NOTES AND COMMENTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10276, 10 May 1919, Page 11

NOTES AND COMMENTS

(By "Tohunga.") . The favourites were not too much, in evidence at the Mauawatu meeting. On the first day number one got home on four occasions, and on Friday the public's choice yas successful on three occasions.

One of the outstanding features of the Manawatu meeting,. was the fact that Vagabond and Chimera won the double on both days. The Tommies are sure to have been rapped up over the dual w*m. Master Lupin /Lupin—St. Lya) won his race nicely in the Kairanga Hurdles. He had 11.13 to carry, but no had Uie assistance of A. McDonald. The issue really was never in doubt. Reformation, who was made second ■ favourite in the -Kairanga Hurdles at Palmerston, failed to justify the confidence placed in him. He is by the same sire as the-winner of tho Hurdles on the first day, Sleight-ot-Hand. Sleight-of-Hand, who looked more or less like a plough-horse when l.r v.eiga.'rt, out for the Karere Hurdles, made hacks of the field, fair as they were, ft was a remarkable thing that, such a fine jumper as Sleight-of-Hand, the winner of the last Grand ..National, should be allowed to pay so much. It. is a pity wTiat will happen to some of the jumpers this season if Sleight-of-Hand is engaged. Tho running of Whiro at Feliding was inquired into at Palmerston on. Thursday. The case is a most peculiar one; The trainer, of the horse alleges that he was instructed to pull the horse, butthat allegation has, so. far, not. been substantiated. The committee inquiring into the matter .will-meet at Bulls to consider their judgment.,

There is a great lack of consideration for the public in regard to racing . in this Dominion. At most of the meetings inquiries are held, penalties are imposed, and all manner of things go on; but tho Press is never apprised of them, it is a popular idea that the Press will find out, every thing,, but if the 1 re ®s. not receive tho assistance of the ofhcia-s in this connection.‘it is rather at a loss to know what is going on. A little more enlightenment as to what is going on would not do ai»- harm. There us no system at all in vogue regarding information so far as,;inquiries are conceined. 411 kinds of meetings are held at all ot -the metropolitan clubs, but never a 'word is sent to the Press reporters. The result of all that kind of thing is that -unless someone- passes the word alo g any incident inquired into is passed without notice, ..and .the culprit escapes the notice he should -reeeivc-in. the Press. Some people blame .the press f ° r . IWT dishing so-and-so: hut more people complain of the maters that are never recorded by tho different clubs. The train service in connection with racing is assumed to be in jeopardy, according to the recent utterances of the Acting-Premier. He stated at Dunedin a dav or two ago that there was a great possibility of a very serious curtailment in the train service on account of tn« shortage, in. the; local .JPKR&u> T f, tlle vice is going to-be‘ady worse than that handed out to the public who travelled to Palmerston on Wednesday there are black days ahead. The Now Plymouth express, which was the advertised train for the Manawatu races, was packed to overflowing, quite fifty passengers having to be content with a hang-on to the parcel rack. At Paekakartki an extra oar was put on, and from there to Awapuni many passengers who had paid first-class fares were obliged .to travel in the hardseated second-classs vans. - That was not the end of the episode. The tram from Wellington- pulled up at • Awauum, where there was a train which could have transported the passengers to the racecourse, but those in charge of it informed tho weary passengers that it would not bo going to the course"for an hour or so. The consequence was that a couple of hundred or so of people had to.walk for a couple of miles to . the racecourse. The taxi drivers came to the rescue of some of the travellers,, but they were -too late for most of them. Tho result of the turnout was that the Wellington visitors to the meeting missed the two races at tho head of the card. It would have done the management good to have heard the remarks passed on the way from Awapuni to the racecourse.

Munster (Spalpeen—Success) ran a good race in tho Stony hurst Welter. He was in the running all the way, and finished up a good third. If he. starts in, another flat race he should be well supported. Tho Speaker was allowed to pay an extraordinary price In the Ava Hack Welter at Palmerston. The gelding has run most consistently of late, and the dividend was quite out of proportion to his chances of success in the race. Cadet (Carl Rosa —Energy) was made favourite for the Ava Hack Welter at Palmerston. He, was ridden by Gray on the first day, but Emerson took the mount on Thursday, which suggested, all kinds of possibilities to the. punters. Half-way through the betting Pretty Bobby, who won the Linton Hack Welter on the first day of the meeting had Gray up on Thursday, and that fact caused some financial excitement on his behalf. In the end the wiseacres, wore left lamenting, Tho Speaker upsetting all caland paying his loyal supporters handsomely .... ... . allegiance.

Backers wore lucky to get the price they did for Desert Gold in the Manawatu Stakes. If tho stable companion (Lucid) had not run second the price for the mare for first place -would have been reduced considerably. It. was good-to vitness the manner in which tho mare's success was received, also the manner in which a prominent member ot tho Manawatu Racing Club insisted on being photographed with the reins in his hands.