THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1601, 19 November 1912, Page 8

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. ■ / ' [Bt Glencob.] Thero will be racing at Blenheim and Tituaru to-morrow. Sportsmen intending to visit the former meeting aro reminded that the Mapourika sails for Picton at < 5 o'clock to-night. • Jockey F. D. Jones has been engaged to ride Amberstone, Astonishment, and Portland Lady at tho Marlbor<Tueb. meeting which opens to-morrow. On his return from tho New Zealand Cup fixture Jockey Arthur Oliver ■ was taken seriously ill at' Awapuni, and up till yesterday the nature of his indisposition was not known. By tho Patcena yesterday the racehorses Borsil, St. Felix, Aratiatia, Parky, Bracken, Biddy, Panthea, and the trotter Molly Wood were shipped to Blenheim. Jockeys Hatch, Telford, Jones and B. Oliver also made the trip. The new Rules of Racing, which apply to the whole of Australia, came into force on November 12. One of tho most important of these is the debarring of hoods or blinkers on horses. Another rule to be strictly observed is that which applies to hurdle and steeplechase obstacles. Rulo 149 sets out that "at all meetings tho hurdles used in hurdle races shall bo open hurdles 3ft. Sin. in height, and in steeplechases no obstacle shall be less than 3ft. 9in. in. height. All measurements aro to be made in a vertical lino from the ground to the top of the obstacle as fixed." Mr. John MTSlahon, who has been appointed chief stipendiary steward to tho New Zealand Racing Conference, formerly acted in that capacity to the Australian Jockey Club and for twenty years he was handicapper to the Clarence River Jockey Club. Iti will thus be seen that the conference has secured a man with first-class credentials to ■ act in. New Zealand. Mr. M'Mahon is expected to take up his new duties early in- December. ■' Jockey L. Wilson received a cheque for JJI36 for his winning fees at the recent C.J.C. meeting, but this amount was put in the shade by A. Shanahan, who earned ,£316, and R. Lewis, ,£194, at tho Melbourne Cup meeting. Writing of the breakdown of Lady Medallist in the Melbourne Cup, a Sydney writer observes: "Lady Medallist ran badly in the Melbourne Stakes, and her rider said she seemed to be dragging her quarters in that race. After obtaining veterinary advice, Mr. "Craven" decided to run her for the Cup, though' I fancy the mare's trainer, J. Noud, would have been better pleased by her withdrawal. As it turned out, Lady Medallist was unable to gallop as well in the Cup as in the Stakes, and as she was a long last, and palpably distressed, at the end of the first haif-inilc, it occasioned no surprise when Connell pulled her up before leaving • the straight. Whether the actual nature of the mare's injury has yet" been determined, I cannot say, but it will not be surprising to hear she has run her last race. A rest might pull her round, but as she is rising seven, and Mr. "Craven" intends breeding from her, tho chances are lie will avoid having the daugMer of St. Alwyno knocked about in an attempt to win any more races. It is stated that Mr. J. B. O'Brien refused an offer equivalent to £10,000 for Beragoou, after tho Multiform colt's success, at Flemington, but presumably "contingencies" figured largely in that amount. Anyhow, Mr. O'Brien decided to keep tho colt, who, costing 700 guineas as a yearling, has'now won .£3883 in prize-money. At the yearling sales Beragoon attracted the attention of several buyers, and among the bidders for him was the New Zealander, Mr. E..J. Watt; who went to 650 guineas. Tho win of Continuance in the Cup Steeplechase at Flemington credited Mr. J. A. Lucas with £347. A Sydney paper says that Mr. J. Whitworth has received a full brother to FugTio (Sir Laddo—Orchestra) to train for future engagements. The youngster arrived .with a cold, but it is hoped that he will not turn "roarer," an affliction that his relative suffered from. A writer in the Sydney "Referee" says: "It is fairly certain that the Woottona —father and son—will again bring off.last ' year's double of most successful trainer and jockey respectively in England. Frank Wootton, at latest, was well past his 100 winning mounts, and up to October G Wootton senior had trained 37 winners' for Mr. E. Hulton alone. As he has also won with his own horses, the odds are in favour of at least 50 races being credited him this year. Wootton, it is understood, leaves for Australia on November 20 with three of hi 9 children, but while in Melbourne recently I heard J. E. Brewer—his partner in some pastoral property—state that at most he would Temain hero a month. This would seem to dispose of tho idea that Wootton has any immediate intention of again taking nip his residence in this part of the world. There is no place like England for a successful man, and I suppose no one appreciates this fact moro than "Dick" Wootton. Mr. E. E. D. Clarke, owner of Wolawa", tile crack three-year-old of Victoria, is at present on.a trip to New Zealand. The Cuirassier gelding John won his first race in Australia at Williamstown last week, when, with R. Cameron m the saddle, he accounted for the Jumpers' Flat Race. Tho Irish Derby of 1914 will be worth £2000. This is the largest amount ever attached to a race in Ireland. •At Flemington on November 7 tho lato scratching of Eighteen Carat for the November Hurdle Race cost the trainer, E. Williams, £20, the stewards fining him that amount. - Tho "Argus" says that on Melbourne Cup Day 21 trains were employed in conveying visitors to Flemington, and SO trips were made on the outward journey. There were 22,917 first-class passengers, as against 30,515 last year, and 19,220 secondclass, as against 20,520 last year. In most instances railway journeys and admission to the .course were- paid for at the ono time, and consequently the greater part of the revenue obtained by. the Railway Department will be handed lo the Victoria-Racing Club. The receipts amounted to £14,000. 19s. 9d., of which tho club's proportion was £10,5i5.- On Cup Day the previous year the sum of £17,352 ss. Bd. was received, and of it £11,944 15s. went to tho racing club."Danny" Mailer's riding contracts for I next year remain the same as for this (says an exchange).* Lord Rosebery will hold tho first and only claim on him. Sir R. Jardino has renewed for 1913 the retainer ho has given William Griggs for the last few years. Whalley was recent-/ ly approached with an offer of a three years' retainer to ride for a powerful stable, but declined, as lie has agreed to ride for Mr. Leopold de Rothschild again next year. At a recent meeting of tho Broken Rill Methodist Synod a resolution was carried objecting to the formation of another racecourse in the vicinity of the big mining centre. The resolution of tho Synod, as carried, read:—"That this Synod, presenting at least GOO children and 1000 adults at Railway Town and Picton, most strenuously objects to the creation of a new racecourse at Railway Town. . Wo. are convinced that increased drinking and gambling and other vices will be fostered thereby, and we view with alarm the possibility 6f the loosening of moral fibre of the community. We therefore respectfully urge the authorities to refuse the application for a' racecourse license in the locality indicated, especially as there are alread'v two racecourses iu this district.

FIXTURES. . November 20 and 21-Mavffiorough E.C. Spring. November 20 and 21-Sonth Canterbury J.C. Spring. ' m , Tr< November 27 and SO-Takapuna J.C. Spring. ■ ■ .... November 30 and December 2-Feildmg J:C. Spring. .' . . , December i and 5-Woodville District J.C. Summer. '~.,. -p n Deceml>er 11 and 12-Rangitikei h.t. Summer. ■ ■ A Warner's Corset fits beautifully, shapes accurately, is light, • and cannot rust,-break, or tear.—Advt. ,