SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1917, Page 7

SPORTING.

.Tuna 16—Gisborrie B.C. Steeplechase. June 22, 23—Napier Park B.C. Winter. June 29, 30—Hawko's Bay J.C. Winter s AUSTRALIAN TURF. Australian-N.Z. Cable Association. Sydney, June 15. The'total entries for the Epsom Handicap are 207, a record ,and for the Metropolitan Handicap, 168. Shrill and Sweet Corn are included in both. The yearling colt Registration las been sold privately. The price lias not been disclosed. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Gisborne races to-day. Nnpier Park on Friday next.. Bisofrne is getting round again alter his accident. Despatch Carrier has been galloping in great style of late. Handicapper Geo. Morse is, his friends will regret to hear, very seriously ill at present. The wires whispered Diavolo and Kauri King very solidly yesterday. On Ellerslie form St. Elmn looks like winning big money at Greennjeadcws or Hastings before the month is" out. . Racing clubs have got out very lightly with only a one-third curtailment of racing days, ibut the wrangle that will take place when the cutting down process is taken in hand will beat the band. Compared with coursing the average race meeting is only a Sunday school picnic outing. "Moturoa" enjoys a day with the dogs, but clubs that allow "two-up" and suchlike games, in addition to open betting, on their grounds are doing a good sport more harm than good.

Crib hag always been a, proficient fencer over small timber, tut the effort to turn him into & 'chaser seems to be doomed to failure. It is wonderful how many straight goers refuse to jump an obstacle they cannot see through. 'Perhaps they want to know what is on the other side before they take it on. The New Zealand Government has decreed that racing shall continue, but the Railway Department seems to make its Own rules. It is hard to see the sense of not only cutting out "specials" to EHeralie, Otaki, Wingatui, etc., but also refusing to take passengers on ordinary trains for those places. Tho result has been a decided win for the taxi pronrietora, and that is all that can be said for it.

Gluepot's victory in the Great Northern Steeples was generally regarded as one of those things that may happen at odd times, but taking a line through St. Elmn, whom he beat that day, the Victory may not be such a fluke as it at first appeared. St. Elmn was equal to "pasting" El Gallo and the best of them on the third day; ' Croesus appears to have retained his pace for five or six furlongs, but he will hardly secure a winning bracket until the tracks become firmer.

The Wanganui Cup winner, Client, is one -of the active brigade at For'dell, and will probably Sport silk shortly in view of getting into nick for a solid New Zealand Cup preparation. With Bunting out of the road, and Kilboy likely to be in 'Stralia at the time, the Fordell neddy will take some stopping. MouTil is the most promising hurdler on the Wanganui tracks, and it is rumored Alex. Hall has his eye on the Grand National.

An exchange states that Mr. "Jack" Hay is looking after All Red at Hunterville. This Is incorrect. "Jack" baa been enjoying a short holiday, and -failing to pans the medical tests has gone back to Bushy Park —and Hallowmas,

In the trotting' ranks A. Pringle and J. 3rycG are having a battle royal for the riders' and drivers' stakes. Pringle, with 27 firsts, leads his rival by 25. The rest are "down the straight." Waimai seems to have lost his "punch" this season. Perhaps he will be more at home at Trentham and at Riccarton; and than again, the old chap might he better if kept to the- big fences, and not a3ked to "mix it."