SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 122, 1 September 1910, Page 8

SPORTING

MANAWATU RACING CLUB. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Palmerston N., Last Night. The annual meeting of the Manawatu Racing Club was held to-night. The president (Mr. R. S. Abraham) said that in order to meet the increased taxation, which will mean an annual imposition of about £4OO, the club was under the necessity of reducing stakes, and they would also have to take warning from the signs of the times and put their financial house in order. There was some discussion as to the advisability of holding a Winter Steeple meeting, instead of an Autumn Meeting. The president also expressed the opinion that it was time, the conference was abolished and a New Zealand Jockey Club set up, to which all recognised clubs sliquld send delegates with voting power according to the stakes given.

TURF TOPICS. (By "Moturoa.") The annual race meeting promoted by the North Taranaki Hunt Club will eventuate on the iww Plymouth racecourse this afternoon, the first event starting at 112.30 jp.ru., and, /judging by the excellent acceptances received, this year's meeting promises to be as successful as those of former years. Good fields promise to face the starter in each event, and the Hunt Club Steeple should provide an exciting contest. The steeplechase course prepared will probably find out the indifferent jumpers of the crowd. An energetic committee has left no stone unturned to make the gathering enjoyable; the services of the Qarrison Band have been secured, and the catering is in good hands. The prospect of a good day's sport, good music, the chance of a mild gamble, and the likelihood of "seeing a bit of fun," should ensure a good attendance of sporting folk. Bookmakers wishing to ply their calling at the Hunt Club meeting should 1 note that application for licenses will be received at the lion, secretary's office, Currie street, until 11 a.m. to-day. The fee is £5 ss, and must accompany applications on proper forms. Those who like to "trip the lighc fa'ntastic" will have an opportunity to put the finishing touches on a good day's enjoyment by rolling up at the Hunt Club ball in the Theatre Royal. Kaipara (St. Paul—Recluse mare) showed good form when he won the Licensed Victuallers' Handicap at Wanganui last week, and should be in good fettle for to-day's engagements .

Tiptoe and Bismarck have, been paid up for in the Ilorowhenua Cup, and St. Lumsden, Mallet, Maharanui, and several other Taranaki horses appear in the minor events. Southern papers report that a big commission was worked throughout the Dominion last week for Diabolo in the New Zealand Cup. The Porirua horse is now a better favourite than Polymorphous. Rua came to light at last year's Hunt Club meeting, and shaped like a good one, but Hunt Club form is many degrees below ordinary racing, as followers of the little pra'd' found to their cost later on at the Rangitikei, Auckland and Takapuna spring meetings. Still, r.ua must always be accounted dangerous at Hunt Club gatherings. The Taranaki candidates for the New Zealand Cup, Coroneted and Golden Loop are in great heart, and will probably sport silk at the Wanganui meeting at the end of this month. Whether their owners have serious intentions of annexing that Cup or not remains to be seen, but the first acceptance—due on Friday—will most likely see the pail of them still in the big race. Golden Slipper has again put in ai? appearance at Randwick, and the exNew Zealander is galloping strongly. | Other New Zealanders showing fine track form are Gold Lace, Maori King, and. Master Soult. After the unforI tunate loss of Milan and the severe illj ness of Lady Lucy, it is a relief to hear i that Master Soult is quite well again. | Mr. Knight, of Hawera, has leased I the horse. Zimmerman from Hon. J. D. Ortnond. The brilliant son of Birkenhead won many good races in his palmy days, and now that he has ibeen rele- | gated to the stud his services should be in. great demand in this province. The queerly named (Nightcap —Crest) was expected to run well at the Wanganui Hunt meeting, but tht chestnut jumped indifferently in the hurdle race, and showed no pace in the Bracelet. Mr. Maybin's gelding will be meeting other company to-day, and may do better. The hurdler Continuance is now train-, t»d by J. McCom.be at Dunedin. If the horse gets over his unsoundness he should pay his way down South. The Horowhenua meeting opens at | Levin to-morrow, and results should give i punters a line to follow at the biggei j spring meetings. Dolce, Captain Bell, Aberbrothock,.Waimaria, Purakau, ana, Aotea won there last year, and all re-j paid following later on. Taupo was produced in good fettle at Wanganui last week, and won the Bracelet in good style. In the Hurdles the bay fell, otherwise he might have notched the double. He is not crushea with weight in his engagement here today. California and Penates will not visit Australia this spring. The former looks. "well in" in the New Zealand Cup, and with most of the cracks across the Tasman, Mr. Lagor's horse should take a big hand in the settlement of long-dis-tance races in the Dominion this season.

Lord Kelvin lias come on a lot since last season, and will probably be ridden by B. Deeley at Levin. Highden does not fill the eye as a horse' to follow this season, but the Merriwee gelding would only have to show a little of his old-time dash to keep the hacks galloping at the Hunt meeting. Trainer P. .McLaughlin is taking Multiple and Moreykoff to Horowhenua. The former promises to turn out a smasher this year, and his forward running at the Wellington Winter meeting ia fresh, in the minds of turf followers. Provocation has quite recovered from

the mishap which befcl him at Randwick Inst spring, and will bo scon with the colors up at Riccarton in November. Wanganni nominations include Golclen Loop, Paritutu, Waitapu, .Shuja, Tarn Olen Dr. Shimose. C'lcmora, Bismarck, and Uhlando. North Taranaki is well represented. Mr. John Brown, the fortunate owner of Duke Foote, Prince Foote, and other horses, has a letter in the London Sportsman which Sydney sportsmen will read with a degree of interest just at this time. It is addressed to the special commissioner, and runs:—"l received a wire from Mr. Guille the other day asking me to put a price on (Prince Foote for a buyer from the Argentine, so wired back asking him £IOO,OOO, which evidently silenced him. . . . Alawa's trainer thinks he will beat Prince Foote when they meet in the weight-for-age race, and regretted he went wrong. Well, I hope he will be all right next springj and then he can, like Bokrikoff's party, have the question settled by the two meeting in a two-mile or three-mile weight-for-age race—whichever they like —for the Prince will take them all on, and in a solid run race give them all they want before the winning post is reached, because he is, I think, the best colt ever seen in Australia."