SPORTS & PASTIMES

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14030, 5 April 1919, Page 5

SPORTS & PASTIMES

RACING FIXTURES. .April 5, D —Auckland Trotting Club. Apr.i iy, 21 —Auckland itacmg kiuu. Apm 21 —Alexandra Hacmg mub. April 26, Hu —Avondale joeney Ciub. .uay 17, 21. —uiaiiunu Trotting Club. iMay 31, June 3, b —Aucaianu Aacaig Club inter. ALEXANDRA R.C. The 55tli annual meeting of the Alexandra Pacing duo will ue held at firougia on April 2lst. Seven races have been set down on the programmeor rbe Oldest racing organisation in the province, and a very attractive afternoon’s sport, is promised. The principal event is the Cup, for widen a purse of 20 sovs. is ohered by the Club, while the prize money for the remainder of the events is sufficient to attract a satisfactory entry list. Nominations close to-day at 5 o’clock, and weights arc due on April 10 th. Acceptances for all events close on April 12th with the secretary, Mr W. McCarthy, at Pirongia.

OTAHUHU TROTTING CLUB. The Otahuhu Trotting Club’s winter meeting will be held at Alexandra Park, Epsom, on Saturday and Wednesday, 17!n and 21st May. The programme is now on issue and nominations for all events close on Friday, May 2, at 5 p.m. with Mr. 11. L Absolum, secretary. There arc eight races on the programme each day. On Saturday the principal race is the Otahuhu Cup Handicap, of 500 sovs, H miles, with a limit of 3min 45sccs. The President’s Handicap, on the same day, over a mile and threeemartes, is endowed with 275 sovs; Trial Handicap, 100 sovs; April Handicap, 100 sovs; Alexandra Handicap. 175 sovs; Mt. Albert Handicap, 150 c ''vs. Kavewe'l Handie-n of 200 som. On the second dav, Wadncsdnv, the T)< ■minion Handicap is worth 400 sovs, over t’- v o miles, limit 4 min 4°sces: Poyal Oak Hard-Van. 250 s>’vs; Esnecird Handicap. 100 sovs; Newmarket Hand Van, 100 sovs; Mannkau Handicap, 200 sovs; Sylvia Park Handicap. 150 sovs- Governor’s Handicap, 150 sovs, and Pailwny Handicap , of 150

A SIDE WAGER CASE. A case which created considerable interest was one heal’d at the -Magistrate’s Court at To Kuiti reeentlv. Charles Grower, Te Kuiti, sued W, C. Morgan, of Cambridge, for the return of £IOO lodged as a side wager. .Mr. G. P. Finlay appeared for plaintiff, and Mr H. T. Gillies, llamiplton, for defen dant. The ease as stated before the Court was that the plaintiff with others were guests at the Albert Hotel, Auckland, early in November last, and that during a chat regarding the war he said he was prepared to bet £SO that the Kaiser would be dead in six weeks or £IOO that the war would he over before New Year’s Eve, The latter wager was taken up by a gentleman present named Gill- A written agreement was drawn up by a Mr. Darby and dictated bv plaintiff and witnessed by Mr. Morgan, who was also appointed stakeholder. Cheques were deposited with instructions to the stakeholder to cash same and hold the money, litis was done. When the armistice was signed defendant was written to by plaintiff asking for the stakes, but the defendant,°as stakeholder, refused to dp this as he was of opinion plaintiff lost as peace had not been signed. The solicitor for the plaintiff then wrote defen-

dant telling him if he handed over the money deposited by Mr. Brewer to Mr. Gill, they, as representing Mr. Brewer, would hold him personally responsible. They also demanded the return of plaintiff’s money' lodged as his side wager. The present case wps brought to secure the return of this money. The hearing was one that was governed by law and counsel were agreed that the plaintiff was entitled to judgment. The magistrate agreed, and gave judgment accordingly, with costs amounting to £8 4s. JOTTINGS. The Hamilton - Racing Club committee will fund a special meeting on April 24, wiienf Hie wiioie question of the alterations. and improvements to the Claud “lands course ■ and appointments will be discussed. It is realised that attention in this direction is warranted to keep pace with the rapid strides the club is making and to meet the demands of owners, horses, and the public generally. Messrs F'incrty and Darby, land agents, of Matamata, intimated on the occasion of the ceremony to the Cup minnei’s owner and jockey' at Matamata on Thursday that they would present the cup and whip for next year’s principal event. The announcement was received with hearty applause.. Despite the decided handicap of wet weather during the earlier morning hours, the Matamata Racing Club will make a profit of close on £IOO on its recent meeting. Solid support through, out the district is the essential part towards such a sound return on the right side of the ledger. One man’s meat is another man’s poison! Mr Walter Winans, a leading English breeder, writes as follows: “Tt is reported that over two million pounds is about to be snout in improving the roads. It behoves horseowners to see that this money/ is not entnely spent for the benefit of motorbs. as if so the rcids will lv» rcmWed so slipnory Hint horse traffic will he inv-wMMe, and horse-breeding will bo ruined.” Severe +r’Tls fer Iou"-fIbtapcn rams are practically unknown in Australia now-a-.di.ys, lint in the ’7o’s it was different (says a Referee writer). Prior V. winning tin* Champion Stakes of 1876 Richmond was tried over three miles, five horses assisting at different Mages. He heat the lot, so it is not to be wondered at that his ownm- and trainer, E. Jillctt, was confident of success. If any trainer were now to attempt sueh a trial doubt would be expiessed as to his sanity'. At a meeting of the committee of the •Nelson Jockey Club, a letter was reo'ived from Messrs Hull. Wheeler, and Watson, on behalf of Messrs Riddiford, disclaiming any responsibility for the acceptance of Cooing in the Nelson Cup. 'I he secretary stated that he had received a telegram signed “W. How,” accepting for Cooing at the race meeting. THi stipendiary stewards had made enquiries into the matter, and had procured a copy of the original telegram handed in at Wellington. This had been forwarded, together with other information, to the New Zealand Racing Conference