SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1917, Page 2

SPORTING.

KACiXG FIXTDBES. June 23—Napier Park E.C. June 29, 30—Hawke's Bay J.C July 11, 12, 14—Wellington E.C. TURF TOPICS. (By "Motuaftu") Concluding day. at Grwnmeadows. Hawke's Bay Steeples' oil Friday next. Antwerp is engaged at Hastings next week. St. Elmri is a 'ebaseft ; wprili chasing. Hie dogs were barkiiW' Montana yesterday. _La<ly Middletou is worth keeping in mind for anything up to a mile. Mr. Geo. Morse's health shows no improvement. His condition is very low at present. St least three "stone morals" were wired through for the Moteo Hack Hurdles yesterday. 1 Simbird, now owned .by Mr. Lan Duncan, of Waikanae, will visit Ivilbroney next season. The patriotism of sportsmen is proverbial, as shown by their generous contributions to local funds; but one wonders where the kill-joys come in. Do they ever give anything? Old Fagot jumps as cleverly as ever, but he does not possess much pace. One of these days he will strike formidable country, and while the others are toppling over he will be sailing home in tile van.

On public form it is difficult to understand why Collector should have to concede to proved 'chasers like Nita, Grey Guard, etc. Under the circumstances the Hawera crowd are game to take it on. Racehorse nomenclature never fails to amuse. Just imagine "All Stunned" swerving at the start of a race at Gisborne. Stunned persons swerve also. And there was another prad at Gis■borne rejoicing in the name of "Tarn." Possibly Scotch, but probably just plain Maori cuss.

Apparently Iceberg ran a decent ra«e yesterday, beating all but the usually disappointing Want. The latter is also a new chum at hurdling, and the Peniiry gelding may make amends over sticks for his many failures on the flat. J. O'Shea now has a substantial lead in the winning jockeys' list, his score reading 88. Then come A. Reed 58, J. Ol.sen 56, C. Emerson 50, B. Deeley 49, and R. Reed 45. It is a rare thing for a quartette to top the half-century mark at this period of the season. Mr. C. Mumby headed the winning owners' list at Gisborne with £3OO. With ordinary luck the Inglewood sportsman will add to that total hortly. J. O'Shea and S. Henderson each rode, three winners at Gisborne,