THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1231, 13 September 1911, Page 6

THE TURF.

. « NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bv Glencob.l Tho Dannevirke meeting, which takes place to-day, will bo watched with interest by other clubs desirous of discovering whether ouc-day meetings aro likely to bo a success. Tho first ot them certainly does not look like proving such, lor tlio class of horses engaged is distinctly weak. Svlvia Maid and Jiimitangi should light ( their Marlon battle over again in the Hunters' Hurdles, but outside this pair ( the remainder of the held arc practically unknown. Connecticut gave such an n«- I pressive display in flic Hack Steeplechase i cyi the second day of the Marton meeting , mat, if kept in tho Maiden Steeples to- , day, his presence may have the eliect ot frightening some of tlio other runners out. When Soultiform ran second in tho Doona Trial at Caulfield, he figured in the correct cards as owned by Mr. T. Wilson. The Doncaster St. Legcr will bo run today, but tho cable result will not reach us until to-morrow. Royal iS'oult, who is now racing in and round Sydney, is regularly ridden m his work at Victoria Park by Miss \ era Lindsay, a daughter of the owner, the Lindsay family hail from Kapanga, and aro all experienced riders. Tho well-known brood mare, Mottle (full-sister to Tortulla), tlio property ot Mr. P. Scally, of Dannevirke, loaled a handsome colt to Moral last week. Backers have been having anything but a rosy time of it lately, and they will probably bo expecting a winning turn at Dannevirke 10-day. Given line weather and no untoward circumstances, it quite appears as if matters will come their way to-day as tho Marton meeting last week fully exposed tho form of the majority of the horses whoso owners have accepted for the different events at Tamaki. Weights for tho Olaki meeting will bo declared to-niorrow. Matters in connection with t'ho New Zealand Cup are at present very quiet, and no business is being transacted. Years ago backers used to bet very heavily on tho appearance of nominations and weights for a big race like the New Zealand Cup, but nowadays a change has como. As ante-post betting is last becoming a thing of the past, the question naturally arises: What good purpose docs it serve t'o compel owners to nominate so early for races such as these when they do not know their own minds, and can only hope that their horses will bo forward enough to run? Prior to carrying off the last race for the Chesterueld Cup, Dean Swift had no fewer than four times gouo near to winning it (says "Hagioscope" in the Loudon "Sportsman"). As a three-year-old , lie ran third to Union Jack, and three •years afterwards finished third to Velocity. In 1909 he failed to beat only Succour, the latter, with an advantage in weight of 131b., winning by a length and a half. Last year he was again third, to Land League and Bachelor's Charm; and it is highly satisfactory that the old gelding has succeeded in getting home at last. His complete record at present stands: Twelve wins, sixteen seconds, ten thirds, and twenty-four times unplaced, and in his Taces ho has run altogether 71 miles and a quarter. It may bo added that in addition to twice winning the City and Suburban he was twice second and ' twice third. As to other races which lie ' never won, he ran second for the "Lin--1 colnshire" to Ob, second for the "Jubilee" to Ebor, third for tho Royal Hunt Cup 1 to Audovcr, third for Velocity's Cam- ' bridgeshiro (1905), fifth for that won by Polymelus (190G), and fourth in Land 1 League's vcar (1907). His owner, Mr. ' J. B. Joel, decided after the race that | Dean Swift should cud his days in case. 1 The gelding was a great public favourite. ' His total stake winnings amount to ■ 0C9G30. Mr.'J. B. Harcourt has been re-elected 1 unopposed to' the position of President of ' the Wellington Racing Club. The only ' nomination received for the position of 1 vice-president was that of Mr. ,T. B. ' Coates, who is consequently elected. As ' five nominations have been received for tho four vacant positions of stewards,' there, will be an election at the annual general meeting in a fortnight's time., The candidates for tho position are: Slc-jsrs. Robt. Turnbull, J. G. Duncan, Walter Johnston, Neil M'Lean, and Joseph Joseph. There will also be an election for the position of auditors, the nom.in- . ations being Mr. E. Bucholz, Messrs. Barr, Laery, and Williams, and Messrs. Hig- , ginson and M'Hhane. 'i't. Aidan, who was ono of the welli backed, division in the' Grand National Hurdles at Riccart'on last month, is among . the horses engaged in tho Hurdle Race at Ashburtor. to-murrow. Half-a-dozen New Zealand Cup candidates are engaged in the .principal race lat Ashburton to-morrow afternoon. One of them is Tannhauser, who will be ridden by C. Emerson.

FIXTURES.

September 13—Dannevirko R.C. Steeplechase. . September 14 and la—Askburton County R.C. Spring. September 20 and 23—Avcndal© J.C. Spring September 23 and 25—Otaki Maori R.C. Spring. September 2S and 29—Wanganui J.C. Spring. October 4—Hawko's Bay J.C. Spring. 'October 11 and 12—Marlborough R.C. Spring. October 11 and It—Duncdin J.C. Spring. October 11—Napier Park R.C. Spring. October 2! and 26—Grcy.nouth J.C. Spring October 26 and 27—Povorty Bay T.C. Spring. November 4, 6, 8, and 11—Canterbury J.C. Metropolitan November 22 and 23—South Canterbury J.C. Spring