SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 March 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

I RACING FIXTURES. , March' 29.—Pahiatua R.C. . April 6, 9.—Wellington R.C April 12, 13—Manawatu R.C April 22, 24._ Auckland J.C. April 24.—Waimate Plains T.C. RANGITIKEI NOTES. 1 . (By "Moturoa.")' There was a big gathering of Taranaki sportsmen at Bulls on Wednesday and Thursday, and as Taranaki horses played a prominent part in the setltement of the various events there were many bright faces in the crowd. Tim Rangitikei Ciub was fortunate in fretting two fine days' sandwiched in between two cold and wet days, and the totalisator turnover showed an increase of over five thousand for the meeting, though the average per dav was lower than that registered at Opunake last week. Rewi Poto was the daddy of the lot, at Bulls. He was nicely ridden by Charlie Price in the Rangitikei Clip, and settled El Gallo most dcciaivelv in the straight. The black horse was on the course on Thursday, but was not started. Downham's return to form must have agreeably surprised his new owner. On recent form he looked to have little chance, but the field was very weak. On the second day Tyson made no race of him over five furlongs. With Dceloy up, Tyson looked a fair bet on the second day. Tie was fidgety at the post, but got away witli his usual brilliancy, and was never headed. At the home turn Downham threw out a challenge, but the Taranaki horse finished strongly and quickly put his backers on good terms with themselves. The price was a false one, considering how some of the big punters went for it. Crawford won the Parewanui Welter so easily on Wednesday that the public went solidly for him in the big race on the second day. He was with El Gallo and Square Deal at the home turn, but closed up in a few strides and dropped out of it. Gallo just got home by a neck from Square Deal, the latter running on the outside of the field, and covering a heap of ground. Zola was only started once at the meeting, and he again proved what a good horse he is by romping home an easy winner with 9.12—a big weight for a three-year-old. Some of the hurdlers seen out at Bulls were very mediocre. Tarero won handsomely on Wednesday, and Austin scored just as easily on the second day Austin jumps one fence very big, and the nSxt he pecks at. He is anything but an expert, but his pace up to a mile and a half is undeniable. It was nothing short of cruelty to start the broken-winded Bivouac each day. He was "dead licked" at the end of a mile, and it was painful to see him trying to stagger up the straight, for all the world like a drunken man! On Thursday he galloped straight at the first fence, not rising an inch, and how he kept his feet was marvellous. He struck the bottom batten, and the fence went down like one thing. Coropet was heavily backed for the Farewell Hack Scurry. The start was a wretched one, Mick running across the field and turning half the horses round. Coropet looked a moral winner at the turn, but Oliver had to ride hia hardest to stall off the outsider Starengo, who was only beaten by a nose. Martlet, Moutoa Queen and Madam Ristori got all the worst of the send-off. Golden Grafton won the Trial Plate fairly comfortably from another Taranaki' liorse in Silver Web. The latter was little befriended on the second day, when she beat all but Penniless in the Maiden Hack Handicap. Ineuru (Oliver) was reckoned the pea in the Raumai Welter, but she was kept too far out of it to have a chance. The. winner turned up in Pariform (Bell), who wore down the pace-maker, Patronale, Inside the distance. Both horses paid good prices. Prior to the Ohakea Hurdles on Wednesday, Scorch reared up and came down on a hurdle. She got badly tangled up, both front feet being through the fence, but fortunately she was sot out without mishap. She is booked to, go to the 3tud after this week's inglorious displays. Taking Interlude's form in the Ngatiapa Hack Handicap when she carried fl.O into second place in 1.2 1-5, she appeared to have more than a Tough chance in the Clifton Handicap with 7.8 on Thursday. She got away badly after being the onlv well-behaved one at the barrier, and finished la6t. Piek-pockets, guessers and such-like «•'■ :■;,' were much in evidence at Bulls. There wore even reputed bookmakers on the lawn. A good number of people had reason to" complain of the laxity-in these respects,'"arid one tnglewood sport was landed" for fifteen pounds. He said nothing! A number of Tnglewood bhoys were irnking merry there on Thursday. You want to ask them about the joke they tell of "Cramp" Mumby. He's got a nice little wager on, they say, and if you see him sporting a new roof-piece within the next week you'll know that he has landed the mustard."