SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 283, 2 May 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. May 6, 7 llawke's Bay J. C. Autumn. May *>.' 7—iiarlborough R.O. Autumn. Hay 7, S-Ashburton RC. Autumn. May 13, 14—Egmont R. C. Autumn. May 21, 23—Wanganui J-C. Winter. RACING C:LUBS AND THE PRESS. Notes by "Moturoa." Sporting men are proverbially easy going, and >ery few, even though they turn to the sporting columns in their favorite newspaper right smartly each morning, even stop to think what the newspapers of the Dominion ure doing for horse racing. Thousands of pounds worth of cablegrams and telegrams are published, and pressmen are sent to all parts to report the progress of racing clubs or the running of our "champions'' (more or less). Then when the sport is attacked the! racing public look to the sporting newspapers to defend them and their sport. And for all this the newspapers catch an occasional advertisement —very occasional from some clubs—and that is all. Very often, after a weary car or train journey, a pressman is not treated with the ordinary hospitality offered, to guessers, punters who follow the meeting, or "friends oi the stewards." This is a double or two-fold complaint. Racing club 3 do not do their duty to sporting papers, and more often than not they treat with disdain the representatives of those papers which have done so much for them in particular, and racing in general. Probably only two or three papers in New Zealand oweHheir existence to horse racing. The hundreds of others might cut out sporting and not lose a penny. In connection with the first complaint, it is discouraging to sec the clubs giying their advertisements 'to papers which give practically no fpace to sporting, and which not only encourage a continuous wowseristic war against racing, but would hound a sporting scribe off their sacred premises at the point of—the official shears,, no doubt! On the second count it might be stated that the clubs are not showing due consideration to pressmen. There are notable exceptions in this respect, but the general rule is to treat a scribe as an intruder, as one who comes in on "a pass" and is therefore of no use to the club! The pressman is so used, to this discourtesy that he can hardly telieTe his eyes when a club's president or secretary extends, tho glad hand, tenders him a decent luncheon or other refreshment, and sends to the pressroom information as to over-weights, allowances, inquiries, etc., which the scribe is entitled to get from an official source. ■ The other day the Egmont Racing Club's committee discussed the advisability of allowing pressmen to attend judicial inquiries, but the proposal was defeated. Which was quite right! The pressmen are fully occupied pushing the pen all day, and' have no time to attend long inquiries/ The Egmont Racing Club makes a practice of, sending an official verdict of each inquiry to the press-room, and that fills the bill admirably. In addition the E.R.C. snpplies all totalisator figures, etc., and their at: tention is deeply appreciated. Theirs is an example which many other clubs might follow. Nowadays racing clubs must be run on business-like lines. Nothing is more provoking to a busy pressman than to find the secretary in a state of "bustle," tote figures. not available through the tote steward being busy entertaining (jit the club's expense) a party of lady friends or the mayor of Kaukappakop; allowances and overweights missing; and as for inquirieswell, ask the gods! Some day the pressmen will "down tools," anil then the racing clubs will awaken from their lethargy and the Press and its representatives, will come into their own!

CURRENT TOPICS. Races at Hastings on'AVedncsday and Thursday. - Emperador returned his supporters a false price in the Mahawatu Stakes. "Wonderful, isn't is, how ' Sveaborg came to lose those hack races at Trcntham! Tyson was "red hot" on Thursday, and duly landed the mustard. Some of the horses seen out in the. hack welters at Awapuni were badly troubled with the "slows." Details of Avoindale racing show that Gerberga won the Dominion Handicap from the word "Go." Royal Arms and Crown Pearl ran well on Thursday, and with better luck both might have scored. Reported that 300gns was refused for Exotic at Wellington. A safe fencer should be worth more than that this winter.

This week's Hawke's Bay meeting will give the club a chance to show off the splendid new grandstand and appointments, £35,000 being spent since last meeting. Merry Roe has been rehandicapped to carry 9.0 in the Porangah.au Handicap, and Sir Knox 8.4 in the Cup at Hastings next week.

Jockey A. J. McFlynn rode four winners (Ruffy, Royal Irish, Soultikoff, and Tripoli) at Avnndnle. Usually regarded a» a hurdle horseman, "Mac" can hold his own on the flat as well, and can lick 'many of the cracks when it comes to "punching" a lazy prad along. Others to earn distinction were R. C. Brown with three wins, and C. Brown with a brace.

Tlie public quickly drops a horse after one defeat, as instanced in the case of Bonny Helen, who'was allowed to pay a, good price in the. Longbiirn Handicap on Wednesday. The filly ran a third and a second at Elierslie, anil Merry Roe's subsequent form made the Nev Plymouth-owned nag out to be no slug. With 8.2 in the saddle she lasted enough to beat a pair of lightweights, and, as stated above, returned her party a .very nice price.

The stipendiaries were fairly active at Awapuni and they appeared to have good reason for inquiring into some of the "doubtful" performances by prftds and jocksters. As a result six months "rest cure" was handed out to Classis. owner and trainer T. Wilson, and jockey T. George. R. Horry, whose handling of General Madero on Thursday was hardly artistic, was given a month to think it over on the quiet. Autumnus looked very fit as he pranced around the birdcasre prior to the Maiiawatn Stakes on Thursday, and his parly r were-sanguine of success. Though not a "show" horse. Emperador looked fit. but (he public would havs nothing but Autumnus. It was a great finish between Autumnus and Emperaiior. both horses running as true as steel under imnishniMit, and Emperador only won by a short neck. In carrvi>i»- 'n.7 to victory the winner put up his best performance to date. What it clk-mi b»rs<he would have proved iF bourfht' before Hie Egmont meeting. He wk nfl'end IV 800 (lien, but th» wnu!d-b» buver thought the fi..„ n . ; 0 o l]i<rh. W!i-i|'l„. thinks now could not lie expressed : :< ordinary black and while!

At Foildinw Xmihix was a<- bi.r „<: : , Imllnrk. but at Awapun' this w'pok be lifid fnicil ilnwii 11 lot -v\ nn Thnr* 'l:'.v mil ,i elds., (incotirl ;o JU-nitnn in the SloHvlnu-st Witor, oaring 9 R00( |

price, fimila.v should be ready when the Egmont meeting comes along. Aruake has not been jumping too well lately and that probably upset the Wanganui prad's chances on the first day at Palnwraton. On Thursday he fenced better, and Huia being in one of his bad humors, the Wanganui horse won nicely.

Egmont weights are due to appear this morning and no doubt they will engage a lot of attention. ' i ocal stables will be wrfl represented at the fixture, which promises to be a greal success.