RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8997, 6 December 1907, Page 6

RACING.

WOODVILLE RACES

BY TEM2GIIATH—PRESS ASSOCIATION

WOODVILLE, December 5 The weather was again charming for the second clay's racing of the Woodville Jockey Club summer meeting. The attendance was large, and speculation very brisk throughout the -day. The sum of £10,435 was put through the totalisator for the day, Tisaking a total of £20,737 for the •two days. There were some exciting finishes. The Summer Handicap was a splendid race, and was a big surprise when Moloch showed up at the finish. The arrangements required by the ■clab under the new Gaming Act were carried out faithfully, and patrons .soon dropped into the new ideas. No bookmaker availed himself of paying the £2O for a license. A. Olliver, who rode Tangimoana in the Summer Handicap, was brought before the stewards and charged with boring Moloch in the straight. After hearing the evidence the stewards suspended Olliver during the pleasure of the club. Results: — Telegraph Hack Handicap—Wharekura 1, Lochiela 2, Ikon 3. Also started—Cheddite, Greenleaf, Oblivion, Wonderbohm, Chrysophrase, Pytchley, Lady Stockwell, Yosami and Hinerangi. Time, lmin I. ij-ssec. Railwav Handicap Gawain 1, Sunbonnet 2, Cyrene 3. Also started —Golden Gate, Petticoat and Linkless. Time, lmin 1 3-ssec. Hack Scurry—Saudst.rearn 1, Bonnie Doon 2, Diplomatic 3. Also started—Don Carlos; Reveille, Investment, Kimmerin, Teotane, Anglican, Trugonini, Hutuwai, Pronun, Dream, Vinco and Nekeatu. Time, lmin 2 3 ssec. . Ruahine Hack Welter—King Post 1, Rangihacta 2, Daisy Paul.3. Also started—Lady Disdain, Pushful, Oakburne, Speciosa, Loiret, Sir Benson, Defeat, Crackpot, Concussion, Prince Hassan. Time, lmin 31 l-ssec. Summer Handicap Moloch 1, Tangimoana 2, Sandix 3. AUo start-ed-Moral, Montigo, Uenuku, Polyanthus, Glenullin, Nova, Arc Light, and White Lie. Time, lmin 56 2-ssec. , * Stewards' Hack Handicap—Rangipapa 1, Prize Bloom 2, Fisher maia 3. Also started—Lomaria, The Squatter, Miss Vera, Flower Girl, San Jose, Robin Link and Alpigene. Time lmin 15 4-ssec. Hack Hurdles—Tsura 1, Dulcinea 2, Papatawa 3. Also started—Teuira Te Kainui, St. Amelia, Liberator, Pardon, Golden Days, and Mussen. Time, 2min 52 1-ssec. Handicap— King's Lynn 1, Aberration 2, Roseal 3. Also started—Aboriginal, Ladylike, Millennial, Rosegrove and Scenery. Time, lmin 43 2-ssec.

WAIKANAE NOMINATIONS. Owner are reminded that nomin ations for all events, except the Tria Plato, to be run at' the Waikanae Racing Clud's annual meeting, on New Year's Day, will close with the secretary, Mr James A. Muir, Waikanae, at 8 o'clock to-morrow. The telegraph office is closed at 5 o'clock. This club is progressive, and the stewards are keenly alive to the advantages of making their course and appointments as up-to-date as possible. Upwards of £IOO has recently been spent in erecting suitable eni closures and a saddling paddock. The course is prettily situated in some native bush, and is acknowledged to ba one of the most picturesque in the dominion. Visitors to Waikanae on New Year's Day pronounce the outing as a combination of picnic and race meeting whereby a most enjoyable day can be spent. TURF NOTES. By Zetland. Although accepted for at the Woodville meeting, Mahuta was not started there* If he goes along satisfactorily in his preparation, he may be a starter in the Auckland Cup. If so he will be taken north in time to have a few gallops right-handed previous to the ra^e. Mr J. Macara's Merrie England mare Lochiela scored cleverly in the Maiden at Woodville in a big field of eighteen., Contour, by Phoebus Apollo— Cresent, trained by P. Tilley at Fordell, was greatly fancied for this event, but could not see the distance out.

Joe Chamberlain and Roseal, who .have good performances to their credit, but who have been in retirement for some time, made their reappearance at Woodville, on Wednesday, but neither showed to advantage. If their mentors can get these horses well, they ' are capable of paying their way before the season has far advanced. By winning the Electric Plate, of five furlongs, carrying the welter weight of 9st 1110, Lord Soult again proved that he is a champion over the distance. There were eight starters, and he gave his opponents from 171bs to 3Slbs in weight,, Many who saw Aboriginal race at the Taratahi meeting considered he .was at last returning to form. He proved this contention by winning the Welter in good style in fast time. The son of Merriwee had not scored a win since the Winter Cup of 1906. Alotoa, by Conqueror—Marionette, should soon take rank as one of the best sprinters in the dominion. At Feilding he won a double, running six furlongs on the first day in Imin 15'2-ssec. At Woodville he won the Flying Hack Handicap of six furongs with 'Jst Gib in lmin J6sec. So far the Gaming Act has not; proved a success. The bookmakers, who were so deeply considered by the j Ministry, did not benefit over the Feilding and Woodville meetings, as they objected to pay the maximum license fee. At each meeting the .totalisator revenue showed considerable increases over last year's amounts. This goes to show that gambling is not being lessened, and this is emphasised by the fact that in a great many towns bookmakers ire doing business "as usual." The iovernmenl has not been successful n its endeavour to stem the gambng tide, and in bringing in such ejslation as "The Gaming and Lot-

teries Act" certainly went the wrong way about it. This has already been amply proved, and. there will be plenty of evidence forthcoming in this direction during the season. In Wellington a certain class of bookmaker has already commenced to canvass clients at their homes, and now that backers are unable to send their investments direct to the totalisators, these bookmakers will be enabled to do more business than heretofore. RACING CLUBS AND BOOKMAKERS. ISY TEIiEGUAVH —I'HKSS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, December C. A number of bookmakers interviewed the officials of the Wellington Racing Club with a view to coming to an understanding as to the terms on which the bookmakers will be licensed by the club at its meetings. A number of suggestions were made, but no definite arrangement was arrived at. A mutual compromise, it is understood, is not improbable in terms of the suggestion made by Dr. i Fjndlay to a deputation which waited i oh him on Monday.

The following letter has been sent to the Chairman of the Racing Conference on behalf of the bookmakers: —''Sir, —l have the honour to inform you that a strong deputation of the leading bookmakers, comprising representatives from the principal centres and towns in the dominion, waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs, this morning, and amongst other things, Dr. Findlay suggested that representatives of the racing authorities should meet representatives of the bookmakers in conference, with a view to arriving at reasonable licensing fees, and also to discuss the rules for the governing of bookmakers, etc. I shall, therefore, be glad if you will use your good offices and anar.ge for a meeting, and as the subject is of some urgency I would respectfully ask for a reply confirming this suggestion at your earliest convenience—Yours faithfully, M. BARNETT. P.S.—ln order to expedite the above, I have forwarded copies of this letter to the Presidents of the .metropolitan clubs throughout the dominion, so that there msy be no delay in appointing delegates.''