SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1919, Page 7

SPORTING.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The final acceptors for the New Zealand Cup number fifteen, the defections being Bonnie , Maid, Affectation, Lucid, Bonnie Heather, Athens 11., War Star, and Hindi, three of * which'were withdrawn earlier In the week. To-morrow's race looks the best of good things for Gay Lad, who will probably start an even ■ favorite. Mascot, Vagabond, Nobleman, and Healliercote appear to be the oruj- ones likely to give the favorite .« race. The crowd be- * hind Nobleman expect that their horse will run a great rare, but if track form counts for anything at 'all It should only bo a jog for the favorite. Talking of track. gallops, a party «f five sporting scribes, myself Included, were at Rlccarton one morning when Bobrlkoff went out to do a trial over a mile and a half. The I big horse was "carried along" by various J others at different stages, and the pace was 1 on all the way. At the finish one of our number scratched his head and said, "By Jove, j but tills is the first time that my watph has * gone crook on me." "Well, that's a funny thing," said another, "but my ticker has 1 gone wrong too" "What did you make It?" asked a third. "Two-thirty-two," \fras the ; half-ashamed reply. "Why, that's what I made It." chorused the crowd. Sure enough, that was Bobrlkoff's Cup trial, and every mother's son of ub doubted our watches. Still, Bobrlkoff did not' win that. Cup. In fact he finished outside a place, though he won the G.G. Stead Memorial Cup at tho same meeting. The Stewards' Handicap has closed with a nice field of a score, the absentees being Volo, Klllowen, Torfreda, Tlgrlttya, Bonnie Briar, Mortham, Miss Mimic, Wrestler, Murlhlku, Link Up, Marjery, and Arch Lassie, and of these Tlgrltlya was the best backed. As the field now stands It gives promise of a great race. Desert Gold must surely be reckoned with at 9.11, and with Croesus, reads best of the topiveights. Onslaught, Bon Spec, and Inah are a speedy trio, and Kipling and Brackenfleld may .be the smartest of those lower down. Possibly Desert Gold, Croesus, and Bon Spec will all be In the fighting Une when the last furlongs present itself. Volo hat not been Impressing the touts hy his work* at Rlccarton, and surprise was expressed at Ills being paid up for in the Cup Volo may not get a full two miles, but he should win a race at the meeting. Brackenfleld has been working aB well as any of the lightweights engaged In the Stewards' Handicap, and the four-year-old son of Bonlform Is given more than a rough show. Last season he started twice, winning his last race, thj Trial Hack Race at the Marlborough R.C. autumn meeting. TROTTING. TAKANAKI CLUB. A sub-coipmltteo of tlio Taranakl Trotting Club met en Wednesday evening to go Into the question of the programme for the (ortflcoaAlng meeting. The draft programme agreed upon by We committee will have to be forwarded to the Trettlng Conference for final approval. Ii provides "for sis races, and the stakes which are proposed are such as to ensure good nominations. The Maiden Trotting H&ndU&p (harness). 3% miles, will be worth £23; the gValtara Handicap (saddle), 1% miles, £SS; TaranalU Cup (harness), 2 miles, £104; I'armers' Piate (saddle) amateur riders, 1% miles, £25; Inglewood Handicap (saddle)., I>4 miles) > £4O; Okato Hw.dtoap, I mile (harness), £56. The meeting is arousing > gnat deal ot interest, and no effort win be spared on the part of the club, we olliclals of which are very enthusiastic, to ensure sucoeaa.