SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 89, 31 August 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NEW ZEALAND. Sept. 4—Marton Racing Club. Sept. 25, 28—Avondale Jockey Club. Oct. 2—Hawke's Bay Jot-key Club. Oct. 26, 28—Wanganui Pot-key Club. AUSTRALIA. Oct. 5, 7, 9, 12—Australian Jockey Club. Oct. IS, 1«, 19—Victoria Amateur Turf Club. Ho. 2,6, 7, 9—Victoria Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. Sept. 23—Avondale Cup. Sept. 28—Avondale Guineas. Oct. 3—Hawke's Bay Guineas. Oct. 2«—Wanganui Guineas. Not. *—Great Northern Guineas. AUSTRALIA. Oct.5—A.J.C. Derby. Oct. 7 —Metropolitan Stakes. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") After sending us a fortnight's perfect weather, it was nothing short of pure cussedness that tempted Jupiter Pluvius (or whoever looks after the wet and dry nowadays) to start the wateringcan act on Thursday, the occasion of the Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club meeting, held on the Wanganui racecourse. The morning broke wet and misty, gave way to drizzle and more mist by noon, and the afternoon was as gloomy as s kill joy's dial when he opens up the News and see a whole column devoted to these cur-rsed sporting pars. Still, a wet day's a fine day for hunting-folk, and only the "tin sports" are frightened of the sprinkler. A fair crowd rolled up. including a host of Taranaki sports, and everybody looked as if they had just cashed in a ticket ou the right horse. The sandy j tracks -were in fine order, fields fairly ] large, and racing sufficiently keen to I keep one away from the bar—occasionally. Pervading all was a deep sense of resigned, long-suffering. almost cheerful martyrdom. We felt, for the nonce, as if we were taking our sport without betting in much the same spirit as we bolt our beef without mustard at old Bill Blank's place, not daring to ask for the condiment lest Bill's missus should have to own up that they had not a grain in the house. This year we merely watched our hunters go round, and "betted not." Next year, thanks to '"M.P." Hunter's Bill, now before Parliament, the necessary Clip of a little betting will be added to the sport. The future looks bright. The moment you enter the outer gates of the Wanganui racecourse grounds, the fine new totalisator house (three times the size of the old structure) arrests the eye. The first lawn has been lengthened considerably, and the outside stand Ims been shifted towards the main gates. The enlarged lawn should do away with the congestion experienced at past meetings, and the extra facilities offered for investment on the tinkling tote will be 'much appreciated. Room has been left between the present inside stand and the tote house for the proposi ti enlargement of the grandstand. Everything about the Wanganui grounds breathes prosperity. Racing is on the boom there, and the sportsman is splendidly catered for in every way. It is cheerful to consider the growing taste for clean horseracing, the general improvement irl racecourse appointments, and (as I said before) the future looips brightly ahead. After all, it could not loom behind j could it? i

The Sunt Club meeting opened with the Hack Hurdles, five horses spbrting silk. Seawind was the paddock tip, and 6eawind.it. was. Fionacre set a merry pace for a mile, and then gave'wwy to the favorite. The latter bowled into the straight with a good lead, nearly lost liis rider through failing to rise to the occasion at the last obstacle, and after Jockey Howden had recovered bis seat by a miracle, blew home a winner, by several lengths. Of the others, Rocket fizzled out before the real business commenced. The time, 2min. SGsec.; was pot. bad for the company. Half-a-dozen lined up for the Licensed Victuallers' Steeple, Addnought looking fittest. Mr. J. Bull's horse was soon in front, and led the field at funeral pace for over a mile, and then went "'down and out" at a fearsome hencoop. Myra was so surprised at being left in the lead that she got into the next fence and lanied herself. Then Consul took up the fateful role of leader, and showed the. way to the last fence, where Major iWebb got-hi3 head in front,, and before toaster could overtake him ran in an easy winner.

The First Hack Handicap attracted three racehorses (Katua, St. Lumsden and Epsom Downs) and five other quadrupeds which certainly looked like horses. Katna, ridden by Bob Barlow, was jumping out of his skin, and the race was only an exercise canter for the New Plymouth horse. St. Lumsden finished strongly under punishment, and just beat Epsom Downs for second money. Aviatrix could not "fly" for nuts, and Yankee iJoodle (Wairiki —Oolden Rose) is well enough bred to do better later on. riain Jatck- (Maui —Opaeae's dam) is no oilpainting. and Rosemont (Explosion—Fieona) and Waiwai (by Rangipuhi) only deserve hostile comment. Katn:i got to the end of the six furlongs in lmin. IS 1 /-, see., and 9st Ktlb is no trifle on a wet course. The Hunters' Hurdles was a gift to Kiivitea, but his amateur rider did not know it. His seven opponents were evidently annoyed at being dragged away , froip the plough for a day, and the winner held a commanding lead throughout. Kot until he had passed the post a hundred yards ahead of the second horse did that rider give him any peace. The noble sum of £7 10s, which went to the "winner, was fairly won—every brown of it! j Katua put up 141b penalty in the Second Hack Handicap, and his party were confident of success. The son of Obligado hopped out first, but was steadied, and Silver Rose (Sylvia Park —Pretty Poily) rushed to the front. At the turn Katua came tip to head the leader, but Silver Rose proved a sticker, and gamely battled it out. At the distance the weight told, and Katna HI back, the light-weight scoring nic ly l;v a couple of lengths. .St. Helena and four others were given ;i run. and appeared to get a very nice airirc'. The winner is owned liv Mes-rs. and Q'larti rniain. of Wamianui. and i- traui'-d In- J. Lambess. She raced wi) Viat .stina few times last season. I.l* pay her way in liack company ti>i- yar. The Hunt Chili Steepb i-base was a jirett\ race between -ix runner-. Sammy, now trained by Alex. IT iH. was vote.! a moral, but lb- di-taie-- fi-und him out. Gondolier fi-nn-d splendidly, only onee billing an ob-iacle. was wt !! clear of .Sammy and Kirn Ant v <. -;i th- |;s»t mile c-ame to be 1 raver>e.!. Ceielolier here cut a corner r '!i" , v bile tieothers made a wide and unnei - sary detour, and the race wa« '.!ea all mvr bar cheering. Cha-se wa« never <]:■■ serous. and fell af the la-t fence when i :<-in<r badly. Riro Atu was running cn nicely

at the finish, but was hardly ready, and may show improved form at Marton

next week. When the seratching-pen had been worn to a stump, the field for the Ladies' Bracelet had dwindled down to, a quartette. Sunrose and Utiku were early picks, but the eleventh hour "moral" was Phroso. The latter stepped out first, and the further tliev went the. bigger the streak of daylight Ehe put between herself and the others. Utiku came strongly in the straight, and sc-' cured second: place, but there was a, whole panoramic view between him and the winner. Phroso is a mare by the Australian sire Sir Tris-< tram, out of Zaroba, and was brought back to Xew Zealand by Mr. Jack Stewart when he returned with the stud-mare Trueshot. Phroso has been troubled with splints and various leg-ailments, but is a nicely shaped mare, and can gallop fast. The presentation of the Hunt Club Cup and various trophies was accompanied by the usual felicitous speechifying, and the usual cheers. The Cup winner cheerfully acknowledged that he had told his wife that morning (at six o'clock) that he was going to bring "that cup" home with him. ' Three cheers for the man who never told his wife a lie!" roared someone, and every married man in the crowd cheered as if he meant it.