SPORTING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16521, 23 August 1919, Page 6

SPORTING.

NOTES BY “HISTORICUS.” The. Egmont-Wanganui Hunt Club's meeting takes prate on the Waverley racoeuu.se on Vvcdne.vaay next. Hie nincllo horseman riagei'ty rode in great lorm at -Kiccaiton, ana on the mud day of the meeting rode three winners in succession. At Treiitnam Omaha gave a perfect cxnibition or jumping, bat, strange to relate, Uio black gelding jumped wietciledly at J.ticcanoa, ana turn ho fenced wed on the concluding day lie must have given Sir Solo a haru race. Stetson, which won at the Manawatu Hunt Club meeting, is very well just now. He will be a runner at Wavcrley on Wednesday next, at which fixture he is looked on ns "good.” At the last steeplechase meeting held on the Waverley racecourse the lonccs were too high and narrow. If similar fences arc used on Wednesday next Argo will take beating, as lie is a capital jumper. Jack Goodwin lias Volo, Egmont Park, Empyrean and Bingham well forward, anti is sure to play a prominent part uf spring racing. Bingham recently got into wrre, but suffered very little injury. The well-known trainer J. Fryer recently- bought a farm near Patea, and may give up the horses in favour -of the land which, wo all know, is the most reliable dividend payer. . It. J. Mason lias been taking racehorses to Australia for thirty years, and; says the present trip will possibly bo his last. Mason, who is just on 67 years of age, has a.'wonderful record, the likes of which will stand for many' years to come.

' We read reports of F. Dempsey having been approached to ride for Messrs. Stead and Richmond, but when the time comes one- will read of H. Gray being in the saddle. Gray expects to leave almost immediately. Hush mail is going very well at present and ran, a capital gallop on the Egmont track on Thursday morning. The son of Husbandman should keep Tiranga- and' Co. galloping next Wednesday. Carmel Arch is doing excellent work at Waverloy, aim those who profess to know will not hear of the defeat of Marble Arch’s son at AVavcrley. Although the track at Riccarton was in splendid order it found out weak spots in four of our best performers. I refer to Coalition, which gelding went amiss on the eve of the meeting; Bon Revo, which broke down a hundred yards from home in the National Steeplechase; Master Lupin, the game son of Lupin,’ which broke his fetlock on the third day; and Rebekah, the daughter oL Benzonian “going out” in the Heathcote Handicap on the concluding day. A week before the meeting possibly £4OOO would not have bought the quartette, but to-day one would take a big risk on in giving a quarter of that sum. At the metropolitan trotting meeting held at Addington last week a number of forgeries were worked' on the totalisator staff, and in one instance the culprit was very lucky in escaping. It appears an individual presented a ticket at the pay-out window after Dillon Direct had paid n good dividend, the clerk challenged the man, closed the window, and called for the police, but of course the presenter of the ticket did not wait for the limb of the law to arrive. Close investigation proved the ticket to have been issued on No. 9, which was cleverly' altered to No. 8, the number carried by Dillon Direct. The latest aspirant for honours over steeplechase country is Want, and the Penury gelding should bo a huge success, as over the battens ho is clever and is endowed with plenty of pace. He will bo scon in action at the Marten and Dannevirkc fixtures.

Mistian (Winkic— Mistime), the colt that paid over a £IOO dividend at tho Wellington spring meeting, recently got caught in some wire when running out at Inglewood. This is most unfortunate as his owner, Mr. A. Lilc, had jnade arrangements for P. Johnston to put the colt into work immediately.

According to many good judges who witnessed the race Gold Kip was most unlucky in not winning the Winter Cup. It appears that her rider (Tapp) dropped his hands when tho daughter of St.

Ainas hit the front and Gazique, finishing with a great run, just got up in time to win. Tapp rode Bedford to victory 7 in tlie same race last year, hut two years ago many thought this rider threw the same ra'ce away. On this occasion he was riding Parisian Diamond, which was apparently winning easily' in the straight, but Tapp, taking matters too easy, allowed the lightly-weighted King Star to snatch a victory' in the last few strides.

In the Grand National Steeplechase Lochclla gave an almost faultless exhibition of jumping, but made one bad mistake at the jump known as Cutts’; tho gelding lost quite six lengths, and then won in a common canter. The performance impressed handicapper Henrys, as on tho second day he asked the sou of Grafton Loch to carry almost as much as good performers like Coalition, Master Lupin and Co.

Master Strowan has been most unlucky tliis season. He ran a great race under his big weight in the National Steeplechase, and would have done even better had he not struck the fence at Cults’ and cut his stifle badly, D. M'Cauley, who has trained Master Strewau, Gang Awa’ and Co. for Mr. Easton, has resigned that position, and intends setting up as a public trainer. I’oxton will be his headquarters. Ifred Davis has Lucid, Bed Pepper and Spccchmakcr well forward, and although not a champion trio they will win lots of races for Mr. Lowry. They will make their appearance at Dannevirko, and should be at the top of their form by the time the New Zealand Cup carnival rolls around.

.1. 31‘Combe, the well-known South Island trainer, recently pot a severe kick from a young thoroughbred, which struck him on the head in the vicinity of a spot hurt years ago. 31‘Combe made light of the kick, which culminated in a pressure on the brain, which necessitated a. serious operation which. 1 am pleased to hear, was very successful. By the way, T may say that Jack is a great man-with a horse, and is worthy of a much hotter lot than ho trains, which are mostly “cast-offs.” M'Combo is one of the few men who have beaten the “bocks.” Ben Dooley was taken ill at Trentham, and subsequently left for Gisborne, where bo has put in a good holiday. which worked wonders in the. Auckland rider. Dooley arrived in Auckland recently and intends going to Australia, as soon as circumstances permit. Ho will ride Gloaming, Karo, Rossini and Afterglow for 3lr. Greenwood-in their engagements across the Tasman.