SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 255, 27 April 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. April 27—Avondale Jockey Club. May 1, 2 —Marlborough Racing Club. May 1, 2—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. May 23, 24 —Wanganui Jockey Club. June 1, 3, s—Auckland Racing Club. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Avondale races to-dav. Manawhakaha is a mud-lark. Autumnus is undoubtedly the crack two-year-old. Tile veteran hurdler, Tonderghie, ii in work again at Wanganui. A lot of good money was lost when Otahu was beaten on Thursday. It is quite on the cards that Koran will improve on Awapuni form at Wanganui next month. Weights for the Egmont Racing Club's winter meeting are due to-day. The gathering opens on May 7. Mulga Bill was "hot stuff" on Thursday, but he had to do his best to beat the unlucky Coromandel at the finish. Hautere is spoken of as a likely steeplechaser, and this improved horse will be piloted by J. Deerey at Avondale to-day.

Crown Pearl's two victories on Wednesday were scored with ridiculous ease, and make the opposition out to be very bad. The Clifford colors were entrusted to Brown , Owl at Awapuni on Thursday, but Erniengarde, who was a screaming favorite, made a enkvwalk of the race.

Old Commander, who has done no good for his owner since going to Auckland, continues to topple over at the big fences at Ellerslie. As a steeplechaser he is hopeless. It was quite appropriate that Waterworks should shine in the wet and slush at Awapuni. After running a good second on the opening (lav, he gathered in the Kairanga Hurdle Race without an effort. Duro was asked to shake a leg at Ellerslie prior to the Avondale meeting, and left four furlongs behind in 51sec. Although well supported for the Chevalier Handicap on Wednesday, he did not get a place. With a luckier run the chestnut may do better to-day. Electrakoff has been in a very had way, and it is believed that he has strained himself internally. Under welter weights the son of Menschikoff has done well in the past, and it is bad luck for Mr. Alex Hall that he will not be able to get a race out of the horse until the spring meetings roll around.

Silva was well backed in stick events at the Manawatu meeting, but shaped wretchedly each day. In the sloppy going nothing better could have been expected, but the gallops should improve the horse for Hawera and Wanganui engagements. They have some swift steeplechasers in South Australia. The grey horse Vanguard, winner of the Onknparinga Steeplechase, carved out the three and a-quarter miles of stiff country in fimin Sfisee —easily a record. No wonder Hoansra was quickly shipped back to NewZealand. A Sydney scribe with a thirst for ' 'listics has figured out that Trafalgar !has galloped upwards of 100 miles in actual racing. So far nobody seems to have become excited about the statement, and it is reassuring to know that the fate of nations remains undisturbed over the fact. Bleriot appears to have lost her brilliancy of the spring, and her efforts at Ellerslie and Avondale have been very poor. Tact emphasised her claim to fc* classed as the smartest two-vear-old filly up north by running off with the Juvenile Handicap at Avondale in good I style.

Mr. J. Buckley's luck has been right out lately, and only last- week hi« promising horse Clvtie broke bL- whilst frnlloping at Eiccarton and had to be destroyed. It transpires that: Counterfeit's trainer has had his work cut out this season to keep the brilliant filly on her pins, Early in the season a burst hoof caused lameness. and it has onlv been with the utmost care and judicious racing that the crack three-year-old has been "nursed" through a victorious season. It is to be hoped that her lengthy winter spell will do away with the trouble, and that she will next season win further laurels for the popular blue and gold' colors. The Egmont Racing Club has decided to employ racecourse Detective Wahlen at the forthcoming meeting, and the course will be kept clear of the undesirable element which in the past has given horse-racing a bad name. Unfortunately kill-sports judge all sports by their "crooks," though the percentage of un-

desirables in racing is probably no higher than in other pastimes. mid it bchows racing clubs to use every effort to kiep their courses free from thieves and crooked running.

A stern chase is a long chase, and when Ermengarde streaked into tl\u straight three lengths in front of Autumnus in the Manawatu Stakes backers of the Canterbury colt did not feel on good terms with themselves. But Autumnus was not beaten. With great dash he gradually lessened the gap, until at the distance he was on the Highden filly's quarter. At the half-distance they were level, and then Ermengarde cried enough, and the favorite came on and won by over a length. It was a fine effort on the part of the winner and stamps him as a really brilliant and game colt. Prince Soul't could not act in the mud, but under any conditions could have little chance with the two-year-olds mentioned above. The hurdler Euroco wag taken down to Palmerston, but owing to the quagmire state of the course was not started on either day. The chestnut jumps very wildly at times, and it is just possible that it was a wiser and a safer policy to keep a good horse for a better day. Euroco has been galloping brilliantly, and is sure to win a good race shortly. A change of ownership meant a change of luck for Mon Ami. She was capably handled by C. Emmerson at Awapuni and ran two sterling races. Aided by a light weight she stayed out six furlongs nicely each day, but the heavy going was undoubtedly dead against the top-weight division. Merrimae won a double at the meeting, but was very lucky to boat Morning, who ran all 'over the track the first day,by half a head. On Thursday Merrimae scored decisively over Lady Moutoa and the hot favorite Distinction. The latter was wire'd all over the country as a moral, but "blew out" with all the other "certainties." Lady Volga carried much money each start and ran well, but on a firmer track would probably have raced with more success. Hawke's 'Bay and Marlborough meetings open on Wednesday next.