SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 7859, 16 March 1889, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE NATIVE FOOTBALLERS. A match was played on Wednesday between Warbrick’s team and Walkden Club, the former proving victorious. In the match against St. Helens (Lancashire) Club on the following day the Maori football team defeated their opponents by two goals and three tries to nil.

HAWKE’S BAY RACES. [Special to the Stab.] NAPIER, Maecii 16. The town is already very full of visitors for next week’s races, The men who patronise one racecourse after another (and how they live no one knows) are more numerously represented than usual. A good shower of rain would have suited some of the trainers and their charges, but of that there is no sign, and, should it still keep off, there ought to be some fine running made on Monday and Tuesday. The issuing of the weights before Wanganui has to a certain extent paralysed the betting, which seems to be confined to doubles at very short prices. For the Free Handicap, which sets the ball rolling, twelve have accepted, but there will be a thinning out before the saddling bell rings. Without knowing who are all going, Soudan should be very handy. In the Hurdle Race there are eight. Chemist and Mangahoue, despite their weights, are entitled to the most respect. On the Wanganui running Oddfellow should supply the winner, but he will have to be a greatly improved animal to what he was when last run here. Harold,'who is in the same stable as Chemist, may trouble him most.

For the Cup, Meta and Lady Florin have been scratched, leaving eight in, and Escutcheon and perhaps Premier are very unlikely starters, so that the field promises to be altogether too select. Recluse is thought to be a moral. At the spring meeting he won the Free Handicap; was third in the Flying Handicap; and finished fourth in the Spring Handicap, for which he started first favorite. Then he had light imposts, and was in grand condition. Two years ago Lady Norah and Silence fought out the race, Lady Norah having 7.1 to Silence’s S.B, and I think the same pair will once more fight their battle over again. If Silence’s late running was his true form he could not have a 100 to 1 chance, but I discard that altogether, as 1 am persuaded his owners would not have stuck to him so long were he not capable of better things ; therefore I expect Silence to win the Hawke’s Bay Cup, with Lady Norah next. In the Nursery Plate Cynisca will probably return her backers guineas for their pounds. In the Railway Stakes there are only seven acceptors, and Recluse should get home in front of Kariri.

For the Selling Race Soudan reads best, unless New York takes it into his head to travel, and once more pay a sensational dividend.

The latest betting is 100 to 14 against the two Recluses, 100 to 14 Lady Norah and Recluse, ipO to 12 Leopold and Recluse.