LATE SPORTING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 172, 23 July 1890, Page 8

LATE SPORTING.

THE V.R.C. NATIONAL HURDLE

; RACE,

Referring to the running the Grand National Hurdle Race the Melbourne "Age " says : —"One poor neglected old warrior at bhe game there was who it was agreed on all sides could not win, and bhab was The Firsb abable companion, Ellerslie, whose brainer had not been able to give bim a thorough preparation. As he lefb the paddock with an undipped winter coat like that of a goat, and ridden by an unknown lad, 100 bo 3 waa offered againsb him withoub a response. And yeb this was'the horse that would in a few minutes be the cynosure of all eyes, and whose victory gave every member of the ring that greatest of all luxuries to the double event fielder, a "skinner/ The most conspicuous figure in the race was Donald, who rattled away in front for about two miles aud a-quarter. Heaton all through made far too much use of Donald, considering he had three miles to go, and Furguson came too soon with Priscilla, but for which two circumstances one or both of them would in all probabiliby have beaten bhe winner. The state of the course fully accounts forth© bad time made. Ellerslie orginally belonged to T. Corrigan, but after winning the National Hurdle Race at Caultield in August, 1887, he was sold bo Mr R. Phillips, the bookmaker, and for the Sonbh Melbournite ho won five or six hurdle races in quick succession, When Ruby won the Grand National in 1838 Ellerslie was a starter, and from that time did not win a race till the Grand National. About eight moubhs ago Mr {_illips sent the old horse back to T. Wilson ab Balla.ab."