THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 992, 6 December 1910, Page 7

THE TURF.

'.' ■■■'•''' — ~r—*- — - - '.•' WAIKANAE; R,C. NOMINATIONS,

-The.following nominations have been received for the Waikauae Hack Eacing Club's; meeting on New Tear's Day:— ■ FLYING HANDICAP. Fiv6 furlongs. —h-atipo, Flintstone, Kaukura,.. Dusky Sound, Tho Dunce, Paremata, Wairaweke, iikapa, Hereward. . . ;;';' PAHATA MEJtOUIAL. One mile.Bravery, AVaihob, Ivatipo, Kakanui, Maxim, Prince Hassan, Lifeline, Mollis, Paremata, .St. :"Amelia, Jack, Hereward, taptain, Valise, Inveran. '. , ' , NGABARA HANDICAP. Four furlongs.'— Maori ' Maid (late Article), Bravery, Katipo, Operation, Pori, Converter, Mooi Maisie, The Dunce, Elenor, Clover, Wairawoko, Takiri, Hereward, Pakau,. Seaweed, Goodform, Inveran. NGATIAWA! HANDICAP. Five' .furlongs.— Aliiiapai, Waihola, Katipo, Prince Hassan, Lifeline, Mollie , , Raukawa, The Dunce, Pnremata, Wairaweke, Tikapaj Kakanui,. Pakali, Seaweed, Goodform. FAHEWELL, HANDICAP. ' Four fur-longs.-Valai.se, Katipo, Flintftonc,' Operation, Converter, Cavallo-di-Coosa, Mooi Maisie, Dusky Sound; Elenor, Clover, Kohu, Wairaweke, Takiri, Hereward, Kakanui, Seaweed, Goodform, Inveran. ! '

Acceptances' and entries for' the Trial Plate close, on the :lGth instant, while weights will be declared about Friday next. '• . . '

■ NOTES AND COMMENTS, .'.-. ' .. [By Glencoe.] . At the Horarata" meeting on Thursday last the principal event went to. Aunt Sally, a useful member of ..Dan Moraghnn's Riccarton team. She was ridden .by J. Pine, and beat a hot favourite in the C.J.C. Oaks winner Marline",'. . The latter was carrying 9st. alto : gether prohibitive weight .for a three-year-old when the opposition contains horses ablo to run a mile in lminl ISsee. Jhe winner was galloping very, well oil the Bicearton tracks prior to "the C.J.C. meeting, at which she failed .to gain a bracket.' During tho following weeVshe was taken to. Tiniaru, and notched the opening event. Grand Slam, who seems to. have taken a new lease of'life, was urst past the post in the AVelter Handicap, beinc followed home by Canterbury, carrying Mr. H. A. Knight's colours, and the ancient Armamento. r '

The published list of acceptances for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap did not give rise to 'any spirited speculation, and matters in connection with tho big Auckland double are very quiet. Kopu. Diabolo, and Advocate are favourites for tho first, event in that order, while . Gipsy Belle and Theodore are in the first, rank in the Railway Handicap.

JTlie Dunedin owner of Bourbon has decided-to sell the son of Louis. XIV-and Felucca. This liorso will'make a really high-class and successful stallion for someone, if he gets into a good stud land is given a fair'chance. Horses with St. Siinon blood in them are not. very plentiful in this country, so probably the present owner of the horse will not be long in finding a buyer. '

News to Hand states that the Field Battery mare Emblem died yesterday. ■Probably the mare strained herself in tlis York Stakes, when she stopped so suddenly after going a furlong, but her dentil inay have beeu caused by an older complaint. For a long time sho has quite soured of racing, and it was only on rare, occasions that she"could bo got to leave the starting gate, though all sorts of persuasive measures were used. This greatly puzzled'her owner and trainer, but probably now i- solution of the puzzle has been arrived at.

As was noted yesterday the promised defection of Mendip from the Woodville Handicap will havo tho effect of making that race more open. Iranui has gone up in charge of her trainer, and.Vif at her best, she should be capable of running tho ton furlongs, with the best of the moderate lot engaged. Woodhey always .runs weir at this meeting, and Rau-pai-aha has Wn showing good form of late. The Poririia stablo will' be repre- , sented by St. Felix; and the little fellow is usually capable of; putting, up a good race when the conditions suit. In tho Electric Handicap the two champion sprinters, Lord Soult and Naumai, will fight their buttles over again, but, outside this pair, thero does not appear anything - that would be capable-of extending them were the pair at their best. '■■ ■ ' . :

Seldom has a second day card worked out so unpleasantly, ns was the' case at Feilding on Thursday, when, out of eight attempts, punters only hit the mark'twice. First of all came the Equitas. benefit, as. most people regarded, the York Stakes.; The wise men of. the turf held that the Advance mare would be all tho better.'for. the race which she had, had on the first day,' as it was known that Peachey' had been rather easy on her sinco.the Riecarton.meeting. Then again she got a very bad run on the rails the first day,' and' this would, assuredly not happen to a horseman of Oliver's calibre twice running. But what happened? Full Rate again took charge immediately the ;word was given, and, never giving the'remainder of tho field u chance, won' by a couple .of lengths. The Hack Race turned out well for tho -majority, ; as Vibration pulled them through. 1 Then came tho Ing , race, and, for tho third time, Oliver's mount (Sandstream) -.was made favourite. Host people .knew how. well Mendip ran at Dannevirke; but he was at quite a good price because he went down n little short in, his preliminary. This, however, was mainly duo to his, rider not lotting him. slide along. He n-qu very.comfortably, and the; favourite missed a place. Backers got on their legs again when.The Native 'won the Hurdles, finishing most stoutly under his big impost, which wns surprising, as tho black gelding does not appear to be up to weight in a x fast. race. Then severe trouble caino upon the great brigade— they foiled § to find another' winner. Merry Lawn,' the first day's favourite, went.out unbacked on the 6Ccond day, his fall from favour being due' to the report that ho had not eaten at all since his first race. .Evidently they were a poor lot which opposed him, for ho cantered home the easiest of winners. Tho Highdon-owned Allurement ■— Oliver's mount again—was the elect in tho Scurry, but Sa'n Pluie went out very fast, and Oliver was hard at the favourite to get her a ; position. Tho ' Waverley-owned Jackpin c&nght San Pluie a few lengths off the post, and beat her by a nock, with the favourite out of- a place. The littlefancied Patrobus won tho Welter Hack Flat event in a manner betokening better things in tho near future, and' Lady Menschikoff, who was making her second appearance on the' day, scored in tho final'event alter an exciting sot-to with liunkum and Jfarton. The showings of tlie two latter were good enough to win races, and both should score shortly. The day ended with confusion (o backers, and it will be a long time before tho fixture is forgotten. It was undeniably disagreeable to backers, who will want a good meeting lit , . Woodville to set matters right.

Owners and' trainers are reminded that nominations for'all events at the Hutt Valley Trotting ClnVs annual meeting on December 20 and 27, close ou Wednesday, December 7, at 9 p.m. WAIRARAPA R.C. MEETING. After Friday, at 8 p.m., it will be too late to nominate for the Wairarapa Racing Club's Hummer meeting. TJio club are again to the fore with big prize money, and no doubt a largo increase in nominations will be the result. The Cup is woyth 325 sovs., and the Racing Club Handicap has 200 sovs. attached to it. Tenders will ho. , received up till Monday next, at noon for the privileges in connection - with the meeting. RACIMG FIXTURES. . Dec. 7 and B—Woodvillo J.C. Summer.. Dec. 8-Wnitara K.C. Annual. .Dec. 10 and 17— Cliristcluirch .R.C. Summer. Dec. 23, 20, and 27-Slauawatu R.C. Summer. ■ • Deo. 20, 25, and Jan. 2 and 3—Auckland 11-.C. -Summer. Dec. 20 and 27—Dniiedin J.C. Summer. Dec. 21! .and .27—Taranaki J.C. Christmas. Dec. 28—Ashhurst-Pohangina-H.C. Annual. Jan.,2and 3—Baugitikei R.C. Summer.. Jan.-2 and 3—Wairarapa E.G. Summer. I

. SECULAR :EpUCATtON; v '"'■'- ■-■■-'■%&':'.■ '-^ : , -' ■' 'A DEFENCE-LEAGUE. ■' .' ■ ' In-connection with the proposal to form a Secular Education!Defence-League, the Viligance Committee appointed some time ago to submit a dralt' constitution and plaUrni has completed' its task, and a public meeting will" be held iir the near luturo to - discuss the-proposal!.-and elect omcers. Tho . committee's suggestions state that:— ,- ■ .;.'.,. (a) name of the society shall be the fcecnlar Education . Defence League of JSew Zealand. . ■ (b) The, object of the league is to maintain a, purely secular system of education in the State' schools of the Dominion. .. ■ -.. '. ■. (c) The league proposes to attain its object, by educating public opinioji in the principles of the league, securing ■ the co-operation of societies formed for the same purpose, and defending .teachers when their position is unjustly rendered insecure by reason .of religious difference or sectarian influence. . : " The following resolutions are to, be submitted to the public meeting:— The league affirms:— ' : . . . ■■ V (1) That it will resist, any" attempt to interfere with our purely secular system of State education. (2) That, in matters of religion, strict neutrality is the only just attitude that the State can assume towards its citizens. '■■.•■ .. \i- ..' . •(3) .That to introduco'any fo'rni of religious instruction into our State system of L education/would be detrimental, to the best interests of the .schools', leading to sectarian strife . among 'the children, and imposing a religious test upon, the teachers. _ . ''■ ■ ■•."..-. • .-; ..- ... . ' !(1) That- to determine-'--, the question of religioys instruction or Biblerreading in schools would bo absolutely 'subversive of the neufeality of the State in matters of religion.' ■ '. ; '■" (5) That the Nelson, system',; even if it be within tl\e letter of the: Education Act, is an ingenious-'evasion .of-its spirit and intent, and that the .'league, will oppose this innovation. >''~: ■.:•,- (6) That 1 tho league strongly-opposes the introduction of the New ,South Wales Text-book into..the State'/schools- of the Dominion. ... ■-.- .:■■; '"'■_ ..