Turf Topics.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 929, 2 May 1918, Page 19

Turf Topics.

By Torpedo.

AFTER showing such excellent form at-Maimwatu, it was thought that-Bonnie-Maid would have accounted for theHawke's Bay Cup, but she failed to get into the money, the winjier turning Uμ in Client, with •] Dusky Eve second. The second leg of the double went to Waimatoa, the! result coming as a surprise. It was thought' that the..-extra,' fraction of a furlong ■•over' .'six* would prove too fax for the winner. Waimatoa repeated the performance on the second day by winning the final sprint, thus giving .fortunate enough -to have coupled liadoguer, winner of the big race, a ■very nice double price. , - Efforts were made to arrange a match over a mile at the Wanganui Meeting between Desert Gold and Biplane, it being understood that Mr. Greenwood was agreeable to the proposition. However, owing to a. family bereavement, Mr. Lpwry has decided not to race the inare in the meantime, and the match will not eventuate. ' v -.i Writing of Biplane, I must congratulate my old friend "Sentinel," of the ' 'Otago Witness/ , on his expression •of opinion " regarding the unfortunate episode at Palmerston North. It made •quite refreshing reading after the onesided versions of other sporting writers , a leading one of whom remarked to "Torpedo" the other day, "There has been too much 'boot' in evidence throughout the whole affair. •,- 'Disdainful, the disappointment of the season, has been turned, out. '■ She znust have cost her connections a. pretty penny by_ not reproducing, her track performances when the colours were SIP-.. . '■;'• .■.'■'■ •■'.' ■'. . ." ' ; .: . ; • . ■ ■■.-•''■• Trainer' Fletcher, who prepared ■fiinapis for her New Zealand Cup victory, has'gone over the Great Divide -after being laid aside ill for a consi der•able period. Fletcher, by his unosten-

tatious manner, made many friends, who "will regret to learn of his demise. Hector Gray is riding in great form at present, and is running away from other riders in the winning list by leaps and bounds. It-is, I understand, Hector's intention to spend tire winter in Australia in pursuit of his profession. Desert Gold will be treated to a wellearned rest, and come in /. again for Spring engagements. Biplane has also gone into retirement, and will be taken over to the other side in the Spring. A well-known Southland sport, Mr. Geo. Deegan, was the other dav found lying face downwards'iri a small creek" which runs through his farm, having succumbed to heart trouble. He was only 40 years of age; in his younger days he was a noted pole.jraulter; He owned a number of gallopers and trotters, and intended going in extensively for breeding. . Rifleman W. P. Thurston, reported killed in action on sth April, vyas a trainer by occupation. He first started as an apprentice to J. H. Prosser, of Porirua, and afterwards turned to training and riding on his own account. While training St. Kevin to be a hurdler he rode" him when he ran second.to Beacon, paying over £30 for second place. On the final day of the meeting St. Kevinwoh, he again pilots ing him. *He afterwards trained Speeialform, FormnaL, and , Bonsign for Mr. J. H. Prosser, of Leestori, .winning the Southland Cup and: Midsum-~ mer Handicap with the 'first-named. Before going into camp he w,as. training Charlotte, Charleville, and Ardmore for Mr. p. R. Wise, of Oamaru, winning some good races with them. Of a quiet and unassuming disposition. Rifleman Thurston was highly respected by all who knew him. • In discuss ing sporting; matters generally with one of New Zealand's leading owners the other day he informed me that during his racing career he has eschewed betting in its simplest form, and considers it to* be one of .the barnacles which hamper the sport of kings.