NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2356, 12 January 1915, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

fßy GUncos.]

Acceptances for the first day's handicaps at the Foxton meeting close on Friday next at 9 p.m. _ Owners should not overlook the closing of acceptances for the Wellington meeting at 9 o'clock to-morrow night. Entries for the Trial Plate and Disposal Stakes are due" at the same time.

At a meeting of the Wellington Racing Club's committee held yesterday afternoon it was decided to entertain at lunch on tho opening day the.members of the Expeditionary Forces at prosent in camp at Trentham, and to admit them to any part of the course and stands. The Hawera trainer T. Pine has booked accommodation at IVentham for Play Off, who is to contest the Telegraph Handicap on tho opening day. With Bst. 21b., tho Coronet gelding reads well, though the class will be a little stronger than he has been nioeting lately. The San Francisco filly Commerce has been suffering from a sore back lately, and her tasks on the tracks have been of the lightest description. She is generally led at exercise on a hack. _ Undecided, who has been' on the retired list for -some months, is to reaumo work again at the conclusion of the i Wellington Cup meeting. Big Blast has again gone wrong, and H. Kingau will be compelled to spell her. The mare is affected in ■ both front joints. It is not considered likely that Loyal Arch or Allegation will be seen under silk at the Trentham meeting. Merrio Roe is an unlikely starter in the Wellington Cup, but may bo sent to Trentham for the Waterloo Stakes. An Auckland writer says:—"The display of torapor for which Marshal M'Donald was responsible at Ellerslie on Saturday last prior to being sont to tho post to contost the Auckland Plate was just as bad as it could well be. When Charles Price took his place in the saddle the bay horse played up at onco. Price kept his soat for only a fow seconds, and so intent did the bay horse appear in getting rid of his rider that he made tho initial move to going right down. That Marshal M'Donald has extreme vice at both ondi was made clearly apparent, lor bis attendants gave him a wide berth. If Marshal Al'Donald's temper tells other than

greatly against him in his racing career, such will come in, the nature of a surprise."

Ladoga, Pavlova, and Bertrada are weighted in both the Cup and Telegraph Handicaps, run on the opening day of the Wellington meeting. It is likely that the trio will all face the starter in the Cup. Football is to be a starter in the Wellington Cup, in -which he will he ridden by tho apprentice, 6. Clarke. A cablegram received from Sydney last evening statea that J. Whitwortn h*s abandoned the idea of bringing Tatterley over for the Wellington meet-

ing. . B. Deeley, who at present has a big lead in the listi of winning horsemen, rode five winners at the Whangarei meeting. The two yearlings purchased by Mr. F. Dorset at the Auckland sales have been given to T. Higgins to educate at Opaki. When revising its Summer .programme next year, the Wellington Eacmg Club should consider the advisability of shifting the Douro Cup into the first day, and the Trial Stakes could take its place on the second day. The reason of this is obvious, and it is a wonder the change was not made this year, Mr. Geo. Currie has received a, cablegram that his recent purchases, the stallion Absurd and the brood mare Eulogy, were shipped from England on Thursday last.

FIXTURES.

Jan. 20, 22, and 23.—Wellington B.C. Summer, Jan. 22 and 23.—Foxton B.C. Annual. Feb. 3 and 4.—Egmont R.C. Summer. Feb. i and 6.—Gisborne B.C. Summer. Feb. 6.—Canterbury J.C. Summer. Feb. 10 and I.l—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. Feb. 11 and 13.—Poverty Bay T.C. Summer. Feb. 17, 18, and 20,-Dunedin J.C. Autumn. Feb. 19 and 20.—South Auckland B.C; Annual. March 12 and 13.—Napier Park B.C. Autumn.