SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

SEW ZEALAXD iUETRQPOLITAX TROTS.

rinsT day's results. ~_: By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christcliurch, Last Xight. The Xew Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's August meeting opened today in dull and windy weather. The track was in excellent order. The attendance was large, and , speculation brisk, .-C35,777 passing through the totalizator, as against .1:28.308 for the corresponding day of last year. (Results:—

IMPROVERS' TTAXDTCAP.—B Ivari Huon, I; ."> Colonel Havelook, 2; 10 Te Kniti, :i. Al-o started: II Treasure Seeker, !l Mushroom, l.'i (.'rail), IS Succory, :i Peter M'Millan, 2 lied Rell and Coraki (coupled), 7 James Maddison, 12 Jessie's Dream. 4 Beeswing, and t. .-sunrise. AYon by three lengths. Time, 4min "l.'i 2-Ssec.

TRIAL HAXDICAP.-l Xorali Crena, 1; I! Scahear. !i; 11 Vice-Admiral, 3. Also started: it; Dillon I'.dd.v. 17 Colenut, 12 Miss Ijacoc, (I Mahinga. 1.l Voting Tollii, 7 Rorke's Drift, 2 Nihili-t, 13 Maud Wilkes, 10 Chaos, M Wooddrift. a tiipsy King. S Sally Brass, 4 Wild Cherry, and !• Our (.limn.' Won by four lengths. Time, llmin 4Ssec.

AUOUST HAXDICAP.—I Cappriclo, 1; 2 Hardy Wilkes, 2; i; (,'enoa'i uik,

.'!. Also started: II) John Dillon, » Oinako, :! Mintson. 4 Stanley's Child, 1 Cora Dillon (coupled with Cappricio), 7 Dunspey. 3 Strategy. S Tamarisk. Won by three- lengths. Time, 4mm lOsec.

QUEEN MAIiY HAXDICAP.-l Harold Child, I: ."> Schnapps. 2: S Kotncllll', li. Also started: It Silver Shoe, 11 Hannah M.. :1 Rargan. 7 Auriferous. 12 Dillon Direct. 10 Dimness, ]:; L'rleen 2 Malice, 4 Merry Thorpe, and (i Star Queen. Won by tour lengths. Tune., 4min !l 4-.l=ee

STKWARDS' HANDICAP.--! King Capitalist. I; :! Red Heather. 2: 3 Rita Peter (coupled with Red Heathen. IJ. Also started: Ii Electrocute. 12 Commander Bell. 11l Lady Patricia, ."> Bon Ami. 2 El Carbine. 11 Mystic, S Imperial Crown, 7 Auckland Cirl, !l Theseus, and 1 Billy Parole. Won by a neck. Time, 4inin 4!isee.

INTERNATIONAL HANDICAP—II Brown's Nugget 1; 2 Bockom, z; :> Trix Pointer. 3. Also started: 4 uur Thorpe, 10 Moneymaker, 3 Sherwood (coupled with Beckoiu) 9 Emilius, 2 Agathos. H Cora Dillon, 5 Stanley's Child, (! irval, 7 Tamarisk, and 1 Admiral Wood (coupled with Trix J'ointer). Won by three lengths. Time, 2min 5? 2-ssec.

SPEEDWAY HANDICAP—I Chid, 1; 2 Admiral Hal, 2; 5 Viee-Admiral, 3. Also started: 4 Pitaroa, 10 Ban* ivoie, 11 RamiUari, 9 Pax. 0 Legacy 3 Proud Spring. I." Lady Teddingion, 7 liiileiis, 14 Sir Elmo, 15 Crown Prince, 12 Louie Drift, and S Annie Dillon. Won by a neck. Time, 2min ];Ssec.

ELECTRIC IJANDICAP.-7 Loro Miuto, 1; 10 Huon Patch, 2; 4 Strategy, .1. Also started: 2 Beckom and In wood (coupled), IS Disappear, 13 Lord Dillon, 15 Trooper Dillon. l(i Prince Poole, 12 Bridgewood, 3 Fash ion wood. 5 Prince Akwood. I l.ocanda Dillon, 17 Agnes Chief, 11 Piamitiari, li .Silver Quick, !) Sychelles, 8 Miss Audrey, and 14 Young Tohu. Won by a length. Time, 2min 13 2-ssec.

THi; CRAXD NATIONALS. (liy "Moturoa.") Tlie Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting opens at Riecarton today, the principal events set down for decision being the much-discussed Crand National .Stee]ilechase, Grand Xational Hurdle Race, and Winter Cup, which races have been die medium of considerable betting during the past fmiv weeks. Ante-post wagering is undoubtedly on the increase in the Dominion, and very few of the large army of punters are not pecuniarily interested in to-day's big treble. Whether it be the bloated aristocrat with his thousands to hundreds, the moderate bettor with his hundreds to tens, or the less pretentious ''picker' vith his fiver to n dollar, all will be feverishly watching the run of events at Riccarton to-day. Hope ;-priii2s eternal in all breasts, whether we be "full strength," medium, or mild gamblers.

The Xew Zealand Grand Xational .Steeplechase originated 'way back in IS7U. so that to-day's race ranks ,i* tne forty-third. Jn the good old days, when sieepleehasing was of a more leisurly type than in these days, some big weights were carried to victory Agent won with 1-2.0 in 187 ft. and the following year scored again with 12.7. Clarence made light of 12.2 in I SSI,- and three years later the apparently irrepressible Agtiit was again to the fore with 12.(1 Canard was first home in ISMi with l-2.1i), the greatest weight ever carried with success, while Chemist 12.7. Norton 12.5, Mutiny 12,1, and I.cvanler 12.i1. also proved themsehes masters of big impost-,. Since IS I '." no horse lias won with more than 11.11. but that will not deter the public to-day from making Master Strowan 12.7 a very warm order. The Foxton horse won last year with 10.11, and appears to be a greatly improved ei|iiino now. Agent won the race three times, and Mutiny was the only other horse to win it more than once. There is any amount of money about to back Master Strowan to equal Mutiny's feat to-day. •

The majority of the Steeplechase candidates have been at Riccarton lor several weeks now, and have had plenty of schooling over the big fences. The final payments have not materially reduced the field, which should mmiucr 11 or 12. Master Si rowan lias performed proficiently the light, tusks required of him. being very forward as tiie result of winter racing. He lias sil II) more to carry lhan last year, and a better field to heat. If he wins to-day, it will be with much in hand. ■\Yainmi won with U.S in 1010, and that he has not yet gone buck he sieved by winning tho (treat Xorthern Steeples this year. Hrs track form has not been of a brilliant order, and if both stand up, .Master Strowan should beat him at any part of it. Crib has not done much during the winter, but sßovtM b:> sharpened up l>y the racing he had at Trentliam. Ho jumped the hie: fences nicely on but may not prove so safe, a conveyance with the paca on. Collector and Coalition appaar to be the most likely pair to bring about the downfall of the favo>

rite, and Coalition, in particular, may be depended upon to jump the country. Botti are well treated with 10,'J, and should hold Yellow and Black and St. Elinn u,uite safe. Yellow and Black has won three times in as many starts over country, but will be meeting Better horses to-day. fit. Elmn showed at Trentham that lie still had some dash left, and he will have friends with 9.11. -Much may happen in a race over three and a-half miles of big fences, but the quintette on the minimum cannot have much show. When the tote closes to-day the favorite division may be: Master Strowan, Coalition, Collector.

The New Zealand, Grand National Hurdle Race only dates back to -1890, to-day's race being the twenty-ninth of its kind. Weight-carrying has not been a feature of the race, though Record Reign's splendid victory under 12.12, and the success of Liberator 12.G, and .Paisano 12.1 are worthy of more than passing mention. Two previous winners will take their places in to-day's contest. Art, who won under D.lO to IftlG. and Sleight of Hand, who was first home last year with 10.0 in the saddle. Only one horse has won the big hurdle race on two occasions, and that was old Liberator, whose deed-; Art and Sleight of Hand will strive to emulate to-day.

The lop weights 'held thei.' ground through all the payments for the Grand National Hurdles, and a satisfactory field of 11 smart horses seems assured. There is hardly one of the 11 that you would not give a chance to, and the result is much more open than the pencilled' charts would have one think. (The Bar Vims have their "hull-price days" just like the drapers.) Gladful, Art, and Sleight of Hand figure on the 11.!). mark, but without a doubt Gladful has the best recommendations as far as winter form is concerned. He is an out-and-out, stayer, and, what is more, will have the services of the licit horseman in the race. He will take a lot of nonfiling. Sir Fisher ran consistently at Wanganui, Ellerslie. and Trentham, and pleased right up until a few days ago, when he appeared to-go off. The O.imiawatu crack has had a hem r m.>«son. and may be feeling the effects of it. Gang Awa' may run well for a short distance, but two and a-half miles will him out. With 10.5, the t-'ordcll i jumper reads badly when compared with the weights apportioned the horses immediately b ■ him in the handicap. The over-green Sir Solo is on the scene again, just, like another l'aritutu or Leonta. but his friends get fewer as the years roll on. Kauri King has been (l ; " ; iig well, but northerners will not have him to finish in front of horses like Gluetanun and Fisher. The latter has gone near winning many big races, and probably his luck may be better to-day. Though not reliable, it must be admitted that Fisher reads very dangerous with the minimum. Gladful, Fisher, and Sir Fisher may give a good account of themselves to-day.

Twenty-four hold their places in the Winter Cup, and in such a big field much depends on luck at the start and in running. Taranaki is Volo mad, but, putting aside all blind allegiance to a rood horse (and a good friend), we must admit that 11.5 is a thumping big iv eight. The history of the race shows that in 10 years no less than 15 horses carrying under 10.0 have scored, While the "biggest weight carried to victory is 10.12, tinder which both Vladimir and Kremlin triumphed in comparatively slow time. With so many speedy light-weights eni gaged to-day. Volo's task seems a very 'solid one. All Over has galloped iii jSreat style during the past week or so, und with ordinary lurk should keep Volo busy on a heavy track at a difference of 241b. Cardrona. is another that is brilliant enough to get a good position in the early stages of the race, and the Aueklander should run on belter this season. Hydrus also has a handy weight for a recent winner, and his track form shows steady improvement. Sir Agnes is another mudlark with Trentham form to recommend liim. If a, man can pick anything to heat All Over and Sir Agnes,'he ought to keep it to himself. Only moderate fields will contest the minor events at Riccartou to-day. Oaekwar may be the best jumper produced in the Hunt Club Steeples, while it is hard to pass Arlington in the Enfield Steeples. Master Boris and Jeannot will have a good following in the Trial Hurdles, and Primato. King of the Valley. Omahti, and Phil May' in the minor flat events, TARANAKt -DISTRICT COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Taranaki Eistrict Committee was held on Tuesday evening, Mr L, A. Nolan presiding. There were also present Mews O. W. Sole, A- Good, ; - Pitt. C. H. Washer, .1. r.'rav. G. Eraser, 11. 11. Chancy. E. F. Blundell und \\\ Morrison. It was decided that the committee meet on the third Tuesday in each month. Trainers' licenses were granted as follows.—Pi. John-son, P. Coffey. J. P. Jnhn-nn. J. .1. Thacker, V. J. MKenxie, W. Cleaver, P. T- Bennett

A. Ward. A. V. Ruscoo, ,T. W- Myles, and ('. Cochrane were granted jockey's license, and X. K. M Donnell ' (conditional ) Apprentice jockey's licenses were 2r:,n;ed to V. li. Johnson and 11. H. Johns.

'>iH.ler?en i-MeW certificates: were granted to W. Fowler, 11, H. Marehant and V. Radford

Several applications for licenses were di-dincd for various reasons, and an apprentice jockey's license wan withdrawn. The chairmr.p.'s action in reporting a local trainer and jockey to outside district committees was confirmed.