SPORTING

Taranaki Daily News, 26 February 1931, Page 7

SPORTING

TROT HANDICAP PROBLEM. OWNERS’ SUGGESTIONS SOUGHT By Telegraph.—Preps Association. Auckland, Last Night. Arising out of a dispute over the adjustments in the Mackenzie Handicap at to-day’s trots, the Auckland Club 'has requested owners to submit suggestions for handicapping improvements. EXTRA DAY GRANTED FRANKLIN. Auckland, Feb. 25. The Minister of Internal Affairs has granted a permit to the Franklin Racing Club to hold an extra day’s racing this season.

TURF TOPICS. (By “Moturoa.”) The Woodville meeting concludes today. # * # # After many disappointments the Ha-wera-owned Mount Shannon has won a decent race. He ran a good second to Otairi in the Marton Cup and has several other minor placings to his credit, 'but the Woodville Cup was his first win this season. He is a full-brother to Patuki.

Gaswyn, who won the maiden event at Woodville yesterday, is a three-year-old gelding by Gasbag from Lady 01wyn. In his four previous starts he had shown nd form at all.

Warfille, who won tlie highweight at Woodville yesterday, had not been successful since taking a double at Foxton over twelve months ago.

'ln view of her engagement in the Herries Memorial'at Te Aroha on Saturday, Gold Money’s smart gallop over a mile in Imin 42 4-'sSec at Ellerslie on Tuesday morning was an attractive effort.

As Royal Finance, winner of the open sprint at Woodville yesterday, had won only a division of a maiden race at Waikato worth 60 sovs and a hack race at the Taranaki Hunt meeting valued at 70 sovs, she is still eligible to race in hack company, her winning total now being only 270 sovs.

Prior to yesterday the majority ,of racegoers considered Royal Routine mainly as a five furlong speed artist, 'but they apparently considered the. halfbrother to (Royal Damon would win because of his early pace, judging by the short price he paid.

T. Metcalf, who was severely injured by a fall while riding at New Plymouth several months ago, has resumed riding work again under medical advice. Metcalf was at Wanganui last week in search of mounts, but with the small fields there was no demand for his services. Metcalf has had a bad spin, his recovery having been very slow, and while he is not yet completely right, it is pleasing to report his satisfactory progress. Benefit for Takutama.

It is seldom that a horse who has won as many races as Takutama has is eligible to compete in. a race like the Trial Stakes, which he won at Riccarton on Saturday. The race was for horses who had never won a race, of the value of £ilOO to the winner at time of starting, and, although Takutama had previously won eight races outright and dead-heated for first in another, he was still eligible, the stakes he has won each being less than £lOO. When first taken to the South Island Takutama did not race as consistently as when in Auckland, but he has won twice lately and may now return to hi® very, best.