SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 55, 26 August 1911, Page 7

SPORTING

i RACING FIXTURES. Sept. 6 and 7 —Marton J.C. Annual. Sept. 13 —Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase. 14 and 15 —Ashburton R.C. Spring, ■apt. 20 and 23—Avondale J.C. Spring. Sept. 23 and 25—Otaiki R.C. Spring. Sept 28 and 29—Wanganui J.C. Spring. EGMONT-WANGAMJI MEETING. (Notes by "Moturoa.") Bright spring weather made the Eg-mont-Wanganui Hunt ClHb's meeting, held on the Wanganui racecourse ou Thursday, a delightful outing. The absence of the tinkle of the tote bell and the raucons voice of the human oddspurveyor, far from spoiling the gathering, made it a charming one in all respects. There was practically no letting. The crowd went there to see horses run and jump, and not to gamble. The horses, good and bad, were all triers, and things came as near the sportsman's ideal as one may hope to see in this wicked world. It is true that there Tcere reputed bookmakers on the course. It is just as true that there were twice as many police, uniformed and plainclothed, present as there were bookmakers. And in addition, the utter fairness ol the whole thing; the genuine racing of the horsemen and horses, and the free-from-trouble feeling which prevailed amongst the crowd, left one content to enjoy the sport without desire for wagering. There was a fair attendance, and the only fly in the ointment was the paucity of the fields in two or three races. One event in particular, the Hunt Club Cup, was poorly supported, only two runners sporting silk. No doubt the top-weight, Cavil, frightened many out of the contest, but as it happened j the favorite fell. One would have I imagined that the members of the Eg-mont-Wanganui Hunt Club would have seen to it that the coveted trophy was not to be won without a spirited contest, j The splendid cup which goes to the i winner is well worth winning, apart from [ the honor which attaches to the feat. The beautifully laid-out grounds in the reiar of the Wanganui grandstand never looked fresher or brighter than on Thursday. . The ponds reflected back the gallydecprated tea-kiosks, the usually haughty . I white swans scavengering' briskly every-! ■where.. .The cool pine trees in the back-1 ground added charm to the scene, and , one could not help contrasting the peace- j ' ful scene with the usual bustle and din of the bigger meetings. The hon. secretary, Mr. Selby Morton, had everything [ in apple-pie order, and it is pleasing to know; fliat tlie—gathering promises to p'Ajn out fi financial success. One thing which, might be noted by Hunt Olubs and " other clubs holding non-abetting meetings, is the fact that there being, practically no betting to do the public would like to see the races run ,pff qujeker and not dragged out over a long afternoon as at a totalisator gathering. Three-charters of an hour is just ten or .'fifteen minutes too long an interval between races, and the public would appreciate an effort to hustle things along briSkly, and sustain the interest. There were many familiar South Taranaki faces ait the gathering, and the boisterous greetings one heard on all sides allowed that the gathering was in a great measure a meeting of old friends. Proceedings opened -with the Hack Hurdle, Race, and after an extra busy scratching-pen had ceased to operate, but two runners—the Waverley-trained Ambergris and Mikehau were left in. 'Ambergris carried wool and bandages on his rear hocks enough to stock a veterinary hospital, and appeared to be very ifcender in his stand-upons. Mibehaut an aged Fisher gelding, was no class, and, forgetting that jumping was in the game, fell early. Ambergris jumped nicelv and cantered home the winner of a soft contest. Run, Star Lass and seven others dropped out of the Ladies' Necklace, and of the quintette which faced the starter Karpara was a popular fancy. After Laatafps had led for half a mile, Karpara ran to the -front, and clapping on the pace soon had the field spread out. Another round and the positions were unchanged. "It wa« a cake-walk," they said. But Karpara took off too soon at the hen-coops, running out of the straight, and fell to rise no more. Laatafos was left with a bi-r lead, which he maintained to the finish from Tolstoi, Myra, Daisy Queen and Anchorage, who made more or less belated arrival in that order. Mr. C. O'Reilly, the rider of Karpara, escaped with a shaking, but the horse, whose injuries included a broken I'aek, was despatched per bullet. The Open Hack Race brought to light some rather more raey-looking animals, including the well-known performers over short courses, Taft and Ladv Mildred. Hie former, with Arthur Olliver up, was a warm order, hilt n. good word was spoken for Maori Maid (Sylvia Park—' Potanawahia), who was reported to have scampered over four furlongs in 50sec. the previous morning. The eight runners ! were well behaved at the post, but when . Mr. Skipwith released the barrier Olliver left his less practised rivals I badly and liad Taft out a couple of I lengths before the others took a tumble j that the race had started. Erica was I the only one to get near Taft in the I early stages of the race, but Lady Mildred and Maori Maid made up a heap of ground in the kust bit. Taft romped) home two lengths ahead of Erica, with Lady Mildred and Maori Maid next.

Another small field started in the Hunters' Hurdle Race, Mr. G. Hirst piloting' Whimper. Wisdom led for half a mile, and then Whimper ran up. The pair raced together to the lour furlong post, and the old horse then came away and won easily by a couple of lengths. Xcscot shaped poorly and was four lengths (behind Wisdom. Cannongate's jockey was busy haviig lunch or something and the field started before he reached the post. The Second Hack Race was a decent "go." Taft put up lOlbs extra, making list (ilbs, hut the public were strongly of opinion that he would win. OUiver again showed to advantage at the terrier, and he hopped the big bay out clear of everything. Erica worried him in the next furlong and quickly retired beaten. Taft was quickest into the straight, and Olliver kept him moving smartly. It was just as well, because Xodder brought Lnflior Hay along with a great run from the distance and the favorite just lasted long enough to win by a neck. Lady Mildred covered a deal of ground at the I turn, and showed a turn of speed when straightened up for the run home. Grandee, a big awkward black colt by Merriwee—Armada, and Lady Jean (Kil-cheran—Merry-go-round), Tnmakoa and Maori Hide shaped poorly. Many flatracers are flat-catchers ait the best of times! Of the fourteen carded for the Hunt Club Cup a dozen pulled out, leaving only Cavil (last year's winner) and Moonlight to battle for the silver-ware. Cavil is out on his own—barring accidents —and his presence probably accounted for the others' absence. It was a queer race. Neither horseman exhibited any dcire to make the pace, but I Mootil'srht would not ibe restrained, and i the old black mare ambled along iu I front of the "hot stuff" for a mile and a ( half. The funeral pace improved neither I horse's fencing, and as they ran out of | the straight the third time Cavil was j struggling to increase the. pace. No doubt his rider was waiting for a four

hirioug dash, but it never came, for Caril turned turtle at the hen-coop and Moonlight made the pace for home. Mr. A. Gordon very smartly climbed into the , saddle and sent Cavil after the leader,. but the fall had taken the wind out of | the horse, and he jumped straight up [ and very 'big at the remaining obstacles, Moonlight winning by the length of the straight. Had there been a machine open on the race the winner would have paid the limit—and thus do these "morals" blow out and leave us lamenting, I The half-dozen runners in the Ladies' j Bracelet included Whimper, who was putting up a lolb penalty, making his load 12st 111b; Euroto, a shapely brown mare by Eurocyldon out of Snip's dam; Laatafos, Wisdom, -Cannonshot, Aliped and a sorry iveed named Licensee. The latter was a joke with an aeroplane tail and his trial for the mile was something in the region of omin. Cannonshot led to the home turn from Euroto, and then Whipmer came through and won easily. Laatafos was third, Euroto fourth arid "the. joke" round at the three furlong post, j Of the horses seen out at the gathering Whimper and Ambergris were out on their own amongst the jumpers, and Taft and Labor Day the most promising of the flat-scramblers. Maori Maid was unlucky and Euroto was not ready. The others were not worth mentioning. .It was a jolly crowd which wended its way from the course that afternoon. On all sides one heard: "How much did you lose? What'! A bob at the refreshment booth! Well, its a grand thing to go home not losing, isn't it?" And so it was.