SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 133, 3 July 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Gisbome 11.C.—July 8 and D. Wellington R.C.-July 17, 21, ami 24. TURF TOi'lCS. (By "Moturoa") The Gisborne Steeplechase meeting takes place oil Thursday and Friday next. Waihuka is shaping well over the small sticks and will probably be given a gallop at Trenthain. jJlUilibon is now on the active list and is undergoing preparation lor the New Zealand Cup. J. Malier lias Prospector and Defeat well forward to tackle their hurdle and steeplechase engagements, and this pail' of beautiful jumpers snouid not ou lung I in notching winning brackets. Jockey L 11. Hewitt, who is now riding in 'Strati,i. can go to scale at 7st. i)lb, and should get plenty of riding at that weight. Hugh Telford is at present at i.*wnia putting Exmoor, Pinva, and ICuku through their schooling. Prosser's stable is reputed to be holding a strong hand in jumpers this season. Waitapu is another good flat performer who is showing a liking for the small fences. It is quite on the cards that S. Messeaa will catch a good hurdle race with the Taranaki Cup winner. Claremont is said to be very well at present, and quite a crowd of people are saving up to have a butter the Mrst time he is backed. It may be at 'Trenthain. Among tile sires nominated for the Victorian II.C. Biles' Produce Stakes of 1912 are tli e ex-uiaorilandcrs, Canteen, Menschikoff, San Francisco, Royal Artillery and Multiform. Nothing but abuse is hurled nt tucmg folk by some of the religious people. , but when l-eeent cablegrams announced; ; firstly, that King Edward had won ! £14,000 on the Turf this season, aid, secondly, that the same sporting jjcin-s- ---' man liad donated .t'2ooo to the Scotch i Ghureli, not a word was said. Perhaps i it was because the donor was his Ma- . jesty tlie King. [ R. Barlow is keeping Comuionwealtl [ and Cavalry busy these days. The for > mer is jumping nicely, but Cavalry is ; possessed of an ugly-looking knee, which I will require careful treatment. Old Mchvood was recently found witt 3 Ills leg broken and iiau to be destroyed, t The little son of St. Loger—Lndybirc 3 was a fair sort of a horse for lijs sizt

and did good service for W. Davies during several seasons. Ben Johnson was withdrawn from the Winter Hurdle Race early in the week, but still remains in the Jumpers' Flat Race.

The Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race conies up for decision to-day. Kia Ora, Ngauruhoc,' Aeolus and Ataaliua have been scratched for the race, but Waipu will probably he in the field today. Maoriland horses have caught it hotly in the big handicaps in 'Stralia this season. The following are the weights against their names in the Melbourne Cup—All Red, 9st. 31b; Master Soult, Bst. 131b; Bohrikoll', Sst. 131b; California, Bst. IOlb; Aborigine, Sst. 81b; Maranui, Sst. 81b; Downfall, Sst. 01b; Motoa, Sst. 41b; Pink-'Un, Bst. 21b; Waipuna, Bst.; Artillerie, Bst.; Golden Slipper, 7st. 121b; Don Hannibal, 7st. 51b; Ikon, Vst. 31b; and Delaware, fist. 1311). CaulftVd Cup—All Red, Ost. 31b; Master Sou'.t, Bst. 131b; Maramii, Bst. 131b; Aborigine, Sst. 01b; Pink-Un, Sst. 71b; Motoa, Sst. lib; Waipuna, 7st. 131b; Artillerie, Tst. Ulb; Golden Slipper, 7st. ifib; Don Hannibal, 7st. 51b; and Delaware, fist. 131b. F. Tilley's team is still breaking in. The Fordcll trainer lost the services o r Nova, who broke a blood vessel while competing at Hastings, and Tan San, who has proved untrainable, has been re turned to his owner.

Lull, whose reported breakdown wis not as serious as at first considered, is again galloping and jumping in good style, and is a likely starter at the Wellington winter meeting. North-East has been taken up again after a very brief spell, and will be prepared for the Winter Cup—rather a tall order for one who has only be;n racing amongst the hacks. Starshoot was the first horse scratched for the Victorian Grand National Hurdle 1 Race. A Melbourne writer devoted a lengthy article in demonstration of the fact that Starshoot had been harshly treated, and concluded as lollows: "This sort of handicapping savors of weighting the man and not the horse. It is the kind of usage which drives owners off the turf, and it is mod surprising that Mr. D. ,1. Price contemplates packing up his traps and returning with his team of horses to New Zealand, in expectation of receiving more just treatment."

Something of a record is claimed for a horse named Gold Bar, rising seventeen years, who ia still racing at country meetings J .jii"'Stralia with remarkable success. Gold Bar contested six races jit' the recent Elsmore races, winning five events and running second in tire other one.

I The frog-caters take their sport very seriously. Quite recently, at Auta-jll (France'), the Grand Steeplechase was delayed, and the spectators arc reported to have broken the harriers, set fire ■to the grass arid demanded their money hack. The military suppressed the disturbance, hut several people were injured before the programme was ultimately fulfilled. High praise this! Good judges have -expressed the opinion that Trrliukitrao is likely to prove a hetter two-year-old than his champion brother Provocation. Should Jackpot compete in the Wellington Steeple, writes "The Blade/ visitors to Trentham will see one of the most happy-go-lucky customers over lug country that can be imagined. When Jackpot draws to inn obstacle lie tackles it with a sort of "here J come with my little lot," creating a feeling in tlie, mind of the observer that clearing big timber is a mere detail in the day's work; a matter, in fact, that should not disturb the. even tenor of an average healthy horse's way, make his pulse beat faster, or his nenrt beat a devil's tattoo against his ribs. In short, the Chain Link gelding takes the obstacles—be they bush, sod, stone, or logs—with the utmost sang froid; so much so that one keen sport at Hastings was impelled to exclaim, "Why, the old bleater ain't even got. Ins ears pricked." And because he does not oscillate his aural appendage at the jumps, the experts and critics have so far re-| trained from placing ElUngliaiu's gelding in the first flight. But all tne same he" is likelv to go on winning races when the 'weight suits. For. as one philosopher observed, "They don't lep with their dashed ears." The following are the final acceptances for the Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race, of 125(1 sovs.; three miles (run at Plemington to-day).—Enchant-ed States U-.10,' Concave 11.5, Solano 113, Aringa 11.1. Wollara 10.13, Circnlus 10.13, Xightlight 10.0. The Sun (me. 51b pen.) 10.8, Kalnnck 10.7, AVaipu 10."> Vernier (inc. 7ll> pen.) 10.2, Rnntter 10.1 Old Chappie !U3, Ynrrabundic 011 Coraki 0.0. Wonlloomooloo !>.i. To.ro (inc. 711. pen.) 0.7, Old Xick 0 5 Fossil 0.0, Kuleiirna 0.1), Rogue's llnr.-li 9.0, The Kibble 0.0.