WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1166, 15 August 1912, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 12. War Queen is fast getting into form under her owner-trainer’s H. W. Clay, at Trentham. The daughter of Field Battery has demonstrated that she can gallop and consequently she should be heard of early in the season. Merrivonia and Lady Kilcheran are to go into work shortly under J. Ayers’ care at Trentham. This pair of Mr J. Ames’ gallopers have wintered well and are in good order to renew their acquaintance with the race tracks. Mi' W. A. Grace’s mare, Gay Lawless is reported much improved since being trained at Trentham. She is being hustled along preparatory to her early appearance at some of the spring meetings. The half brother to Polymorphous by Sir Laddo promises to make a decided acquisition to the racing brig-, ade judging by his displays on the training tracks. The youngster will probably make his debut with the colours up at some of the Christmas meetings. A Wairarapa breeder is negotiating for the purchase of Sir Frisco and there is a probability of the handsome son of San Francisco and Waitemata being at the service of breeders in those parts during the comingseason. Being so fashionably bred, Sir Frisco is certain of making a success at the stud.

In Parewanui, Stockade and Lady Louisa, the stable presided over by F. J. Carmont at Levin will have a useful trio to represent his establishment during the present season. The horses named are all well forward and are fit to race at any moment. Mr J. O’Meara, a well-known Feilding sportsman was a visitor to Wellington last week. He tells me he has sold out of his interest in the Manchester Hotel, Feilding, and is now on the lookout for another place. Fashion Plate, owned by Mr O’Meara and trained by A. Atwood at Feilding will be a starter at the Marton meeting. The hurdler, Winchester is receiving a thorough preparation for this season’s racing at the hands of A. Atwood. Being a splendid jumper and possessed of pace, Winchester should pay his way in hurdle events during the ensuing season. The decision of the New Zealand Racing Conference to appoint stipendiary stewards to control racing in the Dominion has been well received in local sporting circles, and after the scandals of last season something was necessary to place footing on a higher pedestal than has hitherto been the case. Provided the right men are selected, and there is no reason why they shouldn’t, the officials appointed should soon justify their existence if we are to have a repetition of the miserable tactics of several riders last season. The writer remembers an incident that occurred at a Taranaki meeting recently, when a newspaper reporter on a weekly New Zealand newspaper assumed the duties of a stipendiary and stationing himself at the turn to - the straight urged the riders of the horses he was backing to shake their mounts up. The “Stipendiary” in question got “wind” of a “good thing” for a bracelet race, and posting himself in his accustomed place

at the turn he awaited developments. When the horse he had rv'pmted came along it was quite obvious that the rider in question was taking things easy. The “Stipe.” called out: “Let your mount go,” but the only reply he got was “Not having any today.” It was a sad and disappointed reporter who wended his way back to the press room, feeling no doubt that he had been harshly treated for his efforts in the cause of fine racing, and being subjected to such indignity from the jockey in question who it may be mentioned was a gentleman rider.