SPORTING NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 26 March 1913, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES.

(By ''>• .■ Started.") x ri.'iti'S. April 2 —Rocfton J.C. April 2 and 5. Wellington R.C. Aut~ t umn. April 9 and lO.— Maiuuvatu R.C. Autumn. April 16 and 17.- —Hawke's Bay B.C. Autumn. April 24 and 25. —Masfcerton R.O. Autumn.

Tlio Autumn meeting of tho (Mas-ter-ton Racing Ohib takes place on April 21tli and 25th, and .nominations are duo on April 4th. Tho 'Club has gone to a groat deal of expense to bring the appointments at Opaki up to date, and by the time all improvements are completed patrons of the Club will have no need to complain of not 'having their convenience considered. Every sportsman in t'lie Wairarapa and other parts of the Dominion would hea.r with regret of the disqualification of Sir Knox in the Autumn Handicap at Tauherenikau. It certainly looked as if the Sir Laddo horse crossed on t-o Brown Trout, but it should be borne in mind that Watson was using the whip, and if any cross occurred it must have been unintentional, as somo horses ' have a tendency to run away from the whip. It was plain that Sir Knox came right on the outside of -everything in the race, and the evidence of Henderson, the rider of Bill, stated clearly that there was a clear four feet between Sir Knox and Brown Trout, wTien the former ran past him. Then again, the rider of Brown Trout contradicted himself in his evidence, stating first that Sir Knox just grazed his mount, and later stated that he bumped him on the shoulder. Now, tho question is, what did happen Sir Knox won so very easily that nothing could have altered the te.sult. The .rider of Brown Trout, a practically inexperienced rider, made his statement, winch in one part at least was contradictory, and yet, on Ins. evidence, an important decision was como to. As to Sir Knox's inconsistent running, ther? is little doubt tliat the case looked bad, ibut if one comes to consider the whole situation the form could be vei*y well accounted for.' On the first day Sir Knox carried Bst 131b, the distance being li miles. The going was as hard as a board. Sir Knox was hopelessly left, and his rider was quite justified in not knocking him about to try and do the impossible. The race was run in 2min. 7 2-ssecs., which clearly indicates the state of the going. Everyone knows that the Sir Laddo horse likes the going soft. Take his running at the Wellington Spring meeting up to his kneeg in mud. If Sir Knox's form was inconsistent, what about Brown Trout, who also likes it soft? Mr Gordon, the Stipendiary Steward made tliat excuse for Brown Trout, why, then, should the same excuse uot stand for Sir Knox? Another fact worth considering is that Sir Knox had not raced for some time, and the race on the first day did him a great amount of- good. When -we look back upon some of the cases of glaring inconsistency during the present season one cannot fail to look upon Sir Knox's case with a. degree of dissatisfaction. It is certainly unfortunate for the owner of tho horse, especially as there was some trouble regarding the nomination, a matter whioh, I understand, is likely to be beard more of. The win of Otter in the Juvenile Handicap at Tauherenikau was long overdue. The Kilcheran horse smothered the opposition at the finish. Ceylon broke a blood vessel when running in the Autumn Handicap at Tauherenikau.

Full .Rate..got a ''iiy" at Tauherenikau, and won from Amber and White with considerable ease. The Officer goldiup; looked remarkably well, and had been doing great work prior to leaving home.

Braeburn was the best hack seen 'at Tauherenikau. Being bjp Sir Laddo from Ttilmrangi (the dam of Napthn. who raced well in the W<iirarapa a few sea,son>s ago) ( , he profnises to be more than useful later on. He simply played with the opposition on both days. His owner, Mr Iv. S. White, of Poratigahau. was offered a tempting figu!re for 'him after the meeting, but he deci'ined to sell. Old Xaumai looked bright and well and had no great difficulty in annexI ing the Feothei'ston Handicap on tho Concluding day at Taulierenikau.

Awahou is' worth remembering for future engagements. TJic Thompson Handicap may not be past him. Tvatua wa.s unlucky at Tauhtvenikau. The .start on tho second tlav was one of the worst F have seen. It is a pitv some good men don't take up the profession of starting. Bon Ton'-s win in the Great Autumn Handicap at Riccarton was anticipated. Imagination ran fairly at Auckland. but of course is not in the same class as Bleriot,

Exertion has a very doubtful lookins and may require a spell. Night-watch has developed into a fine two-vear-old, and should be a top-notcher next season.