SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 1 April 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

TUEF TOPICS. . (By "Moturoa.") The Easter racing carnival breaks out on Saturday, and will be continued m various parts of the Dominion o n Monday and Tuesday. Strange to say, Taranaki has no meeting at this favourite time, and the Opunako Club migut change its date to Easter Monday with advantage. The Auckland and Wairarapa meetings open on Saturday, and on Monday there will be races at Riccaiton, Feilding, Beaumont, Kumara, Waipnkurau, and Riverton as well. Canterbury and Feilding round off the carnival on Tuesday next. The Australian Jockey Club's autumn meeting is set down for March 3, 5, 7, and 10. Do Gama, Traquette, Carlieta, Beau Soult, Moonbria, Bercola, Home Rule, Merrimax, Toa Tore, and others are engaged, so that the gathering should be very interesting to New Zealand'" - .?. Bercola is set to carry 11.12 in the First Steeplechase at Randwick, but the distance (2$ miles) is hardly far enough for him. De Gama is in the Doncaster Handicap (one mile) with 0.(1 against his name, and also figures in the Autumn Stakes, 11 miles, and AH Aged Stakes (one mile). New Zealand bred horses are well cared for in the handicap, but should run prominently in the w.z a. events.

Splendid acceptances are carded for Saturday's heats at Ellerslie, though beyond Astor, Calais, Grattan, and Simple Sam this province is not stronlgy represented. Eighteen hold their ground in the Easter Handicap, including Merry Roe, Downham, King Lupin, Red Book, and other well fancied ones. Desert Gold 'is in the Champagne Stakes, and Ladv Penury in the East Northern Oaks, and punters won't have much trouble in sorting out favorites for those events. The minor races have filled so well that owners may find difficulty in getting riders for their horses, and on the face of it the A.R.C. should have a great meeting. •

Nearly thirty Taranaki-trained liorwcs arc amongst the ''paid-mis" at Feilding on Mondav. and include Rewi Poto, JTaniaroa, Ratana, King Chiara, Play Off, Tnouru, Avon Park, Styrax, Ascalon,' Ngapoto and others. On recent form, King Chiara, Rewi Poto, Ratana, St.vrax and Avon Parke should run prominently at tlio gathering. Martingale was very sore at Bulls, having had a had passage bv rail from Mastorton. and it was had policy to start her at the Rancitikei meeting. Queen's Post has turned very dirty it the harrier, and loses lengths every start, She may settle down whe n the hurdles loom ahead in the winter season. 'Trainer Geo. Price has arrived safelv in London.

Croesus and Thmicrador finished together at the end of six furlongs at Riccarton recently, and the clock read 1.15 a fine gallop! One alleged horseman at Bulls w:is hoisted into Hie saddle, and promptly emntied out on the other side. He was so inebriated that another rider had to he substituted. At Cohram (Vic.) the other day tlio stipes followed the races in a highpowered benzine waggon in search of crook running, but failed to detect anything. A Sydney paper, commenting on above, suggests that a. seasoned aviator be onauwd to glide along just over the horses' heads'and signal any pulling or strangling!

AUCKLAND NOTES.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Auckland, March il

The bulk of the horses at Ellerslio this morning were confined to steady work. Hoy galloped seve n furlongs on the, inside grass, the last six furlongs taking 1 min. 18 2-osec. Lady Alicia did seven furlongs o n the sand, the last four fmlongs being covered in 54 3-ssee. Bohiseo and Sportsman arrived yesterday.