expected that there will be a very hearty response to the call for nominations this (Wednesday) evening in connection with the N. Z. Metropolitan T.C.’s Grand National gathering. This fixture will afford owners a final chance of qualifying their representatives for the forthcoming New Zealand Trotting Cup. ■

The South Canterbury Hunt Club's Steeplechase meeting will be held on the Washdyke course at Timaru. to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon. The Rivertonowned i'aseshot may be found ‘competing in the leading cross-country contest.

At Trentham-on Saturday last, on the occasion of the closing day of the ‘Wellington R.C.'s meeting, the jockey A. Watson was disqualified for twelve months for being rude to the racecourse detective S. Kraetzer. The disqualification was imposed under Rule 7 Part IV of the Rules of Racing, reading;—" The stewards may fine any person at any time guilty of improper behaviour towards any steward, member of committee. or official, in a sum not exceeding OOsovs, or may disqualify such person for any period not exceeding one year. ’

Although Te Onga did not leave Ellerslie to compete at the Wellington meeting, advice from Auckland is to the effect that he will in all probability be seen out at Rlccarton during the Grand National gathering.

Speaking at the Racing Conference last week on the desirability of having hurdles of uniform height and construction, Mr W. T. Hazlett, representing Otago District Clubs, said in many cases in the past big frauds had been perpetrated and glaring swindles worked by reason of hurdles that were lower than they should be. There were cases where caretakers had been squared, and after the race the hurdles were taken up almost before the riders had bee.n weighed in. If the new rule he proposed were passed, the stipendiary stewards would he able to see that the hurdles were of standard height.—tt was pointed out in the eoiirse of further discussion that racing clubs have already been circularised on the subject.—Tiie President (Sir George Clifford ) said that in many parts of the country very flimsy hurdles were erected, and they constituted a grave menace. He did not think it would be advisable to Insist, by way of a rule of racing, on a special hurdle, as there would he always the danger of races being declared void and other complications. He suggested that all racing clubs should again be circularised,. asking them to agree to the use of a form of hurdle to be specified with a view to uniformity. While agreeing to the president’s suggestion, Mr Hazlett said that at present, to his knowledge, great frauds were going on in connection with the height of hurdles. The President and Messrs HazleU. Nolan, and Alison were appointed to draw up a circular to bo sent to the various clubs.

The committee of the Riverton Lacing Club opened an enquiry yesterday Into the circumstances surrounding the death of the horse Sombrero, which took place immediately after the son of Simmer had galloped a few chains from the startingharrier in the Farewell Handicap at the Club's Easter meeting on April 2ath. Mr G. E. Curry, the South Island stipendiary steward whs in attendance. HOCKEY. FIXTURES FOR THIS AFTERNOON. Collegiate v. Waverley, on Bigger street ground; referee. Mr Smith. Union v. Win ton, at Winton; referee, Mr F. Hinton. High School v. Collegiate, on High School Ground; referee, Mr E. Batten. The following will represent Union Girls to-day against Winton Girls at Winton: —Missis McMullan, Haywood, Bain, Walker leapt.), Storric, Agnew, Konalds, McQuarrie, Hawke, Forbes, McDonough. The motor bus will leave the Post Office for Winton at 1,30 p.m. sharp. FOOTBALL. TO-DAY AT RUGBY PARK. SIXTBENTH REINFORCEMENTS IN ACTION. The appearance to-day at Rugby Park of the Sixteenth Reinforcements is so eagerly awaited that a final reminder is almost unnecessary. The Slh Regimental Band will march the soldiers to the grounds leaving the Post Office at 2.20 p.m., and will play en route via Tay, Corion and Tweed streets. The Southland team includes eight interprovincial players and will he represented by: B. Scully, Hall (.Invercargill), Coakley, Jamieson, Hhand, Graham, Dawson, Lindsay. Knight, Roche, D. L. Baird, R. Barry, Whitaker, W. Jinkins. Stobo. Emergencies: Melhop (High), Dewe, Smith (Star), for-

! wards; and Fraser (InvercargillConk i (Athletic!. All of tlio above mentioned players are mi nested to he in readiness at 2.40 p.m. The Sixteenth Reinforcements will he represented hy McCall, \\ hltta. Broad, Millar, Shelly' Ward, Wilson, Scully, Brown. McCall, Aitken, Cumberbeach, McQueen, Campbell, Hughes. Emergencies: Forde and McCarthy.

.Members of the Sixteenth are requested to assemble at McGruer, Taylor's corner, Esk street, this morning at 10.30 am. Shouki the overhead conditions prove favourable a large gathering will undoubtedly avail themselves of the opportunity of seeing the soldiers taking part in what promises to be a keen contest. Gates will be opened at, 2.1 ft P.m. and the game commences at 2 p.m. LADIES' GOLF. RED CROSS MATCH. Mrs D. Gilmonr and Mrs McCarthy, Mrs Handyside and Mrs T. M. Macdonald, Mrs Lewis and Mrs Roberts, Miss Henderson and Miss Joyce, Mrs Raymond and Mrs Scandrett, Miss Brodrick and Miss Macalistcr, Mrs A. M. Macdonald and Mrs C. Jones, Mrs Galbraith and Mrs Gilkison, Mrs Haggitt and Miss L. Henderson, Miss Hawke and Miss _McCaw, Mrs A. E. Smith and Miss Grieve, Miss Ewart and Miss J. Thomson.