SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1922, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND SCRATCHINGS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Dec. 13. Killashandra was scratched for the Railway Handicap at 9.35 a.m. TAX ON PRIZE MONEY. »'y Telegraph.-.'Press Assn.—Copyright, Sydney, Dec. 12. The Court of Review dismissed an appeal by Mr. Greenwood, a New Zealand racehorseowner, against the assessment of State income tax on prize money won. Horse-owners carrying on racing as a business were liable to the income tax. TARANAKI JOCKEY CLUB. A meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club Committee was held on Tuesday night, Mr. L. A. Nolan presiding. There were also present: Messrs. B. H. Chaney, J. McLeod, W. T. Hookham, A. R. Standish, O. W. Sole, W. C. Weston, Newton King, G. Fraser, W. P. Nlcoll, A. Alexander, L. B. Webster. Certificates of fitness of character were granted to P. O’Brien for a trainer’s license and to L. E. George for a jockey’s license. The New Plymouth Motor-Cycle Club was granted the use of the club’s grounds for its annual motor-cycle race meeting, to be held In February next. Three new (members were elected, and one resignation was accepted. Mr. E. Sole was appointed band steward. It was decided to accept the Borough Council's terms for the use of its stables for the forthcoming meetings. Details in regard to publican's booth, music, and other matters were confirmed. Mr. B. Tippins was appointed gates’ detective. STRATFORD RACING CLUB. A meeting of the general committee of the Stratford Racing Club was held on Tuesday week. Present: Messrs. S. Pitt (chairman), J. B. Richards, J. W. H. Fredric. A. Stewart, M. McDonald, C. B. Walsh. .T. W. McMillan, D. J. Malone, and V. Srpith. The chairman reported that, the matter of the permanent totalisator staff for the Taranaki district was well under way. It was resolved that, subject to his being available, Mr. O’Callaghan, of Hawera, be appointed to manage the totalisator at the forthcoming meeting.

Mr. Fredric reported that the water supply and drainage were completed, and the contractors were to he congratulated on the work. It was resolved that the sub-committee set up in this connection should continue. The sale of water tanks and stands was authorised. The treasurer was empowered to deposit the sum necessary to secure a special train ok January 1.

Catering arrangements, in the hands of Dustin’s. Ltd., were further advanced, and the tender of Mr. J. B. Dunn for the publican’s booth was accepted.

The . offer of the Stratford Band, to play at the races was accepted, provided the band appears in uniform. The chairman reported that the repairs to the totalisator and stands were well under way. The application of W. Thacker for a jockey’s license was recommended.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.”) The serious financial plight of the country racing clubs in the Auckland province has led to centralisation this season, and this week (on Friday and Saturday) the scheme will be initiated at Te Awamutu, where the Walpa and Rotorua Clubs will race. Later in the season the Dargaville and Kawakawa Clubs will race at Ellerslie: the Bay of PlentyClub at Avondale; the Opotiki Club at Takapuna: and the Taumarunui Club at Te Kuiti, two days after the local (Te Kuiti) meeting. This practically means that in or about Auckland city there will he half a dozen extra days racing, which may be all right from a financial standpoint, but defeats the argument that little country places are entitled to a fair share of local race gatherings. With the sport taxed to the very hilt it is practically impossible for the little country clubs to carry on, but instead of centralising racing it would be a better plan to offer the Government the choice between a reduction in taxation or cessation of racing until reasonable terms are granted. If the scheme is encouraged we will see the Opunakc Club racing at New Plymouth or at Hawera; the Waverley Club at Wanganui: Rangitikei at Palmerston: Otaki at Trentham, and so onad absurdum! Some first-class horses are engaged at Te Awamutu on Friday, and the performances of Ngata, Rapine, Kind’s Trumpeter, Grotesque, Alfort, Insurrection. Matinee, Gold Kip. Golden Bubble, and others will be watched with Interest In view of their more Important engagements at the Christmas meetings. King’s Trumpeter is not. badly treated In the Te Awamutu Cup with 8.8, and Grotesque should he quite capable of carrying 9.11 with credit in the Flying Handicap. Rapine 9.8 will carry big money if reserved for the Ohaupo Handicap. In the minor events Sussex, Hushman and Peter Maxw|ll read well.

Harry Hickey landed the big race each day at Woodville with the Gazeley gelding Admiral Codrington, and judging by the good dividends returned, the public were not inclined to take seriously a horse with important engagements ahead. However, Hickey believes in winning when he can, and there is no guarantee that “The Admiral,” who is in great nick at present. will be quite so fit wh§n Boxing Day rolls along. As Hickey also won a race with Correspondent he had a good meeting. People who complain of Wellington being windy should have been at Woodville on Saturdav and Monday' It was a case of “hold your hat” all the time, and on the first day rain fell in torrents, which made matters womb. Accommodation is good, however, at Woodville, and the public had very little to grumble at. Racing was interesting, and form at recent meetings worked out well through Malingerer. Woden. Deroulede,, Tongatotoa. Admiral Codrington, Merry Day. Fera and Happy Days on the opening day. and on Monday was carried on by Woden, Ethiopian, Fleeting, Mountain Lion, E'onma.rk, Admiral Codrington and Kllbird. Those who followed form along this coast during the past month could not have done much harm. Crown Gem, a four-year-old Chestnut mare by Crown Imperial IT.—Mungista, and therefore half-sister to Infigo, was a quiet tip for the open sprint on Saturday, but. she dwelt at the barrier, and after making up a let of ground, finished fourth. On the second <lav she was always well placed, and taking Hie lead below the distance, won nicely from Mountain Lion. Clcasanta, and a smart field. She races in the colors of her breeder, Str G. Hunter, and is a. useful sort. One thing is certain, she won’t he paying double figures next time she is saddled up. The Absurd mare Ambitious can muster up a lot of pace for six furlongs, and she won the Oete Handicap from end to end in easj fashion. On the second day she carried big monev in the mile and a distance handicap, hut retired, early, in the piece. Apparently she cannot stay, hut, she is always worth a pound in a six. furlongs race, and should not oe overlooked at Awapuni. The consistent Woden ran two good races at the meettaß, hut is hotter over a. mile and a half than over a mile and three-quarters. On the first day, over the Icnscr distance, he looked a winner at the turn, but the "tubed" geldinß Malingerer outstayed him in the run home. With the first day’s winner nut of the way. and the distance two furlongs less, he looked unbeatable, and his hackers must have been well satisfied when they collected a trifle better than "evens, Ethiopian shaped ever so much better on the second day, tat Savoury’s efforts were uniformly wretched. If breeding counts for anything. Deroulede ('Absurd—Derelict) should ha- broken her "duck" long before Saturday last, when the ‘ half-sister to Hymettius paid a false price in i the Trial Plate, considering her recent placed performances. Fleeting, with M. McCarten In J the saddle, was a good favorite, and ran well, 1 bein’ unlucky tn suffer a head defeat for second place. On the second day she tried I to win from end to end, but succumbed at I the finish to the hitherto disappointing Five I Eighths, who paid over a quarter of a een- | IJiry. Keep Fleeting in mind for a five furlong race at Christmas.

Five Eighths is now in his third racing season, and must he accounted one of the most expensive horses whose fine pedigree tempted punters to accept him as a good one. Bred by Mr. T. H. Lowry, he proved a great, disappointment to that sportsman, and to Mr. F. Davis, and his present owner, Mr. T. Teesdale, must be accounted very plucky to have persevered with the prad so long. By All Black, from War Talk (Martian —Gossip), the sister of War Scare (dam of Bjorneborg, Estland and Finmark), he should have been a top-notchei*, but wasn’t. Cleasanta had two unplaced performances to her discredit this season, before winning the Borough Welter on Saturday, but the easy fashion in which she spread-eagled the field suggests that she will win more races shortly. On Monday she was produced in the open sp,rint, and after being badly placed in tne early stages, finished fast, close up third. Fera, who is only good for one race at a meeting, easily beat a poor lot in the Welter on Saturday, and was kept in her box on the second day. Over middle ’distances, in moderate company, she is very useful. “Ted.” Penman was knocking av tne uoor again with the Merry Moment gelding Happy Days, the chestnut again finishing second. Happy Days looks a racecourse certainty for a maiden the first time they pull the string I

Mr. A. McDonald produced a trio of promising two-ycur-olds at Woodville, of which Bugle Note (Sol ferine—Mazurka) is reputed to be the speediest. This gelding was produced on the second day, and, coupled with Soliform, was a good favorite. However, his backers were soon put out of their misery, for at the end of a furlong he fell. Ransack, another of Mr. McDonald’s representatives, won the Nursery Handicap very easily. She is by Solferino—Raid, and was bred by Mr. J. F. Reid. The third of the trio, Soliform (Solfejino—Adour), finished third each day. snn is a full sister to Doueement. Caress was not produced in two-year-old events. The much-boomed Civility, by Elysian—Civilisation, was a runner on Monday, and showed a lot of pace, but Simonette wore •her down at the finish, and won by a neck. Simonette is by King Soult—Mere Mere, and she is a determined finisher. Whatever chance she had on the first day was extinguished at the rise of the barrier. Reremoana ran nicely each start. He is a chestnut gelding by Hallowmas—Bonny Portland, therefore full brother to Valerie, and also carries the colors of his breeder, Mr. G. F. Moore. Other two-year-olds seen under silk were: Bonllta (Boniform —Rosalita) : Frllford (Treadmill—Aberafai) ; Enthuse (Bopifonm—Histoirette), half-sister to Blackmail; Blonde (Kilbroney—Chakwana) ; Misgovern (King Mark—Parula). sister to Misrule: Stymie (Sarto—Waiohiki) : Kilris (Kllhoy—Tigris), half-sLstcr to Tigerland, Tigrltiya and Tigrinia; and Fairy Ring (Elysian—Sequinette), half-sister to Backsheesh.