SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 July 1918, Page 7

SPORTING.

BREACH OF RULES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 20. The treasurer of tlie Wellington Racing Club was charged at the Magistrate's Court to-day with having allowed money to be 4Hvested on the totalisator .in'the Trial Plate at the recent races at vfrihrtham after the time of starting thi -rati. *'■> Chief-Detective Boddam explained that there was no suggestion of fraud;'a technical breach of tlie law only having been committed- '■■■' ; Mr. Eiddell, S.M., imposed a nominal •penalty of 203,, and 7s costs. - RACING FIXTURES. ,";. National.' Sepft.4— Marton J.C. Spring. Sev: -11—Dannevirke R.C. Spring. • Sejjt. JLSt-Egmont R.C.' Spring. / ' i ." ; -' TURF TOPICS. ! . (By "Moturoa.") > Miss Deval has come into the market 1 for.,tne.Winter Cup. Master Strowan and Gang Aw&' go souiblnext week. As.vtsual, Chgjlie Price will ride Volo at/Jliccarton. i.; Sleigfot-of-Hand has been taken out 'of the Grand National Steeples. Winter Cup scratehings: Parisian Diamond, Gazique, Gold Soult, Whita jßfaze, Hyttus,.and Arrowfield. ! Golden Prince made amends for recent costly defeats- by winning at Washdyke on Thursday, but lie is no champion. While being exercised at Riccarton last Saturday Colorado slipped on the frosty ground and ricked his hind legs rather badly. The. Wanganui racecourse is leasehold property, and at the annual meeting of members on Wednesday evening it was forecasted that the club %yould soon be selecting freehold property further put of town for a new eoivrse. Roy Reed will ride for the Highden stable next season. H. Gray will'pilot H. Telford's horses, and G. Clarke will probably go to 'Stralia.

Tho Wanganui Jockey Club paid the Government £4094 2s 6d in taxes this season, besides wTiich the taxes levied on the club's patrons ran into £3533 Cs, making a total of £7627 8s Cd.

Cardrona has been galloping well at Ellerslie, and is a certain starter in the Winter Cup. However, he seems to be a better horse over six furlongs than at a mile. J. O'Shea will hold the rihbons.

Even if the weather clears up between now and Thursday fornight Riccarton going is likely to be very heavy, "and all against the top-weights. Those trainers Who went south after the Wellington meeting acted very unwisely,* as. the frost and snow at Riccarton have practically debarred jumping, or at least made it a very dangerous task. An instructive table published in a recent Referee shows that in the last eighteen Victorian Grand National Hurdle races the first favorite has only won once. In fact the public's elect has only been placed on two occasions. What a great race that must b« for the raucous-voiced Isaacs. 'Stralians seem to havo lost the art of naming horses appropriately, as a glance at the Breeders' 'Plate entries shows. The puerile style of lifting a few letters from both names of sire and dam, and making a nonsensical and unintelligent abomination of the combination still finds favor. Just fancy names like Prince Ribbon (Prince Foote—White Ribbon). Trenchworthy (Roseworthy— Lady Trenchant), Lincome (Linacre— Comely), and Eubumpus (Eudorus — Bumper). Another owner has adopted the Bidwill "ation" nomenclature, and fcs latest two-year-old will race as Celebration. No one has been game enough to select Conscription in those parts yet! "Jimmy" Bryce, tho trotting mentor, kas had a wonderful record as a trainer (if harness horses. During the last thrc>/> years he had turned out eighty-nine sui ecssful candidates. Mention of the won "mentor" reminds me of a caustic remark that fell from the lips of a wellknown Wanganui trainer. "Yes," he said, "all us coves are called trainers by you pressmen, but when you talk of "Dick' Mason yon get down on your knees and mention tho magic word 'mentor'."

A well-known Taranaki sportsman has sent down to Wanganni a six-year-old "half-sister to Ngatiruanui, to be trained for hurdle racing by H. Eayner. Kilboy is to take up stud duties in tlv,s Hawke's Bay district next season. Such a winner of classics, particularly of distance events, should be in big demand lover there.

Sir Fisher is reported to be in good condition at present, and in Master Strowan and Sir Fisher our Manawatu friends have a fine double for the Grand Nationals.

Bon Reve's defection from the Grand National Steeplechase is a matter for regret, but Mr. P. Noagle states that his old favorite has had a hard season, and a profitable one, and requires a spell. His action in scratching his horse so promptly will be appreciated by antepost bettors. King Star has not done much since he won the Winter Cup last year, hut he is to have another '-'fly" next month, and will be ridden by his old pilot \V. Bell.

Good Day has been allowed to drop out of the Caulneld Cup. Good day to more punters' money. Arlington is an unlikely starter in the Grand National Steeples, but'*il] probably sport silk in the Enfield Steeples on the same day.

A Sydney paper is responsible for the statement that a school-girl is part owner of the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles winner, Narrahquong, arid had a share of mild betting operations totalling £1750 to £3O. " RACECOURSE SENSATIONS. TWO AUSTRALIAN INCIDENTS. ■ By the latest Australian mail to hand came particulars of recent sensational happenings on Australian racecourses, mention of which was made in the cablegrams last week. It was discovered at Flemington. after the rnnninpr of the Grand National Steeplechase, that one of the fences had been tampered with prior to the running of that event. The inside lop rail of the obstacle was sawn nearly through, and the paddinjr carefully replaced. Only about an inch of beam was left intact, and the job was so neatly done that no evidence of the work Was visible even at close inspection. The fence interfered with is one of the most formidable on the course. Tn the first round of the rage in question all the

competitors cleared it safely, but in the second round Booligal (who finished second), and Doiran (fifth) struck it and the rail fell away.

The second happening occurred at Townsville. The Sydney Sun of July 15 publishes the following: The inquiry into sensational happenings at the' Tun Club meeting on Saturday, when it was found that a mare which ran in the Farewell Handicap had had her tongue tied with a piece of tape, threw a light on recent occurrences at the Rockhampton races. This mare, Etal, was brought from Melbourne to Queensland, and at Rockhampton won a race when practically unbacked, and lost badly another race when practically backed for a fortune. Etal was then brought to Townsville. She was pulled out of the Flying Welter Handicap at Saturday's meeting, but started in the Farewell Handicap. It was stated that the jockey, Thompson, was not well enough to ride, and Myles Connell's services were secured. Etal, who opened up favorite, looked an right, although she was twisting her tongue a good deal; but on being brought to the steward's enclosure she was taken possession of by a steward. An examination showed that the mare's tongue was very tightly tied with a piece of tape at the back near the root. The lower portion of the tongue was almost block, and the tape had to be cut with a knife. Tn the race Etal showed a lot of pace for haif a mile, and was then knocked up. The reputed owner, Cormack, at the inquiry disclaimed any knowledge of the mare's tongue having been tied. Two independent witnesses stated that they saw a small fair man tie Etal's tongue, while Cormack was leaning on the rail with his back to the mare. Thompson was not present. The stewards disqualified Etal, Cormack, and Thompson for life and decided to prosecute the small fair man.