WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 979, 10 December 1908, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, December 9.

Subsequent to the C.J.C. Winter Meeting at which the Foxton horse Motoa put up a couple of really meritorous performances, his owner was made a substantial offer by Mr Nettlefold with the view of taking the gelding to Melbourne to join the team presided over by Price. Motoa had, however, contracted a slight cold, and when examined by a vet. a certificate was not forthcoming. Mr Nettlefold’s offer, it appears, still held good, and as the horse is now in the best of health, the necessary veterinary certificate has been obtained and Motoa went on to Sydney en route for Melbourne by last Friday’s steamer. The price paid for Motoa is stated as one thousand guineas. The circumstances following on the Feilding Racing Club’s action in experimenting in an amateur starter has been the subject of much comment in racing circles. The gentleman entrusted with the office of starter at the club’s recent spring meeting, obviously lacked any knowledge of the duties he undertook to perform. The resu’t was disastrous to owners and those who indulged in backing their fancies, and after the sorry exhibitions in the first two races, comment was both painful and free. Horses that had been brought a considerable distance were debarred by the incapacity of the starter, from having any chance whatever of winning the events for which they were started. Those who backed them hardly got a run for their money, and as no one could fortell that a horse he intended backing would get away with the field, the investments on the totalisator were restricted accordingly and the totalisator turn-over showed a big falling off at the conclusion of the first day. It was a relief to all concerned when Mr Tom. Cameron was substituted as starter. His efforts were such a decided contrast to that of his predecessor that general surprise was expressed that he had not been appointed originally. The Manawatu Racing Club, it is stated, also intend employing an amateur starter. As this club has began badly owing to their nominations falling off about one-third when compared with the corresponding meeting last season, they may find the success of their gathering serious'y interfered with should they persist in indulging in unwise experiments. An expert starter makes for the success of a race meeting. Backers must be studied and endowed with confidence that the animal they put their coin on will get a fair chance of winning, otherwise they are not foolish enough to risk their money. The Wellington Racing Club’s summer programme has been finally decided upon and will be circulated forthwith. The Wellington Cup is endowed with lOObsovs added money, Racing Club Handicap 600sovs, and the Summer Handicap 500sovs. Valuable stakes are offered for the sprint and 2-year-old events, and horses qualified to race under hack conditions are offered a couple of good prizes of 200 and 250 sovs. Welter horses

are well catered for and the programme as a whole should satisfy owners of almost every class of racer. The meeting will open on a Wednesday and will conclude on the Friday and Saturday of the same week.

“ Mr Liskirk ” recently disposed of the Auckland-bred gelding Hiro. He ran at Feilding in the interest of his new owner and if any reliance can be placed in the timekeeper, his very best performance was recorded. Hitherto Hiro has been estimated as a very moderate animal. His second to Boomerang’s half-sister Muskerry in remarkably fast time, was a surprise to those who had watched his past form. W. Davis, one of our local trainers, was represented at Feilding by Ballarat and Yosami. The black mare displayed some of her old dash in the spring events, but on the first day was greatly assisted owing to her rider taking liberties with the amateur starter. Yosami jumped badly in the hurdle race and seemed to tire quickly'and will yet require some experience ere she meets with much success in good hurdle company. J. Prosser only took Gold Crest to the meeting. The Gold Reefs horse’s mission was the Feilding Stakes and in this event Gold Crest was greatly favoured by the lack of experience of the starter. C. Jenkins, who had the mount, simply beat the starter by half a dozen lengths, ana the race was virtual iy over ere the bulk of the competitors got on their legs. A number of backers followed Jenkin’s mount as they felt sanguine he would get Gold Crest away with a flying start and once in front the long-striding chestnut takes no end of catching. Provocation and Broadsword, the two-year-olds, put up sterling performances, but would require to be flying machines to give Gold Crest a start and beat him.

Prosser will shortly make a move in the direction of Auckland. His team will include Gold Crest, All Red, Diabolo and some lesser lights The latter has a number of local admirers and his prospects in the Auckland Cup are highly estimated. Local trainers will have their hands full during the next four weeks. There are some fourteen meetings at which they can race their charges, and unless we have some rain the tracks will be of an adamantine nature and there will most sure be a lot of sore horses at the beginning of the new year. Messrs Lowe, Pritchard, Higgott, Davies, and Prosser have amongst them a large number of horses in condition to race and some good stakes should come their way before the conclusion of the summer meetings.