THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 48, 15 February 1908, Page 4

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

RACING FIXTURES. February 11), 2it-Te Aivha Jockey Club. February 22—ltotorna Jockey Club. February 2«-Uhau[K» Racing Club. March 5, 7—Wanganui dinkey Club. March 7—Waihi Jockey Club. March 20—Waiuku Racing Club. March 25, 20—Taranaki Jockev Club April 4. 8, 11—Auckland Tmttin" Club. April 18, ill, 21-Auckland Racing Club. April 20, 21— Canterbury Jockey Club. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa'). j Who pays for it allr The Manaw.nu Racing Club nude close on £2OOO at the December meeting: the Wairarapa Clib cleared £700; Foxton £500; Pahiatua nearly £IOOO, and the Wellington meeting realised between £4OOO and £SOOO.

iMunjeet, Fireiron, Coronella (a three-year-old filly by Stepuiakf, and a yearling filly by Steuniak—Ambush tsisl-r to Bcresina), arrived at Mordialloc (M. 1bourne) on Friday week from New Zealand, in charge of their owner, 1). J. Price. • • * When Mahuta acted a* pace-maker for 1% miles in Uie New Zealand Cup. the black son of Mahaki was proclaim ed as a fine twelve-furlong horse, but after failing badly in the'Auckfcmd Cup he was considered somewhat of a spe-i't light At Hawera, on Wednesday, Mabuta dispelled all doubts a» to his brilliancy by winning the Egmont Cup ij easy fashion. Out of a dozen starts last season Malarta was placed first on six occasions. • » - • Ballarat. who ran second to Golden Eagle in the Flying at Hawera on Wednesday, iron that event last year. • • • • Bagatelle, who made her debut in the Ohawe Hack Hurdles at the Egmont meeting, ran a decent race, but could not reach Xavier, who is a pretty smart customer over the sticks. Bagatelle » in good hands and will be heard of later on. Golden Eagle was timed to run the Flying Handicap distance, six furlong-. in lmin. U</,ser. The St. Clements mare is decidedly Useful, but will hardly make a weight carrier. • » • • Putty, Seddon, and Melodeon are training nicely at C'aulheld.

Dusky Morn is quoted second favourite in Melbourne for the Newmarket Handicap. {Scotland is favourite and Munjeet is frequently quoted in the betting. • • » • Apologue is a slightly better favourite than Tartan for the Australian Cup, but the latter is pleasing most in track work. Melodeon is next in demand, and Putty has a host of followers. Master Dclaval is considered a likely starter in th"e, U anganui Cup, and if he runs at all well, will probably be sent across to Australia afterwards to compete at the AJ.C. autumn meeting at Kandwick. A miserable objection was lodged a few weeks ago at Kcmpton Park (Killing) as if to indicate to what extent racecourse meanness sometimes goes. New Moon 11. and Cynique ran first and second in a race, but fell about 20 yards put the post, one of the riders escaping unhurt, while the other had bis nose broken. The trainer of Thermal, who finished a bad third, lodged an objection against the first and second on the ground that their respective riders were assisted into the saddle after the fatU! A feeling little short of indignation was aroused when people could believe th-t such a preposterous objection had been lodged. It did not take the stewards long to overrule it, and to order tint £3 deposited should be forfeited, whilst one of their number expressed the wish that they had power to inflict a heavy tine in addition.

Mr. (J. F. Albore wrote to the Wanganui "Herald" recently asking that paper to contradict statements abo.it •estarJonal private gallops registered Uy Dusky Morn. The best gallop the Sou'wester gelding has yet shown, wrote Mr. Moore, was when he beat Buccleuca W I nil iniill hiitfiHlHlTlii linn I Soult was anchored with 10 stone, and Buccleuch. who was sore, carried 0 stone to Dusky Mojn's 8.11, tlere was nothing ;xtraordinaiy about the performance. That Dusky Morn is a quick beginner bejvoved by leaving 4 furlongs behind in '482-saecs. at and given a fair run in the Newmarket we all expect him to play a prominent part in the settlement of that event. Of course it is very kind of Mr. Moore to tell us That Dusky Marn is no champion, but he will carry the hopes (and the money) of a host of Maoriknders.

The new owner of Pearlie has nomin- J tted the Koyal Artillery mare at a number of small meetings down the coast, ami seems to be right after a win. Pearlie has been given top-weight in each of her four engagements at Shannon on the 26th inst. THE STORi OF "NATIONALS.'" "Jfy Racing Adventures," by Arthur ♦iightingal), is a necessary sort of book to any one who aspires to haXKFcouT' ptete rather quibble withMfcßtfTJfHarper, who has "*'"* for he has -«sS#r Arthur Nightingalls statements, -specially as these are written in the first person, but nevertheless the editoriav W ork has been extremely well done.

There are certain passages which one might like tt have been told in less rounded perk*, and a little more in racecourse vernaidar. Arthur Nightinpall was a prince riders, and may well be detent, the " Fred 'Archer of the eteeplechasjjpL<>rld.'' He xode three Grand NatioiiTVinners— Hex, Why Not. and Crudon. v --

The story has ueen often repeateo. of how Nightingall said with n»ich determination about Why Not that •• the old beggar will have to win to-day." To the writer it was a memorable occasion, as one has recollections of :Ws and iVs be-

tag obtained about the old horse, who Bad met with bad luck in previous Nationals. To the satisfaction of ev;ry one who.liked it really good honest trjer, Why Not won in 1904. The following is an extract giving some interesting details about the oil warrior:— "Why Not had run more than once in the National before I had the inotuit on Turn there, and be liad aci]uit»V-1f disagreeable habit of failing.' He "■ ridden in his first jt>-ays by the late Mr.

C. CuflnjflJjJinlH. who was in my opinion taw long in the leg, although a fine horseman, to ride with succo-s a short - legged horse lilfe Why. Not. At any rate, their partnership was not felicitous: it wa» frequently dissolved. "To make the story clear, alro, I must mention that the only fault in connection witli Why Nut's Jumping was that lie used to 'pitch' on landing, especially over the large Liverpool fences, and it was necessary to sit well hack on him or trouble might easily result. The weight of a man pa a horse's neck will help to throw him down if the animri 'pitpfcs' as described; and that was what I had to guard against particular\y. It was not a very difficult job so far is I w« personally concerned-I mean as to the, 'lepping.' Why Not gave men« shocks that might not he reasonably scheduled as legitimate and part of the bill of fare. He jumped like a hero throughout. I sat well lock, a* already noted, with a due appreciation of the'.Vgance of that entrancing attitude: we never suggested an impression that our fall was imminent. •Coming unglued,' some of the frivolous jockeys call it. though I prefer tn indulge in a more classical style of metaphor. One is ns cheap a* the other unless you attempt to tap a few of the more :!•-

praved sources of supply. "It was the hardest ran- 1 ever ro.,e in my life. Three quarter- of a mile from home inv chance did not -eeni ■<> Ik: ro-v: ideas touchiiiL' the possibility ;.'f defeat flashed throush mr mind. 1 had then lo begin •punchin-' mv hor-e. though 1 had not 1-ecn riding him «" ' the whip-thai wa-left 10, ~ more desperate crisi. still to ~00". I here v. ere two runners in fr.-n* of me-name.... b,dv Helen, ridd-u hv • T.-n-v Ko.i .v.-blwho won 0- ,ati..n.: on Mani-fe-toK anl Wild M n m.„; T,.,,.-... «rl. Mr. '.W Widt'ei 01 i!" 1 V\ • it iK.--.hlc for me to •••■• no m time <> We k-l.t I—in- -vnv M,.' -1..C-f ... virr.l will. inln„,i..ble pluck: ."'. :-'■ ,„.„;, ~„„!,■ lo n.v ■ .11-. V.1.: V ' ran on" a"- snrelv few ho,-.- h.ne ev-r

I done before, or—dare 1 nay'—ever will again. There was still a chance. "At the lust jump the two leader* ran a trille wide, ~. (hat 1 was aide to go up on the inside, and a lieico tussle ensued . n the Hat. Going in as straight as a gnn-liarrel. .showing tli.courage, and tenacity of a bull-dog. Why Not gradually bore his opponents down, anil won l,y alumt three-parts of a length! 'l'hc applause n- gratifying. -Neither of u- ' lilew ' much, considering what w had jn-t done, when we returned to weigh in. and I pass over (lie many complimentary allusions. They were sufficiently numerous to have pleased a girl in love not for the first time or two. My acknowledgements were. I am afraid, inadequate, since cloquence lias never been my strong suit, least of all after riding the winner o'" the Grand National; and I like to weigh in all right before people begin to throw bouquets at me. A few notes inside—not billets doux—are sweet enough. Their counterfeit presentments only are vile."

The difficulties ainl many risks which beset the cross-country ri.ler are dealt lightly with by Arthur Nightinga'l. His stories of many fights and of his racing contemporaries are absorbing in interest.—'" Daily Express."