NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1683, 25 February 1913, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

[Br Giencok.] After the poor form at Woodville df her trial horse—Bonny Boy—it 'was expected that the stock of Bronze would recede in the. Wanganui Cup market, but nothing' like this eventuated. Two considerations caused her to retain her position. First ■ of all it was contended that Bonny Boy's . form in tho Woodville.Cup.was all wrong:, and also that Bronze - is a poor track, worker. Secondly, if Bronze was displaced, who -was to occupy tho position of favourite? - ■•• . ' ;> A condition of tho Juvenile Handicap at: . s Wanganui is tliat the-starters-must bo 'ridden by apprentices who have not'won six'races. ' Tho Wanganui Autumn meeting on Thursday and Friday will provide tho interest for sportsmen this week. Next week they will have tho Dannevirke Cup meeting,to engage their attention. Owners should note that acceptances for the Nelson meeting close on Friday next. A card-player in '■' a fa-ain which was proceeding to the Woodvillo races lost week was rather upset/by the continual remarks of a spectator to the game. After' bearing with this for some time, the cord' man ejaculated something to the effect that it was annoying that this person always .seemed to bo there to "peg off" when they were playing N "solo." Another - onlooker accepted thidas a tip, and haS sinco 'been supporting Peg - and' Sir Solo to win the big doublo at Riccar-. tori next.month.. Messrs. M. Cranny and. W. M'Dougall, two of the oldest members of -Sydney Tattersalls, are spending a holiday in New Zealand. They arrived' from the Boutli on Sunday, and went on to Napier yesterday. From the latter city they proceed to Wanganui, and, after being pre sont at the Cup meeting, will take trainfor Eotorua and Auckland. There would appear to bo nothing in the rumour that Sir, Solo is booked: to leave J or Australia. In well-informed circles the son of Sir Laddo is conside-ed i a certain smarter -in tho Great Autumn Handicap at Biccarton if reasonably handicapped. ..-'■'. I The onnual raco meeting of the.Manawatu Trotting dub to-morrow will Jjossess the attraction of largo fields and some first-class performers. Visitors from Wei-, lington. by the morning trains enh see nil the races and return homo by tho 5 p.m. train from Palmerston. It is worth noting by those who intend to. patronise the Wanganui races on Thursday that they can attend tho trots at Palmerston on Wednesday and catch the 4.50 p.m. train the same, evening, for, Wanganui. Tho trotting meeting will bo held at the Awapuni, racecourse, and. given Bno wea-, ther, should afford opportunity for a very' pleasdnt outing. * ,' Cider's latest win brings his nword up to six wins,; threo seconds, and _ a third, the total prize-money credited him being slightly, over .E9400. That ho will join the ranks of Australia's fivo, figure winners is now fairly certain. J. D. Scott, (the Indian trainer, who received a bad fair when riding his own pony, Sea Lad, in a cross-country event at the recent Calcutta meeting,' is reported .to bo progressing as well as can bo expected. Referring to this accident, a writer in an Indian paper suggests that men of 58 years are taking undue liberties in riding in steeplechases over a threemile course with fairly stiff jumps. The Sydney "Referee"-. says that J. Whitworth. who has shipped the hurdler Ask Me to West Australia, is again taking up Elf bolt, who hns been spelling since ho was injured at Grafton last year. • Among the recent winners in Australia was Sea God; tho full-brother to Achilles. will probably bo seated in the Wanganui Cup as follow:—Labour- -Day (F. D. Jones), Bronze (A.' Oliver), Masterpiece (C. Kmerson), Dnmino (L. Wilson), Cheddar (H. Tricklebank), Master Lnddn (J. O.'Shea). Lady MenschikofF (R, Berry). Tiresome (W. Boll), and Moutoa Girl (K. Lambess). ' ' > Mr. Zveguintzoff has bred a colt or filly (says a London writer) with a most remarkable pedigree, and I should imagine it is an unexampled one. It has nothing but sire and running figures in fivo removes. That is to'say, 32 in all, and I cortainly have never conio across such a pedigree as that. At the Darlinghurst Quarter Sessious last week the jury, after a retirement of i two hours, returned a verdict of not guilty against William Magee, Albert nodda. and Thomas Younger, three employees of the Tramway Department nt Ra'ndwick, who were charged with conspiring to client Percy Pitcher, a bookmaker of a large sum of money. The accused wern alleged to have conspired in connection with a double nf ,£j!3o to ss. about Hart- i fell and-Duke Foote for the Epsom and \ Metropolitan. ' Mr. August Belmont is reported toliavo . presonted tho colt Dandy Rock, by Rock Sand, to the United Slates Government. This very promising colt is out of Dnnna Mia, sister to Don de Oro. ' Dandy Rock hns been sont from Lexington to tho Gov- ] eminent stud at Front Royal, .Vn. Mr. ;

Bolmont soma time,ago presented to .the. American Government five other stallions, tho best of jvhom were' Octagon (sire of Beldame, Don de Oro, Norman 111, and A >"ounmx II), and;llcnry of Navarro. Both these stallions were in the front rank as racers, and Octagon has proved him-' Eelf a successful sire. His soil, Norman 111, won the Two Thousand Guineas fivo years ago, , Referring to -this season's two-year-olds, Pilot in the Sydney "JJoferoe,-' eays:-r Beragoon, who .is undoubtedly the best of his ago seen out this year, was a highpriced youngster,...costing Mr. J. E. 0 Bnen 700gus., and as ho has won .£3983 in prize-money ho has proved a profitable investment at the figuro named. Strangely enough, Athenio, who, on,actual form, is next to Bcragoon, was also a 700gns, purchase, and for two years in succession Mr. K J. Watt has been fortunate In . his Randwick yearling, investments. Athonio ■?i • • B ?i • im - ■ wo ' n ■ £1379 ' and within tho next-.-couple • of months is likely to add to that sum. Zinti, ■the other successful: Traquair .colt, was sold for aOOgns., while Malstcr's-best representative, Brattle, realised 330gns. and Kack 350gns. ...;■-, Tho age to ', which a -stallion lives is often asked (says the London "Sportsman ), and it is interesting to note that three sires who ore announced lo cover during tho coming; season-Sheen, Noblo Uiiettain, and Carbines-were each fouled ' »» '885. bo that they havo reached the. ago ot 28 years.. ' This, of course, is tonsidcrably above the average, although tho records show that Horses have • lived much longer. Tho famous "Match 'Em was 33 .. years old when ho died, and several other early sires reached 31 years. Coming to -Ctaoro; modern periods, Hermit lived 29 years,, and Isonomy only 16 years, which' has been the average for a great length of time. , Galopin died when 27 years of uge, and Asoctic at. 20, as did Minting, while St. Simon, lived, for 27 years. Aiuphion, Hackler, and Licantius died at 20, and Trenton at 24." Quite recently tho death,of Grudon, the winner of the. Grand. National in 1001, had to be recorded, and news now comes that it has been found necessary to destroy Jenkinstown, who carried off. the great Liverpool 'chase, in 1910. The son of Hackler arid Playmate belonged to Mr. G. W. Blundell, who . bought him Inst I'obruary at Tattersall's tor the substantial sum of 3300gns.,'but he proved an expensive purchase,,,as ho failed to win a . race for his . new owner. Jenkinstown, suffered from ft diseased bone, with which veterinary skill could not cope, and although, ho could gallop ho was.unable to jump. r ...,■ . ■■■' . Recently there was.adrig outcry in. Tacmg circles on tho Raridbecauso the Johannesburg Turf,. Club accepted an entry from a prominent Basuto chief. Tho idea, obtained tliattho.precedent created would' lead to great difficulties in tho future, androferring'to that position an exchange ' says: "Hitherto the' policy of tho Turf Club has been extremely strict, coloured trainers for horses running under their rules being 'barred,' also coloured jecl.eys. Natives and-Indians'havo been allowed to run horses'in Natal arid at-the Cape, 1 but this practice has been 'taboo' in the Transvaal, ahd.it is. felt that a great mistake has been made in departing from : the policy enforced. for so many years. ' Moreover, it is pointed ■ out thot ■ whilst ' tho nomination of a native, has been accepted, the Turf Club will not allow a 1 white woman, who owns horse* to enter them at their meetings. • A number of ■ members of, the Turf: Club have openly ' declared their intention' of resigning if the new policy is continued." - ; .•■■■■■■ FIXTURES. Feb. 27 and-' March I—.Wanganui J.C. Autumn. .'. • ■•:"'•' ■March s'and 6—Danrievirke R.C. Autumn, March 12 and R.C. Autumns • March 12 and 13— Napier' Park R.C. '■■: 'Autumn. ■'.-•'"': March 17.—Opunake R.C. Annual. • March 22, 24, and . 29-Australian ] J.C. [. . : Autumn. '■ ' ! i March 24—Waipukurau J.C. Annual. ;' March 24 and 25—Canterbury J.C. Autumn. » March 24 and 25—Fcilding J.C.Eastcr. ; March 22 and 24^-Auckland'R.C; Autumn. i March.22 and 24—WairarapaR.C. Autumn. , March 24 and 25—Riverton R.C. Annual., :, March 2G-Wcs'tland R.C- Autunin. • April 2—Reef ton J.C. Autumn'. ' April 2 and s—Wellington R.C. Autumn. April 9 and R.Ci' Autumn'. .', April 18 and 17—Hawke's. »Bay J.C. " Autumn. ■ „', - ,; '". <' .'