SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES l'Vl)- lis—Hamilton R.C. Annual. Fcii. iil, 23—Wanganui .It'. Autnimi. DUNEDIN ACL'ICL'TA.NX'Jiis. By Teiegraph.—Press Association. Duiiedin, Last Night. HURDLES.—P>ore 12.1, San Scbastiari, Luff 11.8, Turehaua 9.13, Prairie Fire 9.3, Tliruster 9.0. WARRINGTON HANDICAP.—Hot Air 9.12, Kazan 9.10, Michaela, Mortliam 8.12, Benefit 8.11, Aycliffe 8.9, Micky Free 8.5, Harlequin, Partisan, Hvlaus 5.3, Burrangong, Arihia, Wingforra, Red Tape, Little Willie 7.7JOC'KEY CLUB'S HANDICAP Rorke's Drift 9.0, Devotion 8.5, Miss De Val 8.2, Marsa, Kiljoy 8.0, Multicipal, Kauwliero 7.11, Tliaddeus 7.9, Rose Pink 7-8, Killard 7.0. HOPEFUL HANDICAP.—Punka 8.13, Lionskin 8.12, Torfreda 8.10, Scornful 8.8, Caveroek 8.3, Thistle Croneu 7,13, Anconia 7.10, Preface 7 0. FLYING HANDICAP.—KiIboyne, Mohawk 9 2, Golden King 8.7, Helicon 8.0, Redshire 7.12, Glensponse, White King 7.7, Phil May 7.0, Achilledes, Triple Entente, Benefit 7.0. WAIHOLA HANDICAP. Rosovcar 9.9, Mortliam, Golden Prince, Linden 9.2, Rokelaine BS, Barlye Rigs 5.7, Love Token 8.2. Erroneous, Take Down, Red River, Arihia, Revolution, Adjustment, Litfcle Willie, All Rain 80. ABBOTS FORD WELTER.—King Star 9.0, Redshire 8.13, MajestikolT 8.12. Probation 8.10, Bon, Battle Eve, Awahou 8.9, All Ready 8-8, Redowa, Acliuledes S.O, Morton, Sir Malt. Kilbrocran 8 3, Multoe 7.11, Aycliffe 7.10, Micky Free, Hylaus, War Hawk, Spectual, Ogier 7-7. HAZLETT MEMORIAL.—Fiery Cross 9.12, Wardancer 9.4, Kilmeedy 8.2. A WANGANU'I SCRATCHING. j Wanganui, Feb. 15. Colorado has been scratched for the [Wanganui Cup. . TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoft.'') The feature of the Egmont R.C. summer meeting was the almost general defeat of the favorite division. Impediment anil Robur being the only ones to score in handicaps at the gathering. The invincible Lowry team took ofT the classics, and under the circumstances paid fair prices, but not sufficient to get any but big punters out of trouble, Tnranaki form was a fair guide, Otter, Madam Ristori, Chortle, Dingle, .Tu Titsu, Tromiione, Volo, Xenialine, Rawakore, Henry Clay and Cheddar again showing good form. The surprise of the meeting was the excellent price Otter was allowed to pay each day- Chortle proved himself the best handicap horse over a distance at the meeting, while Impediment. fullv upheld her reputation ns a sprinter, though when burdened with 8-9 in the Atkinson 'Memorial Stakes <i n the second day the tbree-vear-old hnd to strike her colors to a good one in Volo. who was in receipt of 231b. Arlington ran two great races, and appeared to be unlucky to get beaten on Thursday. The class of horses seen out at Hawera was better than at New Plymouth, and the various events more keenly contested Taranaki sportsmen were lucky to get four days' splendid raping in such ideal weather, but whether the sport proved a financial success for the majority of punters is very doubtful. For full brothers Estland and Finmark are about as dissimilar as it is possible for thoroughbreds to be. but that both are high class gallopers they nmply proved. Finmark is a big, lazv customer. and he went much bettor for Rov Reed at Hawera than he did for R. S. Bagby at New Plymouth. Tn running six furlongs in 1.13 3-5 lie covered himself with glory, 'but t'he fast time recorded was due to the pace set by Demos, who is also a speedy sprinter. When Demos is more seasoned ho may reverse positions with Finmark over six furlongs, though the chestnut may prove the better stayer. Finmark is a n ideal Derfjy colt, and is a. worthy stableniate of Desert Gold and Estland. The lastnamed is a disappointing looking horse at first sight, but improves on acquaintance. He has not the gamest of heads, but lie is well-built behind, and at his best would be a worthy opponent to Biplane over a mile and a half. At Hawera he was very sore, and was '•'scratching" 'badly for half a mile. When he settled down to business he quickly settled Koesian and Nvstart, and ran in a comfortable winner. As a classic proposition Ace was a failure. Probably he will improve with a little more racing, but he will never be in the same class as Estland. 'Bushman's surprise victory in the Whareroa Welter was a rude shock to backers of Glorify, Cheddar, and Revocation. The winner was the rank outsider of t'he dozen runners, but he made practically all the running, anil won on bis merits. It is stated that his owners had a few pounds on the machine, and benefited nicely by the good dividend served up. Nobody begrudged Mr. .T McKean a win with Piano. She was in better nick at Hawera than previously, and whereas she failed in the last furlong at New Plymouth, she ran on strongly on Wednesday. Astor's running in the Whareroa Welter the first day paused' many to go for liim in the Waimate Handicap on Thursday, the shorter distance suiting him better, while the first day's gallop improved him out of sight. The win was long overdue, j There was one glaring reversal of for* at Hawera, but nothing was said, though it was common property that a big I conn was brought off. ° Turangapito was heavily hacked by his party on Thursday, but the Waneanui horse absolutely refused to so near the birrier. His six hundred backers did not get a run for their money. • Winning jockeys at the meefmp were: L Morris and B. Deelev 3 each, 7) Reed S. Henderson. Rid Reid L. jfodder, Stan. Reid. J. O'Shen. F. Johnson, Mr. F. Cleaver, and Mr. E. Short fine each. Visitors to the Egmont meetinj could not help being charmed bv the beautiful displays in the flower plots dotted about the £rroiuid«. } The q'!io\r of sweet peas, netunias, marurolds. phlox-, larkspurs, lrvhelins, etc., was very beautiful, and Mr. Charles Goodson. who makes a hohbv of this class of wort*, is to hp congratulated on the beautification of the "rounds The New 7en'n.nd T.onn and Vpivnntilp Asener Co. held their annua' tlmr- I ouThltrol iioi-op cnlo nt " r -ttersnll'B Ha- I wnrrf. on W#dnasdav mornlwr._wion'

there was a large attendance of interested horsemen. Bidding, however, was not spirited, and the lot, with the exception of one, were passed in, the prices offered not reaching the reserve placed by the vendors. The chestnut gelding Henry Clay was passed in at 120gns, while a brown filly, 3 years, by Husbandman, did not reach tlie owner's figure, and it therefore did not change bands. The sum of llOgns Was the highest bid for this filly, full-sister to Hushman. The only sale which took place was a chestnut gelding, 2 year's, by Rothschild, to Mr. W- Hawkins, of Waverley, at 3gns. The war and the curtailment of racing is probably one of the contributing factors to the dullness of the thoroughbred market. At t.be conclusion of the sale Mr. Cooper, the auctioneer, thanked Mr. J. proprietor of "Tattersall's" for the use of his bazaar.—Star, i There was a mix-up in our report or 'the Hawera tote figures. For the two days they were £50,0H0, an increase of £15,049 over last year's meeting, which is a record not only for Egmont' but for .race meetings in Taranaki. Who said money was not plentiful here! DESERT GOLD Received Feb. 15. 11.5 p.m. ■Melbourne, Feb. 15. Desert Gold, with McLachlan up, ran luilf-a-mile in fiftv-two and a half, going well within herself.