NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[BY GIiENCOE.I

Owners aro reminded that acceptances •for the Feilding and Waipukurau Meetings close on Monday night. Attention is called to the fact that entries for the Manawatu Meeting aro due on Tuesday night. First forfeits for the Tenth Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, and for tho Fourteenth Manawatu. Btakes, are duo on Tuesday next. Steeplechasers sometimes .last for many years. An ciamplo is tho aged molding Stone Ginger, who is now fifteen years 'old, and is still capablo of winning races. He was successful in-the principal jumping event at tho Southland Meeting this week. H. Gray is now well clear of tho other jockeys in the winning list, his' total to date being 47 wins. After all, H. has been stood down by tho Wanganui District Oommittce,_ and has been ordered to appear before it on April 3. This is a serious punishmont for the horseman named, and means a big monetary loss to him, as he is compelled to miss five meetings beforo being heard by tho Wajiganui Committee. It hardly seems a fear proceeding to'tako a rider'B license away without him knowing the reason. Balboa has broken down again so probably the racecourse has seen the last of tho Auckland Cup winner. His retirement oama on tho eve* of_ the Southland Meeting after doing a mile gallop. The Ohristohurch owner, Mr. H. G. Taylor, contemplates another trip to Sydney. Ho will tnke Zulan'dto join Bee, who is reported to be going on well. Mr. Taylor, it is reported, will put Matty and Spanglo up to auction before long. _ There was a substantial increase in tho totallsator receipts (at Rangitikci, hut at Inveroargill tho revorse was the ease. Albert Lyford, tho one-timo cross-country and hurdlo ' rider, died recently at Hastings. . Tho deceased was for many years a resident of Palmerston, where ho was held in high esteem by all with! whom he came in contact. Tho Southland performer Special Order mot with an' accident on tho Rivcrton (Worse last week!, and was tkilled instantly. . , , Biplane having been nllowoS to drop out of ths Great Easter Handicap, the dual Derby winner has now only one engagement/—tho Challenge Stakes—at tho G.J.O. Autumn Meeting. The race In question is run over seven furlongs at Weight for age, with a scale of penalties and allowances. Biplane has incurred the maximum 101b. penalty, and he will therefore ha-fo to carry 9st. 41b. The Waikato owner, Mr. ft. Harmon, has had a very successful timo with his toam this season, especially in cup racoß. Starting off in the spring. Gienopa. was , third In tho Avondale Oup, and a few weeks later Eebol finished second in tne Waipa Cnp. Theso two performances 'concluded his unlucky efforts in events ot ■this olass, as ho then started off on u great run of wins, King Lupin taking tho Bummer Cup at tho Auokland Racing (Sub's Meeting. Glenopal won the laKapuna and Taunmmnul Cups, Tlnopai followed by annexing the To Kuiti and Hamilton Oups, whilo Rebel scorcd in the Ohinomuri Oup. So far tho Waikato sportsman has won upwards of WOT m stakes this season. , . Matters look the reverse of promising for Sir William Cooper to bo recouped for tho 5300gns. which ho paid for Ttedfern in England somo three years back, liie son of Sir Dennis was sent out favourite for the Auburn Stakes, run at Kosohill. N.8.W., rocently, but ho once again ran disappointingly, and was counted out of tt place.