TURF NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9026, 13 January 1908, Page 6

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.") Acceptances for the Wellington meeting are due to-night. As most of the handicaps are made in Mr J. H. Pollock's usual flattering rrianner, good average numbers should be recorded. Great interest is being manifested in the fixture, and the attendance will probably be the largest yet assembled at Trentham. The meeting will serve to give Ministers of the Crown and members of Parliament generally, an idea as to whether the new Gaming and Lotteries Act hu3 affected what was desired in the matter of lessening gambling. A .southern writer states, and he'is certainly not far out in his convictions, that the Act has served as a tonic to gambling, as during the past' few weeks every race meeting has recorded a greater totalisator turnover than last.year, while at the same time bookmakers have also handled large amounts. It is, therefore, considered that in this connection the Act is a rarce. During the past week Riflemaid has been running about in the paddock in the day time. It is, therefore, not definitely known whether the falls she sustained while running in the Wairarapa Cup have detrimentally affected her. Aberration will be taken over to the Fotxon "jeeting, where he will be one of the Cup contestants. The Possible gelding is very well at present, and the race will serve to show whether he is a stayer up to a mile and a quarter.

Mr W. E. Bidwill's fine colt Elevation has been nominated for the Doncaster Handicap, one mile,, and the Australian Cup, two miles, to be 'run at the A.J.C., meeting in April." Although being spellod at present, the son of San Francisco is in splendid condition. Should he train on satisfactorily, great interest will be : evinced in the colt's Australian tour, and it may be taken for granted that a few sportsmen from New Zealand will journey across to witness the contests with Australia's best. As showing the number of horses in training in New Zeaiand, no less than 1,286 have been paid up for in the Accident Fund. The Officer gelding Trent was recently sold for £35. Since then he has won eigh' races out of ten starts. Mr J. Cress has now in work a two-year-old black filly by Conquerorsister to Tortulla. She bears a strong resemblance to the latter, and if anything like as good, will easily pay her way. Dusky Mom, for which Mr G. F. Moore, "of Wanganui, recently refused £2,000, has been nominated for the Newmarket Handicap. Being quick off the mark, and brilliantly fast, to-Sou'-wester gelding* is one very suitable for a race of the kind, and if landed at the post fit and well will take a lot of beating.