SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Nov. 3, 6—Auckland R. C. Spring. Nov. (I, S, 10, 13—Canterbury J. C. Metropolitan. Nov. 17, IS—Marlborough R. C. Spring. Nov. 24—Aslihurst R. C. Annual. Nov. 30, Dec. I—Feiiaing J.O. Spring.

POVERTY BAY TURF CLUB. By Aasociiiioa. Gisborne, last night. The Poverty Bay Turf Club's spring meeting concluded to-day in splendid weather. The totalisator handled £13,55!), making a total for the meeting of £25,(179, compared with £26,017 last year. Result?: SBCOND WELTRII HANDFCA P. One mile.—l .Jem, 1; 4 Goldenlyte, 2; 2 Carburetter, 3. Also ran: 3 Scorch, 5 Multikoff, 0 Smilax. Won by two lengths. Time, lmin 47see.

SECOND HURDLES. One mile and a half.—l Slcacombe, 1; 4 Prince Eddie, 2; 5 Brunswick, 3. Also started: 2 Fagot, 3 Rustic. Heads separated the first four horses, Time, 2min 54 3-ssee. JUVENILE STAKES. Five furlongs. —5 Hythrcad, 1; 1. Lady Klysian, 2;' 3 Ilexton, 3. Also started: 2 Gazique, fi Gex, 4 Boggits, 7 Rosevear. Won by a neck. Time, lmin 4 4-ssec.

MAICARAKA HANDICAP. One mile. —3 Jem, 1; 4 Pursefiller, 2; 2 Waiorewa. 3. Also started: 1 Campeador. Won by a head. Time, lmin 45 4-ssee. MAIDEN 7 SCURRY. Five furlongs.— 2 Otara, 1; 3 Anxious. 2; 1 Gold Shot, .3. Also started: 4 Lord AiiHlie, 0 Tipatipa, '5 Gazique, !l Pearl Marie, S Sabrenui, 10 Anafarta, 7 Wurtax. AVon by a length. Time, lmin 4 2-s.scc. WAIMATA HACK HANDICAP. Seven, furlongs.— 5 Hikahakeke, 1; 1 Pacific Slope, 2; 0 Multione, 3. Also started: 3 Rewanga, 2 The Summit, 4 Penro*. Won Uv a nose. Time, lmin 31 3-ssec. ' WAIKANAE HANDICAP. Five furlongs.—l Rupahu, 1; 3 Gold Foil, 2; 5 Carburetter, 3. Also ran: 2 Eva'dne, 4 King of Athol, 0 Lord Ainalie. Won easily by two lengths. Time, lmin 4see

FAREWELL HANDICAP. Six and a half furlongs.—2 Waiorewa, 1; 1 Iliad's Hero. 2; 3 Multifual. 3. Also ran: 5 Perceler, 4 Loreto, C .Smilax. Won by a short length. Time, lmin 24y 2 sec.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Big fields, pood starting and fine handicapping produced an excellent meeting at Waverley on Labour Day. Added to this, a large attendance, and there you have the constituents of a successful race meeting. The Waverley Club was lucky, and yet unlucky. In fact their luck reminded one of a hum sandwich with the ham a trifle—or—ancient! To hop oil' with the crowds were duly "set" — in train, motor, or per foot—before the deluge descended. That was the outside layer of easily digested "fodder." Then came the ham—the ancient porker! The rain fell as if the sluice-gates of a better world than this had burst their braces, and racing was delayed for quite a spell. The subsequent rush to get the races through so as to allow patrons to connect with evening trains hit the totalisator where Willard tickled "Massa •lohnsing." And then the rain took off; and held off for the rest of the day. That was the final slice of luck. The gods smile on those they love best! The racing was interesting right through (he piece, close finishes being provided in tlie Cup, Brewer Handicap, Wilson Stakes, Moumahaki Stakes, and Jackson Stakes. The man-in-the-box had an exciting time.

Winners were not easy to pick, only a brace of first favorites, Black Ada and Imarose, catching the judge's eye, while hot orders like Tree Lucerne, St. Cate. Interlude, Combustion, and Melodist wero cast into exterior bankruptcy. Still, Taranaki took its share of the spoil; Lady Middleton, Ngapoto, Bivouac and Lady Amai pulling off "firsts," and paying good prices. With so many "Christmas" jockeys riding, the running was remarkably clean, though of course, there were noddies that gave flagrant imitations of the "not to-day, thank you" business that apparently passed the "stipe's" notice. No accidents marred the racing, and everything passed off with the "save trouble" smoothness of the average country meeting.

One "kick" which patrons wore entitled to make against the management of the gathering was that overweights were not always posted on the board supplied for that purpose. The board itself is a poor, insignificant affair, and placed as it is inside the gate (usually crowded by the way) leading into the birdcage, it escaped most people's notice. Instances could be given where considerable overweights were carried, but the board held its tongue about the matter. Another item (hat should have been attended to was the board which was ruled off and headed for ''positions at the post.' 1 The column was apparently considered of no importance! The public might think otherwise. These remarks are made more in sorrow than in anger. It is a pity to see a club with such excellent prospects failing to grasp minor details which are carried out to the letter by less pretentious clubs. Under the circumstances, the trouble that the press was put to as regards "digging up" totaliator figures, etc., was only to be expected. The Egmont, Taranaki, Stratford and Wanganui. Clubs—to mention a few on this coast—see that official figures are supplied to the press, as well as official verdicts of inquiries, etc. Even the pressman relishes a little attention!

To get away from unsavoury subjects! Riding honors at Waverley were evenly divided between K. Lambess, R. Hatch, and W. Price, with two first apiece. The remaining events fell to J. McLean and B. Morris. The riding, on the whole, was pretty bad. Principal winners at the meeting were: R. A. McKenzie £l9O, H. L. Jackson £l4O, T. Walsh and J. Quartermain Cl3O, A. Leslie £IOO, and B. T. Bennett £OS.

The rush for the coin caused a good many horses to be severely over-taxed on Monday, no less than eleven being pullrd out twice in the afternoon. Welcome Nuggett, after a gruelling race in the Cup, was pulled out an hour and ahalf later to get another hiding in the Moumnhald Stakes. The Hawera horse is a trifle young to receive treatment like that. Boldstroke, the erratic daughter of San Francisco and Braveheart, was classed as by Sweet Simon—Sylvan Song on the Waverley "correct card."

Plenty of racing next week! The Auckland R. C. spring meeting takes place on Wednesday and Saturday, and the Canterbury J. C. Metropolitan meeting opens this day week. The Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday. Present favorites are Lavendo, Wallace Isinglass, William the Silent, Reputation and Naxberry. A good number of ex-New Zealanders are engaged at the V.R.C. spring meeting, which opens at Flemingtoa to-day.