NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2459, 12 May 1915, Page 3

NOTES AND COMMENTS

—_ ( , [Bt Glencoe.] Tlie Egmont meeting will commence at Hawera to-day. Tho opening event is the Tongahoe Hurdles, in which there is a good-sized field, but several of them are new to the jumping business. Con- . siderable interest will centre in the ap- 1 pearance of the Auckland-owned El Gallo, who has already been backed to win' the big double at Ellerslie.. Waipunoa, the- ' top weight, will have plenty of sup- ' porters. ] It is given out that Crown Pearl is an 1 unlikely starter in the Tawhiti Handi- < cap. In his absence Playoff, Bst. lib. (Deeley), and Astor, Bst. 81b. (Wilson), ] may'be the favourite selections. I'he. < former carried Bst. 71b., and ran second , to Adroit in the Fitzherberfc Handicap at Awapuni, and if back to this form ' would nearly win. Patronale, 7st. 31b., 1 used to carry 9st. amongst this class, 1 but since leaving E. Barlow's stables the ' roan gelding has failed to win a race of I any description. • The fact that Foeman has been en- I tered for the open sprint events at ' Otaki will be regarded by most people as an indication as to the result of the ■, Eailway Hack Handicap to-day. The , Fovdell-trained horse has 7st. 111K, and ( the class against him is anything but strong. . Bivouac, the top weight in the Ladies' j | Purse, showed winning form over a short' I course at Bulls, but he doe 3 not stay too well, and Patronata, lOst. • 31b., may be the best at the weights. The latter will be ridden by S. Goddard, who is one of the best of the,amateur horsemen. Tangihou, who will have the services of Leslie M'Donald, will also find plenty of supporters, though the distance may be < i a trifle far for him. ' Though he is burdened with lflst., Tyson will be very dangerous in - the Telegraph Hack Handicap, five furlongs. Martlet, 7st. 131b., who, is to have the services of W. Bell, should be the best of the others; Only seven horses figure in the big handicap. Sunbird, 9sc., has Awapuni and Dannevirke form to'recommend her, and if caught iin the humour must be rerv hard to beat. Eatana, 7st. 71b., is to be ridden by Deeley, and as he was reckoned to be unlucky at Awapuni he may do better to-day. Sylvandale, 7st. 121b. (C. Emerson), may be the favourite in the concluding event. Draft, 7st. 91b., is very erratic at the post, but if he leaves the mark he may be found fighting out the finish. At a meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Committee last week it was decided to do away with the back stay which supports the new hurdles recently tried at Hastings. This will meet with the wishes of a large number of tTainers and riders. The 'chaser Master Paul, who has been spelling for some months, is again in work at Flemington.. G. Price cabled "Mr.. Highden" last week that he had purchased another -horse; This is a two-year-old half-sister to his first purchase, which was a three-year-old by Forfarshire from Panthea. The ex-New Zealander, L. Robertson, had two odds-on chances in Lovelace and Hamburg Belle, beaten at Sandown Park last month. The pair finished in second place. Mr. J. E. M'Donald's Fireworks, who is nominated at "Wanganui and Ellerelie in the principal jumping races, finished second to ICirks tall in the Brierley Steeples, two miles, at the Warrnambool meeting on May 4. , In Tasmania they have at last got to the end of the Turpenite case (says "Herlinga" in the "Australasian"). The Magistrate , who heard the 42 witnesses spoke out; strongly. He quitOj agreed with the decision of the Tasmani&n Easing Club in disqualifying the parties, but he did not think the evidence justified him in sending'.those parties ou for trial on a charge of conspiracy. The evidence was not, in his opinion, strong enough to satisfy a jury. At the same time he suggested that there should be another prosecution against one of the defendants on another ground. The "ringing-in" of horses is being extensively practised in the country; • and the popularity of the industry will not be cheoked by disqualifications which entail very little inconvenience to the racecourse battler; but getting a. conviction for conspiracy in connection, with "ring-ing-in" is such a hard matter that even the English Jockey Club is loth to incur the expense of a prosecution on the chance of a success,. Mr. C. O'Connor, the well-known starter, has been on a short holiday visit to Christchurcli. Phingari, the 6ister to Dan Patch and St, Kelvin, who had a foal last season to Prince Imperial, has been put into work again by her owner at Hinds. Don Francisco's recent efforts have (says a southern, writer) been of such a poor nature that his new owner, Mr. H, Cassidy, has determined .to turn the son of San Francisco out for a lengthy spell. The Pahiatua Racing Club has decided to submit the following programme for yjproval to the Metropolitan Club:— Hurdle 9, ono mile and a half, 40 sovs,; Maiden. Hack, five furlongs, 25 uovs.; Hack Handicap, seven' furlongs, 40 sovs.; Pahiatua. Handicap, one mile and a quarter, 80 60vs. j Hack and Hunters' Steeples, two miles, 50 sovs. ;• Open Welter, seven furlongs, 50 sovs.; Telephone Handicap, live furlongs, 25 sovs. Tho proposed stakes total JCUIO. Messrs. E. B. Hare, J. M'Cardle, and H. M'Sherry have been appointed a committee to arrange a date for the meeting. Sporting enthusiasts are displaying considerable energy in connection with the club and also the Woodlands Hunt.