SPORTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 17 December 1907, Page 3

SPORTING.

[By “Probable.”] Mr A, Laing of Woodyille was unfortunate last week in losing his advance —Lass-o’-Gowrie yearling colt, which was found lying dead-in his box. This bay colt gavd good promise, and had grown into a fine yearling. Mr Laing has had no luck at the game since his long list of successes with Lass-o’-Gavine a few years back, and his many friends will he pleased to hear of his popular colours being carried to the front shortly. There is one, Muritai, in the stable which may be capable of breaking the ice. By Euroclydon out of Muriwai, it should be able to gallop. The stakes at Awapuni next Saturday should be “ good goods ” for Elevation with gst 41b on its back. Sir Frisco is in the list, also the Foxton owned Buoyant.

Sports would do well to keep The Rand in mind at the Palmerston meeting, as the big black appeared to be on the improveat Feilding, and may be just right at Awapuni. Maniapoto ran such a great race at Feilding, and beat a good one— Moral—rather easily, that punters will hardly have anything to beat him in the Manawatu Cup now that he has struck form. Of* course, Truce will have a big following, also Tangimoana. The raetalliciaus are likely to pay the license fee at Palmerston next week, wheu the roar of their odds should be a new experience for many sports round these parts.

Considerable dissatisfaction has been expressed in racing circles, through alleged imputations being cast at horsemen by a well-known handicapper after different races in which the horsemen in question have allegedly taken hold of horses. That the handicapper has a perfect right to pick out ‘ ‘ deaduns ” goes without saying, and he also has a right to act upon such fact and keep the weight up of these beasts. But I certainly think it going too far to make inferences to boys in charge, for they are in an awkward position, in that they have no redress whatever, These facts go to point out still further the urgent need of stipendiary stewards being appointed, and appointed at once, and ’ the sooner racing clubs realise this fact, so much the better. It is quite possible for some of the lads referred to, to have been wrongly accused'. However, there is a lot of “crooked” business connected with racing, and the appointment of good solid “ stipendiaries ’ ’ should meet the case, and put fear into the hearts of those inclined to do bare-faced actions on the turf. The racing conference meet at Wellington next month, when It is to be hoped owners, trainers, horsemen, and racing clubs will all club together for their own good, and bring forth the urgent need of the appointment of suitable stipendiary stewards who can be relied on to do their duty to. one and all alike, and to purify the sport somewhat.