SPORTING.

Otaki Mail, 15 August 1928, Page 4

SPORTING.

' OTAKI M.R.C. DESIRES NOVEMBER 21st and 22nd. ■ At a meeting of the Otaki Maori Racing Club on Monday it was decided to apply for November 2.lst and 22nd (Wednesday and Thursday) as the dates for its next race-meeting. The change is .deemed necessary on account of other fixtures clashing with the dates allotted. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. Interesting racing marked the opening day of the Canterbury Jockey Club's Grand National meeting yesterday at Riccarton. Wiltshire, who won the big steeplechase from Pouri ami Tuki, put up a line performance for a young horse in his initial attempt over the difficult National "country." Bisox defeatetl. the somewhat unlucky Kaiti by a head in the Winter Cup, with Rotor in third place. INTERESTING WORK. The training operations at Riccarton on Monday attracted an exceptionally large gathering of the public, who were rewarded with some fairly interesting work. The course proper was open for galloping, and the main steeplechase fences were also available, but only two schooling tasks were provided. The track was in fast order, and if the weather conditions continue, the going l promises to be very .firm for the week's racing. The main attraction was Beau Cavalier, who, with W. .J. Bowden in the saddle, completed a round of the country, starting at the .first sod wall, and finishing over Cult's. He gave a good exhibition, but not quit ( . as attractive as track watchers anticipated. He did not measure his early fences well, and at the final obstacle took off a long way, and connected with brush behind. He appeared to take a lot out of himself- in his jumping and showed signs of .tiring at the end of the round. It was certainly no.t an exhibition thai pointed to his prospects'of leading a field over three and a half miles of solid country with .12.ij on his back. The effort, however, would be of much benefit to him and different results may be seen i biter, when a faster pace will j be established.—Press.