SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa") The Manawatu Racing Club's post-' poned meeting takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, and, judging oy the formidable acceptances carded for the first day, the gathering should bo / n successful one. Penalties for wins at Hastings and at Hawera will lipset the handicaps considerably, and apart from that, scratchings on the first'day may be expected to be fairly numerous. Twenty-five remain in the Autumn Handicap, twenty-nine in the Woodhey Hack Handicap,, seventeen in the Karero Hurdles, twenty-five in the Telegraph Handicap, etc., and a good "'pruning" in these events would do no harm. Fields of from eight to a dozen (at the outside) are better for the flub, for the public, for the starter, and for the owners \themselves. At Hawera last week the lic'ds were too large to encourage spirited betting, thereby causing a shrinkage in the totalisator receipts and marring the public enjoyment—winners being too hard to pick. The presence of a lot of "rubbisii" upset the chances of many good horses, and did not add to the pleasure of the gathering one iota. Now that the Minister of Internal Affairs has definitely forecasted a drastio curtailment of next season's fixtures—which, of course, jmeans the slaughter of the country clubs—it is likely] that nominations will swell id yery big figures. What the result of the crowed fields on some of our courses will' meaif this scribe hesitates to mention.

The Awapuni Cold Cup', }% miles, will be the main "draw" at Awapuni on Wednesday, and hundreds of enthusiasts are expected to make the trip mainly to see Desert Gold in action. If Kilboy and t'llie Toff measure strides with tlie public Sdol a great race should ensue. v Mahzoltov, Chelomai, Hcndra,' GamecdetS* Moutoa Queen, and. others are much,, discussed candidates for _tho firßt day. "' ' •' **' f ! :

When' "Moturoa" penned a par on Friday re handicapping ■■ of Toatere and Rcwipofco over a; mile and a quarter, Mr. H. Coylc's weights for the Connolly Handicap were not available. It is, therefore, rather strange' that both .horses should have been awarded the Kjmo weight. A lot of people consider 'tfjut Toatere was entitled to a few rounds moro than Ma black rival, and if the"-pair go to the -port there will be nufchVide-wagering on the result.