TURF TOPICS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 881, 6 December 1916, Page 5

TURF TOPICS.

A very popular fixture with Can-j terbury * sportsmen is the annual meeting of the Methven Racing Club, j set down for decision to-morrow. Good sized fields of fair average j quality figure in most of the events, and everything points to the racing: being of much interest. There will i be a special passenger train from j Christctiurch at 8.5 a.m., and a horse train at 6.45 a.m., the former of) which will return from Methven at 6 p.m. Two of the seven acceptors for; the Mount Harding Welter, in Golden Prince and Bomb, will have to put up penalties of 71b as the result of their Hororata wins. Even with the increased poundage both should acquit themselves creditably. There are several smart maidens engaged in the Drayton Trot, which has attracted 22 acceptors. Despite her poor showing at Hororata Capsicum may find favour with backers, and the Ashburton-trainerl Anna should be capable of putting up a good race. Recent form points to Donnata playing a prominent part in Ihe decision of the Springfield Trial Plate, despite her 71b penalty, while Tantalus may put up a good race. With a field of eight, the Hororata Cup should provide an excellent contest. Wardancer has been set a stiff task in being called on to concede age and weight to all the other competitors, but he is in a class by himself as a racehorse. The distance will trouble Bellshire and Peronilla, and Ogier is too unreliable to be trusted. After her fine effort in the Hororata Cup Recorder should be in the fighting line at the finish, while if Glen Helen has slaying qualifications, her fine turn of pace should favour her prospects. Bon is not overburdened in the Viewmount Handicap and Bomb may be suited by the distance in the Publicans' Handicap. Of the many engaged in the Farmers' Trot Muriel Star and Tassy M. are sure of liberal support, while Aaland reads well in the Mount Hull Handicap. Ardenvhor will probably be riddln in the Auckland Cup by C. Emerson, who should be capable of getting the best from the rather uncertain Martian gelding. An overnight cable message from

Sydney mentions that the steeplechaser New York, the property of ♦ the late Mr Carlisle Studholme, has been sold privately at 250gns. The light-weight horseman, J. Campbell, who met with rather severe injuries at Hororata on Saturday .is making a satisfactory recov-

ery in the Cbristchurch Hospital

A number of Riccarton ho-ses nn-

der orders for the Auckland Racing Club's meeting are being worked the reverse way to accustom them to the going at Ellerslie. ' Though Snub was unable to fulfil his Auckland engagements, he has made such satisfactory improvement from his recent mishap as to entertain hopes of his being able to race at some of the southern holiday fixtures.

Three YVingntui-trained candidates for the Auckland meeting, in John Barleycorn, Marco Bello, and Ardenvhor. are due at Ellerslie on Friday. The Riccarton horses for Cud honours, Marc Antony, The Toff, and Wishful, are expected to take their departure towards the end of next week.

".part from the £IOOO stake attached to Ilie Champion Handicap there are several other valuable events figuring on the summer programme or the Canterbury Park Trolling Club. Amongst these arc Hie Au Revoir Handicap of 200 sovs; the Park Handicap of 500 sovs; Hornbv Handicap of 227 sovs; and the Selwvn Handicap of 300 sovs. Entries fall due tliis evening, and there is every indication of them being the best ever received by the club. The Oakhampton mentor, J. Bryce, will have horses racing at Auckland, Westland. and Canterbury Park during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Canterbury stables will be well represented at the Grevmouh Trotting Club's meeting, which has drawn very satisfactory support. Amongst the expected visitors from these parts are: Woodvere, Sceptre. Flamingo, Paul Dufault, Dorothy Dillon. Ngaiora, Agues Cbief, Peter Pell, Hosie Drift and Galindo Belle. Acceptances for the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting fall due on Friday next, when nominations must also be forwarded for the Ashburton Trotting Club's Summer Meeting.

Consequent on his success at Hororata on Saturday Schnapps has been penalised 7sec in the innovation Handicap on the first day of the New Brighton Trotting Club's meeting. The local trainer C. Rhodes intends taking Sceptic and Quincelvn to Westland for the Christmas and New Year trotting fixtures. The While-Dunne starting machine was used in four races each day at tbc Forbury Park Trotting Club's meeting. Its method of working,

says a Dunedin writer, was viewed by representatives of the New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club, and as a result there is a strong probability of its receiving ;i trial at the next Addington meeting. The representatives of the Addington I Club bad tlie opportunity of inspect-) ing the working of the barrier at close quarters as well as inspecting I the mechanism, and apparently a favourable impression was created, otherwise they would not negotiate with Mr Dunne for a demonstration of its working at Addington. Owners are reminded that nominations for the Canterbury Park T. C. Summer Meeting close this evening. Before leaving Melbourne Mr W. G. Slead endeavoured to get F. Foley, who rode Sasanof to victory in the Melbourne Cup, to visit Auckland, where he would have had the mount on the gelding in the Derby and other races. As Foley is apprenticed to his uncle, who required the lad's services for the forthcoming Randwick meeting, the project had to be abandoned. Pommcrn has finished his racing 1 career, and it is stated that prior to Mr Joel leaving England for South Africa he refused an offer of £30,000 for the son of Polymelus. At a committee meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club held yester : ! day the programmes of the Amuri Turf Club, Kaikoura Racing Club, and Waimate Racing Club were approved. A gentleman riders' lieense was granted to Mr Win. Barr; a trainer's license to J. W. Carter, jockey's licenses to J. McCluskey, T. F. Reardon, and F. J. Wormald (conditionally), and an apprentice jockey's license to T. E. Black. The transfer was approved of Lingerie from D. O'Meara to 11. E. Troutbcck. At a meeting of the V.R.C. committee on November 24 the appeal of Adam Skirving against the decision of the stipendiary stewards, with whom Mr S. R. Bloomfield (one of I the committee of the Williamstown I Race Club) acted, in fining him £lO ] for going to the post with a whip to start the horse Hayslon in the Noi vember Handicap at Williamstown, i on November 10, without their per--1 mission, was heard and dismissed. ! The decision of the V.R.C. commitI tee was officially communicated as j follows:—"The evidence showed I that Skirving was aware he should | have asked the permission of the j stewards before going to the post | with a whip, and he admitted that he | had not gone to the stewards feel- . ing sure he would have been refusied that permission. The starter (Mr N. Wood) erred in he fhad power to give permission. Skirvi ing's appeal was dismissed, and the j imposition of the fine was confirmI ed." The £2O lodged with the appeal ; was ordered to be returned. TEMPLAR.