SPORTING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 15 March 1910, Page 2

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES-

March 17— Opunake R.C. March 23 — Wairnate i'lains Trotting Club. March 2B— Patea R.C.

NOTES BY "OBSERVER." St. Tony has been placed in J. Fryer's charge, and by the aid of careful handling was ridden on Saturday without the- usual accompaniment of buck-jump- ■ ing- The gelding has enjoyed several months on the grass, and if he proves trainable should become a useful addition to his new quarters. Fryer has the long string of eleven horses in hand. ' Sir Prize is turned out, and wiR bo 1 blistered shortly. I It is reported £300 was the amount paid for Tvaitapu, and it would bo difficult to imagine him a cheap horse at the price. Taranaki horses failed to score a win at either "Wanganui or Dannevirke meetings, although several of them raced meritoriously. The consistent Lethean ran second on each day at Dannevirke, and it has boon made evident that he is doing well under Oney Cox. It is unfortunaite that Lady Menschi- , koff should have found one to steal a low place in the weights for the Autumn Handicap on the second day at Wanganui and just beat her. The greatest of all handicappers was the famous Admiral Rous ? who made it his maxim to handicap the owner if he was not fully conversant with the horse. In a letter sent to me by a visitor to the gathering he said": "Lady Menschikoff is a raro bit of horse flesh, and in each of her three races ran splendidly." Hector Gray still leads in the winning jockeys' list, with Arthur Oliver in hot pursuit. Telford and Julian are running a tie over the hurdles. The former is well fitted to the position, and bar accident will bo hard to remove from his share of the platform. A local professional horseman informed me that Jenkins's display on NorthEast in the finish for the Flying Handicap at Wanganui woulcl prove the means of commanding a cheer from any racing audience. Lingerer will be among the starters in the Opunake Hurdles, and his trainer informs me that the old chestnut is going on very well in his preparation. There have been a large number of withdrawals from the race, but as a number of them couldn't have won under the proverbial "postage stamp," it would be amusing to know why they were entered. - x It was remarked in these columns just prior to the Wanganui meeting that North-East would be found an improved horse by a stone since his Egmont racing. The estimate was on a highly-drawn scale, but the horse ably endorsed it. For the last two years' gatherings old Toddy has achieved success in the 'Opunake Hurdles. Ho has only got three legs f and a crutch to help him around, but" manages the journoy capitally. Inclusive in the two trotting races at Opunake there are 37 acceptors, which should sunely produce interesting contests. Thq (local trainers, Smith Bros., are well versed in the, most advanced methods of gearing and handling horses for this branch of sport, and their entries may .16 expected to show the benefits derived from their education. Lillian is als % cr trained on the local tracks and has go%e through a steady preparation. Rothschild Lad is one of the candidates that showed good style last year, and if in professional hands suggests himself as a horse likely to take a power ofi beating. These races are of the.class that occasionally produco huge dividends, ,and the visiting Celestials will bo in a turf paradise and be sure to leave rib numbers unbacked. Following Opunake is the Waimate Plains Trotting Club's gathering on the 23rd inst.,; and the two races of Thursday are not unlikely to whet the public appetite for more and thus swell the attendance at Manaia six days later. The most ardent lover of horse racing cannot find reason for complaint at a dearth of .the sport in New Zealand. There is 'no close season, although a comparative slackness exists for a short period of the winter. During the holiday breaks in the- year the number of racing fixtures are as a matter of course greatly multiplied, and at the present moment the country is just on the verge of one of those increases, which will be represented by the Easter turf carnivals. So, for the next fortnight, racing and its attendant clatter, will hum i all over the country.' To this Taranaki contributes its comparatively moderate quota of three meetings of one day each, and it may be said that all of the items on these programmes are numerously filled, and almost exclusively by provincially-bred and trained horses. The first of the trio of gatherings is Opunako on next Thursday, and it appears that tho club n<iod only the further assistance of fine weather to ensure a record of fresh success. One uncommon feature of the sport 'there is tho continuance of the old-fastiioned flag starting. Altogether it is to be '• enumerated among the most enjoyable of country racing clubs' • gatherings, and those who fail to catch a few items for mirth making during the afternoon's sport cannot be claimed as fitting mem- I bers for reviving tho anniversary of St. ! Patrick's Day. Mr Geo. Morse's weights have succeeded well in' preventing tho selection of any pronounced favorites, and speculators must find tho problems of picking winners unusually hazardous. The placing of Maggie Paiil at the top of the weights for the Opunako Handicap has met with a little adverse criticism, but when her brilliant time tests ' over hurdles are considered it loads to the conclusion that she is not by any means harshly dealt with. It is reported that Swimming Belt is to be raced in blinkers in future. This "rogue's badge" is only for the purpose of quietening him at the post The Fordell trainer, Fred Tilley, had the worst of bad luck last year in losing v two such good horses. It is pleasing to know, however, that immense restoration has boon made to his stables by the splendid successes of the mares Lady Lucy and Milan. Considering tho methods which are exercised by such a number of this country's _ trainers, in which they try to keep in touch with their winning chances by tho medium of training their horses at public racing, it is refreshing to state that the Fordell proprietor is among the exceptions to that rule. To show the nicety with which Lady Lucy's trainer-owner can guage his horse's measure by track trials the liberty of repeating private disclosures must be made: — At the Egmont Cup mooting he enquired from n friend what time the Cup was likely to bo run in, and getting the reply of 2.38, ho said, "Oh, if that is so I must win, bocnusp Milan will gnllop the distance in 2.36." Again at Wanganui ho said that either of his pair would run the Cup race in. 3.2, which time it will bo remembered Milan just managed to reduce by l-ssec. The foregoing may

be claimed to be cleanly estimated judgment, and pronouncing at the same time a word in favor of the virtue of tightening horses up without racing. The pony Speedy Meg should find the company and distance at Opunake better suited to her than she has lately met. One visitor to Wanganui informed me that True Shot was as fast a beginner as Lord Soult. It may be estimated that when in first-class buckle j Pistol's daughter is truly brilliant. | Of late years the Auckland horses > have very often been found washy travellers, although they race well on home tracks. Although the Wanganui sportsman, Mr Moore, is to be sympathised with in parting with some of his best youngsters, there is no doubt that the pleasure of seeing such a crack as NorthEast galloping provides him with much' joy as their breeder. It was found that Tan San would' not stand winding: up for racing, and ] he will now be finally removed from the racing arena to his owner's stud at Waihi Downs. The gallant son of San Fran and Tamora has always suffered from the effects of the flinty courses ho raced on in his first season. His erstwhile trainer, Fred Tilley, said that he twice ran the fastest seven furlongs' gallop of any horse he ever had in training, and it is easily remembered that he has trained some that were not slow. After winning the Higgie Handicap of 1908 by a neck on All Red, C. Jenkins remarked, "I would prefer not to be chased again in a race by Tan San." Ater this seasons' racing is completed a long spell on good grass would prove a power of good to Lady Menschikoff. The mare always races best in the autumn, and having always been hard raced is needful of a long refresher. Six weeks of the same treatment followed by light work and a gallop would win almost any race for Mendip. They fre not made of iron, that can stand being hammered all around the country. Someone wrote that "he is washy," and he may be a little that way, but nevertheless he is a remarkably good galloper. Prosser has plenty of horses to come , and go on, and consequently he can j spare to put them out for an idle time now and again, and reap the benefit of i their refreshment. Waione "will be nhysicked presently, and should be in his primest condition at winter time. J Mr G. H. Gibson lost his chance of purchasing the son of Waiuku at £40 immediately after his first race here • iust through a fluke. Then an Auck- j land visitor was recommended to him, , but he was too astute, and defeated " his own chance of securing a good horse. His erstwhile trainer, C. Jackson, recognised him as a good useful , ' sort from the onset, but his patrons did not feel disposed to launch out. | When it is said that True Shot won | the Ma tarn wa Handicap of six furlongs ' in 1.14 4-ssecs there cannot be much fluke about her brace of wins. • The Reiver will be again tried at Opunake. If horses are in anything like racing condition and can't get close to winning at Opunake and Patea meetings; they should be turned to some occupation more useful than racing. Rangiwhetu was mentioned as a promising kind ,for staying. A chance of proving his merits will be allowed him at Opunake.