SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 190, 15 September 1909, Page 3

SPORTING.

IMPROVING THE BREED OF SADDLE HOKSES.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night.

1 At a meeting ot the A.lt.C. eonimit--1 tee. helu to-night, a motion was pro- ; posed and curried Lliat the club donate £IOO to be given as prizes at the shows , held by ,Jhe" agricultural and pastoral . | associations of the Auckland province ■or the best thoroughbred entires vak-u- ---, lated to improve tin' breed of saddle horses. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Rangitikei spring meeting w'll be held to-day and to-morrow on the Marton racecourse, the former clubs new course not being sufficiently "set" to be fit for racing this spring. The perfect deluge of ruin which the Marton racecourse 11 fortnight ago, on the occasion of that club's meeting, left the track in a very bad condition, and it was considered likely that the liangitikei Club would have to look further afield for a course to race on. The inside track on the Wanganui course was mentioned as the likely contesting ground, but the close proximity of ;he Wanganui spring meeting was' another drawback to that arrangement. But Wet Wraggc sent along no storni3 during the last ten days, and as a result of the beautifully line weather experienced at Marton during that time the course is in capital condition once more, and it has been definitely divided to hold the meeting there. There ore few more up-to-date courses along the coast than that at Marton, and owing to excellent drainage the course is Sn ae good condition as before the Marton meeting. What a splendidly situated place for a meeting Marton is! It is a busy railway junction, into which special trams pour hordes of sport-loving people from Taranaki, Patea and Wanganui on the north; Wellington, Palmerston aid Feilding in "Elie South; and the Main Trunk inland. No wonder the club's meetings always draw such large attendances. They arc bound to grow, and will shortly rival the gatherings at Wanganui.

Tarannki horses engaged at Rangitikoi include "Wee Trinket, Kildare, Rua, Maggie Paul, Dolce, LWgerer and Sir Prize. The Now' Ply-mouth-trained ones have yet to show their form, but Rua won a double in good stylo at the Hunt Club gathering, Maggie Paul scored at Marton, and Dolce won three races in a week. The others are doing good track work and may show to advantage. Tiptoe has been scratched for all engagements at the Wanganui meeting, and North-East fo r the Flying Handicap. North-East is poing 'well o n the tracks, and they" say jn Wanganui that he will do big things this season. Sir Frisco, says the. Times, met with a mishap during tlic running of the Horowhcnnn Cup and may not sfart at the Rangitikei meeting. R. Hatch, who generally Dilots the so:> of "San 'Francisco, has been engaged to ricie Master 1 Soult at Avondalc, and will n« north immediately after the Rangitikei races. Winner/? at Levin put up penalties at Marton to-day. The following weights will be carried:—Flying Handicap: Iney ■S.3; Hack Hurdles, Wnimaria f1.12; 1 Rangitoto Hack Handicap: Dolce !).3,1 Buoyant 8.6, Notorious 7.(1.

Toa Tuhi. who is engaged in the Flying Handicap with 6.10, won that event last .war with nearly a stone more r:i the saddle. The much-raced Conqueror celdinsr started 38 times last season for five wins.

Irish Ri(!e and Waikaraka ran pooriy at Marton, but both horses wore rather backward then and have come on a 'ot in the interim. Still, the Spring Handicap at Wanganui next week *niay he more to their liking. There arc generally a few "waiters" in the crowd when a bigger meeting looms close at hand. Tney and Lady Medallist have hotn Earned winning brackets this season and are not badly weighted ni Rnngitikei. ' "

The old veteran, ftawain, a,mongst the nominations for Lower Valley. Weights for that meeting arc due to appear on Saturday next. Nothing engaged in the Wiilowh.mk Steeple ha* done better than Rua Into'v. and the Taranaki horse will be on liis trial to-day. The company ( is rather better than he beat on the'local course last week, hut still is not of n very high quality. Oryx, Te Kain ii and Mooshen have Wo« fair races, but. the others are a poor jot. • Erl King was talked about at Martin, but owing to the heavy going was not given a run there. ITe is said to have improved a lot recently. Waijnn»*:.i. Nova and Maggfr Paul have won lately and are in good form. When Kairoma was fiold to go to 'Stralia reccntfv he was generally i-cck- , oned a cheap horse at 200 guineas. Us quickly recouped his new owner's outlay by -winning a good race at Tattersail's meeting on Saturday, scoring at the "first pop." Kaiwhaga. a fine big dark bay horse.] engaged in the Maiden at Rangitikei. impressed punters at Marton by'giving i First Consul a good "go" in the Maiden | at Marton. Kaiwhaka has been stepping out freely on the Wanganui tracK* since that gathering, and appears to possess a good turn of speed. Mocassin, who figures in flte UaugiMkci Steeple to-dav. won that event five .years ago. and ifi quite a veteran. Tie fell early in his only race at Riccarton, .2nd it is hard to judge his prospect-. The steeplechase course nfc Marton ift not hard and may be to his liking. A small field may bo expected in the Spring Handicap. Sir Frisco is one of the doubtful ones, hut if well he would command a big following. The New Zealand Pup candidates engaged may only hp out for an airing, and the rauo in consequence appears lo be very open. Moloch, although a little on the big side, was looking well at Marton. and Llanwern appeared to have come through a good preparation. Wee Trinket has been pleasing ffer owner lately, and a win for her is long overdue.

The Ashburton spring meeting takes place to-day and Thursday, Cauldron has been galloping well lately and should run prmninenty before long. Tanekaha is reported to have improved a lot since going to Auckland, and will be given a run at Avondale on Thursday.

Coronetted has put in an appearance at Wanganui, looking bright and we'l. and is doing good work in view of the Wanganui spring meeting which takes place next week. Fine weather lias been experienced at Wanganui lately and the tracks are in capital condition. Wirral appears to have quietenel down considerably and is a great track horse. After watching him gallop here one would go and put his garments on the big son of Birkenhead the first time he.sported silk, hut, alas! one would toe always buying new shirts!