SPORTING NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 282, 27 March 1897, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

[By Gifsy Grand.]

During the past week the sum of JE25,438 was put through the totalisator in Hawke's Bay. Picklock, Ilaria, and Day Star left for Auckland last night. The Possible will be shipped Home on Wednesday. W. Carr accompanies him on the voyage. The once great horse Kingsborough died the other day in X.S.W. He won the A.-J.C. Derby and Champion Stakes at Randwick in 1874. Mannlicher's weight for the Great Easter is 9st, and not 9 9 as generally published. Yattenfeldt paid .£64 2s on Patrick s Dav at Ohinemuri.

Artilleur broke down at the Waimate meeting last week. Donald McKinnon's Flintlock liorse Scotland died at Auckland a few days ago. A fair amount of betting is going on today in Hawke's Bay over the Liverpool Grand National; iliO is the limit with the books. KACIXO REFORMS. •' Sport " writes as follows : —The matter of racing reform is one tint reqires careful consideration if the purification and honesty of the turf is to be maintained in this colony. The corrupt practices of the turf are. in great measure, due to the prevailing influence of the totalizator ; and in many case the amount invested on a horse determines whether the horse is going to win or going to lose, liy the introduction of the blind totalisator which is now being used in Tasmania, '■ .-iiti riming" would be greatly minimised. On this machine the amount on each horse is hidden from view until the race starts, but the total is visable all the time. I contend, sir, this style of machine would have a beneficial effect. The question of minimum weight is also worthy of consideration. There is no denying that many races are lost through light-weights being unable to control and handle their mounts in a proper manner, and horses, as a rule, will run better under?';}or even 7-7 than they will under the present minimum of 6 - 7. If a horse is unable to win with 7st it should never be raced. The lowest weight should therefore be Tst in flat racing. The position of judges" boxes on most courses ure altogether too elevated for a judge to decide when it comes to a close finish, and it may be on this account that many of the close finish decisions are not appreciates! by the public. Perhaps the greatest eyesore on a racecourse i-> to see the judge's box packed with ( hib officials. If this is allowed by the rule-, of racing it should be repealed at once ; if it is not allowed, then the rules are v iolated Oil almost every course in the colony. I maintain that none but the one judge should occupy the box. There is but one handicapper, and one starter ; there should therefore be but one judge. These suggested reforms will commend themselves to the sporting public, and every lover of "straight going "will hail with satisfaction their inclusion in the Hulesof lUcing. —Spo*t.

C.J.C. Al Ti M.N MEETING

CiiiusTt ht rch. March 20. The following acctptancM have U< n received-. — Great Ka«-teb II isi'ii .u 1 . 7 furlongs.

Tiie following remain in the (.'halknge Stake* :—St I'aul, Mumilsolur, l.ord Ilosslyii, I'iich and Toss. StOuida, 1 taunt, Vul<-»n, Sir I.nunr« lot. I*cti«nt, Gold Medalist, Uwid L«af.ska»hcU, Multiform.

Mantilicher •j 0 lilack A lied 7 10 WHnkii ... H 12 I..U 7 y St Paul ... H 7 7 y Gold Spur ... » 1 T. It m»-l< r ... 7 7 Vanilla ... 8 7 Tfllt IirUiy 7 7 Skirmisher M 6 7 7 Mmtsmiua... H 5 Tirr 7 B*!l« Clair... H 4 Mannwaitui 7 Lord llo>»h n 8 0 Muttirv 7 '2 (•uat Aiitmn 11 as Mi'Af, "2| mile*. M»iuilich«-r M y I'liao-s 7 7 LonHtowtlyn H l J'irrtiv 7 0 Wiuuku 7 12 7 0 Ledft 7 H Tift; ti 12