SPORTING NOTES.

Shannon News, 10 September 1926, Page 1

SPORTING NOTES.

The winning owners at the Manawatu fixtures were: —Messrs G. D. Beatson, £115; A. M. Williams, £105; C. C. Biel, £9O; Mrs. Sleightholme, £BS; Messrs E.< Riddiford, £SO; F. J. Carmont, £80; W. H. Ballinger, £7O; W. H. Gaisford, £65; L.'H. Collinson, £4O; I). Burgess, £3O; ,W. H. Bowden, C. E. Twist and J. Gr. Collirs, £2O each; Dwan Bros., J. Bfice and F. R. Wa.'er, £ls each; T. R. Taylcr and F. C. Bee, £lO each; L. McKenzie, W. J. Bowden, D. McCauley and C. F. Vallance, £5 each. A prominent figuro in Auckland racing circles for many years, Mr. Robert Thorpe, died last week at Green Lane, at. the great age of 92 year's. He was one of the oldest and most respected of horsemen, trainers and owners in New Zealand. He was apprenticed to the late Marquis of Exeter in 1852, and came to New Zealand in 1864, settling at Auckland. He trained and also rode a number of racing horses, some for himself and others for ..various owners. Amongst the horses were Borealis, Sweetbriar, Yellow Jack, Ivoaroa, Volunteer, Glengarry, Gold Crown, Magician, Lalla Rookh, Rose of Sherweil, Libeller, Paramenta and Tetford. Volunteer w-as never beaten while it was in Mr. Thorpe's hands. Over 40 years ago Mr. Thorpe became proprietor of the Harp of Erin Hotel, Great South Road, but he still continued to train horses. Shortly after 1900 he retired to a pretty little home named "Wenhaston," on Rockficld Road, between Ellerslie and Onehunga, but had ever since been a regular attendant at race meetings in the Auckland district. He was present at the last meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt Club at Ellerslie on August 21st, and when descending from the trainers' stand had the misfortune to fall and sustain injuries to his head. At his advanced age the shock was too much, and he never rallied.

The biggest commission to date on the 'Spring Handicaps was worked in Melbourne on the 23rd ult. (remarks the Sydney Sportsman) in favour of the t ex-New Zealander, The Banker, who' was backed straight out for the Caulfleld Cup and was coupled With Heroic in doubles for the big Cup to win close on £IOO,OOO. The Sportsman adds: —"Despite the fact that The Banker had won the Balaclava Stakes at Caulfield the week previously, so little notice was of, that performance that when the stable commission was commenced ;a wide margin was available straight out against Kim in the Caulfield Cup. Of course, it was not long before all the money available at that figure was snapped up, but the stable kept on backing him until he finished up second favourite for the first leg of the two Cups double, Heroic being the only candidate that is now quoted at a shorter price than he. The coupling of Heroic with The Banker came as a bit of a smprise, for although Heroic has not been backed by the stable as. yet, it was generally anticipated that the Caulfield, and not Melbourne Cup would be his mission. Still, Otway Falkiner, the owner of The Banker, wouldn't be likely to throw money away on doubles ending with Heroic unless he was pretty certain that Heroie's mission was to be the Melbourne Cup."