THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1387, 13 March 1912, Page 7

THE TURF.

PASSED IfJ,

-Bj Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright Melbourne, March 12. At the horse sales Blaivnionnt was pass*Q m at one thousand guineas. ST. LEGER SCRATCHING. Sydney, March 12. , Midnight Sun has been Bcratchecl for Ihe A.J.C. St. Leger. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Br Glkncob.] Nominations for the Wanganui Trotting Club's meoting close on Thursday with the secretary, Mr. Selby Morton. According to Teport, all is not well with Blue' Lake, arid the Royal Fusilier filly is not likely to' start in the Flying Handicap at Napier. The owner of Baynrdo has contradicted a statement that the Bay Ronald horse would not bo at tho service of foreign breeders. It was reported that any for-eign-nomination accepted would bo at a fee of 500 guineas, but it appears that 300 .guineas will be tho fee charged to both English and 'foreign breeders. If both Malt King and Lady Medallist bco the post in tho Doncastor Handicap, their meeting is sure to arouse great interest. When they wero handicapped for the Epsom.Handicap in tho spring, Malt King was asked to concede tho mare 131b., but they did not meet in that race. Tho difference between the.pair in the Doncas-. ter Handicap is only 51b. If Miscount.can strike anything like his best form, he has been given a good chance in the Auckland Easter Handicap with Bst. 21b. The weights of some of the other three-vrar-olds are: Roval Scotch, Est. 101b.; General Latour. Bst. 81b.; Midnight Sun, Bst. 81b.; Our Queen, Tst. Gib.; and St. Petersburg, Tst. Weights for the principal events at the Canterbury Jockey Club's ' meeting are now being looked for with interest. Quite a number of the horses weighted for the Easter Handicap at Auckland are entered for the Great Easter event at Christchurch, where the distance is a furlong shorter. H. Gray passed through Pnlmerston North yesterday on his way to Hastings to prosecute his appeal before the Hawke's Bay Metropolitan' Club against his disqualification by the Danncvirke Club. - Miss Augusta, who hns been in tho limelight lately in consequence of her winning at Dannevirkc, will be a starter in the Esk Hack Race at Napier to-day, and will be ridden by W. Kirk. The Napier Park autumn meeting will be Held at Greenmeadows to-day and to-, morrow. Rain fell at Napier yesterday, and consequently the going is likely to be on the soft side, and t therefore against the top-weights, except in the cases which are colloquially called "mud larks." In the Hack Hurdles Handicap, Seaman, trhb ran Cornelian to a head' in record' time at Wanganui, is likely to be greatly favoured, and ho should divide favouritism with Merrie Lad. who put up a good performance at Wbodvillc. F. Liiul will ride Seaman. T. Pritchard will be up on Merrie Lad. In the Esk Handicap, Makara (A. Oliver) will have many supporters, as he was running on well at the end of his) Tace at Dannevirkc Inst.week. To-day he will meet Thravc on a better footing from a weight point of view. Another horse that is well spoken of in this field is San Wai, a member of.V.'Colcllo's team at Hastings, and on whom, Deelcy will havo the motirit:' The Napier Cup is likely to be much more open than, was. at .first supposed to be the case," as noithor Midnight Sun nor Nyland are brilliant in heavy going. The-'Aiva'nuni -trainer;JAv'/iNealo, sent Kurnpotangi home after the Dannevirko meeting, and took -Aborbrothock and Gold Battery on to Napier. Both horses will be ridden by F.' Meagher in their races today.' ' .'".'" San Pluie, who will have the services of B. Deeley in th© Welter Handicap at Napier ,to-dny, was unlucky in both her races at Dannevirke last week, and was runner-up each day. ' Of the fifty-seven entered for the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase forfeit has been declared for eight only, and these would probably have stood no chance over the course with any weight. Jerry M. occupies post oE honour with 12st. 71b., a similar impost to that which Manifesto won under in 1899, wlji-n the minimum was lower than at present. Glenside icored last March with lOst. 31b., and now has an additional 111b., while Rnthnnlly, who fell, but was remounted and finished second to Glenside, is also up 111b. to list. 111b. The French trio, Trudon, Trianon 111, and Cher Tatouc, have been left in the race, as is Jonkinstown, who won in 1910. The "Jockey" publishes a comparative account of the money passing through the race tottery during the years' 1010 and 1911; showing an increase last year of ,£312,327 55., giving a total of .£11,051,811 ss. for tho Paris race societies. No mention is made of the amounts derived from the provincial meetings, such as Deaiivillo (says a writer in the London "Sportsman"). At all events, the 2 per cent, levied for "charitable purposes" has been productive, of nearly .£282,000. It is saiu thnt 525 Tillages have received .£260,000, and that as much more might have been bestowed had the Government or the committee had it in hand. Possibly tho expenses of distributing the money absorbed the balance of the fund, which went to strengthen the Parliamentary influence of the Government. We must console ourselves with the idea that the enormous drain made on tho racing capital should have brought- in so many thousands of pounds to the fiscal commission deputed to import and buy good siiies for the use of home breeders. Lists of those standing at the Government depots havo been published, but though the money is supposed to have been paid in to the credit of the official buyers, tho purchase of merely a home sire'is only made according to all accounts as a sop to Cerberus. Imported sires must be left lo private initiative, and the.'fiscal stars are of the modest typo: "cheap and nasty." Breeders declare that they deteriorate"under tho rules and dis:iplino of the Republic, where, according to the papers, Crillon, who stands for tho ccming season at Cliiiiv, will receivo a hundred mares, whilo half that number is not considered excessive for tho thoroughbred "English stallions" foaled in France. Word was received in Wellington last evening announcing the death, at Stratford, of Mr. .T. R. Mackay, secretary to the Stratford Racing Club. The deceased, who was 31 years of age, was very well known in sporting circles.

FIXTURES. March 13 and H-Xapier Fark ■ E.C. Autumn. March 18—Opunake R.C. Annual. March 20 and 21—Nelson J.C. Annual. March 28 and 29—Mastcrton J.C. Autumn. April fi and B—Waira.ro.pn. R.C. Autumn. April B and B—Auckland K.C. Autumn. April B—Wuipiikura.il J.C. Annual. April B—Fatea K.C. Annual. April 8 and 9—Canterbury J.C. Autumn. April 8 and o—Fcilding J.C. Easter. April 8 and 9—Rivorton R.C. Easter. April 1" and 20—Wellington R.C: Autumn. April U and 25—Mnnawatu R.C. Autumn. May 1 an:l 2—Marlborough K.C. Autumn. Mai 1 and 2—Hawke's Bay J.C. Autumn.