Sporting News.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7912, 29 November 1887, Page 3

Sporting News.

» NOTES BY "FETLOCK." Owners are reminded that nominations for the following events of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's Boxing Day meeting close yvith the secretary at the Criterion Hotel at 10 o'clock this evening :— Christmas Handicap, of 80 soys, nomination 1 soy ; Handicap Hurdle Race, of 80 soys, nomination 1 soy ; and Hastings Handi- . cap, of 200 soys, nomination 1 soy. I notice that my confrere •■ Beacon " has resigned the position of sporting editor to the Otago witness. "Beacon" was an excellent writer, and was always prompt in exposing any action calculated to cast discredit upon the turf. His remarks were occasionally very caustic, but his pen was ever ready in defence of the right, and to uphold the honor of racing. It is pleasing in this age of unhappy nomenclature to be able to chronicle that one horseowner who rejoiced in the possession of an animal called Moodooderideroo has changed the name to Model. It is reported that Mr Chatteris' Chanticleer, one of the best of our colonial trotters, has gone to Sydney. The re-constituted Island Bay Racing Club held their first race meeting on Saturday last. The principal event went to Strenuous, who showed goed form at the last Napier Park meeting. Apparently his chances fqr the event under notice were not held in very high esteem, as he paid a substantial dividend. Two of the other events yvere secured by the last Wanganui Derby winner, Tongariro. Kingask has been disposed of to a Wellington racing man, but report says that tlie son of Hero— Toi is not likely to distinguish himself on a racecourse again, as he has almost broken down; Enfilade, it is said, has been sold to Mr Donald S. Wallace, for 1400 guineas. Mr Wallace will be remembered as the oyvner of Le Grand, when that colt won the Champion Race and other good .stakes. • Belting lias opened in England on next year's Derby. A wager of £2000 to £500 was taken about Galore, Croyvberry, Caerlaverock, and Ossory " mixed " before the last mail left. Ossory is an own brother to Ormonde, and had not then been in public. Friar's Balsam and Ayrshire were also coupled at £1050 to £400, and Galors was backed at £500 to £40. VTlie English bookmakers have had rather a nasty knock over the result of this year's Cesarewitch. Humewood, the winner, yvas made favorite directly the weights appeared, and maintained his position up to the fall of the flag, and as Bendigo and Carlton, the second and third horses, were both backed extensively for places, the public had a long way the best of the game. The Marlborough mare Regina, who was going to win the New Zealand Cup in incredibly fast time, but who didn't even get a place, has gone into E. Outts' bands, and is, I understand, to be schooled over the little sticks. She is a powerful mare, and if she takes kindly to jumping may even prove as good at hurdle racing as did her relative, Master Agnes. How are the mighty fallen ! Newstead, who was the crack two-year-old of 1884, and who won tlie Maribyrnong Plate in that year, has been sold recently for 22A guineas. The Melbourne sporting correspondent of the Canterbury Times is of opinion that had M. O'Brien had the mount on Silver Prince for the Melbourne Cup, that horse would have been returned the winner of the rac». It is about time that this "after" game, of making excuses for the performance of beaten horses in a big race, was dropped by sporting scribes. It is certainly niost amusing to read the remarks and notice the reasons assigned for the indifferent display of various animals engaged in an important contest. Judging by the statements in several Australian papers, peopla yvould imagine that New Zealand yvas unfortunate indeed in not winning the double of V.R.C. Derby and Cup, but racing is such a lottery all through the piece that to attempt to explain tlie running of a horse in different I races is as difficult as for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Mr Humphrey Oxenham, the Sydney roetallician who purchased Mr A. Drake's string of racehorses, has not been very long in picking up his first crumb yvith them, as Pasha, carrying 9st lib, beat a very moderate field in tlie Wagga Cup, doing the mile and a half in 2min 40see. The Hon. W. Robinson does not appear to be altogether disheartened by his yvant of success in Australia, as lie informed an Australian sporting yvriter that he would most probably return in the autumn," bringing a two-year-old yvith him. Should he do so the youngster selected will most probably be Chain Shot, own brother to Necklace, Thunderbolt, and Bangle, who is spoken of very highly by Canterbury critics. If the London correspondent of tht Dunedin Star is to be believed, then tin i Ailesbury scandal, which has resulted ir i the disqualification of the Marquis o: ; Ailesbury and his trainer for life, f urnishei s an amusiug instance of "the biter beiiif i bitten." It is said that a "plant" yvaslau i for the great plunger Benzon, who was t< 5 be induced to back the Marquis of Ailes , bury's horse Everitt for the Harwooi J Plate, at York, and Everitt was to losi b the race. Tho first part of the programme c was faithfully carried out, as Benzoi c backed the horse for £10,000 at 3to 1 i- Unfortunately for the " clever division, s Everitt was so much better than hi i- opponents that in spite of very ba y "riding" he succeeded in runnin :- a dead heat for first place. I d the run off he won easily, and th •- plunger thus netted £30,000, while t\v if of the parties interested in the "littl r- game" have received the full penalt >f that the racing layv alloyvs. y The sensational New Zealand Cup dii g puto has now been settled, and the layei c who " can pay their wagers " have to pa g up and look pleasant, yvhile those wl is "can't pay"— well, their unfortunal •c creditors will have to do the 100 l ss ing pleasant part of the busine .- if they can manage it, a tas Bt which, I am afraid, will prove t< id difficult for them. The New Zealai is ring have not been so hard hit for yeai er if ever before, as Lochiel was selccti to favorite upon the appearance of tl ry weights, and with Maxim for the Deri ie and Canterbury Cup, he was backed re doubles and trebles, all over the colony ss good odds. The stewards of the Canti of bury Jockey Club have not yet ma en known their reason for disinissii ;r- the protest against Lochiel, b li- from the result of an intervii

cs between Mr Campbell, the starte of and the reporter of a Christchurch pape ss lam inclined to think my opinion, thi of the start took place from ' the right pos yvas a correct one. The reason for IV OBrien withdrawing his protest- is ah al unknown, but it was probably owing 1 ill tlie fact that the committee of Tattersall ig Club had decided that yvagers should I of paid in accordance with the final decisio ry of the stewards. As Mr O'Brien had ver re little chance of winning his case in Conr iy and as the object for yvhich the protef Is was apparently laid had been defeated, i ie was probably thought that the yvises ie course to adopt yvas to withdraw fror is further action and accept the £200 fa 11 second money won by Gipsy King, io The Ashburton Racing Club's spriiij in meeting was held oh Wednesday am r. Thursday last. The various events re •s suited as follows: — Handicap Hurdl ie Race, of 40 soys— Effigy, 103t 21b, 1 ). Mainboom, 9st 121 b, 2 ; Sawdust, Bst 71b 3. County Plate Handicap, of 30 soys - Oliver Cromwell, I. Ashburton Cup, o i-. 70 soys — Quibble, 9st, 1; Ravenscraig 1. Bst lib, 2 ; Leeston, 6st 4lb, 3. Handi d 3ap Time Trot, of 25 soys — Lady Grey 0 1. Post Stakes, of 15 soys — Gold d finch, 1. Spring Handicap, of 31 b soys— College Boy, 6st 101 b, 1 ; Authen ; tic, 6st 71b, 2; Tornado, 7st 91b |_ 3. Second day : County Hurdle Raci ,r Handicap, of 25 soys — Wrangler, 1. Asli „ burton Racing Club Handicap, of 5! ir soys — Ravenscraig, 7st 13lb, 1 ; Jack, 8s a 31b, 2; Quibble, 9st 61b, 3. District Timi y Trot, of 15 sovs— Marengo, 1. Weltei !- Handicap, of 50 soys— Derby, lOst, 1 '. Mammoc, list 121 b, 2; Leah, lOst, 3. Novel Race, of 25 soys— Goldfinch, 1, . Flying Handicap, of 30 soys — Tornado g 7st 91b, 1 ; College Boy, 7st 91b, 2 ; St, t Agnes, 6st 81b, 3. Consolation Handicap, of 15 sovs— Temuka, 6st 121 b, 1 ; Miss 3 AVebster, 7st 121 b, 2 ; Leeston, Bst 71b, 3,