Sporting Notes.

Lake County Press, Issue 695, 13 February 1896, Page 7

Sporting Notes.

[By Peeping Tom.]

The Autumn meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club commences next Wednesday and I am compelled to select probable winners of the first day’s events a week beforehand, and before I have seen the final acceptances. For the first Hurdle Race limile, I takeComeaway, Lupus, and Brin to be the three best in and I like them in that order. There are still nine left in the Dunedin Cup and the race has still a most open appearance. On recent form Saracen would appear to have a real good chance but my first fancy Skirmisher has not been running well and I am reluctantly obliged to set him aside as not having a chance. Tt is not yet certain that St. Hippo will come to Dunedin, and if he does I scarcely think that ho can win. Prime Warden has not been running well of late, and Marine is not supposed to be at his best in the matter of condition. Gipsy Grand is coming on nicely and so is Hippomenes. Dilemma is going well in his work, but we hear little or nothing about Aldershot. All in I think the result will be Gipsy Grand, Saracen, Aldershot. For the Stewards Welter, Yictim, Bisley, and Vanquisher appear well in and 1 fancy that Yictim will just about win. To pick the winner of the Publican’s Handicap is a task that I scarcely feel equal to, but Hippomenes, if reserved for this event, will take a deal of beating. In his absence I fancy Maremma or Ambush. Maiden Plate—Remorse II or Medicus; Champagne Stakes—Marlin or Bombshell j Selling Race—Captive or Bizarre ; Selling (2year old) Race—Marquis of Zetland. The trotting mare, Jess, has been disqualified for life and the disqualification of the owner held over for twelve months'. This is the decision arrived at by the Oromwell Stewards on 3rd inst. and all must admit that the Club in question has taken every care to arrive at- a just and proper conclusion before passing sentence. Mr Rivers, on bis part, lias acted in the most honorable and straightforward maimer throughout the whole enquiry. “ Ringing in ” is becoming far too common now a days, and it must be put down with a firm hand, if racing is to be a success in future. One unsatisfactory part of the Jess enquiry is the fact that at the fast meeting of the Cromwell Stewards, two affidavits were produced, ono from Mr C. Hobbs, of Timaru, and the other from Mr E. Duncan, of Skippers. Mr Hobbs swears that the mare Elian was branded A under the mane, and Mr Duncan swears that he branded the mare, Jess, A after buying her. Now

If Jess is Elian, either Duncan or Hobbs has sworn a false affidavit. This is a most serious matter under any circumstances, and one that I should like to see cleared up. Few if any who knows Mr Duncan will believe for one moment that he would take a false affidavit to serve any purpose whatever and in this instance his assertion that he branded the mare Jess is corrobo rated from other sources. I do not mention this in any fault finding spirit with the Club’s decision but merely point out that a sworn affidavit should at least be true and reliable.

The Maniototo Races appear to have been fairly successful, but marred somewhat as usual by an attempted swindle in one of the Trots, However the fraud was detected in time and the mare disqualified for life. Jack Scoles’ two old racers, Sebastapol and Stimulant, both won races at the meeting. The firstnamed, according to the Dunstan Times, winning three events, and Stimulant captured the consolation. Vanquisher won two races at the meeting and Ilex carried off the Naseby Cup. The best dividend, £22 7s was paid on Liracor in the Two and a half-mile Trot.