TURF TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 May 1922, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

(By

“Moturoa.”)

Wanganui Steeples to-day. North Otago races to-morrow. Dunedin handicaps are due on Saturday. Whanoko should start favorite in the Century Hurdles. Kilreid has rushed injo favour for the Borough Handicap. <T. Kaan will have the mount on Gamecock in the Century Hurdle race. Omahu and First Line will carry big money in tte Wanganui Steeples. Mr. J. Bull withdrew Omkhu from the Century Hurdles at 1.15 pun. on Tuesday. It is reported in Wanganui that Spook will start in the big hurdles, and ter party give her more than a rough chance. Vagabond, Ruatara, Matatua, Circulate and Noble will make their debut over hurdles to-day. Ladoguer and Wamba will show them the way. A lot of rain has fallen at Wanganui this week, and at time of writing (noon, Wednesday) the prospects are for wet weather and a holding track. Molyneaux was in tte market in the Canterbury Park Handicap, run early this month, but found 9.5 too much, and could only finish second. Kato promises to start a warm order in the Hack Steeples to-day, but will be up against a tough proposition in General Raven, who won the race last year. Hyttus will carry the field along at a solid pace, and although touched in the wind, will be well forward at the finish. The jockey George Clarke, while riding a motor cycle through Sanson en route to New Plymouth on Monday, "-threw a sevener,” and finished up in a Palmerston hospital with a broken collarbone and minor contusions. The Connolly Handicap, to be rfin at Wa-ng.-Jiui to-day, still bears a very open appearance. Tame Fox, Bonetter, Correspondent, and Scion appear to have most admirers, and it would occasion no surprise if -the last, named was sent out favorite. The going may be against the Aucklander, Mangamatoe. Struck a new system of "doubles” wagering the other day. Provided the first "leg” wins, the layer pays out at the rate of 70 per cent, for two firsts, 20 per cent, for a first and a second, and *lO per cent, for a first and a third. This should appeal to punters, but the only fly in the ointunent 13 that the first "leg” has to connect to give the backer the "concession.” Why not make ft open; say 70 per cent, for two firsts; 20 per cent, for a first and a second, irrespective of which "leg” wins, and so on? There’s money in the idea, so "go for it." Those who expect to sort out the winner of the Purua Hack Handicap at Wanganui will require to bo In the pink of condition—mentally and otherwise. Twenty-two acceptors and a cut up track—with a sharp bend 150 yards from the starting peg—offer a wide field for speculation. With a decent "draw” at the starting post Pantier and Yankee Dan might give their backers a good run for their money, but there are too many "ifs” about this argument.

TARANAKI DISTRICT COMMITTEE. The Taranaki District Committee imet at New Plymouth on Tuesday night. Present: Messrs. L. A. Nolan (chairman), J. McLeod, A. Alexander, J. Gray, S. Pitt, C. H. Washer, D. J. Malone, and B. H. Chaney. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs. A. Good, O. W. Sole, and G. Fraser. A trainer’s license was granted to R. A. Laurent. Applications for licenses for 1922-23 were considered and recommended as follows: — Trainers.—Percy Johnson, R. E. Laurent, A. ,T. Henderson, John Hunter, D. J. Goodwin, Wm. Pine, J. Fryer, C. Jackson, G. J. Murtagh, C. Cox, Jas. Brown, R. Brough, S. J. Reid, W. A. West. Jockeys.—A. J. McCormack, C. Mason, W. A. West, H. T. B. Gordon, K. A. Lambess, Wm. Ayres, N. K. McDonnell, J. O. McCarten. Apprentice jockeys.—J. M. Simpson, L. A. Pine, W. £’. Pine, C. T. Edwards, R. T. Vivian, A. R. Rutherford, S. Anderson, R. J. Flower, Rei Tito, and E. J. Kearns. The following dates were recommended: — Taranaki Jockey Club, December 26 and 27. 1922, February 15 and 17, 1923; Egmont Racing Club, February 7 and S, 1923, Slay 9 and 10, 1923; Stratford Racing Club, January 1 and 2, 1923. One accident claim was aulhorlsed, and will be forwarded to the trustees, and another claim was held over pending further inquiries. The Racing Conference wrote advising that the Railway Department had made certain concessions in the cost of the carriage of horse feed to and from race meetings. The district trust fund balance-sheet for the year now ending was approved. A list of fines in connection with the Esmont Racing Club’s recent meeting was approved. •