RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8504, 9 August 1907, Page 6

RACING.

TURF NOTES. (By Zetland.) The Manawatu Racing Club's Summer Meeting will be held on December 21st, 26th and 27th. The first day has been chosen on account of the Racing Conference ordering that xrne day's racing of the meeting should take place before Christmas. Maniapoto rules as first favourite for the New Zealand Cup. Others that have been supported in the .betting market are Apa, Armistice, Marguerite and Astrakhan. Final payments for the Grand National Steeplechase, Hurdles and Winter Cup are due to-night. R. J. Mason leaves for Sydney this week with Boniform, Count Witte, Armlet, by Menschikoffi-Armilla, and Sunglow, by Multiform - Otterden. The two first - named are engaged in the A.J.C. Derby. For the Grand National Hurdles to be run on Thursday next Asteroid, Regulation and Mahoe have been scratched. They had been well supported by backers throughout the colony in doubles, and their defection will therefore be disappointing to nny. The principal favourites for tie race at present are Paritutu, Shrapnel, Lull, Merriwai, and Cuir#gno. It is expected that there will be about twelve starters for the Grand National Steeplechase. Those who have been watching the work at Riccarton seem unanimously of the opinion that Phaetonitis will take a deal of beating. Slow Tom is slightly sore in his work, but Nadador, Inniskillen, Romany Lad, Evenlode and Loch Fvne are acquitting themselves most creditably over the big jumps. Kiatere, who wili have the burden of 13.3 to carry, is doing good work, but will need to be the best steeplechaser the colony has yet seen to win over the three and a-half mile jo-rney. The contest should be one of che best yet witnessed in New Zealand, and the attendance at the meeting promises to be a record one.

M. McGrath will have a fine team in work this season. He has no less than fourteen boxas occupied at the present time, the inmates being Mahuta, Sherlock Holmes, Hatley, Aberration, Sunbonnet, Riflemaid, San Fran and Merriwee geldings, Mjloch. Workman—Seal gelding, Mocassin, Workman —Report gelding, Oakl-y and Research. Most of these are in commission, and will be ready to race when the earty spring races come on for decision. W. Garrett has Letherin, Sandix, Oblivion and Bonnie looking well. The first-named is standing up to his work well, and if his off fore-leg keeps right he will be raced in a couple of months. Bonnie, who has not 1: ?en in long, ran second in the principal flat race at the Woodlands Hunt Club meeting on Wednesday. R. Knox has recently taken in

hand a two-year-old Ally by Merrie England—St. Leger mare, therefore half-sister to Curenagh. The other members, including Platypus, Merrie Rose and Lucrietus, are in good condition.

The weights for the Wairarapa Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting are ' framed on an equitable basis. Narrow | Escape's wins at Pahiatua this week naturally caused the handicapper to take more notice of him, otherwise he would not have been at the top of the list in the Hack Flat. Haerekamoa, 13.5, is well taken care of in the Taratahi Steeplechase of three : miles, but .Tilson, 11.10, if turned out in racing condition, should account for the top-weight. San Julie, 10.12, reads well in the Hack Flat, of seven furlongs, atjd Nothing, 10.7, should run well in the Bracelet. Anticipations to the various events will be published next week. ; In the list of winning owners for j the past season the following head j the list Hon. J. D. Ormond j £8,050 ;G. G. Stead, £5,282; Sir G. Clifford £5,020. Wairarapa owners j entered on the winning list are W. E. Bidwill, £1,565; R. Knox, £1,050; R. Buick, £910; H. McManaway, £874; A. McPherson, £482; D. McCorkindale, £480; K. McKenzie, £470; W. Cooper, £455; H. Hodge, £445; W. A. Donald, £407; R. J. Marr,£392; Ivan Thomas, £375; G. G. Cork, £365; W. McKenzie, £315; J. C. Skeet, £300; E. G. Harris, £275; A. Reside, £235; H. Nee, £225; J. Macar*, £167; G. Foreman, £165; C. F. Vallance, £l4B 10s; W. Cragg, £130: Mrs P. Rogers, £105; C. H. Smith, £103; Mrs H. Fletcher, £100; H. Gosnell, £100; G. Hume, £100; Burt Bros., £BS; J. Tilyard, £BS; M. and O. McGrath, £75; A. E. White, £65; W. D. Watson, £55. The total stakes won by Wairarapa owners, not including those under £4O, amounts to no less than £11,013 10s. By Telegraph—Press Association. CHRISTCIIURCH, August 8. The committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club has decided to discontinue the double event totalisator at future meetings.