LATEST SPORTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 112, 12 May 1888, Page 5

LATEST SPORTING.

MkEvett's handicaps for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Race appear in this impression. In the Steeplechase, Orangeman stands out at a first glance aa being particularly well in, but a comparison with the weights carried in the recent A.R.C. Autumn Steeplechase shows that he meets both Huntsman and Magnesia, who defeated him, on worse terms. At the present time I would sooner stand Huntsman than anything engaged, and of the others I like next best Mangaohane and Orangeman. Mangachane's victory in the last^Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, and his running Echo to a head in the Wellington Steeplechase in July last with list 41d in the saddle, stamp him as a good one. Mr Eyett has greatly blundered in the handicap for the Hurdle Race, and it is hard to conceive how he could have put Orangeman in at lOst 61b after his running in the "small stick race " at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting, to say nothing of his moae recent perform a rices. The worst-treated horse in the race is Peter Osbeck, and Mr Gallugher has just cause for protest at the unfair way the horse is handicapped. The acceptances are due on Friday next.

There is an impression abroad that the Takapuna Jockey Club will not hold their Winter Meeting on Queen's Birthday, but I am authorised to state that the Club intend sticking to tho date, which has been their fixture lor many seasons past. If the weathor is wet, of course the gathering will take place on tho Saturday following, 26th May. The nominations for the principal events will be found in another column. They are unusually largu.

Iv oider to satisfy a doubt existing about the distance of the course ovor which the big steeplechases at Ellerslie are run, Mr J. B. Williamson put the chain, over the ground this week. The result was that he found it to be three miles six furlongs six and a half chains, which is as near as possible the distance usually stipulated. In the Maiden Steeplechase run at the Winter Meetings, though, thoio has been a big blunder in the past. The conditions put the distance down at about tvvo and a-half miles, but, according to Mr WilliuniEon, taking the measurement from the spot at which the horbos have been usually started, the distance is thz'eo miles two and a-half chains! This is too much of a good thing, and the Clubsliould see at once that the course is measured. Why not put theexuet clistanceof the steeplechases on the programme, which would be satisfactory to all concerned '!

According to a late Napier paper, it is the intention of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club to reduce the amount of the stakes for their forthcoming Steeplechase meeting. This is on account of the amall number of jumping" hortcs in training in the district, and the falling oil'in the totalisator receipts tnis season.

Hiitoha,