SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 11682, 14 February 1902, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

LAWRENCE RACES. [Br Thh Admxral.] The weather was sultry for yesterday's racing, bat fortunately the threatening rain htJd off till the last event had been decided. Since my last visit, to the course tho trees in the centre of tho enclosure have grown to such an extent as to practically shut out the view, and the club will have to face rutting them down before next. year. Ton bookmakers were present laying the odds to "silver, notes, or gold," and despite their activity the totalisator turn-over showed a slight, "increase on both flays, the total amount handled being £2,129 10s, against £1.913 last year—a result due to the introduction of the ten-sbilling machine. There were no accidents to chronicle, and the day's programme was exhausted without a solitarv protest. Messrs H. Craig and James Robertson were indefatigable workers and the secretarial duties were in the capable bands of Mr N. 0. Potts.

Sharpshot (7.5) won the Flying from end to end, and justified the belief that he would have scored on the first day but for being left at the post. The mysterious Opportunity (9-c4, concerning whose identity inquiries are afloat, chased Mr Hardinge/s gelding home; the other nmneTs being St. Ulva (7.13) and Hawthorn (9.2). The time was lmin 20see, and the dividend £3 10s. Strathroore, the scratch horse, was responsible fo rthe poor acceptance of six mi the Mile and A-half Trot. Ht- cut down his field very easilv. showing that the judgment of those who had seen him trot at Wyndbam, Christehureh, and elsewhere was not. at fault. The dividend was £1 12s, and the time 3mm 52sec. The other starters w«re Smiler (6sec), Erin (7sec). Andrew (16sec), Whirlwind (208 ec), and Wa-ipounamu (22sec). There w<jre four starter*—Transport (9.5), Yisionarv (8.12), First Light (8.10). and Estefla (7 13)— in the Tuapeka J.C. Handi cap, a mile and a furlcng, the principal event of the day. Visionary and Estella made the running for five furlongs, wntn Transport took charge, and quickly had lus field in trouble, seemingly winning more easily than on the previous day. Fn\*t Light ran into se*.".:ti'l plac£ a furlong iron l home. Tlu time was lmin 59sec, and Tram-port's backers were returned £3 18s. Thew were ten runners in the Second Hack Handicap, of six furlongs. I>oj-'1 Roil.? {3 0, J, Gray) was nvude favorite, and le g»t a flying start, which practically ensured him ',h; race, while Secret Service (9.0) and F'ashoda (3.0) had their head.-; turned the other way when Mr Hart gave the word of commaiKi. Lord Rule always had several lengths to the good, and though he was slowed down in the last couple of hundred yards lie passed the post three lengths in. front of The Maltster (10.3), with Forest King (8.0) close irp third, aid Marigold (8,5) next. Time, lmin 20sec Dividends: Lord Rale, £2 4s; The Maltster, £1 4s.

Only a trio—Galileo (8.9), Blackpool (8.3), and Forward Guard (7.l2)—went out for the Stewards' Purse, seven furlongs. The last-named was slow to begin, but Trouiison at once rushed him to the front, and making every post a winning post left the other pair toiling hopelessly in the rear. Galileo finished in front of Blackpool. Time, lnxin 32sec. Dividend, £2 4s. The Farewell Dash Trot, of one mile, proved a good thing for Lotna .Smith (24« ec), whose favoritism was doubtless due to the f.urt that Pringle was riding her. Lama was soon in front, and stayed there, though she broke once after going a couple of furlongs. Osprey (24sec) was the runner up, Smiler <l2sec) close up third. Time, 2min 49sec. Dividends: Lorna Smith, £1 18s ; Osprey. £1 16s. For, the Farewell Handicap, of six furlongs, Mr Dowse made the following handicap : —Opportunity 9.7, First Light 9.2, Visionary 8.13, Lady Torrent 8.11, The Maltster 8.9, Estella 8.4, Hawthorn 8.3. Annoyance 7.13, Lord Rule 7.12, FarNiente 7.9, St. Ulva 7.0, Saturn 6.10, Rubina6.B. Sir fell out, leaving the following runners : -First Light, Estella, Annoyance, Lord Rule, Far Niente, St. Ulva, and Rubina. The field were fairly in line when Mr Hart despatched them, but Lord Rule was the quickest on his legs, and soon had placed a, gap between himself and Estella and First Light, his nearest attendants. The positions were unaltered, but there was a capital set to for second place, which resulted in EsteHa's favor. Time, lmin 20sec. Dividend*: Lord Rule, £2 4s; Estella, £1 18s. The club were served during the afternoon by the owDer of Lady Torrent witli notice not to pay ovev the stakes won by Opportunity, as inquiries were being prosecuted as to the mare's identity. The Committee met in tlie evening, and after receiving certain information from the secretary of the D.J.C. and from the trainer if Lady Torrent decided to withhold payment of the stakes for a month. The club paid the stakes in full, no commission being deducted. The following tire the amounts paid to winning owners r —G.

Butinren -ATO, J. B. Smith £35, H. Bat£ imre, M. Lettoof, and Manuel Bros. £25 each; J. Ritchie, H. Dent, J. Sheedy, and T. Tflson £2O each; J. Claffey and P. O'Coimeil £ls each. Smaller amoants and the £SO m abeyance won by Opportunity bring the total up to £375.

THE CHRISTCHUBCH RACES.

[Special to tbb Star.]

CHRISTCHURCII, February 14. In spite of the fact that the weather was lovely yesterday, and also that the usual weekly naff-holiday is observed here on Thursday, the attendance at Rkcarton was small. The racing on the whole was not very interesting, but in defence of the handicapper it must be admitted tbat with the exception of the Midsummer Handicap Iw made the most of the indifferent material which he had to operate on. The Midsummer Handicap furnished a one-sided struggle. Dundas, for once in a way, reproduced his track form in public, and accounted for the weak opposition without being called upon to exeat himself. For the first time in his career he was ridden by Hewitt, and he ran with the greatest sincerity in the hands of that rider. Hewitthandled his mount with rare discretion. He allowed him to stride along well dear of his opponents, with the result that the son of Perkin Warbeck IL was never pinched, and won in the easiest possible manner. Fulmen, after being ridden hard in the first half-mile, struggled into second place, and Cannie Chiel finished third, a position which, considering the pace at which the race was run and the fact that he is not a true stayer, was creditable to him. Motor was never dangerous, and neither was Djin Djin, while Calibre, who was very sore, finished last. The winner pulled up very fresh, and his victory was well received. He returned his backers £2 9s, Cruciform w?ts never called upon to extend herself to win the Middle Pajk Plate, but the Craven Plate produced a most exciting struggle. On the strength of a wonderful gallop Whirlwind was hruited about as the beat of good things for the latter event. At the top of the straight tire daughter of Stepniak looked as if she were going to justify the faith of her supporters, but in the last furlong she was collared by Vandyke and Glenogle, and Vandyke squeezed home a neck in front of Sir George Gilford's horse. Vandyke had previously started in the Hornby Welter Handicap. *in which he had been practicallv left at the post. The son of Vanguard paid £s'3s 6d. The features ol the afternoon's sport were the successes achieved by Sheenau's stable and the riding o' Derrett'and Hewitt. Sheenan won the Hornby Welter Handicap with Antigone, the Lvttelton Plate with Creek Maid (£2 2s), and Derrett rode three winners and two seconds, while Hewitt was on three winners.

DUNEDIN AMATEUR BOATING CLUB. Hie second and third heats of the Hyams Fours were rowed- last evening. The water was somewhat rough, but the crews managed to get to the post, when de starter lost no time in, despatching tbem wi their journey. Result: — SBOOSD HKAT. I). Fraser (stroke), C. Harding (3). B. Brown <2|, C. Allen (bowl 1 J. Rvder (stroke), F. Familton 13). B. Burton i2). G. Morton (bow) ... 2 THIRII HEAT. I). Paterson (stroke), P. Scarfe (31, W. Beeson |2l, W. Spray (bow) 1 J. Wares tetrokei, J. Broadfoot </>). J. Faulks (2), H. Paterson (bow) „. 2 Both races wot well contested. In the lirsi- race Fraser and Ryder kept together till near the wharves, when Fra-ser drew away, and won by a length. The second race was decided in the semi-dark-ness, and, the nice could not- tie seen all through. Coming into the wharves botci crews w'-ei-e seeu'to be level with each other, Mid a. good race ensued, Paterson winning eventually by half a boat's length. A start will be made with the pair-oar race at 6.30 to-night.

The Dunedin Amateur Swimming Curb's annual fixture will take place on March 15, and the programme will comprise twenty events, the priiicipitl being the 100 Yard? Provincial Championship, 50 Yards and 100 Yards Senior Handicaps, 150 Yards Breast Handicap. 50 Yards Junior Handicap, Sehoolbovs' Race, and Blindfold Race. Messrs W. J. Johnston, A. M. Sims, R, E. Bolton, and 1). M. Stuart were deputed to represent the club at Timaru on February 20 in the water polo couipetrfckrn and handicap events. The winners of the minor events at Rjccarton yesterday were:—Lytteltou Plate, Greek Maid, who beat Stepdancer by half a, length, and paid a, dividend of £2l 2s; Halswell Welter, Medus (9.0), bv a length from Lapidary (10.7), dividend £7 14s. At the Tarauaki races yesterday the Autuma Handicap was won by Air O'Brien's Military, who defeated Butt-lease, and paid his backers £ls 18s, the dividend on the favorite being 16s. The Fourth Hack was aporopriated by Tupuaca (£4 10s), with Lucb Erin (£4 2s) "second; the Final Hack by Anchorite (£5 9s), with Flying Shell second (£1 18k) ; and the Farewell bv Sedgebrook (£3 14s), w jth Sylvia Pa-rk (£2 9b) second. At Uisborne yesterday Rodfira {£"7.) accounted for the Hurdles; Papatu (£2 lis,) for the Courty Stakes, with A.B.N (£1 6s) second; Tryphena (£4 2s) the Second Hack, with Kowhete Ills) second; Geologist (£3 8s) the Electric; Waionui (£4 2s) the Welter, with Craftsman (£3) second; Wilson f£3 14s) the Grand (Stand Handicap; Cossack (£4 3s) the Disposal Stakes; and Victoria Cross (£2 19s) the Final, with The Miner (14s) second. The to-talisator receipts at New Plymouth were £11,187, agadnst £10,254 last year, and at Gisborae they totalled £5,176. A meeting of those interested in lie imErovement of the Carisbrook Ground was eld( at Wain's Hotel last evening, when the Carisbrook Crieket Club's scheme of raisin funds by the holding of a monster carnival on March 5 was submitted to the other clubs and persons interested for their co-operation and approval. The scheme will take the form of an entertainment by electric light. Mr A. H. Fisher was voted to the chair, and those present, with power to add to their number-, vrere formed irto a General Committee. The following were appointed a Programme Committee: Messrs P. J- Priest, E. Wilson, E. L. Macassey, .1. R. Burt. C. Tapley. and W. 0. Kempfhorne. -