SPORTING NEWS

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 1, 25 May 1928, Page 5

SPORTING NEWS

(By "HEAD LAD.") Time has -wrought its changes in the history of steopleeha-sing* At one period the pastime was only indulged in by l hunting men who ran their horses for ! sports sake alone. Nowadays the gam- ' bling instinct prevails, and steepleehasing has been placed on a business footing. If it is not quite so popular as racing on the flat, it.manages to hold its own as a winter sport of the masses. JEtftfiing over the brushes, to the men who appreciate a good horse, is the finest sport of all. What is better than the spectacle of a rc;al good horse taking Ms feuees in faultless style and winning a desperate race by sheer gameness? Steeplechasing has that spico of risk and daring about it that makes it so fascinating. Always associated with 'chasing will bo such equine wonders as Haydn, Moifaa, Liberator, Kaitere, Sol, Tim Doolun, Sir Lethe, Napper, Oornzon, Paritutu, Loehella, iCoalition, El Gallo, Sir Boseberry, Master Strown, and Beau Cavalier. Some we have seen and some we only know about through reading of their gallant deeds. All great horses. It is open to doubt whether there is a steeplechaser in commission to-day the equal of Bean Cavalier. The treble victor of last year will again be seen out at the coming Great Northern Carnival. "GOOD OLD DAYS." There are few of the old and important races1 in New Zealand which cannot boast of romantic associations at some period o.i their history. Those behind the scents even in these days can tell of incidents which are extremely interesting anil often exciting which cannot be toldun public. Your ancient sportsman will\shake his head and tell you that racing- is going back, and that everything was better when he was a boy. We tolerate his views, but know in our hearts that he is partly right and a good deal wrong. TOO DRASTIC. There is an impression among quite a lot of racing people that the rules adopted by the Racing Conference give that body too much power; they certainly cannot bo expected to deny themselves the exercise of any power they may be entitled to use. It is regarding disqualifications that the impression is voiced, and occasionally it is noted someone is suspended for a term which, to the ordinary racegoer, seems out of proportion J to the offence committed. So far as owners, trainers and jockeys are concornel, if they are not satisfied with the J Rules of Racing, it would seem they i have themselves to blame, for they take on the responsibility of abiding by the Tules set down. However, if they are not fully satisfied the only feasible way out of the difficulty is for them to combine themselves into one big body and ask for a revision of the alleged drastic powers which are permitted to obtain. TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP. is not likely to race again this season. Charlatan is seriously amiss. No further attempt will be made to race him till next season. •■ • By the time the Dunedin Meeting comes round Zaragonza should be at her best. . • • Corn Riggs was recently sold for £12. It is more than probable that he will j shortly be retired from the racing track. Bissa was recently passed in at £75. Favourite selections for the Great Northern Hurdle Race are Perle de Leon and Wedding March. Beau Cavalier is first fancy for the big steeple- ■ chase. . . • The Amberley Racing Club will hold a one-day meeting on Saturday. The last has been seen of Ngata on the racing track. Sou of Mine is' improving with every race. He should win a steeplechase event very shortly. Benzora can be written down as one likely to win soon. Tuki is such a brilliant jumper that he will be hard to beat in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Make a note of Beaumont. He likes a soft track. j •Semember David Garrick for Otaki.

Tarlcton is. infusing plenty of dash into his work. He is now a clever jumper. HORSES TO WATCH. MISTER GAMP. GLENROSS. AVRO. DESPOT. BENZORA. PERLE DE LEON. POLYDECTES. SON OF MINE. GASNAPPER. POLYPHEMUS. MATU. VEXATIOUS. ARCHIBALD. BLIMP. |