SPORTING NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14257, 7 January 1920, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES

RACING FIXTURES. January 10—Waikato Trotting Club, January 14—Rotorua J.€. January 29, 31—Takapuna J.C. February 7-9 —Hamilton R.C. February 14'—Te Kuiti R.C. February 21—Waipa R.C. Answers to Correspondents. "Desert Gold."—Yes. In the North Island Challenge Stakes at the Wellington Autumn Meeting of 1917, Kilflinn beat Desert Gold. Kilflinn carried 7.2 and Desert Gold 9.12; Koesian (9.4) was third. Sunny Chimes (B.C) was the other starter. "Enquirer."—ln the season 1917-18 Gay Lad, at three years, won three races and was placed third once in four starts. His stake winnings that season were £376. As a four-year-old he ran a first and a second in his two starts prior to the N.Z. Cup meeting, and won £393 in stakes. WAIKATO TROTTING MEETING. Claudelands course wili 'be the venue of supporters of the light harness sport on Saturday next, the occasion being the annual fixture of the Waikato Trotting Club. The nature of the acceptances guarantees that the club will have a very successful fixture, as they work out at an average of ten horses a race over the eight on the programme. The entries comprise some of the leading trotting candidates in the province and further afield. Special train arrangements have been entered into by the club to deal with the large attendance expected from outside the town, I which include a special train from Auckland. This and all outgoing trains will not depart until after the day's racing has concluded, so in this connection the needs of the travelling public will be adequately, met.

ROTORUA JOCKEY CLUB. On January 14th the annual fixture of the Rotorua Jockey Club will claim the attention of turf followers. When acceptance hour comes round on Friday evening next it should be found that goodly-sized fields have been left in to contest the eight events on the programme. The club's executive has been successful in arranging for a special train to run from Frankton on the morning of the races and return the same evening. HAMILTON RACING CLUB. From the number of inquiries that have come to hand for' programmes already indications are that the coming meeting- of the Hamilton Racing Club is going to eclipse the record which was established last year in connection with the leading fixture away from actual headquarters. For the two days 1 meeting on February 7th and 9th the club has fixed the stake money at £5500, the programme of eight events on each day being headed with the Cup, which is this year to be worth £IOOO. Every race shows an increase in stake money over last year, and as the meeting fits in at a favoured time in the circuit of racing for this province, strong fields can be looked for on both days. Nominations for all events close at 8 p.m. on Friday, January 16th, and may be made either with the secretary, box 26, Hamilton, or with Messrs Blomfield and Co., High street, Auckland;

SNUB'S AUCKLAND PLATE. Snub's defeat of a red-hot favourite in Rossini in the Auckland Plate race* on Friday was, gauged by the great round of cheering that went up, the most popular win of the whole racing carnival. Snub, who has done a vast amount of travelling and racing here and in Australia of late, has a big heart, and when O'Shea called on him to make, the final effort on Friday he answered it with great gameness. That is not the first big surprise that has to be ' attributed to the son of Martian —Lady Disdain. In the Canterbury Cup of 1918 he went out the outsider but one in a field of five, and defeated Sasanoff, who was a strong public fancy for the two and a-quarter mile race. Kilmoon got second and the favourite third on the occasion under notice. A VETERAN RIDER. "Bob" Arnott. a well-known crosscountry rider, who steered Gobo to victory in'the Grand National Steeplechase. of 1901 and in the Wellington Steeplechase of the same year, while he was on The Guard when he won the Napier Steeplechase in that year also, had the mount on Matapara in the Hurdle Race at Whatawhata on New Year's Day. Although it is now some time since he was actively associated with racing, "Bob" has not forgotten the way to handle a mount, and it was a very easy win that came his way. The victory was very popularly-received.

JOTTINGS. Mr C. L. Williams ' black mare G.enval (Glengowrie—Punawai) fan an honest race in the ' Flying Stakes at Whatawhata after getting a baa. start. She should be heard of later on when thoroughly seasoned, and all good sports will wish Mr Williams the best of luck with his mare. Rekanui showed a great turn of speed in winning in her initial hurdle engagement at Auckland last week. Her jumping abilities were shown *,o be high class, and the mile and thr»cquarters was carved out in record time. Explode (Elysian-Lyddite) the winner of the Cup at Whatawhata, was ridden a fine race by Mr A. Terry. If properly placed during the country circuit Explode should not be long in placing a good stake to the credit of his owner, Mr A. Booth, of Ngaruawahia. Crenides has been sold to go to India. The price paid has not transpired, but it is said to be quite in keeping- with the amounts usually paid by Indian nabobs for colonial racehorses. One of the best hacks seen out so far at country meetings is Mr A. Clow's bay gelding Auldana, by Multifid— Monolow. He appropriated two races at Pirongia on Boxing Day, and on New Year's Day he won two races at Whatawhata. The last sucess was after a great contest with Colour-Sergeant, but Auldana succeeded, by sheer grit and sameness. If placed right he should add further laurels to the successes already gained. When the Autumnus fll'ly Moorfowl struck her colours to Humbug and Right and Left at Auckland on Boxing Day she carried more money than any horse has ever done in any race in the Dominion. No fewer than 5809 tickets were rung- up against her name on the machine. However, that record did not last long. On New Year's DayRossini beat it easily with 7750 J full tickets invested on his chance by the racing public. The interesting news comes from Hawke's Bay that a sister to Bobrikoff and En "Parole made her advent at Akawa recently, Gossip having produced a Ally to Finland. Gossip has been a most prolific stud rrutron, as she began in 1904 with Bobrikofr, and since then she has been punctual every season with the exception of 191 G, when she failed to add to the blood stock of the Dominion. Gossip was foaled in ! 1898. and she has thus passed the age of 21 years.

A very promising candidate in Golden Nut won the Maiden Handicap at Whatawhata in convincing style. She is by Spalpeen—Matangi and should 'be J seen to advantage when properly 'seasoned:

Mr J. Dettley's Hamlet (Pukaki— Merry Kate) made his re-appearance at Whatawhata after a prolonged spell, and although he got away with a good lead in the Flying Stakes Handicap, he failed when tackled by Auldana and Colour-Sergeant. Hamlet should be seen to greater advantage when properly wound up. The brood mare March (by Marble Arch—Lady Musket), one of the last of the Glenora Park collection, was found recently with a fractured off foreleg; and the case was rendered more difficult to deal with by reason of a wound in the limb which stood in the way of the fracture being put in splints. Dr. Ring placed the limb in a plaster of Paris pack on Monday, and hopes are entertained of saving the mare. March this season produced a fine colt by Lucullus, and despite her injury she has continued to mother her offspring in such a manner that he presents quite an attractive appearance.