SPORTING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 14 August 1909, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. August 14.—C.J.C. Grand National. August 20.—Amberley Steeplecliase Club Annual. September 1 and 2.—Marton J.C. Aunual. .September 8 and 9.—Horowbenua Hack R.C. Annual. September 15 and 10.—Ashburton County K.C. Spring. September 15 and 10.—Rangitikei R.C. Spring. September 23 and 25.—Wangaiiui' J.C. Spring.

TURF TOPICS: (By "Jloturoa") The Graud National mcethg will be concluded to-day. It is reported" that £SOO failed to buy Mendip recently. Roosevelt is stepping out well in the New Zealand tup preparation at Waagai:ui. .Seaman —now a hopeless roarer—is being tried over sticks and jumps fairly well.

Virtus died a 6 the result of injuries received in the Trial Hurdle Race at Riccan.on.

Kelso's spill in the same race cost J. u.i.regor a broken arm. Kelso was [o. ; :.g splendidly at the time. The race .wis all Auratus' at any part of it.

Pikopo is stated to be a very slow beginner, being fifty yards from the leaders in the first mile, and the effort to get up spoils his chance in the final burst.

St. Bill has gone on the right way 6inee winning at Trentham, and if the weights suit, he will be given a run at Rangitikei next month. AU Red, who still remains' in the leading 'Straian handicaps, is galloping pleasingly at Porirua, and may be given a pipe-opener at Horridwhenua or Wehbanui before crossing the Tasman. It is hard to imagine why the puaL'rs went for Glengarifl at Riccarton. The chestnut has been (showing very poor form in the hunting field, and looks a lot below his condition at Stratford last year. The Porirua-traiaed Lovell is said to be as good as his half-brother Pilot, and emulated that horse's performances by clearing off with the Enfield Steeple and Hunt Club Cup. On Grenadier's showing at Riccarton a mile is a bit too far for the Aucklantler. The Stewards 7 ' Handicap distance and the cool thou, attached thereto, might v tempt him later on. Irate owner: "Here. I say! What d yer mean by pulling the head off my horse!" Jock: "Gam! I wasn't pnlin' 'is 'ead orf. I was only 'oldrag 'im up!" -

Tauira was never sighted in the Grand National Hurdles' on Thursday, the solid pace set by Auratus and Pikopo giving the Porirua horse no chance, and sixth t lace was the best he could gain at the finish.

All the favorites had a good time on Thursday, and the yictones of Lovcll, Whistlccraft, Eldorado, Polyanthus and Zetland must have made the day a-tu.l one for the pcncillers. The only tiling that stands to the hookmakers in those times of big fees and keen betting is the laying of "doubles,' and the NadadorCompass combination as fortunately—' for them—not asked for very often. Deerslayer was piloted by T, Cahill in the Hunt Club Cup, but although he ran well he had no dunce with Love'.i; who is a cut above the usual run of hunters. Deerslayer will Sport silk in the Hunters' Stceplecliase to-day. H was generally considered that, on

Trcntham form, Tauira would start favorite in the National Hurdle Race, but after the first day's racing punters picked out Compass and Auratus as likely winners, and both the latter carried more money on the machine than the Porirua hnrse.

North-East won the Winter Cup easily •lough, but with list in the saddle ;'n

the Islington Handicap he was never dampnms. Gwendolina and Grenadier, who had run well forward in the Cup. werr .;.. ling the Wanganui horse in pound* b,-[ic r an d had all the best <>f the nrg.'iniit. Grenadier has accepted again to-day and heads the list in the Heathcote Handicap. Dcclev will ride the Auekjander. 'Sweet -Arrgclus is r.i tho same race with 9st 101b. The daughter, of Multiform ran a fair race in the Winter Cup, and may possibly be benoj filed by he r spell on the second day. Polyanthus had a very easy victory in t!ic Spreydon Hack ilunlles. Willi Claremont down arid .Kelso' jumpii seratohingly and with lack of confide:!, the brow-n daughter of The Possible prae. tically had nothing to beat. This was her first victory over the sticks, but it should not be her last. Polyanthus is engaged in both hurdle races 10-day, and if started amongst the hacks will infuse a little interest into that event. The telegraphic omission of Exuiocr and Bea Jonson from the final payments for the Grand National"- Hurdles on liiuralay, probably saved stay-at-home punters a little money as' both (he horses failed to run into dividends. The man at the other eml of the wire lias been very kind to punters in this respect lately, but that will not lessen the howl tnauwitl go up the first time a winner is left off the card. Ben Jonson ran a fine race under list 411) in the National Hurdles and half a mile from home Was out in front. It appears that rather too much use was nude of the Ben Godfrey gelding, and both Pikopo and Compass held too many guns for hira when the last quarter came to be traversed. Ben Jonson will be «wn a run in the Sydenham Hurdles, ra which he meets Compass on 121bs better terms.

Only five have paid up for the Lincoln | Steeplechase, and of the quintette but three-the topweights-have anything lo ! recommend them over three mile's of rountrv. Xadador gave Eldorado 15!bs and a beating in the National Steeplers,., but H.,. lighter weighted 'chafer non a really good race in the Beaufort LTfnm lo . ra ' lo ,s il e rt ' atl y in >Prov"l jumper, and commands a good turn of speed. ].,„■„, lost his rider in the Beaufort Steeple,.und is too eratic st lis pimps to command much confidence. It he cirald be relied upon to jump he would command a large following/but he would rather run off than raw, a fence any da v.

k.,ig lost has raced with hard luck n the "mter Cup he finished up fast l-chind North-East, and on- the second filth ■ ,ed t '"« T col "paii.V again, running fourth in the Island Handicap, Iht '•arty behind King IN* will hL a go ll,„H P • c ", ;, .1 w "- i» the Redcliffs Handicap, m which-Whisilecraft carries <op hamper, list 91b. u>rries The August Handicap wits productive if a fine finish. Los ftngeJos just belt '»« by half a head anf Bonny G en «-a« a neck away third. Penates had a good position throughout, and finished a moderate fourth.

Mundic was badly galloped on. and ntiv =o fa ?ii! d r' Va " tag f- Federal has ncki, "l""Podr odu ce •»» brilliant rack lo ■„,. ~,,,1 It ls d t h that he has quite gone off ryi-an-ne. who shares the honor of ate f' W,th ? alli,da •■ «>e Hunters' rlate has won three races durin- the la»t three weeks, two on the flat and one over hurdles. Tyrannic first showed up prominently at Woodlands, where nc W l?t -- W w , raoe9 T€rv comfortablv W eights for the New 2ealand Cup are due about next Friday, and may lake their appearance earlier-So' the we* Ung-shot punters will then have something to think about until the Marton meeting happens along next month