SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 7

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. Jan. -20, 22—Fox ton R.C. Annual. Jan. 20, 22, 24 —Wellington R.C. Summer. ": !>. 1, 3—Canterbury J.C. Summer. '■•'<■ b. 7, B—Ejrmont R.C. Summer. Fib. 14, 15—Taranaki J.C, Autumn.. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Punters are now spelling. Foxton weights are' due to-day. Midian was badly galloped on at Marton. Entries for the Taranaki Cup close on the 22nd inst. That consistent mare, Lady Mensriiikoff, is at present enjoying a spell. Odessa won the first dav at Tauherinikau with 10.7. and 11.2 "failed to stop him the next day. Ireland was a"' very hot favorite for the Xewmarket Handicap at Ellerslie, and fairly romped away from his opponents. / Six first favorites won races at Ellerslie on Tuesday. See what the bookies missed! Silva won both hurdle races at Marton in very easy style, but the dividends attached thereto were very small. The progeny of the defunct Soult won nine races at the Auckland meeting, Prince Soult alone winning a treble. Handsome Maid's victory in the Farewell Handicap at Marton was a terriblebump to the Bar Vons. Alt'. Xeale's pair, Overtime and Confection, were about the worst horses sounder silk at Stratford. Mr. E. J. Watt's Merton, who ran s well in the Palmerston Stakes, won . double at Hastings this week. The Taranaki sportsman, Mr. J. Foreman, headed the list of winning owners at Marton with the respectable total of £390. Patriotic came with a great run on the outside at the finish of the Summer Handicap at ,Marton, and fairly smothered the leaders, Bronze, Midian and Equitas. Despite the fact that most people are alleged to heartily dislike the totalisator, the sum of £lll,OOO went through the machines at various meetings held in the Dominion on Boxing Day. In four days £176,008 was put through the tote at Ellerslie as against £94,701 last year—which runs out' to over £5500 per race. Now let the killsports howl! EJectrakoff put up a slashing performance in winning the Grandstand Handicap on Tuesday. The Taranaki horse won easily at the finish, and 'the clock read 2-min.. 7 3-ssec. for the ten furlongs. Jockey F. Meagher was responsible for a remarkable run of victories on the first day at Marton. He rode Kingswell, Birkline," Eclogue and Monologue—four consecutive winners. Mr. Smith's horses only raced on the opening day of the meeting. Master Sylvia ran last in a three-horse race in the Railway Handicap, and Golden Loop, who was sent out favorite for the Stewards' Welter, could only gain fourth place. Although bandaged and lame, Bobrikoff gave his, victors a great race each start at Ellerslie. In the Auckland Racing Club Handicap he was only a neck behind the dead-heaters, and so fast was he gaining on them that many people thought the 'black champion had won on the post. In the settlement of tjie ■ Auckland Plate the three-year-old Counterfeit had to put up a fast gallop to land thn ]r»c, which she did in good style, the mile and a half being left behind in 2min. 35 2-ssec. Bobrakoff made great efforts to overhaul the leader in the last six furlongs, which, took lmin. 15 2-ssec. to run, and the filly had to register record time for the race to keep him at ba,y. Bobrikoff" pulled up lame each day, and it might be added that when he finished in the A.R.C. Handicap one of his "plates" Vas twisted out and hanging by one nail only. He is a great horse! The finish for the Auckland Racing Club Handicap was one of the best eyef seen at Ellerslie, At the distance Miss Mischief looked to be winning easily, but she tired badly towards the finish, and seven or, eight horse's rushed past the post in a mass. The judge reckoned that Maxwell had just got up in time to dead-heat with' Miss Mischief, and that Bobrikoff was a neck behind the ( head-heaters. Almost in a line with Bob/rikoff were Coromandel, .Domino, :<ga.puka and Goldfinder. It was a Maori race meeting, and the last race of the day. Henare, the judge, had been breasting* the. bak, all the afternoon, and it was only with difficulty that he kept his position on top of the beer barrel as the neddies rushed up the straight. A white, a bay and'a black horse were in a bunch, and fiished past locked together. Henare seemed puzzled.' "What won?" 'roared the crowd. "By cripes!" said Henare, - 'I thinksh te piebald horse (hie) efcry, time!" With a fine record of six firsts, Hector Gray topped the list of winning riders at Ellerslie. C. Emmerson piloted four winners, B. Deeley three—on Prince Soult each time—and Arthur Olliver won two races, on Mr. J. (ieorge's horses Royal ■Arms and Crown Pearl. : The principal winning owners at the Auckland meeting were:—Sir Geo. Clifford £LS7o, Mr. G. Robinson £I4OO, :<Mesdames Foss and Steuart £950, Mr. E. J. Watt £950, G. D. Greenwood £7OO. -J. McMcoll £6OO, and T. H. Lowry £525! <Mr. Jervey George gathered in £360 for three firsts and three seconds. . There was one horse in the Ladies' , Purse at Stratford which might have ■ been closer to Clemoes if his rider had let him go. The gentleman jockster hung on to the prad's neck right to the finish. Most people reckoned that if he had let go his grip he would have fallen off! ■* . Wellington weights should afford food for speculation for the next few weeks. Of those engaged in the Cup, Counterfeit and Mendip read best amongst the . top-weights, and Coromandel, Prim and Midnight Sun have good prospects. The majority of those< engaged would be better place in a six furlongs hack race. Some great sprinters figure in the Telegraph Handicap, including Equitas, Nyland, Culprit and Gladiole, who may be most dangerous. Uhlando, Golden Loop, Patriotic and True S>.ot are engaged at the meeting.