SPORTING.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 November 1917, Page 4

SPORTING.

J. Conquest, who has been in the C.l camp, has failed to stand training and has returned to the "pigskin."

Sunny Climes, the Feild Battery— Perolina mare in the Highden stables, went the way of all flesh on Friday, having developed a complaint which necessitated her being destroyed. This is extremely hard luck for the Highden people, as the little mare was just developing into something useful. She was not engaged in Feilding. Stepniak is the only throe-year-old that has ever won the Stewards' Handicap, New Zealand Derby, and Canterbury in the same year. Stepniak also holds the distinction of being tlio only Welcome Stakes winner that has ever scored in the Stewards' Handicap in its second season on the turf.

Mr A. J. Toxward has engaged C. Pilcher to act as his private trainer, who will start work on some real fino youngsters which have been bred by Mr Toxward at his stud farm on the Longburn-Eongotea road. Among the youngsters will be a fine full sister to Vagabond, secured by Mr Toxward at the recent Christcliurch sales.

On Ashhurst running, Skedaddle should have a royal chance of annexing the Trial Stakes at Feilding. A number of horses, including Na*ma and Turangapito, were kept in their boxes at Ashhurst, their owners deciding not to start them when the rain came on. Client, Johnny "Walker, Multiply and Tcka are the present favourites for the Auckland Cup. Almoner, Melee and Biplane have returned to the Dominion. Biplane won £10,456 during his recent Australian campaign, the amount being made up as follows: Rosehill Guineas £099, A.J.C. Derby £472<5, Craven Plate £1535, Victoria Derby £2522, Linlithgow Staflcs £7G2. Of the A.J.C. Derby stake Mr Sol Green receives £250 as the breeder of Biplane. Last season as a two-year-old in New Zealand, Biplano won £1850, so that his total earnings amount to £12,396. E. J. Mason and R. O'Donnell, both of New Zealand, were the only trainers to win more than one race at the V.K.C. Meeting. Each had two successes, Mason with Biplane, and O'Donnell with Perform and Almoner Among the jockeys, the honours went to B. Deeley (New Zealand), who had four winning mounts, viz., Biplane (twice), Folly Queen, and De Gama. L. A. Walker (New South Wales) came next with three wins on Perform, Outlook, and Almoner. P. Brown (New South Wales) had two successes.

The following horses have incurred 101b penalties for Feilding: Rose Pink, King's Armour, War Maid and Probation.

In previous years the crack horseman, B. Deeley, has had many successful seasons, but it is doubtful if any of them have paid him as well as this season has done. Although it is not half gone yet, the Auckland horseman has already ridden the winners of the Rosehill Guineas, A.J.C. D>3rby, V.E.C. Derby, V.R.C. Oaks, Linlithgow Stakes, and two good handicaps in Australia.

Owners and trainers are Teminded that acceptances for all first day events at the forthcoming Woodville Meeting close on Wednesday.

Hector Gray made a bold bid to reach Ashley Reed's winning ride records at Takapuna on Saturday and just about got there.

The vagaries of war. One Wellington soldier (an officer) has a son three years old whom he has not seen. Owing to the scarcity of turkeys in New Zealand markets, Australia has recently been drawn upon, and (according to an exchange) between two and three tons weight of frozen turkeys recently came into the Dominion, presumably for the Christmas trade. Writing to a Palmerstonian about the railway accident at Bere Ferrcs, in which eleven New Zealanders were killed and a number hurt, a soldier in England says if the train had been another 30 seconds later it would have got about 200 men. The soldiers on the. train had not had' any food for ten hours. Speaking concerning; the undemocratic system of electing candidates to the House of Representatives, Mr Thorn, speaking at Napier, said: "Here in Napier, I understand, there are going to be four or five candidates for the next general election. I have been told that this number have already announced themselves. This is going to be like a civil war. The grass growing on the streets in the township is so long now as to constitute a dangor to tho public (says the "Cheviot News"). In most places the footpaths have been obliterated under a growth of grass nearly 2ft high. It is now impossible for pedestrians to get along without taking to the beaten track in the roads; and as for ladies, well, oven with their short dresses they dare not go out in daylight.