SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 5 July 1919, Page 9

SPORTING

EACDTG MXTOIUSS. July '5, 9, 12—'Victorian R.C. Grand National. ' July 8, 10, 12—Wellington R.C. Winter. August 12, 14,16 —Canterbury J.C. Grand National.

NOMINATIONS. July 25—CJ.C. Grand National (general entries).

HANDICAPS. July IS —C.J.C. Grand National. August I—C.J.O. Grand National (minor events).

ACCEPTANCES. July 25 —C.J.C. Grand National. August B—C.J.C. Grand National (minor .events).

FINAL PAYMENTS August S—C.J.C. Grand National and Winter. Cup.

WELLINGTON WEIGHTS. (Notes by "Moturoa.") The Wellington Racing Club's winter meeting, which opens at Trentham on Tuesday next, will extend to three flays, as against two days last year, and now that the Minister for %ilways lias guaranteed to get the horses there, all doubts as to the meeting being gone on with are removed, and a successful fixture may be expected. The curtailment of passenger trains may keep a good number away from the meeting, but nowadays "anyone who is anybody" does not hesitate ,to patronise the motor brigands, and cars and patrons may be expected from all parts of the island. In weighting Waimai as a 4 lbs better horse than Master Strowan in the Wellington Steeplechase, Mr. H. Coyle has flattered the Aucklander rather unduly. His recent form suggests that he is on the down grade, and. his prospects of defeating the Poxton crack do not appear very promising. Master Lupin and Bon ; Reve were classed on the same level, but the last-named, who should be all the better for his racing at Hastings, would require to be dressed at his best to have a chance with the son of Lupin. The pick of the handicap is surely Coalition, who is quite capable of making a bold showing under 11.8. He is a greatly improved horse this year, and his schooling at Trentham has been of a high order. Cynic can have little chance with 11.1, and will be busy conceding Foeman 4 lbs. The latter must be> treated with respect. Polthogue is expected to run well at Wellington, where he win l«w«» c. clearer view of his fences than he did at Hastings. Merry Lad has a rough chance, but none of the crowd handicapped below lOst. please much. Provided they go to the post, Coalition, Foeman, and Master Lupin' may carry the bulk of the money. Thrace proved himself such a genuine customer at the Great Northern meeting that it was certain tha.t he would fill the role of top-weight in the Winter Hurdles, and he should not he stopped by 11.10. Euripos is given rather mere than his deserts, and is reported to be an unlikely runner at. the meeting. Rewi Poto is w\sll in with 10.13, but he is also engaged in flat events at Trentham. Multive may not start, but if he does 10.10 would not be above him. Sleight of Hand is getting down in th<s weights, but he bleeds a great deal nowadays, and there seems liHle hope of the hero of the 1017 Grand National ever "coming back." Cynic is well in, and should hold most of the light-weights safe, though Seadown and Movement may give the Great Northern winner a good "go." Whatever beats Seadown, Multive, and Movement will have to travel pretty fast. Volo lias a good horse's weight. 11.0, in the Parliamentary Handicap, and is giving away too much avoirdupois to good ten furlong horses like Alteration, Zola, Bagdad, and Sonnino. Improving sprinters like Mndarn "Ristori, Hineamaru, and Old Gold are daintily handled in the Stewards' Handicap, but the consistent Gaziquc may carry his 11.8 with distinction. Tempo, Post Haste, and Seasprite do not appear to be overweighted in the Te Aro Handicap, and the straight six may enable Post Haste to reproduce a glimpse of his smart form at the Canterbury Easter meeting. There are n lot of new chums engaged in the hack hurdle races at the meeting, and Gold Sonlt, Rio, and Yankee Jack should give a good account of themselves in their races. The hack 'chasers are not a hiehclasa lot, but Manawapango, First Line, and Sail Home read well at the weights. The meeting will be continued on Thursday and concluded on Saturday.

"ODDS OR EVENS." One of the crankiest gambling game 3, mid a popular one with a certain class, is the game of "odds and evens." It requires no brains to play—any "twoupper" can join in—and t.he whole business consists in guessing whether the last number on a coin or note Ls an odd or an even one. Generally the value of the coin or note is phtyed for. Now all this looks like child's play, and for an opponent to dig lip a half-dollar and let you pick whether the last number of tho date is odd or even—for the halfdollar, of eoiuse—appears to be a fair gamble. And then again, others gamble pounds, fivers, tenners, and various sums on the last number on a note. Perhaps you haven't seen it. hut the writer has seen a bettor lose a century to an opponent while merely walking round the block. But where does the deception coma in? Let me tell yon. As in cointossing there are "in" bettors and "out" bettors; "heads" or "tails"; so in the game under '.-onsideration there are big lieth'irfl who pin theiT faith implicitly to efflier odd numbers or ciwn numbers respectivclv. With coins or notes an easy "way of "falling" the victim is to have one poeket with "evens" and the otlior •with "odds." Apparently ycu produce the means of wagering from any pocket, "but once you have sizedup your opponent's pet fancy in numbers you cam trip him whenever required. (You want to let him win sometimes, please remember.) The note business is more easiJy worked. The "swift," pu*h select notes with numbers ending in "I" for preference. Notes are luimhercd'in two plitces, at opposite ends, Nkw, with a little Indian ink a-o4 ft steady haftd you change one of the final "J'i" into a and the triek is done. Placing tlip note face downwards on the table you say, "What is that note, for its value?" si»; matter what your victim calls, "odds" or, "evens," ypu have hipi in the net, If, lie calls <l odds" y.ou pick up the a e?ef("' end. One glance At tlse iSnaJ will convince him that he is wgsong U "evens'' were nominated yfu flasfo tii? "!■' ead, «nd tiiier,e you sire. Ns, tfteQwr sports, never fall -U> '"eSds jnui pvmis* I'LSce the good old gewne of JSoojjJera ;J3uck, "the -more yj>u -fist dewa tile less taw f l -"

STPvAY ITEMS.

The Victorian Grand National Hurdle Race, run over three miles, comes up for decision at Flemington to-day. Amongst those weighted for the race were the New Zealanders Gladful, Snub, Silen.t Way and Beltane.

Desert Gold is reported to be looking very well at present, and it is not her owner's intention to retire her from the turf yet awhile. Although beaten in each of her essays in 'S.tralia last spring, she never ran better time in her life, and it is quite on the cards that she will measure strides over there tliis spring with Gloaming, Biplane, Saaonof, Poitrel, Kcnnaquliair and Co. A wonderful mare is D.G.

Thrace and Hineamaru reached Tren- i tliam last Saturday, and after racing ] .there will be sent along to the Grand National meeting. The Aueklanders are sure to pay their way on the southern trip. While in Auckland at tlio New Year this scribe paid several visits to Ellerslie to enjoy the wonderful beautitication of the racecourse grounds. On a race day one is too busy to thoroughly appreciate the transformation effected by skilful gardeners, working under the guiding hand of Mr Albert Hill. The display of flowers at Ellerslie is probably unique | south of the line, and in securing the good services of Mr. Hill the Stratford I Racing Club and the Taranaki Jockey Club have been well advised in the beautification schemes put forward. A racecourse is a public pleasure ground, and there is every reason why Taranaki, with its wonderful soil and wealth of ferns, should not outshine all others in beauty. Only one horse can win the coveted and valuable Melbourne Cup, but that has not prevented hopeful owners from entering 279 horses for the dazzling bauble.

The Wanganui-trained Inora went a long way to get a brace of hidings last week. The daughter of Galindo was sent across to the Poverty Bay trots, but a third in the Cup and a half-head defeat in the Electric Handicap were her barren share of the honors.

Another of the old-time trainers identified with the New Zealand ,turf has journeyed to the Great Beyond in the person of Percy Martin. During his career tho deceased trained for several leading sportsmen, among which were Mr Spencer Gollan and the late Mr C. C. Murray, for whom he prepared many winners. As an owner the late Mr. Martin also met with success. In 1883 his colors were carried to victory by the beautiful Mischief in the Wellington Cup ; and in 1885 and 188G his Aus-tralian-bred filly Pearl scored in the Hawke's Bay Cup, while in 1887 he again led in the winner of the Wellington Cup, Silence being the victor on that occasion "Percy" was a much-liked man, and that he was a master in hia profession was very widely recognised. Some years back he retired from the ranks of trainers, and became mine host of a hotel in the Hawke's Bay district.

When Omahu won the Necklace at fastings the handsome son of Maniapoto and Gold Cord was coupled with All Over, and the pair were backed down to ~p good shade of odda on. All Over ran off with the Bracelet there the previous year.

Last season Master Strowan won the Wellington Steeplechase with 12.(> up, and Coalition was runner-up with 10.11. Master Strowan has 2 lbs less, and Coalition 11 lbs more to carry next week. Coalition had 11.4 in tho Juiy Steeples on the second day when he was beaten by four lengths and a head by Bon Revo 11.13 and St. Elmn 10.0.

The death of Mr Herbert Power revived many incidents in his career an owner, and the defeat of his colt Savanaka in the Melbourne Cup in 1577, received full attention at the hands of "Beacon" in the Leader. In referring thereto, the Melbourne writer penned the, following:—ln the late seventies and early eighties the betting over the Melbourne Cup was far heavier than it is now. In Chester's year, 1577, quite a number of horses were each hacked to win fortunes. Notwithstanding the heavy investments on Chester, both prior and subsequent to his Derby victory, Savanaka actually started a better favorite for the Melbourne Cup than Mr White's colt. Directly the weights were declared, "the little grey pony," as Savanaki was called, received stable support to the extent of £40,000, Joe Thompson, who had no love for .lames Wilson in those later days, eagerly laying £IO,OOO ,to £3OO and .<'lo,ooo to £SOO, Savanaka had only Gst 21b to carry, and when it leaked out, near the day that Savanaka had run a two-miie

trial at St. Albans in 2m. 33sec„ beating Don Juan's time, some of the "books" who had taken liberties hurriedly cov-

ered a portion of their money at a very short price. Savanaka .suffered defeat by a head only, but his owner and trainer always contended that the good thing should have come oil'. Savanaka undoubtedly lost ground through Waxy falling near the home turn; but Chester also had his movements impeded tlu ul ,gli the same cause, and had not Paddy riggot eased up when he considered lie had the race v.'on inside the distance, there would have been more than a few inches between the pair at the finish. Australian liandicappers have never forgiven themselves for allowing Saaonof to win the Melbourne Cup in 1910. The New Zealauder had only a featherweight, -Gst 121b, that November afternoon, but this year he is weighted at 9.9—top weight.' Sasanof is also at the head of the Caulfield Cup weights with 9.9, and Gloaming fills a similar position in the Epsom Handicap with the steadier of 9.11. They are taking no chances wi,th the Maoriland-owned division!