SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 254, 25 March 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

NOTES BY " MOTUROA."

THE RANGITIKEI MEETING,

A reminder that the Rangitikei Racing Club's annual meeting takes place at Bulls to-day and to-morrow recalls manji things not at all pleasant. Established away back in 1875, the Rangitikei Club claims to be one 'of the i yldest on this coasts and during the past 40 years had seen many "ups and downs." The Rangitikei Cup has been won by such great performers as Opawa, Foxton, Rangipulii, Lorelei, Bona Fidel Convoy, and Nonette. But a few years years ago' the race was worth £4oo—a big stake as stakes went then. A fine now course and expensive annointments were added, and just when things looked brightest the pendulum swung and the 1 club was driven out of business by a wave of hysterical and unwaranteil killjoyism which saw feeble politicians enact laws which sent the country clubs to the wall in favor of their bloated city rivals. But thcr injustice could not last for long, and with only a season's l break, the Rangitikei Club—favored only with an unusual meeting instead of two as previously—commenced to struggle back to its former prosperity. | To-day's Cup is worth but 170 sovs>, r~d 100 sovs is the best stake otl'ered to sprinters. But acceptances are good all paying up in the Cup—and ihe least that all true snortsi can offer our Rangitikei friends is a hearty good wish for a successful meeting. The dozen nominated for the Cud still hold their ground—a high tribute to the popular handicapper, Mr G. Morse. Of those engaged, Leonta, Moutoa Girl and Mescal are the nominal favorites. Reports say that Leonta has not done much work since racin<* at the Wanganui meeting, and down the line the big fellow des not claim many admirers. Moutoa Girl may not be 'up to C.O, though the field is not a strong one. and both Mescal and Braebum may hold her safe. Monolgue shapes better over a mile journey, and Stepney is too erratic to warrant consideration. The race looks very open. Horses that aTe spoken of for the minor eve;.ts Huia, Lubriline, Ratana, Orleans and Aratiatia. They shuld run we:; at the gathering.

CURRENT TOPTG\ Bound to come- There is a horse named Tndrabarah at Tlulls. A. Olliver will hj« riding Braeburn, Aratiatia, and St. Bfccs at the Langiti kei meeting. A usually-well-informed tout writas from Fo>rton that Hiss Kelly may safely lie labelled "hot stuff."

Old Moloeh, who owned up to ,'ve years when he won the Wellington Cup of 1908, has been nut on the active list once more.

■ Coromandel, who was being prepared for the liuville race 011 the spro:;(i ciuv at Hulls, broke a small lionc. in 0110 of his legs on Saturday. Certain jockeys who have month' been trying their abilitv riding trotters would do well to tumble to the fact that the Sloan seat is no good at trie new {fame. To do a trotter justice they will have, to' lengthen their stirrups very considerably. " The Wiivcrley-Wa'tntara- I!/', has resolved to spend £IOOO this season in extending the nwent ramshackle building which does service for a members' stand. A new tot.e house was the last ■improvement, and the club will soon he faced with the necessitv of buililinir a larger grandstand to accommodate the big crowd which attends its annual meeting. Ladoga is one of the prime fancies for the Oreat Autumn Handicap. r>robalily on account of his forward running in the Napier Cup. Tn that race he stumbled after half the distance had been covered, and he had to make up a lot of ground to get within two lengths of "Bronze at the finish. "First Olance, a winner at Dunedin. occupies the position of favorite for the Great Easter Handieai). The Irish-bred horse'is reported to be a "hummer." Starter C. O'Connor was not in his usual form at the Te Aroha meeting, which led a northern scribe to remark: "The best starters can have bad luck. There* were plentv of had horse.-, at the meeting. At these country meetings, at which there are so many riders lacking experience and horses lacking manners, some indifferent starts mu-1 occur." The withdrawal of the Dunedin Cup winner, Flora McDonald, from the Oreat Northern Oaks, has caused a lot of reappointment i n Auckland. The race now looks like provin" a match between Bonny "Helen and Merry Roe, both of which are galloping well.