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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 13

[Bv GtENCOE.]

Acceptances for minor handicaps on tho first day of the Wellington Racing Club's meeting close on Monday night. Obsono. who is among the acceptors for. tho Telegraph Handicap at Trcntliam, was. made a strong favourite for the.. Southland Handicap, run over a milo and a distance, but after being with tho leaders for about a. mile he faded out and finished sixth. 'Tho son of lima was all out, but nevertheless (says "Sentinel") ho might have been closer up bad he not run on tho outside of two'horses all tho way. ■

The privileges ill connectitin with tho the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting were sold by auction yesterday by Messrs. Harcourfc and Co. 'Mr. M. J. Hodgkins secured tho rights' with a bid of £280.

It will bo noticed that Gold Lace has been paid up for in . tho Telegraph Handicap, and has also been coupled foil a good amount with her stable companion Iranui. This means that Trainer J. Lowo does not think that tho black maro will bo backward consequent upon her spell sinco returning from Australia.

Both Miss Mischief and Lady Reina have been paid up for in tho Wellington Cup. If Miss Mischief starts (and so far there is no apparent good reason why she should not) sho will seo a very short prica. Early yesterday many backers woro to be found who accepted 2 to 1 about tho bay mare, but this is absurd, and only shows to what lengths somo investors will go in their anxiety to get 011 supposed "good things." A sifnilar happening occurred at tho last Thompson Handicap meeting, when Armlet was quoted at a shado over oven money a week beforo tho race- though, on tho day, thero were plenty of backers at threo times that price. It is now ancient history how tho Monschikoff mare cantered in, and, of course, Miss Mischief may do likewise, but thero is not the slightest doubt that, with tho largo army of'layers that aro always ill' attendance at Treqtliam, thero is every chanco of backers getting better than 2 to 1 for their money.

Field Gun, - who pulled up very lame after the New Zealand Cup raco of 1909, is apparently sound enough,-as lie recently won tho .Wyndham Cup,, and acted as hmuer up in tho liiverca'rgill Cup. The Hotchkiss gelding ought to prove, a profitable purchase for his present owner, who got tho horso for 50 sovs.. ■ . . ,

, As showing the opinion which somo people entertain of Miss . Mischief, a well-knbwn owner, ivho «;as on a visit to Wellington during tho week, gave it as his opinion that-Mr. Greenwood would assuredly rely on Miss Mischief for tho Wellington Cup, and ho further informed the writer that,(before the field had gone a mile, she would have, "galloped them into the turf," whatever that may mean. Rumour was busy yesterday to the effect that Lady Reina was being extensively backed in doubles, but, after making searching inquiries, nothing was found to justify tho statement.

During the recent general election in England, tho National Sporting League— 11 really live body—mado itself very prominent, and sent tho following queries to thoso who w.ero seeking tho favours of_ electors:—"The questions are: _(1) \Yould yon oppose any interference .with tho present freedom of the press witli respect to racing matters? (2) Are you opposed to further restrictions of tho liberties of tho people, and would you vote (if returned to tho Houso of Commons) against legislation that lias for its object tho prohibition of betting by telegraph, telephone, or letter?" Favourable replies were received from fully fifty per cent, of tho candidates. Thero is food for reflection in this, and sportsmen in tho Dominion would do well to ponder over it, and see if a similar organisation in New Zealand would effect,something towards conserving tho rights and privileges of followers of tho "sport of kings."

The following are tho handicaps 'for tho Karioi Cup:—Tho Native, lOst. 51b.: Singer, Bst. 111b.; Debonair,. Sst. 71b.; Master Laddo, Bst. Gib.; Impossible, 7st. 121b.; Darby Paul, 7st. 121b.; Marionis, 7st. 71b.

Prior to a recent meeting at liaison's' Lafitte it'was announced- that the race-

course was flooded, whereupon a French wag remarked: "That should mako it all tho better for punting." Waimangu is the first black horse to win the Auckland Cup. _Mr. George Currie, owner of the Koaianui Stud, intends taking half-a-dozen youngsters across to Australia in March, to bo submitted to auction at tlio Randv.'ick sales. A - quartet of tlio collection are descendants of Soult, and tho Wanganui brooder assesses them to be well in. advance of anything ho saw in Auckland during his rccent visit. The secretary of tho Foxton Racing Club notifies by advertisement that applications for bookmakers' licenses, accompanied by cheque, will bo received for tho forthcoming races, to bo held at Foxton 011 Jauuary 21 and 23, 1911, by tho secretary, up to Wednesday, January 18, 1911, at 5 p.m. To Arai, who holds an • unbeaten certificate as a hurdlo horso on tho Gisborno course, is again nominated for the jumping events at tho ' meeting which takes place on February 2 and 3. Auother effort is to bo made to train Bomty Glen, who has just completed a season at tho stud. The littlo chestnut is possessed of undoubted pace, and, in addition, a pair of very weak front joints. Tho recent rain will be welcomed by trainers quartered at Trentham, as it will servo to take the sting out of tho ground for tho coming week's track work. ' Cocoon, who opened up the Invercargill meeting by winning the New Year Welter, belongs to one of the "old families," as he is a member of tho Gipsy family. Gipsy was foaled .in 1840, and brought to Nelson in 1844. The family is not much in • evidence nowadays, but good winners belong to it in tho shapo of Calumny, Manton, Gipsy King, Johnny Faa, Canard, Forester, Tresseo, and other good performers. Remarkable to relato, although it is about three-quarters of a 'century since tho taproot of the family camo into existence, Cocoon's dam is only four romoves away from the foundation sourco of the tribe. Cocoon's dam was foaled in 1892, his granddam in 1873, his third dam in 1852, and his fourth dam in 1840. Warsaw,, a halfbrother to Cocoon, also kept the only, family in cvidenco by winning the Invercargill Cup, and repeating his perfonnanco in tho samo raco of last season.

A Tress Association message states that the West'port Trotting Club's Christmas meeting gave a profit of £836. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "H.W.K." (Otaki).-D. Maher is 29 years of age. He first rode in England in 1900, and since then has ridden over 1000 winners. RACING FIXTURES. Jan. 21, 23, 25 —Wellington R.C. Summer. Jan. 21 and 22—Foxton R.C. Annual. Jan. 26—Karioi J.C. Annual. Jan. 28, 29, and Feb. 1.— I Takapuna J.C. Summer. Feb. 1 and 2—Pahiatua R.C. Annual. Feb. 2 and 3. Gisborne E.C. Summer. Feb. 2 and 4. Canterbury J.C. Summer. Feb. 9 and 10.—Poverty Bay T.C. Summer. Feb. 8 and 9—Egmont R.C. Summer. ' Feb. 15 and 16.—Tarnnaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 22 and 23-rWoodvillo District J.C. Autumn. Feb. 22, 23, and 25.—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. March 8 and 9—Dannevirke R.C. Autumn. March 2 aiid 4—Wanganui JC. Autumn.