SPORTING.

Shannon News, 4 January 1922, Page 1

SPORTING.

The contest for the hurdles at Mar- j ton was very tame, says Wallato in the Palmerston Times. Nothing but Banbgue appeared to be able to raise the semblance of a gallop. The public made no mistake in backing Whiritas Trial Hack Race, for he got away well and won anyhow, although the time occupied in running the five furlongs was nothing above mediocrity. If the beaten-out-of-a-pl]ace horses in the Mar ton Cup did their best over the mile and a-quarter yesterday, it is high time they were relegated to the shafts of rabbit-carts or some oatearning industry. Of course, the time, 2.10 2.5, on a heavy course, may be accountable for the poor display As a matter of fact, Red Bod was “chucked into” the Marton Cup. Six stone seven pounds for a horse Thatdid what Red Bob did at Trentham! And, wait—by that same token, why rot bring* Molyneaux and Co., down some 71b to give them “some chance of winning”? A genuine case of a dreamer dreaming the winner of a race occurred in Levin in connection with the Tauherenikau races. The' party informed his friends that he dreamt Esperance won the Cup, and several, who pin iheir faith to dreams, took the hint and invested and profited by the transaction. They have paid several visits to the dreamer since, but so far the oracle has not spoken. It is stated that a lady at a place called Otaitai Bush, A in Western Southland, has drawn a £SOOO prize in the big Australian sweep.' Southlanders who know say that anyone who lives at Otaitai deserves a big prize. HOW THESPIAN BEAT GLOAMING. The Auckland Star has the following account of how Thespian beat Gloaming: They left to a dispatch worthy of the event, and raced in a bunch for nearly a furlong, when The Hawk showed out half a length in front of Gloaming, with Thespian a length away, half a length in front of Silver Link. Racing through the cutting The Hawk and Gloaming were together. Thespian dropped back two lengths, and Silver Link a length, further back. Crossing the top The" Hawk and Gloaming were racing on terms, Thespian being now three lengths back, and Silver Link a length away. Coming round the home turn Gloaming had a slight advantage of The Hawk, Thespian having drawn up to within striking distance, and Silver Link also moved up. At the ~ distance Gloaming had shaken off The 1 Hawk, but just when he looked likely to come away to win Gray gave Thespian ins head, and the colt ran past the champion in the easiest manner possible, drawing out to win, amidst cheering, by two lengths. Silver Link finished on and got third, two lengths and a-half further back, with The Hawk last. Time, 1.36 3-5, an Australasian record for the distance. Gloaming was favourite. The times for the various stages of the distance, kindly supplied by Mr J. K. Douglas, were: One furlong, 13 2-ssec; two furlongs, 24 2-fcsec; three furlongs, 35 3-ssec; four furlongs, 47sec; five furlongs, 58 2-ssec; one mile, 1.36 3-5. The winner got a great reception on returning to the scale.