SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 298, 26 May 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

WANGANUI NOTES. (By "Moturoa.") Although the weather was dull in Saturday a big crowd attended the Wanganui races, ilawcra being well represented, while familiar faces from New Plymouth, Inglewood, Stratford, Opunake, aiul other parts of Taranaki were met with fairly frequently. It was a fine conclusion to a record meeting, and when the totals came, to be reckoned up they were pronounced nothing short of marvellous. The sum of £55,103 was passed through the machines on the two days, an increase of £01)70 on the figures for last year, and proportionately better than ever previously registered at any Wangaiiui meeting. When you absorb the fact that the tote receipts for last week's winter meeting (with its fourteen races)' was only about £IBOO behind the total put through at the record Wanganui Cup meeting (with its sixteen races) you will realise how great was the recent gathering, and while all this money was changing hands the patriotic funds were not neglr-cted. The Wanganui Jockey Club rendered the collectors all possible assistance, and dividend drawers responded fairly well when the Bed Crosij tins were rattled under their noses, just over £IOO being collected in small coins. There were four double winners at the meeting—Client, Soporific, Awahou, and Lady Louisa, and first day's form was good to follow on Saturday. In addition to the four horses mentioned, Hoy (who ran second on Thursday) won on Saturday, and Veronal, Salvia, and Black Northern (who were all placed on the first day) returned second div&wk Still, the public did not pick thorn w:' ! only four first favorites winning on tl. two days. The finishes in the flat eventand in the hurdle races were mosily of 4h£ close order, but the steeplechases were won rather easily. On the whole, the handieappcr did his work well. Jockeys C. Price. E. Sanson, ai:d H. Tricklebank won two races each. Others to score a single were t'. l'.a!i'r--"> W. Scobie, MeOonald, L. Traill. \Y. Adams, ,T. Tulchen, and R. McSevenv: B. Decley did not ride a winner, r::1 was twice in second place on Snlviii. The principal winning owners wore: I). Rutherford £450, O. R Hook £445, J. K. Jackson £355, R. Hicks £325. J. McKelvie £230, "W. Tokena" £230,' M. Hobbs .£230, Hon. J. ]), Orniond £2OO, G. J), (ireenwood £170,' T). King £llO, and Burrell & Taylor £IOO. \\ ith the first day's winner, Bimetcr, out. Hoy looked good for the Winter Oats, but Play Oil' was made a slightly better favorite than the Orniond sprinter. Veronal made most of the running again, and stayed on. better than on th? first day, but lioy held too many guns for her over the last furlong, and won a good race by a neck. Play Off shaped poorly, and Deeley gave up the chase at the distance. King Chiara was slow to move, but was travelling very fast in the straight, and was a close third. Grattan's failure was, as usual, due to his inability to get more than five furlongs. The six wero left behind in 1.14 2-s—a good gallop considering the drizzle falling, 'llie previous siest for the race was 1.15 registered by Equitas in IUII. Client and Salvia showed themselves to be head and shoulders above the hacks competing on Thursday, aild the public practically confined their investments to the duo in the Balgownie Hack Handicap. It was a great finish, Client only getting home by a narrow margin from Salvia, Vladian, Draft, Gallupin, and Chnminade, but the honors of the race rested solely on the winner. He was bumped and blocked -on four occasions, and was giving most of the runners a fair start from the three furlongs post, He won his race like a crack, and is something out of the ordinary. Being by Elevation out of Bonhcur, he should be seen to advantage over a greater distance of ground. Salvia ran her usual honest race, and Vhulian was not disgraced. The hitter will win very soon. Draft actually led at the home turn, but failed to go on with it. The boomed Collector carried 10i lbs over- . weight, and might have "collected" the booby prize if Son had not been troubled with the "slows."

The Pole, Daylight Bill, and Soporific were evenly backed in the Grandstand Steeple, and Soporific's victory was made easy by Daylight Bill throwing out. He was lying just behind Soporific and The Diver at the stand double and dill Hot see the second fence, If the grey bad stood up—but he fell, anyhow! Soporific led almost from end to end, and easily disposed of The Pole. The Diver was a good third, and being a pretty jumper is worth remembering for a hack steeple shortly. Jolie Fille was considered "the pea" for the Rata Hack Hurdles, and she did well to gain third place after getting anything but a good run. It is doubtful whether she could have extended Awahou, however, for the black gelding jumped splendidly, and won with something to spare. On track form one would not have picked Awahou to get round safely, but he went altogether differently in company and with the pace on. General Webb paid a good price for second, and was splendidly handled by L. Traill—the best hurdle horseman seen at the meeting. Doon ran very disappointingly, and Ngapoto, whose party thought it "was only ;i case of collecting, was brought up standing when Epworth fell in front of him. Birkful again retired when the whips were drawn. The May Hurdles was in Carrie's keeping all the way. The', lightweights I made play, but Corrie (on the fence) Was always handy and came right away when given her head. From a time point of view, there was not much merit in her performance. She took 3.10 1-5, as against Awahou's 3.12 2-5 over the same distance on Thursday. Black Northern galloped in patches. | The bracketed pair, Kmperador and Banksia, were hot stuff in the Empire Handicap, but both rail very much below their usual form. Lady Louisa, who had gone up a stone, won in good style, but George was unlucky, and only failed by a head. He was badly placed on the bend, and was galloping over everything at the finish. Maniaroa came through with George, tint had to he pulled out through George boring him almost on to Lady Louisa's heels. Tinopai was "roughed" passing Ihe stand (he first time, and everyone but the stipendiary saw the incident. The riding going to the first turn was shocking, and it was a wonder some of the horses did not come down.

Fortify was railed through from Ilawcra on Friday evening, and produced in the Farewell Handicap. He was favorite, and won in hollow fashion from Calais, Boldstroke and a team of moderates. Maltegarde's failure was due to that filly having developed a cough, but the form of the others was wretched. Fortify did not get away any too well, but he left the field standing as he rounded the home bend. The time was I.lli 1-5, and he could have, done much better.