WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1316, 15 July 1915, Page 11

WELLINGTON.

Postponement of Wellington R.C. s Meeting— Manawatu Hunt Steeplechase Meeting — Lord Multifid’s Australian Engagements—Reputation training on well in Australia.

(From Our (Jviii Currcupondentj WELLINGTON, Monday. The decision of the Wellington Racing Club to postpone their Winter Meeting, which was set down for decision this month, was well anticipated in sporting circles, as it was clearly recognised that to hold a race meeting when a number of the race course buildings were being utilised as a hospital for the troops was contrary to all rules of civilisation. The club are to be commended for, their sportsmanlike acton, as the abandoning of the gathering means a severe loss of revenue to the club, but no doubt when the adjourned meeting does eventuate the club will be rewarded with bumper nominations from all over New Zealand. The old parrot cry has been raised that quite a number of dependents on racing will be deprived of a living if the racing days are curtailed, but the writer expresses the opinion that the C.J.C Grand National Meeting will not suffer any untoward inconven’ence owing to the Wellington Racing Club having wisely decided to abandon their winter fixture for the time being.

The many tr ends in the Wairarapa of W. J. (“Tas”) Smith, who was for some time clerk of the course for the Masterton Racing Club, will regret to hear of his death, which took place in the Dardanelles operations last month when acting as a unit of the N.Z. Expeditionary Forces. Sid. ReiC, the well-known horseman, last weeF. received a postcard written by the late • Tas ’ Smith, prior to his leaving for .he Dardanelles, in the followingterms: — “Zeitoun Camp, May 24, 1915. Have been expecting a note of some sort from you, but so far no luck, so just bustle yourself and let me know how things are going. Our luck is out as regards shifting away from Egypt. All the training is just about finished now. I get the “Sporting and Dramatic” every fortnight, so 1 am kept well up with the racing in New Zealand.” In the late “Tas” Smith the country loses a keen sporting enthusiast, and the sympathy of a wide circle of acquaintances goes out to his relatives in their sad bereavement. They have the sat’sfaction of knowing that he died fighting for his King and country.

Mr. H. E. Good, of Wanganui, has running out on his place two splendid specimens of the thoroughbred in an eighteen-month-old filly by Maniapoto — Waddy (Merriwee — Mosquetaire), the latter being a full-sister to Boomerang. The somewhat appropriate name of Gaba Tepe, derived from the landing place of the Australian troops at the Dardanelles, has

been chosen for this budding youngracehorse. r lhe other is a rising yearling colt, a full-brother to the above. Both youngsters are built on massive lines, and should make a valued addition to the racing ranks in this country. Speaking about .Man apoto, reminds me that this splendid sire will be again at the service of breeders at Wanganui next season at the somewhat low fee of 20 guineas. The Manawatu Hunt Steeplechase Meeting, that takes place on the Awapuni race course on the 21st inst., promises to be very successful. Capital fields are assured, and with the prospect of some splendid racing the meeting should mark a new era in the future progress of this popular racinginstitution. With Mr. W. McKenzie as secretary, the club have an official who is always ready to study its interests in a manner that leaves no room for complaints from even the most fastidious.

Geo. Price the “H’ghden ’ trainer, is due to arrive in Wellington from London at the end of this week by the N.iZ. Shipp'ng Co.’s s.s. Ruahine. Price is bringing out with him a few horses purchased in the Old Country, who are credited with some capital breeding on their side.

Two prominent Taranaki sportsmen, in J. Hawkins and Monty Mills, left Wellington for Sydney on Friday last for the purpose of seeing Lord Multifid race in Australia. This promising racehorse, who is owned by

Mr. Hawkins, has been electrifying the touts at Flemington, and consequently he has been well taken care of by the handicappers. A big-boned horse, with ample substance weight, should not stop Lord Multifid, and he can be relied upon to worthily represent New Zealand in events that he competes in during the next few months. Returned visitors from the Gisborne meeting speak of “Skipper” Ryan’s riding as being well nigh perfect. His handling of Perceler was a fine piece of work, and gained for him many admirers for the future. Sid Reid has made his headquarters at H. Telford’s, at Trentham, and as he is fast gaining prominence as a hurdle horseman many successes should come his way dver the obstacles.

T. Meagher, the fearless cioss-coun-try horseman, is the latest jockey to join the Expeditionary Forces, and is already in camp at Trentham. Meagher is a capital rider, and wivh his pluck and courage he should make an ideal soldier of the King. Mr. H. Cameron s ’chaser Aha is fast getting into form under T. Lloyd’s guidance at Marton. A capital fencer, with some pace on his side, this jumper should fare well during the next few months. W. G. Trask, at Foxton, has Danger Signal and Mystified fairly jumping out of their skins on the local tracks. The pair are down to compete at the Manawatu Hunt Meeting next week. Both horses are overdue for a win, and the'r turn should come in the near future.

D. Nyhan is getting a useful trotting team together at the Lower Hutt, the latest trotter to join his stable being Lieutenant, who has been faring well in the Auckland d strict during the last few months.

The Ranter, owned by Mr. Gaisford, of Dannevirke, js coming back to form, and his capital jumping ability should be a strong factor in his favour in approaching steeplechasing events.

N. Williams, the Otak' owner-train-er, anticipates taking Mann and Borsil to the Manawatu Hunt Meeting. Both horses are well forward, and should scon be catching the judge’s eye.

Mr. W. E. Bidwill writes me from Rctctawai to the effect that he is in receipt of a memo from F. McGrath, the Randwick trainer, announcing the fact that his (Mr. B'dwill) colt Reputation is training on very satisfactorily on Australian soil. Reputation has been allotted ample weight by the handicappers, but no doubt Mr. Bidwill looks upon the poundage as a compl’ment to his splendid racehorse.

Some months must elapse before the Trentham race course is finally divested of its disease germs, and under the circumstances it will occasion no surprise if no race meeting is held there prior to the Spring Meeting, which takes place in October next.

When up in Hawke’s Bay last week the writer was informed by a reliable sporting authority that great things ’n the jumping line were expected from Mr. F. Armstrong’s b g Mornng, by Sylvia Park from that good

performer Evening, who won many races over the obstacles. Morning has developed into an ideal crosscountry horse, and good judges are selecting him to gain Grand National honours. The six-year-old’s prospects for the future a r e distinctly reassuring.