SPORTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXV, Issue 7864, 20 May 1886, Page 5

SPORTING.

GERALDINE AUTUMN MEETING. The following are the acceptances and entries for the Geraldine Meeting:— HANDICAP HUBBLES. Mr G, Rutherford's Master Agnes Messrs M. and C. Hobbs' Moody Mr G. W. Osborne’s Panic Mr J. Higgins’ Secretary. AUTUMN HANDICAP. Mr S. Higgott’s Patrician Mr H. Goodman’s Sweethriar Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Jack, GANG FOE WARD HANDICAP. Mr H. Lunn’s Canard Mr D. Rutherford's The Lad Mr H, D. Bradley’s Victor Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Moody Mr E. W, Osborne’s Marmion. HANDICAP HURDLES. Mr G. Rutherford’s Master Agnes Mr T. Sheenan’s Azim Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Borderman Mr J. Higgins’ Secretary. RAILWAY STAKES. Mr S. Higgott’s Patrician MrH. Goodman's Sweetbriar Mr H. D. Bradley’s Bose and Gold Mr H. Hammond’s Madonna Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Jack Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Melville. TALLY-HO HANDICAP. Mr H, Lunn’s Canard Mr D. Rutherford’s The Lad Mr H. D. Bradley’s Victor Hon E. Rodney’s Herrington Messrs M, and C. Hobbs’ Moody Mr E. W. Osborne’s Marmion. SELLING RACE. Mr J. Moorhead’s Brunette Mr H. Hammond’s Conundrum Mr J, E. Pilbrow’s Miss Lyle. NOVEL PLAT RACE. Mr J. Moorhead's Brunette Mr J, Moorhead’s Bagshot Mr J. E. Pilbrow’s Miss Lyle. NOVEL HURDLE RACE. Mr J. Moorhead’s Bagshot Mr P, Cotton’s Sir William Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Milo Mr B. W. Osborne’s Panic, DEATH OF MATA. [By Action.] On Monday last, a bullet put an end to the existence of that once famous gelding Mata. He was bred in 1874, by Mr Henry Redwood, at Spring Creek, and was by Dead Shot out of Raupo, by Diomedes, out of Phoebe, by Sir Hercules. His first appearance on the turf was in 1877, and since that year he has been constantly racing. During his career he won many valuable races, the most important of which were two Dunedin Cups, the Victoria Racing Club Handicap, and the Queen’s Birthday Cup at Adelaide. He was without doubt one of the gamest horses that ever trod the turf, and the mention of his name will awaken many incidents in connection with Colonial racing. Lately he developed

string halt, and it was with the greatest difficulty he could move about, so Mr Pilbrow on his return from Australia ordered him to be destroyed, and on Monday last a friendly bullet sent one of the most honest horses that ever looked through a bridle to his last resting place. Being a great admirer of the old horse, and desirous of obtaining a relic of him, Mr Pilbrow very kindly made me a present of his fore feet. Below I give a resume of his racing career.

Mata did not sport silk as a two-year-old, but made his deb&t on the turf in his breeder’s name as a three-year old, when he carried off the C.J.C. Handicap in very easy fashion, finishing in front of Ariel, Danebury and six others. At the same meeting he ran third to Ariel and Trump Card in the Canterbury Cup, in which race Templeton and Chancellor also ran. He was afterwards purchased by " Mr G. Fraser,” but on account of his hocks giving a lot of trouble he was not raced again until the Autumn of the following season, when he ran the memorable dead heat with Sinking Fund in the Dunedin Cup, and in the run off won by half a head. He was then taken on to Timaru, where he carried Bst 3lb to victory in the Timaru Cup in front of Chancellor (6st 101 b) and Templeton (9st 101 b). His next appearance was at the C.J.C. Autumn meeting, and after running third to Longlands and Natator in the Great Autumn Handicap, and second to Fishhook in the Flying Stakes, he came out and beat Longlands by a neck for the Easter Handicap. He then became the property of Mr E. Cutts, and as a six-year-old he made himself conspicuous by winning no less than, eight out of nine races in which he started, his only defeat being in the Great Autumn Handicap, when carrying 9st 81b, he ran second to Camballo (Bst). His first win that season was at the Dunedin Autumn meeting, where he placed a second Dunedin Cup to his credit, beating Titania, Foul Play and seven others. He also won the Railway Plate and Queen’s Plate, the latter race after a dead heat with Volunteer. His next appearance was at the C.J.C. Autumn meeting. After his defeat in the Great Autumn Handicap, alluded to above, he walked over for the Epsom Stakes, and beat Le Loup by a head in the Plying Stakes, At the South Canterbury meeting, a few days later, he easily appropriated the Trial Stakes and Plying Handicap, and carried lOst to the fore in the S.C.J.C. Handicap, beating Betrayer, Titania, and two others.

On July 8, 1880, the late Mr Vallance sailed for Australia, taking with him Mata and Camballo, and the subject of this article when next heard of was playing an important part at the Y.E.C. Spring meeting. It will be remembered what a deal of New Zealand money went on him for the Melbourne Cup, won by Grand Flaneur, in which race he was not among the first half-dozen. He also ran unplaced in the Eoyal Park Stakes, but in the Y.E.C, Handicap he had all his own way and won easily. The stewards of the Victoria Eacing Club then held an investigation of his running at the meeting, and ultimately disqualified him, and Eay, who rode him in the Eoyal Park Stakes, for ever. He then became the property of Mr H. Haines, who for a time hacked him about the streets of Melbourne. The Australian Eacing Club would not endorse the disqualification, and Adelaide was the next place in which he distinguished himself. At the A.E.C, Autumn meeting he carried all before him, winning the Queen’s Birthday Cup, value 900 sovs, carrying 9st 21b, and beating Progress (9st) and eleven others. On the next day he ran a dead heat with Koh-i-noor in the All-Aged Stakes, winning in the run off. He was immediately afterwards weighed out for the May Handicap, and with the crusher of lOst stb, waltzed. home in front of, Blue Eibhon and nine others.

Mr J. Stephenson then became the owner of this famous horse, and he ran unplaced in that gentleman’s colours in the Forbury Handicap at the Dunedin Autumn meeting of 1884. He next won a Selling Eace at the Dunedin Winter meeting, in May, 1884, and Mr Pilbrow became his owner at the small price of 41 sovs. Since then he has been victorious on many occasions, but his principal performances during the past two seasons were his successes in the Free and Eiccarton Welter Handicaps at the C.J.C. Spring meeting in 1884. He commenced his racing career with a win, and so he ended it, completely breaking down when he won the Maiden Eiders’ Selling Eace at the last MetropoEtan meeting. FOOTBALL. The Christchurch sud Bast Christchurch Clubs announce a grand tournament on the Queen’s birthday at Lancaster Pork. The fixture between the Christchurch and Wellington Clubs will start at 1,15 p.m , and be followed by the Bast Christchurch and Athletic (Wellington) match at 3 p.m. The following are the representative teams in the latter matchßast Christchurch —Hobbs, Eayner, Francis (captain). Harden, Taiaroa, Moorhouse, Atack, Atkinson, Dow, Fooks, Hyman, Holmes, Kesteven, Missen, Wilson. Athletic —Kivel, Pearce, King (captain), Mann, Luckie, M'Caus)and, Simpson, Control, Day, Malcolm, Moore, Kennedy, Taiaroa, C. Richardson, and another; emergency—B, burns. The following will represent Eaiapoi in their match against Sydenham, to ho played at Kaiapoi, on Saturday j—Marshall, Coleman, Wilson, Bdmonds, Reid, Scott, Clothier, Ayers, Catohpole, Keualdi, Eevell, Maber, Burn, Murphy, Little. The following teams will represent the Richmond on Saturday next against Christchurch second fifteen ballantyne, De Mans, Haydon, Moore, o, Serimgeour, Williams, Gatherer, Butcher (captain), Napier, Sorton, Beckett, M. M’Cleary, M’Ginaty, Mills, F. Knight, on the Christchurch ground. Against Linwood, on Richmond ground. North Park—Heslop, Ajnsley, 'Taylor, Beckett, De Maus, H. Hennessy, Griffin, Brown, Hawkes, Higginbottom, M’Kay, Faulkner, Bird, Moore, Thomson. Play to commence at 2.30 p.m. The following will represent the Bangiora Juniors against the Sydenham third fifteen on Monday, May 24, at Bangiora : - T. Sheehan, A. Pearce, T. Eowse, H. Wilson (captain), J. Nicholas, W, dn Moulin, J. Sinclair, P. Keir, H. Eowse, H. Beaton, W. Henry, Harioo Thompson, C. Hammon, W. Manning, and G. Amor; emergencies—J, Sansom, A. Miles. The following will play for North Canterbury against Merivale, at Christchurch, on Saturday, May 22 A. T. Chapman, C. d’Auvergne H. Wilson, O. H. Haskell, B. O. Dixon, G. H. Helmore, E. B. d’ Auvergne, F. Horrell, W. Murfitt, C. B. Torlesse, A, E. M’Neil, E. B, Millton, G. dn Moulin, W. Chapman. The following will represent the Merivale in their matches on Saturday.- —First fifteen v. North Canterbury, on the North Park—Eicjhards, Crowe, Dallas, Halley, Ashby, Mountfort, Garrard, Evans, Horner, Haskins, Bennett, Dewsbury, Bourke, Lowry, Sewell. Third fifteen v. Normal Students, on Cranmer square—White, Percy, Lewin, Woodward, Cook, Smart, Childs, Garrard (2), Leach, Mundy, Button, Henderson, Pitcaithley, Penberthy. Against Temuka on Monday, May 24, at Temuka—A. Turner, A, Dallas, O. Crowe, W. Biohards, W. Ashby, A. Mooutfort, W, Garrard (captain), G. Bennett, B. Dewsbury, E, Haskins, J, Horner, H. Lowiy, E. Sewell, B. Turner, and J. Woodward. The following will representthe Kingston in their match with the Union on Saturday, on the ground of the former, play to commence at 3 p.m. sharp Young, Patterson (captain). Smith, Irving, Ayrey, Thompson, Petrie, Mills, Beard, Webster, Marshall, Hal), Cox, Hayfield, Dennison; emergencies—Mauohlin aud Eowe. Tht following will represent the Union in their match with the Kingston, on the ground of the latter, play to commence at 3 p.m. sharp Hendrew, Helert, Lester, Stanley, Eowe, Duncan (2), Jack, Mackle, Bobbins, Beare, Burrell, Skinner, Currie, Ditford ; emergencies—Withers, O’Malley. The following will represent the Normal Students in their match with Merivale third on Saturday next ;— Alley, Alii -oh, Alfred, Bishop, Clark, Craddock (captain), Frizzell, Gray, Hall, Jack, Jones, Laiug, howley, Thompson, West. The match will be played on Cranmer square, commencing at 3 o’clock sharp. The Christchurch practice match to be played on the Exhibition site, south Park, will be betweentho following ;—Bennett, Mathias, Wehb, Harley, Harman, Wilkinson, Keswick, Turnbull. Haast, Somerville, Williams, Wood, Bunny, Harman, and Goodall—v, Fisher, Armitage, Alabaster, Curry, Edgar, Laurie. Muter, Hawkes. Preston. Stycho, Way, Goss. Hodgson. M’Dougall, Searell, Todd, Ward, Rich, Marshall, Cross, Frost, Taylor, and any ot The following have been chosen to represent the Sydenham on Saturday : —Second_ fifteen against Kaiapoi—Hall, Petrie, Murray, Johnston, Donnelly, Eohson, Morrison, Mair. Mace, Beach, Sullivan, Pender, M’Shury, Cain, and Nevin. A drag will leave the square at 1 o'clock sharp. Third fifteen against Normal College, on Sydenham ground— Thompson, Petrie, Bngg, Jack, Savage, Cain, Patterson, Dynes, Joll, Miller, Hobbs, Mann, Comer, Hanna, Wilson ; emergencies—Duckworth, OHiver, The following will represent the second fifteen of Christchurch in their match with the Richmond on Saturday, at North Park, nlay to commence at 2.45 p.m. -.—Broughton, Watson, Lightloot, F. Wilkinson, Craddock, Johnston, Broadhurst,

Cohen (captain). Ford, L.Haast, Talbot, Main'll all. Smith, Stack, Styche. PEDESTRIANISM. [Pxs Fbbss Association.J AUCKLAND, Mat 19, A six days’ walking match has been arranged between Speight and F. Morshead, of Auckland.