SPORTING GOSSIP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12285, 6 April 1918, Page 11

SPORTING GOSSIP.

RAGING AND TROTTING.

(By "ARGUS.”)

The autumn meeting of tho Manawatu Racing Club will bo held theca month, and in many respects it seems destined to prove the most notable fix- . ture of tho whole season. The fields for the handicaps promise to bo exceptionally large, but this may bo a drawhack, from tho fact that with so many competitors they may nob always provide a fair test of racing merit. It is, however, on the races under sot weights that most people are concentrating their attention at present, when tho prospects of the meeting are under dis- . mission. There arc throe events of this character, and it is somewhat unfortunate, at a time when opportunities for racing the cracks are so restricted, that a mistake on tho part of tho club’s officials should have interfered with tho complete success of the Mnnawatu Stakes. The trouble occurred last season, when by an oversight no provision was made for taking yearling I nominations for this event, the result j being that ho two-year-olds are eligible ito compote. This is particularly regret- ’ table, as an opportunity has been lost for trying out the best of tho two-year-olds against the cider horses over s\ix furlings, a test which would have provided a lot of interest. _ As matters now stand, however, there is still some good material, including Desert Gold, Esbland. Biplane, Hymestra, Impediment, Nystnd and Koesian, so that the Vaoe may bo far from a failure, even in the absence of tho juveniles. The two-year-olds will have their opportunity in the Sires’ Produce- Stakes, which should settle tho question of supremacy for the season among the young division, as it will bring together the best of the horses who raced at Easter at Ellerslio and Riccarton. Almoner and Torfreda are both spoken of as doubtful starters, but Heathercote, who beat the pair in the Canterbury Champagne Stakes, is likely to be on hand, and great interest will be aroused by his meeting with Finmark, who has raced so well lately in the North Island, winding hp with a win in the Great Northern Champagne Stakes. These two, in fact, appear to be the best of their age at tho present time. The star event of the ■Mnnawatu meeting, will not . be provided by the two-year-olds, but by the Awapuni Gold Cup. It ijs not too much to say, indeed, that this race' is causing more widespread interest than any other contest in the Dominion during the whole of this season. The club has received thirteen nominations for the weight-for-ago race, but only three of them are attracting any attention. They are Biplane, Desert Gold and Estland. The form shown, by Biplane at the spring meetings in Australia was so impressive that no doubts were entertained regarding the colt’s class. As a result sporting enthusiasts have been looking forward keenly to the prospect of seeing him in opposition to Desert Gold, the champion of the Dominion for three seasons. A few weeks ago, at Wanganui, Estland beat Biplane over a mile, and though [Biplane was not at his best at tho time tlie admirers of Estland are credited with the belief that the colt is equal to taking on Biplane at any time.' Since then Biplane has come on a lo>b and has placed the Challenge Stakes to the credit of his owner in irreproachable style. Desert Gold, also, has done some racing lately, having shown herself to be the superior of the Australian cracks up to a mile and a hajf. The prospects of the three cracks will be freely' canvassed difring the next ten days, and if they all land at the ipostj fit the Awapuni Gold Oup is certain to prove a memorable event. It is very doubtful if any trotting club of late years has made more progress than the "Waimate Plains Club in Taranaki. For several years a few enthusiasts in the trotting and pacing "sport continued with a meeting each year, without the aid of the totalisator, and gradually interested the residents in the sport. When some extra per- , mits were granted in the season 191415 the club rightly was one of the fortunate ones, and held its first totalisator meeting at the end of July, 1915. The totalisator turnover was £4353 10s. 'The following year the duh decided to race at Easter, there being no other- race meeting of any kind In the district at that time. The totalisator figures read £7972. Last season the totalisator turnover was £10,850. The fourth meeting was held this week, and as the result of a large entry and increased attendance there was a turnover of £17,084. I attended the club’s meeting this week, and was greatly surprised 'at the very large attendance and the rapid growth of the club and sport in the district. The nearest trotting club is more than sixty miles away, at Wanganui, and it is quite evident that the sport has now taken a firm hold in the district. There is a iarge number of local owners, and the club, winch appears to be working along on sound and approved lines, had one race on its programme restricted to local horses, which drew a field of fifteen and caused a lot of enthusiasm. The estab- . jishment of a classic race is also deserving of commendation, and is certain to carry the club on to further successes. This season the club gave for its oneday meeting £915 in stakes, and the president stated, at a reunion held on the nicht of the races, that it would assuredly increase the prize-money to £IOOO for next year’s meeting. He also stated that the increase would be general, so that there would not be any .race on the programme of a less value than £IOO. The club’s officials make / n special effort to cater for visitors, ■ and the large number who were present was proof that their efforts were appreciated in this direction. At the re-' union held in the evening there was a very large attendance and 1 counted nearly sixty owners, trainers and others from distant parts, who were participating in the club’s hospitality. Quite one of the topics of conversation amongst the visitors was the splendid treatment accorded them by the club, and they added that they, on their part, would work hard to assist the club in evety way. Nothing seemed any , trouble for the officials to do in catering for the visitors, and where all are working hard together the future success of the club seems to be assured. Mr. 0, H. Piper will not as stipendiary steward for the trotting events at the ‘Methven Racing Club’s meeting. Three trotting clubs in the North Island, Auckland, Otahuhu and Manawatu, will hold meetings this month, and each of the fixtures will be patronised by strong teams from Christchurch, several of tho leading local trainers having arranged to make tho trip north. With so few meetings available for North Island owners it seems to bo bad judgment to allow two of them to clash, ns will be the case this month, when the Manawatu Trotting Club will race on Friday, April 19, and the t Otahuhu Trotting Club ou tho following day. Tho three-ycar-old pacer, Tatsy Dillon, mot with a mishap recently, through getting a foot caught in a wire fence. Her owner-trainer, Mr J. Dench, did not look on the injury as serious, hut since racing the filly at Waimate and Hawera, ho has decided that a spell will bo beneficial, so that she will now be turned out and given a good rest before she is required to do any further racing. Mr C. Rhodes has sold tho big trotter Quincclyn to Mr R. J. Hay, of Nelson. ! The West Goa st sportsman, Mr C. Davey, a keen supporter of the trotter, has had an exasperating e*&u«.’ence

with his small team this season. His two horses, Colonel Havelock and Herepo, have each been in second place three times, though neither of them has succeeded in winning a race. Tho pacer In wood, who was owned in the Oamaru district and trained for all his races by R. Logan, has been sol’d to Air G. Hunter, of AVyndham, Southland. The southern-owned pacer Expedite, who was trained by E. M’Cann in Canterbury for some time, has been purchased by Air J. D. Redding. Some time ago tho hurdler, Bore, was operated on for throat troubles, and he has since credited his owner with a win. A few days ago Euripos, another inmate of F. D. Jones’s stable, was similarly treated by Air H. B. Martin, and he will be treated to a good spell before be is raced again. Xanthos, who showed a good turn of speed in the events he contested at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s autumn meeting, has been gelded, and will bo given a spell for a few months. Tho AA r ellington sportsman, Air W. E. Herbert, was most unfortunate in losing tho services of 80-Peep on the eve of the Auckland meeting. Tho filly was running out in a paddock, and by some means got into a fence and sustained injuries which it is feared will prevent her racing again. Her loss is a severe one to her owner, as she was gifted with a great burst of speed, and would have won plenty of races. In the Kclburn Plato at Trentliam, in January, sho finished in front ot Desorb Gold. Two stallions, Elysian and Penury, were offered at auction in Auckland this week, along with the remainder of Air H. R. Al’Kenzie’s Ascot Stud, but neither of them elicited a bid. AATien the imported horse Polydamon first made his appearance in Auckland great things were expected of him, but lie lias gone back instead of improving. In the President’s Handicap, on tbo opening day of the Auckland Racing Club’s recent meeting, ho finished last, and N. Cunningham returned the horse to his owner, who has since placed him in the charge of P. Jones. AA’hen Hopficld won the AAYlter Handicap on the second day of the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting this week, it was his first success since ho came to New Zealand, in the spring of last season. In his last race prior to leaving Sydney Hopficld carried Sst 131b and won tho Squatters’ Handicap at the spring meeting ot the Australian Jockey Club, covering a mile in Imin 39|scc, but since his arrival in Auckland he has, until this week, been a consistent failure, though strongly fancied more than once for important events.

DISPERSAL OF ASCOT STUD

The dispersal sale ot blood stock from Mr H. R. M’Kenzie’s Ascot Stud, Auckland, was hold on Tuesday. In all twenty lots changed hands for a total o£ 934g5. Tho following are the details of the sale: BROOD MARES. Gs. Koworewcre (dam of Koesian), by Kopiri—Puweroworc), in foal to Ely sian.—Air Jcfferd, Hawke’s Bay . 55 Elcctrum (by Seaton Dolaval—Electra), with colt by Absurd, and in foal to Elysian.—Mr E. Dorset, AVairarapa 90 Lady Gwen (by LoQantis—Lady Flora), with filly foal by Absurd, and in foal to Penury—Mr A. Gibbons . . 250 Lady Hester (by St Lcgcr—Musket Maid), with filly foal by Penury, and in foul to Elysian.—Mr R. Darrow, Thames 75 Lady Lila (by Phoebus Apollo—Electra), with colt foal by Elysian, and in Penury.—Mr H, Kothery, Te Kuili is Penera (by Penury—Cytherca), with colt foal by Elysian, and in foal to Elyaian.—Mr J. E,. Palmer, Fiji . . 12 Hesperides (by Penury—Lady Hester), with colt foal by Elyoian, and in foal to Elysian—Mr AV. Traill . 20 AVenona (by Starina—Lady Gwen), in foal to Penury.—Air T, Linnol, AVhangaroi pj Tuncwha (by Cyrenian—Dreamland), in foal to Penury.—Mr R. B. Hines, To Aroha 7 Hamadryad (.by Eton—Tho Deli), with filly foal by Poton, and in foal to Elysian.—Mr AV. Hunciman, Maiden 30 Baronia (by Salvadau—Minoia Bianca), with filly foal by Elysian and in foal to Elysian—Mr T. Jackson, Ongaruho .10 Eton Lass (by Eton—Rapid Bay), with colt foal by Elveian, and in foal to Penury.—Mr J. Molloy, Auckland 41 Ch in, throe-year-old (by Monofomi—■ Tuncwha), in foal tn Penury.—Mr H. Rothcry, To Tvuiti .. ' . . 10 Br m, with foal by Penury, and in foal to Penury,—Mr R. A. Bent . . 0 OTHER LOTS. B g, five-year-old (by Penury—Orange and Blue). —Mr H. Wilson, Auckland 31 |Ch f Penonu, thrcc-ycar-old (by Penury —Wenona).—Mr H. Griffon, Auckland gg B f, yearling (by Elysian—Lady Hester—Mr G. Greene .... 50 Colt, yearling (hv Elvsinn—Baronin). — Mr P. Seallv, New Plymouth . 14 B 1, yearling (by ElyeiaiiY-Wenoiia).— Mr A. AV. Beveridge, Auckland . 105 B in Marabout, fnur-ycar-old (by Ely. j «ian—Lady Gwcub—Mr J. William- | sou, Auckland .....