SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 May 1916, Page 7

SPORTING.

FAMOUS RACEHORSE DEAD. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, May 2. The death is reported of La Fleche, one of the greatest mares that lias ever raced. (La Fleche during the season 1801-4 won no less than £34,585 in stakes, including the St. Leger, the Oaks, the Thousahd Guineas, and the Cambridgeshire, all in 1892, and the Ascot Cup and Champion Stakes, Newmarket, in 1894.

EGMONT WINTER MEETING. ACCEPTANCES TO-NIGHT. A final reminder is given to horseowners and trainers that acceptances for first day's events at the Egmont Racing Club's winter meeting close to-night at 9 p.m., fees being payable as follows: Tongahoe Handicap Hurdles, lsov; Tawhiti Handicap, 2sovs; Railway Handicap, lsov; Ladies' Purse Handicap, lsov; Telegraph Handicap, lsov; Mcßae Memorial Handicap, 2sovs; Waihi Handicap, lsov. The above meeting promises to be a most successful fixture. The entries average over twenty per race, and judging by the almost general satisfaction expressed on the appearance of Mr, Morse's weights, to-night's acceptance lists should he very lengthy ones. Mr. C. O'Connor has been engaged to do the starting, and the Hawera course is in capital order.

TURF TOPICS. j (By "Moturoa.") Hawke's Bay Cup to-morrow. Great Northern weights are due on Satu>/lay. Weights for Wanganui do not appear until after the Egmont meeting. Judging by present indications, Eligible will start a warm order in the Hawke's Bay Cup. The old Billingsgate mare, dam of St. Gate, St. Bill, etc., recently had to be destroyed at Bushy Park.

The Deeley suspension came as a shock to those who were backing him to beat O'Shea and Emerson for the riding premiership. O'Shea's position now seems fairly secure. Hamurana (Kilcheran —Spring), who was presented to Lieut.-Col. Meldrum by Mr. H. McManaway, won a race at Suez recently, being ridden by the New Zealand horseman, W. Droyer. The jumping in the second steeplechase at Avondale was said to have heen splendid, six horses taking the fences in perfect tsyle. The 'chasers seen out at the meeting, were not a very fast lot on the whole, and Tarero was easily the best of the bunch. Captain Jack is coming back to form, and Spalperion is another thaf will show to advantage before the season closes.

Some racing clubs make it very warm I when money is to be gained thereby. An owner sent a horse to a meeting recently, and after the first race the jockey (in the absence of the owner), put the colors in his locker on the course. Subsequently the lad met with an accident and was removed to a hospital. On the second day another jockey had to be secured, but no key , could be found to open tl»' locker, and the owner was mulcted a pound for sending his horseman out with the wrong colors! Flying Start is always running on strongly in his races, and it is quite probable that the Cliokebore horse will win good money over longer courses in the spring. Desert Gold has won fourteen races this season, and the Hawke's Bay Stakes, to be run on Saturday, looks like an exercise canter for her.

The Reval-Marc Antony double was quoted at a remarkably short price by the layers, considering the healthy dividends returned by the winners on the day. Miss Deval, winner of the Nursery at Tauherenikau, is by All Red frofn Northern Rose, and li/ been showing good track form at Trentham lately. Reputation is reported to be for sale, and it is quite likely that he will never see the Dominion again.