SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 181, 18 December 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Considering the number of race meetings raging on Boxing Day and the days following, the Taranaki Jockey Club has 110 reason to grumble at the acceptances and general entries received for its Christmas meeting on Friday night. The Christmas Handicap has drawn eight acceptors, including North-East and Patriotic, the principal defections being Byron and Royal Murine, who arc engaged at ot'her meetings. Nothing of any consequence has been withdrawn from 'the Hurdle Race, ten remaining in, and of these Timothy, Smilax, Otararoa, Aviatrix and Bercok are decent fencers. The stick events promise to be the best of the meeting. The field for the Flying Handicap may be a small one, but quality is well represented. Ten have been paid up for in the Borough Handicap, nine in the "Welter, and ten in the, Stewards' Hack Handicap. The presence of Simple Sam, Galtee, St. Serf, Master Tupnhi. Amake, Princess Flo, Phroso, Boronia and l Jackpin amongst the hacks ensures keen racing. With good weather, the forthcoming meeting should he one of the best and most enjoyable Christmas gatherings held on the New Plymouth course.

Auckland punters are having an anxious time of it lately. No Auckland double was more solidly supported a month ago than the Waimangu-Our King combination, and at present both horses are unsound and may not sport silk on the 20th inst. At present Bon Ton and Masterpiece are most in favour for the Auckland Cup, while Midnight Sun, La Reina, Royal Soult and Goldfinder are being nibbled at. The big racee is only a fornight ahead, and unless a downpour of rain comes shortly to take the sting out of the tracks there will be a lot of unsound horses before Boxing Ddy. 'Mr. Alee. Hall will lie represented at the Taranaki meeting by North-East, St. Gate and Phroso. The'trio are in good niek, and should take some beating in their respective engagements.

For his Feilding and Rangitikei victories Chief Marshal has caught it hot with 12st 51b in the Hack Hurdles at Marton. There are twenty engaged in the race, and the next down the list is Nescot 0.13. The top-weight is a bold jumper, but does not .strike one as a hoi-si likely to do much good under big imposts.