TURF.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3984, 17 July 1915, Page 9

TURF.

Fagot has been awarded 10.8 in the Grand National Steeplechase and with tins -weight the San Itemo gelding will make a. bold showing. It is said he met weak fields, in the two steeplechases ho won at the Gisborne meeting, but it must also be considered that he won without an effort both days. The gelding is reported by outside scribes as having no pace, but he settled the opposition at the Park in a few strides when Marcliant let him go. Fagot is a splendid jumper, which will stand to him over the big country at Piccarton next month. It cannot be said that the handi capper has taken any liberties with Chortle m the Grand National [Birdies for lie has die maximum wo gdt of 18.7, : nd has to concede 3’b* to the Australian champion Clonin'l. . At 10.11 Multiply lias not been thrown into the Grand National Hurdles, being on the samo mark as the Auckland double winner El Gallo and Sir Donald, and giving 51bs to the Century Hurdle winner Styrax. Bluestone at 10.1 is nicely treated in the Winter Cup, and the Ellerslie horse has improved since the Auckland meeting, where lie ran prominently. Bluestone likes the soft going-

indigo has recently been put into work again at Napier, and is to be given a special preparation for the New Zealand Cup. Birklino 10.5 and Ruapani 10.3 meet on the same terms in the Winter Cup as they did in the Farewell Handicap at the Gisborne Park, when the former won. The Wingatui-trained candidate for Grand National honors, Kim, is pleasing the .southern track watchers. Last week he was given a turn over tho big obstacles and cleared them in great A northern scribe says a well-known trainer had bis photo taken last week and showing one—a Paris panel, beautifully executed—to bis favorite and confidential jockey, asked what he thought of,, it. “It’s as natural as the swish of a horse’s tail,” said the critical horseman; “I can almost fancy I ’ear yor soya in’, ‘Not to-day, old chap. We’ll wait for Christchurch.’ It’s a reg’lar speakiu’ likeness, an’ no mistake.”

In future no person holding a trotting license to ride, drive or train Avill he eligible to sit on the Now Zealand Trotting Association. The new rule will put at least one prominent member of the board out of court. Hurakia 9.7 lias a nice weight in Ibo Grand Sational Hurdles, and being on the improve, should run very prominently. The race won by The Polo on the second day of the V.R.C. National Meeting was the Steeplechasers’ Flat Handicap, run over a distance of two miles. The Pole, which had top weight (11.5), and was ridden by A. J. McFliun, started favorite at 7 to 2, andi eventually won easily by a length and a half. 'Flash Jack, which won the big steeplechase on Saturday, started second favorite and finished third. The death, of the well-known racehorse Ladoga this week lias removed from the turf one of the best performers. Ho was by Sir Laddo from Happy Maid. As a means of augmenting the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, it lias been suggested that in future the riding foes of jockeys should be taxed 5 per cent. It is pointed out that this would bring in, on an average, £2O per racing day, and as-- there are about 350 days’ racing in the Dominion a goodly sum would be the result. El Gallo was exorcised on the sand at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning. The son of Spalpeen looks in great heart, and the unsightly lump on the knee lias almost disappeared, says a northern paper. At Greytown a few days ago A. McKenzie, who had charge of the totalisator arrangements at the South Wairarapa Trotting Club’s Meeting, was charged with selling totalisator tickets to a youth under 21 years of age. After hearing the evidence the Magistrat dismissed the case, holding that it had not been proved that defendantbad knowingly sold the ticket. The Now Zealand Cup candidate Pavlova has been taken up agaip after nearly three months’ idleness. The New Zealand-owned horse Beacon was sent out even favorite with Minteroo for the Hurdle Pace at the recent Warwick Farm (Sydney) meeting. Beacon had a six lengths’ lead until nearing the home turn, where Minteroo ran up to him, and, after a good struggle homo, beat the New Zealander by half a length. It transpires that the mishap which came against Gold Fran at tlio Gisborne meeting is not of a very serious character. The son of San Fran got cast in his box on the eve of the meeting, straining a muscle in the shoulder, and though he raced showed signs of soreness afterwards. A short spoil should see him all fight again says an Auckland report. The track at Trentham has been in such a bad state lately that trainers have not been able to make use of it. Most of theni have given their charges road work in the vicinity of the course.