SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 August 1918, Page 8

SPORTING.

BACJMJ HX-TGBiS,- _ •Sept 4-r-3l.irkm J;C Spring. Sept, 11—Bannevii'lje E.C. '.Spriflg. Sept. .Itf—Jigmont E.C- Spring. Sept. IS),, 30-:Ashtaton E.O. Spring

XCBF TOPICS, '(ißy "Motwoa/f

Horse-owners and trainers slould note that entries for all events at the iEgmonv itacing dub's spring meeting close onj Thursday next, at S p.m. The pro-' gramme, which appears in another col-1 mum, is one that merits the attention of-) owners of all classes of liorses—open.) races, lack luidles, lack flat events, and j hunters' c-vents making an attractive j menu Mr. H. <Coyle_wni do tie landicappjng,and Messrso.O'Connor (starter); and W. H. Harigill '('judge) will he in ; ; their, usual places. Considerable sy-mpatly- will-be felt for tie new owners of tie racehorses Ibexawl Tnrangipito, since disqualified. In paying g°°d paces for these horses they took some risk, 'but few thought tlat Alex- Hall -would "go out" for- five years, or any portion of that term. However, the Wanganui District Committee endorsed the disqualification on Wednesday evening, and out goes Hall and the liorses he raced at the time of the Ibex trouble. Ibex, who is now in lis seventh year, will be useless as a horse or anything else, but Tnrangipito, who is a beautifully-bred stallion, should pay lis way at the stud. When a horse is backed for big money several weeks before a Taoe, and on the day recedes in the betting, and runs badly in tie race, there is usually a lot of gossip, whick mainly concerns bookmakers and jockeys, and the public becomes convinced that it has not been given n fair go. If one were to believe a fraction of the ugly rumors that surround a prominent race run at Ricearton last week, it would make a man turn up tie game for keeps. Several horses that tie bookmakers had laid heavily against were ridden with poor judgment, and with better 'handling would have been more prominent at the finish. For the sake of good sport, it is to be loped that the reports have- been greatly exaggerated. The long delay at the post prior to the Winter Cup upset mo=t of the horses, especially those of a highstrung nature. The race was held up for over half an hour while the Government tote inspector was checking the figures on the f otalisator. This nuisance should be rectified at once. If one man cannot get through the work expeditiously, why not put on half a dozen men? Surely the Government get enough out of tho machine. " There was not much demand for horseflesh at the Christchurcu sales last week, Cyrisian (Elvsian —Cyirma) went f0r425 guineas, and Koesian onlv brought 3-10 guineas- The others sold at from 21 guineas to a century. Collector was sold to Mr. G. Stead for 2"io guineas. He is to race in T Stralia, and should soon repav the abovo moderate outlay. Another jumper tlat changed hands at the National meeting n» LloiUlito. wi o was sold to Mr. A. l'-'ngle for 40 guir.eas. Kauri K!ng'<- victory in the Grand National Hurdle Race was the first Auckland victor'; in tlr; big event since Shrapnel won in lf)0", so a turn for the northerners was overdue.

oari2 Awn', hv his performances at Ricearton, fully bora out; tlio opinion expressed in •l.ese columns tliat the Fordel! horse is many removes from a good one, though he may always lie dangerous in hack company.

The .•yinnnl report of the 'Waimatc Plains Trotting Club is as follows:—The fourth njeet'ng was held on Faster Monday, April, miS, on the Eginont Racing Club's course. The gathering was in every way a record one, despite the very uiiMttled siatc of the weather prior to the opening of the meeting. The totalisator turnover was £17.084, being over £OOOO in excess of last year's figures. With more favorable weather conditions these figures would not doubt have been largely increased. Visiting horses were present from all parts of the Dominion, and some exceedingly interesting racing was witnessed. The first race for the classical event instituted by the club, the Taranaki Futurity Stakes, was run at the meeting, and, although the field was a small one, the presence of Mr. J. R. Corrigan's high-class three-year-old Queen Chimes .proved a great attraction. Notwithstanding an increase in stakes of £'l3o over tho previous year, the meeting showed a profit of close on £SOO. The thanks of the club are due to the Egmont Racing Club for the use of their course and appointments, and to the paid and honorary 'officials, whose efforts, no doubt, made,,the meeting a success-