SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 224, 20 March 1912, Page 8

SPORTING.

PATEA WEIGHTS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Last Night. The following weights have been declared for the Patea Racing Club's autumn meeting:— ! Hurdles, iy 2 miles,—Zante 10.7, Sir! Prize 10.0, Shining Star 9.1, Forward,': Cannonshot, St, Prior, Loopline and Tollgate 9.0. Alton Handicap, 1 mile.—Darby Paul 9.0, Billington 8.13, Eawinia B.IIJ Kiwitahi 8.8, Red Coral, Colporteur, Nebulous and St. Prior 8.7. Flying Handicap—Lady Fran 9.0, Billington 8.12, Topic 8.9, Glenrock and Kiwitahi 8.6, Eouge Dragoon 8.5, Sylvan Glade, Crawford, Brown Star, Duro and Nebulous 8.4. Easter Handicap, 1 mile and 3 furlongs—Darby Paul 9.0, Minora 8.11, Eawinia 8.5, Glenfern 8.2, Rouge Dragoon 8.1, Bell Paul, Sylvan Glade, Red Coral, and Nebulous 8.0. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Nelson Jockey Club's annual meeting takes place to-day and to-morrow. Fair acceptances have been received for ] the first day's events. Maharanui and Tan San have 7st 31b in the Nelson Handicap, run over a mile and a quarter. Waipuhui has been brought up' from Greymouth for the event and will) probably carry a-lot of West Coast) gold. Beacon id nicely treated with 7stl 111b, and ran well at Nelson last year, l winning three races very easily. Maha-1 ranui has 6st 131b in the Grandstand Handicap, for which Sinapis (Bst 101b) has most admirers. The Trotting Handicap has drawn a big crowd, but the class of horses engaged at the meeti»g is only mediocre. Weights for the Patea annual meeting, to be held on Easter Monday, are due to-day. Jockey R. Hatch took Ladrone to Nelson last wek, and will ride the horse in all engagements there. Ladrone is very fit at present. The hurdler Stourton was sold to Mr. McHardy (who raced Eiya and other horses) for 80 guineas after the Napier meeting. Ireland landed safely in Sydney, and will make his first appearance amongst the "swifts" in the Rawson Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, . Hon. J. D. Ormond, with £325 against his name, was the principal stakewinner at Napier* last week. Ben Deeley would surely pay to follow. At Napier' he wag again on top with five firsts, and two of his mounts, Ariom and Lord Possible, paid over the limit. Kohinoor was offered for sale at Dannevirke recently, but at 150 guineas the handsome son of Royal Fusilier was passed in. Clemency has won the Hurdle Race at Opunake two years in succession. That once speedy sprinter Tupuhi has not left anything as good as himself, but Epworth, One of his get, is reported to be a useful customer. Sunburnt was well backed for the Flying Handicap at Moorefield on the 9th inst. and made hacks of his opponents, winning easily by three lengths. The bay son of Multiform has not paid his way in Australia eo far, but now that he has made good he should quickly add to his winnings. General regret has been expressed at the unfortunate end of the Auckland horseman A. Whittaker. Although up in years he was one of our most capable jockeys, and last year rode 77 winners, giving H. Gray a big "go" for premier position. Over a short course Whittaker had few equals, and he rode heaps straighter than most of "the boys." It was his bad luck to meet his death at the very plaee where for years and years he has been almost invincible. Simple Sam has shown plenty of pace on the local tracks, and rewarded Mr. Bob Campbell with a popular double-win at Opunake. The little horse was well handled by Len Nodder, who also steered Lady Fran to victory in the Final Stakes. This horseman does not get as many chances as he might, but rides with, good judgment and can be depended upon to get a horse out smartly from the barrier. On Wanganui form Royal Simon looked a moral for the Maiden, but for some unaccountable reason ran like a duffer. This was not the only "wonderful" race at the meeting. Darby Paul was ridden with poor | judgment, and his rider held Clemency too cheaply. J Dover Straits as usual came to light with a good dividend. It is marvellous how punters neglect this consistent •?£ ™ e . beat a « 00d one Clemoes in the Flying, and the way he stuck to and dead-heated with Royal Simon later in the day stamps him as a game prad. Mr J. C. Montefiore generally has something pretty hot for the Trot at Opunake. But for breaking, his horse Pukekura. would have filled first and not second place on Monday. Manawakaha had a very comfortable win in the big race, Sandy Paul being the only one to trouble much about chasing the leader. Most of them were troubled by the distanced Sandy Paul was goinjr faster than anything else at the right «nd.