RACING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 41, 28 May 1910, Page 3

RACING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 3, 4—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 3, 4, B—Auckland Racing Club. June 15, 16—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. June 22, 23—Naipier Park facing Club. July 7, B—Gisborne R.C. July 10, 20, 23—Wellington Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. June 3—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 4—Great Northern Steeplechase. Julv 2—V.R.C. Grand -National Hurdle Race. July O—V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. ■ England. June I—The Derby. , TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Great Northern Hurdle race next Friday.

True Shot was off color at Wanganui. Overtime leaves his best gallops oi the tracks. The "heads" will have nothing out Wimmera for Auckland next week. Old Oryx was running strongly in second place in the Grandstand Handicap when he got into the second fence from home and threw out heavily, breaking his back.

The Bar Vons had slightly the best of things at Wanganui, but the victories | of Waimoko and Fauuus must have) spoilt their innings on Thursday. j Faunus scored a brace of runaway victories at the-Wanganui meeting, and the Officer gelding is a long way too good for hacks'. He would shake the ■best, of the gallopers up for six furlongs,, and he leaves the mark like a snot from a gun. The tale goes that Nyland is a real smasher and can beat Boanerges. If the former had started on Thursday he would not have paid "thirty bob." The dogs were barking it in Webbtown, and the horse was very promptly scratched. There was no money for Kaitere at Wanganui. but the veteran 'chaser showed great dash in the Grandstand Handicap. He jumped splendidly, and was running on strongly at the end of two and a half miles. The longer journey at Ellerslie on Saturday should suit him better.

For sheer grit the two performances of Golden Loop during the week are worth mentioning. Mr. J. Smith's colt was giving Faunus lengths start each time, and Bob Barlow tested him thoroughly. The s'on of Lupin finished up as straight as a die and took his punishment like a racehorse. Straight going is a thing we all admire, and this owner should be rewarded with a win very shortly.

Waitoto is a slashing big fellow, and ran prominently eacli time he sported silk. He appeared to be made rather too much use of, but probably he runs better when out in front. He wasi ill trouble at the home turn on Thursday, but finished close up. I pick him to "catch" a good mile race in the next few starts.

Clemency went out well backed on Tuesday, and was reported to be carrying the support of the stable. He ran sourly, and could not be induced to gallop a yard. Dick Johnson was so disgusted that he railed the horse home immediately.

What was wrong with Gol'd Bird at Wanganui? On the strength of his first day's' showing the Loveshot gelding opened at a short price in the May Hurdles. He was then knocked right back in the betting, and several Ikeys were laying "your own price" against him. In the race he dropped right back in the first furlong, and did not improve his position afterwards. It certainly looked as if his rider was "'short of a gallop" going along the back of the cours'e. On tk' strength of Wednesday's bold showing, Clemora went out almost levpl favorite with Mendip for the Empire Handicap. The start was delayed to let the tote rake in more shekels, arid the horses wore kept waiting nearly half an hour at the barrier. Lethean was lashing out promiscuously, and Clemora stopped a couple of beauties. Deeley rode Clemora a very nice race, and s'lie finished just outside a place. jSTo doubt the knocking about at the start upset his chances considerably.

Waitapu jumped carefully each time he sported silk, and half a mile from home he was going as well as anything in the May hurdles. When the pace was cracked on he seemed to falter at the last two fences, and although lie made up a lot of ground running to the home turn he was well settled in the sprint up the straight. Playmate paid a false price in the May 'Hurdles. The Stepniak gelding looked the picture of health, and was Wjiiig as well as anything on the tracks ■prior' to the meeting. He was not produced the first day. and was consequently fresher than the horses which had had a gruelling two and a quarter miles' gallop on Tuesday. When the barrier went up Telford took him to the front, and he was never headed. Xavier came with a late run in the straight, but Aorangi, who had been running second or third all the way, turned it up at the' distance. Aorangi looks well, and should be all the better for his racing this week.

There was plenty of money for Tarn Glen on Thursday', when the St. Paul gelding had the services of Ben, Deeiey. He was on the rails all the way. and showed dear of the Opposition just before turning for home. Deeley did not waste a yard at the 'bend, and whe* called upon at the distance, Tain, for a moment, answered gamely, and it looked a aoo'd thing for him. But the effort was only spasmodic, and in a flash Strathmoira had headed him and Waimoko in a wild rush, headed all, and ran in a len'Eftli winner. When the hookies opened on the Bal«nwnie Handicap tltpy' found it hard to pick a favorite. Stratlnnoira (Jenkins) was well supported. Then Research, on whom Freddy Jones had the mount, was rushed. Tarn (ih-n. with Deeley up, came into the market, and the Bar Vons' were just preparing to lay long odds against the other runners' when a few cute commissioner-; buzzed round and filled them in> with Waimoko money at a good price. Waimoko was "the pea." and the knowing 'peneillers for once fell i:: hart Iv.

Reversals of form were painfully evident at the meeting, but .perhaps the most glaring of all was that of the hurdle horse Tffaharanui. On Tuesday Mahavanni slarted a red-hot favorite. carrying more than the two next best backed' ones in the race. The black moved off in line, but at once tailed off. He did not improve his position m the first mile, and Cochrane could not get

, him within fifty yards of the leaders until they had passed the judge's box. It was a shocking defeat. In the Rata Hack Hurdles on Thursday he kept his 'position throughout. True enough, Cochrane was "into him with the whip" at every furlong post, but still he keptj handy, just about third, and not more than'a couple of lengths away from the leader, Woolloomooloo. The latter was not driven along strongly enough between the last two jumps, and Chase Mab went up to first place. Maharamii came through at the bend and got the best of a "punishing finish by a bare nose. Of course the stewards took a look .into things, and it was a mighty long look, too, and the eventually gave the" order to "pay the winner." No doubt the stewards- heard more -Khan the man on the course, and were in a better position to judge the rights' and wrongs of the case. -No one begrudges Mr. Foreman a win, but the:fact cannot be .overlooked that his horse r<ui like Maharanui the "slow coach" on Tuesday, and like Maharanui "the ex-| press" on Thursday. Probably the finest, looking hurdler | sent out at Wanganui was the Definition horse Woolloomooloo. A slashing big bay. of a hands'ame shade, and with beautiful neck and finely proportioned throughout, he was greatly admired. He , jumps slowly, but runs up fast between ids fences, and with better riding on Thursday he might have been returned ' a winner. He should do best, in his present condition, over short courses, : but. as it is stated that he was in very poor condition when landed in New Zealand a few weeks ago, I am prepared to - see him show great improvement in a '< month or two.

Heard on the "outside" bookies' enclosure: "Here y'are, blokes. A start in life for five bob. Ten pound to five bob anything not taken. Think or it! Ten pound! Five for a suit of clothes and five to start a farm! Come on, boys, or you'll get crowded out again." But the punters were finding it hard to pick "singles" in the big fields', and "doubles" were not rushed very violently. Leolanter had more than a fair share of the bad hick, and the chestnut struggled gamely into a place in the last race on Thursday. The Handsome Jack gelding Serenity, in F. Tilley's stable, is a fine cut of a horse. He was hardly tuned up at Wanganui, but may show up at Otaki. Despite great track gallops, Royal Marine shaped poorly each start, liis connections supported him, and he was by no means a "dead marine." Maori King was produced in great nick at the meeting, and there was no dou'bt about his brilliancy when he gave St. Bill a couple of lengths start and a! hollow beating in the straight on Thuriday. St. Bill ran the distance right out, as the time recorded, 1.15 2-5, proved. Mr. C. Major and Deeley on Emblem each day, but the best the daughter of Field Battery could do was' to run third in the Borough Handicap, and that race seemed to take all the steam out of her for the meeting. Sir Antrim is coming on with every gallop, and may be about ready for the | Otaki gathering.

The Rata Hack Hurdle Race was a chapter of accidents. Nieotine was right up with the leaders when she fell at the first obstacle, and in rolling in front of Merry Lawn, who landed on top of her. Merrie Lawn was kicked and thrown heavily. At the next jump Beeline hit very liard, and iLyford was having bad luck, as his l mount, Oryx, in the Steeplechase the same afternoon turned turtle. Two spills in one day is about enough for the greatest enthusiast.

There was plenty of money for St. Bill on Thursday, and the Wanganui horse made the pace a cracker from the jump. His colors were still in the van at the distance, and the race looked all over, when Maori King rattled up and "on ted" the good thing.

Bridge was' ridden by a stable lad in the Empire Handicap, and after going half a mile had tailed right off. ParaDle, who was bracketed with Bridge, carried a ton of lead on his back. The midget, Kemp, must be a long wav short of 7.7, and it didn't seem wise policy to carry so much dead weight. Still, there may have been a reason for it. Eh what?

Following is the list of principal winning owners at the Wanganui meeting: E. .7. Watt, £410; Hon. J. D. Ormond. £S80; A. Ellingham, .£350: A. F. Douglas, £225; G. Castles, £200: J. H. Prosser, £14o: Mr. Highden, £125; J. Dela nev, £80; F. Pres'ton, £80; Owen Caldwell, £80: J. Foreman. £80; Noel Wilson, £SO; J. Smith, £3O.

Winning joekevs at the meeting were: A. Olliver (2), F. D. Jones (2). A." Julian. W. Wood, C. Cress: B. Deelev, H. Grav. T. Pine, R. Young. C. Cochrane, H Telford and L. Wilson (1 each).