RACING AND TROTTING.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume IV, Issue 1053, 27 June 1917, Page 5

RACING AND TROTTING.

iucinc, fixtuktcs. Juno L>o nncl 30—Ilnwlcc's Buy .T.C.. Winter. July 11, 12, and 11 Wellington li.C. Winter. ACCEPTANCES. Juno 27—Ilnv.ke's Buv .1.0. Winter. July (i Wellington li.C. Winter. TROTTING FIXTURES. August 1." and !7 N.Z. Metropolitan T.C. August. ACCEPTANCES. August S N.Z. Mitropolilr.u T.C. August. TURF TOPICS. A Press Association cablegram received from Sydney this morning mentions that Mr (J. IX Greenwood's pair, Immortel and Kilowatt, have been scratched for Ihe A.J.G. Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps. Evidently the treatment meted on! to ihc New Zealanders did no! appeal to their trainer, R. .1. 'Mason, who has taken the earliest opportunity of showing his disapproval. After having been put to a lot of inconvenience in making satisfactory transport arrangements, M. Hobbs expects to lake his departure on Wednesday next. As Mr \V. G. Stead's trainer, G. .Tones, has been able to make the necessary arrangements lie will take Shrill and Sweet Corn to Australia for the spring meetings there. R. .1. Taylor, who was placed under the ban by the Ashburton County Racing Club in September, 1913, has had his term of live years disqualification cancelled.

Though bv no means unexpected, the death of Mr George Morse will be heard with extreme regret by sportsmen throughout the Dominion. Some months ago Mr Morse underwent a serious operation, from (he effects of which he never thoroughly recovered. For many years Mr Morse, who was born in Nelson, has officiated as handicapper to a number of prominent North Island clubs, including the Avondale J.C., Wangamii J.C., Mastcrton R.C., WaverlcyWaitotara R.C., Auckland R.C., Takapuna J.C., Taranaki J.C., Marlon J.C., and Egmonl R.C. Prior to taking up handicapping Mr Morse was engaged in farming at Fordell, during which lime he owned several useful horses. The injuries sustained by Rongaliere at the recent D.J.C. meeting were more serious than at first supposed, and there is little chance of the gelding coming north for the Grand National meeting.

Present indications point to Southland stables being better represented at the Grand National meeting than for some years past. It is reported from the south that Jock changed hands recently, being purchased bv a Riverton sportsman for £350. According to present arrangements Marsa and F,indcn will race at the Hawke's Bay meeting on Friday and Saturday. Subsecpientlv they wilt be taken to Trentham and return to Riccarton in time for the Grand National meeting. From Invercarvill it is reported that trainer P. Hogan is keeping Zarkoma and Glenshine going with a view to racing them at the Grand National meeting.

A report is current to the effect that Highwater is lo be prepared for the forthcoming New Zealand Cup, says an Invercargill writer. In the event of this proving correct, it may J be found that the daughter of Mar-: tian is quite capable "I' seeing two piles out under a featherweight. She ■was slaying on nicelv when she crossed the winning line in advance of her field in the Birthday Handicap al the recent Dunedin J.C. Winter meeting. The Spring meeting of the Ashbur-j ton County Racing Club will be held j as usual on September 13 and 14, but the Autumn meeting will be reduced to a one-day fixture. Acceptances lor the Hawke's Bay | Jockey Club's Winter meeting close; Ibis evening. The Southland-owned pacer Sir Gavin, who has been trained by J. Brankin al Ashhurton, is to be turned oiil for a spell. Sir Hector's speedy son has hardly raced up to expectations tip's season, and a let-, up should freshen him up. The annual meetings of (he three' local trolling clubs will be held next week, the dates fixed on being:— July 1, N.Z. Metropolitan T.C.; July . r >, Canterbury Park T.C.; and July 0 New Brighton T.C. The Southland-owned inner Harold Junr., will probably be raced at Addington next August, and then go to Auckland for the Spring meetings there. When the members of the New Brighton Trotting Club meet next week, I hey will have a very satisfactory balance-sheet presented lo them. This shows the season's receipts lo have been £12,711, including a bala •"" of £!.U<) brought forward. Amongsl the chief items of revenue an-:—Nominations £735, acceptances C7('3, members' subscriptions £7O, tolalisalo- ir M R(>, gales £102"), privileges £1!)3. cards C."iW». On the expenses side lh" biggest amounts are:! —Slakes GO',!, Government lax £I!M, dividend and slakes lax SlT.k', advertising and printing £2l-1, buildings, etc., CB(>s, ground expenses £'32.">, and interest trial. The assets I are put down a! ';13.2"">2, while there are outstanding liabilities of £f>7(i2. j More Ihan the required numb."' hj ing heen nominated for the vacancies I on Hie lists of commillee and stewards, elections will be held for both offices. When Sasanof mad" a runaway race or the last Melbourne Cup a number of Australian sporlini> writers woke up to the fad !'ial in only being awarded CM the New 7a aJandcr had been thrown into Ihe handicap. Some of them actually went so far as to suggesl lhal in future weight adjusters should keep an eye on New Zealand horses and insist Ui:' l full particulars of all their p: rl'ormances should accompany their entries. Judging by Ihe treatment accorded some of the Dominion horses for Ihe forthcoming soring handicaps Ihe suggestion has rol heen losl sight of. Such a recognised champion as Kilboy naturally had lo expeel substantial imposts and in being .awarded f'rmn 21h lo "lh over weight for a«e in the four big spring handicaps his owncpas bill" cause for complaint. Even so !l is unite probable (hat the son of Kilbroncv will have his attentions routined lo weidit-for-age events. After her creditable showings in A. -•■•:.lia !■".! sm-ing lh« A..T.0. handica; r I as 'aken If'" risk wilh ]>,.„ i M ;.,.-. ■: ... |„... r') j n |j ic T'os,mi '■'■: man a-.l ■>.('■ in Ihe »'.,,, ~!;• „ ir.,,, !; ..,,._ ,?.,., j )c 1; .l , I , ... ~<„,! r,-..;,, I-,., o ..,.;.,. j„. •,' . : „ .;■■■ ;• ; ...'..■ i . r•■ y, •;..-. • • •..

wick events, for neither can be regarded as proved slayers. The fact of Shrill having been engaged in two such events as the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups may have influenced the A.J.O. handicapper in his treatment of the English-bred mare. That gentleman's treatment of Kilowatt in both the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps, however, is hard to justify. Though he has only a beaten performance in New Zealand ihe son of Martian and Forked Lightning is asked to give weight to Killlinn, Ihc winner of three good races, and conqueror of Desert Gold. Immortel showed winning form in his first Australian essay, hut his performances do not compare with those of Killlinn, and of all the New Zealanders in Ihc A.J.C. events the high-priced daughter of Kilbroney and (iand)ode has got off ihe best. For a maiden four-year-old lied Pennant, Ihc brother to Hunting, is nicely treated in both the Metropolitan and Epsom Handicaps. In some quarters this son of All Red is regarded as a rod in pickle for one of Ihc big events. The Victorian handieappers appear lo have sized up Ihc form of Ihe New Zealanders much more accurately, though even they ;«lffii' to be impressed with the fact that Kill'ein is a brother to Kilbov.

Desert Gold's probable impost in the Melbourne Cup has been made the subject of much discussion in New Zealand sporting circles ever since il was known thai Mr Lowry had engaged her in that event. In awarding her 0.3 the V.R.C. handicapper appears to have treated the champion with consideration, as that is only 31b over weight for age. TEMPLAR.