NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2651, 23 December 1915, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

ITjy fjI.ENCOIO Mr. V. N. Price, one of the new owners of Rorke's Drift, left for the Troiithiiin training camp on l'Yulay last, so will not have the pleasure of seeing Rorke's Drift running for some time. An advertisement in this issue notifies tho train arrangements for the Manawatu mooting. On Boxing Day a special train will leave Thorndon at 7.10 a.m., and excursion fares will also be available on ll'o 7.15 a,m. relief Wuuganui mail ami the Now Plymouth and Napier mails, All tr»jn<> W UI ston #.t Awawufti ta ml;

down race passengers. Those who intend roturninj on Boxing Day will bo glad to know that a fast train will bo run, and Thorndou will bo reached at 10 p.m. Orniesby will be railed to Clareville oil Friday and will race there on Monday noxt. Tho Birkenhead gelding lias been galloping well on the tracus, and with_hig trainer in tho saddle he defeated Arlington on Tuesday morning. Mr. Jos.. Ames, tho well-known totalise tor proprietor, has been seriously ill of late, but he is now mending rapidly. He will not bo able Lo attend any of tho Christmas meetings. There was recently some discussion in England as to which jockey had won most money, and in attempting to settle the argument a contributor to London "Sporting Life" credits Walter Griggs with tli6 honour. "It is the ten-thonsaiul-pouudeis which count," he writes. "Griggs has won two two St. Logers, and the big two-year-old race at Sandown of the valuojof JioOOO, to say nothing of races innumerable worth practically tho same money. Griggs, Til short; has won races the value of which, roughly, has amounted to .£70,000, and it is doubtful whether any jockey, not even excluding Maher aud Stern, has beaten this." Cabled advices have been received in Melbourne that the champion Australian steeplechaser Bullawarra, who was sent to England" to try and win the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, in which, however, he fell, hag been shipped on his return to Australia. There is every indication of the Manawatu meeting being a highly successful one. Visiting horses are now putting in an appearance from all parts, and the fields on the opening day will be large. For the Cup, Welcomo Nugget is the present fancy, but signs are not wanting that there will be strong support on tho day for blaster Lupin, Rinaldo, Tangihou, Square Deal, and Chortle. I'or the Fitzherbert Handicap, Croesus is the most in demand. The last-named is to be ridden by S. R«id, who will also have the mount on the Cup candidate Chortle. Other Cap horses will be ridden as follow:—Rinaldo, C. Price; Tangihou, W. Young; Square Deal, E. Hanson; Montana, W, Bell; Taringamulu, H. Young; and Master Moutoa, B. Morris. . In Sydney the name of Nurse Cavell has been claimed for a two-year-old filly by Bardolph. The Champion Stakes, * weight-for-age ovent, three miles, run at Flemington in the antumn, has had its name changed, and will in future be known as tne King's Plate. While racing mun will appreciate the new title in a general way, opinions will probably differ amongst them as to the wisdom bf altering the name of such an old-established race as the Cham, pion Stakes. At one time tho ovent, then known as the Victorian, New Zealand, and Tasmanian Champion Stakes, was run in different years at various centres in tho three colonies named, but for many years it has been incorporated with the V.R.C. programme. Rorke's Drift, who was sold at Invcrcargill last week for 010 guineas, a record price for Southland, fell on his way home after the sale, and injured his knees. It is hoped that the trouble will not be serious, but the horse has been allowed to drop out of his engagement: on tho first day of the Dunedin JocKey CluTfs meeting. Conn the Shaughraun is still being hacked about at the Ilawk Hills station, Waiau, and lie is said to havo put on con. dition wonderfully since returning from Australia. He may' go into work shortly in view of winter racing, Rhino, who figures in tho Greymouth Cup at tho minimum, was formerly an inmate of the Yaldhurst stable, and he was accorded a nomination in the New Zealand Cup last year. He is a five, year-old gelding by Boniform—Rhine Gold, by Gipsy Grand—Taurida, by Stepniak—Fallacy, but he has not made a start as a winner yet. N FIXTURES, Dec. 27.—Taratahi-Carterton R.C. Annual. Dec. 27 and 28.—Thames J.C. Annual. Dec. 27 and 28.—Tarauqki J.C, Christmas. Doc. 27, 28, and: 29.'—Manawatu R.C. Summer. Dee. 27 and 28.—Dunedin J.C. Summer. Dec. 27 and 28i—Rcefton J.C. Midsummer. Dec. 27 and 30 and-Jan. 1 and 2—Auckland R.C. Summer. Dec, 31 and Jan. I.—Greymouth J.C. Midsummer. ' Jan. I.—Wyndham R.C. Annual, Jan. I.—Waikouaiti R.C. Annual. Jan. I.—Karamea R.C. Midsummer. Jan. 1 and 3.—Hawke's Bay J.C. Summer. Jan. 1 aud 3. —Marton J.C. Summer. Jan. 1 and 3.—Wairarapa R.C. Summer. Jan. 1 and 3—Stratford R.C. Annual. Jan. 5 and 6.—Westland R.C. Summer. Feb. 3 and s.—Gisborne R.C. Summer. Feb. S.—C.J.C. Summer.