SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 June 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 1, 3 —Auckland R.C Winter. June 1, 3—Dunedin J.C. Winter. June 3, 4—Otaki R-C Winter. June 13, 15—Gisborne R.C. Steeples. June 21, 22 —Naiiicr EC. Winter. June 28,29 —11:; c's Bay J.C. WinterTHE NEW ZEALAND CttP HANDICAP. Christehurch, May 30. At the annual meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club to-day, Mr R. J. Maxwell suggested that the New Zealand Cup handicap rules should be altered in order to give the better horses a chance of winning. He suggested a minimum handicap of 7.4 for four year olds, and 7.10 for five year olds. The Chairman (Mr F. M. Buckley) pointed out that some four years ago a proposal that weights for the Great Easter and Autumn Handicaps should start at a certain point with the object of giving better horses a chance had been vetoed by the general committee, owing to war conditions, but as the' war was still raging he thought the programme committee should think the thing over He hoped it would TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.")

Tjje Auckland Racing Club's winter meeting, which takes place to-day and on Monday, is the principal topic in sporting circles. To-day's programme bristles with important events and big money, but the fields carded lack the quantity and quality of former seasons. When "a steeplechase worth 1400 sovs only attracts ten 'chasers, five of whidi are "roughies," and a hurdle race, of 1250 sovs only draws a mediocre thirteen, it is time to tackle the question and ask, "Why?" The reason i s not plain enough. In tlie past the Great Northern Steeplechase and the Great Northern Hurdle Race were run on separate days, thus allowing many good fencers to start in both events. That there were horses capable of racing with distinction in these two great tests was proved by El Gallo, Liberator, and many others, and it is certain that, had opportunity offered, several good horses would have taken on the double this year. The A.R.Cundoubtedly blundered badly when the change was made. The Great Northern Hurdle Race promises to sec Sir Fisher and Thrace made the mediums of very solid betting, and practically nothing else in the race is considered. Sir Fisher fenced faultlessly at Wanganui, and simply strolled home, and, provided the riglit-handed course does not puzzic him, he will ran a great race. The Brighton Hurdles winner, Gluetanus, is too close to Sir Fisher to read dangerous, and Colorado, Bon Reve, and Styrax will have to improve on recent performances to have a chance- Thrace is the 'lbig boom" up Nortih, and the son of Poseddon has got through a solid preparation, no doubt. YvOiether he will be able to go with Sir Fisher over the last half-mile remains to be seen.

Of the ten paid up for in the Great Northern Steeples, Modd'ite aiso» claims an engagement in the Maiden Steeples > Of the likely starterc, Waimai has been going well in his essays over country, but Glaepot. with Gib less, may be more seasoned. Gluepot only ran a fair race in the Wanganui Stenples, but the going was against him, and he is capable of better tilings. Collector will carry, the bulk: of the Taranaki money, but three and aJhalf miles up-and-down going, with 23 fences added, may find him out There seems to be little doubt of his ability to jump big country, but the writer dioulbts his (Collector's) albility to get the distance Moddite, if reserved, may have a good, rough chance, but Marton will get" the stitch a long way from home. The lightweights have only jumpers' Chances. Possibly, Gluepot will start first choice Barisian Diamond heads the list in the Cornwall Handicap, ono mile and aquarter, and will lie riddden by H. Gray. No doubt those who rushed the invincible "bracket'' at Easter will be on hand again, and it would be a hard thing to pick a hoTse to beat the favorite. Hyginas and Cardrona will attract a lot- of attention in the Members' Handicap. The former puts up 71b penalty for winning at Wanganui on Saturday. Charlie Price went north on Thursday to ride the gelding. All Over, on his second to Volo in the Empire Handicap, does not read badly in the Jervois Handicap, and Bore (Maiden Steeples) and Delagc (Hunters' Hurdles) may also find favor.

Rawakore, Movement, Primato, and a good number of Taranaki horses remained at Wanganui after last week's meeting, and journey on to Otaki today. Expedition and Piano went through to Wanganui yesterday to link up with the rest of Percy Johnson's team- Sandy Paul is in Auckland, and will race there on Monday. Rawakore and Turangapito will be railed to Otaki to-day, the favorite "bracket" occupying the same box. Sounds ominous, doesn't it?

Percy Johnson informs Ihp writer that f!n ycium, whom he returned to her owner at. Taumarunui after the Feilding meetin?, was left in her box at Che Tauma-i-imui station for two days and two nights without food or drink. Considering that Mrs Coffey lives within fifty vards of the railway station, the neglect of the railway officials deserves to I ? reported to Hiley. The plight of the Opunake Racing Club, deprived of its one day animal mooting. is one that merits not only the sympathy but the indignation of sportsmen throughout, the province. The action Oif the District Committee in sacrificing the little country club is hardly what you would call sportsmanlike, and it is to he hoped that when their recommendations come before the Dates Committee the Opunake Club will—through that energetic body the County Clubs' Association—make some determined protest. The Opunake Club was in the act of going 011 with improvements that would cost £2OOO. In fact, I tli» limber was already on the course. I "Why they should be "rubbed out" passes comprehension-