SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

STEEPLECHASING IN TARANAKI. EGMONT MEETING TO-DAY. (By “Moturoa”.) If we except hunt club gatherings, winter racing in Taranaki is solely confined to the Egmont Racing Club winter meeting, and, as with other innovations (notably weight-for-age races) it fell to the lot of the Egmont Club to introduce steeplechasing into Taranaki. But our Hawera friends took a lot of the Press, barracked hard for the big stick events, pointing out the numbfer of ’chasers trained in Taranaki, which had to be sent outside the province to get a raee, and the possibilities of steeplechases at Hawera in May attracting many horses from all parts which were engaged at the Wanganut and Great Northern meetings.

It was in the spring of 1918 that the Egmont Club joined up with the North Taranaki Hunt Club, and the ‘‘mixed” meeting that was held on the Hawera course in September of that year proved an all-round success, the spectacular steeplechasing in z particular catching on at once, and this led to the Egmont, Opeke and Hack Steeples being placed on the club’s winter programme the following May. The Egmont Steeplechase of 1919 attracted seven runners, the winner turning up in . the Southern-trained Bore, with that good horse Yellow and Black second, and Arlington third. The Hack Steeples also drew seven runners, the wiuner turning up in Master Webster, who was followed home by Polthogue and Paul Moore. Polthogue improved on his first day’s running by winning the Opeke Steeples, beating Arlington, Bore and seven others. AH three races were well contested, and steeplechasing had come to stay.

Next year the Egmont Steeplechase attracted a good field of ten, including some of the best jumpers in the Dominion, and Wirokino arriued home in front of Gladful, with Foeman, Marconi, First Call amongst the unplaced division. Luke won the Hack Steeples from Ngakanui and a dozen others, and went on and won the Opeke Steeples from Peneton, Old Mungindi and eight others, including First Line and First Call. This was ‘’Billy” Bowden's year, the Otaki horseman winning all three races.

A fine crowd of ’chasers were on hand for the 1921 meeting, including Slowcoach, Luke, Foeman, Khartoum, Mattock, Sir Fisher, Polthogue, Gang Awa', Old Mungindi, John Bunny and Vigilo. Mattock landed the Egmont Steeples after a great race with Slowcoach, the field numbering nine. The Hack Steeples attracted eleven runners, John Bunny (one of the extreme outsiders) winning nicely from Vigilo and Silent Dick. Eleven lined up for the Opeke Steeples, which fell to the favorite, Khartoum, who just beat Te Toa by the narrowest of margins. Without exception, the steeplechases put on at Hawera have provided great racing, and as long as they remain on the programme the winter meeting will be most popular.

To-day's big steeplechase promises to drawseven runners, Including horses from Auckland to Dunedin, and there is hardly a bad one in the field. Oakleigh, the top weight, reads well, but may find Mattock troublesome, provided the latter stands up. Luperiuo is practically a new chum at the game, but went round safely at Avondale, and will do better before the season closes. Eight remain in the Hack Steeples, and Te Maire and Ngakanui may be most entitled to respect. the divisions in the Telegraph Handicap give Pouma and Regard chances in the first and Cochineal and Some Bed in the second.

A RACE RE-RUN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Brisbane, May 9. The race at Cleveland on Saturday was declared no race, and re-run with different jockeys Tarawera won the second race pulling up, in a second faster time. Terndale ,and Hill, the two jockeys in the first race,

were disqualified for twelve months. Plant, the rider of Tarawera, on returning to scale, was Struck by H. Barden, owner of Syrenus, winner in the first race. Barden was disqualified for life. Ttere were only four starters in the race. TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. MEETING OF THH COMMITTEE. The committee of the Taranaki Jockey Club met last night. Present: Messrs. A. R. Standish (In the chair), G. Fraser, 0. Sole, A. Alexander, W. P. Nlcoll, B. H. Chaney, W. T. Hookham, W. C. Weston, and L. B. Vj,ebster. Apologies were received from Messrs. L. A. Nolan and F. Orbell. The Hon. 0. Samuel ami Mr. Nolan were appointed the club’s representatives at uie meeting of the Racing Conference to be held in Wellington in July. Dates for the club’s fixtures during the coming season were fixed as follow: Christmas meeting, December 26 and 27; autumn meeting, February 15 and 17. CertiUpates of fitness and character were granted to: P. Johnson (trainer’s license), and J. M. SkmpsoM (apprentice jockey’s license). The Legion of Frontiersmen was granted the use of the club's course and buildings for its annual camp in June. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa”.) A good crowd of hurdlers will be seen out at Hawera to-day and to-morrow, and it would occasion little surprise if Simonides won a race at the gathering. Omahu (if started) should give a good account of himself, and Volo’s debut over fences will be worth watching. Rational is likely to carry big money in the sprints at Hawera, and Birkie and Roman will not want for backers. The hack flat races at the meeting will give Some Red, Crossfire, Pouma and Cochineal a chance to show their speed in the "hurry-ups", while Equitable, Skylight and Sussex should show- up in distance events. The principal flat handicaps will be keenly contested, and Tame Fox, Festivity and Income should be there (or thereabouts) in whatever events they start. Patrons should note that the first race starts at 11.10 a.m. sharp. Songbird has run his last race this season, and fully deserves a rest. In 29 starts he won nine times, was five times second and six times third. Riding engagements rumored for to-day’s races are: Oakleigh (E. Warner), Tenacious (T. Williams), Mattock and Te Maire (A. McDonald), Rational, Marble Glass and Income (J. O’Shea), and Sussex and Royal Fancy (H. Wiggins). Mr. Keith Blythe, the successful young Victorian amateur horseman, has piloted 130 winners to date. At Jamieson recently Blythe won the full programme o( six events. The Ashburton autumn meeting takes place on Friday and Saturday. A good number of North Island horses have been sent south, including Island, who is engaged in hurdle events, and is said to be a good jumper. A horse of his size would make the hurdles look very small, and there is no saying what the son of Finland will do over the sticks this season. Whipping Boy continues to win, and may give his opponents a hiding in the Autumn Handicap at Ashburton. In appreciation of his wins with Soorak, J. Laidlaw has been presented with a cottage and stables at Kensington by that colt’s owner, Mr. F. G. Spurway. As the latter also bought some yearlings at the recent sales, Laidlaw will be afforded the opportunity of turning out other important two-year-old winners, and as Soorak seems as likely to make a stay etas any other youngster that raced at the A.J.C. meeting, such races as Derbies and St. Legers are possibilities during the coming season. One of Mr. Spurway's purchases was the handsome Kenilworth—Brattle colt, at 850 guineas. A Sydney writer The exSydney rider, E. wag responsible for an unuswa • nt the Deloraine t (Tasmania) Turf Clul.’K Grand National meetpng on Easter Monday. Me og ylto a

win on Captain Standish in the Trial Hurdles, for which there were nine runners; followed It up with a win on Glenspinncr in the Tasmanian Hurdle Raee, 2% miles, 12 runners; and later in the afternoon scored in the Tasmanian Grand National 3% miles, on Mamorway, there being 11 runners. At Launceston on Saturday last he also won a hurdle race and a jumpers’ flat handicap. In Tasmania Webster has a remarkable winning average in jumping races. Some time back he purposed riding in Melbourne and Sydney, but I think a little trouble in connection with incompleted indentures over here stood in the way, and he was noT afforded the opportunity of carrying out his intention. I have often seen it set forth that it is against a horse to be indifferently named, but it certainly does not stop them from galloping in every case. The winners at Epsom (Melbourne) on Saturday included Poi-flask—a combination of the names of the sire and dam. Perambulator and Flask respectively—who, at 7 to 4, beat thirteen others in the Trial Purse. The same afternoon, Myownbay (by lownit—Encounter Bay) won the Brush Steeplechase. Names did not handicap either of the two.