SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 67, 9 September 1911, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Glorious weather prevailed for the Marion Racing Club's spring meeting. Consequently IUIO attendance was a record one, and with big fields to provide food for speculation it is not surprising to note that over .-020,000 was passed through the machines, as against£lo,ooo last year. As far as the club was concerned, everything in the garden was lovely, but from the sportsman's view much was left to be desired. For a club ofsiicli standing—for did it not survive while mighty Rangitikei went down?— 'lie appointments are the poorest imaginable. The old-fashioned hand machines might well be replaced with silent recorders; the, grandstand is too low, and the stewards', press and jockeys' rooms are the quintessence of the tabloid system. It is marvellous how -much can be crowded into so small a space. The idea, of posting a list of places drawn at the kirricr is a good one, but one has to tramp all over the place to see the various boards. The riders' names might be posted up sooner than at present, and in more ways than one this rising dub must get a hustle on 'if it is to be worthy of the consideration shown to it by the Racing Commission. The secretary and his helpers worked well; the luncheon was very fail--well served and smartly, too; the booths were well conducted —I know, for 1 tried 'cm. Under the circumstances the club came out of the ordeal very well. Their success should urge them to look to their appointments, and especially to their totalisators, before the next meeting. The success of the Hon. .7. D. Ormond's lmiw.s was well received. Wnodhey, Vega and Altear won on Wednesday, and Morecoinbe ran into second place and Altear notched a third in other events. Woodhey has a queer action. In her prelim, she "scratches" as if as stiff as a crutch, and when the barrier lifts she i.s always near the rear of the Hitting in the first quarter. ■ In both her races at Morton she came from a long Vray hack when headed for home, and with ordinary luck might have won the double. Altear was lucky to beat Gold Battery the first day and is just about a moderate sprinter. Gold Battery was somewhat interfered with in this race. Altear could not pace it with Mr. D. Buick's horse in the Final Scurry. Moreeo'nibe was messed about terribly in the '■S'liorfs Handicap on Wednesday, and at the finish was rushing through* the field in a remarkable manner. Everything else seemed to be standing still, and the winning post came just in time for Rangitaua. With Freddie Jones in the saddle the next dav the big bay son (if Birkenhead never gave his opponents the slightest chance in the Telegraph Handicap and bolted in, hard held. Vega only made one appearance at the meeting and won her race from end to end.

Enroot) won both hurdlc-mees in dashing style. At every fence the bav son of Ku'roel.vdpn beat his opponent* baillr; and on tho flat there was nothing to touch him. Despite a rise of Ifllhs lie won almost as easily 011 the second day as on the first. No doubt the 'track was very fast, but the w:ty Euroco reeled off the twelve furlongs and jumped six flights of hurdles in 2min 4(isec" nfust have impressed the hiiiidicapper very much, and the horse will have a good weight to carry at the Wanganui meetTrainer J. T>cachey turned out Kuroco very fit. and although I do not imagine he would run out a solid two suiles hurdle race at present he eouM easily have gone 011 another couple of furlongs 011 Thursday. The hor«e's prnisM have been Ming pretty eonaislenflv mi this column of late, and this scrilv reckons he would heat, anything at prosent ov'er a mile and a-lialf. 1

Wirral's rider tool; the wrong' cfcnit'se in the fsr«t 'Hack Strophe "isisrl if is ImacconntnWe how j-.ity rider-enfold b'liinihr in-'this resjwt iit Martmi. '>latairaJIv Inekers of (lie favorite ''fair!' 'lh'rng?."' On the second day Wirral set oftt to crack up ( lie Held and win goirig so : well linlf*:i-3>il]o from home that ! tho r:tce looked all over. But ily made up ground from this point and \nA ii]i with the pace-maker befori* hinring for III)!!):'. Wirral was badly done' am! 'lifcule no fight of it, the Auckland wanning by nearly IhtTf-a-dozcn lengths. The crowd behind Wirral i]ro]i-' pe<l a. fair parcel this time, And I dijlri't'. we many sympathisers. " " • A man- that Caught' tlie 'eve'''at the'. Kgmbnt-Wanganui hunt meeting _wa<> La-.' l:or 1):iy. and she ran second in tlie Maiden .and milisi <|u;-ntly. scored a hollow victory in the Flying Handicap. Tli' six furlongs were left I>;,>l>uid in. l'.l.") 2-5. mi the performance was quite a meritorious one. . Labor Day'is'a three-, year-old (illy .by Soult, from a San jfy-Jin niai-e. ami wants for nothing as regards .size. conformation or breeding. ■ The New Zealand Gup candidate. Mnlga UiJI. started twice at (he meeting. but did not get on his, feet .smartly enough to have a chance at any part oj the races. St. Toncy was badly beaten the li.rst <!< iv and was sent home. Meudi]i linMieii well back each day, but would be better suited Jiy a, Ipugcr course. It. c.a-, stated on tho eve of the. meeting that, the lliglulen horses, Kiloster.i ami Bronze. had gone off color, and this was certainly proved by their in|]i!l'cr,ent> running. I'en Deelcy roue, l'ror\ze .and G. Ksr.merson had the. mount, of sti l'i each day. . • Simla x was practically out making the pace a!! the way each day. and ran well, only being defeated in the .last hit. The rating should .do the big fullow.good, find he .should make a big showing, at Vangainri. .. (If th" AI iiiU'ii neddies- seen out-at the gathering Crown -Pearl.and Pikitacapa attracted a good deal <)f attention,Mr. Jervey George was very .--eonjident about the former's chances anil Arthur OHiver was engaged to ride the gelding.Although beaten, il was not by lnuch, and 1 this place in a field of eighteen was not too had. Grown Pearl should do better before the season closes. Pikitaeapa did not show the form mentioned by Ila vera tiv.ck-watehcrs, and w«s well beaten each day. Si. lii-es did not get away veil the first day, but broke his duck in the Welttr on Thursday,-pay-ing the biggest dividend at the minting. A weil known Wangamti trainer had .Co on. th:' winner and lie drew .n tidy 'sum —in fact, more than the stake was worth. A clo( 11j) ro|» named Tirce was allowed to start in the Electric on Wed- , nesday. Ills nomination was nothing but a direct insult to the club. Tirce'hails from Uliakime or thereabouts, and couldn't gallop a mile in .'tmin. He was absolutely the roughest thing I've seen wearing a horse's hide, and would be "turned down' by the inhabitants of the zoo if placed on the menu at feedingtime. JJonnie P.oy was ridden by his trainer, T. George, each day, and failed to run up to his private reputation. Kmbrocation can flv like the wind, but lake- '..1!-- to going. There's the