SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1921, Page 3

SPORTING.

RANfiITIKEI RACING CLUB. OBJECTS TO EXTINCTION. By Telegraph.—Press Association Marton, August 5. < . The Rangitikei Racing Club placed beforqj Mr. E. Newman, M.P., a strong protest against, the injustice of tho Racing Commission in proposing rhe withdrawal of the club’s permit. The chairman stated that the club was one of the oldest in the Dominion, having raced for over 65 years. The course was one of the best <hi the coast, the meetings well conducted and popular, as was evidenced by the large attendance and excellent fields. The dub does not intend to be sent under without a strong protest, and will place the matter before Parliament. Mr. Newman said that, although he was Strongly against an increase ju racing per- | mits, he recognised that injustice was being done to country dubs. He was strongly opposed to the Racing Commission’s recommendation respecting the Rangitikei Club being carried into effect. RACING FIXTURES. August 9, 11, 13—Canterbury Jockey Club, August 24—Dannevirke Hunt Club. August 31—Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club. September 3—’North Taranaki Hunt Club, September 7—Marton Jockey Club. TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) Grand National Steeples on Tuesday. Entries for the North Taranaki Hunt close on Friday. •

Dainty Step is a notable absentee from the Winter Cup. Gay Boy, Crosswords and Dribble arrived at Riccarton yesterday. Miss Muriel will probably be ridden by A. McFlynn in her Riccarton engagements. Rangi Thompson will pilot Gay Boy in the National Steeples. No chance on Gisborne form!

Although' the Imported horse, Callaghan, has not done anything of note, he is one of the best backed horses In the Winter Cup. i Nothing but Coalition is - talked of for the’ National Steeples, and he will touch a. very short price on the day. Barring accidents defeat appears impossible. If Prince Martian is worth sending across for the Melbourne Cup he should have a chance In the Winter Cup with 9.2. Last .season he won three times in ten starts.

Exceptionally dry weather has been experi j enced in Christchurch recently, and the tracks aro all hard. Consequently, Trentham form may be upset, particularly in the hurdle j events. Advices from Wanganui are to the effect that Tamatete has Tilled out a lot, and may not be ready for earlj’ spring racing, though Dotting would please Mr. W. Duncan more than to win the Wanganui Guineas with him. Take away the North Island horses, and the fields in the jumping events at the Grund National meeting would be of the poorest possible description. Outside Lochella and Gamecock they haven’t got a jumper above hack form in tho whole of the Soutti island.

The Victorian A.T.C. meeting opens to-oay. the principal event being the Australian Hurdle Race, of 2440 sovs., run over three and a half miles, less 92 yards—tho longest hurdle race in Australasia. To-day’s field will not be numerically strong, but good stayers like Oopina, Fiscbm and Telecles are engaged. The ehampion American racehorse, Man o’ War, whose retirement was reported some months ago, has been put into work again after a short season at tte stud. Man o’ War has won nearly £50,000, and possibly before he finally retires may heat Isinglass’ world’s record of stake winnings, which (writing from memory), I believe ran to over £58,000. Final payment night at Christchurch saw the pen put through the names Fisher, Jack Symons and Hard Hit in the G.N. Steeples; while was the only one' withdrawn from the G.N. Hurdles. This leaves a fair field of thirteen in the crosscountry event, and’fifteen in the hurdle race. The scratchings in the Winter Cup were Dainty Step, Red Ribbon, Macduff, Hymestra, Printemps, Rose Pink, Pitprep, Corn Rigs, and Thistledown, leaving twenty-three to contest the mile race.

The last has been seen of Acre as a racehorse, and he will take up stud duties in the Waverley district this season. Acre is six years aid, and was bred in Australia, being by Linacre—Miss Arlington, by Lismaire Volf's Crag, by Multiform. He won eleven races in the Dominion, including the Feilding Stakes, Palmerston Stakes, and other big sprints.

One of the best, workers at Riccarton is Mustard Pot, and if he doesn’t win the Winter Cup he should score later at the meeting. Since winning at Trentham he has improved a lot.

Of those on the minimum in the Winter Cup nothing reads better than Some Kid. Although he has beaten nothing his last threestarts have resulted in a second, a third, and

Down south they think a lot of Joffre, out he will be up against it when he bumps against Tigerland and John Bunny in the Enfield Steeples. Tigerland looks like bringing home some coin from. Riccarton next week.

Manawa pango is still on the easy list, and cannot be seen at his best at the National meeting. Another useful Riccarton performer that is Under a cloud is the imported Pitprop. The secretary of a Wairarapa racing club tells tho foilowing:—-Two consecutive years I sent an account to a Maori member or the club for the usual guinea subscription, hut received no reply. Then I wrote him. The letter evidently came into the hands of his son, for this was the response: “Dear Sir, Last year you billed my father, Henare Wirlhana, for one guinea due to the club. Hc : couldn't pay. He was dead. This year you billed him for two guineas. He can't pay now either. He’s still dead.” The amount was ‘'crossed off.”

Although LocreJa has been paid up for in ihe Grand National Steeples, it is nut at ail certain that he will be a runner. Although at present apparently sound, ho is causing his owner and trainer considerable anxiety, and unless the going is soft on tho day he may not be saddled up. It is a pity, for fit and well Lochella would keep Coalition fairly busy at a difference of JOlbs

Then what about Master Strowan, who is in receipt of 161bs. from the top-weight? Is he too old, or has he forgotten the way to the winning post? lie was going well in the Wellington Steeples when interfered with, and carried off, but the old fellow should be in a place at Riccarton on Tuesday—with ordinary luck.

Old Mungindi has again broken down badly, and Mr. W. R. Kemball will not persevere with him. Though a top-notcher in 'Stralia, Old Mungindi failed to win a race in New Zealand.

Mr. Jas. ‘BiiU’s jumpers usually take a bls’ hand in the settlement of events at the Grand National meeting, but this year ths Hunterville sportsman will not have a representative. Omahu and Ngata did a lot of racing last season, and tho Auckland trip put the kybosli on their Riccarton chances.

Mr. C. F. Vallancc will have two strings to his bow in the Grand National Steeples, starting Luke and Sturdee. W. Bowdon will ride Luke, and R. Manson will be on Sturdee.

Waimai is said to have soured of racing, and judging by his jumping exhibitions since his arrival at Riccarton there must, be something in the report. He runs down most of his fences, and shows a disinclination to jump anything. ’Way back in 1916, when he won the G.N. Steeples under 11.8, he took everything in his stride, but old age beats the stralgbtest-goer at the finish. All going well four previous winners of the race, Wnlimai, Master Strowan, Lochella and Coalition, will take their places ir tho G.N. Stenptet on Tussda-y*

‘•"Keep the home fire burning brightly, ■Close the blinds and windows Wait with smiles of welcome When your toilers town. , Check all early fdgns of tunes?, Let no coughs or colds mature, I But. ’raid warmth and soothing wtiHness Qive them Woods* Great Peppermint Vws. i° 4 .