WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 741, 19 May 1904, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

Wellington, May 15. A subject of much discussion in sporting circles is the Convoy-Glad-some case. The majority disagree with the final decision inasmuch as the judges had to assume that the term jockey also meant apprentice. Now, if the terms jockey and apprentice are synonymous, then journeyman and apprentice must also mean one and the same thing. Rule 143 (I.) alludes to them as separate persons, and states that only holders of jockey’s and apprentice’s licenses shall be qualified to ride, but there is nothing to set forth what the penalty is for committing a breach of this rule. The New Zealand Trotting Conference realised this and added a clause, which set forth that “any rider or driver who not holding a license shall ride, shall be fined any sum not exceeding £20 —or may be disqualified.” This punishment applies only to the rider and is not apparently meant to be visited on the owner of the horse ridden) by an unqualified rider. The judges of the Racing Conference finding no power in their Rules of Racing to punish the unqualified rider of Gladsome evidently consider someone should be punished, and proceed to fine the owner of Gladsome the value of the stakes won by his filly when ridden by an unlicensed apprentice. The Trotting Association judges would have punished the rider only unless it was clear that the owner had corruptly conspired With the rider so commit a breach of the rules, when he also would probably be fined. The ruling of the Conference Appeal Board is contrary to equity, and few rac men will agree that the framers intended that such a construction as that of the Appeal Board should be put on tnese rules which they rely on to support their decision. The Hawke’s Bay Meeting was a disastrous one for the stables presided over by the veterans E. Cutts and I J. Mason. Cannie Chiel on his Manawatu running looked something akin to a moral for the Hawke’s Bay Cup but ran one of his bad races and finished out of a place. Treadmill, another of Cutts’ charges, contracted a severe cold and was unable to start in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, whilst Tessera met more than her match in the Soult filly Solution in the Nursery Handicap. Mason’s pair, Machine Gun and Golden Lily were considered certain to run first and second in the Stakes, but Boris (who was unable to get a place in the North Island Challenge Stakes behind Martian), vigorously ridden by Geo. Price, made all the running and just lasted long enough to beat Machine Gun, who, on this occasion was given a taste of the whip and was finishing faster than the winner. Boris’ win is considered a lucky one as he was tiring fast, and a few strides past the post Machine Gun passed him. The win of the I’orirua colt was a skinner for the local starting-price layers his victory apparently not being anticipated by his party.

Most sportsmen were pleased to see Harry Goodman provide a winner with the filly Solution. Her owner and his friends expected her to win, and she was spiritedly supported in Wellington and elsewhere. Her owner, R. W. Paterson, would probably have been pleased had the filly been engaged in the Hawke’s Bay Stakes, as on her first day’s form she would have made a good showing. W. Davis has been schooling Kohinui over steeplechase fences and he jumps fairly well. Davis will be represented at Wanganui with Kohinui and Ballarat. Levant, Lissa and Shrapnel Shell, a trio of Hutt-trained horses, will also represent their respective stables. All the horses named are in capital condition and should give a good account of themselves.

Warwick, who recently joined Mr Jorgenson’s team, is taking kindly to jumping. He and Benefactor are occasionally schooled in company, and shape well for novices at the illegitimate game. Mr D. Thomson, owner of Kremlin, The Guesser and Tomahanga, contemplates taking up his residence at Palmerston North. He intends having his horses trained on the Awapuni course as soon as suitable accommodation for them can be secured.

Messrs R. Mason, W T . Cutts, and J. McGuiness, passed through on their way homewards with Machine Gun, Golden Lily, Treadmill, Tessera, CannieChiel, and Ailsa. With the exception of Cannie Chiel, who may be taken on to Dunedin for the Winter Meeting, they will go into winter quarters on reaching their respective destinations. The Wanganui Meeting takes place on Tuesday next. The following should be worth following Flying Handicap : Black Reynard, Ballarat, Delania. Grandstand Steeplechase : Hutana, Kohunui, Pharos. Century Hurdles : Hadyn, Killarney, Lissa.

Connolly Handicap : Black Reynard,. Exmoor, Shrapnel Shell. For the Steeplechase which is run on the second day of the meeting, Hadyn and Hutana should furnish the winner.