SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 190, 31 December 1912, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturo'..") "The old .year drags wearily to .a close." Tims a religious paper- This is the time when jnoiiriiful-visaged killsports break away from ' the piercing shriek of the youngster's penny squeaker and the blatant rioting of older sports to ponder over the very wettest and saddeet happenings of a year just taking the count. .lust as if a ton of Tain regret could wipe away a grain of a past misdeed. Fortunately, dull care does not figure on the sportsman's "card." The old croaker fell at the first fence/centuries ago and lias been forgotten in the chase. To-morrow a brand new. just-off-the-ice, New Year will call us, and joyfully will we take our places at the barrier. The upside-downs, the unkind pinpricks of fickle Fortune, and the "stoomers" of 1912 (like the beers of yesterday), will all be forgotten then. Hope springs eternal in the sportsman's breast, and, when the joy-bells ring in the glad New Year to-night let those of us who are single, and those of us who have been married long enough to be our own bosses, clink glasses and drink success to 1913. This is the blessing I wish all good sportsmen, etc., etc. To-morrow the flags will be flying on a dozen New Zealand racecourses. For Taranaki turfites 110 better day's sport could be wished than will be provided. ,by the Stratford Racing Club. A special train will leave New Plymouth at 9.25 a.m., and is timed to reach the course at 11.20. Trains will leave Stratford for New Plymouth at 5.33 and 7.8 p.m. Excellent acceptances have been received for the first day's events, and given fine weather the meeting should be a most enjoyable one. With Taranaki form to guide them punters should not find great difficulty in sorting out winners. Stratford penalties are not advertised in the Referee, but the writer presumes that they are the same as last year, namely, 71bs for each win on the flat and lOlbs for a hurdle race. Therefore, Con the Slmughran, St, Serf, Phroso, Aruake. Royal Dragoon, Crawford, St. Cate, Denise Onne, (Inittari. .Ascalon. Conncy, and Muleteer will be required to carry lOlbs extra in their first day's engagements, and Aviatrix's weight in the Oliura Hurdles will be 10.9. The Borough Stakes is a race only open to horses which have not won a raed of 15 fiovs at time of start, niid- Crawford's victory at New Plymouth last week renders him ineligible.

In the Stratford Ctip North' East will" only be meeting Con the Shaughran on 31bs better terms 'than -Mien tlio- latter beat the Wanganui horse at Xew' Plymouth, and Con's -elianccs : look" fairly bright. Oti the other 'haful, the race' should do the top-weight ,a lot of good as he has been off the " Beetle' for some time, and lie' should strip a much-im-proved horse at Stratford, It 'should be a good race, anyhow.' '•*' Allure appears to have' earned every pound of 9.11 in the Tariki Welter, and it remains to he seen whether Princess Flo, Ivuropotangi and Moirettc—which showed good fonii last "week—rtin extend Mr. Aleiioth's bay gelding.

Phroso won so easily at Xew Plymonth that a 71bs penalty 'should not anchor her in the Midhirst Handicap. Tctikura is reported to be in' good nick, and on Feilding and Bulls form is sure to have a big following.

If horses ran like machines one might safely argue that Bereola Would beat Timothy, wherever theyUnishcd, in the Ohura Hurdles. But many tilings may happen in a stick event, and despite penalties Aviatrix may be the popular selection on the day. ' Mr. A. Hall's horses, Xorth-East, St. Gate and Dcnise Ornie have been accepted for at Marton, and they may not start at Stratford.

Lucerne's trip to Awapuni was a profitless one. and the filly might have done better if kept in Taranaki for the holiday meeting«.

The consistent Katun van a couple of good races last week, and, with a smart lad in the saddle might win a race at Stratfori. ' -.'CS'jjip Wangunui-owned horses had a good innings at the Taouiaki meeting. and it is stated that heavy commissions wove worked for some of the successful ones on Thursday. The most successful horseman at the meeting was Len. Nodder. who steered five firsts, two seconds and three thirds. He rode in every flat race except one, and performed the hat trick on the eoneluding day. Bob Barlow showed that he has not lost liics dash liy piloting three winners and a trio of nmners-up. 0. 'MeCarton and J. Howilen, with two wins apiece, were the oniy others to vide more than one winner.

Following js the list of winning' owners at tile meeting:—Trustees of ,f. Ilyan £220. A. Hall £IOO, .1. TT. Evans. £l7o* P. Really £l4;">. T. Hopefull £llO. f|. F. Moore £95, C. Ruscoe £S.7. .T. (VHalloian £So.. .T. MeKean £7O, I'. Johnson £(ir>. J, F. Butler £(>o. A. Alexander £.m, T. Henzigen £3O. J. R. Stanford £3O. .T. Barlow £3O, 0. Thornton £ls. S. Putt £ls, J, O'Sullivan £lO. O'Reilly and Cullin'anc, £lO. J. Pawson £•">. .T. Foreman £:> and D. •T. Goodwin £5.