SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 111, 3 October 1914, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. October 3—Napier Park 8.-C. Spring. October t», 10—Dunedin J.C. Spring. October 10—flawke'a Bay J.O. Spring. October 20—Wayerley R.C. Annual. TUBS TOPICS.

(By "Moturoa.")

Tie Napier Park Spring Meeting takes place to-day. Acceptances are fairly numerous, and Wanganui and Otaki running seams to point the linger of probability to several of tha horses engaged there. If Hereford starts in the Greenmeadows Haek Hurdlca, the public Bhould not have trouble in finding a favorite, though the consistent Golden Water is Bure to have many friends. A lot of unknown cattle figure in the Trial Handicap, but the Taradale Hurdles ahouid attract a good field. If reserved, Hereford-might be hard to stoush with 10.7, .and Fashion Plate (who has had a lot of racing lately) and Player arc not badly treated. Akes and Rigo Park may carry most money in the Ahuriri Hack Handicap, and Sir Donald and Bteinhali (on Wanganui form) read weli in tha County Hack Handicap. If the Park Stakes is not a fast-run race, Camjxador may be troublesome, but he did (■not strike one at Wanganui as being a | stayer. Multiply is sure to be, well 1 backed. On Otaki form Our King looks to have a soft thing on in the Railway Handicap. The Australian Jockey Cub's Spring Meeting commences at Randwick to-day. The chief events to be decided this afternoon are the AJ.C. Derby and the Epiom Handicap. It is to be regretted that New Zealand sta-bleß are not better represented at the gathering, but Messrs. Greenwood, Watt, Ryan and others have a few horses engaged. The A.J.C. Derby will not draw a big field, and favoritsin rests with the Traquair colt Woorak. The doubls as to his staying seem to be quite dispelled, and ho promises to start a warm order. Favorites have won five of the last 13 Derbies, and comprise great horses like H lutvilliere, Abundance, Mountain King, Prince Foote, and last year's winner, Beragoon. Next to Woorak comes Ravello, and at longer prices Uariita and Mountain Knight have been fairly w«U backed. A different talc is to be told of the fate of favorites in the Epsom Handicap. First «hoiee has not won since Famous had hia number hoisted in 1903, and amongst the list of failures were Maniapoto and Medallist, which ran unplaced. Royal Laddio was favorite for the Epsom last week, and First Principle, Oignndra, and JRathlca were well up in the betting. Gigandra is "topweight with 9.10, and noticeable No.w Zealanders engaged are Bon Ton 8.13, Chcrubiui 8.7, and Rathlea 8.4. In trie minor events several Dominion-owned nags appear, including Moonbria 9.5, and Cherubim 9.0 in the Spring Stakes, a w.f.a. 12-furlong eVent, and Merrimux baa 11.2 in tha First Hurdles (two miles). Bercola was given 11.4 in tie latter eve»t. -Radnor is expected to run prominently in the Spring Stakes. The Metropolitan Handicap comes up for decision on Monday, but of that more aioa.

Otaki races were well attended this week, and the totalisator turnover showed a slight increase. AH of which must be very gratifying to the club and to racegoers, for it is quite on the cards that many little clubs are waiting to see how the eat jumps before going on with their meetings. Fortunately the war is not affecting New Zealand greatly, and the attempt by kill-sports to howl about the continuation of racing "during this strenuous time" has been smothered in a cloud of race-moeting profits that have been generously tossed into the War Fund.

Otaki results were not rery startling, though it was very pleasing to sec the neddics Undecided and Peroneal in winning vein. Both were well backed. In fuet, the dividends all Tonnd wire email. Punters were threatened with intelligence. The only times they really went ■stray were in the steeplechases, Bando-: loro returning bia Bupportcrs a great second dividend on Monday, and VVaiwetu .performing likewise on the second- day. A warm order in Gold Soult (Gold Crest —Consnela) was unexpectedly "outed" by Lady Black on the first day, hut the former made no race of the Trial Handicap «n Taesday, heating eighteen. Bene showed that her Wanganni form was no flash in the pan by winning each day. 6ba is a good eort. Our King made amends for his double defeat of the previous week lry waltzing off with the principal sprint each day, and the priees attached to his victories were wonderfully good ones. Master Achilles, with a win and a Becond, performed consistently, and Columbus added another second to his long string of "ncarlies." Sonic day he will emulate his illustrious namesake and "land." Quite a gloom was cast (an the heavy weeklies Bay) over pnntcrdom when Tyson failed on the seetnd day. He was Teekoiied a "sure «op," but aft«r making most of the running faded out in the last few yards—the only part that counts. Just before

the tote closed Tyson was paying a fair price, *nt the pencillers scut their money hack to the course, and ho jumped from £3OB to £BOO in • flash. (The above in offered as »nrc proof that tho Bar Von is really extinet!) Now that Mr Geo. Hunter's Gaming Bill lias passed Ha final stages, and 31 extra totalinator permits are available, I the seramble for first place threatens to endanger the lives of those entrusted with stemming the rush and deling out I thosa same permits. Tho racing clubs j will get 15, trotting eight, Rnd hunt j tflmbs eight. Now is the time (o ask, "Where does Taranaki come in?" Juot look at the Waitara Racing Club's course going to waste; and then oast your eye on the heart-breaking struggles of that game little body of sports, the Waimate Plains Trotting Club; and finally ask what encouragement has the North Taramaki Hunt Club had, and there you have it in «ae sentence. The Gamin,? Bill has been passed with the object of lielpin<» the sountrv clubs, and the above represent Taranaki's just claim for recos ■ilion. Bnjoyable meetings wore heM on the ieppcrton course until the WaitaTa H.C. was rubbed out to let t'v j Metropolitan Clubs race as often as they ' wished. This club should ccrt.-iuly be 1 reinstated. The Waimato Pirns Trot- . ting Club held seven meetings with book makers operating; two meetings without betting; and for two years no meetings have been held. Yet T.'irr.r.aV" abounds in good trotters, as A'rari?. VI : bon, dive, Hamapuka, Belle Car, Golden 1 Rose. Pukeknra, Erin's Trace/ and ' others have proved. These horse;, have been forced to go afield for re'/in::, but ' all lave- won in good company at Auck- ' land or at Christchnreh. The pligh;, of \ the North Taranaki Hunt Club Ims Irra \ just as pitiable. Thanks only to the generosity of the Taranaki J.C. in knl- ' ing tnoir course, and licensed victualler? and others donating prizes, the meetings ' j have keen kept going. ToU penaits , wonld reeitfy all these things, and sportsmen should not rest until these permits have been obtained.