SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 8

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

THE TURF. Bx Sentinel. FORBURY PARK AFFAIRS. •During National Week in Christchuich me writer sounded the feeling in reference to the decision of the Forbury Park Trotting Club to hold two one-day meetings during the. season. As far as could be gathered the idea was not at all Cavourablj received by Canterbury owners, and the opinion was expressed that with the existing difficulty of transport the one-day meetings would not attract much or a early so much patronage as usual from that part of the country\ If that is really the general opinion, it is a matter wruch should' receive the prompt attention of the clnb, as without the usual patronage of Canter-bury-trained horses the leading events at Forbury Park would be comparatively unattractive events as far as toe race-going Eublic are concerned. If the decision to old one-day meetings is .adhered to it ia obvious that the chief items on the card would have to he made as financially attraotive ea possible in order to induce the northern owners to send down their horses. The travelling experiences undergone by Canterbury owners and trainers in connection with the. lset Forbury Park winter meeting made some of them state' that they would never do the journey again under simitoi circumstances; and if that' is so, a one-day programme of ordinary prize money is not likely to tempt them away from homo. When the tdne arrives there may be a change, of opinion amongst the northerners; but in the meantime' the club should do all it can to secure the northern patronage, which has always been essentially necessary to the success of Forbury Park meetings. Hythroad won bo well at Riccarton that another success should soon come his way. JJuriag the National week the writer heard inquiries about Client for tho New J4ealand Cup. i was one of the pacemakers eloea behind Diedainful in the August Handicap up to about the distance. Brambl'; lye ran a good solid race in the Winter Cup, but was not produced on the second day of tho meeting. . —Wellwood ran two good consistent races m acting as runner-up to Kopokonui in both wins scored by the Coronet gelding. — Leonta and Sir , Fisher are not, according to fliccaxton form, nearly eo good as what'their best form in the north suggests* • —Kirkbv showed a recurrence of bleeding from tho nostrils whilst running in the Grand National Steeplechase, and was pulled up. — Znlaad was always fairly handy to the leaders in the Winter Cup, but could not eee- out a strongly-run mile under welter weights. — All Serene ran a couple of races at the National meeting good enough to suggest that a win should come his way at tho spring meeting. ' * ' — The Wmgatui iioise Sedd-el-Bahr a good race in the Islington Handicap, but Hythread was much too good foe Tirm in the rnn home. — Compulsion seemed 'a bit unlucky to mass a win on the first day at Riccarton; but Miss Sation beat him comfortably on the second day. — Oxenhope acted fairly well under. his loads at the National meeting, and under the ordinary scale of weights would show all hfc old brilliancy. — Both Formnal and Bonaign looked short of work when racing laat week, and may bo found in better order at some, of the early spring meetings. . ' —As a resit of his form at Trentham Rajput • was expected to get close to the money last week, but be was another of tba also-started brigade. —It is said that one fall occurred at Riocarton through a horse receiving a good deaL but perhaps not intentional, interference from another in the race. ■ . ■ 7-The stable companions Snub and Waidaucer were stoutly backed for the Islington Handicap, but neither of the pair got amongst the money — Lion quickly became prominent in the Bedcliffe Handicap, and struggled on gamely, tut had no chance with Buripos over the last furlong. — Miss de Val got out fairly well in the Winter Cup, but Bhe failed to hold her plaoa. On the second day she made put nm«mS| W finishing seoond to Disdainful — Diavolo is as- quick over fences es he was over hurdles but is. troubled by distance. He should prove hard to beat in a steeplechase over a short course. — Sir Solo stayed better than the others in pursuit of Sleight of Hand in the National Hurdles, but he was outpaced when running over a six-furlong shorter course an tho second day. — Several horses got into trouble at tho second last jump in the hurdle xaoeo run at Riccarton, and this is held by some to be due to the bad light which is sometimes in evidence at this obstacle. — Tbo Hymettus gelding Buripos scored a double at Riccarton, and won easier on the second occasion than he did on the first. He is an improving sort that should continue to attract notice from the judge. — Several of the WinteT Cup'field got lost in the crowd. . Orleans whipped round at the rise of the barrier, and, in oommon with several other more or less weß-faroied articles, failed to get anywhere near the front. — Art looked well to tho eye when stripped for the National Hurdles, but he went out at the stand Imrdlo a, mil® and a-half from homo. It iB, however, very doubtful if he could have given Sleight of urtv a beating. — Although several falls too); place #,t Riccarton, A. H. Burt was the only rider to meet with any damage beyandan immediate woovory. Burt had one of hk fee. badly bruised when Merry Lad foil with him 111 the Beaafort Steepler. — Fiery Cross loomed up on the outside of the leaders m the Winter Cup at the home turn; but he Tree not too wcSl placed, opd the task was too difficult. He wae unsighted in the August Handicap, run iu the smart time of 1.15 1-6 on a slowkh track. . money came for Lady Penury sn the Islington Handicap than what waa tlw cseo in the Winter Onp, and there was some justificalwti for the extra, aa she wjm staying on and ran a good raoo in tho lange® race, oven though she did not get in the money. — Stone Ginger appears to have taken n Iresti lease of life, as he won tho seed stylo, and was going welt when he followed Bodenham oS on tho second day. Bodenbam, however, wes bowling alana mould hare been-eHbtr JU»t vtf