BIG BETTING PLUNGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 5, 7 January 1936, Page 12

BIG BETTING PLUNGE.

SPORTING BLOOD IN DENHAM.Tlie moans and groans of bookmakers were audible to ,even the very deaf, after Sporting Blood had romped home in the Denham Handicap at Raudwick on December 28, says an Australian writer. Sporting Blood, who had finished last in the Villieis a week earlier, and only tenth in the Summer Cup two days earlier, was backed in manner, During the last five minutes of operations ring men were in a panic,. as they had been caught by the Sporting Blood commissioners, who had secured the long odds, and they were rushing round frantically to try and ease their liabilities" iyith each other.. But it "wag futile pursuit, as none of them could lay Sporting Blood for another penny. There were several happenings during the race which appeared to give the sensationally backed New Zealander anything but the worst of the galloping argument. Sporting Blood secured an uninterrupted passage each'time young Maher made for one, and- r several of the runners went wide 'when '.making the horiie turn. Per> haps their riders were'seeking the better going on the o.uteide.-':.'ln ■■view of Sporting Blood's two inglorious efforts at Randwiek during the week, it was little wonder tHe ring, men were not prepared for such a colossal-,..onslaught. ..-He got easily -the' best of the start, but Cherry King soon bounped to the head of affairs and had control passing .the inile. to Miss Nottava, Repere, Sporting Blood, Whittingham and Measure. Between the mile and the- sixfurlong . post Repere and Tingalba- were fightihj;; for .'the van, with Cherry King, Whittiiigham. arid Sporting Blood together next, with-Measure handy, .but not going generously.; .Cockpen. was last at this stage, not far behind Limyris. Repere was still with Cherry King at the half mile, with Tingalba trailing along in third place and Whittingham . and Sporting Blood most prominent of the others. Limyris commenced to make up ground at this point, Measure having dropped back. : Cherry King and Repere looked very cheap cattle once Sporting Blood challenged tliem, for the New Zealander bolted to the front and was lengths clear at the half distance. Though young Maher'did not bother kicking out Sporting Blood, he had four lengths to spare over Limyris when they went past the jud.ge, Whittingham being third two 'lengths further back and well clear of Repere, Cockp'en and Cherry King.