SPORTING

Taihape Daily Times, 11 October 1918, Page 4

SPORTING

o ■ FIXTURES. October 11, 12—Dunedin Jockey Glut). October 17, 18—Masterton Racing

Club. October 19—Auckland Trotting Club. October 24, 25—Poverty Bay Turr

Club. October 26, 28—Wellington Racing

Club. October 28—Waverley-Waftotara Racing Club. Nov. 2, 6—Avondale Racing Club. Nov. 9—Auckland Racing Club. Nov. 30—Takapuna Jockey Club. Dec. 26, 27 —Manawatu Racing Cluo. Dec. 26, 28, Jan. I—Auckland Racing Club. Dec. 27, 30, Jan. 2—Auckland Trotting Club. Jan. 29, Feb. I—Takapuna Jockey Club. THE CRAVEN PLATE. A GREAT STRUGGLE. SYDNEY, Oct 10. The "Daily Telegraph" says that the struggle for supremacy in the Craven Plate was one the equal of which bur few sportsmen remember seeing. Though Desert Gold failed to run into a position she probatory was not more than two heads away from the winner-, and even allowing that a new Australasian record for a mile and a quarter was established the fact that the New Zealand mare was Beaten by her stable companion Estland would probably be accepted as evidence that she is not quite herself. In describing the race the same paper says that with only half a furlong to go Desert Gold, though going right at her top, looked as if she would hang out long enough to win, but her rider made the mistake of leaving a passage on the rails, whereof Woods, on Cetigne, took advantage, and Woiaroi and Estland, on the other side of the favourite, made bold bids. Desert Gold struggled on under pressure, going straight as a dart, and amid the greaest excitement the quartet hit the judge's line abreast. Until the judge gave his award none knew how the I.issue had gone.

~,.,•..■ ; MELBOURNE, Oct 10. The following scr etchings' are reported:—Caulfield 1 Cup: Desert Gold, Estland, Killowen, Kilhope, Rebus, Poitrel, Cagou, Kandos, Silent Way. : Melbourne Cup: Kilhope, Killowen, First Rain, Rebus. '" All Flemington engagements: Almoner and Kilmoon. SYDNEY, Oct 10. St. Elmn broke down after racing on Monday and returns to New Zealand at the earliest opportunity. '' Biplane was passed in at 1700 guineas. DUNEDIN RACES. ; DUNEDIN, this day. The races opened in perfect weather, and a good attendance. Hurdles.—Graftella 1, Nocturnal 2, Glenthorpe 3. All started. Won by half a length. Maungatua Handicap.—Royal~STar l,.Sir Fanciful 2, Arihia 3. Scr: Kiltie, Ardmore, and Tin Soldier. "Won by a length. NOTES. Varnish has been scratched for th» New Zealand Cup. On the first two days of the A.J.C. meeting, Finmark and Desert GolG won 1450 sovs in stakes. St. Elmn has been scratched for all Caulfield engagements. For the first time in her four seasons of racing, the champion mare Desert Gold was beaten out of a .place at the A.J.C. meeting thsi week. However, the the fact that the brilliant daughter of AH Black acted as pacemaker and was only just beaten into frvirth place, with heads separating the four horses, shows that the honours of the race really rested wltn Desert Gold, especially as the time put up, 2 41, constitutes an Australasian record, the previous record being 2.5, put up <by Goldsize at Hamilton. Weights for the C.J.C. Steward's Handicap are due to-day.