SPORTING NOTES.

Shannon News, 22 June 1923, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

Thus ‘The Cypher” in the “Critic”:—

H. E. Ryder is a capable horseman, and anything I say in this paragraph must not be taken to reflect on him or his connections. However, lie has 83 to his credit, being actually fourth on the'total Dominion jockey premiership list, and well ahead of such men as A. J. Mac Flinn, Barry, G.'Young, A. Oliver, 1 Bagby and others. Ryder is followed bf sixteen; other apprentices in double figures, and it is obvious that .the rule of weight allowance in favour of 1 apprentices is being well overdone. The : game properly played on a three days ■ meeting is too absurdly simple. First day out the nfoke«carries a good, sturdy horseman at full weight. Getting beaten that day means a pound or two off next-time, and if by any unfortunate mischance the animal again mects ’with' misfortune, a pound or two comes off again. Then, last day, up with' an apprentice with a 71b allowance, and the bell should ring unless something- very serious comes undone. Another aspect of the matter that has ; its' serious side is the fact that while these numerous good apprentices are getting the rides, experienced horsemen . are standing > about, and if they bet they are breaking the rules. They may come up to be solemnly judged by a set of local stewards who think it quite meritorious to’run a row of bets on their own club events, even if there is a chance of their having to sit ju-dicially-on a case of interference with the horse that carried their'investment.

; Quite a crowd watched the shipping of--. Gloaming and Co. by the Ulimaroa. The sharp comparison between the gigantic son ofi the Welkin and other gallopers is quickly realised at such a time: The two three-year-olds looked like-toys when he slouched past, and burly and big as he is, he gives all the more a sense of enormous power l and irresistible force. ' The ' Waikato-owned jumper, No Bother injured his shoulder during the race which he won on the opening day at; Ellerslie, and, as a consequence, could not take his place in the Great Northern Steeplechase field, for which he had many supporters; The New Zealand horseman, H. Gray,

has received a license to ride in France. This suggests that he may have a mount in the Grand Prix or other leading events. . • An item of interest to New Zealanders in connection with Papyrus's Derby win is that his sire Tracery is also the sire of Mr J. B. Reid's imported stallion Archery; . The imported Stallion Logan Pointer (£19,176) comes out an easy first in the sires' list for the present seaso'ri.. Of the first five on the list all but Wildwood Junr. (£9927) were bred in America. Though that great stallion Rothschild has been dead for some years his progeny won £4283 in stake-money during the present season.