SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7496, 14 April 1888, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

It having been suggested that a two-year-old race should be added to the programme for the Dunedin Jockey Club's May meeting, the matter was considered at a meeting of the Committee on Tuesday evening. It was decided that no race of the kind should bo instituted for the present meeting, but that it be recommended that one or two' such races be included in the programme for next year's May meeting. Snapshot and A pros Moi arc for sale privately, Mr A. Walker having decided to sever his connection with the turf. There is money in both these horses, as all who know their very creditable performances will readily recognise. Stewart Waddcll recurned from Christchurch on Thursday, fully recovered from his recent sudden and severe attack of illness, There is an almost universal falling-otf in totalisa'or receipts at race meetings this season. Auckland affords the latest instance, some L 3,000 less than last year being put through the machine at the Easter gathering. The nominations for the Canterbury Champagne Stakes, Derby, and Oaks of 1889 are to hand, and show a considerable falling off from previous years, as will be seen by the following figures :

The only Otago entries are Mr J. Stephenson's bay filly by Apremont—Fallacy and chestnut filly by Apremont—Titania. The last five furlongs of the A.J.C. St. Leger were traversed by Abercorn and Australian Peer in lmin lisec. A gentleman rider, Mr Popham by name, who recently arrived at Christchurch from Home, gave Patsy Butler LSO for the privilege of riding Marlborough in the Epsom Welter Handicap, but failed to get a place in that race. The jockey White has been engaged to ride for the Hon. W. Robinson, At Brisbane Tattersall's meeting a trotting match for L2OO a-side aud the championship of Queensland was brought off, over three miles. Wanaka (the New Zealander) and Paddy were the contestants, and the latter proved victorious by fifty yards, in Bmin 42isec. The Auckland correspondent of the 'Canterbury Times' writes as follows: " People have not yet ceased to talk about the inglorious figure cut by Sextant in the recent Autumn Handicap run at Ellerslie. In your issue of last week I notice that you are inclined to attribute the remarks that have been made on the race in question to disappointed hopes, but I may say that even before Sextant went to the post there were remarks concerning him which I am bound to say were fully borne out in the race. That Huxtable rode a waiting race I am prepared to admit, but I certainly do not understand the term in its ordinary sense.'' On the same subject " Phaeton " says : "In writing my views on tho race on the night previous I took the precaution of saying ' if Sextant starts I shall look to him to win'; but it was quite evident to mc as the horses passed the stand the first time that I should have added another term which has a power of meaning to those engaged in following turf pursuits. As they ran round the back the son of Robinson Crusoe was lying fully fifteen lengths behind, and not until entering the straight did Huxtable bustle him up, when he made up his ground in fine style, and finished alongside Silence (on whom, I may remark, Clifford appeared to be taking it mighty easy), Tamora winning by two lengths. I canot say whether Sextant was ridden to orders, but if so the taetic3 were very unusual when a horse is supposed to be a trier. . . . Fiom what has since transpired, there seems to be good reason for believing that there was a little laying of heads toge'her over the Autumn Handicap, run at Ellerslie on Tuesday last, and that three of the contestants were running in together. That one of the number was as dead as the proverbial door-nail I feel sure, while there seems only too good reason to believe that one of the others (who is regarded as one of the most notorious dead 'uns that periodically figures on the New Zealand turf) was sent out on a shepherding expedition." Silver Prince has been put into work again by Mr Dakin, and Tranter is also co'ning round. Beresford has come back from the North Islitnc' '-'"y lame. PIicASCS. At tho Taranaki races yesterday Silence (8.13) was made a warm favorite for the Autumn Handicap (one mile and a-half), and he won easily by half-a-lcngth, with Rimu (G. 5) and Tamora (7.10) to fill the places. The dividend was LI lis, and the time 2min 40 ? f8cc. The Provincial Handicap was won by Landscer by a short nose from Armorer ; time, 2min 19sec. The Consolation race resulted thus: Rimu, 1 ; Hagar, 2; Okato, 3. The Hon. \i. Mitohelson (Mr C. Beresford) intends to relinquish racing in New Zealand. His horse Tranter will, however, be trained on by Mr Dakin, and will take part in the Caultield and V.R.C. Spring Meetings. There were some exciting finishes and capital dividends at Oamaru yesterday. In the Jockey Club Handicap Shifnal (7.6) beat The Brewer (8.12) by a length, with Dutchman (7.3) close up. Hermitage, Jackal, and Le Temps also ran. The time was 2min 16sec, and the dividend L 3 2s. The Novel Handicap of 25 sovs, for which eight started, was won by a neck by Bernardo, with Vixen second and Thistle third. The dividend was Ll3 Bs. In the Counties' All-aged Handicap, which brought out a field of eleven, Mohawk won on the post from Tcnakoe by a head, and paid his backers the handsome dividend of L 35 Bs. College Boy appropriated the Consolation Stakes from Miss Webster and Marjory Moore.

18ST. 1838. 1883. Chtinpagne Str.kc.i .. 53 40 35 Darby 57 52 38 Oaks .. .. 14 23 21 Totals .. 124 121 94