SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 104, 29 May 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 3 and "4—Duuedin K.C. June 3 and 4-«aki Maori E.C. Winter. June 3, 5 and 9—Auckland B.C. June 16 and 17-Hawke's Bay J.L. Winter. ~.. June 23 and 24-Xapier Park K.C. Winter July 8 and 9-Gisborae R.C. Steeple chtec

KIXG EDWARD'S WIX. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.— . ; •• Copyright). • . London, May ■£!. Owing to the anti-gambling laws more money was wagered on the Derby by America-than ever risked on an English race before. , Bookmakers were large winners by the dejeat; of St.. Martins, who wus %»e favorite.' for the- race. Americans in London wagered £64,000 on Sir Martins. King Edward has won £14,077 in stakes this season.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") A Press Association message from ChrbtOttUTch states that acting on the resolution carried at foe annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey dub yesterday, the chairman (Mr. Pyne) dekpatekd & cable message to his Majesty 'the King-oongratulating him on the victory of Minoru in the Derby. The following reply was received at midnight: !, Cl)ainman. Canterbury Jockey Club, Christchnroh:—The King sends his sincere ib»nteto the members of the Canterbury Jockey Club for their kind congratulations." Maniapoto has again broken down. Hew Zealand Cup nominations are due on Tuesday. The'younger full-sister to Illustrious has been named Celebration. OH Florio broke down badly in front while being exercised at Napier Park a few days ago. Malatua «■« awarded first priy.c in th c blood stallion class at Casino (Aus.) show. ... - ' It is quite likely that Sam. Darragh and J. Grant will appeal against tluir disqualification by the Takapunn Jockey . Club, in connection with the Tauriki case. .

The Century Hurdles winner, Belario. was sV)ld by'j. D. Orinond as a two-year-old for fourteen guineas.

Very proper advt. irom a Melbourne paper: "Lost, a lady horse. Bay color, 14 years," etc. Another paper scoft'jj it this and enquires for a "Young gentleman cow!" WKat nextt

A trio of good ones) in Kiaterc, Waipti 'and Jack Pot wore railed tlirougli to Auckland on Tuesday, and should not come back without a little extra capital gained—if. all wo hear is only half as ' true,as we think it is. ' J.' Prosßer has countermanded his order for, boxes at EHerslie, and it looks as if Exuioor, Pawa, playmate and Co. will not he seen at the Auckland winter meeting.' Wee Trinket was Hardly ready at Wanganui, hut is ou the improve, and: will be amongst the winners shortly. (Jweridolina caurtd a hit of a surprise by easily annexing the Connolly Handicap from' Mahirta in the easiest possible style, and the daughter of Sant 'Hario was sent out a very warm favorite' tor the Empire Handicap on the second day. Jenkins was up on the popular fancy and had a very uncomfortable ride, being in tie ruck from the flag-fall to numbers up. Sportsmen will 1 have- plenty of excitement next week. Auckland, Duncdin and Otaki meetings open on Thursday, and at this time of the year winners are a trifle harder to pick than usual. The Great Northern Hurdle Race comes up for decision on Thursday, and on the tollowing Saturday the Great Steeplechase will engage the attention of turf followers.

Tlje other day a parcel of hockey enthusiasts made merry in a train dowi, the line and when they were hauled ovct the coal they sought to get out of their troubles by foisting the blame for the dfeturbance on the shoulders of a crowd of law-abiding sportsmen who were returning from the Hawera races. "It was a race train," they yelped, and that, to their mind, explained everything. How little they know oi the habits Of. punters returning from the races! ,A more sorry and quiet trainI load of individuals than a race crowd could hardly be imagined. Away they go to the races, full of spirits, full of hope and full of coin. Race after race goes by and the finish is always the same. They shed their accumulated wealth at the reet of the noble Bar Vons, or at the counter of the stern and pitfe* tote—and Min the cause of Pegasus. Some win, but more lose.

and then tack to the train they gobroke. For cheerless company give me a lianil of broken punters. Their coin gone, their hopes ditto; back they go to work, or perhaps to a "missus"—grave forelioding- crush them to docile auto 'matons and when they reach their respective destinations th'ov fail out and pad Mil' weary hoof on the trail to trouble. Xo, race-crowds are no longer rowdy mobs. Times are too hard, racing too tricky, and winners are as bard to strike, as the elusive "Tatt's." The hookey-men hare made a bad mistake this time. They want to try a different explanation next time. They admit the fact that they brought festive ale on, to the train and their tale won't wash. The previous day the same race-crowd journeyed .homewards by the evening train and no' disturbance took place. That should suffice. The tables announced on Thursday that two coons fought for the world's .fistic supremacy in the Old L-.iud during 'the week, and the news is warranted to ,-et one thinking deeply.. Two niggers fighting for tile world's championship! And all because there is not a white man good enough to punch the block man into blacker oblivion. It

is a grave slur on the white race that such should be the ease. It shows what degeneration has set in ns a con-

sequence of the kill-sport madness which is being worked for aft it 1? worth. We can no longer boast that "Britoas never

will be slaves." Look at us to-3av. We ca-nnot fight, we can only bet when a kill-joy Parliament allows \w to—a few daysevery y«aT in each province. The reafT>f the time we arc .supposedTo be stuffed or putting on hypocritical pious airs. The noble sport of pugilism is in the hand* of the black men. We are too '•civilised" to take a hand in such brutal sport! And what is the conclusion* A|r e we poor miserable wretches who dare not to stick up for our rights —ithe right to do as we like in our time

with our own money or abilities. Spoilsmen generally should wake up and see that the wrongs are righted. Next session the infamous Gambling; Hacked—to giv,, it its true name—will be before Parliament, and it behove* every one '>i ns to see that the beastly thing is repealed and pushed right off the earth. \\> want to be allowed breathing room and we want our sports just as much as the unco' guid want their virtues. We want to be men as much a*' they want to be women, and now is the time to be up and doing if we wish to regain our freedom.

Regarding the Rohepotae case at Hawera Mr. J. Goodwin writes to the Times as follows:—"I wish to give the reason D. Ross's betting-sheet does not show the 50 to 5 he laid me Rohepotae Opeki Handicap at Ha wera races, 13th inst. The facts of the case arc:—l went to where Mr. Ross was betting. Mr. B. Coyle wag standing close by. Ross asked me what I wanted. I'll take 50 ro 5 about a rough 'un,' was my reply. Ross said, 'Name it, I might lay It.' Rohepotae was named. He said, 'Right!' and told his vlerk to book it; but before he had time to book it Mr. Coyle said, "20 to 2 me.' Mr. Rosa said, sharply, 'Xo!' and turning to his clerk, said, 'Don't book any.' I said, 'You must book mine.' He said, "No. 50 to 10 is the price—you can have that.' I said, 'You have laid me 80 to o. and you will have to stand to it.' 1 also told him it took two to make a bet and two to cry it off. The horse won. I wrote to Mr. Ross and offered to compromise, and as he has not replied I have reported it. It is said- that offer to compromise shows weakness on my part, but it Idoes not alter the fact that the bet was made, and more than one could give evidence to the bet being made."