SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1921, Page 3

SPORTING.

I WAVERLEY-WAITOTARA RACING CLUB. ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual meeting of the Waverley-Wai-totara Racing Club was held on Saturday evening, Mr. Janies Dalton presiding. A telegram was received during the meeting from tte Racing Comunissloners stating that Parliament had been recommended to grant an extra half day to the club. The announcement was received with applause. The annual report expressed the thanks o’ the club to the Wanganui Club for granting the use of its course and appointments for the annual race meeting, and to the local honorary officials of the course and building committees for hard work ppt in during tne ‘ year. The course committee reported that the course had been regraded at a cost of nearly £5OO. The fencing will require renewing shortly, but as rhe club is at present completing the new stand, it was decided to repair the fence in the (meantime. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £2833 is 7d on the club's annual race meeting. During the discussion which ensued it was explained that the contract price for the new grandstand was £10,997. It was estimated that it would cost some £6OO over the contract price to complete the work. There was also the matter of furnishing the luncheon and tea rooms, etc., which would cost a considerable sum. There was, however, some £l2OO in war bonds and the overdraft to draw upon. . The report and balance-sheet were approved. Office bearers were elected as follows for tte ensuing year:—President, Mr. Jas. Kennedy; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. Wilson and J. Dalton; judge, Mr. J. Cameron; handicapper, 3lr. H. Coyle? starter, Mr. A. Morse; clerk of scales, Mr. G. H. Graham; assistant clerk of scales, Mr. H. VV. James; clerk of the course, Mr. G. Lynch; time-keeper, Mr. F. Besley; veterinary surgeon, Mr. E. Mason; honorary surgeon, Dr. Simmons; honorary treasurer, Mr. J. E. Palmer; stewards, Messrs. R. Bremfe, I. Lupton, F. Besley, L. W. James, W. H. Watkins, G. Aiken, G. Lupton, G. H. Graham, W. H. Brewer, Jas. Newland, E. Christensen, J. J. Bourke, and W. J. Johnston ; secretary, Mr. W. McFarlane; 'auditor, Mr. J. C. Gray. It was decided that the stewards form the committee of the club. It was decided to recommend the committee to increase the stakes by £l6O Other business of a routine nature fvas transacted, and the meeting terminated with the customary votes of thanks. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.’ ) The Gisborne R.C. Steeplechase meeting opens to-day, and concludes on Saturday. Today’s acceptances ae fairly good, the jumping events having filled better than last year, when tie (meeting preceded the Hawke’s Bay winter racing carnival. The Gisborne Steeplechase will see the Taranaki horse, Silent Dick, measure strides with Gay Boy, and five , others, and on Trentham form the Taranaki representative should give a good account of ' himself, though Gay Boy is not a horse to iho despised. Golden Glade should carry most ! money ip the. Tramway Hack Steeples, and I Crosswords, who has won bis last two starts, should be sent out favorite in the Park llnrdies. In the flat races Cleft, Esthonia, Gazique, Hyrax, Steephohn and Chaplin all appear to be nicely placed. The chief topic this week has been tne Racing Commission’s suggestions for the allocation of totalisator permits for next season, and although these gentlemen have carefully weighed the merits of racing and trotting clubs from ihe Three Kings to the Bluff, their findings cannot be expected to please all parties. Centralisation appears to be the keynote of the Commission, and suburban clubs I like Avondale, Otahtihu, Napier Park. Canterbury Park, etc., have been recommended to be cut out in favor of Auckland racing and trotting clubs, Hawke’s Bay, and New Zealand metropolitan clubs (trotting). Needless to say, those clubs v-' .ch have “received the axe” are likelj' to kick up an unholy row, but whether the Commission’s suggestions are upset .or not remains .to be seen. The feature of the Commission's findings is the recognition of Taranaki's just claims for more permits, all Taranaki clubs, with the exception of the Egmont Racing Club, being awarded more racing days, .and it is particularly pleasing to see that the provincial trotting dubs share in the favors, the Waimate Plains T.C. securing an extra day, and the North Taranaki T.C. receiving its permit. Instead of twelve days Taranaki will wave eighteen, which, on population basis alone, is only just. The thanks of the .sporting public are due io those at the head of affairs who have raised the standard of sport to such a high rung in Taranaki, and also to a. small section of the Press, which has persistently urged Taranaki’s claims for fair treatment in the allocation of racing privileges. The acceptances received for the Grand Nationals arc poor numerically, though class is well represented. Sixteen remain" in the big steeples, including Coalition, Master Strowan, and Coroglon, and the winner may : come from that Liio. The G.N. Hurdles has ; only attracted fifteen, of which Fisher, MulI live and Alteration read as well as any.

Much bigger fields might have been expected for such richlj’ endowed .races. ' The Winter Cup has found thirty-two acceptors, and the event lonks as 1 open as usual. Dainty Step, Heathers prig. Mustard Pot, Miss Muriel, Arch Salute, Kareao, and Pine Arch can run a good mile under winter conditions, and will all find plenty of supporters. On Trentham form Miss Muriel’s prospects appear particularly bright. The rabies tell us that Hector Cray has ridden 12 firsts, 10 seconds, and 5 thirds in 44 mounts since his arrival in England, and comes out with the highest, percentage, so the ex-Taranaki horseman can be said to have already proved himself in England. Noboay doubted his ability to hold his own with the cracks on the other side, and possibly Gray will be the recipient of many tempting offers to remain in England. There is more money race rkting over there, and after all, Gray is not in the game for the good of his health alone. A good word is said for Joffre, a stablemate of Lochella, who gave a finn display of jumping, and showed a good turn of speed when he won the Pareora Hunters’ Steeples at the South Canterbury meeting last week. Gang Awa’ now appears to be a hopeless roarer. Freddie Jones had him in fine fettle at Oamaru, but after showing pace for a mile he stopped, to nothing, and was very distressed. Gang Awa' has been returned to his owner. A Wairarapa scribe states that “Snub has heen taken up again, and appears to be sound and in great heart.” This is the hardy nual that they keep in type in the newspaper offices! Desire, who has been leased from Mr. C. Campion by Mr. J. Fryer, is a useful sort of hurdler, and should pay his way at ihe Christmas meetings here. Desire is a six-year-old black gelding by Advance—-Thun-derer, and shapes best over short distances. Thrace is said to be going well at Ellerslie, and if sent down to the Grand National meeting will carry a lot of northern money. The Rangitikel Racing Club, which has , been cut out by the Racing Commission, -is one of the oldest clubs on tte coast, vfte Rangitikei Cup dating back from 1875. This club was “out” for a year when permits were cut down before, and considering that its erffirse is freehold and that its president, Mr. James MeKclvic, has guaranteed its credit to £lO,OOO for improvements, its fate is a sad one. The club has already entered its protest, and further representations will he made on the subject. The two days formerly enjoyed by the It.R.C. have been given to the Marton arfd M'averley-Waitotara Clubs. Desert Gold, who was mated with Finland this season, is in foal to that horse. Whether she will produce anything as good as herself remains to be seen, but as a rule much-raced mares do not prove notable successes at ihe stud.