SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 306, 20 May 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

PACING FIXTURES. | May 20, 24 —Takapuna J.C. May 24, 25—Wanganui J.C. Winter. May 24, 25—North Otago J. C. Winter. June 2, 3 —Dunedin J. C. Winter. June 3, 5, 7 —Auckland R.C. Winter. June 3, s—Otaki5 —Otaki Maori R. C. Winter. June 21, 22—Hawke's Bay J.C. Winter. June 28, 29—Napier Park R.C. Winter. July <5, 7—-Gisborne R.C. Winter. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Takapuna winter meeting opens to-day. Stourton is a rare mud-lark. Wanganui sports were heavy winners over Euroco on Wednesday. Delegate has been jumping grandly at Ellerslie and should win a race soon. Con the Shaughraun was unlucky at Hawera, but is very fit, and should repay watching. Jack Delaval failed to go under the pony standard when measured at Takapuna this week. The crack horsemen, D. Maher and F. Wootton, opened the ball with four wins apiece for the first week of the English racing season. As is usual on the eve of a big meeting, winners were hard to pick at Hawera, and it is just possible that more than one of the defeated favorites will shape better at Wanganui next week. Mr. T. Eva has Tetikura in; good fettle and the big colt shaped well at Egmont. If he does not do much on the flat he should turn out a good hurdler later on. There is still plenty of money for thoroughbreds in 'Stralia. Recently 3000 guineas was refused for Jacamar, the two-year-old full-brother to Poseidon. Passive is becoming an ill-mannered young lady and makes good use of her heels. Quite recently Don Carlos stopped one of her heels and wa9 laid hora-de-combat (as hifalutin' scribes say) for several days. Had his last fall a few days ago—that grand old horse Liberator. Running on his owner's farm at Kaituna, "Old Lib" fell over a cliff and was killed. In his time he won Grand Nationals, Great Northern Hurdles and Steeples; Wanganui and Dunedin Cups, and score* of other races. He was gifted, with great staying powers, and could, jump anything with safety—barring cliffs! A few Maoris arranged a sports meeting near the Thames the other day, and the programme included a couple • or» flutters for Maori prads. A John Hop put in an appearance and told Brown Brother to call the gathering off... But the natives were not to be donacut of their sport and, it is alleged, asked the intruder how he would like a dip. in the neighboring river. He retreated in haste, and as a result the Maoris were, brought before a magistrate and charged with running an unregistered race meet-, ing. The bench decided that the affair, was a harmless sports gathering, auid not a race meeting, whereat: Browii ; Brother went on his way rejoicing. u. A Northern scribe consider that Cloudy Morn is sure to beat 1! hara at present weights, and quotes .'vvondale running to prove his case. There, Julian, who rode Cloudy Morn, had:-tbe misfortune to break a stirrup leather withe first mile, and with that in made a good finish of it with Mahara. In forthcoming events Cloudy Morn is set to meet his conqueror on pounds better terms, and whatever way you look, at it has all the better of the deal. ' Electrakoff is now in top form, arid will be given a run in the Empire Handicap at Takapuna. Merry Lawn was not started at Hawera, but will be on the scene at Wanganui next week. 7 j One of the first arrivals at Wanganui for the forthcoming meeting was LDch Fyne, who came down on Thursday. The 'chaser bears a well-trained appearance. j Smilax was produced in great heart at the Egmont meeting, and rofnped home in the Shorts. On the first -day many people found fault with the officialplacing of Piriwai in front of Smilax in the Tawhiti Scurry, but it waS close thing, and only'the man: inHhe? box could judge under the circumstances; St. Amans is spoken of as an' im'proved horse, and will be well supported at Takapuna.- • ;! •' How have the mighty fallen! Cruiser'; a Feilding Cup winner, and Goodfoi-m (Formosan—Wepener) are at present companions in the elevating pastime-6f dragging a cab round Palmerston North. I « The ex-jockey, J. Barden, docs 'not want for patrons now that he has- set up as a trainer. Recent addition^''ttri his string include the high-priced' Master—Lady Grafton colt which cost "Mr,' J. Baron" 2100 guineas, and the same owner's Posi tana—River Trent colt, which was bought for the trifle of 1800 guineas. In company with Dorando the 'chasei: Eurus has been jumping the big country at Riccarton in his usual dashing style, but it is not vet decided whether he will go to Wanganui for the Steeple. Dorando will have many friends the first time he shapes between the flags. Gay Lawless was confidently supported by a small coterie of knowing ones on Wednesday. The daughter of Lethe is said to have beaten Rauparaha eivcVy morning for weeks past, and that was good enough for hack scurries. One of the most popular wins at Hawera was that of Sandy Paul, who was landed fit at the post by Percy Johnson. Gray took 110 risks with the chestnut, keeping him in front practically all the way, and probably those tactics were responsible for Master Sylvia's defeat. Winning riders at Hawera were: Whittaker (2), Williams, 11. Gray. McMillan, Jenkins, Wilson. Price. Coleman. Lowe, Meagher. Monk, and Messrs.' Audrey and R. Vivian, one win each. Euroco scored a runaway victory in the Tongahoe Hurdles, but with a'rise of 17Ibs anil heavy going the Wanganui horse had to strike his colors to Mallei and Patrolms on the second day. Mallet jumped fairly well, and his superior pace told in the run home. Usually when a hurdler is nominated for the Great Northern and other big hurdle races the handicappers rate him highly in hack races, but Torbelle must be accounted very well in the Khitoke Hack Hurdles at Wanganui with' only 9st 101b against his name. Tlie sensation of the Egmont meeting! was the disqualification of R. Barlow. Whether the punishment was merited or not this scribe cannot say, but the fact means that any number of race-goers who follow the game very closely and whose opinions may be accepted as unbiassed are positive that Barlow has been wronged. Personally, the writer has always judged Harlow to be the straightest-going horseman in the province. a.nd the idea that he would de-' libcrately pull Mr. Smith's horse is ridiculous, taking into consideration their very cordial relations. "Barlow was never a man to punish :l beaten horse, and it is bad luck if his humane treatment of Master Sylvia—always an honest little horse—on Wednesday last is the means of standing him down for twelve months. Much sympathy has been expressed with Barlow, and it is to be hoped that the matter will not rest in the present very unsatisfactory state.