SPORTING NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, 9 May 1924, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES.

On the morning of the Riverton races the aged steeplechaser Jtcongahere was sold for the modest sum of £B, and on the same afternoon secured £25 for his new owner by running second in a steeplechase. Giving evidence in the Kingsdaic case, Mr James, totalisator proprietor, stated that one Richards put £lOO on Kingsdale, and after that horse had won received just on £l2OO as his share of a good dividend paid. Father's Voice showed his usual brilliancy in the All-aged Stakes at Avondale. He was with Tamatete at 5 furlongs, but stopped badly and eventually ran a bad last. After the race he was in a bad way, and will have to remain some time in the north. The Linacre—Auriety colt purchased by the well-known Auckland sportsman Mr J. C. Gleeson is a full brother to tho well-known Tangalooma, who won innumerable races in Australia. That Australian handicappers do not care to take a risk with New Zealandowned horses was again proved in the case of the South Island owned General Advance, which was awarded 12.12 (top weight) in the steeplechase at the A.J.C. meeting. Alfort was a successful performer over short courses in Australia previous to being raced in New Zealand. After coming to this Dominion he was trained by that painstaking trainer, 3. Buchanan, who, while able to get Alort to "sprint" reasonably well failed to get him to reproduce his best form, and invariably Alfort failed to run out even a good btx rurrongs. Some months ago he went under the charge of M. Carroll, and almost immediately produced signs or his Australian form. After several defeats he finished up by winning the Foley Memorial, over a 10 furlong course, at Avondale.

Mr F. W. Marks, who passed away at Auckland recently, aged 70 years, was for many years clerk of the scales for the Auckland Racing Club, Avondale and Takapuna Jockey Clubs, and the Auckland and Otahuhu Trotting Chibs. Owing to ill-health he had to relinquish his position last year.

I hear (writes "Touchstone" in the Australasian) unofficially, that the conditions of the Jumpers' Flat Race at tho V.R.C. Grand National meeting have been amended. In future only horses that have raced over the Flemington, Caulfield, Moonce Valley, Williamstown and other such like substantial fences, will oe eligible to start. So-called '' steeplechasers,'' who havo raced only over brush, will not be allowed to enter.

According to a report from Hawkes Bay, a well-known owner-trainer is likely to take control of Mr W. G. Stead's horses. Colour is lent to the report by the statement that Luke Wilson, who has for some time had charge, has leased the boxes owned by Mrs M. A. Perry. The Wanganui Century Hurdles field is a formidable one, with that proficient hurdler Ngata at the top of the handicap with 11.12. He is very well, having done a lot of racing lately, and will handle his weight without much trouble* Eerie (10.12) is nicely placed, and First Born (10.9), has come down in the weights. The death of Mr James Hathaway, at Caulfield, Victoria, removes another of the old-time sportsmen. In his early days the deceased was an accomplished horseman, hut later followed the calling of horse training at Bulls, where he had charge of Dr. Bennett's team, eventually setting up as a public trainer in Palmerston North, some useful horses passing through his hands.