SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 27, 25 September 1912, Page 2

SPORTING.

o - OTAKI MAORI RACING CLUB. The following concludes report of yesterday’s racing;— Trial Plate, of 70 sovs; five JUn‘longs.—Lady Mildred, 7.11, 1; Paraparama, 8.2, 2; Yankee-Doodlc, 3.13, 3. Runaway Girl 8.13, Stockade B.} 3, Panther 8.8, Peggy 8.5, Erekeker 8.1, and Sir Daniel 8.1, also started. The placed horses raced out of the ruck, and finished all three within a length. Time, Imin Bsec. President’s Handicap, of 150 sovs; one mile.—Odessa, 7.10, 1; Mescal, 7.1, 2; Muleteer, 6.7, 3. Mulga Bill 8.6, Byron 8.4, Routine 7.8, Cork 7.6, Ki!osteri 7.2, Brown Trout 7.0, Lord Renown 7.0, and Moniform 7.0, also started. In a good finish Odessa was squeezed home by a long neck from Mescal, with Muleteer two lengths behind. Time, Imin 51sec. Electric Handicap, of 80 sovs ; five furlongs.—War Queen, 7.10, 1; Pereoneal, 8.6, 2; Eocene, 8.3, 3. Lady Louisa 8,11, King’s Favourite B.a, Lady Volley 7.11, Yladihoy 7.2. and Charge 6.10, also started. A sustained run by Peroneal cut down all the leaders but War Queen, who won by half a length, with Eocene a similar distance away. Time, Im'n 6sec. Railway Handicap, of 110 sovs; six furlongs.—Mt. Victoria, 7.10, 1 : Patriotic, 8.7, 2; Deploy, 6.12, 3. Allurement 8.3, Turano 7.5, Merrv Frank 7.10, Mon Ami 7.10, Gay,Lawless 6,12, and Parewanui 6,12,, also started! Mt. Victoria won' by half a length, with Deploy two lengths further off. Time, Imin 21sec.

Rahui AVelter ,of 80 sovs; one mile.— Coolbeggar, 10.0, 1; Kina, 9.1, 2; ter Laddo, 8.10, 3. Matlow 9.11, Blend 9.4, Cornelian 8.6, and Kingswell 8.2, also started. Kina got a flying start, but was overhauled and finally beaten by Coolbeggar, who won by a length, with Master Xaddo two lengths away third. Time, Imm fil 3-ssec. The totalisator turnover at ibe meeting amounted to £BIBO for the day, making £19,432 for the meeting, an increase of £3OOO over the spring meeting of 1911. “DOPING” IN SPORT. The cable announcement that the French racing authorities intend to take saliva from the mouths of winners at Longchamps, and analyse it for cocaine strychnine, etc., is inclined to invite derision, writes Moutroa. “Doping” there will always be, but the practice is not nearly so general as alleged, and the subject is about done to death. Many good hoises, racers and others, are got into condition with “condition powders” vvhicli actually contain “tonic doses” of tin above-mentioned poisons, and it vyouk be hard luck for an owner if he amJ his horse were ruled out simply because there were traces of poisons in tin prad’s saliva. In these days an actres may “dope” herself with arsenica “complexion,” drops and “bell ad on na” her eyes; the athlete may fill him self up with oxygen, kola, rum anc cloves, or any pet “gargle.” Tin swimmer takes to cocoanut oil, as ai outward application, and the foocball-j

er takes to good old beer as an inward ablution. The dog-fancier or the bird fancier prefer iron, gentian, cayenne and other “dopes” to get their favourites into “show condition.” Anti it is all fair! Still, if a man has a fast horse of uncertain temper, and he tries the “dope” to stir his equine into a gallop he is likely to go out for life. It is a blackguard’s sport to feed a horse on big doses of poisons until its heart looks like a prize pumpkin, but all the same the judious use of drugs has before to-day kept horses racing better and for longer periods, and with less strain on thcnijclves, than could have been done without “doping.” NOTES BY “CICERO.” Avaunce is showing fair form on the Egmont and should be handy in the near future. The locally-owned Royal Dragoon is now trained in Hawera. Owing to the bad weather experienced here, trainers find it impossible to get their charges ready for early spring racing. As anticipated in my notek, Patriotic showed an improvement on Marten form, by winning the Flying at Otaki. Horses are not machines. Previous to leaving for Otaki, St. Serf had all the best of a. gallop with Patriotic. The former was badly beaten in a hack race, whilst the latter won the open sprint event. Fashion Plate shaped badly at Otaki.

He will probably show improved form to-morrow at Wanganui. Coolbeggar was backed for a lot of money by the innocent public at Marton and Dannevirke. Those better informed backed him at Otaki. Cornelian is looking remarkably well just now. He will probably be taken to the Canterbury Spring meeting. His mission being the jumping events. Tom Carson’s old favourite Nero broke down badly at the Taranaki Hunt Club’s meeting, and will never race again. In his day, Nero was more than useful over the “big” country. Patronale is getting through good work at New Plymouth, and Bob Barlow will be disappointed if ho does not play a prominent part in the decision of the Maiden at Wanganui tomorrow. There is a probability of the Egmont Club giving a £SOO Cup at their Autumn meeting. An increase of prize money by the Stratford Club would be appreciated by owners. The filly Bonny Helen (Bonoform— Helen Portland), which cost the Tara- ' naki sport, A. Alexander, 500 guineas, last November, is not showing the promise one would expect in such a highpriced one. Tilley is not going to put her under silk until the Autumn. Galtee has been showing to advantage in his work at Egmont. The black gelding easily beating Ngatirinui and Katua, with whom he galloped. Sir G. Clifford will not be at Wanganui to isee his pair of Guinea candidates run. The Squire of Chokebore has left for Sydney, to be present at the Raridwick Spring Meeting. Paisano carried 12.5 in the hurdle i ; ace which he won at Rosehill last Saturday. The Strowan gelding’s performance was full of merit. Ermengarde started a “red hot” favourite for the Tramway Handicap, at Tattersall’s meeting. After leading most of the way, she faded out the last few yards. At the same meeting, Shuja started at a long price, and just suffered defeat in the Spring Handicap.

Australian writers are unanimous that Allegory can have little chance in the New Zealand Cup on private or public form. Despite this, the Martian colt is favourite, and is being backed from the right quarter. It is stated on reliable authority that Crown Pearl is to be specially prepared for the Stewards’ Handicap run at the Canterbury Spring meeting. If he were stripped at his best, Coronet’s son would tgke some beating. Mendip is looking particularly bright at present. This horse will run well in the Higgie Handicap at Wanganui on Saturday. Undecided was recently backed for a lot of money to win the New Zealand Cup. The Menchikoff horse started a rank outsider 'in the Otaki Handicap' on'Tuesday'. 1!! After running in the! lead for a distance, he died right away. " The 'stewards enquired into his running, and 'severely cautioned the rider, Hatch. The Spring Meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club starts to-morrow, and . will be continued on Saturday. The Club as usual have secured splendid acceptances, and the quality of horses engaged is first-classi. ' 1 Thirteen have cried content' in the Flying. That great mare Equitas heading the handicap with 9!1I. Tll6' daughter of Advance will'lie all the better for a gallop or two. 1 The rest of the field are an even lot. Altcar and Piriwai showed fair’ form at Mar ton, and are sure to run well. Stepney, who hails ! from the once powerful Porirua stable, \ has a private reputation. A field of fourteen appear in the Maiden, ihe best known of which are Princess Flo, Kew and Patronale. Eight have made the final payment for the Guineas. The best of Clifford’s pair (Brown Owl and Winning Way) and Our King should make the race interesting. The field in the Okelra Hurdles is composed of nine good jumpers, the best of which appear to he Beilin and Koran. Only eight have accepted for the Gonville Hack Hurdles. Fashion Plate is sure to show an improvement on his Otaki running. The Putiki Hack has drawn a field of seventeen. Tilley appears to hold a strong hand with Sanguinary and Postillion, though Distinction is another who has shown he pan gallop when in form. The first day’s racing will be brought to a close with the Spring Handicap, for which event the large number of sixteen have cried content. The names of several New Zealand Cup candidates appear 1 in the list. Kilrain, Labor Day, and ! Royal Marino are reported as being ! well forward in condition.

Midnight San has tTeveloped lameness, and will nob fulfil his Randwick engagement.