SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

August 10, 12, 1-I—Canterbury Jockey Club Winter, August 2Xi—EgmouHVanganui Html. Septamlber I—Marlon Jockey Club Spring. September 2—Haugilikei Hunt Annual, 'Soplemlber fl—Dannevirke Eacing Club Sttplecliase, September 0, 10—Ashburtoa Racing Club Spring. Scpteaniber 23, 25—Wanganu! Jockey Club. TURF TOPICS. (By Moturoa.)

The Grand National meeting will open at lliccarton on Tuesday, when the principal events will be tlie New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase (V/« miles) and the Winter Cup (flat) Handicap, one mile). On Thursday the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Bace (2'/4 miles) and the Beaufort Steeplechase I'iy., miles")' will come up for decision, and on Saturday the curtain will be rang down with the Lincob) Steeplechase (3 miles) and the Sydenham Hurdles (1% miles) as the chief "plums" of tile dominion's premier jumping meeting. Acceptances for the principal events should appear this morning.

The erstwhile Taranaki 'chaser Valentine looked to have the Liverpool Steeplechase at the Paknranga Hunt meeting in safe keeping, when he turned turtle at the top of the hill the last time round. Considering his fine schooling displays, he was paying a wonder'ful price, and his party stood to win a good stake if he had stood up. After all, "-Valentines."- are hardly of a ipleasIrig'cfiar.WtcTp" s - r " T -' '•■■■■' ['■'■''■ .'■■■ < ■ Tbe'drearnersb'avc beerrat work'again, and a local "sport" reports that he " saw" Leonta strolling home in the Grand National Hurdles, with Charlie Price looking round and laughing at the opposition. The Winter Cup, according to our friend, was a great race right up to the half-distance, where a pony shot out and won by a couple of lengths. Just as he was going to look at the prad's number, the milkman fell over the terrier on the verandah, and the " tip " was lost! The Wanganui Jockey Club Committee said a few harsh worda the other day about the management (or mismanagement) of the Jockeys' Accident Fund. The subscriptions have rolled in year after year, until the fund now runs into four figures, yet those in charge of the golden hoard dole out payments in niggardly style. In some instances, injured jockeys have been starving for months before the authorities could he induced to prise' off from the pile the few miserable shekels due to the unfortunate ones. There is at present in Wnnganui a jockey who was injured through a fall at the Wanganui Steeplechase meeting, and who is just crawling about after months In lied, and this lad has not received one penny piece from the fund: in fact, if it had not been for the charity of a local trainer, and more recently for help from the Jockey Club, the youth would have tiart a pretty bad time! This fund is merely an accident insurance, and the sooner those in charge of it recognise their responsibilities the better.

A veteran of the turf in Taranaki, in the -shape of Miilga Bill, has said farewell to the racecourse, h'aving been sold to Mr, A. Muller, to be used as a hack. Jf my memory i.;n't a way for a holiday, the black son of Merrlweo had not won a race for over two years. Exit William!

This week's Referee contains the racing statistics for the recently concluded season, and interesting reading th\y should make for tun" patrons. The outstanding features are the records put up by the 'Martagou horse. Martian, in the winning sires' list, and lay the Martian mare. Warstcp, amongst the winning horses. Martian's progeny, chiefly Warstcp and Reputation, gathered in £22.848, which tops the previous .best, Soult's £20,085 in 1912. Warstep's £G3CO makes a serious mess, or a catastrophe, or a signal defeat of Nonctte's £3900 in 1901. Come to think i,f it, there is something very appropriate in the success of a Martian and a Warstcp in these warlike times! Next to Martian in the winning sires' list comes Charlemagne H., whose progeny in New Zealand mopped up £14.551 last sea-son. In addition, this sire had several good winners in 'Stralia. notably Carlita. who won the Victoriin Racing Club's Derby and Champion Stakes, and his total winnings must have been very considerable. The defunct pair. Sonlt and Multifid. follow with £13,349 and £10.030 respectively. No oilier sire reached the five-figure mark. Sir George Clifford has regained his position at the head of the winning owners, hut season's coin totalling CMS". Tn the comparative table the Referee Incorrectly gives his previous season's winnings as £87%. whereas lie only took off ' C'lTtVi. iMes-rs, T. TT. lowiy £8li», C. G. Halgetv- £OSBO, 0. D. Greenwood CUM", and the lion. J. 1). Onnonil £OlOl have all done well in the past season. Warstcp is followed in the winning horses' list by Reputation £4690, Desert Gotd C«ios, Chortle £3Uo. E-mpcrador £3105, Flying Start £2330. Pavlova £2SIS. 10! (lallo £2.220 and Balboa £2200. Stakes Here never V<?licr, and these totals make past records look vcrv Nhod.lv.

' T.iranalj's share of the Million 11a.5 I'i-eil fairly Amongst the owners ,Mr. ,). i;eui'«e .£i(Jls anil Mr. A. Alexander €21",) n lio\v to most advantage-. Kcwi Poto heads the 'horses with £1145, anil Royal Anns dead-heats with liim. S'lmhird won cldf-". Ntyrax C'lrtOS Bonny ITelen .COIIO. ManUrmi l*m,>s. Crown Pearl CTTII. Tree Lucerne iy.'lfl. Harbor l.ifilit Cu7o, Crawford Cnitf Play OIV .CC3S. filenrov £Ol-1. Wild Lupin .CiiSil and .Avon Park £;M. Those firadi have paid their way handsomely.