THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1444, 20 May 1912, Page 7

THE TURF.

« — QUEENSLAND TURF CLUB, By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyritrlit. (liee. May 11), 5.3 p.m.) Brisbane, May 18. Tho Queensland Turf Club's races commenced to-day. when the principal events resulted as follow: — STRADISIiOOKE HANDICAP, of 500 sovs. Six furlongs. Pittswortli Gnnn, by Jloniton—Nreillegnn 1 King Cleo 2 Bronze King I! Nineteen started. Won by half a length. ST. LEGER STAKES, a sweepstake of 10 sovs. each, with 300 sovs. added. For three-year-olds. One mile, sis furlongs and 132 yards. Goad 1 Russian Lady 2 Wondai 3 Won by a neck. Time, 3min. lllsoc. NEWCASTLE CUP. (Rec. May 19, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 18. At tho Newcastle Jockey Club's Cup meeting fo-tlay, tho following was the result of the NEWCASTLE CUP, of .750 sovs. One mile and three furlongs. Mr. W. A. Gritbb'.s b. e. Fsvttvx, bv San Francisco (imp.)— Lady Dtiuboyne, 3yrs., 7st. 71b 1 Cash more, 7st. -lib 2 Midge li., 7st. lib 3 Won by a length nncl a hnlf. Time, 2miu. 21\sec. WANGANUI TRACK WORK. (By Telesrapli—Press Association.) Wanganui, May 18. Heavy rain fell throughout tho night, ami is continuing, 'l'ho tracks ivero very •heavy this morning. Borando and Outlander, Okaihau, Sir Lethe, Amber and White, Gaolic, and Nedra did usefnl work. Antarctic (R. Percivnl) and Taiaha (Cox) went twico round tho big fences, jumping in taking style. Seaman ran. seven furlongs in lniin. S'sec. Moicette, Whimper, Kpsoin Points, Kokalto, and Moose did i the same distance in lrnin. iOsec. — NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Bt Qltcncoe.l j

Tho Hack Steeplechase at Wanganui did not fill as well as was expected, only seven, horses paying up. Strictly speaking, there.is hardly room o.n the "Wanganui programme for a hack steeples, as owners will not have their horses schooled for a single race. Had there been a similar race on the second day, the acceptances might have been better, but, even then, thero is hardly room so early in tho season for two hack steeple events, in addition tu the two open steeplechases, two hack hurdle races aud two open hurdlo r it ccs.

Tho defection of Mangaroa from the Connolly.Handicap nt Wanganui was anticipated in this column some days ago. Probably, Mr. W. .7. Donglns intends spelling tlie mare during the winter, with the intention of getting Ivor ready for 0110 of tho big handicaps in the early spring.

It is understood that C. Price will havo tho mount on fieeiine in tho Wanganni Steeplechase.

Surprise was expressed when St. Toney'3 name did not appear in the acceptances for the Hack Hurdles at Waiiganui, as, at the Hawera meeting, ho was accepted for on tho second day, but withdrawn 011 the course, and then it was given out that he was to lie reserved for the Wansanui meeting. Ho was allotted lOst. 81b., and was asked to concede weight to several winners. This may bo the reason of his withdrawal.

On the Wanganui tracks Whimper is getting over tho big fences in his usual proficient" style. It is stated that the old fellow is to bo given a run in the steeplechaso events at the Dunedin meeting next month. He has, however, been entered for both steeplechase and hurdles cacti day.

J. Delaney, who used to rido the Karanut junipers until a couple of seasons ago; is back in New Zealand, after a stay of some months in Australia. Ho returned by tho Moeraki a fortnight ago, and came on to Wellington from the south yesterday.

lit the Suburban Handicap at Trentham last month Makara (7st. 61b.) finished first with Khamsin (7st. 101b.) third, about three lengths away. The pair meet again at Wanganui on Thursday, when tho Trentham mare will have an advantage of 51b., as compared with Ihe Trentiiam. weights, but this is not likely to bring them together, assuming that'both were at their best when last they met. However. Makara is a very unreliable horse at the barrier, and may not begin as well as lie did at Trentham. Moreover, it is claimed that Khamsin will iuako a better showing next week, as she got chilled with the long delay before the barrier was released on tho local course.

Tho aged horso Hesperus (Stepniak— Pair Nell), who proved a failure when racing in this country, but has since shown form in Tasmania, was sold recently. His destination is India.

Though only awarded list, in the Hack Steeplechase at Waugantti, Appitt did not make the acceptance. The "Herald" states that the Possible gelding arrived at Wanganui on Thursday, but left on the following day for Ellerslie.

The reported salo of Merry Oliver to go to lmiia did not tako placo after all. The New Zealand pony recently took part in the WitiTiiambool Amateur Turf Club's meeting, wliero 110 ran third in tho pony race.

It was Mr. I*\ Mertori, owner of Elavinius. Aurofodina, Didns, Kitrangai, and several other good, performers, who sent tho ;tow famous telegram from Adelaide to tho chairman of the Totalisntor Commission, which is silting in Sydney. Tho full texj; of the telegram was us follows:—"I havo always been in favour ot. the totalisator. It is impossible for tho totalisatov to make greater linrs than nt present. A genuine, 'sport' can always tflll his friends. No need to lie to them. Hig punters aro 110 good to racing. Wish totalisntor every success." The- message contains six complete sentences, and what a lot might be written on tho second, third, fourth, and fifth cf them. Each of them in itself would bti worth a column, but particularly is this tho case with tho observation aiient big punters antl racing. It must bo admitted, however, that here in New Zealand there are verv few big punters, for tho simple reason that the totalizator docs away with tliem. Pittswortli Gun, who won the Stradbrooko Handicap at Brisbane on Saturday, ran second to My Gavonni in the Br'isbnno Thousand a fortnight ago. FIXTURES. , May 23 and 24 —Wanganni J.C. Winter. May 2'J and 21—North Ot.ago J.C. Winter. Juno 1 and 3—A.R.C. Wiuter. June 1 and 3--I)ttnedin J.C. Winter. Juno o' aud 4—Otaki Maori J.C. Winter. June 10 and 20—Harrke'a May J.C. Wiuter.