WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 265, 22 August 1895, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

August 16. The annual meeting of the members of the Wellington Racing Club has been fixed for Mon* day the 26th-inst. The stewards meet on Monday next to draw up their report. < The North Island horses which were present at the National Meeting, including the two that accounted for the National double, arrived by the Manapouri.ahd Takapuna on their homeward journey. The Bay contingent left by the Manapouri, while the Auckland horses go north by the Takapuna. : .. All the local pencillers laid the winning double at the National Meeting, but there was a good deal of betting recorded, and they were therefore able to “ get round ” on their books. < [by wire.] August 20. Strath braan (Aprembnt — Engagement) was purchased by Mr Georgeson, of this city, at Christchurch during National week for 47 guineas. The horse has joined W. Davis’s stable at The Hutt. It is likely that Kinglake (King Cole—Lake Superior), owned by Henry Redwood of Nelson, will be leased by a Wellington sportsman if suitable terms can be arranged. ■ Review is doing good work at The Hutt in view of early spring engagements.

J. Pilbrow left last week for Wairarapa with Dromedary, and will commence training his horses on the Tauherenikaii course in company with his brother. ;

W. Higgins, who was laid up in the Christchurch hospital for several days with a broken collar-bone caused by Rags falling on the first day of the National meeting, came up by steamer on Friday. He is progressing favourably and hopes to be able to ride at the Marton Meeting next month, where he has twelve engagements out of the fourteen events.

The St. George horse, Merrie England, purchased by B. Cave of Wairarapa to . replace Piscatorious at the stud, has arrived at his owner’s station. He will be mated with Rumour (Tattler — Rose D’Armour). Mr Cave had the choice of Lakeshell or Merrie England, and preferred the latter. The Amateur Athletic Club have fixed the meetings of the season for the 16th November and 7th March.

Mr H. Crawford has devised a system to prevent the “ ringing in ” of trotters, which deserves commendation. He proposes to brand maiden trotters by tatooing the gums of the teeth. A registered code of marks should be kept, and would thus make clear the identification of the horse. The system would be comparatively painless as compared with fire branding. Any tampering with the brands would render the horses liable to disqualification for life. There is no doubt, in the face of so much “ ringing in ” being resorted to lately, that some such remedy is advisable, and Mr Crawford’s ideas appear to solve the difficulty to a great extent.

■ JAt-fijneeting-of-the-stewards -of -the .Welling? ton Twitting Club .a resolution was passed asking Fitzgerald, the owner of Roseleaf, who. won; the pony harness race run at the last meeting of the club, and also the rider (L. Robertson) to show cause why they should not be disqualified and called upon to refund the stakes, it being alleged that this trotter was not the same as represented in the entry form. It is.stated that the Wairarapa Trotting Club is practically defunct, and that the J ohnsonville Club is also to be wound up. Edwards, the well-known trainer of trotters ndw residing in Canterbury, is likely to transfer .training operations to the Miramar track. The defeat of the local footballers at the hands of Canterbury on Saturday last is attributed to the wretched collaring by the full-back (J. Burke) and to weak forwards. Swlndley’s absence in the front rank was severely felt, The following team has been picked to represent Wellington against Taranaki on Saturday : — Full-back, Davidson; three-quarters, Galloway, Roberts, and Roache; five-eighth, H. Kelly; half-back, Pudney; wings, McKenzie and J. Kelly; forwards, Swindley, Young, Campbell, Poland, Pauling, Hardcastle, and McLean. Crawford’s absence is attributed to his weak defence in- the Canterbury match, but dissatisfaction is expressed at the match committee’s decision, as Crawford Had weak forwards in front of him. Pudney showed weak defence in the last match with Taranaki, but he will have a better, set of forwards to play behind on Saturday. The inclusion of Campbell and Hardcastle is not looked on with favour, and the general opinion appears to be that McAnally and Pringle should have been selected.

Palmebston Nobth, August 16. This district will be without the services of two first-class stallions this season. The Australian bred Haere (Malua —Norna) has been sold by Mr R. Stevens to a Manaia breeder, and Mr D. Pringle has disposed of Forester to a Wairarapa syndicate, the price being about £250. Forester is generally voted to be one of the handsomest horses in the colony, and Haere was one of the Hon. J. O. Inglis’s pets. Haere’s dam, Norna, is also the dam of Darriwell, the Melbourne Cup winner, and his sire, Malua, has also a Melbourne Cup win to his credit. A fullsister to Haere was imported recently from Australia by Mr W. Rathbone of Waipawa. The case of R. Frewin v. Woodville J.C. has resulted in judgment being given for plaintiff for £2O, and costs £8 ss. This was a claim for £lOO for injuries inflicted by the Clerk of the Course at the last Woodville races. Frewin came on to the course in order to prevent those engaged in a race from running into Wheriko, who was killed by falling over a hurdle. The Clerk of the Course thereupon rode up, and lashed him over the face with a whip, inflicting an ugly wound over the eye. The S.M. considered that though Frewin was a trespasser unnecessary violence was used in removing him from the course.

The death of Kahurangi was a. severe blow to backers in this part who had him coupled with almost every horse in the National Steeplechase. It is reported that in his trial prior to going South he covered the two miles, with his National weight up, in 3min 55sec. That he would have beaten the winner, if in the same condition as when he left here, is a certainty. Kahurangi was bred by Mr R. Higgie.of Wanganui, and was by Somnus out of the well-known Painter mare Gem. The Marton meeting on September 11th and 1. 12th promises to be very successful, though the opinion is given that a mistake was made in holding a 1 wo day’s meeting. With the exception of the Wanganui horses the contestants will not be in forward condition owing to the wretched state of the tracks. The Wanganui trainers have a great pull over their brethren in other parts in always having at hand an excellent training •ground.