SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 13 June 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

NOTES 1!V ' •UACIXU FIXTURES. .fline 17, IS liawke's l!:iy J.C. Winter. June 24, a.-Jvapiw |» #r k R.c. Autumn. •Inly 2, 4—Gisboriio B.C. Winter. July 15, i)j—Wellington R.c. Winter. TARANAKI TROUNCED. This week an unhappy band of Taranaki sports crept, silently and sadly baek from the (in'at, Northern in'.>t!iJny. It was- si very different jwrt.v tc the one w.nicli lit out confidently' W Auckland, but little more ■liran a week before. But"tilings had hnppi'ii"s| in tbc meanlime Sandy Paul 'hail turned a "dip" m tlie .big Imi-dle nice, and his dUpisiv ill the' steeple was about.. .is poo:- sipossible.- Bercola |i,„! round a bar to victory jft the big cross-country event; ana of ,tll« others, Crown Pau-'l. and Tyson did best wiih .second money. K was a sorry disaster. A debacle! When 'horses nr« "in the air" anything may bapiien. hurdle racet> arrif steeplechases a<re uncertain things', tobet on, anyhow! But Taraiwiki' fins been proud of its jumpers in the past,. Have we rea.-lon ito have the sune feelings to-day? ine "old hands," with vivid recollections of Dummy, Kaiintite, Waiwona, Battieaxn, Muscatel, Compass and others, say "No." And who will dispute the wire-whiskered "wise-acres"?

THE GREAT NORTHERNS. ■ Once again the big Auckland "double" has proved a sm'pri?te. nnekot for tne punters, and a "turn, up" for the layers. (Whsrt money there must he in laying "doubles"!) To Onga, who led the remiwnta of the Great Northern. Hurdles field home, had done nothing in public to suggest that he would prove eqimf to landing tihe thousand pounder, -and' few beyond his own party supported him to any extent. What 'might have hapened had the others not sprawled early in the contest will never be- known, and doesn't matter anyhow. Te Giiga won; the bookmakers won, and the public—as usual —lost! Peary's win in the big steeple was not unexpected. Ormoud's rep. had been making big fences look like pony jumps ever .since he went to E'l-w-il-ie, and witili McCahe up 'he won on his merits. Ormond's luck has heen execrable of late, particularly in the jumping line, and sportsmen will rejoice ove r the t-riumuii 1 of the well-Known corise jacket.

CUR-RENT TOPICS. Hawko's Bay races -on Wednesday. Wild Lupin k reported to be amiss. Hawko's Bay acceptances!! should appear this morning. Some peopi'e got the 'spike about Barbwire's running in the Remuera Hurdle Race. Admiral Soult was heavily backed away from the course on Monday and duly landed. Knrnalpi was not long in winning a' Dunedin. The twelve furlong hurdle race on tlie second day prored a soft snap. To Onga comes from a jumping faiiw ilv and is a full brother to Hoiuga, who g-it'hercd in the Wellington Steeple of inn. Otahu is said to be a proficient fencer, and Wanganui sports will be on him to a man when Trainer Lambess asks him to "step himself out" in a stick event. Some people reckoned that Bluestone should have beaten Haskayne in the Prince of Wales Handicap at Eilerslie, and the way the grey won the double (in hollow fashion) this week looks as if the above contention were right. Nedra. who won the Wellington Steeplechase last season, has gone wrong and is hardly likely to carry Mr. C. F. Yallance's colors this winter. Jockey C. Emmerson, who rode four winners at the Otaki meeting, has gone to Sydney on a health trip. "Not riding this time," laughed Charlie, evidently remembering his recent experience over there only, too!well!

Old Paritutu got round safely in the Great Northim Steeplechase and finished sixth. After the first mile it was ' plain that the old fellow's condition was not what is required for a three and a-half miles journey, hut he may be fitter when the Grand National rolls along. Gladiolc, a much-raced mare this season, has been turned out and will not he asked to sport silk until the spring. Formby, who is being trained once more, will require some time to get into racing condition. After the softest of tasks he shows signs of soreness. Denise Orme, who was brought back from Auckland recently, where she has been quartered since the Harp of Erin fire, has been sent out to Mr. G. F. Moore's Bushy Park estate and will not be taken up again until next season. Lcolanter last season gave promise of turning out a fair steeplechaser, but his recent efforts at Wanganui and at Otaki make it look as if he has done his dash. Princess Moutoa ran well at Otaki and will only have to reproduce her excellent track form to give a good account of herself in her Hastings engagements.

The Cornet, who won the Provincial Handicap at Duncdin, is one of- the most consistent stake-earners running. His winnings during the past four years have averaged about seven hundred goldens—a nice income of £l,l a week. Not a single first favorite scored on the first day at Ellerslie. On Saturday Admiral Soult "caught," and on the last day Bluestone (first favorite each start) won a double. The public had a wretched run, taking it on the whole. When Goldfire (Wairiki-lionny Doon) raced home half a head in front of the unlucky Monathol in the Ranfurly Welter, a lot of stay-at-home punters rejoiced at the limit dividend handed out. The writer was not the only one who saw the wires from a good quarter tipping the Wairiki gelding as a really good bet! Admiral Soult was in front arid looked like staying there when he fell three furlongs from home in the Maiden Hurdles, hut he made amends for his mistake by running off with the Orakei Hurdles, the Jumpers' Flat Race and Campbell Hurdles on the last two days. A promising sort, evidently! A good word is spoken for Master Strowan, who showed pace each start at Otaki. He is not ready yet, but when primed up should soon repay Mr. F. Kaston for the £4O purchase money expended. Mr. S. Truman, the owner of Exotic, purchased TTaumakaha for I7"> guineas after the horse had won the Flying Handicap at Otaki. Haunnvkaha will join 11. Hickey's string. The steeplechases at Otaki were the most popular events on the programme, drawing good fields, providing good sport and raising enthusiasm amongst tlie spectators. The writer hopes to see the Egmont Racing Club providing steeplechases next winter. There is no doubt they would prove a good "dra,w." The secretary of the Egmont Racing Club reported at a meeting on Thursday that there was a profit on the winter [ meeting of about £I4OO. The gates | were £2O more than at the corresponding meeting of last year. The. totalisator tax had increased from £634 to £7BB.