WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1163, 25 July 1912, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The local owner who races as H. Whitney has decided to again change his trainer, and his horses, who for some months past have been trained by C. Pritchard, are to be trained by J. Scott, who will act as his private trainer. Mr. Whitney has a stud farm at Waikanae and his horses Mediterranean, Ceylon, Odessa, Mt. Victoria, and Aema will be trained there for the future. T. Pritchard was present at Trentham and was able to walk about with the aid of crutches. All wellwishers of this popular rider are looking forward to his return to the pigskin, but the time seems far off as “Tom” has had a gruelling time,

and some time must elapse ere he is well enough to ride. J. George, the veteran New Plymouth owner-trainer, leaves for Lyttelton to-day with Paritutu, Crown Pearl, and Royal Arms. In a conversation, Mr. George stated that Paratutu was in capital form and he quite expected the old fellow to emulate his last year’s performance in next month’s big Riccarton event.

Master Paul contested both of the principal steeplechases at Wellington, but in each instance he failed to complete the course. ,Uranium was never in the fighting line in the Winter Hurdles at Wellington, but going would be all against the daughter of Leolantis, who gallops close to the ground. She may do better at Riccarton.

■''*’** _ A. Jackson brought John to Wellington, but owing to the heavy state of the tracks the gelding was not produced at the W.R.C. meeting. He is, however, a sure starter at Riccarton. Te Rover was not suited by the heavy going at Trentham and finished well back in the Parliamentary Handicap, which was his solitary appearance at the meeting. The son of Advance and Polly Perkins is, however, very fit, and he can be relied upon to put up a big fight in his Grand National Hurdle contest. The decision of the Racing Conference to appoint stipendiary stewards was a theme of admiration amongst sportsmen attending the W.R.C. meeting. If these gentlemen had been an established fact the writer is of opinion that the result of a couple of races at Trentham on

Saturday. would have been, entirely different. To the credit of the stewards they took action in . one. case, but in another as equally as flagrant no inquiry was held. Sid Reid, Joe O’Connell, and H. Patten, with two wins each to their credit, were the most successful horsemen at the recent W.R.C. meeting. Other riders to score on one occasion each were: W. J. Porter,

W. Ryan, W. Young, F. Douglas, H.. McSweeney, W. Price, T. Jones, and. P. Brady. Five boxes were engaged at Riccarton for the Hon. J. D. Ormond, but these have since been cancelled,, and it is reported that the Karamu sportsman will not be represented at the meeting. However, Bollin has accepted for the Grand National Hurdles. F. Carmont, the Levin owner, complains bitterly of the manner in which he was treated by the railway authorities in bringing Parewanui to Trentham. The gelding was loaded at Levin at 9 a.m., was kept waiting for one hour at Paikakariki, and three hours at Wellington eventually reaching Trentham at 9 p.m., thus taking 12 hours to cover a train journey of 60 miles. Surely the authorities should consider owners of blood stock and arrange for quicker transit than prevails at present.