WORLD OF SPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 7 December 1907, Page 4

WORLD OF SPORT.

> . THE WORLD OF SPORT. .

RACING FIXTURES. J><-. 14 and ltf-Chriatchurch R.C. Sum • toes t , Deo. 21, 20, and 27—Manawalu R.C. Summer Dw. 20 and 27—tower Valley J.C. Anfuu) ; k l*rc. 26 and 28—Duncdin «J.C. Summer Dec. 26, 28, and Jan, 1 and 9—Auckland R.C.'a Summer IVo. 26 and 27—'Thamfs ,T.C\ Summer I>e. 26 and 27—Reefton J.C. Midsummer Dec. 26 and 27—Tamnaki J.C. Chr»*tmar Dec. 28—Athhurst-Pohangina R.C. Annual Dee. 31 and Jan. I—Graymoutli J.C. Summer Tan. I—Calmer*ton R.C. Summer Meeting lan. 1 and 2—B&ngitikei R.C. Summer

TURF TOPICS.

(By.fMoturo*.")

The starting At Feilding was shockingly bad. In Boat cues the horses left the mark in Indian file, like itarten in a trotting handicap. The Keildlng Raring Club closed their totalisators at the advertised time of starting, and the "tote" receipts, in consequence, showed a shrinkage of £6OO. • • . The Feilding Club demanded £2O for bookmaker!' licenses and £2O for their clerks, but the £4O fee waa too big a hurdle, and the pencillen w*re Scratched for all engagements. • * • The "Xew Zealand Times" seriously informed Its readers that the owner of 'Frisco went up to the machine to put '£2o on his horse, but instead of asking for 20 on No. 2, he made a mistake, and asked for 20 on No. 1, which happened to be Maniapoto, the eventual winner. Strange, wasn't it? • • • Moral, Irish Rifle, and Riflemaid were popolar fancies for the St. Andrew's Handicap, and after Irish Rifle had led the field at a merry bat for three-parts of the distance, Maniapoto came along with a good run, and won comfortably from Moral, with Irish Rifle third and .William close up, followed by Riflemaid. Tristo, Gaze lev, and Star Rose were never prominent. • i » The Feilding Stakes brought out a representative field of ten horses of all »gti. The favourite (Fleetwood) Was left at the start, and was never able to make up the lost ground. Aborigine began quickly, and was well clear of his Opponents at the half-mils post, where Elevation and Munjeet were the last two. Lord Soult challenged Aborigine at the half-way, Little Mary also being prominent Lord Soiflt led into the turn, but half way down the straight Elevation pat in a tremendous run on the outside, and the son of San Francisco, smothering the leaders for pace, won comfortably. Cambrian and Bunyan finished last. • • • Jfaniapoto was sent out a good favourite for the Manchester Handicap, but did not run prominently. Irish Rifle tried to win all the way, but Moral collared him at the distance, and won easily. • » • » A slight contretemps, disagreeable to an extent, and yet with nothing in it, occurred at the Feilding meeting on Saturday after the last race had been run (writes "Oraint" in the ''liana watu Standard"). There waa a big field in the Scurry, and Tor some reason the horses had not been numbered on the card. There were 23 starters, but the numbers ranged from 1 up to 31, the original number nominated. The judge (Mr. Hartgill) marked his book consecutively, but subsequently there were several withdrawals, which considerably altered matters. Thus, though Ikon was number 16 ia the book, he was, when scratching!, were allowed for, No. 13, »nd under that number he appeared on the tota, but why those in charge of the machine can perhaps tell. Anyhow, the same procedure was adopted with regard to the other horses, and ther were all, consequently, numbered differently on the machine to what thev were in the judos*! book and upon the saddle-cloth*—which, by the way, were not in sufficient number. When the kurabers of the horses were hosted by the judge there was at once an outcrv, and while actually there was no mistake with regard to the winning horses, there was a lot of indignation expressed with regard to the mixing up of numbers and consequent backing, as alleged, of wrong horses. The whole trouble arose through the tote numbering the horses starting consecutively, without allowing, as is usual, for the numlier of horses that were scratched. Had the usual course been followed. Ikon would have remained 16 on the machine. There is, however, one little fact that seems due to a mistake, and that is that though Ikon was numbered 18 in the book, he carried No. 19 saddlecloth, which led the supporters of a favourite—Axite—to believe their horse had won. Fortunately the judge (Mr. Hartgill) takes but indifferent notice of numbem, preferring to rely upon his knowledge of the horses and the colours carried. Herein lies his celerity and accuracy on all occasions. The crowd, on the contrary, looks at the numbers, jind hence are sometimes confused. Had they looked at Ikon on Saturday, there was no chance of confusing the black jacket and heliotrope cap of his rider with the silver jacket Ol Axite, Xo. 19 on the Kst.

The following were the winning owners at Feilding of £IOO and upwards: W. K. BidwiU, £350; H. E. Cood, £325; W. Murray, £290; J. Armstrong, £280: E. J. Watt. £195; Hikaaka, £160; S. Meutna, £155; J. Munn, £155; K. M'Kenzie, £135; J. Symons, £IOO. ft ft ft Mr. H. E. Good had noi won a race ■with Maniapoto «inc« he scored sensationally m the Metropolitan Handie*p in Australia, two yeare ago, until he won the St. Andrew's Handicap at the Feilding meeting on Friday. The mnch-travelled Paritntu made a poor showing in the big race at Takapuna on Saturday. Hidden by Ben. Deeley, he ran last until entering the straight, where he moved up into fourth place in a five-horse race. Uranium was made a good favourite in this event, and led all the way, finishing up a two-length winner from the veteran Seottv, with Lord Sea ton and Syren last. • » • B. Deeley node three winners on the first day—Philosopher, Veronica, and Hopscotch. • • » By her victory in the St. Andrew's Handicap, at Takapuna on Saturdar. Uranium hat incurred a 3lh penally re«re"tfvely for the Auckland Cup and Railway Handicap.

• •■ • • • Lady Cltmentfl, who xraa making her d*toit a* a jumptr, easily accounted for the Maiden Hurdles, (irey Dawn ju*t beat Oraiti for *econd honours, and the failure. Cantor, wan fourth. • •* • • R. and R. Durder **><■lll to have a good horse in Dovonport. the five year-old son of Soult and Anna. The priding made no race of the Cheltenham Handicap, Tunning the five ami * half farlnngs in Imin ftsce. ami keeping daylight between himself ami the field alt the wav. Hautapn easy victory in the Tiri Hurdle*, all the other contestants developing a fit of the "tumbles." * - * » Seal rock has arrived safely in Sydney, and ia now in Ike Earnshaw's stable. Mason eonld do nothing with the son of San Franeiseo, and he has been condemned as a oommoner. It will he interesting to nee whether Karnshaw can train him with better results than the Dominion's premier trainer. Richard Mason. • • i An eychanpe says: "Some Sydney simrtrinen who are in the habit of visiting country race meetings are not slow in characterise the eondnct of a few hi them as disgraceful. The authorities. they say. are either incompetent to manage the meeting, or are indifferent a< to what take' place, and the A..M*. is hlanieil for not having a represent;! live at tlio.e which are known to lie under a <]ond."' That must lie n very rlil for I r'-memlier tli;it when f was a lad (writes '■Hoondi'' in the •Sydney Referee') I hail a mount \ at * ismnlry meeting (rather an import, ant Vi-stern town, too): and my Inetriiilinns being to ";o to the front and stay there." I made a break away, and took half-a-dozen other runner- with me. Of eniir>e. "false start!" was •hoiiti-.1. and we wi-re ordered bar-k: hut niv mourn. Uein;.' a -kit(i-h younp filly, wouldn't turn, but went dancing tmrk tideways. Just as I was about

1U) yards from the starting-post, with tluce other horses near me, 1 heard a great ru-thing noise behind mo, and ou looking round saw that the field (which included the favourite that all the local .-|KjrU- had lucked heavily) luid Wen started, though at least four of us •were not near the starter at all. 1 turned at once, and went after the rest, and So good was my chance that, even' with that great disadvantage. I «•»,. only beaten by a head. The owner of my horse entered a protest, but the starter said it was all right, and the I'ldge said he "couldn't say anything, as he \va« stooping down in hU box a\ the time, trying to light his pipe!" They certainly did some queer things then—and apparently they are doing them »till. "Whatll win this?" said I to a brother sport as the horses were saddling lip for the Stakes. ' Dunno yet,' W.I, (he highly significant reply. "Wait till I find out what the old judge is barking!" And, sure enough, he came back with the straight tip soon niter, although he knew no more aliout the runners than the bunyip did. The "old judge" was a snr# pointer.