NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 284, 27 August 1919, Page 9

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(Bγ Glencoe.) Tho Eginont-Wangnnui Hunt Club will hold its annual race meeting on too Waverley course to-day. On Monday next nominations close for the Spring Meeting of the .' Wanganui Jockey Club. , 1!-. Longley has sent the five-year-old niiiro Defieetioi), by Calibre—Windy Steppe, home to her owner, Air. ,T. Grisjg, of Longbeach. This mare is engaged in tho New Zealand Cup, but .there is little chance ti her seeiii;,' tho post. Though the opinion is general that tho spring meetings of. the different clubs are euro to result in financial losses so far only one small club has postponed its gathering. Next month tho .• Marton, Dannevirke, Asliburton, Ofcato and Wangamii clubs aro to raco, and they have nil decided to go on. In tho city yesterday the opinion <a> freely expressed that as the seamen's Btriko is now over, it will only be a matter of a few weeks More the Railway Department will bo able to restore' the full time-tablo. Though Cynic is one of the filiorfeprire division for tho Now Zealand Cup, his prospects of storting in that event aro none too bright. Before the Grand National Meeting the Irish-bred horse-was more or less lame, hut in both his racps at the fixture ho galloped. Roundly enough ou warming to his work. Buring tho past week lie has been given light .- tasks at ltiecarton, but is still troubled in the i>a.mo direction, As Cynic has been racing almost continuously for over Vi months, it is certain that his trainer •will experience difficulty in getting him to eland up to a eolid Cup preparation. Apparently in, i-acing dub circles throughout the Dominion the idea is held t.'iat racing will not get a setback in this country. All the programmes which are now boing circulated provide for very big increases in stakes For the comiii" yeav. In 'ho <!!<se ot tho Duncdin Jockey Club the increase in stakes for-the coming twelve months will amount to ovor ,-C6OOO. Tho Auckland Racing Club is also piling up its stakes. Tho Cup is now worth iE3MO. and is tire biggest prize in tho Dominion. Only one Aucklnnd horse is nominated for tho New Zealand Cup, and there was not a single entrant from Dunedin. That smart hack Brackenfield is now enjoying a spell in the paddock at Blenheim. The Bonifonn gelding has only raced nn three occasions, eo. no has not been badly used. Considering tho easy manner in which he scored in the Avonhea<l Handicap and taking the time ai a guide, it would appear as if the Jfarlboroiurh hack would I'avo had- a good chance of success had he been started in the Winter Cup. As only two horses finished in the Lincoln Steeples, the third money, 60

sovs, went to tho first horse. The owner of Morrie Lad generously presented L. Hegarty with tho money for his excellent display, in the saddle. Prior, to .winning the Ileathcote Handicap at Ricearhm Gold Kip was under offer to a Gisborno buyer for GOOjrns., but the deal was not completed. Grafton Loch, tho sire of Oho .Grand National Steeplechase winner Lociiclhi, was purchased a yearling in Sydney by Mr. L. C. Ha/.lott, and carried that gentleman's colours during, tlio early part of his racing career. He sutae(|iicntly found his way to the Goldilclde (listi-io't, whero lie went to the stud. Grafton Loch afterwards travelled in Poiith Canterbury, ivliere he died some little time a£O. Tlio annual niet>ting .of the Dannevirko Jockey Club wan held on Monday night. Mr. T. G. H. Lloyd (president) was in the chair. The president congratulated tho club on tho financial position. For tho first time in 25 years it had n. credit balance. ..• Tlie following officers were ulected:—Patron, Mr 7 G. Hunter, M.P.; president. Major & nnstrong; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. R. N. Slnkiston and T. M'Dermott; treasurer, Mr. G. J. E. Biclcford; auditor,. Mr. Clifford Thompson; committee, Messrs. Lloyd, Crosse, Jensen, and M'Govern. Over a dozen new members were elected. The date for tho closing of nominations for • the Spring Meeting of the Ofaki Maori Racing Club. has been altered from August 29 to September 3. The hour-of closing is still 8 p.m.