SPORTING NEWS.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7174, 28 May 1885, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS.

«• N.Z. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING. [by TELEGEAPH.] Christchuroh, Wednesday. The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase meeting was held to-day. The weather was cloudy, with a strong southerly breeze. There were about 2000 persous present. Tho course was in excellent order. GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP, About 4 miles. Messrs M. and 0. Hobbs' Moody, llst(0. Hobbs) .".. * 1 Mr J. Kerr's Linwood, list 41b (Cotton) ..2 Hon R. Rodney's Berrington, lOst 111 b (Lvford) 3 — MrH. Piper's Raveriswood|(l2st 71b), Mr H. Lunn's King Arthur (12st 41b), and Mr W. Proffitt's Scrutineer (12st 21b) also ran. Betting — 2 to 1 agst Linwood and Ravenswood, 3 to 1 agst Berrington, 4 to 1 agst. King Arthur, 5 to 1 agst the others. King Arthur had the lead at the start, Berrington being second, Moody third. Approaching the big sod wall King Arthur had a lead of twenty lengths from Linwood, who was followed by Berrington, Moody, Scrutineer, and Ravenswood ia the order named. At the double opposite the grand stand King Arthur and Linwood refused, and Berrington led the others over. At the fence by Outts' Scrutineer baulked, and Berrington got a length ahead of Moody, who was some distance from Linwood. The gorse near Ford's was negotiated by Berrington, Linwood, and Moody,. in the order named. After going once round Linwood went up to Berrington, and the big sod fence was taken by the pair in company, with Moody bix lengths behind, and Ravenswood fourth. After two miles had been covered Moody closed on the leaders. At the double opposite the stand Berrington knocked down the second hurdle. The fence at Cutts' was taken by Berrington, with Linwood on his quarter, and .Moody a couple of lengths away, a gap separating him from Ravenswood, King Arthur, and Scrntineer. King Arthur fell lj mile from home, and the three loaders took the gorse opposite Jb'ord's simultaneously. Hobba then fetched Moody up, and a pretty race ensued between the three. Moody led at the third fence from home.lclosely followed by Berrin_;.on and Linwood, Ravenswood closing up hand over hand. At the first sod wall in the straight Ravenswood fell, Sheehan being severely shaken. Moody was never caught, and won easily.; Linwood second, a good half-dozen lengths ahead of Berrington. Time, 11 mm 35sec. Totalisator dividends, £6 lis 6d and £8 8s 6d. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE. Mr R. Leever'B Secretary, lOst (Stewart) W.o. —Master Agnes and Scrutineer were scratched. Secretary walked over. MAIDEN STEEPLECHASE, 1 About 2 mileß. r Mr R. Agnew's Donald, 12st 31b (Lyford) 1 ! Mr G. B. Starkey's Sefton (late » Maori Boy), ] 2st 31b (F. J. Cotton) 2 ! Mr H. Lunn's Pickles, 12st 31b 1 (Lunn) 3 '. —Mr R. Leaver's Secretary (12at 31b) ' also ran.

Betting— 6 to 4 agst Donald, 2to 1 i Pickles and Secretary, 4 to 1 Sefton. < Sef ton led at the start, followed by i Donald and Secretary,. Pickles bringing < up the rear. At the double opposite the stand Sefton led, -with Donald : second, and Secretary third. Donald was the only one safely over^ the fence near Cutts', and by the time/he reached Ford's he had placed a quarter of a mile between himself and Sefton. Donald was never caught, and won by a quarter of a mile, Sefton being about three lengths from Pickles, Secretary nowhere. Totalisator dividends, £2 9s 6d and £2 ss. TALLY -HO HANDICAP, About 2^ miles. Hon. R. Rodney's Berrington, list (Lyford) 1 Messrs M. and C. Hobbs' Moody, list 71b (Jefferson) 2 Mr H. Piper's Ravenswood (P. Campbell) .. ... .. ..3 — Madge also ran. Betting — 6 to 4 against Ravenswood; 2 to 1 Moody and Berrington, 5 to 1 Madge. Moody led at the start, followed by Berrington and Madge. In that order they took the first double. Moody then , increased his lead, and Ravenswood . came up to the other two. All four ; closed in, and they took the first sod wall ; in the straight abreast. Madge and Moody then drew ahead but baulked at ' the next double. Berrington was first over the fence at Cutts', Ravenswood \ three lengths behind, and the others p some distance off. The positions were j unaltered till Ravenswood fell at the last t fence. Bprrington then went away, winning as he liked. Time, omin 57sec. " t Totalisator dividends, £4 9s and £4 lis. I GRAND NATIONAL CAVALRY BACE, r 2 miles ; for a piece of plate of the value r of £10. . Corporal H. Brown's Hard Times . . 1 o Trooper Meikle's Ben H 2 a Five horses were entered, all belonga ing to members of the City Yeomanry v Cavalry. Trooper Pateraon was thrown, a and was somewhat severely hurt. II CONSOLATION HANDICAP, i- ■ 7 ■ 2 miles. . - )i IM* W. 'Proffitt's Scrutineer ,„ . . 1

I About £4000 was put through thi two totalisators during the day.