SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1921, Page 3

SPORTING.

TROTTING. GBBYMOUTH ACCEPTANCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Greymouth, Last Night. The Greymouth Trotting Club’s acceptances are: GUINNESS HANDICAP; one mile and a half.—Gaillella, Dillon Patch, Nellie Audubon scr., Prince Mac, Flying Angel 12yds behind. Prince Athol 24, Whitebait, Alice L., Teneriffe 36, Silveretta, Ken Tracey, Sandy Bell 60, Beach Boy 72, Rainbow 84, Norwood 96. SUMMER HANDICAP; two miles. —Ethel Whispers, Taipanui, Fleetwing, Miss De Valera, Never Whispers scr., St. Quentin 12yds. behind, Luana, Welcome Reta 24, Emerald Green 48, Red Peter 60, Inquisitive, L.R. 72, Simple Peter, Stella Ashley 108, Handsome Jack 120. DOMINION HANDICAP; one mile and a half.—Maryhill, Wastewood, Loganwood, Palmdale, Young Dillon scr... Delta 12yds. behind. Cole Drift 24, Florence La Badie, Pegasus 48, Lord Lytton 84. UNHOPPLED HANDICAP: one mile and a half.—Emerald Green scr.. Inquisitive 12yds. behind. Renown, Merry Peter, Helen Wood 24, Peter Bell, Simple Peter 36, Caterpillar 48, Nipper 60. GREY ALLEY' HANDICAP; one mile and a quarter.—Dilemma scr., Apres Mol, Alarm Bell, Ken Tracey, Lady Logan 12, Wet Day, Miss Marion, Rainbow 24, Norwood, Blue Drift, Palmdale 36, Suddite, Serenity 48. EXPRESS HANDICAJP; one mile.—-Forest Ranger, Whispering Boy, Proud Eta, Rapid Wind, Dillon S., Miss De Valera, St. Quentin, Wee Bit Wain, Peta Peter, Luana, Welcome Reta scr.. Bloom 12yds. behind. Red Peter 24, Bon Sonty, Renown, Helen Wood 36, Simple Peter, Stella Ashley, Peter Bell 48, Merry Peter 72, Osier 84, Eruption 132. DASH HANDICAP; one mile.—Delta, Maryhill, Young Dillon, Wastewood, Never Will, Wee Winnie, Loganwood scr.. Guess 12yds. behind, Cole Drift 24, Golden Pippin, Florence La Badie, Salcou >e 36. ELECTRIC HANDICAP; one mile.—Alice L., Prince Mac, Tarah, Dilemma, Silveretta, Dillon Patch, Reta’s Greeting, Black Arrow scr., Captain Woodburn 12yds. behind. Warfare 12, Sand}- Bell, Lady Logan, Orange Pippin, Alarm Beil 24, Rainbow, Little Ben 36, Norwood, Blue Drift 48, Suddite, Annie’s Dream 60. TARANAKh JOCKEY CLUB. THE CHRISTMAS MEETING. Everything points to the forthcoming meeting being the most successful Christmas meeting held by the Taranaki Jockey Club. The acceptances in all the events are good, and judging from the evenness of the horses engaged there should be interesting racing. More than the usual number of outside horses are making the trip, and already several, including Pine Arct, Sir Huon, Romance and Miss Gazeley have arrived here from the north. As usual Hawera is well represented, about 50 horses having accepted from that centre, and it is understood that arrangements are being made for a special train to bring the horses to New Plymouth. Mr. Blewman has the course and its appointments in first-class order, and the Taranaki Jocksy Club Committee and its capable secretary (Mr. E. P. Webster) have made arrangements to ensure the success of ti e meeting, the comfort of visiting owners and trainers, ana the public having been well catered for. For visiting trainers ten new boxes have oeen provided, and these have all been uooked, whilst the club is also arranging for sleeping accommodation and for catering at the course. Keen interest is being manifested in the gathering throughout the province, and given fine weather there should be a large attendance. Skylight is reported to have ricked himself and is an unlikely starter in the Christinas Handicap. TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) The holiday meetings are now the principal topics of conversation in the sporting world, and judging by the good all-round acceptance lists tieiids are going to be large, and racing interesting this holiday season. On Monday next the Auckland, Taranaki, Manawatu, Porangahau, Westland, Kaikoura, and Dunedin Clubs will be racing, while, the majority will supply further sport on following days right into the next week. As regards holiday meetings Taranaki is well provided for, and. excellent sport is assured patrons at New Plymouth and Stratford.

Quality and quantity are the features of the acceptance lists for the opening day of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Christmas meeting. Thirteen hold their ground in the big race, including well-fancied ones like Stork. Y’olo and Pine Arch, while the eleven remaining in the Flying Handicap include good performers like Inah, Esthonia, and Infante. A big field is certain in the hurdles, generally the most attractive race of the day, and with Simon, Active and a number of likely lightweights engaged, a good contest will be witnessed. The minor events have filled well, and horses that should show up in this class are Still Sea, Mixture, Sunny Jimi, Dactyl is, Ardath, Awake and Roman. For such a splendid stake ottervtf the Auckland Cup has attracted a disappointing acceptance of seventeen only. Sasanof, with 9.2, is still in, and rumor states that 11. Gray will ride the old champion on the day. Sasanof’s recent form has been indifferent, and he has probably seen his best day. Royal Star, who l as gone on the right way since winning the New Zealand Cup, must be very hard to beat, and Rouen is also whispered about as having more than a rough chance. Still, at a difference of 4lbs. Royal Star reads the better of the pair. Uncle Ned may be depended upon to run his usual solid race, and seems sure to gain a place, even If he does not win outright. Vagabond has a stayer's chance, but he is getting old, and tto hard going at Ellerslie may tickle up his “tootsies.’’ Trespass should hold Starlan.d safe at level weights, and of the rest Lovematch and Aureate read best. Possibly Royal Star, Uncle Ned and Loveunatch will prove fittest on the day. Eighteen have been paid up for in the Railway Handicap, including a sturdy Taranaki brace—Silver Link and Rational. The C.J.C. Stewards’ Handicap winner, Solfanellu, is also in, but 9.13 is -a big weight, good as tl4* son of Solferino undoubtedly is. Both Silver Link and Rational will carry big money, the last-named in particular, but (fit and well) the mare should beat him at level weights. Lower on the list Absurdum, Anomaly, Pavo, and Fulsome attract the eye. The race looks opTn, but whatever beats Mr. Alexander’s mare will have to travel very fast. It is reported that Ashley Reed will have the mount on Lovematch in the Auckland Cup. Egotism will see a short price in the Shortland Plate, one mile, at Ellerslie. Multive has been pulled out of the hurdles at Awapuni. and will race at Ellerslie —and race prominently tool The Trial Plate, seven furlongs, at Awnpuni. should be “cold pie” for Lady Nassau. The best of the rest may be the Fordelltrained Whiritas, who was as big as a bullock when it finished third at Feildlng. Of the twenty-one horses remaining in the Manawatu Cup we bear most about Paonul, Molyneaux and Rude. A good judge informs the writer that the last-named has been doing wonoderful work, and will take a lot of beating. From the same source we hear that Tamatete, the Fitzherbert Handicap candidate, is very fit, and is likely to rub out imost of the sprinters at Palmerston. The Fordell “double” would be a good one to hold, under the circumstances. Wairarapa looks like paying her way *n minor two-year-old handicaps during the holiday season. R. Mason has arrived at Ellerslie with Gloaming and company, and should pick up a few thousand pounds before returning. The champion gelding did some wonderful gallons at Feilding before being railed north, and was never better than at present. Stratford weights should give general satisfaction. and acceptances for the first day which close on Thursday—should be firstclass. Flute’s recent gallops have not been of au

encouraging order, though naturally he suffered by comparison with his track companion, Gloaming. A Manawatu scribe reports that at Feilding one recent uuorning Gloaming stood Pluto up quite ten lengths in a six furlongs gallop, and beat him home by as big a margin. Infante and Esthonia, who claim engagements at the Taranaki meeting, won races at Te Avvamutu on Saturday, and will put up 71bs. penalties here. Snake recorded his fourth victory this season on Saturday last. He has also run twice second, and twice unplaced. Hector Gray is due back in New Zealand this week. What a rush there will be for his services at the holiday meetings! F. D. Jones' team at Ellerslie comprises Malaga, Mustard Pot, Humboldt and The Reaver. They are not brilliant, but userul enough to pay their way with: any luck.

Those who saw Anomaly win at. Woodville are prepared to award him another first prize at the holiday meetings, though it may be over a longer distance than the A.R.C. Railway Handicap is run. Detroit is looking bright and well, but the sting will have to be out of the ground to give hhn a chance at Awapuni. War Loan has lightened up a trifle as the results of considerable racing and travelling, lately, and may not be seen at his best at New Plymouth. The other day the writer dropped in to see the well known and popular horseman Frank Flynn, at Wanganui. Frank is still confined to his bed, but has picked up a good deal lately, and chats eheerxiiiy at racing and things in general. His many frientis would like to see him on his feet again, though it Is doubtful if he would ever regain sufficient strength to take on the jumping game again. TJ.C. COMMITTEE. A meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club District Committee was held last night. Present: Messrs. L. A. Nolan (chainman), O. W. Sole, A. Alexander, J. McLeod, G. Fraser, B H. Chaney, and S. Pitt. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. J. Gray and D. J Malone. The Opunake Racing Club’s programme for their race meeting on March 17 was approved. An application for registration by the Waitara Beach Picnic Club under the rules of racing was received. It was decided that the application could not be granted, owing to the fact that the proposed course was within a 20-mile radius of the nearest racecourse. An accident claim on. account of B. Brown was approved. A trainer's license was granted to P. Major and a jockey's license to Noel Shore.