SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 138, 10 July 1909, Page 6

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. Wellington R.C.—July 17, 21 and 24. Hamke's Hay Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting—July 28 C.J.C. Grand Nauonai Meeting—August 10, 12, and 14. Mai-ton Spring .Meeting—September I and 2 or 2 aud 3 TURF TOPICS. (By ■• Motuioa "). Comedian is again in work. Ikon is showing good form at Greenmeadows.

The Wellington R.C. winter meeting open this day week. Southern Cross is' jumping well at Riccarton and the old horse may be a star hurdler yet.

Rolling up "for the fray! Wirral, St. Bill and Lull are due at Trentham today. "Jervey" George leaves for Wellington early next week, taking with him Paritutu" and Waihuka. Old Mocassin is still very much alive and for a horse who has placed a Great Northern aud a Wanganui Steeplechase to his credit the handicappers appear to have taken a risk with him in the forthcoming steeples. Penates claims an engagement on the second day of the Wellington meeting, but another Winter Cup may be his dart.

New Zealand jockey R. Cameron is still riding winners in 'Stralia. At CaulHeld he piloted Ballenger to victory in a two-year-old race.

Erstwhile Taranaki sport Dan O'Brien is stated to possess a fine yearling colt by Persian Knight—Thea. The youngster shows great promise. Scotty continues to show improved form over the sticks and at the recent Ellerslie meeting he showed that he had not lost his dash. A good hurdle race may cofe hie way shortly. Gil Rook has taken kindly to hunting and will probably be given a run r.t the North Taranaki Hunt Club gathering. The Aucklander Don Hannibal greatly impressed the critics when landed in Sydney and the horse appears to be benefited by the change of climate and is galloping splendidly. Whereas the Hawke's Bay winter meeting resulted in a profit of only £295, the smaller Napier Park gathering made a surplus of over £4OO. Needleiwork pulled up in a bad way after contesting the Napier Park Steeplechase aud will probably be off the scene all the winter.

Lingerer will be ridden at Trentham by F. Flynn, who was associated with the horse's recent winning performances at Napier Park. The value of the Derby won by Minora was £1)450, and after that race his Majesty head the list of winning owners for the current racing season with a total of £14,077. Since that race, however, the King's horses have gained further successes, and his winnings must now be close upon £20,000. Provocation. Expansion, Elysian, Broadsword, Sharpshooter and Maori King are amongst the number remaining in the Great Northern Guineas after declaration of first forfeit.

The stallions which command the highest stud fees in Australia include Wallace, by Carbine—Melodious, 100 guineas; Positano, by St. Simon—JVmza, 100 guineas; Auruinn, by TrentonAura, 50 guineas; Multiform, by Hotchkiss—Formo, 50 guineas; Perambulator, by Persimmon—Spyglass, 50 guineas; Pomander, by Persimmon—Chclandry, 50 guineas'; and Silent Friend, by Hazelliatch—Myr.tledine, 50 guineas. Other Xcw Zealand stallions earning good fees are: —Havoc, by Jfordenfeldt—Frailty, 25 guineas; Lancaster, by Hotcbkiss— Frailty (subscription full); Launceston, ly Tasman—Rubina, 4 guineas; Machine Gun, by Hotchkiss —Rubina, 25 guineas; Multiform, by Hotchkiss— Pormo (subscription full at 50 guineas); Royal Artillery, by Hotchkiss— Rose of Wellington, 20 guineas; SwoTdfish 11., by Hotehkiss—Fishgirl, 15 guineas; and Sant Ilnrio, by St. Leger— Cissy, 12 guineas. The Victorian Grand National Steeple, chase will be run to-day at Flcmington. Pilot figures amongst the acceptors, but will have to be at the best of his form to have a chance under the steadier of

;2st 91:b. The following arc the final acceptors for the three miles and a furlong event:—Bribery 12.11. Kaula Lampur 12.0, Pilot 12.!7, Boisdale 11.12, Workmaster 11.1), Boomerang, 11.0, Snob 10.12, Confederate 10.2, Dalny 10.2, Billiards 10.0, Grafnax 10.0, Squirm 9.12, Postboy 9.12, Quail 9.10. Kilbcr 9.7, Ripon 9.5, Fred 9.0. Te Arai and Mozart were the only starters in the Park Steeplechase at Cisborne on Thursday, and the former v-as out in front all the way, quite outclassing bis moderate opponent. Te Arai was again to the fore yesterday when he led Reservoir home in the hurdle race.

v One hundred years ago the race for | the Two Thousand Guineas, which King Edward won recently, was instituted, the year after the founding of the Chester Cup. The title of the former lace originated from the fact that it was established as a sweepstake of 100 guineas each, and the subscribers numbered twenty; while the One Thousand Guineas had the same conditions with ten subscribers, and was therefore called the One Thousand Guineas. One of the greatest races in connection with the Two Thousand was when Donovan was considered such a certainty that odds of 85 to 20 were laid on him in a field of nine. Tom Cannon, however, was riding a bad-tempered horse named Enthusiast, who would only go when he liked. And he did .like on that day. and Cannon pulled off. the race by a head.

The American Jockey Club lias issued an edict tliat everyone (except reporters) will liavc to pay an entrance fee to the grounds. This will apply to owners, trainers and jockeys. Tire authorities consider that everyone making a living out of racing should contribute to its upkeep, and so help to keep alive the | .«port, which has almost received its death-blow from the Agnew-llart Anti|lVtling liil!. The entrance fee to the tracks tin's season will be Ids. Another announcement is that bookmakers will not be allowed to race their own horses :.nd at tire same time pursue operations in the betting ring. When Persimmon (won the Ascot Cold Cup for King Edward there were scenes of unparalleled enthusiasm. But even these did not equal the excitement in ISOI. when fieorge, Prince of Wales (liter George IV.), won the most sensational race ever witnessed on Ascot Common. A million pounds was said to have been staked, and when Chifney, on the Prince's Baronet, snatched a victor;by half a head, with live other horse* running neck and neck within a f"vnrds of the winning-post, the enthusi asm of the 40.0(1(1 spectators was boundless. ".I made fourteen baronets last week.'' said (leorge TIT. to his son when c-n:i'_'rati!).ltiiig him. "hut your haronet i-'.worth all mine put together." The Eclipse Stakes is a race of more modern origin, bei-ig established in ISSIi. When the Sundown Pmk Race Committee announced that they intended to give a fortune in the shape of CIO.OOO. ■ I bus eclipsing all previous prices, no 'mall sensation was created in the racial: world. The distinction of riding the winner of the first ten thousand belong* to Tom Cannon, who brought Beudh'o home in a canter. The race for the Eclipse Stakes in MO2 was memorabTe on account of the fact that the late T)nke of Westminster entered his horse Orme. who was a pronounced favorite for the Derby that year, lint was reported to have lieen got at. so did not run. He ultimately won the Eclipse Stak'es by a neck.