SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 52, 22 July 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

NEWS AXi) XOTKa WINXING JOUKiSTEKS. (By "Moluroa." j The curtain fell on the racing season 191S-1914 oil t-aturdav itist with the conclusion of the Wellington lacing Club's winter meeting, wid winning jockeys' figures make interesting reading. Both oil the Hat and over obstacles the premier positions have beej j keenly contested, and narrow margins I separate the leaders in each division. Once again the Auckland horseman. 8.. Deeley, leads the riders on the flat, this Wr with 59 firsts. Cose on his heels follows the "Highden" light-weight. W. Cell, whose score has reached the respectable total of 51 wins. lie is tJ:u coming jockey without a doubt—-straight-going, level-headed and gifted with a head tllut would do credit to an older body. Arthur Olliver, despite increasing touches of rheumatism, has won 47 times, and then follow K. Berrv 46, J. O'Shea. 43, F. R Jones 3(i, .1. oisen 34, W. Young 32, T. Gray 31. J. Conquest 28. W. l'ricc 2ii. J. Buchanan 84, A. H. Wilson 22, and <'. Brown 22. But for disqualification Ifector Orav would probably have been at the top if the tree, as his 31 wins were rattled up in about four months, and he was riding better than ever when the "rest cure" was (rightly or wrongly) handed out to him. Suspensions and accidents hare spoilt the chances of several others, but considering the travel!ing he has done and the amount of "work" he has ridden Ben Deeley thoroughly deserves his title as premier horseman. Last year's figures of the principal riders were:—Deelev 01 wins. ('. Emmcson 55, A. Olliver 50 and L Wi'son 42. •So it may be seen that Deeicy and 01lirer have maintained their overage, while Hmmorson (who las dene in of, of his racing in \Stra!ia), and L. Wilson have dropped on the scale. Over the obstacles the palm goes to the Tarauaki rider Frank Flyiin. and this scribe offers heartv congratulation? to the Uaweraite. His sixteen liivt.s represent an increase of live on 'his las* year's total. Had he not bee?) debarred from riding at Trentham last week through an attack of pluerisy his figures may have been even better, but on the ''•tlier hand he might have suffered a bad smash when Antarctic (whom he was engaged to ridel fell in the Wellington Steeplechase. 'Tis an ill wind. etc. L. Traill', who finisiied up with 15 victories, was one of the unlucky ones, and but for breaking his collarbone recentIv lie might have added to his total at (lisbonie. A. Julian follows with 11 and then come A. .T. MeFlvnn 10. and F. McOabe 0. Last year "McFK'iin led with 15 firsts; J. O'Connell notched H. and W. Adams 12. Accidents are common at ttois part of the game, and with better luck MeFlviin might have be"ii eloper up. But what would racing he without its element of luck—a dreary sport surely!

CURRENT topic®. All rear to tin- >Tntmn:il now! The Spaniard is "hot stuff" for i V'' (iroiid National Steeple. Sir Lethe anil (.'eorffe duly landed 'in S\i hirdsiy. Tdealisrn returned hi< supporters - frond priee in {lie Trial Hurdles. TTitskavup is a "seeoud da?" ilinr.vv and don't, the jmli'ie know it! Ths heavy going tied Cheddar up on Satnrdav, but iust wait till he strikes « hard bottom I

All Wanganui was on Kew on Saturday and the Bar Vons got some of the Kunilci money back. When Decley steered George to victory in the Kia Ora Handicap he had the distinction of riding the last winner of the season Mr. J. George's luck is right out. Seconds with Royal Arms and Crown Pearl, and a fall with Paritutu just about touch the limit. Darby Paul's running each day at Trentlhevm proved that he is not' the | horse, that lie was last winter. Another J notable failure was Admiral Soult, but | the fitter may improve before the National. ' The solid support accorded to Cloudy 1 Dawn in the Final Hurdles was sur- | prising, and that those "in the know" j were not far wrong was shown by the ■ Aucklander racing in front with IdealI ism over the last half mile. The final I fence brought Cloudy Dawn down, and the howl that went up from "the leads" i could be heard in Victoria Lane, Auckland. The finish for the Onslow Handicap on Saturday was a remarkably fine one. Crown Pearl, lEpwnrth, Kew, Black Lupin and Tatinii (who had corpe fro'n almost lust) fought, out a neck and neck battle, and, the weight standing to Black Lupin, he just beat Crown Pearl bv a neck. Kew was a similar distance away third, and Epworth and ■ Tatinii were almost in line. The .Tulv Steeplechase drew a goo.-l field cf eight runners, of which Sir T."fhe (011 the strength of his running th" first day). Ivuffv and Pearvwere best bricked. Sir Lethe at once went to the front, fo'lowed by Rapid, Parjtutu. ;, "d Pearv. Sir Lethe quickly increased hU lend to a dozen lengths, and. Paritutu falling. Rapid, Peary, Tim Doolan. Kaurna, Riiffv und Glenmore foll'owed in that order. Ar the second fence of the stand double P-;pid r:ln off. and ■ Peary. Kauroa. RniTv.' -md Tim Doolan went with! him. That left Sir Lethe a commanding lead, which hj» held to 1 fie end, winning by a. furlong from C enniore. Tlapid was a similar distance rnvnv third, and Ruffv next. Opinions differ .15 fn whether the result was altered bv t!'iis neeident. but the chances ere i!ml Sir won'd lia.ve won anv I fiow. Certainly Glen-more would not have been in a place. The Marion hor-'e | seems r'glit cut of form.