SPORTING INTELLIGENCE

Evening Star, Issue 11681, 13 February 1902, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE

LAWRENCE RACES. [Bt The Admiral.] It waa fortunate tbat the weather was h> fine at Lawrence yesterday—a somewhat anronal occurrence on race days of late yean. The first event did not start until half an hoar after the advertised time, and as no lew than three protests had to be adjudicated on it waa seven o'clock before, the programme wae completed. The stewards were first called together after the Pohfifans* Handicap had been nm, but it waa evident from the terms of the protest that the person entering it was merely on a probing expedition. This was the trainer oi Lady Torrent, and he objected to the stakes being awarded to Opportunity (late First Chance V.) on the ground that she was supposed to be "rung in," and he wished to know what she was and where she came from. The protestor had no evidence; all he could say was that the mare had won up country, and that inquiries—with what result he did not know —had been instituted as to where she hailed from. H<-> asked that Mr Hore (Opportunity s owner) be called on to make a declaration as to the bona tides of his nomination. This Mr Hore, a Naseby miner, did. He alleged that he bought the mare in Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co.'s saleyards at Dunedin in June last, and that he believed her to be a maiden at the time. There being no evidence to substantiate the protest, the stewards had no recourse but to dismiss it. The Military Race was the next cause of trouble. It was - won by The Gunner, nominated by Mr I*. O'Connell, and a double-barrelled objection was lodged by Mr Londels, owner of Woodworm, the runner up, who urged that the conditions of the race had been infringed in that The Gunner had previously won a stake of the value of £lO. A reference to Turf Guides for some years past proved the horse to be a maiden, and then inquiry waa instituted into the further allegation thai, while the stipulations of the race provided that it was only open to horses owned by members of any mounted corps, and must have been in possession of the owner for three months prior to the date of entry, the winner had last month run at Tapanni in the. nomination of Mr P. Toomey. This fact was admitted by Mr O'Connell, who explained that Mr Toomey was his brother-in-law, and that as he had a second horse running in the same race at Tapanui he had used Mr Toomey's name merely to prevent the horses being bracketed on the machine. The explanation was accepted, but it was not deemed entirely satisfactory. The final objection came in respect to the President's Handicap. The Malster had earlier in the day, carrying the same weight as he was now called on to carry, shaped very badly, and when he succeeded in the President's in a second faster time, the trainer of Hawthorn considered an explanation was required, so he protested on the ground of inconsistent running- Mr Let roof (owner of The Malster) stated that his instructions to the rider were to win, if possible, each time; that he. had invested £ls with a bookmaker at tote odds when the horse missed; and that be had only £6 on when be won. Ramber (the jockeyl confirmed his instructions, and said that on the first Occasion The Malster had xua. asekjeardl^

owing to the sharp turns, and that he had not got away with the leaders. The stewards decided to dismiss the protest, and, as in. the former instances, returned the deposit, though one of their number, irrespective of the merits of the case and that there was admittedly a decided reversal of form, wanted to retain the money, to mark their displeasure of what he characterised as the "protest nuisance." The following are details of the concluding events: — The seven acceptors took part in the Two-mae Trot. Brackweed (32sec), the favorite, soon had established a commanding lead, and appeared to have the race at her mercy, but she tired in the last two furlongs, and Smiler (29sec) caught her a hundred yards from home, and won an exciting race by two lengths, Wajpounamu (3Ssec) finishing a like distance off third. Time. smin 30sec. Dividends': Smiler, £1 18s; Blackweed, 18s. The start for the Lawrence Handicap, of 40 sovs, one mile, was considerably delayed by the refusal of Pbst Light (8.12) to join her field and the curious exhibition of horsemanship on the part of R. M'Kay (her rider), who frequently dismounted. Eventually this mare was left, and practically took no part in the race. Estella (8.0) showed the way out of the straight, but got knocked out* of her place by being cannoned against by the other pair. Transport (8.9) held Forward Guard (7.9) safe in the run home, and won by two lengths, EsteTla, coming again under pressure, securing second place in the last few strides. Time, lnrin 47i«ec. On the machine, £144 10s. On the winner £64. Dividend, £2. The defection of Wild Oats and Mack from the Military Race, open only to horses owned by members of airy mounted corps, seven furlongs, left a field of seven. The Gunnei- (on whom E. M*Combo had the mount) was made a proc-onnced favorite, and after Jock had shown the way for half a mile lie took charge, and won very hollowly from Woodworm, with Ravenswing third. Time, lmin 39seo, On tho machine. £losf Dividends: The Gunr.er, £1 10s: Woodworm, £2 18s. A protest against the winner was disallowed. Hawthorn iß.ll, K M'Combe) an odds-on chance in the President's "Handicap, of 30 sovs, six furlongs, hut The Malster (8.7, Bamber) shook her off at the end of five furlongs, and won by a short length, First Light (9.0, R. M'Kay) making a dead heat of it for second place with the favorite. Witch WinKfe (7.5), the other starter, was a bad last. Time, lmin 20sec. Dividend £5 2s. A protest alleging inconsistent running was dismissed.

A field of eleven seemed to be a contract which Mr Hart, sen., was unqualified for. and when the word of command was given in the Shorts Handicap, of 20 sovs, four furlongs, they were very much spreadeagled, Satnrn (7.12) and Lady Torrent (8.7) having several lengths' advantage of the next This pair looked like having the issue to themselves, but Opportunity (8.11, including 71b penalty) pnt in a:i undeniable claim in the straight, and won by three-quarters of ft length from Lady Torrent, with Saturn, a length off, third. Sharpshot (7.12). who was greatly fancied bv the knowing division, got away badly, arid was blocked when making his nm." Time. 48Asee. Dividends: Oppor-tunit-v. £2 14s:*Lady Torrent, £3 14s.

TARA.NAKI RACES. The following events wore decided yesterday : HURDLES.- -Waiwera 1. Sultana 2. Dividends, £2 15s and £1 13s. HACK HURDLES.—CIarion 1, Omprsh 2. * Dividend, £6 7s. TARANAKF CUP. of 350 sots. One mile and a-half. Bartloaxe 1. Fakir 2, Taplow 3. All started. A graml race. Won bv a head. Time. 2rrrin 39see. Dividends. "£3 10s and £2 15?. SECOND HACK. One mile— Fjoch Erin (8.8) 1. Impat.i (7.0) 2. Dividends, £1 14s and i>c 13s. PLYING HANDICAP. Six furlong?.— Fa.ugh-.vßallagh (7.4) 1, Tnrowei (8.2) 2. Dividends. £7 10s and 16s. Seventeen jockeys (sixteen in one race) were fined £1 each for being out late in the saddling paddock. The fotalisator receipts were £5.734. as agaimu £6,024 on the first day last yeu-r. ROWTNO. A verv enthusiastic meeting of lady supporters of the Otago Rowing Club was held at the Town Hall yesterday afternoon, and was presided over by Ihe mayoress (Mrs Denniston). The initial arrangements for the Hub's forthcoming carnival were adopted, and those present, to the. number of about thirty, formed themselves into a committee, with power to arid to their number. It was unanimously decided that the carnival should ho held from Saturday, the 30th August., to Saturday, the 6th September, inclusive,. Tho following stalls were decided upon and stwll-holders appointed; Refreshments. Mcsdames Denniston and Butterworth; flowers and sweets, Mesdaimjs P. Oldham and A. Walker ; art stall. Mrs H. A. U Cren : jumble stall, Mcsdames Howard .Jackson and Thompson; work stall No. 1. Mrs L. R. Wilson; work stall No. 2, Mrs Each stall-holder will have associated with hex a number of young lady workers. If the enthusiastic, spirit shown by those in attendance is any criterion of future results it augurs well for the great success of the undertaking. Tbe Dunedin Amateur Boating Club it>wed the first heat of lite, Hvums Fours last evening, when three crews faced the starter (Mr R. Cal/tow). wJw despatched them on their journey to a splendid start, all three striking the water together. Watton's crew, who were slightly the favorites, drew away from Wilhelmson and Conneil at the three legs. At the red beacon Wilhelmson drew up level with Wabson, and ths two crews fought out a stubbornly-contested finish up the basin, resulting in a win for Wilhelmson by two feet from Watson ; Conneil, a length away, third. W. WTlhelimoii (stroked C. Osborne (3), J. Morrison (2), K Bell (bow), Marshall (cox). _ 1 A. Watson (stroke), H. Williams (3), V. Burton (2>, C. Allen (bow), Tonkin U»x) ~ ~ 2 A. Conneil {stroke), D. Faulks (3), W. Bee*«ou (2), G. Smart- (bow), George (cox) „ 3 Mr I). Scurr acted as judge, and his decision was generally approved.

CRICKET.

Some disappointment is expressed in cricket circles at the non-inclusion of Marsh, the colored bowler, in the next test match team.

Blazer and Battler have been scratched for all engagements at the D.J.C. meeting. Attempts have been made to amalgamate the New Zealand Swimming Association (headquarters at. Christchurch) and the body with headquarters at Auckland, but so far they have failed. Auckland wants to know why the Australasian swimming championships have been allotted to Wangairni, and Christchurch replies that it was the desire of the Council there to hold the championships at Auckland, but that as the Auckland Association bad failed to amalgamate it was impossible to hold them in a district outside the jurisdiction of the Amateur Swimming Association. Hence a deadlock.

At the Gisborne races) yesterday Argyle (7.6) won the Flying, w'ith Tauhei (9.8) second; dividends £o 8s and 12s. The Maiden Hack fell to Waiherore, with Tyndelale second; dividends £23 Is and 14s. The Hurdles was won by Tirea, who paid £1 Is; the Hack Flat by Geologist (£2 lis), with Kawhete (18s) second; the Summer Handicap, of 70 sovb, by Wilson (7.7), with Red Lancer (8.10) second (dividend £3 3s). The Shorts was appropriated by Porere (£2 4s); the First Welter by Kowhete (£2 lis). Medallion (13s) second; and the Park Stakes by The Miner (7.12), with Tauhei (9.6) second (dividends £5 16s and 10s). The Miner was unsuccessfully protested against.