SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 241, 20 March 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March 24, 25—Rangitikei R. C. Annual. April 3, s—Auckland R.C. Autumn. April, 5, <i—Canterbury J. C. Autumn. April 5, 6—Folding J. C. Autumn. TNRF TOPICS. (By "Mt curoa.") Rangitikei races on Wednesday. Leonta broke it for a win on Thursday. A tidy sum was won over Martingale's win at Masterton. Katuh, Avon Park, and Calais were "dry" bets at Opunake. Zion and Lady Amai were allowed to pay very healthy dividends on Wednesday. Ineuru is very well treated by the handicappers at present, and is worth watching. Tliev reckoned Classis was a moral for the Welter at Opunake, but a bad start beat her. She may do better next week. Jockey W. Adams is riding well this season and showed his versatility by winning the Opunake Handicap on Styrax and the Hurdles on Katua.

The grandstand and totalisator house at Opunake will require enlarging before next meeting. "Tons" of money was shut out on Wednesday.

Styrnx was caught 'n a galloping mood in the Opunake Handicap, but he ran the President's Handicap in patches. He should have won the double.

Vcstalis is likely to keep on losing races if she does not improve at the barrier. By Martian —Ingleneuk, she is well enough bred to win anything.

Mr. A. Morse shows good form at the starting barrier, and it is quite likely that other clubs will give him a chance next season.

Manifest, bv Merrie^England—Sweet Oil, scored a first ani\ ft second at Opunake, and is one of those game sorts that may win many races if properly placed. The much boomed Deeside (Cheshire — Vanilla) let his party down badly in the Maiden. He can gallop in private, but puts on too much d side in public!

Nga.poto was well backed on Wednesday, but the weight stopped him. His backers apparently forgot that he only carried feather-weights when he scored at New Plymouth last month. Horses for courses! Katua ran second in the Hurdles at Opunake last year and won this time. Stvrax won the chief handicap each time, anf: Calais has taken oft two Farewell Stakes. In addition Patronata, Lady Amai, and Zion have shown up prominently at the last two gatherings. Chakwana is reputed to be good in the mud. and was sent out first favorite for tlie March Handicap at Masterton. She had no chance, however, with Goldstream. who won very rasilv. Suratura is winning fairly often now, and it is surprising what pood prices 'ho pays. On Thursday the public went mad on George (now trained by Tjlley), but the horse shaped as if short of a gallon. Another Fordell-trainod one, in Austin, was "downed" in the Welter. Most of the Fordell horses eallon best on the top of the ground, though Leonta (who has feet like frying pans) does not mind it being a trifle soft. Although Do Gama failed to win r. race at the V.R.C. meeting, his plaee winnings amounted to £4OO, second in the Essendon Stakes and third in the Champion Stakes being each worth a connle of hundred. The \Var has not affected race meetings in the Dominion to any appreciable extent, but tlie opposite is the case in 'Stralia, where attendances and fields have dwindled down considerably. Even (he V.R.C. autumn meeting was a poor one, and the revenue is said to have been much less than usual. Sydney scribes are nol favorably impressed by Bcreola's appearance, but when it comes to racing tliey may alter their tune. The Taranaki horse is under A. Percival's care at Randwick, and is going along nicely in his work. The totalisator is coming slowly but surely in Victoria, Of course, the big punters and "long shot" artists still oppose its introduction, but recent meetings show that the movement is gaining advocates very rapid]v. What a boon it has proved to New Zealand, and how it would increase stakes on the other side, where big money is rarely offered outside tlie big meetings and the chief cities! g Mr. E. ,T. Watt figured on the pay sliest of the V.R.C. autumn meeting with a very respectable total of .€1303 against his name, due to Traquette's meritorious victories In the St. Lcgor Stakes and C. M. Llovd Stakes. When Traquettc won the Llovd Stakes from end to end she ran tTie mile in 1.30, which is only a fraction outside the 'Stralian record for the distance. Following is the list of winning owners at tlie Opunake meeting:—Messrs P>. Hicks £l2O, A. G. Crawford £BS. E. Knight £BS, A. A. Narbev £7O, H. L. Jury £7O, I). J. Goodwin' £7O, F. Solwood £OS, M. Gardner £OS. Mrs. M. Miscall £25. W. Lilc £25, F. Ho.skin, A. Raynes, H. W. Johnston, and ,T. Barlow £ls each, Lile & Leslie £lO, C. H. Washer ond Mrs. C. Ruscoe £5 each. Jockey W. Adams, who won the Opunake R.C Handicap on St-yrax and the Hurdles on Katua, was the only horseman to ride two winners. Others to score a single were II Webb, O. McCarton, L. Noddor, 11. Goldfinch, K. Lambess, and W. Price.