RACING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3038, 7 November 1908, Page 5

RACING.

TURF NOTES. (By "Zetland".) With an acceptance of 21 for the New Zealand Cup, and 20 for the Stewards' Hai.dicap, to be run at Riccarton to-day, the double has created a very wide interest among the sporting public of the Dominion. The provisions of the "Gaming and Lotteries Act" precludes sporting writers from offering suggestions relative to the probable chancss of the various candidates, and practically all that can now be written is perhaps a brief resume of recent performances, and the training work executed by the various contestants. A great deal is heard from time to time pertaining to interference with the liberty of the subject, and that this is greatly in evidence where the publication of sporting matter is concerned cannot be gainsaid. Certain it is that under the new legislation betting has not decreased, and the sooner an alteration is made whereby necessary racing information can be published the better. II is confidently expected that 19 will compete in the big handicap of the year, and ,a great race should ensue. It is generally acknowledged that the event bears a very open appearance, so much so that no less than seven horses are quoted at decidedly short odds, while several others stand at a few points longer. The top-weight, Zimmerman, 9.9, is a good performer, but will have to run the race of his life to finish up with the first three. The highest weight yet carried to victory in the race is 8.9, so it will be seen that the task set the Bikenhead horse is indeed a big one. Master Delaval, 8.13, a recent winner, retains his condition splendidly, and has been well backed. Fr'sco, last year's winner, has receded slighiy in the betting, owing to having split a hoof, while Mahuta, 8.4, has been showing improved form on the Riccarton tracks during the past fortnight. Uhlando, 8.3, Grand Slam 8.2, and Signor, 7.13, have good performances to their credit, and Moloch, 7.12, Apa, 7.10, Stratagem, 7.8, and Riflemaid, 7.8, have at least shown form on the training grounds to justify them being kept in the contest. St. Joe, 7.8, will contest his third New Zealand Cup race, and the next on the list is Downfall at the same weight. He is going better than he did last year, and has been solidly supported in doubles. Probable, 7.7, has won three races during the past few weeks, and is looked upon as a sure starter. The chances of Armamento, Lapland, Field Gun, Saga, and White Lie, are not looked upon in a very favourable light, but Glenullin and Heorthen have good track form to their credit. The Stewards' Handicap will brirg out some of the finest sprinters ever seen in this country. There is r,o need to go into the performances of the vaiioua candidates, but v:ilh such speedy o"es as Gold Crest, Count Witte, Grenadier, Bobrikoff, Penates, Lupulite, Gold Thread, Sunbonnet, Flitaway, Armlet, Tiptoe, Mon Ami, and Gipsy Belle, as well as seven others nearly as brilliant, it does not require a great stretch of imagination to expect a very stirring contest. At Opaki, yesterday morning, good work was executed by Merrie Rose, Lucretius, Bonnie Scotland mare, Pukawhai, Skye, Osiris, Sealer, Afterthought, Golden Butterfly, Aberration, Bonnie Scotland gelding, Petroleum mare, Bine Ribbon, Culver Lass, Lebeccio, San Julie, Gaelic, Kiltie Lass, St. Brandon, Goldsn Eagle and Haeremai. The acceptances for the TaratahiCarterton meeting, while forming a fair average, are not so numerous as expected, more especially in the Cup and Maiden. The Hurdles have filled particularly well with 16 acceptors, and the response for the Belvedere and King Edward Hack, II each, is satisfactory. The course is in good order, and all the arrangements are well forward.