SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 January 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

EGMONT SUMMER MEETING, ENTRIES TO-NIGHT. In our advertising columns will be found the abbreviated programme for tile aboee meeting, which is set down for January 31 and February L Liberal stakes are offered for all events, chief of which- are:—Egmont Cup, of 50!) soys., one mile and a half; Atkinson Memorial Handicap, of 350 sovs., one mile and a quarter- Flying Handicap, of 250 sovs., six furl' ; and Waimate Handicap, of 250 sovs., six furlongs. In addition are two Welters of 200 sovs. each;, two Hack Hurdle Races, of 120 sovs.; and half-a-dozen back Hat events, of 100 sovs. each. This meeting is followed at a few days 1 interval by the Tarauaki Club's Autumn gathering, and the prospect of four good days' racing should appeal to outsiders as.well as provincial trainer*. Mr. George Morse will declare the handicaps for botli meetings, and ill - . C. O'Connor (starter) and Mr \V. H. Hartgill (judge) will be in attendance. Mr. V. B. Stratton, secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, will receive entries up till 0 o'clock this (Monday) evening, but those intWqjted should note that the llawera telegraph office, closes at 8 p.m.

TURF TOPICS (By "Moturoa.") Mr. R. Lloyd, caretaker of tile Stratford Racing Club's cpurse, must have had a strenuous time getting the track in good order for last week's meeting. The long spell of dry weather rendered the track ve\V hard, but it was very smooth, and comparatively fen horses "cracked up" on it. The levelling and top-dressing has made a marvellous improvement, and the turns, especially the one leading out of the straight, art now quite safe. Mr. Lloyd attends £o the club's farming during the year, and with him there is 110 slack season. Sunbird ran two good races at Stratford. Her trainer has not been able to give her ill the work she requires, but when the tracks get softer the honnic daughter of Martian and Mary of Argyle will emulate the recent deeds of her full sister, Ardenvohr. If Hushman had been kept in Taranaki, instead of flying at impossible game in Auckland, the holiday season might have been more profitable to his party. Master Lupin stripped well last week, but the turns at Stratford did not suit him. He should goon win a Secent race for Alex. Hall. - Kauri King races well in front of hi» field and it would have taken a good horse to have beaten him in the Ngaere Handicap. Simple Sam dashed off first, and can generally be 'depended upon to show the way for four furlongs, but Kauri Kinjr had him beaten at the end of a ■couple of furlongs, and, making the best trip round the home turn, had ''the wood" on tfle others. The clockread 1.14y 4 —a good "go!" "Boohoo! Put 'im up!" This was the sort of reception that met Mculu when Gordon brought him back to the weighing enclosure after winning the Makuri Hurdles. "Put 'im up!" What for? You can't put a horse "up" for winning! If these angry half-crown puntei-s don't know any better, it is probably waste of time telling them that as Moulu's form on Monday was accepted as correct there is nothing in the Rules of Racing to disqualify him for winning on the second day. Such exhibitions betray lamentable ignorance.

When Captain Miro heat all but Moulu in the Malum Hurdles, lie probably put up a more meritorious performance tlian_ when lie won on the previous day. The Captain lost two of liis plates and a good slice of one ol hi? hoofs ,early in the Makuri Hurdles, and a barefooted gallop over a track of Hint is no joke. May Morn was brought through from Palmerston for the second day of the i meeting, and, although left at the post each start, ran two good seconds. His owner practically held all the money on "the mill" in the first start, so the trip was not made in vain. Next time they travel away from home they should bring "Billy" Young with them, .ind make an absolute "moral" /of it. With fifteen horses at the post for each of the gentlemen riders' events, there could ho no doubt that these "sporting" items are very popular in Taranaki. Good races and good dividends prevailed, and, much as this scribe was against them once, it must be admitted that they have many commendable points. Starengo was put up for auction after the meeting, but was passed in at 195 guineas, which seemed to be his full value. Bivouac failed to reach the reserve also, and Silver Webb only elicited a bid of a "fiver," to which the auctioneer caustically remarked: "We are selling racehorses here —not donkeys!" It is only the latter who buy these (alleged) "'racehorses," of course! Munition is alleged t6 have found a new owiier at 320 guineas, and Svlviaroa

at 225 guineas. Both were well sold. Some well-bred maidens were produced last week. Narina, by Boniform Drought, showed some pace, and may come good later on, Robur, the aptlynamed half-sister "u'y Rokeby to Di Gama, was not nearly ready, nor was Hawakore, by Penury—Madam Soult. Rawskore is a bold galloper, and will win very shortly. Key, who races now with a tube in his windpipe, can travel fast for about four furlongs, and Hying Camp's "full-brother, Kiekapoo, looks like making good soon. Inah ii speedy, hut one hard race on Monday knocked her out for the second day, and, anyway, McCarten bustled her too much in the earlv stages of the Strathmore Handicap'to have a .chance of seeing it out \rith Hiero and May Morn. Xo. 4 saddle-cloth was always in the judge's optic at Stratford, and was first past the post on seven occasions. Some stipendiaries couldn't spot a "stoomer" if it was painted blue. The number of dead "mis at various holiday | meetings makes one wonder what they're all waiting for!