SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 24 September 1914, Page 8

SPORTING.

WAXGANUI KOTES. (By "Jfoturoa.") The Wanganui Jockey Club's Spr'mg Meeting opens to-day, and will be concluded on Saturday. Acceptances for the first day, which eloeed on Monday evening, showed that splendid fields till round wero assured, and the feature of the meeting 'promises to bo the big proportion of Taranaki horses that will take part. The weather promises to fce beautifully fine, and considering that the profits of "the meeting are to be devoted to the War Fund, the attendance should be very large. The rat-dug track is waterod daily, and the going is excellent.

Fourteen hold their ground in th« Flying Handicap—a wc which looks as open as any on the programme. Expect, Our King, and Sir Moseley ire nominal favorites. The writer was lucky enough to witness a few gallops on Monday afternoon, when nobody was supposed to be looking, and Expect proved himself to be in great form. Ridden by Bell, he beat Passadena over a mile in 1.43, and didn't turn a hair in the process. It was a good "go" f«r either of them, and they will run well at the gathering. The Maiden Hack Race has attracted 16' noraes, and is causing a lot of argument at present. This scribe is of opinion Don Francisco and Flagfall (which have won races this month) are not eligible to start. The Wanganui stewards appear to be in a quandary, and the aid of the stipendiaries will probably ,bo invoked to settle the question. Most rules of Maiden races are qualified with special conditions, such as "for horses that have not won ft race at time of nomination," or "for borsea that have not won a race of SOsovs, or more." But the Maiden Hack Race at Wanganui has no such conditions, and a strict reading of the rules is that a maiden is a horse ■that has not won an advertised race at time of starting. Don Francisco won at Ashburton, and Flagfall at Avondale. (Probably before this is in print an official verdict will be announced. We want no repetition of the Awahou case. On Urm Don Francisco and Flagfall must ba hard to beat, and failing their racing Blackall and Ngapoto maty run forward. The quintette weighted for the Okehu Hurdles still remain in. Aruake may be favorite on the day, but 1c appeared to be a trifle sore last week, in which case Glcnorchy will be strongly supported. Glen Nevia and Harbor Light are most discussed in the Hack Hurdles, but Bt. Gate always carries a lot of money on his own course.

Another very opea raw is the Spring Handicap. Eewi Poto is quoted at a Short price on tho double charts, but Passadena, Awahon and Maniaroa will all come in for support. 'Maniaroa was responsible for a fine gallop on Wednesday morning, and should run yery well. The Wartganui Guineas always proTides a fine race, and to-day's contest promise* to be splendid. Should Clifford's bracketed paid go to the post they should carry most money; but flyettua (on Martoii form) and Balboa are both likely ones.

The hack races liays filled well. King Chira, SteinhiU (half-brother by 'Martian to Bon Ton), Flagfall and Mgmpoio should giro a good account of themlelye*.

B. Deefey f-t engaged to rldo Rene i» the Putiki Handicap.

Under the new hack rules Gerberga and Glcnfern are again eligible to race in that class.

W. Bell will pilot Passadena in the Spring Handicap.

BEKAGOOX'S BREAKDOWN. By cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Received 23, 10.43 p.m. Sydney, September 23. Beragoon has beea eeratehed for all engagements.