SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1920, Page 7

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES. January 14—Rotorua J.C. Annual. January 20, 22, 24—Wellington R.C 1 . Summer. January 22, 23—Foxton R. C. Annual. January 29—Pahiatua RC. Annual. January 31—Canterbury J.C, Summer. February 4, s—Taranaki J.C. Autumn. February 11, 12—Egmont R.C. Summer. NOTES BY "MOTUROA» THE RACING BOOM.

The outstanding features of the holiday meetings were increased attendances, increased totalisator investments, and increased numbers of runners l for the big prizes offered- Money was never more plentiful. Business people never had such an innings before, nor did amusement boom so merrily. The figures shown all round should be a sufficient answer to the dour forebodings of pessimistic politicians and carping kill-joys. "God's own" is not done yet, In fact, things were never better.. With these cheerful feelings one looks forward to the New Year with fresh hope and confidence. In common with the successful round of race meetings the Taranaki Jockey Club and Stratford Racing Club showed all-round increases in their receipts, and successful and pleasurable gatherings were recorded. The weather experienced was, on the whole, very good, and the racing was above the usual standard for the time of the year. Considering the racing attractions at Ellerslie, Awapuni, Marton, and other places, the Taranaki clubs have reason to congratulate themselves on their successes, and great credit is due to the committees and secretaries of the two clubs for the excellence of the arrangements, and the smoothness which characterised the run'ping of the meetings. The Taranaki sporting community is a rapidly growing one, and big "things may be anticipated I in the near future.

WINNING OWNERS. Stakes were fairly well distributed amongst Taranaki owners, very little going outside the province. Mr. J. Casserley topped the list with £655, of which Pel-feet Day won £525 and Polemic £l3O. The Patea sportsman who races under the name of "Mr. Ewart" notched £SOO, the result of Marqueteur's effort in the Stratford Cup. Mr. P, Scally took three races with Esthonia, and stakes worth £465 "Mr. P. SelwoodV share, was £460, Income, Volo, and Dingle doing good service, which, with a shade of luck, might have been more remunerative. Paddington Green's brace of firsts at New Plymouth sent Mr. W. G- Emeny's credit up. £390, and Jutland won £2BO for Mr. J. Campion. Mr. H. G. Hall took £250 with Tiranga, A. J. Davey £245 with Self Alliance, D. J. Goodwin £240 with Egmont Park, and B. T. Bennett £195 with the consistent Khartoum. Mr. Jeffrey Mack had Sweet Memory doing her best in five starts, and his) share was £lB5. Mr. A. Alexander only won one I race, with Mimiri, but Lady Paula and Vivirini also gained place money, bringjiag his total to £l7O. Ngakanui raced | well in Mr. J. Hook's colors, and annexed £165, while Crystal Palace mopJped.up £l6O for Mr. P. Thomason. I Minor winners were Messrs. J. de Benoir £l5O, P. Johnson £145, R. E. Laurent £135, M. Conza £l3O, Gibson and Kelly £lls, H. W. Johnson £lls, M. Boyle £lls, .1. Cock £IOO, J. SMac Donald £95, O. W. Tyler £BO, J. Kovluskf £65, 1. Lupton £55, W. L. Luscand £SO, Jobb and Burehell £45, Mcßain and Aagard £4O, Newton King £4O, B. h. .Toll £4O, M. Bradlev £25, H. Tupea £25, Mrs. A. J. EnjenV £25, |J. Hawkins £2O, J. Dunlop £2O, J. Frederic £2O, R. Barlow £2O, "Mr. Wilcock" £ls, R. McMiken £ls, G. Beatson £ls, J. M. Hurley £lO, and T. Thompson £lO. A SAD STORY.

A Wanganui contributor, who prefers to sign himself "Roberto," sends along the following tale bf a punter who refused to accompany his friend to the races, preferring to remain in town and listen to the tales of an alleged ,f head," and thereby "clean up the bookies." After the meeting the following conversation took place:— The Friend:—

Well, how was Xmas after all, old horse ? You must have had a real good time, of course, Did you keep your word, and send the Bookie 3 broke, Or did you only say that for a joke? The Punter:—

A joke was right, old boy, I was the joke, 'Twas me, and not the bookies, that went broke, They cleaned me up for every bleßscd deener, Straight wire, they've got it on a Vacuum Cleaner. The Friend:

Before I went away, I thought you said That you were going to meet some chap, a "head," Who knew the racing game from Z to A, How, then, did things turn out so much astray. The Punter.— A "head"? 0, strike me, I met him alright, Bought drinks for him, and to the gaff at night I took him; He was some tale-spinner, And see the job he made of me—a skinner. The Friend:—

Never mind, cheer up, forget about it, Money ? Well, just do your best without it I'll stand you up enough for cigarettes, Some day you'll have more sense, and make less beta. The Punter:—

Thanks very much, old sport, you're really good, No doubt the books on us have too much wood, This punting game will never gather l>elf, I think I'll twist and be a book' myself.

The Australian jockey, Frank Bullock, who recently left Melbourne en route to England, was made the subject of much laudatory writing on his departure. This is well deserved, for he has proved himself a leading light in his profession. In referring to Bullock's departure "Winning Post," in the Melbourne Weekly Times, writes:—Bullock has entered into a contract to ride for a leading English stable for a year, but the chances are that he will not return to Australia for a couple of years. Bullock is almost as well known in England as he is in Australia. H« visited that Msmtry !n

11904. Though he quickly won a race he | did not have a great deal of success in [ the first few months. However, he wag able to earn £l2 a week for losing mounts. Late in 1904 he began to do i better, and by the end of the year he was well established. In- 1905 he returned to Australia, arriving on the eve of the Victorian Spring Carnival. In a few weeks he won the Melbourne Cup on Blue Spec. Receiving another offer, Bullock returned to England in 1907, and the next year he contracted to ride for the German Imperial Stud. He was under contract to receive £750 the first year. The upshot of that wa« that he was re-engaged as first jockey to the Imperial stable for six years. In his first two seasons he received £750 a year. The third year this was increased to £2OOO, and it remained the same for the fourth, year. For each of the last two years his retainer was £2500. On the top of these sums he received £5 for each winning mount, and £2 10s for a losing mount. Bullock just got out of Germany as war broke out. He has also made very large sums in England, and he has won for the King. Mr. William Allison, well-known as the Special Commissioner on the London Sportsman, has some interesting paragraphs relating to Australians in his recent book, "My Kingdom for a Horse." He tells how he purchased Merman for England. He received a cable from the late Mr. W. R. Wilson, which said: Merman won Williamstown Cup. Best horse in Australia to win long distance handicap in England. Legs like steel, lOOOgtns." Soon after Mrs. Langtry walked into, his' office in Pall Mall and said she wanted to buy a horse that would win her a good race. He said he roultf not for the moment think of one in England, but would buy her a Cesarewitch winner in Australia if she liked. [Mrs. Langtry was a courageous lady, I «nd, on being shown the cable and being assured by Mr. Allison that the sender was a man on whom you could Jay your life, agreed without hesitation to the purchase, and Merman did win the Cesarewitch in 1897, the year of his arrival, besides many and greater races afterwards.