WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 205, 28 June 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

June 22ud. One repeatedly hears of nominations and acceptances for various races being received too late by secretaries of racing clubs, and wonder is often expressed why owners and trainers are so dilatory and are not more cautious. They invariably leave the intimation of their wishes to the very last moment, and it is not surprising that time after time we read of the omission of certain animals from the official published list, owing to the notifications having been received after the • advertised time. Most people down this way thought that Dromedary would have a show of winning the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, after his fairly good performance across country in the Open Steeplechase at the United Hunt Club’s meeting at the Hutt, seeing that she is pretty well just now, but her name did not appear in the list of acceptances for the event, and there was some, surprise expressed in consequence. It was known that she was going up, and when her name did not appear as an acceptor it was surmised that she had gone wrong. However, it subsequently transpired that owing to the heavy weather that prevailed, the wires were down, and the message did not reach its destination until too late. Unity’s, acceptances were missed in the same way, and it was only when the horse was about to be placed on board the train at Palmerston North that the trainer was made aware of the fact that his horse could not start. No matter what the circumstances are, nominations or acceptances cannot be received after the time fixed for receiving them, the reason for such a rule being obvious. Trainers and owners should adopt a plan which would often save them trouble and annoyance, and that is to send their nominations by letter early to the secretary, and confirm them by wire subsequently if they so desire. The letter only costs twopence, and the time involved in writing a few lines ; but most people do not bother inconveniencing themselves ..to this extent. It must be very annoying to a man who has his eye on a certain good stake which he has a reasonable chance of annexing to find he has lost even a start through his own thoughtlessness. Telegraphic communication is often interrupted when bad weather is prevalent, and often messages do not reach their destination until hours and hours after they have been placed in the office for despatch. I notice that Kempenfeldt, for whom Mr Gollan gave 560 guineas at the Wellington Park sale some time ago, is to be offered by auction at Hastings. He went to Australia with Pounamu and The Possible, but, proving untraiqable, had to be sent back again. Renata, by Albany —No Name, also saw Australian soil, but never did any good there, being subject to the bursting of blood vessels. He is to be offered at the same time. Last season he did stud duty at Omahu,, Hawke’s Bay, Mr Paratene having used him. Forerunner, by King of Clubs — En Avant, has not had much opportunity of proving himself as a sire. His best horse racing is Golden Plover. The son of En Avant has been kept at the station, where he performed stud duty, with the exception of one season, when he was leased to a Hawera breeder. ( BY WIRE.J " At the last meeting of the stewards of

the United Hunt Olqb it was decided to hold an enquiry into the running of Timothy in the Open Steeplechase .at their last meeting. On Monday evening next the owner, trainer, and rider of the horse are to be examined on the subject. Sir K. Stout’s Bill, dealing with gambling, has not yet been printed, so that one is in the dark as to its absolute provisions. When it is distributed I will forward you a copy. The clause making punishable the selling of totalisator tickets to infants is a step-in the right direction, and the clause ought to pass - through all right. It is really scandalous the number of young lads in this colony who scrape a few shillings together and combine to put a pound on the machine. When they take an interest in horseracing at a young age they’re not particular as to how they get the money to bet, and they cannot always withstand the temptation to rifle office tills. With regard to the proposal to limit the number of racing meetings at which the totalisator shall be used, racing Clubs will, no doubt, be particularly anxious to know what the provisions of the clauses are. Had a N.Z. Jockey Club been formed years ago there would have been no necessity for such a thing being brought up in Parliament now, for I assume that such an institution would have knocked a number /of quite unnecessary tinpot meetings on the head, and in some cases compelled some clubs to amalgamate with others. I do not know \ exactly what Sir Robert Stout’s proposal is, or whether he has studied the conformation and boundaries of the various racing districts in New Zealand, and the number of clubs under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Clubs ; but, l if he has, he has gone into the matter in a most comprehensive manner. It is a pity this matter was not left to the Conference of Delegates‘to deal with. They sit in Wellington shortly, when the question of the formation of a N.Z. Jockey Club will be moved, and in view of the action taken by Sir Robert Stout I should think that the Auckland and Dunedin Clubs will now fall in with the proposal. The question of the limitation of racing would be best dealt with by those who know most about it, and the question ought to be left to them. If the Conference did nothing in the matter then it could be brought up in the House again. The weights have been declared for the Wairarapa Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting, but one will have to.wait until the acceptances appear in order to form an idea, as some horses are nominated in quite a number of races. I like Dromedary, Canute and Cyrus 11. for the Open Steeple, the weights for which are as follows:—Elk 11.5, Dromedary 11.0, InCyrus 11.-10.7, Canute 10.5. Silent Friend 9.13, Lord John 9.9, Gladstone 9.8, Austral 79.7. The weights for the Hunt Club Steeplechase are:—Elk 13.0, Dromedary 12.9, Iroquois j 2.5, Nuts 11.12, Lord John 11.5, Gladstone 11.4, Kaika 1 j .0, Giraffe, Debut, Ballyhooly, Try Again, Judas and Frisco 10.7. Nat Nathan’s action for libel against the Wairaiapa Star comes on this week in the Supreme Court.