SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING.

THE NEW SEASON. (By "Moturoa-.") To-day, August 1, 19 nominally the opening day of tile racing season 1917-IS. Yearlings, tiiat have barely ic'.t the bit and bridle, blossom forth into tu'o-vear-olds, and will taste the sting of whip and spur. Two-year-olds will be slsked to run longer courses; and so 011 to the Veterans —who never change. It is something like the "shortening" of a baby; Willie's first pair of "pants"; Harry's first "long 'uns"; Tommy's first love; Mid last, but not least, the Old Man's forced energy and ridiculous bustle to Iceep himself in the cricket eleven—oven though lie has "lagged superfluous upon the stage"—as the theatrical scribes say.

As far as this province is concerned do better arrangement, under conditions of curtailment, could have been desired. We are a happy family, as it were. But what of the other clubs on this coast? Go a little further and ask. of the clubs in the North Island? Have tliev done their duty to horpe-owners, trainers, jockeys, and the rest, whose living hanga on the continuance of racing?"

The "slaughter" of the spring meetings is sufficient answer to the above conundrum. Some clubs certainly have been "given the axe." jTist as effectively as the goose that we all had last Christmas; but the larger clubs —forced to loosen up a trifle on their greedy hold of an unnecessarily large number of racing days—have gone out of business (practically) this spring. The result is that the first three months of the present season present a Sahara-like barrenness to all but the big men of the tuvf. The outlook of the "battler" could hardly be worse. But perhaps the battling owner, trainer, or jockey does not "live" during this period! How he "exists" goodness only knows! Just about as pretty a conglomeration of laws as it is possible to imagine —given a week's "jag" in—is the collection of enactments that have, accounted for the whole of the Hunt Clubs of the North Island; the Pahiatua, llorowhenua, and minor "excitements." But what of the Auckland, Wanganui, Hawko's Bay; and Napier Park Clubs, that have given the knock-out blow to spring racing? And the Avondale Club that has shifted its clock ahead several months, and incidentally "closed on" Auckland's rejected dates? Perhaps, when most of the "battlers" have taken the count, and tile ballot has eaten the core out of the manhood of the Dominion, these clubs will awaken from their trance and wish that they had chosen more wisely, and thereby helped themselves (first) and the battling brigads (last).

THE EG MONT CLUB. As shown by the balance-sheet tabled at the annual meeting of the Egmont Club, the latter energetic body is in a position to be envied as regards financial stability. Not only are the Club's liabilities nil, but the assets (including a bank balance of £2720) are actually £12,52-9; The past season has been a most successful one, the season's operations shewing a nett of £l-i3S. Nominations, acceptances, and forfeits totalled £'26St), which went rather more than half-way towards paying the stakes (£52-10). The expenditure side of the balance-sheet shows an item, "Attendance at meetings.. £720," which seems rather tall; and on the opposite side of the ledger, ".Members' subscriptions and. entrance extraordinarily small for a progressive eiu!> situated in a sporting district. The club's farming has been fairly successful, and taken from any point of the compass the balance-sheet is one to be proiul of.

A pleasing feature of the'meeting was the sympathetic reference to the club's losses in the shape of the late 0. Turton (secretary) and the late G. Morse (handicapper). In no small measure is the present high position of the Egmont Club due to the ability of theso two trustworthy servants. Due credit is given to Mr. G. Holder, who acted on behalf of Mr. V. Stratton at the May meeting, but 110 mention was made (apparentl.i) of the good services rendered by his right-hand man, Mr. F. Spriggens, of Wanganui. The generous action of the Egmont Club in voluntarily surrendering the remaining day of the winter meeting, and in setting an example to their fellow clubs by donating £IOO to the ill-used Hunt Clubs, deserve honorable mention.

CONCERNING PATRONUS. It would seem rank blasphemy to state that Patronus, a sire so favorably known on this coast, is lacking in heart, but such a statement appeared in a contemporary a few days ago. The writer went further and stated that Patronus must have started a hundred times before 'winning a race. That is some exaggeration, though it must be admitted that the handsome son of Patron and Placida did not come to hand early, which, after all, is a point in his favor. Although, he failed to win a race at two or three years he showed promising form on many occasions, and was more than onco unlucky to suffer defeat. As a two-year-old he started ten times, running second in the Purse, seven furlongs, at Warwick Farm; second, in the Nursery Handicap, seven furlongs, at the V.R.C. autumn meeting; and second in the Federal Stakes, six furlongs, at the V.A.T.C. meeting following. At three years he raced on twenty-one occasions, his best performances being: Second in Warlaby Handicap (Moonee Valley), six furlongs; second in the Rupert;-™ eod Handicap (Moonee Valley), S l /, furlongs; fourth in the. Stand Handicap, IVt miles, at the V.R.C. October meeting; second in the Sandown Park Handicap, l'/i ■ miles; second in the Coongy Handicap, I mile 3 furlongs, at Caulf'ield; third in the Maiden at the V.R.C. November (Clip) meeting; third in the Brunswick Stakes, IVt miles, at the V.R.C. autumn meeting; second in the River Handicap, l'/j miles, and secend in the Place Handicap, H miles, both at the same meeting. The following seasons saw the chestnut win many good races, amongst which might be mentioned the Veteran Stakes (in which lie defeated Falkirk, Avalon, Blue Metal, and a good field); the Brunswick 'Stakes, under 8.7, Beating Billali, <3.13, by four lengths ; the Maribyrnoug Handicap. | beating Lord Cardigan (Melbourne Cup winner), Combat, T.M.S., Lieutenant Bill, etc.; the Bagot Handicap, 11 miles, with 8.4, and tho Moonee Valley Cup, 1 mile 3 furlongs, with 8.2, in "2.27. The above record does not bear out the statement that Patronus was chickenhearted, nor do the records prove that iio started "about one hundred times" before he won a ra<ce.