SPORTING

Wairarapa Age, 24 March 1920, Page 6

SPORTING

Desire may run well in the Trial Plate, afc the Rangitiliei races to-day.

Sweet Memory haß run her last race in hack company.

- The Hukanui trotting meeting is being held to-day.

Following nominations have been received for the Awapuni Gold Cup, of 575 sovSj one mile and a quarter: — Sasanof, Golden Bubble, Miss Gold, Trespass, Affectation, Hose Wreath, 11! gingham, Battle Song, Bonnie Maid, Punka, Hetaua, Star Lady, Borealis, Amythas, Royal Stag, Vagabond, Arrowsmith, Fiery Crpss, Nobleman, Client, Oratress.

It is quito pleasing, says a Sydney writer, to chronicle an owner's satisfaction at the weight allotted his horse. Although he has already been scratched for the Doncaster Handicap Bigaroon's withdrawal was not because his owner was dissatisfied wi.th his impost, but because the horse was not ready to be put into pi;oper training. His owner was desirous that the publ'c would not lose their money on the Beragoon' colt, hence his early withdrawal."

An agitation has been set on foot in Melbourne,, having for its object the raising of the status of tho Australian Cup. . At present the added money to the race is £2500, and it is quite overshadowed by the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup, viewed from a money standopint. It is not anticipated that the V.R.C. will raise the stake of the Australian Cup to anything like a sum equal to the Melbourne Cup, but S4OOO is aimed at by the agitators.

Mr Barney Allen sold Gambler's Gold and Gossine - Hatan to Mr A. Hordern, and the two horses have gone into T. F. Scully's stable at Band wick. Mr Allen won £2260 with his two horses at Flemington, and he was paid 6000gns for them. If Gambler's Gold had won the , Newmarket Handicap instead of running a close second, the owner would have won £50,000. He backed the double Gambler's Gold and Macadam to win £22,000,

It was a couple of days before the, V.R.C. St. Leger was run, which, as ia now history, was won by Artilleryman at 6to 1 on. A few bookmakers were out fishing for jowfish, but without results, and they were just about to pull up their lines and make for home, when one of their number exclaimed: "I've got it, I know how to make 'em bite." He found a piece of paper, and writing on • it, "2 to 1 against Artilleryman for the Leger," he fixed it on his hook, and lowered it to the bottom. "Now, will you jewies bite?" he said.

Among those who attended the Marlborough Racing Club's recent initial meeting at Waterlea (says the ISxpreßs), and followed the proceedings w&h keen interest, waa Mr Thomaa Murphy, of Spring Creek, who was at the first race meeting ever held in New Zealand, an event which took place at Nelson. Mr Murphy, woh is 96 years of age, has been attending the local race meetings throughout their history, and there was no more interesting or honoured figure at Waterlea last week.