SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1522, 3 January 1879, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUCKLAND RACES, Third Day—January 2. [Press Special Wire.] The third day’s races of the Summer Meeting proved a success. The day’s attendance was extremely large, and the grand stand was literally packed in every part. The attendance on the course was the largest of the meeting. The first race, the Mare’s Produce Stakes, of 100 sovs, fell through. Mr Buckland had entered Omega, but relinquished the stakes as there were no competitors. For the Auckland Plate, Pinfire had not a worthy competitor, though the race was made interesting by the clever jockey. The Handicap Steeplechase created more excitement than there had been on any previous event of the kind. Agent, the Southern horse, had been saved for it. Perfume, the Auckland steeplechase mare, was, by the wish of the public, ridden by Tommy Hodson, her old jockey, and was never ridden better ; but she has fallen off, and probably seen her best days. Pcrfnme and the Agent monopolised the attention throughout the very exciting contest. Eversley was unfortunate, getting a fall almost at the start. Don Juan, ridden by Mat Hewes, made a brilliant start, but neglected to rise to the big stone wall, was knocked out of time, and pulled up at half a mile. The Waikato horse, Sportsman, failed to satisfy his backers, but ran a good third. Jonathan Wild jumped brilliantly for such an old stager, and occupied a leading position toward tho finish, when he bolted over the country towards an hotel. The dense crowd of people testified, by their demeanor at the close of the Steeplechase, the intense excitement which prevailed. Much disappointment was visible, as apart from tho betting, people have a great sympathy for Perfume, and regard tho result as a provincial beating, though no disgrace to be beaten bv Agent. Previous to the event coming off, the bookmakers wore annoyed that tho public did not back Perfume more heavily. For the Stewards’ Handicap there was a good field, but Pinfire, with Clifford up, kept the other horses in hand, and had tho race evidently in his own hands, though Clifford kept Pinfire wavering to the finish. The Consolation was well contested by all the horses, Venus Transit leading almost through. Mr Perkins’ two horses taking second and third places. In reviewing the general aspects of this summer meeting there is every reason to compliment tho officers of tho Club upon the extraordinary success which has attended the three days’ races. No accidents or any approach to unpleasantness of any kind occurred. Mr Percival, tho secretary, deserves commendation for his able performance of his very important duties and his watchful care over the interests of tho Racing Club. The horses of our Southern friends, though they carry off a considerable part of the money, are not grudged, as they have afforded good sport. Pinfire ran in six events, winning each one, namely: tho Railway Plate £SO, the Maiden £BO, the Racing Club Handicap £2OO, the Grand Stand Handicap £IOO, the Auckland Plate £IOO, tho Stewards’ Handicap £lO0 —total, £630, Agent won the Steeplechase, £150; Ariel the Cup, £200; Tom Finn the Hurdle, £SO; Isaac Walton the Publicans’ Purse, £6O; Walters’ Slander colt the ; Selling race, £SO, and Venus Transit £4O. Mr Perkins has not been fortunate, though Xantippe and Punga were well placed in several events. Mr Caulton has also been off the winning list. Both these spirited racing men are popular, and tho public would like to see their horses successful. The results of to-day’s racing were ; Hurry Scurry of 10 sovs (substituted for Mares’ Produce Stakes. One mile. Mr Allen’s Little Dick 1

Nobody’s Gipsy Mr Hodson’s Derby Little Dick had the race to himself.

Auckland Plate of 100 sovs, with a sweepstakes of 3 eovs each; amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Entrance, 3 sovs, to go to the funds. Weight for age. Distance, 2 miles. Mr Vallance’s ch g Pinfire, 4 yrs, 9st ... 1 Mr Pereival’s Tom Finn, aged, 9st 71b ... 2 Mr Edgar’s h g The Don, aged, 9st 711) > ... 3 There also ran Tregeagle, Elsa, Ariel, and Omega. Lady Elizabeth and Punga were scratched. Time —3min. 53i secs.

Betting —5 to lon Pinfire. Handicap Steeplechase of 150 sovs, with a sweepstakes of 5 sovs each; amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse, the third horse to save his stake. Distance, about 31 miles, over a fair hunting country. Mr Butler’s Agent, list 7ibs ... (Hankins) 1 Mr M’Gec’s Perfume, list 101bs (Hodson) 2 Mr Rutherford’s Sportsman, lOst (Wilson) 3 There also ran Kvcr.-lcy, Don Juan, and Jonathan Wild. Whitcfoob and Co.-sack were scratched.

Don Juan led over tho double hurdles. Opposite the grand stand Eversley baulked, !>nt then took the jump standing, Agent (bird, Perfume fourth. Don Juan led over lhe water jump across the road, when Jonathan took the first' place. Don Juan rushed at the stone wall rising to the jump, and wont down with the top of the wall, losing his chance. Eversley came to grief at the next ditch. Sportsman led up the rising ground across the paddocks, Perfume, Jonathan, and Agent following. Coming down the hill into the racecourse, Eversley came forward in game style, Mann having remounted. Eversley made the pace very fast past the grand stand. Perfutu challenging him, raced to tho water jump, Sportsman third,

As.ent going easily fourth, keeping an eye on Perfume, and not allowing himself to be distanced. The stone wall was crossed in grand stylo by the four horses, and it was pretty to see them racing over the rising ground towards the last jump on tho hill. Previous to descending for the final struggle up the straight, tho horses went along Indian file, Eversley first, Sportsman second, Perfume third, and Agsut fouffch. As they

neared the crest of the hill the public excitement ran high. Agent then made a magnificent rush through his horses, and amid loud cheers Perfume was observed gallopping up to him. The final struggle had commenced ; the two champion steeplechasers had been called on, and responded. Words cannot describe the excitement as they raced down the turn, Agent leading by a neck into the straight, going along freely and taking the last hurdle with precision, losing _ not an inch, yet not over-strained or punished by the rider, who seemed rather to be saving him. Poor Perfume strained every muscle and ran as if she knew that Auckland hopes lay in her performance. Tommy Hodson labored hard to bring his old steed past the Southern rival, but in vain. The Agent kept going, and in a free undistressed gallop shot past the judges, with Perfume at his heels. Sportsman came up third. Time, lOmin. 53secs.

Betting—Even on The Agent, 3 to 1 against Perfume, 4 to 1 against Eversley, 6 to 1 against the others. Stewards’ Handicap of 100 sovs, with a sweepstakes of 3 sovs each for acceptors; amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Distance, 1 mile and a distance. Mr Vallance’s Pinfire 1

Mr Perkins’ Xantippe 2 Mr Perkins’ Punga 3 Isaac Walton, Gillie Galium, and Repo also ran.

Betting—Even on Pinfire, 3 to lagst Punga and Xantippe, 4to 1 agst the others. After a troublesome start Punga and Isaac went to the front. On entering the cutting they were joined by the other horses except GHllio Callam, who fell hopelessly behind. In accordance with general expectation the yellow jacket of Pinfire’s rider was seen stealing through the horses, and a cheer was given as this astonishing horse went to the front. Punga and Xantippe were the only two horses which appeared to answer when and where called on by their jockeys, but after a gallop in the struggle home they had to acknowledge the supremacy of Pinfire. Consolation Handicap of 40 sovs. Entrance, 2 sovs, to go to the funds. Distance, 1 mile. Mr Walters’s Venus Transit, 7st 1 Mr Perkins’s Punga, 7st 2 Mr Perkins’s Xantippe, 6st 31b 3 Elsa and Elizabeth also ran. Venus Transit made the running from the start to finish. Time—lmin. 521-sec, MAETON EANGITIKEI RACES, [from the correspondent op the press.] SECOND DAY. Hurdle Race of 50 sovs. Grey Momus ... ... 1 Wira ... ... ... ... ... 2 Awahon ... 3 Maiden Plate of 50 sovs. Grey Momus 1 Portwine 2 Peep-o-day 3 Mabton Eangitiki Handicap of 250 sovs. Maritana ... ... ... ... 1 Ottawa 2 Folly 3 Shorts, 25 sovs. Maritana 1 Expectation 2 Stanley 3