SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.' Feb. 20—Wanganui T.C. Annua?. Feb. 28, March I.—Dannevirke E.G. Autumn. March 17.—Opunako R.C. Animal. WANGANUI HACKS. SECOND DAY'S RESULTS. Wanganui, February 24. 'ous weather prevailed for the second day of the Wanganui races, at which there was a very large attendance. The totalisator handled £3s3,Sfii, making £ 137,80S for the meeting, as against £40,004 last vear. Results: — AUTCJMN HANDICAP— 2 Lady Middleton, 1; 6 Araaat, 2; 3 Devotion, 3. Also ran: 1 Golden Grafton, 5 Astor, 7 Paraoa, 4 Mascot, S Coropet. Won by half a head. Time Imin 48 2-osec. MATARAWA HACK —'3 Moutoa Queen, 1; 1 Starengo, "2; 4 Lady Edith, 3. Also ran: 2 Cora t)ra, 5 War Loan. Wop by a length. Time, Imin 14 3-ssec. JACKSON STAKES-2 .Bimetcr, 1; 1 Hymnestra, 2; 3 Estland, 3. Also ran: 4 Birkenvale. Won by a lieek. Time, Imin 13 3-3 sec. FOR DELI, IIORDLES —4 Record, 1; 3 Harbor Light, 2; 2 Martou 3. Also ran: 1 Kurapai, 3 Grandson. Won b; a short heck. Time. 3m in 10 2-osec. OKOIA WELTER—I Rockfield, 1; 4 Flaupai, "2; 3 Crown Head, 3. Also ran: 2 Deeside, 5 C'oral Queen, 7 The Waif, G Otanga. Won easily by half a length. Time, Imin 10 1-osec. WANGANUI STAKES—I Bunting 1, 0 Indigo 2, 4 Bjorneborg 3. Also ran: 3 Client, 7 Colonel Soult, 2 Depredation, 8 Suiibird, G Analogue, 5 Housewife. Won by lwlf a length. Time, 2min 34 Bee. \ HARRISON .HAC1?~0 Pohehe, 1; 5 Spain, 2; 4 Henry Clav. 3. Abo ran: 3 Iceberg, 1 Thames, 2 Thrace, 7 Rcwa Rewa, S War Loan. Won by half a length. Time, Imin 57 2-ssec. Thames wo?i, but was disqualified for drawing short weight. FAREWELL HANDICAP - 2 Chakwana, 1; 1 Tete-a.Tete, 2; 4 Nystad, 3. Also ran: 6 Interlude, 8 Veto, 3 Tree Lucerne, 7 Grecnstreet, 5 Maadme Riatori. Won by a length. Time, Imin M l-ssec. NOTES ON' THE RACING. (By "Moturoa"). Wanganui, February 21. The totalisator investments and gates were a record, racing was most interesting, and finishes were close. Bimeter, Bunting, Chakwana and Tete-a-Tete all showed fine form. Taranaki horses again had a very bad innings. Golden Grafton was ■ warm order for the Autumn Handicap, but began badly. Coropet and Mascot made the running to the turn, where Ladv Middleton, Devotion and Ararat came through, and 'a great finish saw the trio cross the line almost abreast, Golden Grafton being fourth.

Starengo and Cora Ora carried most of the money in the Matarawa Hack Handicap. The former tried to win all the way, but Moutoa Queen gained th; verdict in the last few strides. Cora Ora again ran wretchedly. The Jackson Stakes produced another great finish. The favorite, Hymestra, quickly assumed the command and entered the straight with a big lead. Bimeter put in a magnificent run, winning on the post. Estland began badly, but was coming very fast at the finish. t The public was all astray in sizing up the Fordell Hurdles. Marton anil Record made most of the running. Record »hoow Marton off in the straight, hut- had to he ridden out to beat the fast-finishing Harbor Light by a neik. Rockfield made hacks of the opposition in the Okoia Welter. Haupai led to the straight', but Rockfield came on and won easily. Bunting was a firm favorite for the Wanganui Stakes,, sfiid won like a racehorse. Rjorneborg and Housewife were first away. Housewife took up the running, followed by Rjorneborg and Bunt, ing. This order changed very little in the run to the straight, but Depredation fell at the half-mile post, interfering with Client. Bunting assumed the command at the distance and won comfortably from Indigo, who finished fast, Bjorneborg and Client being next.

Thames had most friends in the Harrison Hack Handicap, which was a good betting race. Pohehe and Rewarewa were responsible for most of the pace, but Thames led at the distance and won comfortably. The winner was disqualified owing to Deeley weighing in 4'/>lhs short.

Tho Flying Handicap was a great race. Tete-a-Tete and Chakwana were even favorites. Interlude led Nystad, Chakwana and Tete-a-Tete to the turn, but the top wcights,bad the finish to themselves, Chakwana winning by threequarters of a length, with Nystad right, up third, THURSDAY'S NOTES. (By "Moturoa").

There was a great gathering of Tar. naki sportsmen at the Wanganui meeting on Thursday. In fact, tlie writer never saw so many familiar faces on the Wangnnui course. Cars came from all parts of the butter province, as well as crowded trains from liawera. Ami to cap all, Taranaki horses had a had' spin! Iceberg' and Golden Grafton were the only ones that had a winning chance, and both went down by narrow margins. The defeat of Depredation upset hundreds of "Doubles'' held in this province.

The Wanganni Cup once again resulted in a surprise, but tlie victory nf Mr. XV. Dumwu's brilliant gelding, Client, was the signal for a tremendous display of enthusiasm, both owner, rider and horse being cheered to the echo. It was a vietorv that was utterly devoid of any semblance of a fluke. Client was last passing the stand the first time, but Young brought him (|ni.klv through to third place a couple, of furlongs from home, and the chestnut quickly settled Bunting when the pressure was apjdled. winning handsomely by two lengths.

Bunting' war the eleventh-hour favorits, ahd, despite; liis steadier of 8.10. he ran-a ghat race. 'He was never-further back than fourt.ii at any stage of the jouraey, just heading the ruck, and lie dodged ail the trouble that was flying about. lie had every chance to win, tat was clearly and cleanly beaten by a better horse at the weights. Depredation looked tucked-np and listless as lie paraded in the bird-cage, and in his preliminary moved badly. Deeiey kepi; him warmed up until the horses went to the post, but he could not go the pace in the first mile, and received a gruelling passage. For a horse in his condition No. 1 at the barrier was the worst possible position, and then, again, when he was making up lost ground live furlongs from home Bjornoborg came baek on him, and the Taranaki horse came down on his nose. Depredation had no chance of beating the winner, anvhow.

As for the other Cup candidates, the principal failure was Indigo, whose party were very sanguine of success. The chestnut was in a good position going along the back the second time, but die failed to run on. Colonel iSoult was pocketed on the fehce all the way. Anlogiie, ran a splendid race, but the hot pace set by Housewife had him very ,tired over the last bit. Bjorneborg was never far away from the leaders, but ran an erratic course, and his rider, Morris, was put out for three months in consequence. Black All ran well for a mile and a-quarter, as did Kurapai and Master Moutoa, the latter finishing fifth. Housewife ran a sterling race, and up to a mile and adialf should always be worth following. There was some very heavy wagering on the Flying Handicap, a good deal of ''outside" money being piled on to Form Up and Chakwana. There was a long delay at the barrie'r, and when the tapes lifted Chakwana, Interlude, Tete.a-Tete and Form Up were the quickest to find their feet, Nystad and Tree Lucerne getting a.wav bndly. Chakwana looked a winner at the turn, but Form Up was well clear at the distance. In the run home Chakwana made a big effort to overhaul the favorite, but she was roll-' ing badly in the last fifty yard?, and Deeiey scored rather easily on Form Up. Tete-a-Tete was close up third, and Thee Lucerne was going as fast as anything, in fourth place. Veto, Nystad and Astor followed.

Golden Grafton was very unlucky to go under by a head to Cleft in the Stewards' Handicap. She came very fast at the finish, and on Thursday's showing should be heard oF\*ain. Cora Ora was not entrusted with heavy tickets in the Petrc Hack Handicap, all Taranaki going for Revocation. The latter headed Starengo at the turn, but could not stall oil' Moutoa Queen, who won nicely by hal'-a-length. Cora Ora was a poor fifth, followed by Munition and Deeside. The six furlongs was run in 1.14 3-5 —a fraction faster'than Form Up ; s time in the Flying Handicap.

Tho Westmere Hurdle Race was a body blow to punters. Record was a screaming hot favorite, but after chasing Clenorehy for a mile and a-half he began to smack his fences, and fell back. E. Copestake rather foolishly pulled him right up at the finish, allowing Harbor f.igiit to gain tho 15 sovs. attached to third place. It occasioned r.o surprise when Copestake was cr.llcd upon to add £1 to tho club's funds for not riding his mounff out. Record fenced beautifully for a mile, biu he then tired, and chanced his fences. Harbor Light was very sore.

Thames and Haupai led the field in the Tnyforth Welter, the last-named crying enough three furlongs from home. Thrace then came fast, but Dceley kept the Danube filly going long enough to win. Sir Wallace was ridden a poor race, and may do better shortly. When the tote opened on the Juvenile Handicap, Agnestes, Duncan's bracketed pair, and Silver Tongue were evenly backed. In the last minute Silver Tongue was heavily "poulticed," the Bar Vonn (who were outside (lie gate.-, in thousands) sending in rolls of notes. The favorite won, but by the merest lltike. Birkenvalo had.the race in hand at the distance, but thi? 'prentice jockHer left the rails, and in a (lash Silver Tongue came through from an apparently hopeless "pocket," and won on the

peKAnother race that was "handed away" was the Wiritou Hack Handicap. Iceberg was a good favorite, and should have been "in and dried." The grey got away well, but dropped back to last ;>t the siv.furlongs post, Crown Head going to the front. Iceberg was up with the Waverley horse before turning for home, and looked a moral winner. .Then Crown Head came again, and squeezing through on the rails, won by a head. Harold Young (on the winner) clearly out-generalled R. K. Brown! (The above was crowded out of Saturia\'s isijuc).