SPORTING.

Otaki Mail, 6 September 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

When H. Gray rode Isle of Wight to victory at Liverpool, his mount started second favourite, but was hidden during the running, and writing of the the occurrence the ".Special Commissioner" says: —"The Molyueux Stakes, contested by only six horses, provided a lino linish between Isle of Wight and Francis Joseph. The pair were out by themselves on the stand side all the way, and must have been quite unobserved by tho layers, who offered 10 uud even 20 to 1 Isle of Wight in running. Francis Joseph made a eapital effort, but failed to get up by a neck. Mr E. S, Silver can always be relied upon for a candid criticism, and in his report of a recent meeting iu England, said: "The remainder of the sport does

not demand much comment, except that 11. Gray rode an extremely good race on Dervish, when Sir Hugo CunlifTeOwen 's colt won the Royal Stakes from Peniur. He showed excellent judgment throughout, gave his mount a breather up the hill, and, without losing his place, came at the right moment in the style of an excellent horseman. Grayis following in the footsteps of the majority of imported jockeys by becoming a better rider as he gains experience in this country. The late Danny Maher improved until he became one of the finest jockeys who ever rode across Newmarket Heath, and the same can be said of Lester Reill —when lie was trying. V. P. Jones lias definitely decided on a. trip to the North Island for tho spring meetings at Marton, Wanganui and Avondalc. He will bring Urgency, Blush and the Nassau —Medley two-year-old Prosperity may make the fourth member of the team. Amythas, winner of the race last year, is missing from the nominations for the Eclipse Stakes, the first weight-for-age race of the year, to be run on the concluding day of the Wanganui meeting. Trespass, who beat Amythas the previous year, is in the field, also Thespian, Mnrquetour, Rouen, Highland, Lucius, Vespucci. Pluto, Haurangi. Stork, Gasbag, Winning Hit. Kinsem. all the ma-' terial for a great race. From Sydney comes a story of an •■musing coup engineered at tho last pony meeting at liitshmond. The Novice Handicap dwindled down to two starters. Like Jewel and Master Chat. The first-named, on looks and performances wa, installed u good favourite, , while in the estimation of the cognos-' eenri Muster Chat wanted tnore than

anything a square meal, while Ivis coat showed a. total absence •*' any s-Jton tion. The re-suit was that Lik,- Jewel hardened in the betting to a Gloaming price, while twenties or more could be had about the despised Master Chat. A rumour reached the ring about a starting price commission away from the course for Muster Chat, but was quite ignored. In the race Master Chat waited on the favourite until a furlong away from home, then ran past and cantered in a. comfortable winner. "What those bookmakers $-aid who run an S.P. business is not for the commission, though not substantial, was very real, and after all the odds did nut require a large outlay. There are shuttered idols and vanishing dreams, And aever u or suushmo gleams. Where the cobwebs envelop forgotten j.oys Iu tho silent kingdom of broken to.ys. Life's d H ad leaves litte.j ike duststrewn ws^v 'vV'lieie never again shall our footsteps stray. But there's sunshine ahead, the path leads sure To health and Woods' Great Peppermint Cure. —Advt.