THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 216, 5 September 1908, Page 3

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

RACING FIXTURES. September 16 and 17—Rangitikei R.C. Spring. September 16 and 17—Ashburton County R.C. Spring. September 10, 23, 26—Avondale Jockey Club. September 24, 25—<3eraldine Kacing Club. September 24 and 26—Wanganui Jockey Club. October 7 and B—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. October 14 and 16—Napier Park Easing Club. October B—Waitara Racing Club. October 14 and 15—Dunedin Jockoy Club. October 21 and 24—Wellington Racing Club. October 29 and 30-IPovert.y Bay Turf Club. October 20 and 30—Masterton Racing Club. November 7, 9, and 11—Auckland Racing Club. November 7, 9, 11, and 14-Canterbnry Jockey Club. November 9—Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club. November 28, December 2—Takapuna Jockey Club. '. -vember 30, December I—Feilding Jockey Club. December 26 and 30, January 1 and 2 Auckland Racing Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. September 19—Avondale Stakes. September 19—Avondale Cup. September 23—Avondale Guineas. September 24—Wanganui Guineas. October B—Hawke's Bay Guineas. November 7—New Zealand Cup. Australia. October 3—AJ.C. Derby. October s—Metropolitan Stakes. October 10-Caulfield Guineas. October 17-Caulfield Cup. October 31—V.R.C. Derby. November 3—Melbourne Cup, TUSF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa"). Taranaki Hunt Club meeting ou Thursday next.

The Horowhenua hack meeting will be in full swing on Wednesday and Thursday next. Acceptances for the North Taranaki Ilunt Club meeting close on Tuesday, September Bth, at 9 p.m. Cauldron, who won the Tutaenui Handicap on Wednesday, is said to be a very slippery customer, and worth watching, for future events. California's next race will probably be in the Canterbury Cup, and if successful Jlr. Lagor intends taking his flier across to Australia later on. There was a lot ot money for Glenullin in the Jlarton Handicap on Wednesday, but the moral missed and the coin went to help ''the poor" as usual. # » - * # Pantaloon, who had a tendon severed by being galloped upon while racing at Awapuni was recently given up as a hopeless case and stoppeu a bullet with bis head. The officer gelding, Lothair, who scored in the Shorts Handicap at Jlarton, was recently sold to Jlr. W. Tathain for 150 guineas, and the new owner got a quick return the first time his colours Were up. * » * * Since his return from lliccarton, Defeat has been tried over big country and shapes well enough to hold him in view as a likely one to score between the flags shortly. In Belgium it is no uncommon sight to see a bookmaker's wife clerking for her husband. With a woman's caution to steady a man's rashness* in laying long odds the combination should prove a paying one as far as the book is concerned.

Whetumarania, who picked up the Electric Handicap at Marton, is the best of the progeny of Advance racing. His record last season consisted of two firsts and once either second, third, or unplaced. • * * * Who says there isn't money in baoknniking? The estate of the late CS. Cooper, a well-known English booKinaker, has been proved at £500,000. The estates of his clients are represented by the cyphers without the numeral in front! * • * » Cocky, by Waiuku—Daisy, continues to show good form in pony company across the Tasman. Carrying top-weight (l'tot) the little fellow gathered in thi- Paul Jones Handicap at Ascot on August 19th, and left his opponents standing at the end of four furlongs, covered in 50%secs. The New Zealand filly Golden Slipper arrived in Sydney in splendid condition and goes into J. (J. Finn's establishment. With such a long list of valuable engagements in front of her this season she will have a busy time—or most likely she will keep her opponents busy chasing her.

Punters generally had a bad time at Marton, and will fully realise that the spring is the silly season when a man ought to bet small and hold his notes until he has something tangible in the shape of "form" to go on. All men are not fortunate enough to be gifted with "information" of even an indifferent character, and the small man who risks a little just for the love of a gamble had better sit tight until the neddies sort themselves out into either of two divisions—class or no-class. Writing of information reminds one of ilu punter who got into the soup through backing "can't lose" tips, and was so disgusted that he threatened to ring \v> for the police when the next tipster happened along! • • * » The Taranaki Hunt Club meeting, which takes place next week, promises to be a huge success. Good nominations have been received, and with a firstrate steeplechase course provided patrons will enjoy a good day's sport. The charges are moderate and afternoon tea Wi!i be provided free of cost. _ The committee are evidently leaving no Btone unturned to popularise the gathering, and the festive "sport" may bring bis "missus and the kids" along and show them that racing isn't the terrible game the people who never visit a course would hare us believe. , • » » •

That even the most stringent laws which our grandfather legislators pass agninst betting away from courses are quite harmless, if not altogether ineffective, is generally admitted by those in a position to judge, and as long as bookmakers go carefully and only bit with regular' clients all the laws in creation may aa well l>c "scratched foi all engagements." The man the oddsmerchant has to fear is the gentle stranger, who may be anything from an "apprentice-cop" to a goody-goody down-with-everything. The tricks Hint are plaved on " tlie traps" always „,al;e good reading, and the following story from a recent Bulletin puts the position fairlv:—Sonic of the hard old cases i>f Bour'ke-strcet. Melbourne, will bet in a suriepitious way. Their awful dread is the "fizzgig." They shy like an alarmed horse at the sight of a new client. One disguised John recently approiched a jobbing bookmaker, and offercl to put a dollar on Little -luckThe bookie became cautious. " T don t bet. me man; if yon want to bet V'lii ,1 have to "o up to the Victorian llub. ■ The n-'ws of the advent of the suspicions stranger was wbispered round, ami even-one was on the alert. The age.U approached another l»v*>>™\ 'P™\«Wmter dollar on Litte Tack larac(.« "Don't bet. me lad: but 11H -II von wliere you can get a he t "Tlunks,- said the John. "<".' ■ Vml'v. Take this lad up 1" W .- Hewants er bet." P»,ldv. "Follow me, mati-J, *M led lliewav up to Street Then he entered a warebonc-. a t t er minute. I'll slip into his office a Mm; Mm out." "Thanks, replied t John once more, and he -food in t vostibule of that door anil ™""\ ! ". Lventv lired minutes. Then lie reaMMd that about a dozen •■ rats" verepeepmg into the warehouse, and had begun singing out dcrisivelv. "What price Little Jack, mate?" The John covered himself with shame and confusion, am! hastened down the street with (lie voice of acorn streaming after him like a squid running on its eignt feelers. ]