Sports and Pastimes

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 276, 18 May 1912, Page 7

Sports and Pastimes

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 Hurdle Race. June I—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 3—Great Northern Steeplechase. June 19 —Hawke's Bay Hurdle Race. June 26—Napier Steeplechase. TURF TOPICS. (My "Moturoa.") The Wanganui Steeplechase meeting opens on Thursday next. Mangaroa is an unlikely starter in the Connolly Handicap. Canterbury papers report that Dorando is jumping big country in good style. The ex-New Zealander, Gunboat, is booked to leave for India at the end of the month. Old Compass, whose legs filled owing to boxthorn poisoning, is reported to be quite recovered. This year's Grand National Steeplechase will be worth £I4OO, a cool thousand of which is the winner's share. The Native is galloping and jumping well at Wanganui, and promises to start a warm favorite for the Century Hurdles. Racehorses are cheaper than "mokes" nowadays. Old Cuiragno, winner of the Grand National Hurdles of 1900, was sold for a fiver in Auckland recently. Master Soult, for whom 1500 guineas were once refused, was sold for 130 gns. to Mr. W. Hoskin last week. The erratic son of Soult will take up stud duties at Waiuku. By way of a coincidence the Oddfellows' Handicap at a recent New South Wales race meeting was won by a horse named The Chow. A southern paper reports that I he crack pacing mare Emmeline (2.8 3-5) is under offer to an Australian sportsman. The price mentioned is 1000 gns. It is rumored that C. Price will have the mount on Byron in the Connolly Handicap, and at present the son of Martian is alleged to be as hot a favorite as anything else engaged in the race. Jockey F. Wootton is rapidly putting on flesh, and cannot go to the scale below Bst. 91b. During his spell in India he scored four firsts out of ten starts. At the Queensland Turf Club's May meeting Evelyn Soult (Soult—St. Evelyn) and Blue Lily (by Bluejacket) were j amongst the winners. An old veteran, Irish Rifle, now rising 10 years, figures amongst the entrants (or the Welter Handicap at the Auckland R.C. winter meeting. Royal Arms was shipped north on Friday, and has joined Mr. J. George's other horses, Crown Pearl and Paritutu, at Ellerslie. Paritutu is reported to be going well, and should be at his best next month. Corazon's withdrawal from the Wanganui Steeplechase was another "win" for the double layers. The Coeur-de-lion horse struck himself on Friday, and had i to be eased in his work for a few days, but, barring accidents, he w*ill be amongst the runners in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Mr. \Y. Montgomery recently purchased Black Northern comparatively cheaply for 400 gns.. and it is his intention to ship the horse to Australia shortly, to take part in the V.R.C. Hurdles. Mr. Montgomery owns Hoanga and Seldom—quite a useful string. Otaki nominations contain a fair sprinkling of Taranaki horses. Lady Menschikoff, Con the Shaughraun, Mulga Bill and Labor Day are engaged in the Raukawa Cup, and Piriwai, Ohinee, Dover Straits, Lord Lupin, Rector Gir!, Ngatiruanui, St. Toney and others figure in the minor handicaps. Since winning the Connolly Handicap last year Merrivonia's performances have not been of a high order, but hopes are expressed that she will be at her best! on Thursday for the same race. She generally races best in the late autumn, ] and her forward running at the Wellington meeting gives promise of a return to form. At time of writing, Wanganui accep-' tances, which should appear this morning, are not to hand. Needless to say they have been anxiously awaited by those who preferred to take a "long ■hot" early in the month. From all appearances fields should be large and racing interesting. Being the first steeplechase gathering of the winter season, sportsmen look to it to give them a guide in selecting possible winners of the big events, Great Northerns and Grand Nationals, to follow. The Native was given a couple of rounds of the hurdles at Wanganui on Thursday morning, and went really well. Euroco got through a similar task in great style. This horse is in splendid condition, and finished up his tasks stronger than earlier in the season. The horse is sure to run well at the forthcoming meeting. Sir Lethe was sent twice round, and took the big fences safely until he blundered and lost his rider at the last fence, a very easy obstacle. Silver Cluse jumped nicely, and others to get round without mishap were Nedra, Whimper, Epsom Downs and Moose. Hill lass jumped the big fences proficiently. Antarctic, Gaelic, Amber and White, 1 Taiha, Overtime and a number of others worked on the flat. The appearance of strange faces, of tired and apparently hastily dressed men on the Wanganui training" tracks these mornings betoken the apj. roach of the winter race meeting. Visiting horses' are beginning to make their appearance and each newcomer, be lie ever so rough or cart-horsey, is eagerly scanned, discussed, and added to the list of improbables, possibles or "morals." Horse talk pervades the usually sanctimonious atmosphere, and heavily-rugged, tightlybandaged horses of all shapes, from razor-like "weeds" to prancing Clydesdales, parade the town. Here and there are bunches of horsey people, the inevitable ex-bookmaker, and the badinage and hoarse laughter only thinly veil the surreptitiously mentioned "100 to 2" or "250 to 10," which seem to be the only expressions which count for anything at this stage of the proceedings. The bookmaker is by Act of Parliament silenced, but he is by no means defunct, and the hopelessness of all this goodygoody legislation is patent to the veriest tyro. The double-layer is everywhere. Clarl in rich garments, like the Magi of old, jewelled to the eyes, fat of paunch and exhaling choice Havana smoke (as of vore), the irrepressible "woolbroker" smiles serenely and murmurs, "Vat you vant?" It is a screaming farce; a comedy of errors, if you like. That people want to bet and will bet is certain. Laws, like the good old pie-crusts that mother used to spend so much time tifctivating up with ail old hair-pin, are only made to be broken. Next week will be a big week for Wanganui. Besides the steeplechase meeting the boxing tournament—notably

the clash between our own Allan Maxwell and Leon Porter, of Wellington—and the Gun Club's gathering should make the city by the river the Mecca of sportsmen. That Taranaki will lend its quota is certain, and the sport who cavils at the fare offered should go whaling or take on big game hunting in the wilds of sunny Africa. The Native, Antarctic, Sir Lethe, and many of the lesser lights have already arrived, and though nothing of an exciting nature has been accomplished, the work on the tracks has been fairly interesting. Sir Lethe was given steady work on Tuesday morning, and looks well to the eye. No fault could lie found with the Century Hurdles favorite, The Native, who pulled hard over a couple of rounds at half-pace. Hill Lass, Amber and White, Overtime and others were given easy tasks. Moose, who was recently operated on for respiratory troubles, was sent over a round of the schooling fences and jumped well enough, hut his "roaring" is almost as bad as ever. Talk about blowing out the proverbial candle! Why, the old Sou'-wester gelding would put out a whole street of electric lights! Antarctic and Gaelic arrived on Wed- i nesday, and both got through serviceable tasks on Thursday. Coromandel knocked himself about in the train while returning from Hawera,, and has been on the easy list since. The horse is in a forward condition, and this set-back may not affect his prospects in the Connolly Handicap. The crack horseman, W. Young, will pilot Paisano and Continuance in their Wanganui engagements. His brother, Wallace, will ride Winiata. The ex-New Zealander, Gold Seal 11., was one of the twenty-four runners in the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase last month, but did not get beyond the fifth fence—that is, on his feet." The stiffness of the country was evident by the fact that only half-a-dozen finished, and no fewer than six horses turned turtle at the first four fences. New Zealand sent one worthy representative in the shape of the magnificent jumper, Moifaa, who won the race about six years ago, but it is 110 use sending such a moderate performer as GoldeSal 11. to do battle with the sturdy Irish fencers over what is generally conceded to be the trickiest big country course in the world. 1