SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 January 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. Jan. 20, 23, 24—Wellington R.C. Summer. Jan. 22, 24—Foxton R.C. Auunal. Jan. 218, 29 —Taka-puna J.C. Summer. Feb. 2, 3—Egmont R.C. Summer. Feb. o—Canterbury J.C. Summer. Feb. 9,lo—Tnranaki J.C. Autumn. TXJRF TOPICS. (By "Motorua.") Sir Solo soon. Takapuna weights to-day. Roumania lias a. weak shoulder. Emperador should score at Egmont. Warstep is to go to the stud next season. The Croesus appeal ease was to have been heard last evening. Two Taranaki cast-offs, Invader and Mulga Bill, scored at the Westland meeting. Kooya has been dropped in nicely in the Foxton Cup, and should have a ehance with 8.5. The trotter Celtic runs consistently, but it isjijong time since he rewarded Mr. C. Curran with anyttiing more healthy than second money. It took Mulga Bill 1.22 to win a six furlongs race at Ilokitika. They could not have been in a violent hurry! Bivouac still retains his pace {or five furlongs, and with 8.9. in the saddle should beat .more than beat Mm in the Dash Hack at Foxton. Twenty-three racing and trotting clubs rung on £824,805 at the holiday meetings. Together with the betting of Isaac McShortodds the million mark must have been left 'way down the straight. Those who persist in decrying racing during the present strenuous times are invited to consider the fact that the King's horses have been freely nominated for this season's racing at Ascot, Doncaster, Goodwood and other centres.

Much sympathy is. being felt for jockster G.. Mareliant, who was asked to "call again" in three months for his handling of St. Gate at Marton. The old hurdler has grown lazy and cunning, and the state of his ribs at the conclusion of the race did not suggest that his belated arrival at the judge's box was due to any fault of the lad 011 top. Gang Awa,' a big black three-year-old gelding by Provocation—Gold Cord (The Native's dam), won so easily at Marton that his future running will be followed with interest. Mr. J. Bull lias handed him over to Fred Tilley. The owner of Sea Storm had good luck and also bad luck at Karamea races on New Year's Day. After a "wa!k ; over" he pulled up with a broken pelvis, and died the following day. Now the other owners who scratched their horses are calling themselves uncomplimentary names!

Ex-jockste.v W. Holmes, now in camp at Trentham, had a great innings in the nineties when riding for the late G. G. Stead, and was associated with most of the successes of such great performers as Isolt, Screw Gun, Multiform, Forinosan, Conqueror and Culprit, While he also won races oil Goldleaf, Starshot, Gladsome, Tigress, Mataroa. etc. At one time many good judges reckoned there was a good race concealed about the imported horse Maieavis, but his recent form has been wretched, and it is' more than likely that he will'take up stud duties next season. As far as breeding is concerned he is one of the best stallions in the Dominion. When Country Belle rushed over two miles in the record time of 4.22 and four fifths at Auckland recently, her driver (Bryce) expressed the opinion that she was capable of 2.5 to the mile. That is something like pacing, and oil the fast Amurkari"tracks she would warm up the best of them.

W it-li arstep a cripple, punters will find the Wellington Cup puzzle a trifle more complicated. Chortle, First Glance, Balboa, Indigo and Einaldo were all handed out quite as much weight as they deserved, and of the topweights Eligible 8.8. and Sir Solo S.O read as well as anything. Lower down in the handicap there is a big proportion of "rubbish," but Taringamutu, Koova, Maniaroa and Master MoUtoa are 'all well 'treated. Acceptances ate not to hand at time of writing. C. Reed, a younger brother of Ashley and Roy Keed, rode his first winner on Need at Taulierenikau, The shortage of binoculars at the front has led racing clubs to solicit donations of such to the military authorities, but the response in the Dominion was not all that might be expected. The reverse is the case across the Tasman, and at Eandwick on Boxing Day hundreds oi valuable, and now unprocurable glasses were handed in. An amusing tale is told of one genial old sport, wlio said, as lie passed over a fine set of binoculars to the recruiting ollicer,, "If you see as many dead Germans through these as I've seen 'dead' 'una' on racecourses, we'll win this war!" Horse racing and trotting was temporarily suspended in Germany when the 'War broke out, but it is now in full swing again, and Kaiser Willielm's people are already boasting about the record entries received for next year's Derby. It is a poor heart that nevet rejoices! Queenie Soult has been a paying proposition since she entered the pony ranks in New South Wales, and the daughter of Soult and Gitidxvife added another success to her long list by getting axvin' with the Fourteen 'Hands Handicap on the 22nd ult. at Victoria Park. Another New Zealander in the shape of the A. iiilles mare Margarita dead-heated for first place in another event at the same meeting. At the yearling sales held in Auckland recently top price (5.50 guineas) was paid bv Riddiford Bros, for the BoniJorm—Class fillv, own sister to Bon Ton. Others to fetch good prices were: —br. c. by 'Demosthenes—Gold Thread, 500 gns; br. c. by Demosthenes—Gold Treasure, ."00 gns; and >ch. f. by Boniform—Dreamer, 250gns; but the bidding was poor for the other lots. There are still a few sportsmen in the Dominion who are prepared to go to a good figure for a well-bred youngster, but they may be counted on the fingers of one hand. A race meeting—the first with a totalisator permit—wa-- held at Ivaramea last week. The patronage of local residents was disappointing, only some £SOO being put- through the machine. In one race the winner was not backed, and the machine paid out on the second horse.

Referring to J. N. McGregor's enlistment. a Hulletyi writer says if he gets caught by an enemy shell the sensation i ought to make him feel quite at home. In three years he has had 120 falls, which broke and rebroke his collarbone, smashed his thigh, shattered his leg, fractured his arm, damaged his spine and even cracked his skuli. On one occasion lie broke, both collar bones and injured his spine; and after iiiae months in hospital was carried out partially paralysed, as incurable; yet a short time afterwards he won two steeplechases at Hawke's Bar on Speciosa. McGregor's

pluck is a thing beyond doubt or reason; but it is as a quick mending artist that lie calls for special notice. As likely as not he may defy the Turkish guns and finish at home on a piece of banana skin. Welcome Nugget was purchased at the Bushy Park yearling sales at Christchurch for CO guineas and leased to J. Fryer, the Hawera trainer, with a purchasing clause of 150 guineas. The writer was informed on reliable authority at the New Plymouth meeting that J. Fryer decided to conclude the purchase of the horse prior to the Manawatu meeting, but the owner refused to accept the same, as it was not accompanied by the percentage agreed upon for place moneys at the New Zealand Cup Meeting. The owners now claim that they are entitled to percentage of winnings of .the Manawatu Cup. The ease is creating a good deal of interest along the Coast, where it has been referred to and discussed by racing experts. It has been suggested that the matter should be referred to Sir Geo. Clifford for a ruling, but as the matter is not one for the conference to decide he may decline and let the lawyers for the respective sides fight the matter out. It is a dispute that might easily be settled by arbitration, as the amount •in dispute is comparatively small. Apparently, a good deal will depend on the wording of the lease under which the horse is held. According to the Rules of Racing, "winnings" means and includes any moneys or prizes actually credited to a winning horse or winning any advertised race or races, etc; "winning" includes "walking over and receiving forfeits, but not running second or in any lower place."—Post.