SPORTING.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 1585, 10 June 1920, Page 6

SPORTING.

FIXTURES. June 10 and 12 —Gisborr.e R.C. June IS and 19 —Napier Park R.C. June 13 —Hawke's Bay Hunt Club. June 23 —Hawke’s Bay Hunt Club. July 14 and 17—Wellington R.C. July 22 —S. Canterbury Hunt Club. July 29 —Brackenfield Hunt Club. G.X. STEEPLES. The following is the Auckland “Star’s” description of the G.N. Steeplechase:: With the decision of the Reinuera Hurdle Race the way was cleared for the Great Northern Steeplechase, the big event of the day. Luperino, which appeared in the acceptances through the mutilation of a wire, was the only absentee when the numbers -Acre framed. Old Mungindi and Glaulul, and No Surrender and Garryowen being bracketed. When they the - ' made a good showing, No Surrender being heavily bandaged on both, his forelegs, while Reunion h-d a boot on one of his forelegs, and a bandage on one of the hind ones. It is, o; course, a failing to be partial to the one the race on paper looks a good thing for, but Lochella certainly looked the “goods” for a race of this description, for he bore the appearance o* a winner, and no better conditioned horse has ever gone to the post for the event. Both Mr KernbaH’s pan- had a well trained appearance, and with the possible exception ot the veteran Golden Glow, not one looked out oi place.

Once betting started there vas no doubt as to which would be labourite, and so heavy was the call lor Lockella’s number that when the machine closed he was a strong odd on fancy, carrying over £4OOO, and more than twice as much as the bracketed No Surrender and Garryowen, ’a it Jr the bracket Old Mungindi and Gladful nearly as well backed as Ore Auckland pair and Omatin', Tenacious, Slowcoach, Peneton and Golden Glow fancied in that order, the last named being at a fairly long price. When they settled down in their places tor the long journey Peneton was the pilot, with Garryowen handy, the fav-i ourite being allowed to run along' some distance behind the field, his rider evidently having a lot of confidence in his mount. Golden Glow was first to give up, stopping at the water, but the rest of the field were jumping - splendidly. Peneton »...nd Garryowen were the pacemakers over the hill the second time, and they still had charge as they crossed the double, where the field was not strung ouu in so long a line. Peneton was going well when they raced to the brush fence, but he stumbled on landing, and fell, the obstacle also proving fatal to Gladful and Omahu. Garryowen then took charge, followed by Slowcoach, the favourite at this stage being 10 seconds behind the leaders. Old Mungindi, which w r as plodding along, lying third, but No Surrender and Tenacious were beginning to showsigns of the struggle. Feilding let LiOChella run along as they raced to the hill, and up they went with G-ariy-oweu in the van, about three lengths in front of Slowcaach, and then came Old Mungindi and the favourite. Garryowen looked from the stand to be galloping strongly, and the _ question was asked, “Will he get over the post and rails on the top of the MU. the fence which brought him -o grief in his two previous displays oyer the Ellerslie course. He approacaed it boldly, and seemed to clear splenwhen a dog ran in on the course from among the spectators on the Radies’ Mile, and down went a good horse never to rise again, a broken leg resulting from the fall. This took lot of interest out of the race, to Garryowen was going well at the time, and Slowcoach then went on with tire favourite after him, the race now being a duel between the pajr. Grad nail V Lochella decreased the gap separating him from Slowcoach, and as thev jumped the fence into the course by the nursery he was on terms with the local horse. He did not diaw away, and excitement ran high as Slowcoach hung on to his rival, and there was little between them as they rose at the last fence, hj eliding hunted Lochella along aftei the landed. and though floweoach answered gamely to the call net. the favourite was too good victory going to him by two lengths and a half. Old Mungindi struggled on into third position, twenty lengths away, and then at intervals finished No Surender and Tenacious. The victory of Lochella w*' ~ very popular one, and .as Feilding brou o i Mr Acton Adams’ gelding back to scale, he got a great reception. He won nicely at the finish., but did not have much in reserve when the post was reached. He jumped vyell throughout, though he struck the first fence of the double, but not hai d enough to have any effect. He gave the leaders a long start over the final round, and his performance was a first-class one. He now ranks with the select few which have won the Great Northern double, Liberator, which won in 1895, and El Gallo in 1915 and 1916. Slowcoach ran a good race, and fully extended the favourite. but the disappointment was the falling of Garryowen on top of the hill the last time, for he appeared from the stand to be going strongly when he came to grief. He may not have beaten Lochella, but it would have been a asood race. The loss ot the son of Salvadan is a serious one t© his owner, for he promised to earn high honours over country. No Surrender was very lame when he pulled up. broken down badly, so it was a disastrous race for J. Williamson. After the event Mr Acton Adams entertained a number of friends and the Press in the Press room, amongst those present being Sir William Kerries, M r H. T. Gorrie, vice-president of the club, and Mr J. Bull, who won the race last year with Master Lupin. The success of Mr Acton Adams’ colours was toasted enthusiastically.

_ NOTES. Nominations for the Hawke’s Bay winter meeting close to-morrow night at 8 o’clock, with Mr H. S. Moss, secretary, Hastings. Nominations for future classic events of the Auckland Racing Club close to-morrow at. 5 p.m. The winter is now here in real earnest and you will want a rain coat to keep the wet out and a warm one to keep the cold out, whilst attending the winter meeting. Alf. Mahon, the sporting mercer, The Square, has just the thing you want. Call on him today and make a purchase.*