RACING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 431, 17 January 1912, Page 6

RACING.

Taking a line through the nominations received by suburban and country clubs for fixtures ahead, Te Kuiti Club has every reason to feel pleased at the entries received for the meeting on February Bth. Both in point of class and numbers the fields give promise of being exceptionally good, and some stirring battles should take place up the straight when the flags are flying on race day. Already numerous enquiries have been received for accommodation for horses and quite a number of trainers intend bringing their charges along a short time before the meeting if they can make the necessary arrangements. Harking back to the old-time race meetings at Te Kuiti there is a marked difference between presnet-day and the past as regards facilities for the sport. Still there was good fun in the old days, and many a good man and true was to be seen in the thick of things at the old Te Kuiti racecourse. Mr J. T. Hetet, Mr C. Harrison (of Poro-o-tarao), Mr D. Sullivan (of Taumarunui) to say nothing of Messrs J. Tammadge, F. Sims, Julian, and the evergreen "Bonsor," who are all to the fore in the present club, witnessed some stirring times on the old convincing ground, and all will doubtless be at the forthcoming meeting when opportunity will no doubt be taken to fight their battles o'er again. The sport of kings is still the sport of every good man and true in whose veins courses the blood of virile forbears who lived and laughed and spirted and worked with the wholehearted instincts of the race. Degenerate days are sometimes said to have descended upon the sport in recent times, but a calm survey of the situation must lead to the conclusion that altered conditions are necessary with the change of times. The increase in population and variety of interests involved render it desirable that the sport should be conducted under proper supervision, and that up -to - date facilities should be afforded in the interests of the wider public. All this means organisation and the expenditure of capital in order to keep in line with progress, While appreciating the good old days when all were young, let us make the most of the present in the interests of sport and the public in general. Coughing, as described by a German authority, causes trouble in the training stables of that country, and remedies are not easily found. Whilst the subject was being discussed an experienced trainer stated that, after trying all the American nostrums without success, he arrived at the conclusion that the best remedy is absolute rest, fresh air, scrupulous cleanliness, and for the fir-it four or seven days a rigid fasting cure. He has also noticed that any work given to a horsa sickening with the fever causes a rise in temperature, and induces infiamation of the lungs; high-pressure feeding, resorted to formerly, he considers a mistake. Another pronouncement is to this effect: "Bad weather, cold winds, and rain have nothing to do with the spasmodic outbreaks of coughing. It is suggested that th-3 German racing societies should offer a tempting reward of the clever chemist who finds a remedy." In some comments on betting in England an exhange says: "Old timers frequently talk about the decay of ante-post betting, which has declined very much in recent years. Broadly speaking, this is due to the present generations of owners and close followers of the turf being small bettors compared with the plungers who cut such a dash fifty years ago. Possibly the change is for the better, and it is seldom there is really heavy support for fancied animals until the actual race is at hand. The change in conditions may not be very apparent to the ordinary observer, as the published list of od'ls against the classic and big handicap entrants makes imposing reading. It must be confessed, however, that this is somewhat misleading, and it is often very difficult to support genuine candidates for anything like a big sum."