SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. September 2.—North Taranaki Hunt Steeples. September 9.—Marton J.C. Spring. September 14, 16.—Wanganui J. Spring. September 23, 25.—Avondale J.C. Spring. September 23, 25.-—Otaki Maori R.C. Spring. NEW ZEALAND CUP. THE FIRST ACCEPTANCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. The following remain in the New Zealand Cup - (two miles) after the first acceptances: Royal Star 8.12, Marqueteur, Rouen 8.11, Insurrection, Cupidon 8.10, Trespass, Foo Chow 8.9, Sunart 8.4, Income, Tame Fox, First Salute 8.3, Royal Box 8.0, Roseday 7.11, Scion 7.10, Admiral Codrington 7.7, Tenterfield 7.6, Bonneter, Kilgour 7.5, Tressayr 7.2, Verbosity, Festivity, Penitent 7.1, Corn Rigs, Bonnie Heather, Omahu, Equitable 6.13, Almoner 6.12, Battle Knight 6.11, Linden, Muraahi 6.10, Martini, Erie, Taipairu, Urgency, Lady Nassau 6.8, Many Kittle, Bonnie Nurse 6.7. PROTEST AT TAXATION. EXTRA DAYS WANTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association Auckland, Sept. 1. A conference of representatives of country clubs in the Auckland province with one day’s racing passed resolutions urging the Government to reduce the taxation on such clubs, also to grant them extra days racing in the A committee was set up to draft and circulate- petitions on these lines throughout the province for submission to Parliament. It was stated that, unless these petitions were granted by Parliament, one-day clubs would disappear, several being practically bankrupt now, as the result of last year’s heavy taxaResolutions were also passed urging the publication of totallsator dividends and permission for secretaries of clubs to accept totallsator investments by wire or post, also urging the reinstatement of the railway concession in freights on horses by charging only one way.

HUNT RACES. PROSPECTS FOR TO-DAY, (By "Moturoa.”) Weather conditions promise to be first class for the North Taranaki Hunt Club's steeplechase meeting, which will be held on the local racecourse to-day, and the gathering should attract a fine crowd. The racing track is in perfect order, while a moderately stiff steeplechase course has been laid out, and this, together with good fields, should make an interesting day’s sport. Mr. C. O’Connor will slip the* fields. Proceedings will open at 11.45 a.m. with the Hunters’ Flat Race, one mile and a quarter, and the eleven Warded Include some firstclass performers, notably Simon, Pure Laziness, Army Service, Raffles and Master Curran. ■ Simon appeared to be backward at Haweta last week, but Pure Laziness is In good nick, and may take some beating. Army Service has earned a 7 lb penalty, which brings his weight up to 11.13, which is only 2 lb more than he scored with in the Ladies’ Bracelet at Hawera. Raffle is nicely treated, but may be reserved for the hurdle event later in the day. With a start in, Raffle would be hard to beat, but in her absence Pure Laziness and Army Service may divide favoritism. The Opunakc Hack Scurry, five furlongs, will serve to introduce several horses with quiet reputations, but Husker and Haligan read best on paper, and the first-named should start a warm order.

The fun will commence in earnest with the Maiden Hunters’ Steeplechase, about two miles. A dozen are carded, including Prince Paul and Cordon, but these races are invariably "surprise packets,” and anything might happen. Eleven good-class horses figure in the Stratford Handicap (open), six : furlongs, and betting may take a wide range. Hipo, Inah, Mort Avis and Big Push are all nicely plrtced, and the winner should come from amongst that 'qiiartette'. Probably Hipo will be travelling fastest at the finish.

Further excitement will be provided by the Hunt Clip Steeplechase, about two and a-half miles. Marshal Neil has only to stand up to be very "hard,” and usually safe conveyances like Stray Lad and Tirau may also be in the money. Eleven hold their ground in the Walhi Hack (seven furlongs). Including Complex and Loved One (both winners at Hawera), Generous and Ladq Hill. The last-named appeared to be short of work when she ran second last week, and will probably strip much better to-day, in which case she should make amends. Loved One looks most dangerous of the others. The eleven in the Lepperton Hunters’ Hurdles may be considerably decreased before the scratching-pen has finished, but if Raffle goes to the post she should have a big following. The day’s racing will conclude with the Ufenui Hack Handicap, six furlongs, and Loved One (if reserved) should be well backed. At the weights Pouma should also have a chafice. TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") Jockster Alan McDonald, who was to have ridden Raffle'and others here to-day, will be an absentee owing to an accident which befel him at Marton on Thursday morning. He was riding Projector in a schooling task, in company with Whipcord, over the big fences, when his mount struck heavily and turned a somersault, pinning McDonald underneath. McDonald is at present In bed nursing a badlybruised hip, but as far as can be ascertained no bones were broken. The Marton Jockey Club’s spring meeting takes place on Saturday next, and judging by the lengthy list of acceptances, there is going to be no scarcity of racehorses this spring—no matter how "hard” things are with the Dominion in general. Seventeen have been paid up for in the Marton Handicap, fourteen in the Railway Handicap, and the other fields run from fourteen to twenty-seven apiece. Included amongst the acceptors are such high-class horses as Marqueteur, Gasbag, Rover, Admiral Codrington. ‘Trespass, Rapine and Civilform, and as classes are strongly represented, the gathering should be a very fine one. Thanks to a good spell of dry weather, the Marton course is in perfect condition for the meeting. Possibly with a view to booming the meeting between Beauford and Gloaming in the Chelmsford Stakes, on September 9, the Sydney Press is featuring the "watch-breaking” performances of the N.Z.-owned gelding, but it

is safe to say that, on the day the Newcastle "crack" will be favorite with the Aussies. Great as Gloaming undoubtedly has been,-most people will recognise that he is getting up in years, and—like another champion, Eurythmlc —he may find the more youthful Beauford the toughest proposition he has tackled dtfring the past 12 months. Whatever wins, it is sure to be a great "go,” and most good sports would crawl on all fours over a mile of broken bottles to see the great contest. May the better horse prevail. Several New Zealanders are engaged at the Moorefield meeting to-day. Molyneaux, who has now struck form, is in the Moorefield Handicap. one mile and a quarter, and the Carlton Mile, and whatever they "set” him for will be his—or nearly so. Absurdum and Tigrinla, both of which have still to "crack the ice” in 'Stralia, are engaged In the Flying Handicap, six furlongs, and The Shag (Panmure—Cormorant) and Cotillion figure in the minor events. From recent reports The Shag is "a bird.” Monday's cablegrams will tell us for certain! Another highly-bred stallion en route for New Zealand is Lord Quex, due in Wellington on September 17. This horse was purchased in England far Mr. W. G. Stead, and Is said to be a particularly fine stamp of horse. As in 'Stralia, nothing by English horses find favor : nowadays, and, judging by results, the Eng- I iish-bred horse has "a whole heap” on the colonial. Oka, the speedy but erratic daughter nf Stcpniak and Sortie, foaled a colt to Acre, at Waverley, on August 21. The Linacre breed, from which, of course, Acre comes, have done big things in 'Stralia, and (given fair opportunities) Acre should do well here. Brctland, by Marble Arch—Gwenlad, is said *9 be oae of the yTSSS’ggS three-year-

olds in Auckland. Gwenlad was bred in 1901, and was by Brigadier—Gwendoline, by Soult— The. Sheelah, by Bryan O’Lynn—Eileen Allanah, by Musket. Gwenlard’s foals have been Vivace (by, Obligado), Indulgence and Bluebird (both by Hierarch), and Wirt, Gwent, Gwenette, Snowdon and Bretland (all by Marble Arch). Last year she visited Lucullus.

During the present quarter the Woodville tracks have been well patronised, permits for the training of over 120 gallopers and 20 trotters being taken out. Probably Hawera can equal these figures. Both tracks are ideal for training operations. In fact, they are unbeaten in the North Island.

"An absurdity that has gone beyond the bounds of reason,” was the remark at the annual imeetlng of the Carterton Racing Club, when a member pointed out that the taxation on a one-day race meeting last season was approximate!j' £lOOO. It was pointed out that by its excessive taxation the Government wap going the right way to strangle the goose that laid the golden egg. In referring to the subject of visiting competitors to Auckland trotting meetings, the chairman of the Auckland Club, Mr. John Rowe, spoke of what he termed the absurd cost of travelling in the Dominion. It seemed an anomaly that a New South Wales owner could bring a horse to Auckland and return it to New South Wales for less than it cost to take one to and from Canterbury. Mr. Rowe was of opinion that the New Zealand railways were penalising themselves in this matter, and that a reduction of charges would result in quadrupling the business done by the Department In this connection (states the New Zealand Herald). Criticism was also levelled at the heavy taxation—styled as "class taxation"—imposed on racing in New Zealand, special emphasis being placed on the limitations put upon clubs by the Income fax. which prevented extensions of public accommodation in a manner commensurate with the growing popularity of the sport.