NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3099, 1 June 1917, Page 7

NOTES AND COMMENTS

IBt Glbnoob.l One result of the suggested curtailment of racing will bo that iho fields will bo enormously increased. This is already the experience in Victoria. To moet tho j r-iso tho V.R.C. rules require that when there are inoro than twenty-Eve runners tho field is to bo divided. Somcthinsr of the kind will havo to bo done in New Zealand, and the conforonco might well look into tho matter at its annual moetinr next, month. At Olalu nrac Monday there are thirly-thr™ acceptors mom event. Nobody that knows of the pawn can bur. admit that fully Inlf the field-will havo no chance- at " The battle will ho.«>t the start, and if the riders fail to jump out well i the niajorilT «* w,il Ilot P fir6CVol '.° with'heir mounts for »» "«"" I dent, and who can blamo them.-' Bunting has boen sent to yueonsland, and irill bo a compe.-.itor in tho Brisbane Cup on Mondo,y next, in boing asked to carry fist. 71b. the New- Zoalander appears to havo a lull shaio of weight. R. J. Jliisou has left for hi« usual winter trip to Sydney. 11lis team consists of Bimptcr, Biplane, Kilowatt, anil Immortelle, all of whom will be seen under silk at tho >U.C. bprinp Meeting. Biplane, who has bcou running out at his owner's place till just recently, will bo Mason's representative in tho A.J.C. Derby, in which ho will be nddon by B. Decloy. Bimeter is to measure strides with the best of the older horses in the weigkt-for-aga events, whilo Immortelle (Martian-Everlasting), and. Kilowatt (Martia.n-JV>rkod Lightning-)

will contest oomo of tho minor cventfl open to threo-year-olds. During their stay in Sydney Masnu'n charges will, as usual, he looatod at the Royal Hotel fitables, Kandwick. In their trainers absonco the bala-nco of Mr. Greenwood n horses at Eiocaxtoii will, bo under the ohargo of Percy Mason. Whilo tho committee of tho Wellington Ra.cing Club is dealing with the Winter Meeting programme it. should seriously consider the question of having only seven race? per day. Most people aro' agreed that this number of ovonW is plenty for n. winter afternoon, im thoro is no plessuTo in watching n. raco in the dark. This is a question that the Rucing Conference might take up with advantage, and prohibit the running of moro than soven. evonts between tho months of May and September. To Onga. who is to be ridden by !■• Traill, is one of the prime fancies for tho Groat: Northorn Hurdles. Ho is golting on in years, but is a. great stayer and acts well in heavy going. Three years ago ho won, and last year ho was runner-up to El Gallo. Tho heavy rain of late has rendered the Riocarton tracks quite unlit; for use. and tho trainors in the south have- been compelled to exercise their charges on the roads. Similar report* como Irom Dunediu. If El Gallo is successful in the Great jN'orliicrn Steeples, he will achieve tho distinction of having won tho race three years in succession, whiob will bo a record. Ho is to wirry 12st. 101b., but this will not bo the heaviest weight carried to victory, for JCiatero won m 100 f with 12st. 131b. on his back. Considering the performance of El Gallo on tho flat, his weight is by no means a prohibitive one, and ho has been given ovory chanco to score Haitdicapper H. Coylo loft lor Auckland vestcrdav, nnd will officiate at EHorslio for tho big gathering. It is said that the secretary of the Wellington Racing Club has been sounding tho taxi-drivers in the Wairarapa and Manawatu districts to get; them to bring their cars to Wellington on tho occasion, of tho Winter Meeting at Trentham. Something like this will certainly be required to convey the crowd that usually attends tho Wellington meetings. "Inquirer" is informed that tho Stewards' Handicap at Oajnaru, in which Kilkee was engaged, was run at 3.35 p.m. Tho. committeo of tho Wellington Racing' Club will meet on Monday next to consider tho programme for the Winter Meeting ,at Trentham. In view of tho probability of there being no raco trains,' tho committee may decide on a "stop-gap" meeting, which will mean reduced stakes and only two days racing. M. David, the French Minister of Agriculture,, has sanctioned the holding of raco meetings this season on rather more liberal lines than last year, although .under similar restrictions. Tho Charlemagne II gelding Canute, a cast-off from R. .T. Mason's stables, is now being tried over hurdles in Sydney. He was a runner at Tattersall's Meeting on May 19, but was weighted at lOst. 61b., and needless to state ho finished out of a place. t '

CANTERBURY JOCKEY CLUB •CHS4 PROFIT ON YEAR'S WORK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, May 31. At the annual meeting of tho Canterbury .Tockcy Club the chairman stated that the main shrinkages in revenue last year were nominations, ,£7OO less, taco receipts ,£loffo less, privileges .£3OO less. Under these circumstances the net racing profit of the year, £148 i, might bo deemed satisfactory. It was decided 'that tha club's racing profits for the 1918-1017 season be devoted to various war funds. In tho course of an address, tho -hairman, Mr. W. P. M. Buckley, said_ that should the Government doom it wiso to reduce racing, sportsmen generally would try to meet their views.

Mr. G. Gould- said he thouglit the club's reduced rccoipts for the year showcd that the sporting public were alivn to tho seriousness of the times tboy were living.in. Probably the club had been lucky in having been ablo to carry on racing without interference nn to th« present. Tf ciroirnistn-nces rendered it necessary that racing should be reduced the club would meet tho Government heartily in whateYcr way'it was called upon. (Hear, bear.) Tf less prosperous limes were ahead of the club it wasin a good position to meet fhem. bavin? over J25.000 of more or less liquid securities, besides the buildings, etc, on Rieoarton course.