SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 79, 24 July 1914, Page 5

SPORTING.

(By "Cicero,") The Auckland-owned Lucille won a "double" at the Tamworth (N.S.W.) meeting last week. Acceptances for the Grand National Hurdles, Winter Cup, and Grand National Steeplechase, are due to-night. The locally-owned Carloman, who suffered an injury at Wanganui last February, was recently "pin fired" on the troublesome point. Absurd prices are on offer about Raupani, Grey King, and The Spaniard, in their respective engagements at Riccarton. If "double charts" are a guide, the "heads" view,with suspicion the running of The Spaniard at Trentham, and are taking no risks about him for the National Steeplechase. Leonta, who claims an engagement in the Natioinal Hurdles at Riccarton, has been "schooled" over the battens and acquitted himself really well. Should Conqueror's son continue to improve, he can be counted as a sure starter. The ex-New Zealander, Wimmera, received 11.5 in the Australian Hurdle Race, run over a 3J-mile course. This is 121bs less than the top-weight, Clontaft, is asked to carry. Should Mr Watt's gelding strip at his best, Clontaft will have to be an out-and-out champion to concede the weight. The hurdler Player ran a great race in the Trial Plate (flat) at Trentham, and is sure to be strongly supported for the "National" next, month. This gelding showed great form in the Century Hurdles at Wanganui, and was subsequently eased in work. He will probably be "cherry ripe again" at Riccarton. The "Sporting and Dramatic News" states that although Musket's body was buried at Sylvia Park, his head and foet were not. I may here mention that the skin of that famous equine was on exhibition at Palmerston North some years ago. T understand it was then the property of the Manawatu Racing Club's president (Mr R. Abraham). A heated discussion i» taking place in the Australian papers on the merits of the totalisator versus the bookmaker. A notable opponent of the "tote" is "Milroy," the well-known sporting writer, who claims the machine is deterimental to the public breeder, but he overlooks the facts that private breeding establishments have been very successful in New Zealand, as instance, the late Geo. G. Stead, Sir G. Clifford, Hon. J. T). Ormond, and others, who have not only imported the best of stock, and consequently improved the thoroughbred, but have made financial successes of such establishments dej spite a limited population!'.