SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 273, 10 April 1913, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The Manawatu Racing Club's Autumn meeting will be concluded to-day, the principal event being the Fifth Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes, of (WO sovs, run over six furlongs. Amongst those paid up for are such speedy ones as Nightwatch, Jason, Salzburg and Princess Moutoa. Of the eighteen carded a fair proportion may see the post, and a line race should result. Every autumn we hear alleged good judges bemoaning the absence of really good hurdlers, hut the winter meetings generally see the gaps well filled. The old cry has gone up again this year, but still maiden and hack hurdle events are drawing big entries. Promising aspirants to jumping honours are particularly tlu'ck in Auckland, in the Hawkcs Bay, and in and about Wanganui and Feilding. No less than twenty-five have been entered for the Maiden Hurdles at Avondale. and surely there is a good one amongst that crowd. Quien sabe? It was particularly hot day. Hot favourites were rolling home, and punters were "warmed up" to betting. The layers were getting particular something-or-qther! Watty the Punter, looking "just off the ice," and clad in fashionable riding "breeks" and leggings as usual, strolled in and put the usual query: "Where's that variegated bookie?" "Where is he," replied the one accosted. ''Carn't find him anywhere. Think the blanker must be hiding under the house!" !•'■'- Wonderful, isn't it, the luck of these clmds who pan never go wrong? Struck a few nf them out at Inglewood the other niffht. "Yes," modestly admitted one of 'em. "T had a paltry fiver on Patronale." "How did you do the first dav," T asked. "Oh." he replied airily, "I had a fiver each Cheddar and Autumnus" "You must be making money at it," T hazarded. "Yes, me and my pal simply can't go wrong. Made £2OO since New Year. Think we'll chuck up carpentering soon and live on the game." Just then e. loud person in "kill-me-dead togirery" blew in and saluted my acnunintanep. "Here," he said, "come outside and I'll pay you that seven-and-sixpence I owe you off Patronale." Then =ome chap started to tell me how he made a record "break" at billiards. It was too much. "Yes, I know," I said as T crabbed my headgear and prepared to depart from that bed of "stretchers," "Yes. you made two—finished!" And I .left.

The Wanganui .Steeplechase mooting nvomisps to bp a (iiip gathering again this vcar. Qnipt tips for the big Steeple anil Century Hurdles Wow. in from evervwherp. An exchange states that \Tgatirunnni will be after the Hurdles. DMn't '■now flip Tfnwora fencer could stay that f;U—two miles and a quarter—hut of course'. Dame Rumour never prevaricated!

Prolvibly never again will there be a Thomson Handicap record like that held bv old Waitiku. one of the finest hnrap* ever owned in New Plymouth. TTf won the Thompson Handicap three ve.irs in succession, and on the third occasion (1S0S) carried 10.3. the. biggest vf'in-ht ever carried to victory iifthe m',)o nee. On that memorable dav he hud ihe late Percv White in the «ad;l'_p. fhoutrh the late Edgar Russell rode him in IRflfi and 1897.