SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 334, 9 March 1910, Page 7

SPORTING

tui;e topics. (By "Moturoa.") Races at Dannevirks on Wednesday and Thursday. Wainone and True Shot were doubls winners at Wanganui. Starter J. Coombes sent big field* away to good starts, and racing was just about exciting enough to keep punters guessing until the judge skied his numbers'. The only decision that was questioned on Saturday was in the principal handicap, when heaps of biassed puniers who were in no position to judge, fiercely protested that Sandstream, who iinished right under the judge's oox, had caught Lady Lucy and Osiris' on the post. It was so close that nobody but the man in the box could possibly judge, and after all his is the only opinion that is worth two straws when it comes to "pay out" time. Emblem can travel some for ]urt aoout four furlongs, but that is »Ui.

Each day at Wanganui she looked Ilka a winner, but that does not count. At the finish the Hawera filly was outside a dividend.

Swimming Belt was confidently supported for the Autumn Handicap, but the black horse was in one of his worst moods, and despite Jenkin's vigorous stimulation could not be induced to gallop a yard. All the "belting" in the world wouldn't bring him "into *ne swim." The "know-alls" sent Tumut out best backed in this race, but got a bad run for their money. The Merriwee gelding moved off slowly, and his rider was too busy watching Swimming Belt to notice the youngsters streaming ahead. Tumut doesn't love any inch of ground over six furlongs, and he was well "gone" when Cairns asked him a question at the home turn.

Chauvelin, who had finished just outside a place the first day, fought a battle royal all the way up the straight with the unlucky Lady Menschikoff, and in a punishing finish got home by little more than a good neck. It was a nice coup, and his new owner profited considerably by the healthy price paid on the machine.

Lady Menschikoff raced Hnluckily throughout the meeting. On the opening day Swimming Belt led her home in the Stewards' Mile in 1.42, and on Saturday she suffered defeat by narrow margins only, to Chanvelin in the Autumn and to North-East in the Farewell Handicap. But she is worth noting for a decent bet very shortly. Don't let anyone put you off it! \ On her Juvenile Handicap showing True Shot stood out as a good bet in the Matarawa Hack Handicap, but Toanga, with Olliver on the perch, was "on iir and punters made Tommy Wilson's horse a warm order. True Shot gave some trouble at the barrier, but moved out smartly and was in the van after going a furlong. From that out it was the Juvenile Handicap over again, for Mr. G. F. Moore's speedy Ally showed a clean pair of heels to her opponents and ran in a comfortable win from Toanga in the decent time of Imin 14 4-osec. The Jackson Stakes provided the prettiest race of the day Armlet was hotstuff, and, with' Formby, monopolised the betting. Mr. Coombes slipped them to a perfect start, and Formby took up the running from Broadsword and a bunched crowd. Armlet improved her position befora entering the straight, but the cerise jacket was still in the van and Ormond's eolt was galloping freely. Broadsword challenged at the distance, but Formby was equal to the occasion and looked a certain winner when Hatch rattled up on the outside with Armlet. Whips were out all round and in a neck and neck battle over the last fifty yards the filly just got up in the last few strides and won by a nose. Hatch timed his run nicely and no fault could be found with H. Gray's riding 01 Formby. It was a case of an older and more seasoned horse wearing the youngster down. Both horses battled out every inch of ground with magnificent gameness and thoroughly deserved the rounds of applause which, greeted them on returning to the weigh-1 ing enclosure. The six furlongs were j left behind in the great time of lmin ; 14 1-osee. j

Lady Medallist ran well to the turn, but her Wanganui Cup effort probably had the effect of spoiling her for the sprint event. She did not look at all bright when she cantered round to the barrier. Of the others, Boanerges, who ■was started" in preference to Polymorphous, shaped disappointingly. The public "picked it" nicely in the Fordell Hurdles, the placed horses—Waione, Maggie Paul and Xavier—being fancied in that order. Pikipo tried to win from end to end, but the field closed up at the home turn and at least four horses took the last fence together. In a great race home Waione beat Maggie Paul by a length and a-half and Xavier and Pikopo were close up next. Betting operations on the Okaia Hurdles were hard to fathom. Gold Bird opened favorite with the pcncillers, but the tote showed Maku carrying most coin. Then Gold Bird eased a little with the loud-voiced fraternity, but they wern't taking any risks with Cairns' mount. First Barrell jumped off with the lead and, fencing beautifully, quickly had his three opponents hard at it to keep him In sight. At four length intervals Gold Bird, Maku and Anemone were chasing the Aucklander hard. Anemone tailed off when half the journey •was completed and First Barreil was still "rolling" along merrily three furlongs from home and looked unbeatable s—if 5 —if there is such a thing on a racecourse; Maku nad been under the whip from the seven furlong post and could not reduce the gac Gold Bird caught the leader at the 'bend and quickly obtained a lead, and then something sen.sationnl happenedF Maku came up that straight a a if he had just taken it into his head to gallop, and, jumping better than Gold Bird at the last fence, gained at every stride, and, drawing level a dozen vards from the finish ran in a winner'bv a bare length. It was a great effort and the way that big horse finished under punishment would have developed the sporting instinct in the heart of a "wowser"! The favorite were winning and tne public setting any amount of "citement for its money and oifife were cheerfully laid on Ladv Lucy's ability to land the wealth attached to the Wanganui Stakes Handicap. Osiris. Sandstream and Sedition were best supported of the others, out practically only two, Lady Lucv and Osiris, carried any considerable amount of wealth. Lanwlorff was responsible for the pace over he first mile. Ladv Lucy and Thlando bemg in the rear.' The favorite was being ridden five furlonsrs from home, but did not. seem to gain much ground. Osiris and Sandstream collared Lnm=dovft before the straight was reached and Outlander nut in a determined challenge. The

; Lucy lan through on the rails. At the [ distance Osiris, Sandstream and Outi lander were racing neck and neck with ! .several others close up, and the favor- : ite, desperately ridden, coming fast. With twenty yards to go Osiris and Out- : lander were leading, but Lady Lucy and Sandstream eaihe again, the former just getting up in the last stride and beating Osiris by a head. Sandstream finished under the judge's box and many thought he had done the deed, but Judge Hartgill was the only man on the course who knew wlia't had won and he did not keep the public waiting one moment, his placing being Lady Lucy, Osiris and Outlandei, in that order.

A finer race could hardly be imagined. Four horses finished almost in a line, the winner coming from a near position, and three lengths would have covered the whole runners. In fairness to the handicapper, Mr. George Morse, it must be mentioned that the racing throughout the two days was the keenest and most closely contested that has ever been witnessed on the course.

TVre was plenty of money for Jolin in the Harrison Handicap, and he was always handy fo the pace-maker, Beacon, "in the straight Bismarck challenged, but the aristocratically-named John easily held his own at the finish. When the tote opened on the Farewell Handicap punters fell over one another to back North-East. Jenkins was in the saddle and it was voted a moral. There wag a (leap of "double" money depending on the race and no liberties were taken with North-East, who raced well up all tie way. Lady Menschikoff threw out a challenge inside the distance, and a fine race home saw the favorite win by a good neck. NorthEast carried th<». steadier of 9st 61b and ran the six furlongs in fine time—lmin 14 l-ssec. The winner paid a very short price but Lady Menschikoff's dividend was a "sweet" one for second place. Bay Paul was taken as far as Wanganui on Saturday and was somewhat knocked about on the trip down. The bay horse went to Dannevirke on Monday morning where he~ joins Clemora. The latter horse has brightened up con•iderably since the Woodville meeting and is a likely starter in the big handicaps at Dannevirke. The success of the favorite in the Stakes Handicap at Wanganui was a severe blow to the straight-out and '"double" layers, the former giving a far better price than the machine returned. One lawn bookmaker, who, it is alleged, has just served three months for vagrancy—ye gods I—in Auckland, failed to satisfy his clients' claims for payment and the police took charge and a sergeant in full warpaint "paid the winner," or, rather, returned investments to the unfortunate ones. The "cronfc" penciller was then favored with police-escort from the course and will be charged at the Police Court later on. There were a number of decent and straight-going pencillers on the ground and it is a shame that their business should be besmirched, and the Turf generally disgraced _ for that matter, by sucE daylight-robbers whom Parliament in its foolish" and hasty moments should have forced upon decent racing clubs and straight-going sportsmen. No denunciation of that intelligence-insulting Gaming Act can be too strong, and those M.P.'s who voted for it should be "asked a question" by all sporting folk when the general election hails in sight again. Tne Dannevirke R.C. autumn meeting takes place, to-day and to-morrow, the principal races this afternoon being the Dannevirke Cup, one mile and a-quarter; Flying Stakes, six 'furlongs; and Tamaki Welter, seven furlongs. A good number of Tocal sports returned from Wanganui on" Monday night, and most report a profitable meeting and an enjoyable Sunday trip up the river.

■ H. Gray will pilot Conquestina at Dannevirke, and Awapuni reports say that the sprinter is in good nick. Mr. J. O'Driscoll brought up Waitapu on Monday afternoon. The big son of Gipsy Grand showed no form at Wanganui, and will probably be given a short spell prior to undergoing schooling tasks. Later on in the season Mr. O'Driscoll should pick up a good stake with him. Winners at Woodville and Wanganui will carry penalties at Dannevirke today as follows:—Hurdles: 101b for first win and 71b for every additional victo"iT. On the flat: 10lb for one win and"Eiil for every additional one. ' In the latter case all horses carrying Bst 101b or over will only put up half penalties. It is stated that Clemora is going well, and the Lepperton horse is sure to carry a lot oi money in whatever races he starts at Dannevirke. Winning jockeys at Wanganui were: C. Jenkins, four winsjy Olliver. two; Telford, two; Coleman, two; Cairns, O'Connell, Emmerson, Monk, Ward, and Hatch, one each.