SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

A RACEHORSE’S DEATH. s. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 8, 11,5 p.m. Sydney, Jan, 8. The racehorse Prince Foote is dead. It ruptured a blood-vessel. TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) Concluding day at Reefton. Wellington weights are due to-day. The Rotorua annual meeting takes place on. Wednesday. Nominations for the Egmont R.C. summer meeting close on Friday next. A. Orreli’s engagement with the Kembali stable has been cancelled, and the Sydney horseman has returned home.

Celmisia looks none the worse for her race at Awapuni, and should notch a win shortly. Projector, in the same stable, looks very light. Steel Bell, who won the Summer Cup at the Auckland trots, has seen a dozen summers, but appears to be as speedy as ever. Few gallopers last as long. Mr. J. R. Corrigan continues to ouy up the best light harness horses. Amongst his recent purchases was Great Hope, who scored a surprise victory in the Trotting Derby, the price running into four figures. * The imported pacer Stormy Voyage can go very fast, but he puts in frequent “skips,” which, instead of causing him to lose ground, has .the opposite effect. He survived a protest for galloping before his backers were paid on the last day at Auckland. A good, judge considers that Pluto could have finished in front o-f his stablmate, Farceur, in the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie, and in carrying 9.2 and running the Absurd colt to a length in Imin. 13sec. Pluto appears to be a much smarter gelding than most people imagine. Possibly we will have the pleasure of seeing him in action at the Taranaki and Egmont meetings in February.

The features of the Southland meetings appear to be poor handicapping, wretched starting, and rough riding. Southern writers do not go behind the bush to point out horses that have been “fired into” races, while most races are won or lost at the barrier. Indifferent riding is excused oh. the score of inexperience, and even such a race as the Invercargill Cup was reported to have been “taken off” Sunny Loch by rough riding and reckless use of the whip by the of another runner in the race. Where are the stipes? Bodyguard, who won the Eleccrie Handicap on the second day at Hastings, is a three-year-old gelding by Boniform —Multiguard, owned by Mr. J. Dealey. The favorite, Heather King, had a bad run, and could only finish third.

The slump in the price of land has given the Wanganui Jockey Club a very severe “jolt,” the Westmere property having been purchased when prices were at top. The Wanganui Jockey Club does not intend removing from the town site at present, and is finding a difficulty in leasing the Westmere property at a figure that will pay “exes.” When Gazique fell in the New Year Handicap at Hastings his rider, J. Nixon, sustained a broken collarbone. At the subsequent inquiry the steward,* found that Nixon made an error of judgment in attempting to get through an opening that wasn’t there! ■Sycorax performed so brilliantly each day at Awapuni that it was surprising to see Gazique sent out a better favorite than the King Mark mare in the New Year Handicap at Hastings. Sycorax waited on The Speaker until the distance was reached, when she forged ahead and won comfortably.

The trotting sire Gold Bell was responsible for three good winners at the Auckland trotting meeting—Gold Boy, Gold Girl and Steel Bell all winning important races. • The trio carry the colors of the Auckland owner, Mr. T. Roe.

R. Hunt and L. Berry, with four wins each, were the most successful horsemen at the Hawke’s Bay summer meeting. When Poet won the Bowen Handicap at Ellerslie he ran for the stake alone, his form at Dannevirke convincing his owner that he wasn’t worth even a quidlet investment. Trainer F. D. Jones had the laugh on a prominent southern scribe who, when Amythas was dropped from the team, classed the others as “moderates,” and wondered* how “Freddie” was going to pay expenses at Ellerslie. The little Canterbury trainer answered the question by winning the Cup with Malaga, two races and a second with Mustard Pot, a second with The Reaver, and a third with Humboldt. The “moderates” annexed £3BOO in stakes, and paid handsome dividends on most occasions.

Mr. Alf. Symes lost Ben Bolt at Ellerslie, the gelding breaking a leg wiule schooling. Ben Bolt raced with some success in flat races on this coast, and recently won a small hurdle race at Rotorua.

Hector Gray has brought about the downfall of Gloaming on no less than three occasions; namely on Desert Gold at New Plymouth; on Sasanof at Riccarton; and on Thespian at Auckland.

A northern writer states that Mr. G. D. Greenwood has won £'loo,ooo in stakes.

Trainer Ted Penman took Jaspar Gate to the Marton meeting for experience. The northern-owned horse behaved quietly, and provided he trains on, should give a taste of his quality in the autumn.

Another horse to break a leg recently was Siberian, who was trained by Miss Barrett, now of Trentham. Siberian could hardly be dubbed a success on the turf.