SPORTING NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10608, 15 April 1912, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES

(By "Also Started.")

FJXTUE.ES.

April 17 and 20.—Wellington R. 0. Autumn. April 2-1. and &>.—Mannvatu B. 0. Autumn. April 21- and 27. Avondale J.O. AuApril 2! and 23.—South Canterbury J.C. Autumn. May 1 «nd 2.—Marlborough R.O. Autumn. May 1 and 2.—Bawko's Bay J.O. Autumn.

The accepLances received for theWellington autumn meeting must be considered very satisfactory, when taken into consideration the- very hard seascii'. l ;. racing many c.f the entrants hiave had.

jj It was expocted that the Hunters' Steeplechase would have filled better, as Avitill the jumping season, earning on, it was thought that a numher of owners would have availed themselves of the opportunity of giving prospective steeplechasers a run in public; However, there is no reason why the ' lot engaged r.houkl not afford a igood race. Los Angelo's, 9.11, is .looked upon as certain to run a great race in the Thompson Handicap, after 'his meritorious display in the Great Autumn. There are several good milers, however, in ttihc race that may trouble the big chestnut. The Thompson Handicap has always been regarded as o:io of itlhe best races in the Dominion, and this year's race should ibe no exception.

'Mr 0. F. Vallance's pair of jumpers have been allowed to drop out of their Wellington engagements, so that the Wiairaa-apa will not be very strongly represented, hut 'with T'oney, Sir Knox, Distinction and Sinapis engaged, it is quite possible that soma of stoke money will find its way to [the Wairarapa. Distinction, one of J. Farmer's string, has improved a good deal since racing, at Tauherenikau, ami may be expected to give a good account of himself at Trcntham.

[ Sir Knox performs much better if the ground is- at all istoft. The Sir JLaddo'colt is 'troubled .slightly with ' shin soreness, whidh imay account for j Ill's .partiality for 'soft going. i The {Railway Handicap at Trentham ■slhould 'be a great race, practically all the crack •sprinters being ; engaged. Bandiera, who showed good form in classic events at tßicciarton, is- likely ita he ■' a >;hot- ifavourite, but will have to be at his lb est to put down such [.high class- gallopers as Equitas, Culprit, Gipsy Belle and Bootlc, while 1 -there arc several smart ones in the tower" weighted division, i A number of sporting enthusiasts ■will .miake the trip to Trentham on Saturday, to see Counterfeit run in itho St. Leger. At present it docs not look as if anything will be able to extend the crack three-year-old. With Aiituinnus, Brown Owl and Counterfeit, Sir George Clifford holds a strong iliand at iTrentiham, and diould further add to his' .-winning -list.

' Excellent nonun'aiions have been received for the Hawke'is 'Bay Cup, •whichi is the last of the season'* big •handicap races.

Bally Shannon has changed hands, and in future will he raced in the colours of Mr H. Hodge, who has heel well known as a (sportsman in the Wairarapa for anumber of years. Splash and Mataari carried >Mr Hodge's colours successfully" during the past season or two. The Merriwee igelding .will •continue an inmate of J. Phillips' stahle. . Afterthought ran one of her best j races to date in the Makino Welter at I Feilding, and had she heen kept'on 1 tthe sound going must-have won. The Merriwee mare likes the going soft. The ranks cf jockeys will suffer a, .temporary lessen the disablement of T., Pritchard, who was unfortunate, enough to break his log at Feilding. Pritchard is one of the hest all-round (horsemen in the Dominion to-day, and is equally at home on the flat, over hurdles, and over steeplechase tryExcellent nominations have been received for the Marlborough Racing Club's autumn meeting. This fixture has always Ibeen popular with 1 owners, and the excellent s*akes given by the Club ensures good fields, and a large attendance of the public naturally follows. Owners and trainers are reminded that accepances for the first day, and final payments for the Bth Manawatu Stakes and 4th Sires Produce Stakes, ■for the Manawatu autumn meeting, close with the secretary, Mr J. M. Johnston, at Patoerston North on Tuesday, April 16th.