RACING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 47, 4 June 1910, Page 3

RACING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 4, S—Auckland Racing Club. June 4—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 15, 16—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. June 22, 23—Naipier Park Racing Club. July 7, B—Gisborne R.C. July 16. 20,2&-Wellington Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. New Zealand. June 3—4}reat Northern Hurdle Race. June 4—GTeat Northern Steeplechase. June 4—Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. June 16—Hawke's Bay Hurdle Race. June 22—Napier Cup. July 10—Wellington R.C. Winter Hurdle Race. July 20—Wellington Steeplechase. Australia. July 2—V.R.C. Grand National Hurdla Race. July 9—V.RXJ. Grand National Steeplechase. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Great Northern Steeplechase will be run to-day. Waikaraka has been on the easy list since the Wanganui meeting. The 'Wanganui Steeplechase winner, Jackpot, was withdrawn from the 'Northern Steeple at the beginning of the week. Trainer W. McOonkey now trains Merchantman and Investment at Hawera.

Tommy Wilson is spelling Toanga at .present, and his jumper, Kawhitu, is showing signs of soreness.

The much-discussed question, "What' will D. Maker get if he wins the Derby on Neil Got?" now needs no answer. Lord Kosebery's colt "also started." Full Cry is being pushed along again, and, ibarring accidents, will sport silk at the Hawke's Bay meeting on the loth instant.

Australian reports credit the ex-New Zealander, Ataahua, with great track performances, and he is certain to make a' bold showing in the Victorian Nationals next month

Another of the old-timers, Sandix, is in commission again, and is said to be going as sprightly as ever. It is stated tliat Maori King, who ran so prominently at the Wanganui meeting, will shortly be sent ■across to Australia, and will go into H. Eayner's charge at Eandwick. Sir Frisco, since being gelded, has built u,p nicely, and will probably be more tractable in future.

iAtoother horse that has improved in temper since ibeing operated on is the black horse Mahuta. He shapes fairly •well over the schooling hurdles, and may pick up a stake shortly. For winning at Wanganui Bull worth will he required to put .up 71b extra in the Northern Steeplechase this afternoon.. But Wanganui form is a poor guide, and this scribe expects to see his stablemate, Kiatere, finish in front of the Bulldog gelding in to-day's 'chase. Writing of Kiatere reminds me. W'hat a splendid oM fellow he is! And how he loves the up hill and down dale Ellerslie course. Twice he has led the field home in Auckland's premier steeplechase. In 1905 he won with list up, and in 1907 he won in brilliant style with the steadier of 12st 131b in the saddle. Last year he ran second to €apitol, and it is pleasing to know that the veteran is going better than ever this season, and is likely to give a good account of himself in to-day's race.

Lemberg, winner of the Eipsom Derby, is a colt by Cyllene—Galicia, and, taking into consideration SeU Gow's ante-post ailments, it is more..tljan likely tthat the son of Cyllene started favorite in Wednesday's big race. Neil Gow showed signs of increasing bad temper last season, and yesterday's cable stages that he was troublesome at the post. However, he finished a close fourth in record time. Previous to Lemberg's Derby the best time recorded in the race was 2min 30 4-ssec in Spearmint's year (1906). Lemberg towered the record to 2min 35ygsec in Wednesday's race, and gave B. Dillon his first winning ride in the 1 coveted blue riband contest. I

Concerning the Epsom Derby, Mat Merry, in his anecdotes, discourses in-! teres tingly, and he has a word to say concerning Diomed, the winner of the' first Derby. Diomed was a very unlucky animal, and it is doubtful whether he was ever better than a moderate horse. In the year following his Derby victory he was beaten several times by horses ■which finished behind him in the three-year-old event. He did not sport silk again until he was six years old, when he | won once in seven starts. At the stud his fee was only five guineas, but he sired many illustrious eolts and fillies. When sixteen years of age -he was sold for a paltry fifty guineas, and his new owner, an astute Amurkan, took him to the States and promptly resold him for a thousand. Diomed attained the venerable age of forty years, and was known as the "father" of the Amurkan Turf, the mighty Foxhall being a descendant of Lexington, who was one of Diomed's progeny. _ Sportsmen have' Journeyed from the far ends of the world to witness the running of an Epsom Derby, but happily few had such bad luck as befel an Amurkan sport who crossed the Atlantic several years ago. He reached the Downs all right, but on sitting down to ktneheon in 'one of the boxes he became so engrossed in paying attention to his| "creature comforts" that the important event was decided without his knowing! it. Coming out in a great hurry, he was just in time to see the winning jockey brought back to scale. Quickly he liecame aware of the situation, and after firing a volley of picturesque Yankeeisms? he exclaimed: "I have come tlvree thousand miles to eat cold beef and pickles!" ' Audax made a bold showing in the Century Hurdles, and was the only one capable of reaching Wimmera's flying heels. On Thursday morning the son of Birkenhead put up a fast gallop in company with Elfish, and he is very fit. He jumps in great style, and is certain to run well forward in 'whatever races he contests at Ellerslie.