SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 153, 24 July 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. ilaitvke's Bay Hunt Club Steeplechase JVieeting—July 28 : C.J.C. Grand National Meeting—August 10, 12, and U. Marton Spring Meeting—September 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 DUfIF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Wellington II.C. winter meeting will lie concluded at Trentliam to-day. Lingerer was sent out favorite for the Wellington Steeple but could only finish fifth. ' It is a significant fact that Penates was the rank outsider in the moderate field which contested the Glasgow Handicap on Wednesday. The Winter Cup is not yet. The Great Northern winner, Capitol, was going better than anything in the Wellington Steeple half-a-mite from home, where he got to within a coup.e of lengths of Te Arai, and but for failing would probably liave landed the stake. St. Bill, Te Arai, Scotty and Wimmera were all backed away from the course on Wednesiiaj', and the stay-at-home bookmakers had a disastrous time of It. The ''hot stuil" simply couldn't go wrong! The victory of Wimmera in the Waterloo Handicap and the short price paid by the t full brother to Boomerang are two things which are worth thinking over. On the opening day Wimmera, poorly supported and finished out of :i place in the Stewards' Handicap, won by St. Bill, Sweet Angelus and San Fernando filling the other places. On Wednesday, however, Mr. Watt's liofse was well backed on the course and made the medium of a plunge away from it, and this time he was first out and kept the lead all the way, winning easily from Dawn and Sir Frisco, San Fernando being unplaced. Such a flagrant reversal of form takes some explaining, and if the stewards' cannot sea anything peculiar in such happenings it is about time stipendiary stewards had a trial. The latter couldn't do worse, and they might do better. St. Bill must he in great form u present. The Stewards' Handicap came his way by a head on Saturday, but in tile Glasgow Handicap the son of St. Clements had everything at his mercy and galloped liome an easy winner by three lengths. With 1,2 lbs more in the saddle to-day he will contest the Onslow Handicap, and unless thero is a " waiter" in the_ crowd it is just possible that he may shine once more. Hie Wellington Steeplechase was 'contested by thirteen liorses, Lingeiei, J.* Arai, Capitol and Mocassin being tile popular'fancies. A '-roiighie" in Otus' was in front for a mile, and then Irish showed the way to Lingerer, Te Arai and Mocassin for a mile and a half. Four furlongs'from home Te Arai was in front, with Capitol closing up very fast. The latter came down at the second last fence, leaving Te Arai with 8. commanding lead, and although Irish came along {pmely under the whip Te Arai won easing up by over two lengths. Xadador just beat Mocassin for third money, and then followed Lingerer, Capitol (who was re-mounted) aud Otus. On Wednesday's running Te Arai'cannot' be, said to be badly treated in the July Steeple with lOst. 101b, and although it reads as a rise of 1311 is (on paper), the shorter distance should be more to the liking of the Auckland 'chaser. The running of Irish on Wednesday looked as if that horse was in capital form once more, and the Eton gelding may not be long in scoring over a short steeplechase course. Merrie Zealand ran a really good race in the Parliamentary Handicap, but was not started on the second day. Merrie Zealand is a likely starter in the Winter Oats to-day. Previous running cannot" help backers much when th e Final Hurdle Race comes up for decision. The top-weight, Ben Johnson, finished out of a place in tne Jumpers' Flat race on Wednesday, as did Exmoor, and Belario ran in an in-j different third. Kairoma and Commander failed to run up to expectations in the Winter Hurdles, in which race Corazon finished third. Kendrock, on the Ost. 71b mark gathered in the Peninsula Hack Hurdles last Saturday with lUst. up, but whether the. son of Explosion is enough for to-day's company is a moot point. It is a good race to leave alone if one isn't "overcome by information."

Mr. Sid. Pitt's Timothy was galloping very well before leaving for Trentiiam. and, had he run into a dividend on Wednesday would have paid his backers something considerable, fie was one. of the outsiders of the ten runners, and finished fast in third place. With the going tinner it is safe to say that the Ufcw Plymouth horse would have done hotter. His next start will probaoly be. in the Ki& Ora Handicap, in which he is weighted at Ost. 41b. The enormous shrinkage in bookmakers' fees recorded at this year's Wellington winter meeting points to the fact that the bookmaker is gettiug tired of jjutting up the maximum every tipio' on the off chance of making a prontable day of it. When we consider that three, or four pounds will admit the odds-; layer to almost any big Australian race- ! course, it seems a bit absurd that he ; should be called upon to weign out' £'2o in Maoriland courses where run* iters are fewer and speculation more limited. The avaricious demands oi iacing clubs only lftcoiJ ion jtjjieir town heads, and in the ease under notice the two days' fees total less than recorded on any one day ]a.st year. Mediterranean dropped but of the New Zealand Cup last week. Xogi has been scratched for all engagements at the forthcoming Canterbury J.C. meeting. Pukenui, who was not started at Trent/lain, is now being boomed, and Canterbury is to be favored with " exhibition" of the wonder's galloping powers. Sir George Clifford, who stands for much hi the racing world, went straight to tlie point when dealing with the bookmaker question on Thursday last. That he was no friend of the pencillers was always known, but his straightforward remarks clearly deline the position as viewed by the larger racing clubs; and, although the public may not bo altogether with him in condemning tiie man who lays 'em, still there is no doubt that the bookmaker should make an elTort to raise his status and preclude many who, under false names, wbtaiu licenses on our courses, and by their "scaling" bring the whole tribe of Bar Vons into disrepute.