SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 28 November 1907, Page 5

SPORTING.

• oRACING IN AUSTRALIA. Received Nov. 28, 0.5U a.m. Melbourne, November 27. Ihe Sandhurst Cup resulted—Pierus 1, Lady Esme 2, Vim 3. Nine started. Won by a bend. Time, 2min 12'/ 3 sec. WOODVILLE ACCEPTANCES. FIRST DAY. Per Prefis Association. Woodville, Ixist Night. Maiden.—llinerangi, Lady Slockwell. Ru Ixicliiela, Kiinmeriau, Sandstream, Contour, Whititira, chestnut gelding by Daunt—Julia, Kongokako, Don Carlos, I'rnganini, Clnraliellc, Hutiwai, Pronoun, Dream, Ikon, Commander, San Jose, I'orderland, Caron, Lamedorff, Vinco, Crackpot. Hack Hurdles.—Te fiva 11.5, Wainu 10.12, St, Amelia 10.3, Taura 10.2, Tc Arai 10.1, Earmark O.U, Liberator 9.0,

Grandstand Hack.—Sylvan Park and Rouliim 8.9, Lady Disdain 8.8, Daisy l'aul B.(i, Kangihaola 8.3, W-aieola 7.13, White Lie mid Nukntihi 7.12, Honyhnhnm 7.11, Lomaria and Floivpr Girl ".Ml, Catspye and Sir Itenson 7.9, Oblivion 7.5, Scenery 7.0, Robin Link 6.10. Woodville Handicap. Moral 9.0, Whakawaehi 8.13, Gazelcy 8.12, Mataari 8.10. Vcnuku 8.4, Chatterer 8.3, Glcnlilliii 8.2, Polyanthus 7.13, Tangimoana 7.12, Sandix 7.11, Rospgrove 7.9, Xova 7.8, Barra 7.3, Ladylike, Oasis, and King's Lynn 7.0. Plying' Hack.—Motoa 8.4, Fishprmaid 8.3, King Post 811, Greenloaf 7.12, Miss Vera 7.11, Rangipapa. Pytchlcv, Lanisdorir, Prize Dloom, and' Wotiderbohm 7.8, Chrysophrrasc and Cheddite 7.7, Wharekura and Roselcthe 7.4, Ronnie Doon 7.3, Ikon 7.2, Xarrow Escape 6.11, Tortoise and Alpigene fi.lo. Borough Handicap.—Mahnta 10.8, Hipporofla 9.8, Waitapu 9.3, Toa Tuhi and Alwrration 8.13, Moloch and Millenial 8.11, Aboriginal 8.10, Roscal 8.9, Ladylike 8.8, King's Lynn and Joe Chamberlain 8.5. i

Welter Hack.—Lady Disdain 0.12, Sharkoyc 0.11. Daisy Paul 0.0, Te Ami and Waipunolm 0.8, Ran'gihaeta O.fi, Loiret 0.5, Peailio 0.4. Oaklmrne 0.3. Refine 0.2, Carsee 8.12, Speciosa 8.11, Defeat 8.10, Coner -iion 8.8. Mussen and Lady Adair 8.7, Kl -trie and Lord Soult 0.11, Cyrene 8.8, Ton Tuhi 8.4, Sunbonnet 7.12, Golden Gate 7.11, * "Chicane 7.0. Aboriginal and Petticoat 7.4, Linkless 7.3. Arc Light 7.0, Scotch Reel and' Te Kainui C.7. SECOND DAY.

Scurry.—Don Carlos, Reveille, Lady Siockwell, Investment, Kimmeraii, Saiitistrcaiu, Whititira, chestnut gelding by Dauntr-Julia, Rongokako, Diplomatic, Anglican, Frugauini, Clarabelle, ilutiwai, Pronoun, Dream, Commander, San Jose, Ronnie Doon, Caron Vinco. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") In my notes in last week's supplement 1 dealt with euprcstitious sportsmen, and, to show that the qualmy ones are not mere shadows of journalistic fabrication, I quote from an exchange the followning strange hapepning which occurred at an Australian meeting this month:—

'The expert Sydney jockey, E. Thompson, got into serious trouble at the Aecot meeting at Melbourne on the fith instant, through disobedience at the start for the wo Thousand event. In the previous race lie was fined 10s by the starter for disobedience. Thompson, who had the mount on Good Rose in the Two Thousand race, drew Mo. 13 as his position at the starting barrier, lie was requested to take that position by the starter when the horse was called up, but refused point blank to do eo, and took Good Hose into third position from the rails, where she received two severe kicks from Firt Rose. Even then hompson steadily persisted in his refusal to bring his mount out to its allotted place. Finally the starter ordered the clerk of the course to lead the horse out to its position, but Thompson dared that official to touch his mount, and abused him and the starter for their interference. The race resulted in a victory for Good Rose. After the event the behaviour of Thompson was brought under the notice of the stipendiary stewards. Thompson was thereupon sent for, and admitted his misbehaviour, and said he objected to the position' he had drawn at the starting post on the ground that 13 was an unlucky number. The stewards disqualified Thompson for a period of six months." Hundreds of other instances of superstition might be quoted. A well-known local sport dropped bis umbrella three times on his way to the Waverley Races. Of course he lost all his money that day. The fact that he never does win money at races is a trille not worth considering!

"Of those two 15nUar.it. churchmen who won £GOOO apiece in Tatt's, one, who was an Anglican elder, resigned precipitately; the other, a Wesleyan Sunday school teacher, is sticking to oof and ofiiee. Meanwhile the question, 'Can the Winner of Six Thousand be a Christian?' is being vehemently discussed in ilallarat. Some half-holy disputants equivocate, and argue that gambling is a sin, but winning excusable. There is abroad something like an opinion that while it is wise to trust Providence, it is just as well to have five hob in Tatt's at the same time, for although risking the five shillings is wrong, when it pulls off a winner, the the bob becomes in a measure a crown of glory." Tims "liondi" in "The Referee" on the well-known Auckland sportsman, Mr. W. Lyons:— "Well, it was a glorious 'Cup' after all, in spite of all the looney legislating and futile attempts of the foolhcaded frumps to howl down the splendid sport so dear to the heart of every true Australian. The usual string of Cup yarns is being trailed round already, and one of the best tells of an old Maoriland farmer, who, being in Melbourne on real legitimate business, bumped up against his old Auckland acquaintance, Bill Lyons, who advised the old haywed to go to the Cup, and he would there see. the wonderful plan formed by some smart people to make a pile of money without toiling for it. Sure enough, the old gent, found ISill on the course putting the Aral touches on the slashing Apologue, and said: 'Now, wherc's this glorious game of raking in the cash without swealin' over it? Is it quite safe, William?' 'lt's as safe as the Bank of England,' replied Hill, who was only too pleased to pass the good thing round. "All you've got to do is to put a liver on Apologue with that fat old gent, that's bawling out the odds, and then, when the race is over, come back here and tell him to count out the mazuma!' 'Be gosh, I'll do it,' said the old man, and he planked his live jims on the big Maoriland flyer. When the race was run and won, and the layers conted £2O into old Mr. Hayseed's horny hands, the face of the winner was a study for a caticaluvist

—astonishment, doubt , and joy, and half-a-dozen other emotions ali struggling for tup place, and then, having carefully buttoned his pocket on the pile, the old man hurried over to Lyons, and. putting his hand to his mouth, and holt up against Bill's near -ido ear. he excitedly whispered: 'Say, Willyum, how long has this little 'game 'l>eeu goin" on? Wott. goin' on for years! An' you never tole mo about it before! Oh, Willyum, Willyum, an' [ knowM you as a boy!' But 'Willyum' put the old party on to a few more good things, so that he went home £IOO to the good, and lie has told, not only every human lieing, but every gum tree about his part al! about tho 'wonderful game they've got over thar in Victoria, by which you put down a fiver and tak"c up .<:l.-| profit-p'raps £SO every time! Straight!'"

The latest treat that is promised London i.s the importation, by the Anti'onnbling League, of one John P. Quinii from America. Quinn's idea is tho popular "saved T'm thankful"' principle lie tells the crowd lie was a perfect devil in his younger days; he gambled on cards, neddies. etc., and went the pace 'in great style. Hut the game broke him; he hadn't brains enough for it. He proposes- to show the unfortunate ones "the folly" of it all; how races are cut up and swindles worked, "liaees are not run fairly," br says. Xow who on earth ever thought they were? Tie produces packs of cards and shows how "the queen is manipulated," as if that game hadn't got the old age pension years ago! lie also speaks of roulette boards being "worked," and shows how it is done. It's a good job his exhihiI lions are for "the public good" and not for the public barm, or he might get his head knocked off the first time he "worked"' it. The way he describes the poor. sTriy punter shows that he is abI solutel.v ignorant of the colonial article |at least. 11,. forgets altogether to menI tion the fellows who hang around for (the wire to come through, and then, j knowing perhaps the onlv "trier" in • Ihe race, rush handful* of' quids on to ' the poor. silly bookmaker, lint il 'goes to show what on y there is in the i "crusading" game when a man who can ■ "manipulate the iptcen."' "work the ' roulette-board, and who knows the ins , and outs of the sporting game, chucks r it all up, "finds salvation," and graba