SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1918, Page 3

SPORTING.

V EACTNG FIXTURES. Sept. M—Egmont R.C. Spring. Sept. 19, 20—Ashburton R.C. Spring. Sept. 23.-Otaki R.C. Spring. > TOPICS (■By "Moturoa.") Egmont races on Thursday next, Acceptances for all events close at 3 p.m. to-day. Falstone has broken down and will not be a runner at Hawera. Alf. Morse has been re-appoitited starter at Opunake, a position he has successfully filled for ten years. "At last!" said everybody when "Fisher first" came through on Wednesday, 'but ft? unlucky ex-Aucklander fell at the same hujrdje as the bakershort weight.

All Over and Willy's Knight each ran two seconds at Dannevirke. Had the •former been reserved for the Otanga ■Handicap you couldn't have named the odds on him.

A good team of Aucklanders will attend the Egmont meeting. Amongst those making the trip are J. Williamson, who is bringing Larry and Windorah, and K. Heaton, who will be represented by General Stephen and Escape. The Taranaki Jockey Club is to b« congratulated on raising the stakes for the Taranaki Cup to 600 sovs., and the other stakes in * proportion. Now we can expect a better class of horses in the open events, which in the past were hardly well enough endowed to attract the Dominion's best. , v H. Gray was the most successful horseman at Dannevirke, winning on Sabine and Persian Prince. Others to score a win were H. Pvobinson, McEwan, A. McDonald, A. Reed, Watson, and McSweeney. Croesus ran a great race on Wednesday, leading 'the Spring Handicap field at a merry clip until 100 yards from home. He can he ticked off for one of the big sprint handicaps this spring. Warmaid, Ore Ore, Undecided and Woolhara fell in the Hurdles at Dannevirke. Janitor and Bjomeborg raced locked together up the straight, victory going to the former in the last stride. Bjorneborg's dividend was hardly worth collecting.

Hallow, with Gray aboard, drew the ace in the Trial Plate, and ran a sterling race, being narrowly beaten by a more seasoned pair. Hallow's turn will come soon.

The Government totalisator held things up abominably at Dannevirke, and as a result the last race was run an hcur and. ten minute;, late 'Those who had to catch trains complained loudly, and it is to be hoped that things will run off better at Hawera next week.

H. Gray had a hard race on Persian Prince in the final event on Wednesday. Willy's Knight, Torchlight, Penury Rose and Persian Prince raced neck and neck over the last furlong, Gray just squeezing his mount, Persian Prince, home by the narrowest of margins. Owing to the large field in the Trial ■Plate several horses had to be coupled on the tote. March On was bracketed with Mandrake, the winner. A splendid steeplechase course has been set up at Hawera, the fences being of moderate height and 45 feet wide. In the Hunt Club Steeples the contestants will have 19 fences to negotiate, and in the Ladies' Bracelet Steeples 13. The course, which was very wet during the recent rains, has now dried up thorough, ly, and the going should be first-class next week.

The Auckland trainer, J. Rae, left Notability and Meltchikoff at Hawera last week, and returned from the north yesterday to superintend the pair m their winding-up galkps Both horses appear to be very forward. After riding at Dannevirke. Rangi Thompson went south to catch the Sydney boat. Ho will ride St. Ehnn' in 'Stralia this spring. Turangapito and Ibex are at present turned out at Ellerslie pending representations being made by their present owners for the removal of the horses' disqualification. Mr. J. H. Redwood, who died at Blenheim this week, was a son of the late Henry Redwood ("the father of the New Zealand turf"), and was a great allround sportsman in his day. As a horseman, pigeon shot, etc., he was known from one end of the Dominion to the other, and the sporting world is the poorer by his pasrng. Lady Louisa has run her last race, and is to be mated with Boniform.

Harold Young rushed back from Sydney to ride Detroit at Marton, hut the boat arived a day late, causing him to miss a winning ride.

The* weights for the Egmont spring meeting appear to have been carefully compiled by Mr. H. Coyle, and big acceptances, are expected to-day. Depredation, Detroit. Hyginas, Paraoa, Madam Ristori. Staccato. Gaekwar, Flying Camp, and Tirau stand out in their engagements, and will probably have many friends if paid up for to-day.