SPORTING NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 30 April 1913, Page 7

SPORTING NOTES.

(Bj "Also Started.") FIXTURES. April 30, May 1. —Marlborough R.C. May 14, 15.—Egmont R.C. May 22, 24.—Wanganui J.C. May 8 and 9. —Afehburton County R,C;r Autumn. Mny 14 and 13—Egmont R.C. Winter May 22 and 24.—Wanganui J. C. June 3 and 4.—Dunedm <>. C. Winta - . The Masterton Racing Club in to ba congratulated on last week's meeting, which, from every point of view, was a record gathering. The Club, being now practically free from liabilities will require to consider the question of giving stakes in keeping with tlu 1 importance of a town of Masterton's size. Up to toe present there is no doubt that the stakes are quite inadequate, and if progress iy to bs .made substantial increases will havo to be made. So race should figure on the programme of less than £IOO, while the chief events should be endowed with from £3OO- to £4OO. If this is dotio nothing can prevent the Masterton Club-from being one of the leading Club's of the Dominion. Nominations and entries for events to be run at the Otaki Maori Racing Club's meeting close with the secretary' (Mr O. J. D'Ath), Otaki, on May 9th. The Marlborough Racing Club's Autumn meeting opens to-day. Th>? acceptances are satisfactory, and an interesting meeting is assured. The Marlborough Cup has drawn a good acceptance of .high-class handicap horses, and with such horses as Undecided, S«a Queen, Sinapis, Byron and A Horn engaged the race should be worth witnessing. Sea Queen is : strongly fancied for ■ the above event. She will have her usual pilot, W. jf'rit'e. Byron, who ran a nice race at Opaki, «nd Sinapis are also meeting with support in the same event, while Merry Frank and Styx are likely to be well supported for the Flying Handicap. The locally-owned Top Note was taken across to Blenheim by T. Higgins on Saturday. She will be riddtn by B. Deeley. Good judges consider The Great I Mogul would have beaten Astral at Opaki had they got away on even terms. The former, who will be piloted by A. Olliver to-day, will no doubt meet -with support. Peroneal will make her debut over a distance to-day, when she -will carry | Mr Nidd's colours in the Marlborough Cup. C. Emerson will have the mount. Olliver and Deeley are having a great race for the jockey premiership. Both are ridiirug in great form, and this week's races may alter their respective positions considerably, as both riders have some good mounts to-day and to-morrow at Blenheim. Olliver will ride Byron in the Cup and Deeley Sinapis. Sir Knox is none the worse for bursting a blood-vessel at Opaki last week, and is doing as well as ever. His next mission may be the Otaki Cup. Although the nominations for the Wanganui Jockey Club's Winter meeting are not very large, practically all the beet handicap horses are engaged. The jumping events have* brought out many new candidates, 'a.ird there is no likelihood of there being a dearth of lepp?i\s during the season. Indeed, hurdle #id cros-s----counti"y horsemen are much more likely to be scarce than horses. The latter difficulty promises to trouble owners not" a little during the; winter months. The New Zealand-bred and owned Manakau was successful in winning the Wariek Farm Handicap at Sydney on Saturday. This makes Manakau's first win on the oth.r side. Merry Roe, Auckland's best two-year-old, has won 810 sovs duriftyg the season. Mr T. H. Lowry has evidently tired of Labour Day, for h.> announces that he is prepared to dispose of the daughter of Sonlt. A special meeting of th? committee of the Aondale Jockey Club was held recently, when tlu rules were altered to enable the financial year to be closed on June 31st instead of July 31st as formerly. The. change of dates will enable the Club to make their arrangements for the new season much earlier .nan usual. From what can be gathered it is understood the Club intend to substantially increase their stake* a.'id the next Avondale Cup will probably carry a stake of 500 sovs, while the nthe) stakes will b e raised in proportion. Evidently Antarctic is standing up to his work satisfactorily, for the son of Salvadan appears amongst the nominations for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Wanganui Steeplechase. 'Word from Wanganui states that Antarctic has been schooled several times lately, and on each occasion has given a fine display. Horses given a change to win the Ellerslie jumping double are Bercola, Tui Cakobou,' Fashion Plate, Armagh, Delegate, The Native, Tauira, Lloyds, Bravest, Whimper, The Chef, and Game, which figure in. both the Qvent Northern Hurdles and Steeplechase. The. Avondale Jockey Club paid to the Government £999 7s Id in the shape, of tax in connection with th? recent Autumn meeting. Two previous winners of the Great Northern Steeplechase in Hautere "»tl Red McGregor figure amongst the nominations for this year's event, but I Whakaweira is the only previous" Great Northern winner which has been nominated this year. One of the sensations of the last C..T.C. National meeting. The Rover, recently changed hands, and is now h?ing trained at -Hastings by H. Hickev.