SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 137, 28 October 1912, Page 8

SPORTING.

AN EQUINE HERO. By Cable —Press Association—Copyright. Melbourne, October 26. Trafalgar has returned home, and iwas greeted like a hero when , leavihg the train. Girls strewed rose-leaves on his; path. WELLINGTON RACING CLUB. WELLESLEY STAKES DAY. A CLIMATIC EXPERIENCE. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Saturday. The spring meeting of the Wellington Racing Club opened on Saturday. The morning broke fair, though ominous looking clouds began- to roll up from the southward. There was very little wind, and the special trains were crowded with i race-goers. Nothing more than an occasional passing shower was anticipated. Racing had hardly commenced, however, I when a southerly storm burst, and for | the rest of the day the weather was the J most atrocious ever experienced «n the Trentham course. Indeed, it is questionable whether any Metropolitan meeting in the Dominion ever opened in such weather. A howling and bitterly cold gale swept the course, and rain and hail beat down on the heads of the people with unabated fury. The course rapidly became a series of lakes, and the galloping horses raised showers of spray in all directions. Hats were blown into space, umbrellas torn to ribbons, and the steeplechase fences were blown down. The men operating the number board had to give up their task, as the name boards were blown away as soon as hoisted. Preliminary gallops were dispensed with, the horses being sent to the post at the last'minute. Scratching* were numerous in all events. A sum of £9806 passed through the totalisator against £18,752 for the corresponding day last year. Results:—

Rimutaka Handicap, of 100 sovs; six furlongs.—l Black Lupin, 8.3, 1; 2 Patronale, 8.0, 2; 8 Daunton, 7.7, 3. 7 Advance 9.0, 2 Dirge 8.11, 4 Courtly 7.5, 9 Oturaia 7.5, and 10 Valtire 6.12, also started. Won by half a head. Time, lmin 19 3-ssec.

Shorts Handicap, of 120 sovs; five furlongs.—6 Peroneal, 7.4, 1; 5 Blue Lake, 8.9, 2; 2 Prosper, 7.11, 3. 1 Naumai 0.8, 8 Mount Vision 8.0, 10 Gladiole 8.13, 7 Crown Pearl 8.9, 8 Piriwai 8.6, 4 Styx 7.11, 12 Allurement 7.9, 13 British Maid 7.8, 11 Lockwood <3.13, 14 Stepney 6.13, 3 Early Morn G.lO, and 9 Distinction 7.13, also started. Won by half a length. Time, lmin 6 3-ssec. Spring Selling Plate, of 100 sovs; six furlongs.—3 Crosbie, 8.8, 1; 1 Medallist, 8.8, 2; 2 Torpoint, 7.8, 3. 4 Simila 7.7, also started. Won by a length. Time, lmin 25sec. Wellington Handicap, of 400 sovs; one mile and a quarter.—s Brown Trout, 6.7,; 1; 6 Byron, 7.12, 2; 1 Haskayne, 7.7, 3. 4 Sea Queen 8.5, 8 Merrivonia 8.4, 10 Sir linox 7.7, 7 Odessa 7.7, 3 Patriotic 7.6, 2 Obligant 7.6, 11 Lady Moutoa 7.3, 12 Ngatimaru 7.0 and 9 St. Felix 0.7, also started. Won by four lengths. Time, 2min 26 l-ssec. First Hack Hunters' Steeplechase, of 120 sovs; two and a half xniles.—2 Kelp 10.12, 1;' 3 Gondolier, 9.10, 2; 2 Rangitaune, 10.0, 3. 4 Elwell 9.7 and 5 Zuli 9.7 also started. Won by three lengths. Time, 6min 24sec. Wainui Handicap, of 100 sovs; one mile.—4 Beason, 8.9, 1; 2, Ceylon, 8.13, 2; 6 Negative, 8.11, 3. 5 Midnight Sun 9.12, 1 Bollin 8.13 and 3 Kilosteri 8.10 also started. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 55sec.

Wellesley Stakes, of 550 sovs; four furlongs.—2 Mowbray, 8.7, 1; 3 Peronella, 8.2, 2; 5 Jason, 8.7, 3. 7 Prince Laddo 8.7, 2 Martel 8.7, and 1. The Hague 8.12 also started. Won by a length and a half. Time, 54sec. Final Scurry, of 100 sovs; five furlongs.—6 Execution, 7,6, 1; 2 Early Morn, 8.7, 2; 1 Missile, 8.1, 3. 4 Gay Lawless 8.10, !) Red Book 7.8, 8 Daunton 7.6, 7 Ladino 7.4, 5 Alecto 7.4, 3 Merry Guy 7.4, also started. Won easily by two lengths. Time, lmin 7 4-ssec. The following acceptances have been received for the second day's racing:— Tararua Handicap, of lOOsovs; seven furlongs.—Brown Trout 9.3, Avaunce 8.10, Dirge 8.4, Torpoint 7.2, Oharia 7.0. Juvenile Handicap, of 100 sovs; four furlongs.—Peronialla 8.5, Gladful 7.12, Secret Link 7.7, Prince Laddo 7.7, Pavlova 7.7, Landrail 7.7, Guiding Way 7.5. Spring Trial Stakes, of 100 sovs; six furlongs.—Missile 8.6. Merry Guy 8.6, Courtley 8.4, Parky 8.4, Paramarama 8.4, Borsil 8.2, Lockwood 7.8, Red Book 7.8, Expect 7.8, Otter 7.5, Exertion 7.5, Elevated 7.5, Ohakura 7.3, Neirene 7.3, Valtiio 7.3, Simila 7.3. Pearce Handicap, of 300 sovs; one mile.—Byron 8.5, Sir Knox 7.12, Patriotic 7.10, Mira 7.10, Sir Tristram 7.6, Lady Moutoa 7.4, Beacon 7.4, Medallist 7.2, Ngatimaru 7.0, British Maid 6.13, Ladrone 6.13, Ceylon 6.13, Sir Solo 6.10, KilosteTc I.X ... Hack and Hunter's Steeples, of 120 sore; two and a half miles.—Kemp 11.7, Gondolier 10.1, Ranter 9.13,. Highden 9.10. Rangitane 9.10, Elwell 9.7, Zulu 9.7, Major Webb 9.7. Champion Plate, of 400 sovs; one and a quarter miles.—Bobrikoff 9.1, Equitas 8.13, Sea Queen 8.13, Bronze 8.0. Ruahine Handicap, of 100 sovs; six furlongs.—Lady Volga 8.13, Avaunce 8.10, Sanguinary 8.8, Monologue 8.3, War Queen 8.0, Lady Louisa 8.0, Ladino 7.4, Suratura 6.12, Hamarama 6.12. Nainai Handicap, of 120 sovs; six furlongs.—Undecided 9.0, Gipsy Belle 8.12, Makara 8.2, Piriwai 8.0, Prosper 7.12, Mt. Victoria 7.7, Leapuki 7.7, Allurement 7.3, Bracken 7.3, Lady Volga 7.3, Negative 7.1, Distinction §'.7.

, TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturpa.") At the Canterbury Park (N.S.W.) meeting on Saturday the principal race, the Canterbury Park Handicap, was won by the New Zealander Monoplane, from Barlow and .Bon Frisco. Five started, and Monoplane won by half a length. Time, 2mih. 17sec, The Welter was won by Wild West (New Zealand), from Lady Malster and Black and Gold. Sixteen started, and Wild West won by half a length. Time, lmin. 14% sec. To-day is Labor Day, and being symbolical of good old Labor sportsmen ibold will "down tools" and cram creeping J trains, from Palmcrston in the South to j New Plymouth in the North, all bound. for Waverley racecourse. By the itime these spasms meet the average kill-

sport's dull and drcaiy eye our more fortunate brothers will be leaning well back in the seats of -- n "funolrnr," ex-i haling assorted grades of tobacco smoke, and exchanging the usual small talk of sports, hopeful and i.tmlidc-nt of success, journeying to the old convincing ground. It is a long and weary run to Waverley, and everything from the' New Zealand ! Cup to the price of pigs will be given a I good hiding. Big fields will be all the go to-day, and provided the weather keeps fine some good racing should be witnessed. Dustins, Ltd., have the catering in their good hands and mine host Nixon, also of Wanganui, will put up a big effort to prevent anyone dying of tlirist. The Marton Brass Hand "will discourse more or less melodious items during the day.

The programme opens with the Morton Memorial Maiden, run over seven furlongs. Thirteen have been paid up for, and' punters in search of an early scoop will probably rush Princess Flo, who has been galloping strongly at Hawera, or Eastwind. Walter Rayner has the latter looking very tit. Fourteen figure in the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, including Simple Sam, Katua, St. Serf and other fair sprinters. :On Wanganui form Topic looks to be the pick of the handicap, and St. Helena, who ' was never better than at present, also reads well in. St. Serf may be the hardiest one of the top-weights to beat. | Considerable interest centres on the | hurdle race. Smilax will make his dc '■ it and Hawera sports only wonder win!, •will be second. The big bay is just the cut of a hurdler, and in company with Bercola he jumped smartly over five flights of hurdles twice last week. Shoemaker comes with a reputation from Hawke's Bay, where he fluked a race recently through Faunus and others falling. On Wanganui running Aviatrix should start favourite, and a mare that can give Fashion Plate the race of the batter's life, and run in faster time than the open hurdle race on the same day, should take a heap of beating. Wanganui sports are saving up for a plunge 1 The Waverley-Waitotara Cup has drawn a disappointing crowd of six. The defection of Phroso has made the race more open and practically all the runners will come in for spirited support. Euroco has been galloping nicely at Wanganui and may be hard to beat, but Sam Pan reads bettor treated than the ex-hurlder. San Pan raced well at Wanganui, running on strongly at the end of a mile, and it is stated that the San Fran gelding has been moving well in his work .since. Master Laddo is fancied amongst the "shrewdies" and may prove Sam Pan's most dangerous opponent. A lovely Siwarm of thirty-two horses are engaged in the Wilson Stakes, four furlongs, and here's a race for a dividend. With a good start St. Gate might shake things up, and Topic, Simple Sam and Gal tee are the other good performers over a short course.

may deplete the field for the Brewer Handicap, in which a dozen at present hold their ground. The topweights may settle the argument between themselves, and Katua, St. Serf and Master Tupulii are able to run out a solid seven furlongs. Cup runnk may throw some light on the Momahaki Stakes and winning doubles often come off at Waverley. Euroco i and Sam Pan may be the favourites. Another big crowd iwill be saddled up for the Jackson Memorial Stakes. Twenty-nine are carded, including St. Gate. The latter has been galloping .strongly on .the Wanganui tracks and 1 Twill probably have the suport of his party in this event. The Wellington meeting will be concluded to-day, the principal event being the Champion Plate. Should Bobrikoff be sound enough to tackle Equitas in this race a fine contest should be witnessed.