SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 July 1920, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. July 14, 17.—'Wellington fi.C. Winter. Aug. 10, 12, 14.—Canterbury J.C. National. the Getting laws. , UNFAIR AND ILLOGICAL. The enforcement of unpopular laws is, always viewed liy the general public with uuixed feelings, to say the least, anil the stiff fines dealt out recently to an honorable member of a profession which the laws of New Zealand "taboo," while the laws of England, Australia, and other enlightened countries recognise as legal, is :t case in point. Our legislators some years ago legalised the profession of bookraaking, and forced the penCillers on the unwilling racing clubs. For the betterment of their profession the bookmakers formed "Tattersails," and members nad to be men of money, and good reputation. Then the kill-Joys took hold of things, the so-called "sports'" being too tireo u> lookafter their own interests, and not only did bookraaking go by the board, but sportsmen's rights and liberties were swept away as well. The present stato of affairs is intolerable, out as long as you send kill-Joys to Parliament you can expect nothing better. Apparently the strong arm of the law is to aeal out "stoush" of the hottest variety to offenders against the betting regulations, and while one person "falls in" Hot and strong, those hundreds of his patrons are equally culpable, and if the law wont further and rounded them in as well they would view matters with less equanimity. And then again, why should the flues Imposed in various provinces differ so greatly? "Rat bettors," whose "scaling" methods bring them in touch with the authorities, usual get off with 815 o? £2O, whilst straight-going, honest men are mulcted in hundreds. The liypocricy of the whole thing is that while the Government discountenances bookraaking, it gladly pockets fat commissions out of totalisator bettors. If the one is a heinous sin, how can the other be a blessing? THE WELLINGTON MEETING. The weights for the Wellington R.C. winter meeting will keep punters busy for the next week or so. As in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, the handlcapper has assessed Master Strowan and Locbella as of equal merit, though on the season's form most people would prefer the Southerner. Coalition Is still kept up in the weights, and Luke Is also well cared for. Oaltleigh is nicely weighted in the Wellington Steeplechase, but the pick of the han-, dicap appears to bo Slowcoach, who is a promising sort, and is on the up-grade First Lino and Wlroklno should hold the lower division safe. Barrliig accidents Lochella, Slowcoach, Oaklelgh and Wlroklno should have something to sny in the settlement of the race. The Winter Hurdle Race is another very open event Thrace may And it an impossible task to give Lochclla 51bs., that is if the latter is reserred for the race. Kauri, King, Omahu, Fisher, Paddington Green and Ladoguer have nothing to complain of, and the winner should come from amongst tho quintette. ' ESd Ribbon, Depredation, Gold Kip and Sir Fanciful may be the early favorites for the Parliamentary Handicap. In the minor events, Lndoguer, Signysian and Sir Agnes (Victoria Hurdles), Astinome, BoPeep and Plro Plro (Stewards' Handicap), Gunnnco, Ngnkanul, and Manhattan (Hack Steeplechase), and Mosthenes, Molyneaux, and Sea Foam '(Te Aro Handicap) appear to be nicely placed. THE A.J.C. WINTER MEETING. Both hurdle races at the Australian J.C. winter meeting were worth £IOOO, and it is a matter for congratulation that the thick end of each stake was won by a Now Zea-land-bred horse. Silent Way, by Calibre -—Golden Way, carried 11.2. and was sent out a firm favorite in the First Hurdles, which he won easily by fire lengths, with Fisher, by Manlapoto—Eduam, a moderate eighth Silent Way was raised lOlbs In the Renown Hurdles, but was again served up a hot mder Tho race was run at a torrid pace, and Silent Way was in trouble half n mile from home. Breastwork then appeared to have the race in safe keeping, and Fisher had the rest of the field beaten. The last fence proved fatal to Breastwork, however, and tho forlorn hope, Fisher, was left to do the bookmakers a good turn. F. Cress who rode Fisher, was confident that the New Zenl.inder would have caught Breastwork In the run home, and those who know Fisher's sterling finishing powers will be a bit with him. Fisher was brought back to the Dominion early this week, and will be a runner in the Winter at Trentham, and possibly in the Grand Nat otjal Hurdle Race at Riccnrton next month Considering the ill luck that overcame his stable-mate, Master Strowan. the Randwick victory was due to Mr H J Palmer. THE V.R.C. STEEPLECHASE. ranks as first favorite for the v.R Cr Grand National Steeplechase, is a comparatively new chum at the game. He Is only a six-year-old, and his first appearance In a hurdle race was at a Melbourne suburban meeting in January Inst, where he won. He won his first steeplechaso at Mooneo Vol-*" ley recently, but was subsequently beaten in the Wanda Ssteepleehase. Alntree is a dashing jumper of the tear-away order, and roanv good judges consider him to be another RedJeap—which is very high pralso indeed. JOCKEYS' SECRET BALLOT. The secret ballot of jockeys as to whether or not they shall strike has turned out as everyone expected, , viz., strongly against striking. Of 213 persons, entitled to vote only 133 exercised that right. Of the votes recorded eight were in favor of a strike and 09 against. Invalid votes totalled So! The last feature of the ballot Is most surprising, but various solutions of the problem sre advanced. Readers may judge for themselves I . TURF TOPICS. ,<Ey "Moturoa.") Simon Is being tried over sticks. They say that FalstafT jumps superbly Wapplng Is being qualified with the Jfanawatu Hunt. Oaklelgh is being ticked ofT to win a blc steeplechase shortly. Slraonides is another who is to try and earn bis keep over the hurdles. Hymestra lisb filled out nicely, and will be " n ®, 01r ' le ™ os t forward horses this spring. i tlle Auckland watersiders were offered £IOOO to ship Lochella to Sydney was moonshine. Master Boris has made a good recovery from' ;'f. injuries ho received at Wanganui, and ' probably -race at Trentham The Victorian RC. Grand National Hurdle I ace is set down for to-dny. Latest advices show that Leddlugton, Bright Plume and Bellane are the best fancied Sportsmen will regret to hear that Mr 'u 1 ,stnrter ). and Mr. Tom Shaw (amateur horsecnen) have become widowers recently, the wife of each dying at FalmersAs showing the big money there is in the r„T?, e P" 10 " mny be mentioned that season ™° n oln Stakes '' llono ,hls They are working on the new electric tote at Wanganui, and the Felldlng and Manawatu Clubs are to follow suit as soon m the building restrictions are lifted. 5; W> A,190n unbiased the Aus-ralian-bred Slowcoach (Wsukenphnst—Aquiline) for 50 guineas be got a fine bargain. rl,e imported horse proved himself a good allrounder by running third In tho O.N Hurdles ?hfwiJ" J!' e , r,N - and first in ) V I ! c ' r OH ' A Grand National might not be beyond him. Nominations for tho Grand Nationals aro hardly as ■ numerous as usual Thirty-one hare been entered for the Sleenlechase, nnd forty-one for tho Hurdles. Taranaki does not claim an entry in the cross-countrv event but raddmeton Green,, Partioa, Itlsingliam,' and Alteration figure in the small stiek rnoe Of tho sixty engaged in the Winter Put)' Mnrqueteur and Hisingham are our sole ror.re sentatircs. 1 l)«s claimed the nmme of i ?£ n i A.' ff,r J he Boj,i frrni—Ukraine colt, half-brother to ftasanof and Vasilkof, and "Red Helen, for the filly by All Red-Bonny Helen X. breeding counts for anything the former should be a cracker-jack I The Reed brother/?. Roy and AsMev, and Georpe Younp Jonk llko fljrhtlni? out the jockeys' premiership this swi?on. R Reed lends with 5!)% wins. A. foul follows with t-'BVi, and G. Is handy with rAy>. The writer would not ho surprised to see the la«itnamed challensin? tho leaders before Au"itxf Ist., though only four racing days remain thfa season.

The principal winning owners at the Rawke's Bay meeting were: H. s. Keeslnjr £SOO, G. and F. Ppach £4"O, Mdver and Wrlirht £4in, o Green £345, A. Murdoch £3OO, C. V. Vnltonc® £l9O. n. McDonald £27{». 0. P. Hj;rdy £175, V. and B. Riddiford £IGS, W. H. Windsor £155, aad L Gaiihrnlth £155.

H. Robinson, with three wins, was the most successful horseman last week 8. Henderson. Jt._ Thompson. B. Morris, E. Warner, H. Lcrrigan and if, SlcCarten each won two fa^ -