SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

TARANAKI DISTRICT COMMITTEE. The Taranaki District Committee met last night. Present: Messrs. L. A. Nolan (chairman), J. McLeod, O. W. Sole, A. Alexander, D. J. Malone, B. H. Chaney, and G. Fraser. An apology for absence was received from Mr. S. Pitt. The programme of the North Taranaki Hunt’s race meeting was approved. The following applications for licenses were forwarded to the Conference:—Trainer, T. R. Edwards: jockeys. A. B. Cole and G. Edgecombe (the latter subject to his remaining in permanent employment as a trainer) ; apprentice jockey, M. J. Conway. A list of unpaid forfeits was forwarded to Conference on behalf of the Taranaki Jockey Club.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.”) South Canterbury Hunt meeting on Saturday. Weldone went wrong at Trentham, and could not start on the last day. Coalition ran a fine race in the July Steeples, and should be "apple pie" at Riccarton. Big Push got Taranaki punters out of trouble on Saturday, and paid a great "price.” The Hawk ricked .a shoulder recently, and is now on the easy list. Volo was backed and beaten on Saturday, but he may do better on firmer going. Mattock jumped very big in the Vuly Steeples, but his pace kept hwn in the picture for two and a half miles. Those who were game enough to stick to Passenger received a fair return when the Formby gelding finished second in the Talavera Hurdles. South Island horses had a great innings on the last day at Trentham, Good Start, Pink Rose. Rorke’s Drift and Romance winning races. The ten-year-old Rorke’s Drift made an exhibition of his opponents in the Winter Hurdles—but what was he doing in the minor hurdle race on the first day? Principal winning owners at Wellington were: F. S. Easton £l2OO, F. A. and V. N. Price £l2OO, P. A. Herman £B5O, G. Mcßain £52". F. Ross £5OO, W. Duncan £5OO, and J. J. Lewis £5OO. A. J. McFlynn, M. McCarten, T. L. Reid, W. E. Pine, F. Corlett, and A. Ellis each rode two winners. Others to score were H. McSJweeney, H. Burt. J. Rask, W. Young, A. McMullan, W. Scobie, A. Wormaid, B. Morris, J. McChesney, F. Porter, and E. Keesing. Coalition is likely to be one of the early favorites for the Grand National Steeplechase, and others that stand out are Master Strowan, Oakleigh, Sea De’il, Waimai, and First Line. Of the crowd Coalition and Sea De’il read best. The Grand National Hurdle Race will keep punters busy. Paonui, Rorke’s Drift, Volo, General Petain, Penury Rose. Sea De’il, and Sunray appeal most, and with anything like luck Penury Rose irnust run a great race with 9.13.

The Winter Cup field bears a formidable appearance. Royal Star, Foo Chow, Gold Kip, Royal Box, Irapuka. Some Fashion, Wrangle, Will Oakland and Economist strike the eye as horses with chances, and to fine the issue down to a trio it is hard to pass Will Oakland, Royal Box, and Economist. Thumping big dividends were the order of the day at Trentham on Saturday. Two were in the vicinity of "a score,” one about double "the limit,” and the rest ran from just below "the limit” to a tenner. Needless to say there were very many sorry punters when the curtain fell dn Saturday’s racing. Trentham in the winter is anything but an ideal spot for racing, and on the concluding day of the (meeting conditions were at their worst. Straw was strewn on the lawns, but the mud quickly enveloped it, and the public floundered about the enclosure with mud over the boot-tops. The birdcage looked like a stockyard, and the racing track, particularly near the rails and on the extreme outside (where the preliminary gallops were held) was in a. shocking state. Banogue flattered his handful of supporters for a whiie in the Talavera Hurdles, but when it came to racing Passenger and Good Start were the only ones in it. Good Start, the winner, is an aged geldinpj by Pallas—Casella, if one believed the "correct card,” though the Stud Book gives his dam as Red Start. Good Start was bred by his owner. Dr. J. E. Rogers, and is trained by "Put” Hogan, of Washdyke.

Cochineal was reputed to be "the pea” in the Novice Handicap, and had every chanoe, but simply was not good enough. The winner, Lady Ben (Waimangu—Benison). is a three-year-old Ally owned by Mr. H. Nee, and trained by T. Higgins, of Opaki. The runner-up, Comical, was responsible for a great effort under 10.3, and he is a gelding worth watching. Feilding touts "did” their undergarments on Elvaette (Ghoorka—Molly) at Trentham on Saturday. She was reputed to bo faster than Loyal Maid, but ran like a milk cart imoke each day. Pink Rose, who paid nearly "a scorfe” in the Crofton Handicap, carries Mr. J. J. Corry’s colours, and is prepared by P. Reardon at Blenheim. Pink Rose did not have anything to spare from Yankee Dan at the finish. In fact it looked as if the Bezonian gelding was unlucky to lose. Aucklanders were alleged to have had a royal win over Some Fashion’s success in the Winter Oats on Saturday, but they could hardly have backed the Fashionable gelding on form. The runner-up. Heathersprig, Is evidently coming back to form, and should win a race at Gisborne. The going favoured light-weights on Saturday, and the Riccarton-trained Romance, who was on the minimum, had no difficulty in accounting for the heavily-weighted "cracks” in the July Steeples. Romance is given in the book as an aged gelding by St. Paul—Solemn, so he is no chicken. After many disappointments Capping Day scored in the Onslow Handicap, and possibly some of those wild youths who took part in the notorious 'Varsity capping day revels in Wellington recently benefited by the tip. The honors of the race went to Civilform, who filled the role of runner-up while conceding 17 lbs. to the winner.

Lady Ridicule was backed nearly down to "evens” in the Kia Ora Handicap, and all but landed first prize. Big Push just getting up on the post. Lady Ridicule’s form at the meeting was most consistent, a first in the Maiden and two seconds (Trial Plate and Kia Ora Handicap) being her tally. She is a four-year-old by Absurd—Lady Gwen, and is a half-sister to Wenona. Lady Penury, Marabout, Mentmore, Courtfleld, Pengwen, etc. Arch Salute, with a first, a second and a third in three starts at Trentham, also showed commendable consistency, as did Big Push, who scored two firsts and a third in as many outings. Much credit is due to young Pine (W. E.) for his capable horsemanship on the Master Soult gelding. Thanks to much booming before the weights for the Winter Cup appeared, Roseday, the full brother to Solfanello, caught it hot with 10.6. The southerner may be the crackerjack that they say he is, but he hasn’t the performances of several below him in the handicap.

An exchange reports that private advice has been received from H. Gray, dated May 22, that during the fortnight previous he had ridden six winners for Sir Cunliffe-Owen. White Satin won three times in as many starts, and was the stable representative in the Derby, though Gray did not consider him up to Derby* form. Orpheus, in the same stable, was reported to be in good fettle, and Gray should have several comfortable rides on him before Mr. H. F. Nicoll, the newly-elected president of the New Zealand Trotting Conference, was formerly a well-known patron of the gallops. Amongst his best winners were Cross Battery and Sea King. Mr. Nicoll is president of. the Ashburton Trotting Club, and under his guidance the club has been one of the most progressive in the Dominion. Mr. J. McMahon, chief stipendiary steward, loft yesterday for Sydney on two months’ holiday. Mr. McMahon owns a cattle ranch in the Grafton district, and will probably witness the sculling championship while on the other side. There is no truth in the report that a number of New Zealand jockeys will be down to welcome him on his arrival in Sydney. I For a piece of unwarranted nerve the action of the stipendiary stewards in suggesting

to the Racing Conference that the practice adopted by many clubs of re-handicapping winners was undesirable, and that fixed penalties were more satisfactory, just about takes the whole biscuit, and it is a matter for congratulation that the Conference treated the suggestion with contempt. Both systems have been tried rigfrt out in New Zealand, and rehandicapping has proved the more just and equitable, and has come to stay. In numerous cases handicappers have not deemed it neces--sary to penalise winners a single pound, and their judgment has not been at fault. The stewards of the various racing clubs are quite capable of formulating their own local rules, and the interference of the paid stewards—whose sole aim is to completely control racing themselves —is entirely outside their duties. The Melbourne Cup is the richest handicap in the world, and the Grand Prix de Paris is more valuable than any other three-year-old race. The Kentucky Derby, run in the United States, ranks next in value. The stake this year to the last-named event was worth nearly £ 12,000 to the owner of the winner.