SPORTING NOTES.

Clutha Leader, Volume XL, Issue 41, 21 November 1913, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES.

By Vladimir, Despite the inauspicious circumstances which prevailed during the progress of Carnival Week in Christcliureh, the C.J.C. and the N.Z. Metropolitan Trotting Club meetings proved an immense success, both from a sporting as well as from a financial point of view. The strike kept a large number of North Island sportsmen from attending owing to the uncertainty of steamer communication between the two islands, and it is safe to assume that had normal conditions prevailed this year's racing carnival would, have reached a point of success unique in the history of sport in the Donwuioji. The amount of money (that passed through tho totalisator (dospitc the stringency of tho financial market and the bad state of trade), reads as simply marvellous. The C.J.G. handled £158,434 , and the N.Z.M.T. Club £124,i>625, making a grand total of £282,7964, as "against last year's figures of £248,417 —an increase of close on £40,000. This is an eloquent testimony of the growing popularity of the sport, and one that will give the anti- v Sportiitg League plenty, of capital to ventilate their views as to crying down horseracing.

The general opinion of enthusiasts who were present last week at the racing and trotting carnival is that it was oue of the iiuest yet held there. The interest never flagged, and good fields and excellent racing was witnessed right up to the final event, when Lord Renown won the Fendalton Handicap in really splendid fashion from a large field, who were all pretty w r ell bunched, and it was a fitting finale to a most successful and enjoyable soveu days' rac-

Waretep was voted the most brilliant and consistent performer, her two firsts (the Stewards' Handicap and the Stead Memorial Gold Cup) being particularly impressive races, and many deemed her unlucky in missing the Oaks, when Bonnie Helen just gained the verdict by the smallest of margins, and it would look as if they were right judging by the decisive manner in which she turned the tables in the Gold Cup, beating Bonnie Helen in most hollow fashion. Her second to Cherubini in the Derby was likewise a good performance, as he was making his first appearance at the meeting in this event, and was no doubt trained specially for the longer distance, whereas Warstep had a severe race in the Stewards' Handicap and beat a very large field in record time, which no doubt did not leave her as full of lire as if she had been reserved for the Derby. It is a pity that Cherubini did not meet her again, as it would have left no room for doubt as to which is the better of the two had they both started in the Stead Memorial Cup. Sinapis, the winner of the New Zealand Cup, was not produced again until the last clay, but made no show in the Fendalton Ijandicap, the distance being probably too short for the Blenheim mare to display her best form. Downliam was champion of the two-year-old division, winning the Welcome Stakes and the Electric Plate (tile only two races in which he started). It is unfortunate for his owner that such a brilliant performer is a gelding. Potoa, the Auckland representative, must be looked upon as one of the best of the handicap horses sent out. He only sported silk on two occasions, and in his first effort he just failed to defeat Bliss, but in his next essay he simply romped away from his field in the Members' Handicap and won practically one of the hardest races to capture during the meeting, as he was amongst a field of J!> really first-class handicap performers, and he came away at the finish with a most brilliant run that simply smothered his opponents, Bandeira being the only one to show any real fight, but could not get nearer than a couple of lengths to the winner.

The AVingatui contingent—Gapon, Obsono, My Lawyer, Mosgiel and Kostroma—failed to capture a race during the four clays, the only one to repay his followers being Obsono, who paid a substantial price for second place in the Criterion Handicap. His subsequent running makes one think he was extremely lucky to defeat Bliss for second honours in this particular event, as he was well beaten the next time they met.

The one consolation that southern sports had was when Ravensehild won the jM.Z. Trotting Cup, and they were jubilant over the Dunedin horse's success. He carried a lot of Otago money.

TAPANI!I BACKS. The Tapanui Racing Club opened its meeting in fine weather, and there was a fairlj iarge attendance. The sum of £2938 was handled at the totalisator, or £149 in excess of last year 's figures. Following are the results:— • FIBBT DAY. Maiden l'late. —2 The Corinthian (A. Lawrence),!; 1 Neuroma (Waddell), 2; Nanda Devi (Olsen) 3. 4 Cannonade also started. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 19 l-ssec. President's Handicap, se\ T cn furlongs. —Officious (A. Wilson), 1; Parable (Mc- ■ Combe), 2; Lord Frederick (Moore), King Torrent and Berg also started. Won easily. Time, lmin Msiec. First Trot, one mile— 3 Ivan C,, 1; 2 Caruso 2, 4 Woodroff, 1 La Paloma ai.so started. Won by 10 lengths. Time, 2min 42 4-Ssec. ' Tapanui Handicap, one mile and aquarter.—Directoire (Moore), 1; Routine (Bobinson), 2, Feodor also started, but stumbled and lost his rider, Won-essily by two lengths and a-half. Time. 2min 18/wm--

• Kelso Hack Handicap, five furlongsi—--2 The Corinthian (A. Lawrence), 1; Little Wolf (Wilson), 2; Afton Loch (McCombo) 3. L» Sola also started. Won by 10 lengths. Time, imin 7 1-5 sec.

Crookston Trot, one mile and a-half, —2 Littlo Kate 1, 4 Hartford 2; Bolette, 3, Also started: Prejudice, Jolly Tom, Lowiandcr, The Quack, Goltl Tip, La Paz. Won by 10 lengths. Time, 4min 0 2-uuec.

Welter Handicap, four furlongs.—4 Otakoho (R. Ellis), 1; 2 Leading Lady (McGombc), 2; 1 Abo (Wallis), 3. Also startod: leilma, Gold Sail, Seamaid, Boso Dove, Starlight, Berg. Won by two lengths. Time, 51 2-sscc. Grandstand Handicap, six furlongs.— 1 Aphea (MeCombe), 1; 3 Lupulito (01sen), 2; 4 Wild Pilgrim (Robinson), 3. Officious and High Pressure also startod. High Pressure was left at the post. AVon by a head. Time, lmin 17 4-ssoc.