SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7909, 26 August 1905, Page 4

SPORTING.

SOTES B! "IWUM&-"

Tlic racing season of 1905-6 was inauquiattd by the Canterbury Jockey Club's Winter Meeting 'ast wetk. The gathering pro Ted » pronounced success, toth from a fi ojnaal &»» spelling point of view. Tbe lor investments, totalled £44,584 48 against £33,495 last year, an increase of £5089. The meeting was remarkable for the number ot spills m the iumi>i&s events, and tbe question is raised as to whether our steeple chasers and hurdlers Mt deteriorating in quality. The only hers• to give a first class display i« jumping in tit* Grand National was old Haydn. A southern writer is Of opinion that horses, when schooling, are allowed to take tiiags at <B® leisurely a speed, and d# i(u pin tte ience necessary t* get tlunr fences whilst »lloEing at such a salid pace is that at which Mst «' our obstacle eTe»ts are run. Tbe loss of Borneo and Trvm[)ery will he seterely felt by tfceir awaers as tfcey were tooth first animals and the pick ol the National field. A detailed account of the tare states that Romeo was fighting for his head as the field swept past the stand, and his jumping Wttte first four hurdle# was more like that oi an :old stager than of 4 maiden performer. At the fifth fence, however which is situated near the mile post, lie did not rise an inch, ana tailing inwardly, he carried thepuard rail away, (the timber flying high in the air), shot his rider. Fergus clean over the rails on to the Qln plough gallop, and then turned completely on to his back. It was «- terrible smash, and resulted in a bad fracture of the poor beast s on hind leg, just above the hoe*. thus necessitating his destruction. Trumpery tripped over his shoulder as h* lay on the ground, and also came to grief, receiving injuries which eilled for the aid of a friendly bullet. At the time of the accident Romeo was pulling Fergus out of the saddle, and really seemed only to be going at a good three quarter pace, while most of his opponents were hard put to it to keep their positions. It is said that Romeo was in the act cf taking off, when his lore feet slipped from under him, and it was to thir fact that the disastrous result may be attributed, and the race rqjbcd of most of its interest. The times for the various distances as taken by Mr 0. 0. Stead are a>. tollows First half mile 55seo. ; mile lmin. 45scc. ; mile and a quarter 2min 23scc. ; mile and a naif 2m)n 521 sec. ; two miles Smin. OOste. Full Cry ran a good horse in tin Winter Clip, being never further lack than fourth or fifth. At the distance he ran wide on the outside, and, had Earlow been able to keep hlm going straight ahead, it is stated h would have beaten Kremlin easily, as the latter had a good run close to the rails.

It is reported that A. Hall Intends to take up quarters at Feilding. He purchased the gelding Shrapnel (by Workman—Element) during the progress of the National Meeting. At the Warwick Farm Races L. Hewitt had a winning mount on Glenbrook in the Pace Welter.

The highly bred Golden Knight made a very poor showing in his essays at Christchurch last week. So disappcintrd was Mr Stead with his performance that he has disposed Of him to Mr J. C. N.,Grißg. The son of Wallace is now an inmate of Mr Hohbs stables.

Play fair and Makuri, owne.l by Captain Campbell, praclifallv had a'l the Hunters races to themselves, winning four out of fire events, ?n.f running into second place ii the fifth.