SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

THE NATIONALS.

(By "Moluroa")

Should an eminently respectable c'tlzen tread upon a banana skin, and do a slide-fm-lifc on the pavement outside a pubbcry, any parsing wowser would at once jump to the conclusion that Bacchus had beer, at work again, and the papers would at once get the beneiit of his vain imaginings. But even the wonderful imagination of a hidebound, costive wowser would be insullicient to convince the merest tyro that the acceptances received for this year's Grand Nationals are worthy of such races, or of such stakes. Out of die thirty-three nominated for the Steeples but eleven remain in. Of the forty-one entered for the Hurdles only a paltry do/en hold their ground. And of these a brace have been paid up for in both events, so that final paymerits mav see the fields still further depleted. Surely stakes of 1500 sovs and 1200 sovs deserve better patronaga. Of course a groat number of horses that are flattered with a National nomination would be more at home in hack company, and it Mould be interesting to know what on earth prompted their owners to make entries. The Nationals are very rarely won by untried horsoc, but still we hear every year owners talking of their "National winners, me bhoy'' just as if it were nil over bar shouting. The Ntaionals should attract the pick of the Dominion's jumpers, but this year it has failed dismally in this respect. The tried division is numerically weak, whilst favoritism—and almost ridiculous favoritism—rests on a brace of practically new chums —Crib and Rewipoto. It is a matter for regret that next week's fields will not contain El Gallo, Waimiii, 'Pursefiller, Tararu Jack, Fisher, Crown Pearl, Gladfnl. Chortle, Iceberg, and others which have proved their ability over all sorts of fences. Nobody blames the handicapper, so possibly owners of the cracks simply have no use for the money. They're lucky. [£ S. D. T Before the season 1010-17 is interred in the grave marked "History" a few remarks on racing statistics (as detailed in this week's Referee) may not be out of place. From a Taranaki point of view it has been a good season. Owners, horses (both on the track and at the stud) have had a good innings, and in these respects congratulations are due to Messrs R, Barlow, A. Alexander and Jas. Hawkins; to Depredation, Bisogiuand Toatere; and to Campfire, who is easily the best of our sires. Soult's long run as champion sire was cut short in lfll.'i by Martian, who has Mil"" held his position at the head of the list. Last season Martian's repre- . .::-.<.,:,■< ■iir-a-sr-il £ \,V>Sii in the Dominion, while Sacanof and others of iii-

Vi-g'-ny won well over £IO.OOO in 'fjiralia. All Black again fills the role of runner-up, his total being £11,910. This represents a slight decrease on the previous season's tally, but Desert Gold's comparatively poor season accounts for this. Anyway, an increase of nine to twenty-four winners of place-money is dicideiily creditable. The defunct Multifled has crept up from fifth to lliird position, his twentv-four winning rojis. earning £0720, of which Mnltifiial accounted for C 172-5, Finland, with .-CiiCOO, retains fourth position, his total representing an increase of approximately a cool two thousand, lioiiiform Ind the biggest winner of the year—Th« Tolf —to help him, but he has gor.e back cm&iderably. Kilbroney, whose first sea son's record was under two thousand, has "jumped" to £7272. and these figures do not include Killjoy's winningacross the Tasmau. Hymctius showed steady increase, whilst Soult, who bus been numbered among the defr.net fin heveral years, steadily descends the ladder of fame. Ga/.eley, chiefly owing to the effortn of Cleft and Gaziqne, his risen to £f>-120, and Spalpeen maintains his average at about the same mark. Bezor.ian, whose chief winner was the Iccaliy-owned Bisogno; and Charlemagne 11, who is now in 'Stralia, both top,the five thousand mark. Taranaki sites have only limited opportunities, but Campfire's descendants have annexed £137-! in stakes, and Coronet (most of whoso progeny raced here) £2830; Svlvia Park £l7S3* Husbandman £HiO,' Cheshire £7OO, and Patroness £SSS.

The. ToiT, who was lucky in meeting only moderate horsci in the spring, topped the winning hordes with £42,15. Then follow: Desert Cold Adjutant £2040. Depredation £2550, Dimeter .C-2-liJ". Uunliiifr £2440, Ilvmestra £2350, Colonel Poult £2300, 'Bisognc£222.-.. Kilboy £2IOO, Esthuid £212.'). and Gluepot £2OOO. Tarar.aki horses lower down the list are: —Toaterc £ll SO, Rewipoto £OOO, Iceberg £S3O. Analogue £S<)O, Harbor Light £OOS. Glcnroy £O2O, Husbman £47"). Xita £470, Oolden Grafton £450, Antwerp £445, Crawford £440, Pergola £■•!«), ['"lving Camp £4l.i, Revocation £415. Sandy 'Paul £4lO, Deeside £3SO, Inah £3Sfi. Veto £.175, Maniaroa £3OO. Zetc£3ss. Otter £320, l'araoa £315. and Cora Ora £3lO.

The lacing marc Madam Ristcri is advertised for lease by Mr. D. Berry, of Fitzrov.