SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 7 February 1920, Page 9

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. Feb. 7—Taranakl Trotting Club. Feb. 7—Gisbarno ft.C. Summer. Feb. 7, 9—Hamilton R.C. Annual. ( Feb. 11, 12—Egmont B.C. Summer. < Feb. 11, 14—Dunedin J.C. Autumn. Feb. 12, 14—Poverty Bay T.C. Summer. Feb. 18, 19—Woodville J.C. Autumn. Feb. 26, 28—Waagaiiui J.C. Autumn. NOTES BY MOTUROA. TROTTING IN TARANAKL The increasing popularity of ths light harness norsa in the Dominion in recent years has been phenomenal, and in some parts threatens to out-rival the galloper. This stage feas not been readied In Taranakl, but nevertheless the sport is rapidly gaining friends, and judging by the very successful meetings held at the southern end of the province trotting is likely to boom here. The Taranakl Trotting Club will hold its Inaugural meeting on the New Plymouth racecourse to-day, and the prospects for the gathering are very promising. Goctf "sports" are behind the movement, and support Is promised from outsiders who have the sport at heart The acceptances are good all round, and racing should be first-class, One of the moat popular events will be the Farmere' Plate, which will attract a big field, and should supply plenty of amusement Horses that appear to stand out in their engagments are' Rio Grande, Waverley, Mountain King, CaplUoae and Nancy Patch. The following officials will act at the meeting: Starter, Mr. A. G. Mabee; Judge, Mr. R. H. Plgottv The Citizens' Band will be in attendance, and excursion faxes and delayed trains should help to increase the attendance. In order to suit patrons the first race will be run at 1 p.m. THE EGMONT MEETING'.

The Egmont Racing Club's summer (meeting takes place on Wednesday and Thursday next. Mr. H. Coyle's weights appeared promptly to time, and show the handleapper's usual care and foresight. Mr. Coyle has had a large number of horses to handle, but it is generally acknowledged that bo has set punters many difficult problems, and the acceptors should be numerous in sll events. Karo naturally fills the role of top-weight in the Egmont Cup, and at a difference of 61bs over a mile and a half should reverse positions with Surveyor. Client, I hear, is coming up, and with 8.11 reads well. Volo is well in with 8.0, and may pTove that his recent form was all wrong. Marqueteur, Dusky Eve and Moutoa Ivanova are all well In, and there promises to be a great race in the big handicap. If Arrow* smith is slipped in the Flying Handicap, and the coursei Is dry, he will take some beating with 9.2, though rather than actual deeds has probably caused him to be so -well cared for. Hymestra, now that he has struck foum, may be capable of anything, but he may not go to the pest. Wafmatao la a great horse, and 9 4 Is nothing to such a big fellow. Lord Kenllworth Is one of the smartest six furlong horses in Auckland at present, and 8.8 should tempt his owner to have a flutter at Hawcra. Simonides may be able to handle himself better at Hawera than at New Plymouth, and has no cause for complaint on the score of weight. Bon Spec picked up a nail recently, and may not be a runner. Estiionia, Jutland and Trespass read best of the llght-weighti. On the whole the "double" looks very open. J<ow that Explorer has broken thei ice he may go on winning, and although meeting better horses in the Ohawe Hurdles he should give a good account of himself under 11.5. Movement Is. in fine form, but the stable may rely upon Ratana. The tracks are a trifle hard for Zola a$ present. Papanul may prove the best of the light-weights. Santorint is a cut above the hacks In the Meremere Handicap, and 9.6 may not prove prohibitive. Starland is in much the amine position in the Walpapa Hack Handicap, though Amberine may prove troublesome. Bonnetter, Trespass and Jutland represent winning form in the Whareroa Welter. Acceptances for all events close to-night at 8 p.m.

NOTES. The Taranakl Jockey Club has reason to be more than satisfied with the success of the recent autumn meeting. Splendid weather, large attendances, increased totalizator returns, and fine racing were the features of the gathering. Fields were satisfactory throughout, and although (as anticipated) a largo number of favorites won races, tho majority of events were keonly contested, and reflect credit on the Club's handicapper. First favorites returned three first and one second dividend on the opening day, and no less than seven first dividends on the second. Followers of tho favorite had a great time I Surveyor proved too speedy for Karo In the Cup, but the latter ran a sterling race under 3.8, and was not by any means disgraced. The winner was well handled by Gray, and won with something in hand Another meeting between the pair on Wednesday Is belnj eagerly looked forward to. Bonnetter shaped well each day, and In the absence or the cracks landed the Paul Memorial Handicap comfortably. Volo's form was disappointing, but the galloping should improve htai greatly. Hymdptra, Waimatao, Simonides and Esthonia proved themselves speedy sprinters, but Sasanof was a bit above himself. Silver Link's fine victory In the Taranaki Stakes was the most popular event of the meeting. At last We have a sprinter capable of beating outside W.F.A. cracks. Silver Link promises to add to her laurels at Hawera next week, and her condition reflects gftat credit on her painstaking mentor. She has done a lot of racing, and under big weights, this season, but on Thursday she stripped as fit as the proverbial fiddle. Form worked out woll In the hurdles, and the Imported Explorer gave a repetition of his Australian quality. Master Moutoa's pace stood to him in his only start, and Papanul may do tetter with Improved handling at Hawera. Fisher appeared to be lucky to beat St&rland on the opening day, but Starland's turn came on Thursday. Santorinl's successes gave the bookmakers a hard Jolt, but they were holding very little of the money on the second day. Hence the small "price." Concerning Santorlnl it is alleged that the Wanganui layers held the" best part of £6OO the first day, and this Is probably well within the mark. Weldone was unlucky not to have notched a double win, and Income also showed good form. The big dividend returned by Alice Montrose was the only other noticeable feature of the gathering. On the whole It was a great meeting, and the T.J.C. officials are to be congratulated on Its success. The Hamilton B.C. annual meeting opens to-day. The acceptance list is a lengthy one, and quite worthy of the ,big stakes offered. The Cup, of 1000 sovs, run. over a mile and a half, appears to lid between Kllrush. ' First Salute and Punka, and First Salute may prove the Attest of the trio. The Cambridge Handicap, of 600 sovs., six furlongs, has attracted Arrowsmlth, Blndle, 80-Peep and several Auckhuiders, but the best of the visiting division, probably Arrowsmlth! will take all the beating in the world. In the minor events King Abbey, Finkop, Oaklelgh, Te Oro, Gayclum and Awareka appear to be nicely weighted.

"Charlie" Price, who has been first horseman for Mr. Fred Tilley's stable for some years. Is relinquishing the saddle for the bear pump, and has taken the Sanson hotel. "Charlio" will probably make his last appearance In the saddle at Hawera next week, and his host of admirers will wish him all sorts of good luck In his new venture. Mention of ex-jockeys succeeding In business reminds one that "Billy" Young is at Present doing well in the confectionery line In Palmerston. Young expects to regain his license at an early date, ur,d will resume riding. Starter C. O'Connor Is a busy man these days. At New Plymouth on Wednesday and Thursday, Hamilton to-day and Monday, and back to Hawera on Wednesday and Thursday. That is certainly "going some." TURF TOPICS. Amongst the visiting outside owners to the TaTanaki Jockey Club's races this week wire MessTS G. L. Stead (Christchurch), W. R. Kerabell (Maaterton), 31. A. McKenzle (Manawatu), and H. K. Good (Wanganul). The visiting trainers Included Messrs Hawthorne (Masterton), G. .Tones (Hawke's Bay), R. O'Donnell (Christchurch), P. Mason (Christchurch), T. Lloyd (Marton), G. I'rlce (Palmerston North), .7. Parmer (Palmerston North), M. Gardiner (Waverley), A. D. Webster (Otaki), P. Coffee (Wanganul), and G. Caddy (Palmerston North). The Club, in order to provide covering foT the band, shifted them to the park side of the grandstand. Whilst its object was achieved, the effect was somewhat disastrous, for the music was inaudible to those In the grandstand and in front thereof. This Is a pity, for a race meeting without music is like a Scots' gathering without haggis and "whuskey." l The remedy, of course, is more lawn room, and this cannot be obtained until the Club Inaugurates its lnnwovement scheme. This is now under consideration, and It is hoped a start will he made before long, so that the next Christmas meetings may be held under different conditions. The idea Is to secure more land on the westward side, and make an oral track, shifting the straight, forward and enlarging the lawns and neighboring spaces. It is either tills or a change to a new site, which should be avoided at all cost, as no course is set in more pleasant or imore suitable surroundings. It is a case of now or never, for it won't do to do any more tinkering. A comprehensive plan of improvements must bo followed, If the Club is to realise the hest results. On this, of course, the committee are agreed. Let's hope tf.ey will soon be able to nocrt a tttrt with the improvsmtnu.

It was a little disappointing that the totalisator figures for the second day did not top those of the same day of last year. Last year the meeting had the contest between the great horses, Desert Gold and Gloaming, which attracted a record crowd, who Invested freely, but, all the same, the totalisator returns should have been better than they were. The abolition of the ten shillings totalisator may have had something to do with the reduction, as may also the curtailment of the Issue of complimentary tickets within the area of 20 miles. In tlie past the Club has been very liberal in the Issue of ''frees." People accustomed to free passes kind of resent these being unceremoniously cut off, and It takes time for them to get over their disappointment. The free business is a good deal overdone by some of the leading provincial clubs. Really thenp is no reason why anyone! should have life sport for nothing. Some earn their privileges, but they are the exception. Those who don't earn them value them least—until they are abrogated, and then there is a howl or the display of temporary pique. Still, the Club has nothing to growl about. The total increase was £4,656 —£64,128 as against £59,471 last year. At the Christmas meeting the totalisator handled £32,142 10s on the first day, and £34,873 on the second, making a total of £67,019 10s. This fixture, raturally at holiday time, always draws a bigger crowd than the Cup meeting, and the two meetings, for that reason, cannot be compared. It is satisfactory to know that compared with the meeting of last year It Is well ahqad In totalisator Investments, whilst the gate takings compare very favorably with those of last year, notwithstanding that there was the great attraction on the second day of the 1919 meeting. Stratford, so far, has the record for totalisator takings, thoße for the first day at the New Year being £38,979, and thei second £40,521, a total of £79,500 —a pretty hefty sura for a country club, excelled, by the way, by few, Including the metropolitan clubs in the Dominion. A visiting trainer was quite laudatory in his remarks regarding the condition of the turf. He said he had never seen a course so springy and generally so satisfactory. In the south such a turf was seen only at exceptional times. He was also very complimentary in his references to the management of the meeting. He said Taranakl had little to learn in this respect from the southern dttbs.

Under the heading in Silence." 'Sentinel," in the Otago Witness, saya: "Some people have a strong habit of Tushing Into print and ventilating their grievances, real or imaginary, and never miss an opportunity of making a noise in their little world. By comparison it is simply wonderful what the raclni} public suffer In silence. In the first place, the racing public tolerate exploitation in a manner marvellous to behold. No other class of people would stand up to what tho sports cheerfully tolerate year in and year out. Pares to and from a racecourse are generally double or treble the ordinary rates. A race book worth about sixpencß costs a shilling, and a scratch luncheon generally costs about, four times as much as It is worth. These matters, are, however, comparative trifles to paying a round three nhiUlngs for every pound invested on the totalisator, and then there Is no guarantee of a fair ran for the monay. Owners and trainers frequently stand without a murmur being handicapped out of a race or left at the post in a manner which wastes months of careful training. The public sometimes makes a fus3 about a bad start, but tlWir wrath quickly evaporates, and is practically forgotten in the effort to pick the next winner. It is astonishing how quickly a bad start is forgiven, even though it wrecks months of training, and may upset the most capably compiled handicap ever made. Good stakes, good handicaps, good training, and good riding may be all rendered valueless, at least for the time being, by a ba-d start, which is a far more serious affair -than what had chased many a man Into the tall timber. Tho public do not always suffer in silence, but It ia really wonderful how silently the sporting public can suffer the vexatious and not unprevento.ble affairs which frequently occur on a racecourse." There were 19 patrons of tho English turf who won upwards of £SOOO each in stakes last season. The cable has already announced that Lord Glanely topped the list with £30,854 10s, and the other collection referred to are:— Lord Derby £22,903 10s, Major D. McCalmont £13,927, Mr. J. White £12,491, Mr. S. Joel, £11,714, Sir E. Hulton £10,948,. Mr. W. M. Cazalet £9620, \tr Cunclltfe Owen £8378 10s, Sir G. Noble £B2OI 10s, Lord Astor £BI2O, Lord Jeirsey £Bll4, Mr. W. M. G. Singer £7806, Sir A. Bailey £7786 10s, Mr. W. T. de Pledge £7475, Mr. W. H. Dixon £7155, Sir A. Black £5780, Lady .T. Douglas £5638, Mr. I. Euchanan £5409 10s, Lord Durham £SOOO. Among other winners was His Majesty the King, whose amount was £4171 10s. The richest prize competed for In America last season was the Latonla Championship Stakes, a mile and three-quarters race confined to three-year-olds. It was decided at. Latonla (Ky.) In October, and there were only seven runners. Unfortunately climatic conditions were against the race. It was raining heavily when it was run, and the track was very soft. Mad Hatter (by Fair Play) was favorite, and, getting to the front entering the straight, won by eight lengths from Sway In 3.0. each carrying 8 10. The gross value of the race was 50,060r101., a little over £IO,OOO at the old Tate of exchange. Of this about £BBIB went to Mr. S. C. Hildreth, owner, of the winner, and there was also a gold cup worth £230. Second money was £SOO, third £2OO, and fourth about £72, the latter sum being the cost of starting The respective nominators of the first three also shared In lie prize-money, Mr. A. Belmont, vho entered Mad Hatter, receiving £2OO, while there was £IOO for second, and £SO for third* After the entries closed for the race Hildreth bought Mad Hatter from Mr. Belimont for £ll2O. The colt did not show much form at two years, and it was only a few weeks prior to the Latonla race that he really came on.