NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2340, 23 December 1914, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

TBr Glbncob.] Acceptances for the Wairarapa meeting closo to-night. The, Wanganui horseman, W. Price, will ride Denise Orme in the Fitzherbert Handicap at Awapuni, ■ and L. Noddar mil steer Playoff. Owners who contemplate nominating their horses for the Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup should note that Mr. A. E. Why to, secretary of the Wellington Racing Club, will take entries up 'till 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 5, 1915.

While at Riccarton on the way to race at Dunedin Mr. J. J. Cony's Achilles horse Heel Tap was suffering from lameness in the shoulder, which may prevent him from racing at Wingatui.

A profit of about ,£BOOO was, it is understood, made over the V.R.C. Spring Meeting. Of this amount .£SOOO goes to the patriotic funds. The profit on the spring meeting last year was .020,077.

Some surprise was expressed yesterday when Quarantine did not arrive from the south. Of course there is still Itime for him to get to the meeting, but those who have supported the black horse are naturally anxious for him to appear at Awapuni.

The executive of the Manawnltu Racing Club can look forward to a very successful summer meeting, for there does not appear to bo any shortage of dioney, and it only requires fine weather to see a very large crowd at Awapuni on Boxing Day and succeeding days. An excellent train service has been arranged to meet the convenience of paltrons, end Wellington will be reached on the return journey by 10 p.m. Satisfactory fields are engaged in all the events, ana in the Cup there is an acceptance of thirteen horses. The list includes Kilrain, Ladoga, Kooya, Byron, and Peroneal, all Clip winners, and they alono would provide an interesting contest. In the Fitzherbert .Handicap, six furlongs, recent winners in Pavlova, PlayoiT, Chakwana,' Denise Orme, and Goldstream are to take part, and the back events have all filled well.

It is unlikely that Rewi Pato will be Been out on tho opening day of the Taranaki meeting, for Maniopoto's son has incurred a 121b. penalty for his dual success at Woodviile. This would make his weight lOst. 21b. Next. to him come Ratana, Passadena, and Wild Lupin, each with 7at. 21b.

Kaniki, who has been off the scene for some months; is down to compete in the Plying Handicap at New Plymouth on Dosing Day. In the absence of Playoff, who will probably make the Jlanawatu ■rip, Kaniki may be seen to advantage. In the past 'the bay horse has earned the name of being unreliable, but in a small field he may be persuaded to do his best. The Masterton horseman, T. Pritcbard, is one of the few first-clasß riders that will attend the Taratabi meeting, and already he has been engaged for all th 9 galloping events. He has had to refuse several mounts, as has H. Lowe, who ivill also be riding at the meeting.

The Taratahi-Carterton meeting, which' is to itake place on Boxing Day, will nu doubt attract a large crowd of Wellington visitors. Special trains are advertised. In all the events but the Cup, which has an' acceptance of four, there are large fields engaged. The southern starter, Mr. R. E. Harley, will officiate at the barrier.

Square Deal having won p. race at Woodviile will have to shoulder a 101b. penalty in the Grandstand Handicap at Awapuni, making his weight Bst. 41b. The full-brother to Postillion la engaged in tliu Wairarapa Cup with 7st. 51b., and he is likely to be found competing in this event.

Sir Solo was weighted at 9st. 111b. in the Victorian Club Haudicap at the Sandown Park meeting on Saturday last. It is unlikely that the New Zealand gelding started.

In England recontly a horse won a steeplechase and a few days later news was received that its owner had' beeq killed at the front prior to the.race. The horse's nomination was, therefore, declared void and the stakes awarded to the second animal.

A cablegram from England has reached Australia to the effect that Stanley Wootton has been given a commission in the Royal Fusijiers, and will probably go to the front.

Up to the end of October King George's cntt Friar Marcus had not suffered defeat in England, winning five races of a total value of £7970. Some of the English critics are of opinion Friar Marcus will not make a stayer, but it' is to be hoped this idea is erroneous. Mr. Hulton's cojt Torloisk was regarded in some quarters as Friar Marcus's most formidable opponent for the season's two-year-old honours, but against this some recognised good judges were of opinion that Silver Tag, another of Mr. Hulton's lot, trained by E. Wootton, ,was superior to Torloisk. FIXTURES. Dec. 26 —Teratahi-Carterton R.C. Annual. Dec. 26 and 28—Dunedin J.C. Summer. Dec. 26 and 28—Taranaki J.C. Christmas. Dec. 26 and 28—Keefton J.C. Midsummer, Dec. 26 and 28—Thames J.C. Summer. Dec. 26 and 29, and Jan. 1 and 2—Auckland B.C. Summer. Dec. 26, 28, and 29—Manawattt R.C, Summer. Dec. 81 and Jan. I—Groymonth J.C. Midsummer. Jan. 1 and 2.—Wairarapa R.C, Summer, Jan. 1 and 2.—Marton J.C, Summer.