SPORTING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 802, 22 January 1910, Page 3

SPORTING.

[•‘By Kakly Bird”) Syd. Reid arrived last nigbt, aud is in big demand by owners. He will ride Mendip in the Cup today. Gooseman arrived last night with Repeat and another, whilst Fred Tilley brought Milan aud Co. along in the same train. I£ Marton starts, he will have heaps of friends iu the Cup to day on the strength of his holiday victories, when he certainly gave promise of turning out a stayer. An endeavour is being made to arrange a boat trip to-morrow to the beach for visiting owners, trainers, aud horsemen. If arrangements are completed, tickets will probably be issued, procurable from the secretary.

The weather has now thoroughly settled, and gives good promise of remaining fine over the meeting. An unusual supply of visitors are in town, aud the excursion trains are bound to bring hordes of people to raise the attendance well above the average.

Milan appears particularly well weighted in the Foxton Cup in the face of recent Pahiatua victories, but when one considers the performances and weights of the pair at Bulls, Meudip has all the best of the argument to-day with Tilley’s mare, and Charley Jackson is not afraid to speak his mind on the point. Rather Novel! There are two horses engaged in the Foxton Trial and Maiden Scarry events which have both won over the legitimate amount allowing them to start. These are Bay Paul and St. Tarra (both winners up Taranaki way), but both of whom were relieved of the stakes won through infringement of racing rules. Foxton racecourse presented a very animated picture early this morning, with all the visiting horses, owners, trainers and jockeys operating, and a million and one touts clocking the different nags as they happened to be stretched out from post to post. Still, there was nothing of a sensational character in the matter of time-making, the majority of trainers preferring to restrict their charges to pipe-openers in the form of steady work with occasional short sprints. Genuine promises to start a hot order in the Dash Hack, as Attwood’s black nag is being fairly rushed in the doub' betting. An argument in iavor ( is victory is the fact that, amor- others, he defeated Kilindiui in the early spring at Marton. If Waiouru was at his best, Foxton may be credited with the victory, though Gladiole and Strathmoira must be reckoned with, while Couquestiua and lots of the others cannot be counted out. The Dash Hack winner may be hard to find.

At race-time the dreamer is always in evidence. Hence it is that the 1910 Foxton Cup has already been run—though only iu the slumbering hours of those who allow their minds to be carried away by the fascination of the game. This scribe has heard of no less than three different persons who have witnessed Flingot win to-day’s Cup during the dead hours of night, when their mind and body may have been enjoying a complete rest. Still there is the dream, and you can take it for what it is worth.