SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8115, 21 May 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

TAKAPUNA J.C. MEETING,

FIRST DAY.

PEII MESS ASSOCIATION,

Auckland, May 19.

The Taknpuna Jockey Club's Winter meeting commenced to-day, The weather was dull but fine and the attendance good. The course was rather heavy. The sum of £0372 10s was put through the loLalisntor, including £1142 on the double machine, operated on the Empire and Royal Handicaps and won by Waipuna and Ben.Blair respectively. The dividend was £613 18s. .Results

Maiden Hurdles: Silicia 1, Corporal 2, Midcyr 3. Scratched: Lucks All. Won by a neck. Timo, 3.3. Divs., £2 5g and £2 16s.

Maiden Plate: Bromide 1, Lunetta 2, Hiilflower 3. Scratched: Stepney Fretwork; War Cloud. Won by a neck. Time, 1,83 4-5. Diva., £5 Is and £2 19s.

Enipiro Handicap: Waipuna 1, Delania'i, Akarana 3. Scratched: Cortairity. -Won" by a length. Time, 2.16. Divs.y £7 13s and £1 2s.

Royal Handicap: Ben Blair 1, Ben 2, Miss Winnie 3. Scratched: Millie, Alba Rose, Engraver, Merry Soult, Syren.' Won by a bare head. ' Time, 1.0 4-6. Divs., £2O 8s and i'l 17s.

Hauraki Hurdles : Silicia 1, Cuiragno 2, Catherine Gordon 3. Scratched: Baritone. Won-by a length. Time, 3.56 4-5. Divs., £l9 14s and £1 lis. Princess of Thulc fell and brolce her neck.

Maiden Steeplechase: Major 1, Loch Fyne 2, Baritone 3. Scratched: Catherine Gordon, Henry Havclook Won by a length and a half. Time, 5.28. Divs., £6 las and £1 14s.

First Pony Handicap : Merry Delaval 1, Forth 2, Hopscotch 3. Scratched: Kaipaki and Miss Nina. Won by a length. Time, 1.8. Divs., £4 8s and £5 is.

TURF TOPICS.

[BY " MOTDROA.""] TARANAKI JOCKEi* CLDB

The result of the Taranaki Jockey Club s annual meeting, which was held last Wednesday, may have caused surprise to some people, but with others it was only-what was expected. One cannot evade the fact that the local club has been - gradually drifting, to leeward for some time past. It is all very well to look on the brighter side, and say matters will improve directly, and that the club has only been a little unfortunate, but it is impossible to get away from hard facts that stand out like sign posts. At the same time, I am not one of these who say that the club is ruined and post recovery, A little move in the right direction, and the dlftb can yet he made worthy of its name as the Metropolitan (Jluu of Taranaki. What is the club doing to advance and popularise itself ? Practically nothing.

Are not Jiorse-owners the backbone of a race meeting ? For surely we could not hold a gathering without their assistance. Such being the case, may I ask, what has the local club done in the way of encouraging owners to come to New Plymouth ? In reading the account of race meetings in other parts of the country one often notices that secretaries from other dubs wore present at the meeting. Hpff on earth can a business or a club expect to be successful unless they solicit orders or nominations ? He who stays quietly in his office waiting for business will be left behind. I would like to suggest that our committee reduce the stakes and place the extra amount to the Secretary's salary, with instructions lo visit some of the bigger meetings and ask, instead of ; demand, assistance from owners.

THE TOTALISATOIt AN J) BOOK-

MAKER.

By " Moluroa,

A tremendous lot of ink has been spilled lately by Wellington writers in (lie " New Zealand Times " in connection with the totalisator, bookmakers, gambling, etc., and to many sportsman and fair thinking men some of the letters must stem somewhat ludicious. Mr A. IS. Wliyte, replying in fayor of the totalisator to a correspondent states, ''Ho will not admit any useful purpose, such as Ike advent of English buyers for our thoroughbreds and the importation of high-class blood stock, all of which is duo to the success achieved by racing clubs by the aid of the machine, and apart from the fact that it is, as you yourself admit, sir, the best method of coping with tlio but human desire to.hot." At the very least this is a ridiculous assertion to make. The machine is not in use in N.SW. or Victoria, and yet they can manage to import a very considerable amount of blood stock. Another item put forward in favor of the machine is that|it gives,no credit. This has been proved [to be entirely false as ,credit from that source is as easily obtained if not more so, as it is with the bookmaker.

The machine gives assistance to any little village to run u race meeting. Without its aid many of the club's in existence at the present time could uot live.

The N.Z. Government reaps a very good harvest from bookmakers, i.e., totalisatcfrs, and yet debars Tattersail's sweeps, from which the Tasmanian Government reaps a substantial profit. What is the difference? No doubt the Government is loth to lose such a good revenue, but racing clubs must be blind to their own interests if they cannot see that the Government's loss is the club's gam, for without the machine, bookmakers can be licensed at a profitable figure to the clubs, and so receive the extra percentage themselves. As I have stated previously, the machine docs not assist owners, apart from increasing the stakes; but taking a recent instance, the Masterton races with smaller stakes, held about the same time as Taranaki, had bigger fields contesting than at the local meeting. It is well-known that certain owners will not contest a race unless they can place a good commission oil their candidate's chance in addition to the slake. Without the machine an owner can do this without altering the price of the horse himself, and this again suggests another important matter, viz., that of non-triers. It is patent to , any sportsman that if some owners cannot obtain a fair price about tlieir horse's chance on the machine that animal will be a non-trier, but without the totalisator the owner could place his commission with the bookmaker, knowing exactly what amount he would receive if lie were successful I admit I am writing in favour of horseowners and properly licensed bookmakers, such as are legalised in England and New South Wales and Victoria.

The two modes of belting cannot work together. Where the machine is in existence clubs must exclude every oilier means of betting lor their own sake, but to tlie detriment of owners. Our local club may do worse than give

little consideration to this matter

U. Ktissell lias returned Geologist to his owner.

Waikato will make the journey to Wanganui to compete in Hat races I lie gelding is looking exeeedi'igiy well ;il present and may secure a stake before returning.

On account of the illness of his trainer, Waikato has «• i received sullieient schooling over the hurdles to enable him to complete his engagement in the National at Auckland for which event lie was nominated. The St. Hippo gelding gives promise of making a good hurdler anil it would have been interesting to see how he shaped in the big event at JEllerslie.

Mr Lyons lias disposed of Up-to-date lo a Melbourne purchaser.

The 'only horses E. Russell has at present are Waikato and Cyrene. The latter is being hacked about the streets.

R. Barlow has added Rotoiti to his team in training. Noctuiform was conveyed by special train to his destination on arrival in England. A report from South slates that Convoy is jumping well. It is stated, on good authority, that L. H. Hewitt has decided to try his luck in England. Gleam appears in th : > acceptances nt Wangauui, but according to a local writer the nmre lias been turned out for a spell. SJino surprises were in store for those who attended the Takapuna raco meeting on Saturday, big dividends being the order of the day Silicia has—by winning the double —.shown himself to be a bit above the ordinary animal, and Flintlock's son should have something to say in the decision of the big event at Ellerslio. Mr Patcrson intends sending Solution to compete at some of the Australian spring meetings.

Le Beau and Waipa roturn to Auckland to-night. A handicapper's life is not a happy one and the weight adjuster must very often derive amusement if not annoyance at some of the criticisms on his work. Many sporting writers have filled up a fair amount of space lately in commenting on the weights for Wanganui and Auckland jumping events, and Mr Morse has come in for a good deal of criticism. Somo of them may be merited, but every man is entitled to his own opinions and fortunately or unfortunately we do not all think alike. For instance, a Wanganui writer states that lie considers Mocassin the, pick of the handicap, whilst a Wellington scribe states lie considers the horse has received more than his share, and also that the owner of Mocassin received a rude shock when he saw the wcitrht allotted to his representative. However, it must bo very pleasing to Mr Morce to find such a great number of owners have shown their satisfaction of his adjustments by accepting in the different engaqewents. .