SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 77, 17 August 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. A-ug. 17—C.J.C. Grand National Meeting. Aug. 29—Amberley Steeplechase Club Annual. Sept 4—Marton J.C. Spring. Sept. 11—Dannevirke R.C. Steeplechase. Sept. 12 and 13—Ashburton County R.C. Sept. 2« and 27—Geraldine R.C. Spring. Sept. 2S and 28—Wanganui J.C. Spring. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Concluding dav at RiecaTton. New Zealand Cup weights are due on Monday. , , Koran went lame this week and was well beaten in the National Hurdle Race. Beacon is a surprise-packet over the small sticks, and won easily each day. The cold weather at Riccarton settled Antarctic, and the horse will now be turned out for twelve months. Salute's chances went up with the barrier in the Winter Cup. but with a better start the Auckland mare will catch a heat shortly. Mr. H. J. Cameron had quite a day •ut" on Thursday, winning the double with Waterworks and Glenmore. Both are consistent horses, and, though unexpected, their victories were popular with the public. Mount Victoria seems to have gone right off and finished a long way back each day. On Trentham form the bay eon of Signalman should have done better. v Haurtre was whispered about for the Beaufort Steeplechase on Thursday, and managed to gain second position. The Auckland 'chaser started at a long The dogs were barking Crown Pearl for the August Handicap, and the New Plymouth horse scored nicely, returning hk many supporters a surprisingly small dividend. _ The Continuance boom has just about burst The Hawke's Bay horse chanced his fences in the National Steeplechase and was nearly down several times before he threw out at the post-and-rails. Southern scribes consider that the big fences tired the crack to a standstill. Sample of unconscious wit from a *>wn-the-line paperr-'Turf NotesWe understand that Mr. So-and-so has secured a fine thorough-bred draught Uorse, which will be placed at the eeryices of breeders this season." After the race you can see the tip •ticking out a mile. On Winter Cup morning the papers referred to Lady Magdala in their obituary notes and the long-pneed Magdala duly landed the Winter Cup. . ~ Favorites were unfortunate in the big Riccarton double, the actual ''prime •rders" of the public. Pantutu and Paisano, having to put up with second monev. Both returned small dividends; Paisa'no's, in fact, being a losing investment for his supporters. If there is one thing that sticks a ,pnrt*m»n it is unfair tactics, and The Native incident in connection with the lirand National Hurdle Race will long be remembered. Meagre details to hand show that the Taranaki rider, C. Price, who had the mount on The Nature, was found guilty of a bare-faced jostle whereby the chances of Paisano were upset. The stewards were not long in comin* to their decision, and the affair must have been very bad. The punishment meted out to Price looks all too lenient, seing that his reckless riding endangered the life of Paisano's pilot, and jockeys who are out to win at all costs ire not wanted on the Turf. The punishment falls heaviest on The Natives owner, Mr. J. Bull, and his loss must hare run into several thousand*, me Hunterville owner will have the sympathy of a'.l sportsmen, and the rash actions of his iockev would hurt him most of all. The affair comes at an inopportune time, just as sportsmen are fighting (at last) shoulder to shoulder for their rishts. and it gives the killsports another pes on which to ban? their abuse. The introduction of stipendiary stewards should ensure a firmer control over jockeys, and it is to be hoped that these young gentlemen will tumble to the fact that rough-riding is no part of their business. La Reina was unfortunate in the Winter Cup, but finished fast, and on Thursday had a good following in the Islington Handicap. She and Countermine. Clifford's "second-day horse," fought out a close finish. La Reina just netting there bv half-ahead. Prior to the meeting the' Auckland marc was galloping brilliantly, and no doubt her party got back some of their Winter Cup losses when she scored on the second day.

The acceptances for the third day's racing are not to hand at time of writing, but to-dav should see some keen contests in the Lincoln Steeplechase, Svdenham Hurdle Race and Ilcatheofe Handicap (fiat). Last year Sir Lethe cleared right out from his opponents in the Lincoln Steeplechase, and won by thirty lengths from Dorandn. His form on Thursday was not brilliant, and there does not appear to oe much possibility of him repeating the dose. Taranaki "sports would like to see Paritutu •core. He is the champion unlucky horse, and his placed performances, outside, firsts, include the New Zealand and other Cups, the Grand National Hurdle Race and Steeplechase and the Wellington Steeplechase. He ran a game race on Tuesday, and was up against a big proposition in Captain dingle. Waterworks, winner of the Grand Nation Hurdle Race, started eleven times last season, winning once (at Awapuni) and running twice into second place. His performances did not suggest him as a National winner, and probably he was lucky to get his name on the roll of honor. The race has been won by some indifferent horses in recent years, such a« Medallius and Stormont. and it only chows that anything (with a bit of luck) may win a 'tick event. The favorite Pnisano »;b making another bid for victory and he had bad luck to get, stopped at the critical moment. He won the race in 1010 under the crusher of I2st lib. Liberator won in 1893 and again in IS!H. and is the onlv horse to have a double-victory to his credit. Record Rei<rn carried 12-t I2lbs successfully in 1900 and holds the weight-earn-ing record. This year's race was run in comparatively slow time. Shrapnel's 3min 44 3-.Vec standing as the record.