WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVIII, Issue 1063, 21 July 1910, Page 8

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, July 18.

His Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, was a visitor to Trentham on Saturday and his Lordship appeared to take considerable interest in the sport provided. Amongst prominent Northern sporting folk that one noticed at Trentham on Saturday were Messrs. Hayr (Avondale Jockey Club), C. Mark (secretary Auckland Trotting Club), F. Yonge (Papakura Racing Club), E. W. Allison (president Takapuna J.C.) and Messrs. Cleave (two), “Sporting and Dramatic Review” (Auckland). They all appeared to be hard at work endeavouring to find the winners and it is hoped that their efforts met with some success.

The returns from the totalisator on Saturday amounted to £11,047, against £9904 handled at the corresponding day’s meeting last year, showing an increase of £1143 which is decidedly good business from the Club’s point of view. The judging cf Mr. H. Hartgill was up to his usual high standard, his decisions being given with promptitude and accuracy. Mundic was paying a substantial two figure dividend to win the Stewards’ Handicap on Saturday and as it was his supporters were rewarded with a dividend worth a little over three times that of the winner. Multiple was decidedly neglected by the speculating public in the Miramar Handicap, with the result that Paddy McLaughlin’s recent purchase returned a substantial two figure dividend on the totalisator. As a rule horses ridden by A. Olliver are generally well supported, but they did not follow him on Multiple, with the result that Multiform’s son paid the largest dividend oh the day’s racing. Penza should be considerably benefitted by her exertions in the Miramar Handicap and it should enhance her prospects in the Winter Cup, for which event she is one of the favourite selections.

Wanganui sports lost considerably over St. Lumsden’s failure to pay a dividend on Saturday, but they aver that they will not have to wait long before they recover back some of their lost coin.

White Cockade appears to be. a very useful sort and the gelding should annex some more events if properly placed before the winter racing is brought to a conclusion. Gaelic ran well in the Peninsula Hurdle event and this Bonnie Scotland gelding appears to be capable of winning jumping events. Mr. J. Cress

certainly deserves some success after his perseverance with Gaelic, who has been somewhat of a disappointment. Bollin was one of the outsiders in the Parliamentary Handicap and he returned his supporters a substantial dividend.

The Martinborough trainer J. Russell has Merrie Zealand in splendid fettle and judging by his excellent showing on Saturday the Merrie England gelding will have to be reckoned with in his approaching engagements.

Tauira still screws his jumps considerably and this lost him a lot of ground on Saturday, but Paisano was always handy and at the business end he had the Porirua jumper well beaten.

Old Paritutu ran a game race on Saturday and in A. Julian’s hands he gave a fair display, but in the writer’s opinion Jervis George’s old battler should be pensioned off. Woolloomooloo ran very indifferently on Saturday being kept a long way in the real’ during the running of the race. This jumper’s form was too bad to be true. . The Foxton trainer A. Wright brought Sir Antrim and Lionheart down for Saturday’s racing, but the pair failed to run prominently. They both appear in good fettle and may do better later on. Sporting folk were much impressed by a two-year-old colt by Kilcheran from Certificate, who made his appearance in the Trial Plate on Saturday. The youngster is owned, by the sportsman who races as “Mr. Highden” and whose racing education is being attended to by G. Price at Awapuni. Descendants of Birkenhead were seen in a favourable light <on Saturday, for out of the seven events on the ’card no less than five of the runners viz., Elfish, Bollin, Morecambe, Contendent and Stourton filled situations which goes to show that the Karamu horse’s gets appreciate the tracks when the going is on the soft side. Mr. G. B. Oman and the Hon. J. u. Ormond were the largest stake winners on the first day as they each won £4OO, the former gaining his amount by the aid of Paisano, whilst the squire of Karamu won three races with Bollin, Morecambe and Contendent, whilst Elfish was third in his event. These amounts are subject to a ten per cent, reduction, making £360 nett to each owner. In the Press room at Trentham on Saturday a vote of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr. W. Coffey, who had up to the time of his death acted as chairman of the racecourse gallery, where his tact and energy had gained him many friends, was passed. The motion was passed in silence, with the Press representatives standing. . For the purpose of comparison with the totalisator turnover of last year and this year, the following table will show at a glance the real situation: —

1909. 1910. £ £ Stewards’ Handicap 843 991 Miramar Handicap --- - • Peninsula Hurdle Hanca- i 24g Parliamentary Handicap 1,551 2,181 JBWTT..till Te Aro Handicap 1,979 ‘2.103 9,904 11,047 The most successful rider on Saturday was F. D. Jones with three wins, his successes being gained with Bollin, Contendent and Morecambe. Others to win a race apiece were: C. Jenkins (Electrakoff), A. Olliver (Multiple), W. Retter (White Cockade) and W. Young (Paisano).