HAWKES BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 341, 4 February 1897, Page 7

HAWKES BAY.

Douglas sore--Orion’s Belt--Groldf,n Plover —The Possible and Tire — Ellingham’s string — Bank’s team—Stable gossip generally — The electric starting machine—Cuneen’s disqualification. Napier, February 2. On Douglas’ arrival at Hastings from Wellington last week he walked very sore behind. He seems to be afflicted in the hocks. Since his return, walking exercise only has been meted out to him.

Orion’s Belt’s split hoof has again been giving him a lot of trouble. He has been an absentee from the training tracks in consequence. What with Girofla and St. Conon on the sick list besides, the trainer can well exclaim, “ Taking one consideration with another, the trainer’s lot is not a happy one.” Golden Plover, who has been entered for the Wairoa fixture this month, is looking a bit on the light side. Probably his trip to Gisborne knocked some of the dash out of him, but as I know him of old, he takes a lot of bustling before he cries pe'ccavi. The Possible and Tire are doing good solid work, I presume in view of the approaching Wanganui meeting. The brace are looking in

eighteen carat order. In whatever event they are slipped they will take a lot of beating. No one, I am sure, would grudge Percy Martin the pleasant lot of leading in a winner or two. For some time past he has not had a very good time of it in that respect. Alf. Ellingham is handling a yearling filly by Torpedo —Comino and the Maxim — Burlesque colt, Popgun, who has been in retirement for some time back, through suffering from a weak joint, but is again in active service. Ellingham had a bit of hard luck in losing his services when he did, as he had just commenced to learn how to gallop. There were several races here about Christmas that wo.uld have been within his power of annexing. Banks, who has Rainbow in hand, has just received an addition to his team in the shape of a good looking three-year-old daughter of Waterfall and Mystery. “ Bruiser,” as she is familiarly called by her associates, ought to have a look in at some of the meetings about here in the back end of the season, that is to say, if the latest inmate possesses any of her sire’s or dam’s galloping powers. The full-brother to Torpina, Brennan, in Gooseman’s stable, has been taken in hand again. Since his initial run at Marton last year he has been enjoying a spell. Barshot, who I mentioned some time back as being on the sick list, is now partly recovered from his indisposition. What with Prince Charlie just suffering a recovery, and Rangipuhi still disabled, Quinlivan can be said to have been having a not too rosy time of it lately. I sincerely hope that in the future things will assume a brighter aspect for him. Last Saturday morning, Horace Reeves, a Hastings trainer, who is greatly respected, not only by his fellow trainers, but by the general public, had the great misfortune to lose his wife,

a young woman of only 26. In his sad bereavement, sincere sympathy is felt for him all over the district.

Jack Cuneen, in consequence of his brother’s disqualification, now controls the destiny of Kauri Gum, Marina, and Harmony. The latter is going to be schooled over hurdles in view of the Trial Hurdles at Napier Park next month. Jack is a hard working and industrious chap, and I should say that the above-mentioned trio ought to prosper under his guidance. Gold Cup will, so I have been informed, be hacked about at her owner’s place near Waipawa. I asked Ted Cuneen what he would do now that he was under the ban, and he laughingly replied that he would rusticate in the country, and perhaps pick up a wrinkle or two about sheep farming. “ You know,” he said., “it might come in handy some day.” Having known Ted since he was a boy (a day or two ago) I feel sorry for him in his trouble, and hope the penance he is now doing will have good effect upon his conduct. Yesterday I had a look at Nichol’s, of Invercargill, electric starting machine, and it is a most ingenious affair for trotting, bicycling, or any other events which have time starts allowed to them. It should prove invaluable. I will write a full detailed account of it in my next, as in telegraphing one cannot give the necessary explanations so fully as could be wished. Mr Elbourne, the trotting handicapper, who is not a bad judge, has expressed himself as being very highly pleased with the apparatus. Pocock and Fraser, the bicyclists, who got a smash up at the Recreation Ground on January 27th, are now on the fair way to recovery. Your Wellington correspondent, in commenting upon Torpina’s performances at the late Wellington meeting, makes the assertion that the syndicate who race The Shrew and Torpina are not racing on account of adverse handicapping. In that he is wrong, as one of the members of the firm assures me, and also gave me his authority to make it public.