SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1915, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

Deo. 27, 28—Taranaki J.C. Christmas. Dec. 27, 28, 29—Manawatu R.C. Summer, Dec. 27—Taratahi-Carterton K.C, Sum-

mcr. Dec. 27, 30, Jan. 1, 3—Auckland R.C. Summer. Dec. 27, 28—Dunedin J.C, Summer. Jan. 1, 3—Stratford R.C. Annual. Jan. 1, 3—Marten R.C., Summer, Jan. 1, 3—Hawke's Bay J.C., Summer, ELLERSLIE TRAINING NOTES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Yesterday. The weather was fine for training operations at Ellerslie this morning. The course proper was open outside the trestles and was in good order, but hard. Unless otherwise specified the work registered was there. Goldsize did a short mile and a quarter on the tan, the last round in Imin ,65sec; Ladogeur covered four furlongs on the sand in 53sec; Good Hope was better than Flying Start ever five furlongs to the new post, in lmin 4 4-ssec; Colonel Soult easily beat Sir Solo over one and a quarter miles on j the tan in 2min 16 2-ssec, the last round taking lmin 56sec; Wishful was better than Halina over seven furlongs, in lmin 32 2-ssee; El Gallo beat Campeador over the same distance in lmin 35sec; San Sebastian covered seven furlongs in lmin 35sec; Chakwana spurted on the tan; Self beat Castalia over one and a half miles on the tan, the last round covered in 2min 13-ssec; Mullingar easily beat Jack Delaval in a mils and a quarter spin, the last round occupying lmin 55sec; Centre and Hyginas were together at the end of six furlongs in lmin 19 4-ssec; Wardancer and The Toff ran 5 furlongs in lmin 6 3-ssec; Nystad beat Menelaus over three furlongs in 381-ssec; Gold Soult went at threequarter pace; Hydrus and Hyftus did four furlongs on the tan in 55sec; Te Papapa beat Belasco over five furlongs in lmin 6sec; Snub and Warstep moved freely and finished well after a spin of one and a quarter miles in 2min 15 l-ssec, a good gallop; Limpet easily beat Rockbound over four furlongs in 52sec; Kooya was too good for St. Elmn in a mile to the new post, the last seven furlongs being run in lmin 33sec; Eligible and Blackall did a round on the sand, spurting home four furlongs in

56 3-'ssec; Soldier, Pacific Slope and Christine were in that order at the end of seven furlongs run in lmin 342-ssec; Greenstreet rar. four furlongs from a barrier start, the last three in 38sec; Downham covered four furlongs on the sand in 52sec; Wise Bird and Mountain Dream ran six furlongs in lmin 20 2-ssec; Tinopai did six furlongs in lmin 19 3-ssec; Genevieve beat Kitty Bellairs over six furlongs in lmin 19 3-ssec; Lady Jack and General Joffre, ,not fully extended, covered four furlongs on the sand in 52 2-ssec; Vascular and Hopye were schooled, and a lot of others were also worked.

STRATFORD RACES. The engagement of the Wanganui Garrison Band by the Stratford Racing Club for its meeting last year wag an undertaking of no small magnitude, and it is obvious that the services cf about 30 players, who comprise the best band in the Dominion, and who have carried all before them in competitions, could not 'be secured without considerable expense. The club's committee, lowever, are evidently well pleased with the experience, and have engaged the same band again' for their forthcoming meeting, to be held on Saturday and Monday. January 1 and 3. The music provided by the band last year was delightful, and visitors to the Stratford races will doubtleas he pleased to know that the same pleasure awaits them tlus year.

TUEF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Here we are again with the same old hearty greeting—a Happy Chrißtmas, and a royal, good time at the holiday meetings. The pity of it is that so many good sports who were with ur last year or the year before are now engaged in deadly conflict on sanguinary Gallipoli, or have died as only true sportsmen can die, on that bloody peninsulaIt is only right that we, who for one reason or another, are debarred from standing shoulder to shoulder with those plucky lads, should think of them at this festive time. And all this leads up to tho now thread-hare topic, "Should racing continue." The answer to that lies before me in f, letter from ah exTaranaki sport in Gallipoli. He writes, "We are still keenly interested in the old game, and at time of writing are gambling gaily on the New Zealand Cup. By the time the result reaches us you will be thinking of the New Year meetings. With luck we hope to rejoin you next year. Good luck, etc,, etc." This is only one of the cheery notes that have reached us. and these lads who are "doing their bit" do not reproach us for what the local "kill-joys" deem our lack of thought and callousness. Hats off to the noble lads! On Monday racing will burst forth at Ellerslie, New Plymouth, Thames, Alex<lra, Awapuni, Tauheronikau, Dunedin, Eeefton and Cromwell. Then within a week the carnival will be continued by the Stratford, Hawke's Bay, Marton, Wairarapa. Grevmowth, and minor clubs. There's a host of meetings for you! And, after all, what more laudable way of holiday-making than patronising racing for patriotic purposes? Of chief importance to Taranaki folk is the local meeting, which takes place on Monday and Tuesday. Then on the following 'Saturday and Monday comes the ever-popular Stratford annual meeting. Splendid acceptances have been received for both gatherings, and four fine days' racing should be served up for patrons. Boxing Day prospects are naturally .the principal topic now. There is an inclination to favor the chances of Rewl Poto, Avon Park, Syntax, Zion, White Plume, Glacier, and High Jinks here. Blackall, Warstep and Balboa are the popular fancies for the Auckland Gup, while King Lupin and Bimeter monopolise the interest in the Railway Handicap. The Manawatu Cup is regarded as very open, and Square Deal, Rinaldo, Chortle and Welcome Nugget are all befriended. The Otago Handicap, according to Southern reports, is voted a soft snap for First Glance, and the Wairarapa Cup is said to he just a benefit for Bunting. It is a game of "morals" surely! The ex-New Zealand jockey, J. N. McGrtjgoij whose enlistment in Victoria was recently announced, has the unenviable distinction of being the most knocked about jockster in Australasia. It is stated that on no fewer than 108 times has he had bones broken In various parts of his body, • How's that for a "break-up?" Emperador always shows his best form at Awapuni, and already has two Manawatu Stakes to his credit. ' What will beat him in the Palmerston Stakes week!

They are booming Sea, Lord for the Fitzherbert Handicap at Awapuni, but he will have to travel faster thaii he has done before to foot it with a crack like Denise Orme, who' is also leniently treated. Aruake may be booked to win at Awapuni, and if rain falls before the meeting all Wanganui will empty out on him. Warstep lias been galloping in great style since her arrival at Ellerslits, and Snub is of no use to her. Bimeter ran four furlongs in 512-ssec on Tuesday morning, and if he gets a good passage in the Railway Handicap should be well up at the finish. Maniaroa arrived at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning, looking bright and well. An Auckland paper reckons that Mr. C. E. Major's Christine is "the joke of the Auckland Cup." Mr. W. Bidivill's fresh batch of "ations" includes Gratification, Registration, Inclination, and Hesitation. Some fine day a wag will suggest Termination to the squire of Rototawai! Sea Down is in work again, and will probably sport silk at the Wellington meeting. Master Lupin will probably be given a run at FaJmerston, but he is hardly ready yet.