SPORTING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10139, 9 November 1910, Page 5

SPORTING.

TURF NOTES.

(By "Zetland.")

The Taratahi-Carterton meeting opens to-day at the Clarevilie course, and there is every promise of a very successful gathering. Good fields will be seen out in nearly every event, and as the majority of the contestants are now in fine racing form there should be come really good racing. Among the visiting horses that had arrived up to yesterday at noon were Goldsley, Gold Battery, Rill, Strathmoira, Lord Possible, Eiya, , Whakaweira, Seaweed, Bercola, Floater, Shannon Lass, Astraea, East Wind, Contour, Waipunui, Waihekua, Rosegrove, Mataari, Splash, Dogfish,§and Fivrakau. During the season there has been a tendency to -in and out running, and at meetings where the officials are expected to be somewhat easy-going liberties are often taken which detracts from the element of pure sport, and give reason for a spirit of resentment on the part of the sporting public. The TaratahiCarterton Stewards are capable razing men, and include those who are ever on the alert to see that the contests on their course are free from doubtful running. They pose themselves at different parts of the racing circle, and thus prove a rather powerful factor towards ttraight racing and properly fought out contests. Then again, the officiate may be depended upon to hold inquiries where there is reasonable doubt that certain hpr.es may not have appeared to do their best. The.general arrangements in connection with the meeting are well up to date, and the course proper is in such good order that fast times should be recorded. The County Cup will pnbably be one of the best races seen at Clarevilie for a considerable time, It is expected that there will be eleven starters, and class is well represented.

It is generally admitted that the Press of the Dominion is a power which makes for cleaner sport, and in recent years it has probably done good work in this direction. By reason of reporting a large number of meetings throughout the year many sporting writers obtain a keener insight into racing than the general puolic may be expected to do.

Where inconsistent running sometimes is rather glaring, a gentle hint to this effect is sometimes contained in a report of a meeting. Possibly the connections of the contestant hinted at take warning, and for a time at least become very careful in their actions. On the other hand, there are riders of per : haps a daring or don't care nature* who do not heed the warnings, and sooner or later they become involved in trouble. Cases have been known where instances of unsatisfactory riding have been mentioned in point, but having failed to take the hint, riders have later on been called hefore the authorities and disqualified for lor.get or shorter terms.