SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 194, 14 February 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACIXt; FIXTURES. February IS, 1!) ami 21—Uuncdin Jockey Club. February IS unci ]!)—Woodvillc -lockev Club February 2li anil 2.s— Wanganui Jockey Club March I ami •"> Oaimevirkc Racing Clul. March 13 ami 1 -1— Napier Park Racing Club. TARANAKI AUTUMN MEETIXC. (Notes by •'Moluroa.") Tl would be lianl io imagine moro propitious weather than that which favored the Taranaki Jockey Club on tile occasion of their autumn meeting this week. In consequence, the attendance was large, country people in particular rolling up in big numbers. Natural!}, speculation was brisk, the amount going through the ''inill" making '.be previous best look very small. Despite two or three races in which small field's offered little 'scope for betting, the •investments' leapt up to the thirty thousand mark, just over ,C70(!0 above last, year's Inures. On the whole, the. racing was keen and finishes close, glowing testimonials to the good work of llandicapper Morse, Starter O'Connor, and the ever-watchful ''stipe,'" Mr. McMahon. The one regrettable ' feature of the gathering- was the disqualification of the local horse Ton Tere. and with Him owner, trainer, and rider—a clean sweep Right here it might be mentioned that the running looked to be above board. and certainly -less suspicious than the eonduct of one horse in the First Handicap Hurdles: than one or two in the First Welter, and one in the Stewards' Handicap—all first day's events. This writer holds no brief for Toa Tere or any of the disqualified parties, but, in the absence of an ollicial explanation, we are left to draw our own conclus- ' ions. Toa Tere, as will be remembered, started sixth favorite in a Held of a dozen .in the Timaru Hack Handicap. From a line start, Rector Clirl and Miss Kelly found their feet quickest. -Miss Kelly set a torrid pace, and Paoli had Io travel ,-it his best gait to beat her on the post by a bead. Toa Tere was never sighted, and could not have been closer than sixth when the field strung out first. He is no chain- ' pion, and many good judges consider that he. could not have won from that position, with Bst .lib. in the time recorded—lmin 13 4-osee. The stewards may have extracted convincing evidence that Toa Tere was "pulled." but the public have it right to know some- , thing about it. If Toa Tere was a nontriei', six months was an .inadequate sentence anyhow!

The principal handicap each day resulted in a surprise, both (Jolrlsizc and Patronale starting at long prices. C.oldsize's recent form did not suggest that he was up to Cup form, but Patronale gave spectators a hint by his bold showing the first day that a' mile and a distance, was not beyond his tether. Coldsize won the Cup on his merits, running right away from the opposition over the last furlong. The time, recorded— 2min 7. 2-ssec—was just one-fifth of a second quicker that the previous best put up by Lady Medallist in 1011. Patronale was one of the leaders for a mile, and proved too much of a handful for Nodder. Berry. in the Paul Memorial Handicap, 'pushed the roan in behind Coromandel, and did not give him a chance to get to the front until the High School was reached. The rest is history.

11l the open sprint events, the pub-J lie were also at fault in picking the winners. Play OIT, with his featherweight made Rewi Poto and Cladiole look cheap, and Peronilla out.-laycd a better favorite in Play Ofl' ili the Farewell Handicap.. Lord Lupin, on his ITawera running- looked "good" for •both of the races that he won, and Tctikiira and Wild Lupin won the Welter Handicaps on their merits. Bofh hurdle races appeared to go to the best horses, and there seemed to be no fluke about the victories of Paoli, Patronymic. -Martingale and Coniicy. With ■bettor luck in the dash for a ''possy" on the turn. Firing Line might have reversed positions with Tnnoladdo in the Moturoa Scurry, and the success - of > the St. Ambrose gelding in the Urenui Scurry was well deserved.

Amongst the ''big guns" which scored at Egmont, Emperador, Los Angelos, Allegation and Byron were produced here and ran well. Cheddar again failed badly, and he must be a dear horse for Mr. P. If. Mills by this time. Tiresome was started the first day unl ran a good race in the Cup. but' Stepney and Peroneaf both failed badly. Cladiole appears to be stale, and her exhibitions lacked dash.

The principal winning owner at the meeting was Mr. .T. H. Walter, whose total touched £440, all won by Coldsize. Lord Lupin's double win" placed Mr. L. f!. Bremer second with £270. and Patronale's Paul Memorial victorv netted £215 for Mr. A. Alexander. Then followed Mr. Penfold £12,-,, T. If. Loubv £llO, .T. McCart,- £IOO. S. Pitt £!!.->, W. "N'idd £8,., .1. F. Butler ,€S:>. W. Buckle £B3, T. F. Goddard £B3, F. C. Davis £S3, H. I!. Telford ,£SO. <".'. IX Greenwood £SO, O. Oreen £4O, lan Duncan £25, ,T. Harle £2O. "Walter Raleigh" £2O, "J. Britton" £ls. Trustees late J. Rvan £ls. A. ('. .McDonnell £ls, A. Atwood £ls. W. C. Phillips Cl 5. D. King £ls. .1. F.ireman £ls and T. O'Xeill £lO. The stakes were well spread out, 27 owners dividing the spoil. Amongst the horsemen, the Dominion's leading rider, R. Berry, was in great winning vein, and scored five times. On the second day he did the "hat trick." Out of ten riders at the meeting lie won five races and was once second. H. Cray rode three firsts, two seconds and a third. Deeley had a bad run until the end of the second day, when he came to light and won two races just as Old Sol was putting up tlie. shutters for the day. Others to enjoy the sensation of piloting a winner were: F. McCabe, K. Copestake. J. O'Shea, O. MeCarten. W. Bell and A. Olliver. The principal fees paid to jockeys were as follows-. R. Bern£4S, H. Cray £3O, W. Bell £23. .1. Coiii|iiesl ,C2ii, and B. Deeley £22.. No. 10 saddle cloth was seen out on fight occasions, and was on the winner thr'u-e and second an equat number of limes. Lupin was represented by three winner, at the meeting. Patroness, Coronel. and Sir Laddo each had a brace of winners.