SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1917, Page 7

SPORTING.

FACING FIXTURES. June It, 16—Gisbome B.C. Juno 22, 23-A'apier Park B.C. ,June 23, SO—Hawke's Bay J.C. July 11, 12, 14—Wellington R.C. CURTAILMENT OFPERMJTS. By Telegraph.—Press- Association. Wellington, Last Night. The members of the Racing and Trotting Conferences held a conference with the Minister of Internal Affair- on the subject of the reduction of racing permits during the coming season. It was announced this afternoon that Cabinet had agreed that racing be curtailed by one-third. The racing and trotting bodies will work out a scheme of adjustment so as to secure this reduction in each district. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The almost total absence of sporting notes in the News during the past week or so has occasioned some comment, and just in case some of our readers may be wondering whether "Moturoa" has been "chatted by the police," gathered in the hallot, or placed in the "clink," it might be explained that none of these conjectures are correct. The fact of the matter is that the postal authorities have been playing sorry pranks with "Moturoa's" copy, and this scribe is convinced that late fee boxes, railway postal boxes, etc., are nothing but delusions and snares. One wonders if these receptacles of (generally) urgentmatter are ever "cleared," and the more instances one calls to mind of evidence to the contrary, the more one is inclined to wonder.

The Great Northern meeting once more served to show the uncertainty of racing over fences, the winning horses, Gladful and Gluepot, scoring after the dangerous division had 'been .removed by "falling sickness." Fisher was unlucky to lose the big hurdle race, and so many reputed good jumpers came to grief in the Steeples that it is hard to say what would have won. Anyway, Gluepot was thu best-conditioned of the 'chasers, and his victory was well deserved. The dividends returned by the winning horses were surprisingly large; in fact the machine paid quite treble the amount offered by the double-layers some weeks before the meeting.

Flying Camp covered himself with glory by scoring twice in handsome style. His victories were anticipated here, and tho good "prices" were "received with thanks." Toatere was quite at sea in the. mud, and though 'Hushman and others had every chance they failed to run on in their races, and were not by any means paying propositions. . ''Gluepot, who cost Mr. W. IT. Windsor a paltry 18 guineas a couple of years back, has won at Avondalc, Wanganui, and EHcrslio during the past couple of months stakes to the tune of nearly two thousand pounds. Tn addition, good dividends have attended his victories. Prior to falling in the Great Northern Steeples the champion El Gallo had never been known to make a mistake, either in a race or in schooling. On the third day ho was produced again, and although he' ran a sterling race under 12.10, he could nob concede list, to a fast horse like St. Flmn.

Probably more interest was taken by local spoi ts in tlie racing at Otaki. On the first day winners were sticking out a mile, bub on Tuesday—alas! Gang Awa' was the hero of the meeting, scoring splendidly in the Kaukawa Cup, and only being stopped over the last 'bit on the second day' when burdened with 9,0. Lady General again proved her smartness, but she had to'bo kept busy to stall off the unlucky Veto. The features of the gathering were the phenomenal dividends returned by Goldstream, Lady Louisa, Tnticorn, HolyI head, etc. They were probably a record for any one day's racing in New Zealand. The totalisator at Otnki could have been run "miles" better than it) was. It was quite a common thin.'i' to see a thousand or two spread over the various horses while the total registered was only a few hundred. In Kajput's race the dividend was hoisted as worked out by the numbers showing on the face of the tote. After some few- lucky ones had collected., another century was added to Kajput's total, and the dividend was cut down to one-third of what was originally paid out. Of course mistakes will happen, but this wa? a very bad one. The starting at Otaki was fairly good, and what struck this scribe favorably ■was the entire absence of delays at the barrier, the horses coming into line and going off at once. In the good old days at Otaki the starter used to get them all lined up. Then he would address the crack jockey, Charlie Jenkins. "You all right, Charlie?" "Yes," said Charlie. "Well, go!" yelled the starter, and tho flag fell. After Dingle's forward running on the first day he was voted a moral for the Ohau Welter. The gelding had "Mr. F. Sehvoud's"' blessing, the wires hummed, and everything but Dingle himself appeared to"be ready. He was paying little belter than "evens," but ran a, shocking race.

There was a good sort of a colt soon out at Otaki, and that was Black Hill, by All Black out of that good marc ICilindini. His three starts resulted in (i lirst, 11 second, ttiid a third, and lie will he heard of again. Another second went down to Madam Ristori on Monday, when she failed to give away llilb to Jlerrio I'oto in the flack Flying. On the second day the Mauiapoto gelding put up a stone extra and heat liirkenetta (who was heavily hacked away i'rniu the course), and a big field—pointless. One of the hottest favorites at the

meeting was the three-year-old Whakatina (Provocation—Torowai), who had to put up with second berth to Holyhead in the Final Hack Scurry. Punters who had been having a gruelling time of it went heavily for the Keeovery Stakes, but lost a fair share of their investments over the deal. Old Royal Patron was well backed by his party for the Second Steeples, and being the only one to get round an easy course decently, won 'by a. big margin._

Considering' her forward running in the Cup, Rose Pink was allowed to pay a false price in the Huia Handicap on Tuesday. She was in receipt of just on .Ist. from Gang Awa'. Brambletye, 'Who finished second, rewarded Sir George Clifford with a handsome "price" also.