SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 27 June 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

| AUSTRALIAN RACING. By TeJegraph—Press Association. Melbourne, June 26. First forfeits leave 33 in the National Hurdles and 26 in the Steeples. NOTES BY "MOTUROA." RACING FIXTURES. July 2, 4—Gisborne R.C. ! Winter. July 15, IS—Wellington R.G. Winter. AugUßt 11, 13, do—Canterbury J.C. Grand National. THE COUNTRY CLUBS.

• Parliament has hopped off for another flutter, and the public—ever mindful of the wholesale promises of William Masscy, Esq., look to this final session to see those same promises fulfilled. The Prohibitionists want their 55 per cent., and everybody else wants something or other. The Country Racing Club's Executive is to the fore, as a circular letter received from Mr. Albert Bruce (chairman) indicates, and it is up to : William Massey to get busy if he is going to satisfy all-comers. The Premier <:nd members of the Massey Ministry | have been stumping the country, and "that-will-be-all-right" assurances have been handed out to the Prohibitionists, and to sportsmen alike. The Country. Clubs' Executive meet at Wellington on July 14, and no doubt their case will be fully stated when they call at Parliament House. Mr. H. M. Campbell's Bill, held over from last session, looks like becoming law, and then our slaughtered country racing and trotting clubs will get their rights. It is a thing worth fighting for, and Mr. Albert Bruce and his fellow-workers deserve the praise >of all sportsmen for the strenuous efforts they are making upon behalf of the country clubs of the dominion.

WELLINGTON WEIGHTS. Yesterday Mr. H. Coyle declared his ■weights for the first day's eventß at the Wellington R.C. wuiter meeting. A casual glance at the adjustments for the Wellington Steeplechase is not without its surprises. That Peary would top the last was a foregone conclusion, but most people imagined that Bercola would be on the same mark. Peary was in receipt of 161bs when he defeated Bercola in the Great Northern Steeplechase, and at a difference of 31bs (the | other way), those who were wont to cni thuse about the Karamu 'chaser should pause and reflect a little. The Spaniard j finished behind Bercola at Wanganui, I and beat nothing when he ran Becond at Hastings. It is hard to see what chance he can have with Bercola at Wellington. Ulenmore has any amount of weight, judging by his poor form in the Wanganui Steeplechase, and at a difference of lOlbs Jackman should hold him safe. Antarctic, who is still pottering around at Wanganui, is not likely to trouble the judge this season. Exotic and Captain Jack are nicely placed, and Silver Monarch looks as promising as any of the light-weights. Summed up, Bercola is well treated (amongst the top-weights), and Jackman, Exotic and Captain Jack read well in the middle of the handicap. The Winter Hurdle Race looks open enough. Player and Kilmeny, arc rightly placed, and Tc Onga (the' hero of the Great Northern meeting) is about right. Morning has not done anything remarkable since winning the Grand National last year, but should be well up to 11$. Goodwin (Park meets Player on only olbs better terms than in the Century Hurdles, and the Hawke's Bay horse won rather easily then. Of the light-weights Sam Tan, Fashion Plate and Golden Water look all right, but the winner will probably come from high up. Kilmeny, Te Onga and Player may be hard I to ibeat on the day. The minor events should draw good fields. La Reina, I Blucstone and First Consul may be well supported for the Parliamentary Handicap; Ruatangata and Margo in the Victoria Hurdles; and Blueatone, Crown Pearl, Gipsy Belle and Black Lupin in the Stewards' Handicap. The Hunters' Steeple looks like proving a race •between The Chief, Bonny and Te I 1 Whetu. The owners of Try Fluke and Garance have no reason to complain of the weights apportioned to tbeir horses in the Te Aro Handicap.

CURRENT TOPICS. ! ! Gisborne races on Thursday. Timothy refuses to jump big country. Are they keeping Sandy Paul for the National? Purscfiller promises to fill Mr. Twist's ipurse this winter. Bransfield was hot stuff on Wednesday and won very easily. Two safe conveyances, The Chief and' Sir Lethe, got away with the principal events at Napier. The crowd behind Waterworks reckoned they couldn't miss on Thursday, but the Marton nag fell when going strongAlthough Sam Pan could only run fourth each day at Hastings, the dogs were barking his name on Wednesday when lie won the Ahuriri Hurdles. Sam Pan was ridden at Napier by Charlie Cochrane, who, through an ac- , cident at Ricearton two years ago, has j been standing down. Needless to say, "Cocky" received a great reception when he won. Vi was put up for sale last week, but I nobody wanted her, so her owner gave her a run on the second day at "The 'Park" and had the pleasure of seeing I tlic mare stroll homv in front in the Waiohiki Hurdles and pay a good price. Grey King, a grey son of Strowan and Lula, made a good impression by his hollow defeat of a big field in the Kidnappers Hack Hurdles at Hastings, and coming on to Napier Park easily defeated Sam Pan and a useful crowd in the Poraite Hurdles. Grey King races in "Mr. W. S. Davidson's colors, this Gisborne sport being well known as. the owner of Goldtinder, Reservoir, Douche and other good performers. Grey King won pulling up at Hastings in 2.48, for a mile and a-half, and judging by Thursday's display in open company 7 , has a big future before him. At the Te Mahanga dispersal sales last week Maku was purchased by Mr. G. Roseman for 20gns,, and Kopu went to ■Mr. R. Gooseman's bid at 48gns. The stallion San Fran, by Gozo—Procella, was sold cheaply at 90gns. A Wanganui scribe has it that San Fran is by Procella out of Gozo—which is putting the cart before the horse with a vengeance! The Soult gelding Waipuna, who, after winning many good races in New Zealand, ran with success in 'Stralia for several' years, is at last numbered amongst'the defunct. Waipuna won both on the flat and over country, and at one time defeated the groat Trafalgar at wcight-for-age, nine furlongs. ; Trafalgar recenily broke; down badly af- , ter contesting a hurdle race at Adelaide | and was handed out the friendly bullet.