SPORTING NOTES.

Press, Volume XXIX, Issue 3894, 15 January 1878, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

Bγ Sinbad.

Of the Auckland meeting, my correspondent writes mc as follows :—" The racing on the whole was fair. On the first day Isaac Walton opened the balllby scoring a win for the rose and white stripes in the Railway Plate, which he ran in the very respectable time of lmin. 20secs., beating four others. Chanticleer made play in front of Perfume, Isaac Walton lying next, next, with the well-bred Queen Mab and lehmaelite bringing up the rear. They ran in this order for about half the journey. Here French set Isaac going; and getting on terms with Perfume, the two raced away from the rest of the field. At the tun: in the mare was done with, and Mr Walters' horse went in an easy winner by three lengths. Queen Mab came home under the "whip at the finish, and beat Perfume for second place. Only four came to the post for the Auckland Cup—Gillie Callum, Hippo., and Ratcatcher being scratched. Venus Transit was the most fancied the previous evening, but Lara came with a rush in the betting at the post, and started at level money, 6 to 4 being laid against Venus Transit, and 2 to 1 against Elsa, a grey mare you will recollect winning the Provincial Plate last year in Wellington. The race was a very uninteresting one, for the winner L»ra held them all quite safe almost from the jump. Venae Transit is a long, beautiful filly, reminding one somewhat of Daniel O'Rourke. She, however, went a bit wrong shortly before the races, and her performance on this occasion must not be looked upon as a criterion of what she can do. If fit and well, I feel sure this mare will be heard of again. Elsa, too, had a leg which probably accounted for her being so short of work, and The Baron, Batcatcher, and Gillie Callum are, to say the least of them, very moderate. The race was ' run in two forty-seven. The Hurdle Race was the best contested event of the day, Tom Flynn being the most fancied ; but Whitefoot and the white r ooted Tui—who your readers will remember in Mr Bed*"" '" stable were fairly supported. D(h was the quickest away, and led at a cracking pace to the second hurdle, where his refusal j put him out of court. Whitefoot now took up the rnnning, waited on by Tui, Tom Flynn about three lengths behind. They ran thus until passing the stand the second time, wben the favorite came np and challenged Whitefoot The latter, however, stayed the longest, and won a capital race by two lengths, Tom Flynn second, and Tui a very moderate third. Time, 4.56. For the Maiden Plate, Queen Mab was made a stiong favorite, Rosalie being the only one asked for. They got away to rather a straggling start, Queen Mab making the running. Opposite the stand Rosalie went up, and the two raced together to the turn into the straight, where Queen Mab's bolt was shot, Rosalie winning comfortably by a couple of lengths, Gillie Galium a bad third. Time, 2.5 G. The winner is a very nice looking black mare by Patriarch from Flying Doe, a Victorian bred mare. On the second day Venus Transit beat Queen Mab, a half sister of Ariel's by Derby, in a canter for the race of that name, but I hear that it is likely that Mr Bnckland's filly will ccc a better day. Mr Walters was successful with Walton and Hippocampus for the Selling Race and Publicans' Purse. The R.C. Handicap produced a fine race between Lara and Elsa, Gillie Callum, Venus Transit, and Rosalie being behind them. Though Lara came in first, Mr Bolton did not get the stakes, as a protest against his horse by the rider of Elsa was allowed. The Grand Stand Handicap was a mere exercise cantor for Hippo., Golden Crown, who made most of the running, bolting when the pinch came. The third day oj ened with the Prodnce Stakes, and Queen Mab with 51bs the beet of the weights made a good race on this occasion with Venus Transit, whose rider (French) lost his stirrup-leather. The Steeplechase was a good one, and ended as last year with the victory of Perfume, who, however, fell at one of the fences. Hippo, had no difficulty in putting the Auckland Plate to the credit of Mr Walters, and leaac Walton did him a like service in the Stewards' Handicap. Don won the Consolation. Hippo incurs no penalty for his Auckland successes, and is now at very short odds for the Dunedin Cup.". At the Palmerston. meeting, held on New Year's day, Chancellor again scored a donble event." He won the Palniciaton Cap. from Exile and Swede, and later in the day, after a very close race, he wrested the Shag Valley Handicap from Blue Peter. The latter won the Consolation, beating Exile and Xantippe, who finished in the order named. In the Havelock Handicap, in which Ngaro (nine-four) ran second to Sybil (sixfour), the latter met with an accident, getting her hind leg cut severely above the pastern. This misfortune lost the chesnnt mare the race. The Beefton meeting appears to have gone ofl well. The everlasting Septimus won the Trial Stakes and the Hurdle Race on the second day. Jasper cariied off the chief event of the meeting, the Lnangahu* Handicap of 120 soys, but on the second day Buffered defeat in the District Handicap from Morning Star. The other events were fairly contested.though the fields were small Next yt ar it is to be hoped the Keel ton Club will sue their way to arrange the date of their meeting so as noc to clash with Hokitika. I am sorry to learn that Mr Delamain has lost Blue Boy. The horse has been ailing for many months, and a few days ago bis owner decided on sendiag him in to Mr Hill's infirmary. Here he received every attention bat to no purpose, and he died on Sunday night. Blue Boy was by Beadsman from Bnmblekite, by Voltageur ont of Sweet Briar by StoekwelL He was sold for 1200 guineas as a yearling, but did not distinguish h mself on the turf. He was imported to New Zealand by Mr E. G. Griffith, and remain d at Spreydon until that gentleman's clearing sale, when he was purchased by Mr Delamain. His stock nearly all show quality in the highest degree, and 'in his death breeders will sustain a great loss. I learn from the resume , of "Pegasus" of the recent meetings down South that the Clinton meeting went off well; that at Wyndbam the veteran Patch won the principal events of the meeting, where also Don | Pedro won the Hurdle Bace, and an old acquaintance. Border Lad, the Consolation. At Wiuton, Mayday won the J.C. Handicap from Sir Tattoo. The latter, it seeme, was conceding Mayday seven pounds. At Waitahuna Honest John carried off the Hurdle Bace, and Glengarry the Town Plate, The Cromwell meeting appears to have been a success, but none of the competing animals are known north of Otago. "Pegasus" also informs his readers that "S, Haynes, the well known and experienced trainer, is open to receive horses to train." I remind owners that acceptances for the Dunedin Cap, Publicans' Handicap, and D.J.C. Handicap must be sent to Mc Sydney James, secretary D.J.C, before eight o'clock this evening. The Huranui meeting is fixed for March Ist. The programme contains seven items, tbe principal of which is the Hnrunui Cup, two miles. Weight not under 12st