SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 March 1916, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") What a progressive policy and good management will achieve was - amplyproven by the unprecedented success of the Opunake annual meeting. The stakes offered were exceptionally good for a purely provincial hack meeting, and the racing throughout was highly interesting. To begin with, Mr. Geo. Morse's weights brought the horses well together, and the,gentle pastime of picking winners was by no means a sinecure. Only three first favorites were first home, and in two of these instances others were almost as well backed as the winners. Mr. Alf Morse started the fields well —a great thing considering the mixed variety o'f both horses" and horsemen which faced the barrier. Mr. W. V. Young made no mistakes in the judge's box, though the similarity of colors in some races were warranted to keep the most expert judge very busy. Particularly was this the case in the Maiden Plate, when Conguard (purple stars), Lake Eel (whit? stars), and St. Kiel (red stars), cross the line in close company. That was "seeing stars" if you like! Mr. P. S! Riley performed his secretarial duties in the most capable manner, and on his shoulders rested the bulk of the work which was responsible for the success of the gathering. To Mr. Riley and Mr. J. P. Burton (totalizator steward), the press have to tender thanks for many little attentions which lighten the scribe's toil, and turn "work" into "pleasure." All worked well together, and the Club is to be congratulated on a record meeting. The war appears only to have made money more plentiful in this Dominion, judging by the the increased totalisator turnover at recent meetings. In this respect the Opunake Club scored heavily. Race after race saw previous totals badly shattered, and when the final figures were added up it was found that tht» investments totalled .-£10,650, an increase of no less than £3474. The figures speak for themselves. - feature' of the riding was Owen MeCarten's five successive winning rides on the flat. But for what appeared to be an error on his part the total might easily have been six. Others to score were .1. Johnson. R. Brown and \V. Price. "Xuki" Brown has been riding well this season, but success Ims not come his way as often as his admirers could wish. His victory at Opunake—coining as it did after' several placed l ides—was deservedly popular. Some people recVon that Maid o' fiowrie was lucky to pull off the big handicap, and others again consider that »she would have been vpi'v unlucky if Analogue had caught her on the post. Analogue was going the faster of the pair at the finish, hut McCarten was riding very confidently on the winner. Close finishes always leave room , for argument. The absence of Tirohanga gave the Handican Hurdles an open appearance. and Nita. Simple Sam and Epworth carried (be bulk of the money and filled the places—though not in the order of favoritism Simple Sam shaped well, and deceived to vii.. though the time recorded was nothing to brag about. TriUner R. Brongh had a field day. winning ftoca with Maid o' fiowrie, Veto and Antwerp. It looked as if Veto should lu\e won twice instead of once only. 1 Winnin" owners at the meeting wore: A Ulnß .€lls, M. Franklin £llO, J.. Fryer U!>. "Mr. Egmont" £BS, P. John*on £BO, D. Hadley £BO, Mrs. C. Ruscoe £73, J. Russell £55, J. 15. Palmer £25 Pohe Tito £ls, C. H. Washer £ln, Shieid and Fowler £ls, M. Gardner £ls F Selwood £ls, E. knight £10; imd D. King, T. Little.Win, H. Spntt, and G. IT. Gib* o " £5 ( ' ae,, • The progeny of Coronet was much in evidence at ' the meeting, Conguard, Veto and Coropet winning races, while Veto and Coropet each recorded seconds, and Avenu and Coronita thirds.