THE TURF.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1730, 22 April 1913, Page 7

THE TURF.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. IBs; Glencoe.] There will ibe racing at T-'maru tomorrow and Thursday, and at Masterlon on . Thursday and Friday. Patrons who' intend being present at the latter meeting can leavo Wellington at 7.45 a.m. on Thursday, and-return homo by tho train leaving Opaki at 5.15 p.m. oil Friday.

B. Dceley went south by the Maori last evening to fulfil riding- engagements at Tiinaru. His mounts are: Thrax (Cup), Lord Soult (Sniithfield), Bulletin (Welter Handicap), Warlight (Hack Handicap), and Obsono (Flying Handicap). Deeley is returning by the J[aori on Friday, and will bo riding at Opaki, on the second day of tho Masterton meeting. . .

Jlcrrio Lad, who has already won two hurdle, races. ,in Sydney, was badly affected in tlie wind twelve months ago, but an. operation on his throat has cffccttd. a wonderful improvement in his respiratory organs.

Tho improvement some horses make in a few weeks is littlo short of marvellous. A caso in- point is that of Patronale, who has_done exceptionally well since ho won tho Maiden Handicap at Wanganui in the spring. Another case is that of Passadma, who scored in tho big handicap on the second day at Hastings. .Tie latter got a very bad run iri~tlie"race in question, but orico she got clea*, she fairly flew down the straight. Three months ago a very small outlay would have bought tliis well-bred mare, but noivoiily a good round sum would effect a- change of ownership. , — Acceptances for the Jfarlborough' Racing Club's-Autumn meeting close with tho secretary, Jlr.' L.- Griffiths, Blenheim, on Wednesday next.

Nominations foi- the Wanganui Winter meeting clo.se on Friday next. '_

After tho Masterton meeting this'week th-3 wintrcr racing season and seven races per day will be the reigning order. Many people would prefer ."seven race" programmes all thevyear round, but not so tho racing clubs. In any case, seven events are plenty for this time of tho year, for, jf the events get 'behind 'at all; the Inst.event) is usually run in the dusk. This was'the case at Avoudalo on Saturday. ■ ' The Great Mogul has left J. Jameson's stables at Awapuni. C. Emerson has been engaged to ride, Mon Ami in the April Handicap at Masterton on- Thursday, and Clmrlcroso in the Jlaidcn race, and Conziska in the Dash Hack. Emerson, Conquest, and ,o'Shea reached Opaki last evening. The Railway Department announce in this issue, particulars regarding the holiday excursion tic?rrfs available for return until April 2G for the Masterton races at Opaki. on April 24 and 25. • . The New Zealand-bred Manakau showed a glimpse of form in his race at Canterbury Park, Sydney, on April 12, but was again outside a place. . ■ ' At . tho recent yearling sales at Randwick tho prices offered for tho Harrow— Hollyrood filly, and King Rufus—Liquify colt did not come up \to their owner's reserve, and they were passed in., Mr. G. M. Currio has left the filly out of ; Hollyrood, ia Sydney, to bo trained on his behalf by P. Nolan. He has leased the Liquify colt to a patron of tho trainer mentioned; whilo the Eulolo filly will be raced on. lcaso by Mr. G. E. May, of Melbourne.

/ Anchorage, by Birkenhead—Lady Fisher, is a novice in Whitty's stable ut Melbourne. Tho half-brother to Maniapoto is to bo got ready, for hurdle-chasing. After a lengthy spell, extending over u couple or more years, the Now Zealandbred Moriarty (Merriwee—Moira).is again in work at Caulfield.

David Harris, best known as trainer of Lieutenant Bill (Caulfield Cup), Peeress, and MacDonovan, died at Mentone, Melbourne, on April 11, at the ripo ago of 80. Tho deceased trained tho horses namdil for a son of tho late Hon. W. M'Culloch, who i 3 not now in tlio game. Tho question has been raised (says it Sydney writer) as to what would have, in regard to bets if Sir Letho' had also failed to finish in the Steeplechase at Randwick, in which tho only' other starter, Tho Miser, fell. If . neither liorse : had finished, tho race would havo become void, and, though it jnay be contended that backers had a chance to win when they bet, I . cannot well seh how they could loso their money over a race which, in effect, did not take place. In nearly all cases bets follow stakes, and as in this instance no stakes would havo been' paid, tho position could not well havo been otherwise in regard to bets. If two horses, why not twenty, and if nothing finished m, say, a Y.R.C. Grand National, I do not fancy even tho most l rapacious of bookmakers would contend ho was entitled to keep tho lot. As it is, tho bookmakers take nearly all when an outsider wins, but the idea that they should retain everything in the case of a race of which there was no winnerami, therefore, void—is somewhat far- , fetched.

'Mount Prospect's Fortune, who was purchased in Ireland by his lato owner for HOOOgns., was entered in a selling raco at Cheltenham on March 13, tho event being the Swindon Steeplechase, and his price iiOgns. Ho is eleven years old, and has won homo nice races in' his time, including the Grand Military Gold Cup, the Scottish Grand National, and tfio Grand International Handicap Steeplechase, but his legs arc not now of tho best, and in the race under note, he broke down and was dismounted. ■

FIXTURES. April 23 and 21—South Canterbury J.C. Autumn. Apfil 24 and 25—Masterton Tt.C. Autumn. April 30 unci May I—Marlborough B.C. Autumn. . May 8 and 9—Ashbiirton County E.C. Autumn. May H and 15—Egmont E.C. Winter. May 22 unci 24—WniiRanui J.C. Winter. June U and I—Dunedin J.C. Winter.