SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 270, 11 May 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. May 23, 24—Wanganui Jockey Club, June 1, 3. s—Auckland5 —Auckland Racing Club. June 1, 3—Dunedin Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. May 23—Wanganui Steeplechase. May 23 —Century Hurdles. June I—Great1 —Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 3—Great Northern Steeplechase. June 19—Hawke's Bay Hurdle Race. June 20—Napier Steeplechase. THE EGMONT MEETING. The winter meeting of the Egmont Racing Club opened on Wednesday in ideal weather. There was a large attendance of "lookers on." including a fair proportion of the horses engaged, but the racing was still interesting, and so nwiy of the "jokes" missed that punters did not have too rosy a time of it. Only one absolute favorite scored. Proceedings opened with the Tongahoe Hurdle race, for which Doggerbank was made a very warm order. He was well away, but Te Waharoa kept him very 'busy and practically carried him off his feet. Seaman came at him at a later stage, but grew very wearied when half a mile from home, and Silver Cluse, a big < raking chestnut, who -.hoiild pay his way over hurdles, said good-bye to an apathetic lot of others and scored very comfortably from Seaman, who was waking up in the later stages of the journey. The favorite could only finish fourth. Nineteen horses faced the starter in the Tawhiti Scurry, and there was some delay at the post owing to the fractiousBess of Piriwai, who ultimately swung ■round and was left. Park Tide, Galtee and Royal Dragoon were favorites, and in •the ensuing scramble the two first-named ■were well away, and appeared to have the lace to themselves. In the run home, however, Park Tide faded out and Galtee had no trouble in stalling off Gordon Bell, who began badly, while Park Tide and Royal Dragoon were third and fourth respetcivelv. Some of the many runners might not disgrace a respectable milk cart, but they have little cliance of distinguishing themselves on the racecourse. Simple Sam was made favorite for the j Railway Handicap, with Draft and Katua equally hacked next. The favorite was within striking distance most of the way. hut the business end of the journey had little interest for him, and he finished a long way back. Katua and Crawford made most of the running, but in the run home Draft, who was lying a long way out, came fast on the outside and smothered the opposition, incidentally landing his connections a good 6take. Mulga Bill was the only withdrawal from the Manaia Handicap, and Plantation and Afterthought were the best hacked of the twelve starters. Te Roti, •who was one of the biggest outsiders, ■was first away, but at once fell back for business in the ruck, and the two favorites cut out the running. Con the iShaughraun put in a claim round the bottom, but could not foot it with the ether pair. Plantation scoring by a head, while the Trish Patriot was a length behind Afterthought. After the above race the stewards met io hear a complaint against Conquest, who was alleged to have struck Con the •Shaughraun over the head when finishing. .After hearing evidence it was decided that the complaint was not borne out. There were onlv seven starters for the Ladies' Purse, and the. race was mainly noticeable for an exhibition of very indifferent amateur riding. The race went to Avintrix. a five-year-old mare by Etiroelydon. out of Harbinger, who will

yet win in better company. The race was, however, a distinct disappointment, and the club would do well to consider tlu: advisability of cutting out these amateur events. Lady Volga was backed as if she could not lose the Telegraph Handicap, Glenfern and Miss Roberts being next in demand. Piriwai, who was making a second effort, was again fractions, but hit the start while well on her feet, and thereafter the field simply escorted her home, as she won all the way with ridi- , cillous ease. There was a great race for second place, in which the rank outsider, | Lord Lupin, beat the favorite, Lady i Volga, by the shortest of noses for the ]

money, with Silverhope very little further back fourth. Glenfern, who was badly away, came with a tremendous rattie from* the foot of the straight and finished close up fifth. The day's racing was brought to a close with the Waihi Handicap, from which Sir Solo, who has gone lame, and Draft were the only withdrawals. The public selected Avaunce and Strategist for their money. Both were well away, but Avaunce covered an extraordinary amount of ground and finished well back. Strategist ran well, but in a great finish home was beaten a head by Muleteer, who was distinctly glad to reach the winning-post with that advantage in hand. There were several apparently unanxious performers in the race. Plantation, who just squeezed home from Con the Shaughran in the Manaia Handicap at Hawera, has been a very profitable gelding to his owner, Mr. J. McCarty, quite a string of successes having gone to the black son of Sylvia Park and Irma this season. He is just the stamp of gelding to make a fine hurdler later on. Piriwai, who won the Telegraph HandiI cap at Hawera, ran second to Gay Lawless in the Tawhiti Scurry at the meeting last year. That race is memorable from the fact that Mr. Grace's mare achieved one of the easiest wins on record for a five furlongs race. The official verdict was ''won by twelve lengths," but it looked a good deal more. The weather was cold but fine for the concluding day of the Egmont meeting. The breeze off ice-dad Egmont was like the breath of an iceberg. Puntiers went strongly for Seaman, Dogger Bank and Rawinia in the Hurdle Race, and the first-named pair ran honestly enough and raised their backers' hopes as they turned for home in the van. Once in the straight, however, the little fancied Surplus galloped over everthing, and ran in an easy winner. The son of Wairiki was well backed on the first day, but he jumped slowly, and was never dangerous. The weight stopped Silver Cluse, and Rawinia ran much below her true form. .St. Prior was prominent for a time, but took most of the fences sideways, and the daughter of St. Clements has much to learn about fencing. Kauroa. jumped neatly and mav be heard of at Wanganui. Te Waharoa was ridden behind for a change, and shaped wretch- ( edly. In twelve starts this season Seaman has scored once and has filled the role of runner-up no less than seven times. The Borough Handicap was t'he best of good things for Ngatintanui, who had the race in safe keeping from the head of the straight. Master Tupuhi had a. bad passage, and East Wind stopped some of the bumps. Draft found the extra furlong troublesome, and the wellbacked Awa Hou, with Jenkins aboard, was never dangerous. I The Shorts Handicap was run over five furlongs, not four and a half as slated on the "correct card." The race was voted a "stone moral" for Parktide. but the favorite could only finish fourth. Crawford was chopped out along the back, and the favorite received sonve attention as the leaders swung into the straight. At the finish there was nothing in it but the big 'Advance eel ding, Prosper, and the soft

I going suited him well. Lady Fran was ' running ou at the finish and beat all | but the winner. I Backers showed good judgment when they made Mulga Bill and Coromandel first and second favorites respectively for the Mcßae Memorial Handicap. j Mulga Bill looked better than at Awapuni, and struck out resolutely in his preliminary. The pony Red Lupin looked a ball of muscle, and his beautiful lines were much admired in the bird-cage. Coronetted was carrying a lot more superfluous tissue than usual, and was evidently feeling the effects of his efforts in the Hurd'c Race two hours previously. Red Lupin .. t the pace for a mile and then tired, anl at the distance Coromandel and Mendip looked like fighting it out. Mulga Bill was well back, but came with a brilliant wellsustained run, and was up with Coromandel a hundred yards from home. Mendip appeared to interfere slightly with Coromandel at this point, but it made 110 difference with the result, as Mulga Bill was running on strongly and won easing up. Red Lupin just missed a place, and Manawakaha was next. Koran was neglected in the hetting, but ran well to the home turn. Con the Shaughraun found the distance beyond him. Lady Volga was pounced upon as a "can't-lose" tip for the N.gamutu Handicap, and Glenfern was best backed of the others. Run again, the race would probably result differently, but 'the splendid riding of the Auckland lightweight, J. O'Shea, made all the difference on Thursday. At the distance Roval Simon and Lady Volga drew level with Glenfern, and for the moment looked like beating him. O'Shea sat tight and let t'h'e horse get a breather for fifty yards. Then he sat down and rode his hardest, joining the other pair ten yards from the post and beating them* home by a nose. The result was in doubt until Glenfern's number was hoisted, and the decision was received with cheers. Aviatrix and Kiwitahi finished fast, just outside places, and

rlip rest- were strung out. I The withdrawal of The Native left a wretched quartette to do battle for the Corinthian Handicap. It was a dull, Irab, dispiriting "race," and the odds-on favorite Comedian won all the way from his tired opponents. The gentlemanriders' events supply poor sport, and Thursday's race was the best argument | that could be advanced against their i continuance. The introduction of a hack steeplechase on the first day and I an open steeplechase on the second j would make the programme more attractive, and with so many horses journey- I iug to the Wanganui steeplechase meet- I ing, these events would fill well. The TCgmont Racing Club owns the paddocks on the north,side of the course, and by taking the steeplechasers through there a good "big country" course could easily be fixed up. There is nothing j more spectacular than a steeplechase, and should the Egmont Club adopt the I suggestion next year's winter meeting! would prove a big draw. The Opeke Handicap was simply a match between Lady Volga and the unlucky Galtee, and the former had too much "foot" for lftr rival over the distance. Lady Volga is a smart be-n-inner, and can travel fast for five furloncrs and then stops badly. Katua made a big e.fl'crt to get up in the! straight, but was too far back in the earlier stages, and is not class enough ! anyhow. Ohinee was well backed, but had an outside position at the barrier, and did not get away well. Amongst the jockeys W. Young. ,7. O'Sliea and B. Deeley were seen to most advantage with two wins each. Other# to pilot a winner were ft. Murtagh, P. Porter, T. Jones, C. Price, J. Conquest and A. Ollivcr. Mr. Clout and Mr. Shields rode the winners of the gentle-men-riders' events. Stakes were well distributed at the meeting, no less than twenty-eight owners getting on the list. The principal winners were: Messrs. T. F. ■€l3o, .T. MoCartv €llO, C,\ S.aith £BO, J. Mollov £BO. J. .Tackson £75, D. Hughes £7"), H. Bertram! £7O. T. Hope- , full £7O. S. Pitt £7O. J. C,'ole.rian £65, 'end M. Franklin £55.