SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

WANGANUI MEETING. SECOND (DAY RESULTS. . By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wanganui, May 2(5. • I'or the second day of the Wanganui >aces there was showery weather. There was a large attendance. Tlie totalisator handled £27,852, as against '£29,200 last year, making £54,323 for tho meeting, as against £54,030 for last meeting. Results:— WILVTER OATS.—I Potentiality I, 3 Chakwana 2, 7 Veto 3. Also started: 5 Miacara, 2 Lady General, 8 lightning, 10 Interlude, 6 Sarah Grand, 4' Inah, 9 Torotord, 11 Bairnsdale, 12 Bivouac. Wdn by a length, a neck separating second and third. Time, lmin. 18sec. BALGOWNIE HACK.-l Johnny Walker 1, 3 Rio 2, 4 Hexton 3. Also started: 7 Dingle, 2 Henry Clay, 5 Crown Head, 8 Cross- Words, <i Signorella, 9 War Loan. Won by two lengths, a similar distance separating the next ' two. Time, 2min. 4 3-ssec. GRANDSTAND STEEPLECHASE. - 5 Marton 1, 2 2fita 2, 8 Jackman 3. / ' ■> started: 4 Hereford, 4 St. Elmn, It/.. onifs, 11 Sandy Paul, 0 Arlington, 7 Grey Guard, 10 Silver Monarch, 9 Papatere, II Styrax. Won easily by two lengths, Time, smin. 23sce. RATA HACK HORDLES.-3 Kohinahina. 1, 8 Waioture 2,1 Montana 3. Also started: 1 Splendidus, 0 Deeside, 0 Combustion, 2 Colorado, 4 Calais, 10 Mairua, 9 Turehau, 7 Precious Metal. 'Won, .easily by three lengths, five lengths between second and third. Time, 3min. Msec. ' MA:Y HURDLES.-3 -Bon Revo 1, 10 Leonta 2, 8 Sir Fisher 3. Also started: 11 Kurapai, 4 Record, S. Luperino, 1 Black Heart, fi Moulu, 7 Golden March, 2 Mahzoltov. 9 Otter. Won easily by a length, half a length between the next. Time, 3min. 282-s'see. EMPIRE HANDICAP.—I GaVg Awa 1, 3 Kauri King 2. 8 Lady Middleton 3, Also started: 9 Analogue, 11 Revocation, 2 Cherry Blossom, 7 Crawford, 4 Prince ■Delaware, 10 Botanist, 0 'Ararat, 5 Detroit, 12 Midnight Star. Won by balf a head, five lengths separating the next, Time. 2min. 34-ssec. FAREWELL HACK HANDICAP.—I Endure 1. & White Ranger 2, 1 Pohohe 3, Also started: 2 Hupana, 1 Munition, 3 Lady Edith, 8 Trickery, 0 Eewarewa, 4 Tur'angopito, 9 Maorilafider, Id Zimicle, 10 Reparation. Won by a length. Time, lmin. 52 4-ssec. AUSTRALIAN RACING. Australian-N.Z.,Cable Association. Received May 27, 5.5 p.m. Adelaide, May 27. The City Handicap resulted:—Patricia 1, Perambulate 2, Dencb 4. Won by two and a half longths. Time, lmin, 29% sec. Brisbane, May 27. The Thousand Guineas resulted:— Amberdown 1, Claret King 2, Venerable 3. Won by four lengths. Time, lmin, ISsec. :

WANGANiUI NOTES. (By "Moturoa.") The race for the Wanganui Steeplechase, on the first day of the meeting, was probably the finest ever seen. At least five - horses were r cvenly backed, and all ran ■well. Impostor, who came with a big reputation from Hastings, made the pace for the greater part of the distance, and then his saddle slipped. Styrax was in front and going well three furlongs from home, but the last bit found him wanting. Gluepot, .who was hard held going alohg the back the last time, and Braeburn and Nita thou put in their claims. Any one of the trio had a winning chance, and it was a sterling struggle right up to the post. Gluepot negotiated the last fence host and, ridden right out, won by a neclc x from Braeburn, who came again over the last fifty yards. Nita was interfered with at the home bend, but she got clear inside the distance and .was going faster than anything, a neck behind Braeburn. Styrax, impostor, and Marton were right up. "Braebuni was unlucky," so everybody says. At,the log fence, five furlongs from home, he was knocked back, and the blow did not improve his fencing at the brush and the final hen-coop. On the flat lie responded gamely, and had the race been over three and a half miles both he and Nita would have finished in front of the winner.

The Century Hurdles was a poor race. Without a doubt Bon Reve should have been first and the rest distanced. Leonta was "stone cold" three furlongs from home, and Bon Revo, who was nearly 100 yards behind the field at that stage, just' failed to catch Sir Fisher. Golden March ran well for a mile and threequarters, but BuTapai, iiuperino and Record shaped wretchedly. Gang Awa's victory in the Connolly Handicap was the easiest of the day. He was never further back than second, and had the race won at any stage. Hendra saw it out to the bitter end, and Rewipoto put in. a great run over the last two furlongs, but the result would havo been the same anyhow. Antwerp was fourth. Montana's surprising display discounts training exhibitions entirely. His stablemate, Splondidus, set a torrid pace and cracked Calais right up. Montana then streaked to the front and, flying the remaining obstacles like a wimmera, won with his mouth open. The touts fainted! Heavy rain fell on Saturday morning, making tlie course very sloppy, while cold, heavy showers, fell during the afternoon, making tho plight of patrons anything but pleasant. There was a good attendance, however, and good sport was witnessed. Mr. B. T. Bennett has purchased Munition, and the neddy ran in his name on Saturday at Wanganui. Sandy Paul was given a brush over the big fences at Wanganui on Friday and gave an inglorious display. All tbe coaxfng in the world wouldn't get him over the tall timber, though he after-

wards cleared the small sticks well. There was jubilation in the Bar Von's camp, and consternation amongst tho punters, when it was found that Eon Reve's name was missing from the Great Northern Hurdles acceptances. It is stated that acceptance was wired early on Friday, but evidently, thoro was a i hitch somewhere. I It would be interesting to know how 'Toatcre's name came to be posted outside tho Jockey Club's office as an acceptor in tho Empire Handicap on Saturday. The horse was in Auckland, and those who took him in doubles at Wangauui are now wondering bow they are getting on. Toatere's name was not on the race card. Did one of the Bar Vons pay up for him? Whisky drinkers (to a man) were on Johnny Walker in tho Purua Hack Handicap. On: the first day. As if to emphasise the tip the nag'a .number was "No. 10." Two brands of whisky in one! Potentiality carried 41b overweight when lie finished fourth' in the Borough ■Handicap, just behind Interlude. The latter went up lib in the' Winter Oats on Saturday, while Potentiality was raised fllb. Tlie distance was the same, so evidently the handicapper was not satisfied with the ; horse's form on the first day. As things turned out, his judgment was not bad. Kohinahina, a grey gelding by Sabrc-tache-Wa/iorua, allowed a remarkable turn of speed in the Kaitoko Hack Hurdles. Half a mi|o from home be must have .been 100 /yards behind the leaders, but at the finish he was right up in fourth berth. He will win some good races for Mr. F. Lysnar before long. The handling of Bon Revo in the Centum Hurdles did not find favor with the public, and it is alleged that Manson was given some pointed advice by the "stipes" after the race. A horse with Bon Reve's pace shouldn't be over a dozen-lengths behind -Sir Fisher at any stage of'it. Inali was sent down for the Winter Oats on Saturday, and her party; fancied her chance too. She was' up against a very \varm crowd, and there were several in the race who could begin just as smartly as she could. Beds were at a premium in Wanganui on Thursday night, and several Taranaki sports spent a cold night on a good hard iloor in various pubs and boardinghouses. It wasn't the first time some of them had been "under the table," however. A couple of old-time horsemen met and,had a long "korero" about old times, at AVanganui on Saturday. Percy Johnson, Harry Moore, George Collelo, and Tommy Belcher were as fine a team as ever put a leg over a 'chaser, and the ridinw of the present day does not compare favorably with their horsemanship. A feather-weight joekster pushed 'himself into a crowded chemist's sliop at Wanganui one day last week and 'cheekily demanded to Ibe shown to the scales, "and bo quick about it," be chirped. The chemist cast a glance of withering scorn at the youth, and called to his assistant: "Algernon, just *ho'w this cliild to the baby scales." The -crowd roared., A well-known Taranaki jockey, who was "lucky" enough to pass the docs., state's'his case this way: "They laughed at me when I blew up for examination, but after sixteen big blankey navvies bad been turned down tho blankey docs, put me through as fit for active service!" It's marvellous, isn't it?

CURTAILMENT OP RACER}. THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION. -■.;•■•■" Wellington, May 26. The ilori. G. W. Russell has made the 'following statement to the pres3:—The question of racing permits has been carefully considered by the Cabinet, which has resolved that a substantial curtailment of racing is necessary in the interests of the country. Accordingly a letter had been dispatched to Sir George Clifford (president of the Racing Conference)', Mr. John Rowe (president of the Trotting Conference), and Mr. R. C. Bruce (president of the Country Racing Clubs' Association), stating the decision of the Government, and requesting* them to submit to tbe Government alternative, proposals for the reduction of racing ■permits during the present year by onethird /and one-half. Their attention lias been directed to the fact that as a number of clubs may require to discontinue racing during the war, in consequence of the reduction, it is desirable that the conferences interested should consider this aspect of the matter and suggest, financial proposals affecting the dubs which may cease racing.