Sports and Pastimes

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 172, 7 December 1912, Page 7

Sports and Pastimes

SPORTING. •*» . RACING FIXTURES. Dec. 11, 12.—Rangitikei Racing Club. Dec. 26, 27.—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 27.—Taranaki Jockev Club. Dee. 26, 27, 28.—Manawatu R.C. Dec. 20, 30, Jan. 1. 2.—Auckland Racing Club. ' TURF TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa.")

The Rangitikei meeting opens .on Wednesday. Taranaki weights should keep punters

busy now. The muck-raced Glenfern seems to have lost his dash.

St. Serf has dropped into the bad .habit of running innumerable seconds. During the running of the Borough Handicap on Wednesday Lord Renown broke a blood-vessel and was pulled up. Ceylon started at a long price, and ran poorly the first day at Woodville, but on Thursday she was better backed *nd scored comfortably. The mud was so bad at Feilding the first day that nobody would have picked Mira to be a grey horse after the finish m (lie St. Andrew's Handicap. St. Tonev returned a nice price in the Woodville Electric Handicap when he just failed by the shortest of heads to bpat a warm favorite in Vibration. The Hawera horse should be worth following this month. Crown Pearl ran nicely at Feilding and again at Woodville, securing place money each start. It is about time the weight-adjuster gave the local horse a chance.

Hamurana, a three-year-old filly by Kilcheran—Spring, owned by Mr. H. McManaway, returned a very tall dividend When she finished second to Awahou in the Scurry at Feilding, but with Deeley in the saddle -she was warmly supported for the Maiden at Woodville, and won easily. A neat way of putting it. Owing to a Tasmanian consideration, four employees of the Adelaide Tramway Trust closely followed the performance of Piastre in the Melbourne Cup.—Exchange. Paoli made amends for his first day's defeat at Takapuna by landing the Vauxhall Handicap in good style. The son of Merriwee is a free galloper, and won from the word i; Go!"

Master Laddo and Sir Solo fought out the big race each day at Woodville, and honors were even, with one win each. Sir Solo's victory on the second day was long overdue, and the Wairarapa horse had the misfortune to lose the St. Andrew's Handicap at Feilding, and the Woodville Handicap four days later by a short head each time.

Manawakaha showed poor form in the mud at Feilding. and will have to do considerably better to run as well as his connections expect he will in the Auckland Cup. Dr. Paget's Lucerne was started in a mile race the first day at Woodville, but failed to see it out. On Thursday the filly was again made favorite in the" Telegraph Handicap, run over five fur-' longs, and this distance suited her admirably. She won by a couple of lengths from War Queen. Merton and thirteen others, including such good hacks as Boyal Simon. Stellaris and Handsome Maid. Lucerne should always prove dangerous over a short course. St. Serf was first favorite each start at Woodville, but could do no beter than finish second. St. Serf generally has the bad luck to bump up against. an "occasional" horse.

Gazalie's running at Feilding pointed her out as one worth watching, and her defeat by Hamurana at Woodville was no disgrace, as the Hawke's Bay filly got away badly and made up a lot of ground before the finish. Her turn should come shortly.

Sir Daniel showed a good turn of speed at Waverley. but the mud settled him at Feilding. He is more at home on top of the ground.

The most erratic brute seen out at Feilding and Woodville was the Sylvia Park mare Divinia. She takes charge of the strongest horseman, and her behaviour was so bad at Feilding that the field was sent away without her. On Wednesday, after breaking the tapes twice, she got away well and ran prominently, eventually finishing third. There is no doubt about her pace, but she takes all the steam out of herself, fretting and fuming at the barrier.

llawki's Bay horses are, as usual, gathering in most of the hack hurdle

races this season. They say that everything wearing a horse's hide is jumped iff Hastings. Chief Marshall and Bravest won three out of the four hack hurdle races contested during the past week, and they are a pair that will probably be heard of again in open company.

Longstep is a very erratic customer, but his deeds at Blenheim and at Woodville stamp him as a decent :-printer. As with most fractious hoists. Longstep shows to best advantage in a small field.

A four mile flat race i- a father tin-1 usual event nowadays, bur th.'re is still one of importance 't tl:-if. distance in America. We refer to the Kentucky Endurance Slake-., which look place at Churchill Downs. Louisville, on the Oth of last month. The prize nionev was 15,000 dollars (£3000) and a gold cup. There were seven runners. The topweight, Star Charter (Sst 81b), was favorite, but he never really flattered his backers. Manager Mack was leading by 20 lengths at the end of two miles, but commencing the last mile he was only a length in advance of Sotemia (Bst 71b). A little further on took charge, and gradually drawing away., won from Colonel Holloway by a inargitt Variously estimated at from" 15 to 30 lengths, while the gap between the second and third (Azo) was put at from 20 to 50 lengths. There were 30,000 people present, and Sotemia's share of the stake was £1714 and a cup valued at £2OO. The journey was cut out in 7min. 10 4-osec, as against Messenger Boy's record of 7min. 14 1-5 sec. in the corresponding race last year. According to a cable message to the Sydney Sun, the first female jockey in Vienna made her appearance at a race meeting a few days ago, but she was not a success. She was well mounted, her horse, in fact, being the favorite for the Taee in which she was riding, but notwithstanding this advantage she did not distinguish herself. At the outset of the race the young woman succeeded in beating the flag. She was. of course, promptly brought back, and when the next start took place she was left standing. She soon got going, however, but never got anywhere near the leading horses. and finished last.

j LAWN TENNIS. .«. THE DAVIS CUP CONTEST. Melbourne, November 28. The Davis Cup contest for the lawn tennis championship of the world, between the holders, Australasia, and the British Isles, who are the challengers, opened disastrously for the home team on Thursday, at the Albert Ground, St. Kilda road.

The sensation of the day was the downfall of N. E. Brookes, the champion of Australasia, who has been regarded as the world's leading player for the last two or three years. The weather was warm, but not distressingly hot, and the court appeared to be as near perfection as possible. ft was well covered with grass, but was so close cut and well rolled as to give as fast and true a surface as. could be desired. A stiff northerly wind blew across the ground during the afternoon, but the court itself was well protected by the high surrounding stands. There was nothing in the conditions, therefore, to afford an excuse for the failure of Brookes, and all credit is due to J. C. Parke, the' Irish champion, for his great performance. He was certainly the better man on the day.

The greatest enthusiasm was displayed by the spectators during the two matches, applause being bestowed freely upon the success of the visitors in a most sportsmanlike manner. The crowd was, indeed, quite unable to contain itself during some of the best rallies of the day, and at times every stroke was accompanied with cheers, which rose and fell as the rallies progressed. The umpire pleaded more than once that the applause should be restrained until the completion of each rally, but it was in vain. The keenness with which the matches were followed also took the form of loud and frank criticisms of some of the umpire's decisions on the part of many spectators.

Melbourne, November 29.

There was a great crowd at the Albert Ground to-day, when the doubles game started at 3 o'clock. Though the match lasted barely an hour, it was so full of stirring Tallies that the crowd could hardly grumble at its shortness. The match was surely the double of Dunlop's life, for he'excelled himself. To say that ; he stood put, even above Brookes, who himself was in great form, is to pay the popular "Alf" as high a compliment as one very well could. But there will be few who saw to-day's match who will not siiy that on this occasion he very thoroughly deserved it. His play was masterful from beginning to end. He was first-to get into his stride, and he'never dropped it through the three brilliant sets. At the net he was nearly always the' dominating factor in the many exchanges which took place, and his driving of both the Englishmen's services was remarkably consistent. Dunlop's tossing was also accurate almost .to''the point of perfection, while from the first' game to the last he never missed'' oiie smash overhead, and, what is more,,he killed them outright,'too. ' ! The play was of a high standard 1 all round, being characterised by clean, hard' hitting, and remarkably little Brookes started the match badly with .a number of weak strokes, but he waraei to the game later on. and was. seem .with nearly all, if not quite all, his old 'skill. That he did not outshine his partner was due to the brilliance of Dunlop, aiid t not to any failing on the part ,of ( Brookes. . -,

The Park Tennis Club has. decided to use its fourth court from to-day. The membership of the club is steadily increasing, and now stands at about 80.

A start has been made with the laddor matches on the New Plymouth Club's greens. Nicholson beat Webster o—l, and Thompson disposed.of E. Griffiths to the tune of o—2.

A very fair number of entries have been received for the ladies' handicap doubles, the first matches in connection with which will be gat o/T this afternoon or early next week. Th'e postponed friendly match between the Waverley and New' Plymouthclubs will take, place for certain either next Thursday or the following Saturday. The name will be played on the New Plymouth Chili's courts'. The local team has yet to be picked.