NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1191, 28 July 1911, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Br Glencoe.]

The rehearing ordered by the Racing Conference in the Julian case v:ill take place before the Wanganui Stewards this evening. At the Hunt Club meetings, held at Awapuni and Hastings on Wednesday, the only form o'f betting that was indulged in took shape in a few sweepstakes that wore got up on the course. It is interesting to note that.Section 45 1 of the Gaming Act limits (ho total amount of any sweepstake to. .£5, and the price of the tickets must not exceed five shillings. A. Whittaker, who lias ridden nearly eighty winners during the season just, about to close, leaves- Auckland for Sydney on Monday nest under engagement to ride the Messrs. Stead's horses in their Australian engagements. Sportsmen throughout tho district will be pleased to hear that Mr. W. E. Bidwill has'now, practically recovered from his recent severe illness, and, on Wednesday, ho was able lo take driving exerciso for an hour.

Horses from the Karamu stables started in three events at the Hawko's Bay Hunt Club meeting, and two of them won. Ortygia. scored in the first hack race, and Vega, a two-year-old filly by Birkenhead from Lynett.e, won the Trial Hack. Brautsfield was unplaced in the second hack race.

Although it is probable that Hoanga wjill be shipped to Sydney after the racing at Hiccarton, an Auckland writer states that nothing definite has yet been decided on in this connection.

J. H. I'rosser's team for the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting will include seven horses.

Paritulu, Gold Thread, and Negative were shipped south last night. With the departure of this trio, matters at Trentham havo again bceomo normal, and, at present. Effort is the only locally-trained horse that is kept busy at Trenthatn.

The Hotchkiss horse Monoform has not yet found a purchaser in Australia (says tho Auckland "Star"). An offer of COO guineas was recently made for him, but did not lead to business.

According to rumour, Provocation can be counted out of tho Winter Cup and the betting market. . Ono of tho surest guides, nearly everyone will admit, plainly stated this yesterday, when Mr. Bidwill's colt receded from the position of favourite to double .; the price with no takers. It is said that, as a result of his race at Treutham, one of his joints filled, and that it will be an impossibility to get him to the post at Riccarton.

The institution of a new weight-for-age event by tho Auckland Racirtg Club afforded an opportunity for a compliment being paid to the Governor by calling the event in question "the Islington Plate." His Excellency has replied to the club's communication on the matter giving his assent.

A local sportsman has received a letter from If. J. Mason, who is now at Handivick with a team of horses, stating that the team landed "without a scratch," alid that, generally speaking, all is well.

B. Dceley, who went, to Australia to ride Wild West and Irritation in their Australian' engagements, returned to Auckland by the Wimmera on Sunday.' While on the other side Dceley rode Wild West in threo racos, winning two and being placed second in tho third.

At the annual meeting of the Masterton ltncing Club yesterday, Jlr. C. T. Vallanee was re-elected. president. It was decided to authorise tho incoming stewards to raise a sum not exceeding =£3000 for tho re-erection of the grandstand ami other appointments on the course. A motion was carried thanking the Taratnlii-C'arter-ton Club for the frco use of their course, and it. was decided to accept the offer provided that.'the new buildings are not ready on - December 21, tho data of tho next meeting. ,

Centaur has been leased by Messrs. C. O'Donoghne and S. Bennett from' Mr. H. 11. Pharazvn, the lease expiring on July 31, 1013.

Last, week (says the Napier "Daily Telegraph"), J. Griliith, acting on behalf of a Victorian client, purchased Ranpnre Kilcheran —Moreze). The mare will be dispatched to her now homo, Horsham (Victoria), some time during next month. It is now understood ill aI: Wimmera will bo shipped from A\ ellinston to Sydney on August 11. His owner, Mr. L. .1. Watt, will probably be a passenger by the same steamer.

Tinkering with tho rules, of racing by members of tlio ..Jockey Club (says an English writer) lias been going on for th'« last hnlf-centiiry, and it would lie! well if the stewards now caused the rules to ho codilicil bv some expert, for several of them arc very vague and coiilu-'od. In tho meantime practice reforms, which have long been urgently called for, are nHceted. It is a scandal that unnamed "horses are still allowed to be raced under Newmarket rules. Kwo hoi so should bo required to rec.ivo a name on entering upon it-s two-year-old season, as is the rule in Australia. Kildonan leaves Hastings on Friday foiWellington en route to "jee.irton lie will be the only repress ta live that Mr. Watt will have at the National gathering.