THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 228, 19 September 1908, Page 3

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

racing fixtures. September 19, 23, 20—Avondalc Jockey Club. September 24, 25—Geraidine liacing Club. (September 24 and 28—Wanganui Jockey Club. October 7 and B—Hawke's Bay Jockey . Club. October 14 and 15—Napier Park Racing Club. October 9—Waitara Racing Club. October 14 and 15—Dunedin Jockey Club. October 21 and 24—Wellington Racing Club. October 29 and 30—(Poverty Bay Turf Club. October 29 and 30—Masterton Racing Club. November 7, 9, and 11—Auckland Racing Club. November 7, 9, 11, and 14—Canterbury Jockey Club. November 9—Waverley-Waitotara Racing Club. November 28, December 2—Takapuna Jockey Clud. November 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 &—Hawke'a Bay Guineas. November 7 —New Zealand Cup. Australia. Oetober 3—A.J.C. Derby. October s—Metropolitan Stakes. October 10—Caullield Guineas. October 17—Caulfleld Cup. October 31 —V.R.C. Derby. November 3—Melbourne Cup. TURF TOPICS.

(By "Afoturoa").

The age of miracles 13 not past. Even the "dead-'uns" occasionally come to life on our racecourses! Taranaki horses engaged at the Avondale meeting include Waihuka, Durability, Golden Dream, Mikotahi, and Ney. The Avondale R.C. spring meeting opens to-day, the Cup and two-year-old Avondale Stakes being the principal attraction of the gathering. The flier Grenadier, who won several races across the -Tasman last season, carries top-load, 9st. lOlbs., in the Flying Handicap at Avondale to-day. There is a horse running in Australia ■who has been named Casaibianca, "because nothing seems to be able to get him away from ttfe post." Next! Mr. J. C. Montefiore has been appointed clerk of the course for the Taranaki J.C. It's a " rnonty " he wiil be the cynosure of all eyes when he dons the scarlet.

A record in its way! Mr. Geo. Hodgman, an octogenarian, has not missed an Ascot -(Eng.) meeting since he won the Hunt Cup with Victor away bacK in 1863. The tale is told of a 'Murkan sporting scribe who, being hard pushed for copy, filled his columns with chapters fronr the Bible. Pressed for a reason he explained that the passages would prouably be news to the majority of his readers!

Glenullin scored a long overdue win in the Spring Handicap at Rangitikei on Wednesday, but the long string of ponters who followed the Lochiel horse at Marton were for the most part badly left at the barrier. The win does not incur a penalty for the horse's New Zealand Cup engagement, and, all going well, Mr. H. Eva should find the prad a paying concern this season. The Saint, who won the Maiden Hack race at Bulls, did not figure on the list of acceptances telegraphed through last week, and the race proved a " skinner'' for the bookies. After the race the following terse dialogue was heard:— First punter: "What won the maiden?" 6econd punter: "The Saint." First punter: "The devil!" Bull wo r tli, the winner of the Rangitikei Steeplechase, was bought cheaply after the Great Northern meeting, and has won the Gisborne Steeplechase in the meantime. The Bulldog gelding was a Hire bargain for his new owner, Mr. £. J. Harris.

Even the much-abused punter does ais best to tollow the well-known religions maxim:—"To-day holds a prize to be won." But generally the prize turns out to be a surprise, and the punter ■wearily turns to toil next morning to keep off the evil day of "hobnails and moleskins." Tis a cruel world, and Fate proves swifter than our Pcgasuses.

One of the sights of the Hunt Club meeting Ms a licensed victualler who cheerfully Chalked up the riders' names, scratching, over-weights, etc., in beautiful copy-book handwriting. In these hard times it is a difficult task to find a publican who is willing to " chalk 'em up." It's a dry world, but it will '>e a regular Sahara if prohibition is carried in November.

A well-known portly punter, who, upon his own reliable testimony, has never heen known to lose money at a raecaneeting, is said to have won £3O over Grey Star at the Hunt Club gathering, breaking several bookmakers in the coup. Yea can pick him in one! The listener, who raised his arms wearily towards the place the rain comes from and yawned unrestrainedly, was not the only "stretcher" in the crowd. The New Zealander Pink Un has at last won a race in Australia. (le started second favourite in the Memsie Stakes on September sth, the distance being nine furlongs and won by a length from Knox, with another New Zealand bred horse in feterhof in third position.

The sporting life from an owner's point of view:—"One may easily drop into a. vein of had luck, horses may go Wrong, well intended coups just fail. The meagre 9um of winning stakes contrasts with the hideous amount of forfeits, and the once sanguine sportsman comes sadly to the conclusion that the game is not worth the candle, and that after all counting his securities in the office is a cheaper and happier occupation, so he retires from the turf, and our friend is once more cast on the world. let us hope that while the sun shone he made a certain amount of hav. and can look forward with confidence to the future, consoling himself with the reflection that there is a fool born every minute."

Writing under the headline of " Mystery Horses," "Spearmint." of the London "Sports Supplement," thus gives an opinion: He was an eminent trainer, but his position had not dispelled trouble. Rather, indeed, it had brought anxiety in its train; this commonly being an attribute of eminence. He was a trainer who has had, and still has, classic colts and fillies under his charge, and I expect he will have such for as long as ho cares to go on. I was travelling from London to the north, and he "picked up" the train midway. lie sank into his seat, and—sighed; and after he had sighed, he shook his bead. "You seem ont of sorts?" I remarked. "Oh, no! My health's all right. It's

my horse s I am worried over." " Anything wrong?" "Not at all, so lar ss I can discover. They eat all right; th-ay do their work all right; hut " _ And lie paused. "But what?" T questioned. "Why, their running in public is all wrong, and I cannot find the cause. No one can find the cause. The cause is a mystery. I tell my patrons they can They lose their money. I bet. I also lose. When we do not het the horses win. Then we are accused of having landed a deeply planned coup! Well, well!" (and he sighed again). "T suppose some day matters will straighten themselves out. Meanwhile 1 take lefuge in the cynical philosophy of an old friend of mine. He years ago said that a racehorse would have inalf

Oar-re Washington appear a liar, and I'm sure he was right." The conversation as set forth occurred recently, anil since it took place the humorous cvmcism of the trainer's friend has .ln!M through mv mind. And the inoic h i seen of the running tins season, t.o greater appears the truth ot the nltcrance. ft was indeed lii'-ky. I qnenl.lv thought, that fieorgc Washington had no trafficking with raeeb■or even his father might have oul t„. Tiis credulity—that w. it his a ■ lie.cn in the lull-It of "backing <■«.. a" had asked his son's adv;ce. '■ • occasions the racehorse will make ,i of any man.