SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 159, 22 November 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa"). Weights for the Woodville summer meeting are due to-day. Already Ayr Laddie's progeny have won £IO,IBB in stakes in 'Stralia this season. The old gelding Noteorini (EtonOrini) dropped dead at Te Aroha last week. A record totalisator dividend is reported from South Africa, where a rank outsider returned its few backers £389 9s for a win. Feilding acceptances are very disappointing. Most of the '''cracks" have been allowed to drop out, but the fields are still sufficiently large to ensure a good meeting next week. Electrakoff is quickly getting into form again, and' his chance of landing the St. Andrew's Handicap at Takapuna next Wednesday is highly rated. Although John failed to win a hurdle race in Sydney, the ex-New Zealander scored in the Jumpers' Flat Handicap at Williamstown. John was sent out a warn favorite, and, ridden by R. Cameron, won very easily. Late scratchings are viewed with disfavor in Victoria, as the owner of Eighteen Carat found out when the stewards fined him £2O for that offence at Flemington the other day. Just over three-quarters of a million of money has been received by the promoters of "Tattersall's" sweeps this year, of which the Tasmanian Government took £58.750 and "Tatt's"£ 75,000. The Melbourne Cup sweep drew £175,000. What a fine thing a sweep would be in New Zealand instead of a narrowminded crowd forcing us to send our money to Tassy!

The Birkenhead horse St. Aidan won the big race each day at the Winton meeting last week. He is paying his way in the Far South, and such a wellbred horse would command a good figure at the stud.

For many years we have become accustomed to seeing Trainer R. J. Mason's charges scoring all along the line at Riccarton, but at the recently concluded Canterbury gathering that mentor did not have the pleasure of leading in a single winner. W. Creenwood is disposing of his horses, and it is considered likely that Mason will shortly leave for 'Stralia.

This writer is generally against the imported article, but the committee appointed by the Racing Conference to consider applications for the positions of stipendiary stewards have acted wisely in appointing a Sydney man, Mr. J. McMahon, to be chief stipendiary in New Zealand. Mr. McMahon has been a stipendiary steward under the Australian Racing Club for some years, and his vast experience puts his claims for selection above all others. In addition, the appointment of an absolute stranger will be welcomed by all sportsmen. The "stipes" are badly needed in this country, where stewards are generally "good fellows," who wouldn't think of putting out So-and-so's horse or of asking questions of that prince of good fellows, Jack What-you-may-callem!