SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1917, Page 6

SPORTING.

TOP TOPICS. (By '-'Moturoa".! Final payments for the Oaml National* and Winter Cup did no harm to anto-pcat bettor?, tlic field for tlm Steeple;; remaining intact, while 'Crib (whose Steeples engagement lias been continued) was the only defection from the Hurdles. Marc Antony, Gold Paintin.'.', Black Ada, Alteration, and Jiythread wore the only withdrawals from the Winter Cup, leaving 2!) to contest Thursday's race. Such a response by owners must be exceedingly gratifying for the C.J.C.

St. Klmn's owner paid lOsovs. to accept for the G.N. Steeples, and Ssovs. for the G.N. Hurdles, which looks like ''burning money." Both races are run the same afternoon, and beyond puzzling punters the object of the double payment is hard to fathom. One thought that the "good old days," when opulent miners used "tenners" as pipe-lights, had fled.

One, of the Taest workers at Riccarton is the Chokcbore noddy Brambletye, which should run 'well at the meeting. L. Hagerty will ride the veteran Sir Solo in the Grand National Hurdles, and UpSevency will be on Master Strowan in the Steeples. All Wanganui has made the pilgrimage to Kiccarton this week, and if Lconta wins the Hurdles the old fellgjv will not want for a rousing cheer when he returns to the bird cage. , Bon Tteve has been giving his trainer a lot of trouble recently, and lias declined in favor for his engagements at Iticcarton. Parisian Diamond hrn "hardened" for the Winter Cup, an 1 b :iks like running a great race on iho i'.:ly.

The imported l"n :>'.h..:;] c.-n travel very fast and looks li:.' ( . |.roving a paying proposition this yt'A-.\,<\. It is now practically certain that Frank: Flynn will vide the Taranal.i "double.'' Rewi Poto ami Sandy Paul, in the Nationals.

Going the rounds: That Celeano iliel recently after slipping twin, foals to Finland. The writer would believe it if he had not been at Pushy Park the day she was served by llaliomns. The Auckland Racing (Tub has deferred consideration of granting vj. (; o i,i. fineli's license for a month. To 'Withhold a "brief" from such a capable and straight-going horseman savours of vinilic Liveness.

Rowley Hatch will ride the Porirna horses, (Jeorge and Rajput, in their races

at lUeearton. 11. Hurt will pilot the hard-pulling Tauira in steeplechase UVOllta.

All sorts of rumors have been current regarding sir Fisher's alleged ailments. but the Century and llawke's Ray Hurdles winner has been pleasing the touts .since his arrival at Riecarton, and ''Alby" Ward's mount will not want for backers on the da v.

There -will be eight races at Riccartoii on Thursday. The Cirund National Hurdles is the third, the (irand National Hteepleehase the fifth, and tile Winter Cup the seventh event. ('. Price will ride Snub in the Winter Cup, but the Martian gelding's preparation has been more suggestive of a Now Zealand Cup race than "a mile event.