SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

STRATFORD RACES. -. The progressive policy of tile Stratford Racing Club is again evident by the amount ol stakes to be given at the forthcoming meeting, to be held on Saturday and Monday, January 1 and 3. The total stakes for the coming meeting amount to £2350. This fact, and the manner in which the programme has been framed have evidently found much favor with horse-owners, who have responded most liberally with nominations. The number and quality of the horses engaged must result in good racing and should ensure to patrons enjoyable sport. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Taianaki horse-owners and trainers should not overlook the fact that acceptances for the Taranaki J.C. Christmas meeting close on Friday evening. Acceptances for the Stratford B.C. annual meeting will close on Monday next.

Riwi Poto has been allowed to drop out of the Manawatu Cup, and another notable absentee is Kooya. The former is likely to race here on Boxing Day, and the mare will probably be at Ellerslie.

The Fordell stable presided over by Fred Tilley shelters a smart sprinter in the shape of Perrier (Golden Gate— Tahua). If track form isn't full-brother to Ananias, Perrier will catch a heat at the holiday meetings. The hurdlers Eexer, White Plume, -and Tarero are engaged at both tie Stratford and Marton meetings on New Year's Day. At Marton, Rexer is set to give White Plume lßlbs over a mile and a half, while at Stratford there is only 51bs between the pair over a mile ■and three-quarters. The clashing of meetings at Christmas and New Year generally shows up a few handicapping inconsistencies, but the treatment meted out to Rewl Poto, Square Deal and Imarose in the Strat|ford and Marton Cups shows that the weight-adjusters are pretty well agreed as to the merits of the trio. As expected, Welcome Nugget has been paid up for in the Manawatu Cup, in which he reads well with 7.8. Albert Jackson has Bivouac and Eurtco looking really well at present, and he intends bringing the pair to the Taranaki meetings. Talking of the holiday meetings the office pessimist reckons that punters who "raise the wind" only do so to "blow it in!" An Auckland scribe reckons that efforts were made last week to secure R. E. Brown to ride Maniaroa in the Auckland Cup, but that rider could not forego local engagements to go north. The horsa has. also been paid up for in the Manawatu Cup, and the latter journey should be more to his liking. Denise Orme is galloping in fine style, and will be ridden by Harold Young at Awapuni. Another dangerous Manawatu Cup candidate is Rinaldo, who is galloping as well as ever. It will be remembered that he ran second to Indigo in the Metropolitan Handicap at Riccarton last month.

Lady Middleton will probably race at Marton on New Year's Day.

Up to the present neither Desert Gold nor her full-brother, Egypt, have been out of a place in any of their starts.

A question that lias always caused considerable comment in sporting circles —that concerning the right of a club to postpone the declaration of its handicaps— is to be brought before Sir George Clifford by the Waikato trainer, R. McMiken. The matter cropped up in connection with the holding over of the weights for the Thames meeting so as to give the handicapper a chance to review the running at the Waipa meeting on Saturday, which, it was pointe.d out, was unfair to those who had accepted at Waipa in races that would not give them a penalty, in preference to the more valuable events. The Waikato trainer owns Munster, and he maintains that it is decidedly unfair that a horse should be penalised by the handie*pper for winning a race that would not otherwise give a permit)', according to the conditions at another meeting. It will be interesting to note Sir George Clifford's reply. The hurdlers engaged at the Manawatu meeting are a poor lot, and an acceptance of only five on the first day is far from promising. If Hikahakeke is caught in the mood it might be easily picked. Sir Knox is in work again, but leg trouble prevents his trainer from doing very much with him.

Considering that High Jinks only cost Mr. F. Davis a century she looks like an extra large size in bargains. Still, one would not pick her to give Bisogne weight over six furlongs as the Stratford handicapper sizes it up. Crown Fear! has plenty of weight in the Douglas Handicap at Stratford. Wonder what "Jervy" George said when he saw the handicaps? Something like patriotism! The crack English horseman, W. Griggs, relinquished retainers of £2OOO a year when he enlisted' in the Royal Naval Air Service recently. The following appeared the other day in an Amurkan sporting paper: "Answer to Correspondent: We would not advise you to call your horse Cream. How could you expect him to run if you whipped him!" Next!

When Bold Stroke leaves the mark in a six furlongs race you may just as well make straight for the pay-out window.

Emperador will probably be amongst the runners at Awapuni on Boxing Day. .

Ashley Reid will have the mount on Chakwana in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie.

Keith Lambess will be riding at the local meeting at Christmas. Being a capable horseman and able to ride at a nice handy weight, his services should be much in demand bv owners.

Vladian is fencing nicely, and hopes are expressed that he will prove more of a success over the sticks than he was on the flat. Avon Park appears to be the most likely one of our sprinters to win a race at the holiday meetings. Peilding sports are talking of nothing else but Tangihou for the Manawntn Cup.