Racing Notes.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 20, 30 July 1920, Page 7

Racing Notes.

The election of committee at the annual general ineetiiig of the Winton Jockey Club resulted in quite a good win for the trade. Mine host Billy Cowie topped the poll with 77 votes, Dave Calder, of the Oreti pubbery, was second with 75, and Bert Stiven, of Wallacetown, brought up the rear with 54 votes. The other successful candidates were Willy Swale, old Bob Jamieson, and A. Gerrard. Rags Raines and Harry Cunningharn, were the "also rans." And so the law agaiiist bookmahing is going to be made more stringent. Excepting that it might make ihe ai/katioii againist the totalistator a little stronger. I don t think much more harm will come to the bookmakers. There a-re too many of our "officers of the law," vvho like to have a bob on so on their fancies for any extreme action to be takou by them. It will only be to members of the ring who make it too hot- that any harm is likely. Ihere s a wild Irishman at Winton namod Michael Babtiste O'Brien, no relation of Te Tua Mick, who evidently doesn't hail from the same part of 'Ould Ireland as Biil Massey does. At the annual meeting of the Winton Jockey Club be mminded the meeting that his countryman was against racing, and suggested the club entering its protest. Does M.B.O'B. wish tlie club to protest to the anthorities in charge in Ireland or England? Personally I don't think either would help much, but let me tell you even Bill Massey is grateful for the revemie racing brings alon.g.

So the embargo on the carrying of race horses by steamers has been liftod! The seamen must feel very proud of their efforts in connection with the movement started by Sheath , Hcwitt and Co., Ltd. {very limited I think). At Christchurch the parsons. were inclined to be syrapathetic, but Chaplain Aye Ready (a real man as many of us know who met him in khaki) got to work. Rev. Ready probably knows moro of human nature than any other sky pilot in commission and what he says goes. He has more friends amongst sports and diggers than any chaplain of the Methodist Cliurch I know. Do you remember his good work in Southland before donning the uniform ? Willy Swale, oue of the prohibition members of the Awarua Lieensing Committee is broad-minded tuiough to act in commitee on ihe Winton Jockey Club, with at least thr.ee publicans, and goodness knows how many sinners. That is where the sportsman comes in, they are broad-minded, and it is a pity that more of our cold water friends are not built on the same lines as Willy. P,eto Gow was in .good form at Winton on Thursday night, when presiding ovor the members oi the most sporty club in Southland, at their annual meeting. He is one of the busiest medicos in Southland, y,et can find time to take a very active part in the management oi' the sport, besides running a sheep station or two. Dr. Gow is one of our few public-spirited professional men, and it would do Southland hea] * of good if it eontainod a f,ew more like fnm. '"Watty" Taylor was well in evidence at the Winton Jockey Club meeting. W.E.T. is a good public speaker, and 1 thoroughly believe if he were an indepondent man (I don't mean independent of a nag or so), we would see him contesting a seat in parliament. What about having a go at the Invercargill Borough Gouncil vacancy caused by. Bill Baird's kick-out. He shouid be able to do as well as 17! II did, anvway. The. Wyndham clhb made a bold eSort to get at additional permit, but even the good work put in by Secretary Stewart was of no avail. I fancy they were gambling on the Lake Coutity Club going under, but tbe sports up Queenstown way are not broke yet. They take a devil of a lot of bending before they break too. At the Timaru Hunt Meeting, Merry Lad, broke down badly and is a most unlikely starter at the Nation al Meeting. Master Strowan, is reported to be schooling well for the National Meeting. He knows the Riccarton country well and shouid be able to keep Locheila and Cub busy when the last mile of the big steeple is entered on.