SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 195, 26 November 1910, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Nov 20 30— Takapuna T.C. Spring Nov 30. Dec. 1-Feilding J.C. Spring l)ec. 7, B—Woodville J.C. Spring Dec. g—Waitara R.C. Annual Dec. 20, 27—Taranaki Christmas Meeting COMING EVENTS. Nov. 30—Feilding Stakes Dec. 20—Auckland Cup WOOTTOVS RECORD. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, November 24. Wootton rode three winners at Manchester. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa"). Takapuna races to-day. The Feilding meeting opens on Wednesday. John is galloping well, and should score very soon. Provocation will probably make his reappearance in the Feilding Stakes. Golden Loop will have to improve on Ellerslie form to have a chance at Takapuna. Mr. H. Eva's team for Feilding will probably comprise Uhlando, Miss Advance, Plantation and Te Tikura. Tui Cakobau is partial to the Takapuna course, and won three hurdle races there last season. Waitara acceptances close at 0 p.m. tonight. Those interested should note that the Waitara telegraph ofiice closes at 8 o'clock. Omitted from the telegraphed list of acceptances for the Takapuna meeting:— Maiden Hurdles, Bonnie Jean, 9st; Melrose Handicap, Watch Chain, 7st 121bs. The veteran sprinter Lupulite has seen seven summers, but he is still a formidable proposition over a short course, as he proved when he dashed off with a four-furlong flutter in 48y 2 sec. on Wednesday. He generally carries welter weights, hut still wins in his turn. Out of 17 starts last season the chestnut won five times, was second five times, third on two occasions, and was only five times unplaced. An Auckland paper hazards the opinion that there is more money lost on mining shares in the northern city every year than on the racecourses, and still the "Stiggins" fraternity gamble cheerfullv in their "respectable" way and howl about the gambling on running neddies. Apparently backing one's judgment of the pace of a thoroughbred is sinful, while putting money into an unknown "wHd-cat" mine (in the hopes of a rise) is perfectly honest. In the latter case the coin is invested in the dark, and the gambler sits tight in a musty office and awaits results." Contrast this with the sportsman who breathes God's fresh air on a holiday; views the horses, noting their condition (or want of it); their preliminary gallops, etc., and then forms his opinions, and has confidence enough j in his own judgment to back it with] coin of the realm. That old battler. Grand Slam, won a race at Timaru on Thursday. It is just five months since he won his last race, at Dunedin,. and before that he hadn't done any good for a very considerable time. He is one of the occasional sort. Irish Rifles figures in the Hack Hurdles at Woodville, and in awarding the big chestnut list lib the handicapper appears to have taken no risks with him. A dozen horses have paid up for the Feilding Stakes, and although many of the crack sprinters are not to be found on the list, there is still sufficient quality represented to ensure a good contest. If Provocation goes to the post he is sure to boom, but whether he can be got back to his great three-vear-old form is a question which Wedne'sday's race will decide.