SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1917, Page 8

SPORTING.

STRATFORD RACINC! Clt'l!. extrtjjs to-night. A final reminder is given to all owners find trainers that entries for all events »l (lie Stratford Racing Club's annual meeting on New Year's Day close tonight at i) o'clock. Those ' interested should note carefully that 111.-' .Stratford telegraph office closes at 8 p.m. The stakes all round are first-class, the Stratiord Cup lieinjf worth 330 sovs., and tlie Douglas Handicap 3CO sovs. .Judging bv the fine nominations received for the Taranaki .J.G. Christmas meeting, which forms with the Stratford fixture Taranald's holiday carnival, Jlr. Alf. Coleman should he kept busy this evening. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") There was an immense crowd at Feilding on Saturday, and with big fields and well-backed neddies strolling home, the tote record jumped to over thirty thousand quidlots. And even then, with a brisker tote stall', a good deal more might have been handled. Folding is already one of the leading racing. centres on this eoast, and it is time tiiat the F..T.C. rose to the occasion.

The starting at Feilding was, to say the least of it, particularly rotten. Indian file send-ofi's upset the, handicapper's good work, though the worst exhibitions, it must be admitted, were in other but handicap events, namely, the Trial and I'Vildiiig Stakes. The ideal of racing— Chat the best horse should win—received a. body-blow on Saturday.

In.expressing-1 lie opinion that Waverley form wo 1 ;!!!! most likely be reflected at leilding t liis scribe laid himself open to a certain amount of criticism. "There was no comparison in the two meetings.'' llie wiseacres said, hut the result proved (he prophecy right in every particular. Of the winners at Wavcrles White Blaze and Turangapito won at Feilding, while Nobleman (in open company this time) ran a remarkably close second to Devotion in the principal handicap. Tree Lucerne again showed fine form, Irating ;ill but Nanna, to whom he was conceding •3Tb. in tlio Flying. Dingle turned his second into a first, and Calais, who fell when leading at the last fence at Wavcrley, stood up this time, and won in hollow fashion. Thus doth history repeat itself, and they that folioweth i "form" journey oft to the "pay out" window.

A nice field of eighteen lined up for the opening event, the Trial Plate, with Staccato, Chimera, and Pennon in most favor. When the tapes lifted you couldn't have told which way the horses intended going, hut Turpinite, Chimera, and -Lady Kihvorth set out along the back stretch, and the others, with the exception of Skedaddle and De finer, followed iike So many Chows. Pc"nnon singled herself out from the nick, aiuf before turning for home had run into the lead. That was the end of things, for the imported daughter of Coriander and Eulogy never gave anything else a chance. Chimera and Matilda followed her up the straight, with I.ady Kilworth and Eirst Line next. The favorite, Staccato, was never in the picture.

The scratching of .Miss Dcval, Carlysian. Starcngo, and Revocation, left a pretty field of fifteen to contest, the Flying. Crowhtirst was a hot favorite, with Ladv General and Xanna also "called for." Xanna had the race -won at the home turn, and never turned a hair, though the six furlongs were thrown behind in 1.14 1-0, which might have been improved upon if necessary. The old battler, Tree ran a great race, but the favorites performed miserably. The Ilurdlea was another cake-walk, Calais keeping his hackers in ffood heart from end to end. Veto finished on 1 well, and should be kept in mind for the holiday meetings. Mattock ran honestly, as usual, hut lacks pace. Reparation fell, and Dasher Boy dashed his boy off. The defections of Miss 'Deval, Flash Lady, and War Loan left thirteen to sport silk in the Manchester Handicap. The race was full of incident, and though Devotion won nieelv at the right end, both Chortle and Nobleman might have done better had the pendulum of luck swung their way. Nobleman and Botanist made play early, but Square Deal supplanted the latter as they ran along the back stretch. Nobleman appeared to be covering a heap of ground, and Devotion, nicely ridden on the fence, got up in time to win. Chortle put in a. great run when lie got clear, ibut the post eame too soon for him. The favorites filled the places, but in the reverse order to the public's estimate. Paddington Green was the elect of the eighteen runners .in the Apiti Hack Handicap, -but the winner turned up in .another New Plymouth horsp. Dingle, who scored decisively and returned his hackers a nice .price. The favorite was never prominent. What' was expected to provide a fine race 'between Acre, Lingerie, and Birkenvale was utterly spoiled by Lingerie getting a "fly,"' and though Acre made a. big bid "to overhaul the Finland filly ho found the start too big. Lingerie appeared to win easily, but Acre might have been much closer hut for colliding with Birkenvalc in the straight. Ooo'd as was Turangapito'? performance in the Cheltenham Handicap, that of Rude was oven better, and were they to raw again at the same weights most shrewd judges would go nap 011 the Fordell flier. Turangapito got anything but a, clear run, but Rude was left a street, and then got to within a: neck of the winner. Vurnngapito recently changed hands at 000 guineas, and lie appears to be worth every shilling of it. The Kiwitea Welter was a one horse race, the despised White Blaze assuming command at an early stage, and winning with a. lot in hand. His was the best dividend of the day, and it was a treat to mingle with the crowd of cheery (not. beery) Taranaki-itcs at the pay out window afterwards. A "limit" dividend was a splendid finish to a successful day —but, by Jove, how we had to sprint to get a drink before the pubs shut! It was a cruel thing to introduce six o'clock closing on.such a night. The Woodville Summer meeting takes place to-day _ and to-morrow. Feilding winners will be required to put up 101b extra, unless weighted at §.lO or over. Big fields are carded for to-day's events. On Feilding form, Chortle, Nanna, Calais, Pennon, Rude, Devotion, and Oliiwai are likely to give a good account of themselves during the meeting.