SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81839, 4 September 1906, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September 5 and G—Marton Jockey C 1 uI J September nj and 20 —Rangitikci Racing Club September 22, 2G and 2ij —Avondale Jockey Club September 27 and 28—Wanganui Jockey Club October 3 and 4—llawke's Bay Jockey Club October 10 and n—Napier l'ark Racing Club

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. September 22—Avundale Cup September 22 —Avondale Stakes September 26 —Avondale Guineas September 29 —A.J.C. Derby September 2<j —Epsom Handicap

TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. A meeting of the Metropolitan Committee was held on Friday evening, Mr F. Watson presiding. Air Samuel reported as to work done at the Conference—Mr Samuel w as a ccorded a hearty vote of thanks for his services at the Conference. Mr S. M. Guinness attended in reference to the disqualification of local men and horses at unregistered meeting held at Urutui.—lt was resolved to remove the disqualifications of Messrs S. M. Guinness, T. Elliott, R. Tate, and of the horses Trevalli and Dayspring. A gentleman rider's certificate was granted to A. Mitchell; jockeys' licenses to J. Barlow, O. Cox, E. George, Clias. Jackson, R. Nash (subject to his indentures being ga -zetted); trainers' licenses to C. Cockrane, J. George, P. McLaughlin, W. Powell, and two more were held over.

The programme of the Waitara Racing Club and the Wailii Sports Club were passed. The disqualifications were removed from J. Parsons and the horse Vorkie for taking part at an unregistered meeting at Oco; and the disqualifications were a'so removed from all those taking part in the Rahotu unregistered meeting, held on May 17th, 1905. At the request of the Stratford Racing Club, two men and a horse were placed on the unpaid forfeit list. The programme of the T.J.C. Christmas Meeting was approved, as was that of the Autumn Meeting. Mr G. Morse, of Wanganui, was appointed handicapper for the season; starter (Christmas Meeting), Mr G. \V. Woods, Autumn Meeting Mr C. O'Connor, Auckland; timekeeper, Mr F. Stohr; .assistant clerk of scales, Mr W. C. Weston.

TURF TOPICS,

(By "Moturoa.")

The local' track is presenting a 'ivelier appearance again, and as the plough has been in fairly good order lately, trainers have been putting in some good work with their charges in anticipation of spring meetings. Lady Sylvie appears to be fairly well forward in condition and galloping more freely. Paritutu is looking very well, and in good condition to undergo a solid preparatin. Old Uaiwera is still in work on the track, but Pharos has been blistered and turned out for a spell. I understand Mr O'Driscoll has just brought in Commonwealth, who will he put into work again shortly. At present the St. Leger gelding looks very much in the rough. A fair number of local horses will take part in the Marton Meeting, which eventuates on Wednesday and Thursday next.

"Jervev George has a promising colt under lus charge which was purchased at the Glenora Park sale last January. The youngster is bv Soult from Inamorata.

So.ution s withdrawal from he Kpsom Handicap will be a severe blow to backers. The mare was pounced upon as soon as the weights appeared, and reached the short price of 8 to 1.

The track at Randwick is reported to be m a very hard state, and in consequence several of the horses in work have shown symptoms of soreness.

The Taranaki Jockey Club is to be congratulated on the appointment of Mr Geo. Morse as handicapper. A Napier correspondent states that the trainer is not vcrv pleased with the, weight allotted lioomerang m the New Zealand Cup, and, judging from past performances, PariUitu should ho'd Merriwee's son safe at the weights. Word from \\anganui states that old Halberdier is still going on satisfactorily in his work, and it is tiuite on the cards that Mr Bennett may yet win another race with the New Zealand Cup winner. In reply to "F.gmont,' l I can only say he is at perfect liberty to give whatever definition to gambling he p eases. Nevertheless, there is a tremendous lot of gambling in stocks and shares. Mr G. G. Stead stated in an interview last week that "there "s more gambling in New Zealand 111 a month in land and shares and particularly in goldmines, than there 1 5 on the tota'isator in t we've months." Everyone is fully aware t lai gambling in these has also sometine's caused a profit to a few at the expense of others.

A report from Wellington states that I aritulu is now at the ridiculously short price of 5 to 1, the next' in demand being ArmiMiie and I "en uku. The latter is a three year old ge-ding by Stepniak—Rainbow, ami is owned by Mr E. J. Rae. Lyrist will probablv be the Hon J. D. Ormond's New Zealand Cup representative according to a Napier correspondent.

First acceptances for the New /-ealand Cup are due on Friday next «hen there may be some weeding out. *

Wet Reef has changed hands at f;;oo. tile purchaser being Mr G P Donnelly. ' '

According pul) | is | |r(] r 1 Wellington Racing Club consider a band an unnecessary expense at the ,a<.e meetings. Suielv a Metro-polian-Club receiving such large profits from tin- tolaosator can afford lo provide music for i (K p ; ,; r ,„,,. One would think that the stringent 1' Ki]..itr>ns imposed on patrons of tlii s Club already xv n- quite sulli nent. However, public critici-m was 100 strong, and they will still lie obliged to provide their patrons with this luxury. Fancy a race ""'eling wilhut a band. One is'inclined to wonder what the next move " 1 1 1 •" still further enlarge the profits. 1 lie Auckland Racing Cub. says Spt■ {t-1 r or, will season give a. lai-eei amount in stakes than hen-to-i" iis history, and, indeed, the 'Hg .'m-iiin' in slakes offerings '-. -'V • ! " 1 " r! ." attempted I,y any N'nv , - ,n '' 1:11 "i" club. That its only : ■' ,; 'l"hl have 111 en expected, IVmg that a' no time sin.e lle- '';' !|s ;"o' was ' 11! i nduced has th--,c '! 1 " a siib-tan(,al revenue de~ iHe.l ti'ini this source by anv of our nig institutions.

' A GRUESOME FIND. HUMAN REMAINS AT OAIATA. Memories of olden times have been awakened by the discovery of a complete skeleton of a man by Mr Samuel lVlc Milian 011 his father's farm at Omata. On the information ben-g conveyed to the New Plymouth poiico Constable Wood went out, and was shown the remains on the edge of a swam]), partially covered, ana surrounded by dense bush. It was apparent that the deceased man had been wearing a black coat and a celluloid collar, only those portions of the clothing being recognisable. A wooden pipe with a bone mouthpiece r.'ts lying alongside the body. The settlers in the district came to Ihe conclusion that the remains were

those of a farmer named William Amos, who disappeared some twelve or thirteen years ago. An old prospector, the fever for mineral-hunting used to break out in his veins occasionally, and he would go out prospecting in Ihe ranges. On his last expedition he was lost. A neighbour, Mr Bishop, informed Constable Woods on Saturday afternoon that he with others engaged in searching for the lost man, bad traced him to his last camp near the Ilauhau, and thence across the Kaitake range to a small knoll between tile Kaitake and the hills beyond, which went to show that Amos had not been travelling- towards the spot where this find was made. Some ten years ago some unidentified remains found at Tataraimaka were believed to be those of the prcspcctor, the report being all the more credible from the fact that a piece of coal lay alongside the dead body. Many thought then that Amos bad succumbed to want after making an important discovery. It is suggested that these remains may be those of a young man named Broptiy, who was lost in the coastal district some few years ago.

The finding of a shilling bearing the date iSyi is, in Constable Woods' opinion, proof that the body is not that of Amos, for 110 was lost befoifc 1 8q 1. We have been unable to ascertain the exact date of his disappearance.