SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 386, 11 May 1910, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By ".Moturoa.") Tip-top acceptances for Hawera today. How many winners can you pick? Weights for the minor events at Wanganui are due on Friday. Mulga Bill is said to he going great guns, and will score very soon. In honor of the late King Edward, it seems only a fair thing that jockeys should wear crepe arm-hands at Hawera to-day. Golden Loop will carry his new owner's colors at the Egmont meeting, and although the Lupin colt is well looked after, a 'win for the popular Jimmy would he well received. California, for whom a fabulous price was refused last year, is still showing unmistakeable signs of lameness. J can pick a sorry owner! The Hawera-trained Lethean is reported to have made a good recovery from injuries received at Tauhcrinikau, and is standing <up to solid work in good style. A Wellington scribe is responsible for the statement that Charlie Jenkins will pilot Contralto at Hawera. Looks as if they mean business! The Melbourne Cup winner Lord Nolan is at present enjoying a long spell (■lucky horse!), and he should he a greatly improved neddy by the time the spring meetings roll round. The veteran Paritutu is booked to run at Hawera, but recently his form has been too bad for words. If he were only one-half as good as he used to be, it would be a safe bet in the Tangahoe Hurdles. '

That rank disappointment, Formative, has been put into work again after a long spell, 'and it is up to the Seaton Delaval colt to win a raw—he has been a splendidly-bred failure so far. If only one-half the things they are saying of the Marlborough meeting are true, things must have been only middling at Blenheim last week. Tales of "crook" running and fouj riding have been freely voiced, and it is to be hoped that the Egmont stewards will keep their optic* open for "jokes" to-day. The once brilliant Maoriland 'chaser, Up-to-date, now a sorry plodder, is carrying the minimum (or thereabouts) in steeples across the Tasman, and is "also starting" with inglorious consist: ency. The time has come when Up-to-date is out of date. •

"Jerry" O'Driscoll's marvel, Waitapu, will be making liis first appearance in public over the battens at Hawera this afternoon, but so far the Gipsy Grand gelding has shown nothing to make him look a good thing for « hurdle race. One of the best handicapped horses engaged at forthcoming meetings is Ambrosian, .and the daughter of St. Ambrose is said to be in great form at present.

From Hawke's Bay come glowing, accounts of Full Cry's brilliant jumping over big country, and another boom seems to be working up for that horse. Hawke's Bay sports have so many marvels that one always shouts "Pass the salt!" when they let their tongues loose. Full Cry is> getting a trille ancient, any way.

If Avondalc form is anv guide, Mnnapouri must be a cut above the average. On recent form the Soult gelding stands head and shoulders over anything that is engaged at Hawera, and will only have to be well to show up prominently. The Wanganui horse John has been kept right up to the collar, and although he failed at Hastings, he' finished clqgc up to the placed horses each start, and with weaker company opposing he might show to advantage shortly.

Of the Bawke's Bay hurdlers engaged at the Egmont meeting, Paisano ran a very poor race the only time he started at Hastings, but Continuance won at the first attempt, and with 9st 121b in the saddle ran Forest a. close second in the open hurdle race on the second day. Continuance has been .ticked off as a horse worth watching over the small timber.

Gold Seal, who was taken 'Ome to win the Liverpool Grand 'National Steepleno less!—broke down before the race, and consequently could not start. The New Zealand-.bred horse was sold to "Majah"-General Babington, who raced a few noddies in the Dominion three or four years ago. Another Gold Reef gelding, Golden Water, and a failure on the flat, is to be tried at the illegitimate game. It is a pity more of these wasters are not put Over sticks. If they cannot jump they quickly break the part that holds their heads on, and then foolish punters waste no more hard-earned (sometimes) coin on 'em, The thirst for information led one Empire City sporting writer into Queen Street recently. It was announced that disqualified horseman Billy Young was to pilot Jack Pot in the Wanganui Steeple. Strange to say, the ownertrainer of the horse in question hadn't Young in his mind, and, in fact, had engaged J. Parramore for the task. To cap all, the Wanganui committee scowled heavily at Young's petition for reinstatement, and the incident closed with a loud bang. According to "The Squire," Bob Patterson is prepared to back Penates to beat Bobrikofl' 'at level weights over six furlongs or any part of it for a substantial sum. Granted that the Finland gelding is sluggish over the first halfmile, this scribe cannot forget the day he won at Hastings with 9st 111b up and the clock read lmin 14sec. Penates would have to he very well to beat "Bobby." A well-known turfite a few years ago owned an animal as to whose pedigree he was doubtful, and wrote to the breeder asking for the same. That gentleman had lost money by the horse, and his replv was short and sweet:— "Dear Sir,—Your horse was sired by Young Hercules and 'damned' by his late owner.—Yours truly, ." The death of King Edward not only removes a wise and tactful monarch, hut robs the world of its most noble sportsman. It was only fitting that our King should take his place in that branch of sport which has been rightly named "the Sport of Kings," and at ail times it afforded patrons of the Turf the greatest gratification that one hi so high a position should set an example for all sportsmen to follow. The King was not so successful with his racehorses as his loyal subjects might have wished, hut a victory for the Royal colors was always the signal for a hearty outburst of cheering. He won the Derby with Persimmon, Diamond Jubilee, and Minora; the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase with Ambush II.; and many other big races fell to his horses. It was only fitting that His Majesty's horse Witch of the Air won the Spring Plate at Kempton Park on Friday last, the day the King died, and the "cables tell us that the victory evoked tremendous enthusiasm and long-sustained

cheering. The Empire has lost a great Kino; and the sporting world its greatest sportsman. It is with regret that I have to touch on tlio death of .Air. Stuart McGuinness. This popular .sportsman was well known throughout the Dominion, and always took a prominent part in all forms *f sport. He raced m«Jiv 'horses in his time, and always went out to win. Waiuku, winner of the New Zealand Cup and many other ,hig rneea, was hj» best winner. All sportsmen will join in tendering the deepest sympathy to ' Stuart's" relatives in their 'sad bereavement.