SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 3, 28 June 1911, Page 8

SPORTING

IJAXiIITIKEI RACLNI! CLL'li. By Telegraph.—Press Association. WulliaHton, Yesterday. A deputation from the Rangitikei Racing Club waited on Mr. Buddo to-day to prote.st against, the decision of the Racing Commission. which moans the extinction of the el lib. The elul) was established in IS,")."), and a few year« ago expended £BOOO on the purchase of land and improvements, it had an overdraft of £3OOO, for which two gentlemen were guarantors. The deputation urged that it waa obviously gros.s injustice to abolish this club, and at the same time recommend the creation of two new clubs. It asked that the club should at least be given an opportunity of reducing its liability, and suggested that next year the races of Marton Club should be run at Bulls, the proceeds to go to the Rangitikei Club. Mr. Buddo said be had considerable difficulty in commenting on the commission's report, as it had again gone before the Crown law advisers to see if it was in conformity with the Act. He thought lie would have to follow the reeommendation.s of the commission, as the Act was practically mandatory, buti lie would obtain advice to see if he could! impose any conditions. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Napier Park winter meeting opens at (ireenmeadows to-day, the principal events being the Napier Steeplechase and Stewards' Stakes. The presence of Ei Dorado, Te Arai, and Mount Cook in the big country event \Vill invest that raeu with more than ordinary interest, and other events have filled well.

Provocation is now in steady work, and if all goes well will be given a run in the principal flat races at the Canterbury (I rand National meeting. Captain Bell jumped nicely at Hastings and his meeting with Espartero in hack hurdle races at Greenraeadows should be worth watching'. Projectile appears to have caught it hot in the Stewards' Stakes to-day, and it ia doubtful whether the hack is within a stone of Dreadless over the distance.

A good word has been spoken for St. Aidan as a hurdler, but the son of Birkenhead ricked his shoulder rather badly last week, and has been thrown out of work temporarily. Some promising rising two-year-oH» recently named in Auckland are Prince Soult (Soult-—Lady Hester), Robert tho Bruce (Scottish King— Moorooroo), and Devastation (San Francisco—Dismay). The last-named is a particularly appropriate appclation. Hold Circle is now in good form, and such a consistent horse should soon run out of hack company. Tho Kacing Commission report is just now causing heaps of trouble, ind the penalised or wiped-out clubs are very wrath. But good may come of thia evil. Already sportsmen are inquiring the names of the M.s'P. who voted for this drastic "reform," and there will be some warm work when the reformers face their angry constituents. The need of the National Sporting League should now be evident to the greatest dullard, and if the turf-followers of Patea and Marton (of this province) do not join the band of active "sports" in a body they deserve to be kept out and deprived of a sportsman's amusements.