WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 529, 7 February 1901, Page 13

WELLINGTON.

TROTTING CLUBS—THE PAHIATUA MEETING —THE TELFORD V- PETERS CASE —THE HOROWHENUA SCLUB - ADDINGTON —MR VICTOR HARRIS’ PURCHASES - WELLINGTON R.C. BUSINESS. Wellington, February 2. At the last meeting of the Nelson Trotting Club the balance sheet for the last race meeting, when £162 was given in stakes, showed that there was a small balance in hand. Acommittee was set up to canvas the district for members to meet and report progress on February 12. Dr Bill and Ringlet look well after their spell at the Hutt. The Westport 'trotting Club made a profit of £lB7 over the last meeting. The receipts totalled £670. Cornea is again in daily work at the Hutt under F. Higgott’s mentorship. The weather was wet for the opening day of the Pahiatua Meeting, and the going was heavy, but the weather was fine for the second day when the attendance was better. The Pahiatua Cup of a mile and a-quarter was appropriated by an outsider, Field Trick, a grey filly by Trickster from Field Piece, who beat Passion Fruit by a length, with Illumination (carrying 71b penalty) third. Tukapa and Passion Eruit were best fancied. Dividend £lO 4s. The winner is trained by IkeFreeth at Tauherinakau. The chestnut mare Kukupa, by Forester — Jeanette, won a double during the day, the Telegraph Stakes and the Konine Handicap. In the first named event she registered an easy win from Mustella, Aldinga being third. There were nine others in the field, Parahina being the actual favourite. Dividend, £5 9s. Kukupa started first choice for the Konine Handicap subsequently, and nothing had a chance with her, she winning by a number of lengths from Fireball and Tokatea. Kukupa’s weight was Bst, which included lOlbs penalty. Dividend, £2 7s.

The Louis d’Or mare, Grey Ribbon was best fancied for the Hurdles, and registered a win under list .“121b from Cyclist, a minimum weighted horse belonging to Mr K. McKenzie. This animal stumbled at the last fence and the mare got home by half a length. Dividend, £2 6s.

D. Scally scored a very easy win in the Flying Handicap with his Somnus mare, Somnolent, who led all the way, and won from Mustella and Lethargy, Dividend, £2 Ils. J Macares’ Plaidie, by Quilt —Jenzail, was very lucky to win the Maiden Plate; General Wolfe was in the lead in the straight, but McMorrin took things rather easily, and Plaidie, coming up on the inside, won by a head. Dividend, £1 15s. A three year-old chestnut gelding, Mangaha, by Wanderer, beat a field of six in the Members’ Handicap. He was ridden by Mr Hirst. Splash (Mr Sims) was only half a length behind. Dividend, £5 7s. If McMorrin made a mistake with General Wolfe in the Maiden he did not repeat it.in the Railway Welter, in which the horse was one of the least fancied. The son of Wolverine led all the way and won anyhow, paying £lO 15s. Cavalier beat Rags on the post for seco'd place. On the second day the Racing Club Handicap fell to Mr Lambert’s mare Gipsy Queen, by Gipsy King, who defeated Passion Fruit by a couple of lengths, Cavalier being ’third. The second horse was favourite but Somnolent was almost as eqaully fancied. Dividend, £6 18s. Passion Fruit, who is by Douglas, compensated for his defeat later on however, by annexing the mile Grandstand Handicap, paying £7. The margin was a narrow one though, Plaidie being beaten by a head, Oudenarde third, a neck behind the second horse. Oudenarde was favourite.

Illumination had no difficulty in accounting tor Fireball and two others in the Newmarket Handicap, returning £1 14s, and Master Jack proved too good for Grey Ribbon in the Hurdles and paid £6 15s. There was a little trouble over the Onslow Park Handicap, which fell to Norine, by Strowan, who defeated Mustella by half a length, with Kukupa (the favourite) third. There were three other starters. A protest was lodged for inconsistency but the stewards dis-

missed it. Although the mare ran in the name of that good sportsman, Mt G. E. G. Richardson of Napier, it is stated that she is not now his property. The dividend was £4 11s. Forest Oak, by Forester —Belinda, paid 4gns in the Stewards Welter, in which he made all the running and beat Manawanui and half-a-dozen others, and Manawanui had to play second fiddle later on to Wee Guard, by Vanguard—Wheel of Fortune, in the Pahiatua Scurry, the dividend being £4 10s. At the Magistrate’s Court this week the case of Henry Telford v. H. Peters claimed £l6 for riding fees at Marton last September was heard. Mr Hindmarsh, counsel for defendant, set up the defence that Telford was an unlicensed jockey at the time, and that therefore Peters would not have been able to get the prizes offered for the races had his horses gained first place when lidden by Telford. Mr Dalziell, counsel for plaintiff, elicited from him that he had been the holder of a jockey’s license, and that in the interval of making the arrangement with Peters to ride the horses Belford put in an application for a renewal of his license ; that owing to some misunderstanding a notice was inserted in the papers stating that among renewals of jockeys’ licenses granted by the Metropolitan Club was that of Telford, whereas the fact was that the question of a renewal was held over in Telford’s ease. It was sought by the defence to establish that Telford had not done justice to a horse which he rode for Peters, but the plaintiff gave a feasible explanation of the occurrence. Mr Horatio Lyons, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, deposed that Telford’s license was refused because he had an interest in a racehorse, he was not a disqualified jockey The refusal of Telford’s license was notified in the “ Referee,” but it was likely that before the Marton Meeting Telford would only see the Wellington papers. Mr Hindmarsh submitted that the fact of plaintiff being unqualified to act as a jockey absolved Peters from any liability to pay him riding fees. Mr Dalziell urged that there was absolutely no deceit on his client’s part; the absence of that was clearly proved by the evidence. „ The contract having been performed it could not be severed, and defendant’s only remedy was to sue Telford for damages. The defence set up said counsel was merely a quibble in order to escape liability. The Magistrate said he would be guided by the evidence of Lyons, who had deposed that under the circumstances of the case he thought Telford was justified in "riding, and that it was possible the Metropolitan Racing Club would have taken into account the special circumstances of the case in event of an appeal against a supposititious win by Peters’ horse. Judgment went for plaintiff, with costs £1 16s. jSotice of appeal was given. Mustella had the bad luck to run into second place three times at Pahiatua. The Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club has received thirty-two nominations for the Guineas of 1902. February 5. The Horowhenua Club has had its course mnch improved. All the sharp turns have been rounded and the track extended towards the lake. It is now more of a circular than oval course, and owners will greatly appreciate the improvement. The stallion Addington has been purchased by Mr Donald Fraser of Rangitikei. He is by Vanguard—Miss Lucy. Mr V. Hanis has purchased Cora Linn from Mr J. Corrigan, and Heiress from Captain Russell. It is stated that he gave £2OO for the first-named.. The St Andrew mare Ngaparu is now being trained by W. Davis at the Hutt. Quite a number of people have been endeavouring to secure the Reynard gelding Full Cry, but his owner will not part with him. He is apparently a cut above the ordinary. At a meeting of the committee of the Wellington Club yesterday the balance sheet of the last meeting showed that, notwithstanding the bad weather on the concluding day, there was good balance ;to credit. It was resolved to pay all liabilities to date. The jockey’s license of Charles Taylor was suspended, and it was decided to call upon him for an explanation as to why he left his last employer, Mr J. H. George. R Ross and K. McKenzie were granted trainer’s licenses, and Messrs McCardle and Orr, of Pahiatua, jockey’s licenses. The following programmes were passed : — Wairarapa Racing Club, Apri 8 and 9, stakes £910; and Shannon Hack Club (no tote), stakes £73.