TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1247, 12 March 1914, Page 18

TURF GOSSIP.

our Travelling Correspondent). MARTON, March 9. Quite one of the features of the Dannevirae meeting last week was the series oi successes gained by J. W. Sceats, who, at the beginning of this season set up as a public tramei at Woodville. Horses trained by him fared particularly weil, winning no .ess than three races, while they occupied second place on two occasions. AS the horses all paid remunerative prices, followers of the stable experienced a happy time indeed. J. Hennan leaves Wellington on Friday next for Sydney, taking with mm Continuance and a couple of lesser lights in the racing world. With his little team, ‘Jack’' should fare well in nis exploits across the Tasman SCcL

j. O’Shea and W. Bell, with three wins to tneir credit, were the most successful riders at the Dannevirke meeting last week. E. Lowe and B. Deeley followed closely with a brace apiece, others to win on one occasion were W. D. Young, A. Oliver, WWeller, W. Trice, L. Traill and L. Wilson.

Mr. B. Coyle’s adjustments for the first day’s events of the Napier Bark R.C. Autumn meeting, which takes place on Friday and Saturday next, nave drawn a capital acceptance listWith recent form to guide him tne handicapper appears to have pleased the majority of owners, who usually attend the Greenmeadows gatherings in large numbers.

Montano, for whom 1 had a good word to say in the previous week’s issue of the “Review,” bore out the good opinion 1 formed of him by winning the Maiden Plate at Dannevirke on Wednesday last. The dividend returned by the son of Elevation — Grecian Maid was the largest paid during the progress of the two days’ racing. The horse’s owner, Mr. W. Cooper, of Te Ore Ore, Masterton w r as present to see his galloper win and he participated in the substantial price paid by the winner. Firing Line is a cut above the or dinary, and will win in better com-

pany than was opposed to him at uannevirne, wnere the gelding won a uoume. 2k regular bungle was made in the acceptance nst tor cue waicoKe Welter uii cue secona u<ay ac Dannevirae. faume uorses were in the book tnac never manned engagements, wmle ocners were lert out. Mannan s name

was missing irom tiie •■Krect" card, anu, ao usuaiiy Happens, the norse wen. monologue's name was a±so omitted, anu ne nmsiied m third place. 2x mrge number or people were not aware mat Manitau was in tiie race, anu there were many murmunngs when tne norse won- The incident din not redound to the credit of the ciub, anu it is noped that there will never oe a recurrence of such an unomission.

Visitors at tne Dannevirke meeting last week had the unique experience oi witnessing a water cart parading tne lawn, from winch the back portion tiiereot omitted water, which was scattered about broadcast, much to tne consternation of a number of tne ciub’s patrons, some of whom received a liberal sprinkling. The step of watering the lawn was necessitated through the large amount of dust that was iioating about and which amounted to a positive nuisance. Visitors to the club’s meetings in the future will not be troubled with the dust, as the club’s grounds by that time (September) will be more solidified and grown with grass.

The many friends of E. Murtagh and J. Conquest, who each received a severe knocking about through their mounts falling at the Wanganui meeting, will be glad to know that both riders have recovered sufficiently to leave the hospital. Murtagh was discharged on Wednesday last and Conquest on the following day. They are both feeling the effects of their injuries, but a little care and attention will again soon see these popular riders following their usual callings. Mr. J. R. McDonald, the well-known Levin sportsman, was a visitor to |he Dfannevirke meeting last week after a somewhat severe illness. Mr. McDonald’s many friends were pleased to notice a decided change for the better, and the hope is expressed that the popular owner will soon be re-

stored to his usual robust state of health.

Blue Mount, who will in future be trained by G. Neicn, of Clare Ville, will run in tne joint interests of Messrs. Percy E. Wall, of Hatuma, and C. E. Twist, of Greenmeadows. it. nocKley, of Dannevirke, has a promising sort in his stable in Seamstress, a three-year-old mare uy iNeediegun —Miro, who the writer predicts to turn out very useful. J. S. u'i\enl, the Hastings trainer, produced Merry Jack at tne Dannevirne meeting, and under the circumstances did well in running second to h iring Line, who is a cut above the or dinar y| With another gallop or two Merry Jack should be doing his owner, Mr. J. Polton, some useful service.

It seemed a pity to ? start Lord Renown at Dannevirke after the chestnut s poor snowing at Wanganui. Tne son of Renown is obviously in need of a well-earned spell.

Master Malachi will soon be catching the judges eye in a hurdle race, rne geiaing gave an excellent display when ne was produced on the second day at Dannevirke, and is evidently the makings of a decent hurdler. He is a member of J. ,W Sceats’ team. Combustion is a useful sort, but he is. not yet quite ready. When a little more seasoned, the chestnut son of Bombardo snould certainly do G. Morris some good service. The Marton owner is badly in need of something to take the place of the wellknown hurdler of that name, who. was recently disqualified in Australia.

There will be a big contingent of sports from these parts on Thursday next for the purpose'of attending the Autumn meeting of the Napier Park Racing Club, which takes place on Friday and Saturday next. Mr. W. H. Bowden, of Kaiwarra, near Wellington, was represented at the Dannevirke meeting with Hush-a-bye, a horse that ran as green as it looked. It is a two-year-old by Achilles—Berceuse, but is not yet fit to race.

Mr. G. Glenn, of Makirikiri, up the Wanganui River, has a budding aspirant for racing honours in Protocol, a two-year-old filly by Signor—Armistice, who, if appearances count for

anything, cannot help but turn out useful. The youngster, who is trained by F. Tiliey at Fordell, is assured of a prospeious career.

W. Weller, who does not get many opportunities as he is gaining in avoirdupois, rode a capital race on Mescal on the opening day at Dannevirke, just getting his mount home after a strenuous set-to with Mysteriarch. As he can go to scale in the region of 7st 101 b, his services shou.d be in demand during the next few months. Weller is attached to F. Tiiley’s establishment. Provided he sees the post, Okanu shcuid keep his opponents busy m hurdle events at the Napier Para meeting, while Composed will also run well.

Te Huliuti will be seen out at the Napier Park meeting. This son of Daunt —Melba ran third in the Hacu Scurry at Dannevirke, and is evidently coming on. Perceler will be a hard horse to beat in the Napier Park Cup, of one mile and a-quarter, as the chestnut led the field in the Dannevirke Cup for a similar distance. The Settler, who has been running with some bad luck this season, is to compete at the Napier Park meeting. A win for Mr. Paul Hunter would be properly received in sporting circles. T. Wilson, the Awapuni ownertram er, is busy getting Powder Fox and Classis ready for their forthcom. ing engagements. The pair are destined to assist at the Rangitikei meeting.

The Victorian Amateur Turf Club had a really fine meeting. The racing was good, except in the jumpingevents, and, fortunately, acording to the “Australasian,” there were onlytwo of them. The steeplechasers were the sorriest lot we have seen on a leading course for some time. There is no cruelty 7 in running horses over fences in summer when the landing is tempered to the poor old crock and the going in between is just as good as the flat racers get, but in this matter times have changed, and owners have done the changing. They will not run good horses over fences in the summer. When the winter season comes on there will be no lack of jumping horses to fill the big races.