THE TURF

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 8

THE TURF

NOTES AND COMMENTS ("BY GIiINCOE. , . Accoptanccn for the National Hurdles and Steeplechase aud tho Winter Cup cloßo to-night. The Australian Hurdle ltace will be run at Caulfleld to-morrow. A southern writer mentions that the Wellington owner, Mr. H. Whitney, will in future patronise the race meetings conducted by tho Southland Bating Olub. Turangapito has had another change of ownership, but the Prudent King gelding remains in W. Shame's Ellerslie stable. Sharpe has been giving Turangapito a lot of barrier practice of late, but so far the Auntralian-bred gelding does not seem to have mended hia ways. < It is now reported that A. J. M'Flinn is tn ride Hiero in the Winter Cup, and that R. Tapp will be on Bedford. Clarence O'Neill, who was one of the first, if not the first, to adopt the extreme crouch when riding over hurdles, rode Hayston, the winner of' the Hurdles, run on the las), day of the V.E.C. Grand National Meeting. Judging by a photo. O'Neill does not ride so short as when he was smaehpd up when riding somu years ago in Victoria. Tho National Hurdles candidates Slcieht-of-Hand and Art were galloped at Eiccarton on Tuesday, but neither of the paif pleased the track watchers, and it looks as if their trainers will have to keep busy with them if they are to be at'their best by the National. The Melbourne "Leader" states that a well-known Caulfleld racing man made a present of the V.E.C. Grand National Slecplechaso winner Cobrnm to a clergyman, who rode the grey to hounds for a while, and then leased him to his present, trainer, IT. Connelly. It is a noteworthy fact (remarks "Beacon;" of tho Melbourne "Leader,") that the V.E.O. Grani National Hurdle Eacc winners, Narahquong and Meriinqua, as well as the 1912 Grand National Steeplechase winner, Guncap, and the recent runner-up, Booligal, were all foaled in the same paddock on the stud farm of Mr. A. K. Tyson, in New South Wales. The Rewards or thu Wairurapn Eacinf iJliib mei on Wednesday, Mr. W. E. Bidwill (president) occupying Ibe chair. :tt was decided that during the period Mr. E. (!. Eobcrtson is serving in the military forces Mr. James Hewlett (a returned soldier and a brother-in-law of the present niretaker) hi , uctins custodian. The annual iiu'cllui; was fixed for August 29. H was decided to carry out various iinprovcniciila at the course, including the erection of additional feed-boxes. The annual niccting of the Mitsterton Racing Oln'i was held on Wednesday evening. The Tollowing were (lecti'il unwinds for the ensuing yi-nr:—Messrs. C. J. Benni'tt, D. B. Carrlck, W. Cooper, Prank Dorset, ltuirli Douglas, JI. V. Harrison, T. A. Jensen, H. K. Logiin, H. Nee, B, O. Smith. I). M'Laiililim, W. D. Watson, A. .1. Welch, and (I. U. Vales. Tho stewards were instructed to expend up lo £2600 in stakes for the October Meeting. The disposal of any surplus funds was left entirely ftt the discretion of the stewards. The (luestion of an entrance fee for new incmbiTS, which is required by the rules, was h'l'l In the bands or the stewards!. Mr. W. H. Uartgill was appointed iudge, Mr. .1. L. Henrys baiidicapper, and Mr. C. O'Connor slarler. A I'ri'se Association message from Sydney stales thai Mr. fl. 1). Greenwood heads the list of winminr owners for the season jii«t closed, with .f;t0.333. The Australian JliiviHo Tl'we. which is worth tho snnip amount us the big hurdle event at Hiccarton.. will be decided on Saturday next. Originally there wero several ' New Zealand horses engoced, but none of them has been accepted for.