SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8174, 6 August 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN RACING. THE CAULFIKLD HL'RijLKS. Received 8.6 p.m. MELBOU;.' E, Ana'Jst 4.

Rain fell during the morning, but lieid Lit m the atanoon. Ihe Caulficid Hurdles resulted : —Realm i, Florin 2, Mercury 3. There vore fourteen stariers. Betting: 3u> 1 against Realm, 5 to i Red Sea, 6 to 1 Shamrock, 10 to 1 Hoi in. | Rattlesnake and Conqueror were first away from Realm, round to the stand, the latter jumping patchily. Passing the stand the second lime Sarasa : was just in front. Florin and Rca!.n crossed the last hurdle together, , i.d the favourite, going easily, wur. by three parts of a length. Time, 6.50.

RACING FIXTURES. August 14, if), and 18—Canterbury Jockey Club September 5 and 6 —Marton Jockcv Club September 19 and 20 —Rangitikei Racing Club September 22, 26 and 29—Avondale Jockey Club September 27 and 28—Wanganui Jockey Club October 3 and 4—lJawke's Bay Jockey Club October 10 and u—Napier Park Racing Club October 10 and 13—Dunedin Jockey Cub October 10 to 13 or 17 to 20—Wellington facing Club | DATES OF COMING EVENTS. August 14 —N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase August ifi—N.Z. Grand National Hurdle Race September 22—Avondale Cup September 22—Avondale Stakes September i(,—Avondale Gunieas September 20—A.J.C. Derby September 20 _F.psom Handicap

TURF topics. (Hv Moturoa.) Solution is now quoted at 8 to 1 for the Epsom Handicap. Ability was withdrawn from the Grand National Hurdle Race on account (it is said) of soreness in the shoulder.

It is rumoured (states a Christchurch correspondent) that all is not quite right with Shrapnel, which may account for the backing of his stable mate, Kremlin. Comfort is reported to have made a good recovery from the injury stio received at the llawke's Hay meeting, and is doing good work at Hastings. As the Quilt gelding's name appears in the acceptances for the Hurdles race he may yet have to be reckoned with.

Advices from Riccarton state that the track now possesses a lively appearance on account of the tine weather prevailing. Nearly all the horses engaged ; n t i le Nationals have arrived at the convincing ground. Sonic of the visitors have created a verv favourable impression, notitbly Swimmer, Irish, and Cuiragno.

Kiatere is now the ruling favourite for the Grand National Steeples, with Eurus next in demand. For the Hurdles Kremlin is a strong favourite, with Cuiragno ne#t.

On glancing through the acceptances for the three principal events to be decided at the National Meeting. lam of opinion that this will prove to be one of t' - best meetings yet held by the CanU-i'.urv Club. At present kj horses remain in the Steeples, 21 in the Hurdles, and 28 in the Winter Cup, and each event is considered very open. Taking into consideration past records, when a large number of the candidates failed to complete the'course, I am of opinion that this year's National Steeplechase will be won by one of the well tried division. The winners of this rare during the past

lour years were Inniskillen, Slow Tom. Av.ahuri. and ]!avdn. The winners of the Hurdle Race were Crcusot, Medallius, Waiwera, and I reshaia. Therefore, if 1 bad to select the winner of each race at the present time I would name Slow Tom or Siil fur tbe Steeples and Cuiragno or A. Hall's elect for tbe Hurdles.

I have t(. acknowledge the receipt of Messrs Barnctt and Grant's annual publication, "Form at a Glance.," which is as usual full of useful information with reference to the performance of all the horses engaged in the New Zealand Cup, together with other information, which make it a handy little booklet tor racing men.

At the Hunt Club Meet at Bell Block, on Thursday last, a hctj-se that jumped exceedingly well was pointed out to me as liaving been purchased by its present owner a week ago for the small sum of four pounds.

The \.R.C. Grand National Hurdies and Caulficld Hurdles winner Realm, stales the Sydney "Referee/' was once offered to a clergyman for ,0- as a b'jgjry horse.

Kanana is considered in some quarters to possess a good chance "t winning both roces, but, however, no lior-e has yet succeeded in winning the double in the same year A Xapier correspondent statethat Lyrist, Medallist. Pushful Outer, Nadador, and Polyanthus ],.f, Hastings last week tor Christchurch.

The annual meeting of the Kgmont Racing Club was held last week, when the balance-sheet showed a loss of £,(,) 12 5 „ n the year's V r?*V Xscßae su W-'!><''d that the Club should purchase a totalisator and work it themselves. The matter was. however, left for the incoming committee to decide.

On several occasions iprontly v. ri'crs have referred to the Krv bcti uhir}\ were made many year- ;-g. ! a< compared to ihW«>*;nt d.-y : hov, ever, a,cor,'V ! i,: ' papers. Spearrunt s v.t \i.ri'ha;v crr;,t<'d in-men-c>us enthusiasm. Major Koder i« reported to have invested ~,, his horse m the Gram! Prix, and the total amount which passed throne,', Of machines on that particular race W?.i jL<)<j.l2o.

T!i.- ~f , 1)r 11;iv.kc"t Bay J',dry Clnl) r , !))(>vl •-•'.ti-tactory stale of affairs. I : ,, t year opened with a ti-hit of r) . an<! closed with a credit of /.221), in •' M,, ion to the financial position being -trenifthene;! by the pavmpni of d"ij('nUircs held by private mem-am-iunting to /]uvx,. £-(„ I 1" - <-n !'iipr.,vnnr'nts and the "'••Kes in- roa -.'d bv