SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 260, 9 December 1909, Page 4

SPORTING

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa"). Diabolo continues tq harden for the Auckland Cup—in condition as well as betting. Aurofera (late Linkless) won a race at Victoria Park (N.S.W.) recently. ■Manawatu Cup nominations include Bismarck and Coronetted. Stayboy tig* urcs in the hurdle events. • Flying Soult at 70 guineas and Loongana at 32 guineas changed hands in Auckland last week. Feilding Mr. Geo. Hunter sold Reformist, by Renown—Formulist, the latter being a sister to Cruciform, to Mr. T. H. Lowry, for stud purposes. That 'horse racing is still gaining in popularity in the dominion was further proved by the substantial increases in nominations received for torthcoming Christmas meetings. The Auckland K.C. figures read 590 against 434 last year. Every race but one, the Auckland Plate, ■shows a substantial increase. The Rangitikei New Year meeting also shows a phenomenal increase, 350 entries being received, as against 11)4 last season. Last year's Rangitikei Cup only drew 14 entries, but the splendid cup ottered this season has succeeded in drawing a record entry for the mile and a-quarter •event. The following have been nominated:— Iney. Effort, Miscast, Marathon, Tiptoe, Waikaraka, tfandstream, Hold (Crest. Chauvelin, Ukraine, JMingot Ta•whaki, Osiris, Equitas, Goodwin Park, Milan, Whetumarama, PeroJina Bismarck, Waipaku, Uhlando, Thetis, Adria, Coronetted Orucinella, jlvoran, Parable, Mendip, Sir Antrim, iFlitaway, Fasuakyle, Feu de Joie. , Passion started favorite for the tlororata Cup on Thursday last, and led until inside the distance, where King Post, ;who changed hands at the New Zealand ! Cup meeting, came with a great burst of speed and won handily. Queen of Spades won a double, the Farmers' Plate and Flying Handicap, and Passion scored Mm a weak lield in the llaldon Stakes.

The Welter Handicap fell to Aisy, a three-year-old filly by the Melbourne Cup "winner Gaulus. As Gaulus> was a six-year-old when he scored in the Cup of *181)7, the old fellow is getting up in.» years now. •According to a London paper, the Austrian Government recently offered '£50,000 for England's champion three-year-old, Bayardo, but -no business resulted.

Nadador, who died last week, was foaled in 1899; won the Hawke's Bay and Napier Steeples in 1904; the Hawke's Bay Steeple again in 1905, and next season scored in the Beaufort and Lincoln Steeples at the C.J.U. meeting and the 'Wellington Stepple. Thid year the daughter of El Draque capped a -hort but consistent career by gathering intbc C.J.C. National Steeple from a good field.

A Tennessee minister says that hell is a place of "horse-racing, strong drink, tobacco, football and theatres. Nothing the matter with that for a future residence!

Acceptances and general entries lor the Taranaki Jockey Club's Christmas meeting close on Friday, December 10, at 10 p.m.