NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 75, 22 December 1920, Page 8

NOTES AND COMMENTS

' Br Glencoii. Nominations for tho Wellington Turf Club's annual meeting close to-night. The, club is giving 1700 sovs. in stakes, including tho New Zealand Gold Cup, of 500 bovs., and a purse of 100 sovs., for any horse lowering tliQ Australasian mile grass record.

Acceptances for the ' Mnrton and Hawke's Bay meetings olosjj to-night.' Owners aro reminded that acceptances for tho first day's events at the Wairarapa meeting close to-morrow. The Southland Racing Club expects to have a record fixturo on January 8 and 4. A good class of horse has been nominated for, the different events, and there is great interest in the decision of the Cup. Mr. George Dryden, formerly of Wellington, gave .£2Ol for the right to soli the race cards. This is stated to be a record price for the Dominion,

Tho Now Zealand-bred Red Maori (All I?«;d—Maori Kit) was successful in the Southport Handicap, one mile and a quarter, at the Queensland Turf Club meeting on December 11. He covered the ten furlongs in the good time of 2min. 7sec.

For Bome time after the appearance of the weights Starland was one of the most discussed candidates for the Auckland Cup, but during the last few weeks h.> has gone out of favour. His close third in the Waipa Cup shows that he is pretty well, and with 171b. less to carry at Elleralip, .Mr, G. L, Stead's gelding must be regarded as a probable. It is not in his favour that ho will be ridden by a light boy, for he is a sluggish mover, and few light boys can be found to make him do his bcßt. Dusky Eve, who is engaged in tho Manawatu Cup on Boxing Day, was successful in tlio Wangariui Cup two years ago, when he ran the 'distance .in 2min. Silsec., which is an Australasian record. This time was equalled by Fairy Bob. who won thv> Windsor Handicap at the Queensland Turf Club's meeting on Saturday, December 1. . S. Donoghue, who headed the winning jockeys' list in England again this yrar, celebrated his 36th birthday on October .15, and he was the recipient of numerous congratulations. It would havo been appropriate if he had marked tTie occasion by riding the . winner of the chief event of the day, tho Middle Park Plate, but his mount, Thunderer, failed to obtain a place. Donogliue, however, scored in the most important, event of the week, the Oesarewitch, on Bracket, this was his second triumph in the race, Sanctum being his other winner. _ The agitation for an increase in the value of the important classic races_ in England has at last had some effect, 'Ihe conditions of the Derby of "22 provide for JC.IOOO being added to the sweepstake.. The Oaks will have .£2OOO, and the St. Leger .£4OOO added to the swecptsakos. Sir Samuel Hordern, part owner of Artilleryman, has just returned iw trip to England. While in England he ■ purchased Violoncello 1'?? in jj' ported, 4000 guineas for the son ot V#l ens. Artilleryman is still at Bacchus Marsh, but has not shown much improvement. It is highly improbable that the 1919 Melbourne Cup winner will race again.