SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6362, 8 April 1882, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NKW 7.KAI.AND. April 10 anrt 11-C.inlurhury Autumn "Meeting. April 10:iii<l ll—Aα"klniiif Autumn Jli-tiii,-. April IS-Tali.-ipuivi .Tw.-kiv Cub Autumn .Muetins. Aliril -.'0 and ill-Timiiru Annual ll.iccs. A].ril 2f. anil 2<; -Si.'ith ranlnrlmry .1. (J. Meeting. 3l;iy '24— Uuncliii Winter -U.-i-tinff* May 24—New Zealand (Jrau.t National SU-epecl-.ase iiuctin.-. ATSTKAUA. Aliril 10 and 11 —Au.-::-a!i.wi .1. d;.'j Clu'j Motting. DATJCS OF F.NTKIKS AM' AirEI'TANcE-i. Anril ,S- Xmiiirv.lions for Tar.inaki IS.*:. "and Uerliv. 1-=.".. Al>r;l S-Xisiui:wtions tor Tal ; a ; nma l',a«. ANSWERS TO CORkK.SPOXHENTS. M V.". writes : •' l'id Foul I'lay ever win the C..T.C. Iliiiiiliejp;- - No. S T writi-3" "IsOap-a-l'io l>y Maribyrnol);; or Yattemkm." Hy Mariliyrn..n K . W waitps : " Wlu-ii one person backs a linrsi- n~.u-.is!. aiin-lu-r anil ouc duos nut start, are K-'.s i.tl '.'" 1 lit-lm-i;-r of t!ie horse lint (lid not start loses the wrr; r. ' \ M writes: " What does the term fea:!nT-we:-- I mean;" Tin; term is used to denote tlr.t a Iv.rse lun the lowest weight that is allotted, viz.: r.st. Tllia. N.i liorse, except two-year-olds, carries less lli.nl that amount in auy race. NOTES BY PH.-ETON. The Auckland Racing Club's Autumn Meeting takes place on Monday and Tuesday next, anil as our Summer Mooting passed all Its predecessors in point of excellence, so will, 1 think, the present Autumn Meeting for the same reason. The entries for all the events of the programme are very large, ajtil show a great improvement on previous yOPrs. We may, therefore, i think, with certainty look forward to having some excellent sport. Out of an entry of twenty-three for the Easter Handicap, seventeen paid the acceptance money, but owing to the disqualitleation of Randwick, the number has been reduced to sixteen. One or two others will, no doubt drop out before the time arrives for the start, but it is expected that at least the splendid fielil of twelve will sport silk for the event. The race is on all hands voted a very open one, and although the Slander filly and Mischief are very firm, there are not a few who think that " a dreaded outsider" will again get his head in front, hi fulfilment of my promise of last •week, I now propose to go through the list of horses engaged in the race, giving my views on the chances of each, and naming what I consider are the most likely winners. The following list shows the names of the horses engaged in the race, the weight they will carry, and the odds against their scoring a wia :—

The first we have to ileal with is Haul of Honour (Sst. Slbs.). There appears to be a doubt whether this mare can stay the distance, and some of the knowing ones even go so far as to say that she is no good over a mile and a half. How they arrive at this opinion I cannot say. Certainly she has never proved herself a non-stayer in public, for only twice has she started in races over 1 j miles—viz., in the Auckland Cup (21 miles), when she got second to Foul Play, and in the Papakura Handicap (1 j miles) last year. Therefore, I think it is rather premature to place her in that category. If she were in her best form, I should favour the chance of this speedy daughter of Fairy Queeu very much, but as she is not, I must pass her over. Mischief (Sst. Übs ) has not a big record to recommend her, for in nine attempts last season she only succeeded in getting home first on one occasion. This season she has shown a great improvement on her last year's form, and her third to Louie aud Luna in the Napier Handicap, with Sst. olbs. in the saddle, was a most meritorious performance. It will also be i-emembered that at the same meeting she gave Lady Emma a stone in the Railway Handicap, and got home before her. She looks in blooming health, and, after a gallop which I saw her do the other morning, I should, indeed, be doing the daughter o£ Malice an injustice by not affixing the label " very dangerous " to her name. King Quail (Sst.) is looking well. His ability to stay the distance we well know, for his victory in the last Auckland Cup must be still fresh in the minds of my readers. He has, however, plenty of weight up in this race, but may be depended on to beat more than will beat iiim. Larry (7st. lllbs.) is, I should say, the second string of the Papakura stable's bow, and •will probably be S'iut for the; Tradesmen's Plate, for which event lie has accepted. Slander filly (7st. lOlbs.) is a firm favourite at 4 to 1 for the event, and as appearances ■would go to show that she has been reserved for this event, is well entitled to the position she occupies, for she is voted on all hands to be the most consistent three - year - old of the season. Her performances over all distances, and sometimes carrying heavy imposts, stamp her as a good one, and, as a well-known authority On racing matters ha 3 said of the daughter of Hippo, "with Tfifc. olbs. on her, she i 3 fit to go anywhere." Her defeating Sir Modred at weight for age at Wanganui was in itself a splendid performance, aud shows what good stuff the filly is made of. As to what , form 3he is at present in we are entirely in the dark, for the filly was, with her other companions, taken to Papakura immediately on arrival, and probably ■we shall not see the colour of her coat until the day of the race. Backers, therefore, should be careful, in case she should come to the po3t as did the Peeress colt from the same stable at the Christmas meeting. Tim Whiffler (Tst. Olbs.) I have no fancy for, as I believe a mile and a-half is about hi 3 dart. Louie (7st. 51b3.) has a weight she should be able to move freely under, for with only lllbs. less she won the Napier Handicap, when anything but fit, in the fast time of 3min. Osees. She looks well in her coat, and has evidently trained On well. Soukar (7st. 51bs) is in very form, and has an excellent outside show. Angler (7st. 21bs.) if he were in good form, would have a big say in the race, but a3 he is very gross, I must give him the go-by. Yr-tapa (()3t. 121b5.) is all to pieces, and has, I think, seen his day. Dewdrop (Ost. lOlbs.), is the sole representative of the Epsom stable, and not a bad one either. The little mare has done a lot of work this season, and if she has recovered from the " gruelling" that shereceivedfeem Randwickatboth the Dargaville and £Te«rlerson's Mill meetings, should be among 'em when the final question comc3 up for decision. Lone Hand (Gst. lOlbs) possesses a good turn of foot, but hardly sufficient to make me think him dangerous in a race of this description. My Dream (Gst. lOlbs.) is a very different horse to when he was in Auckland last autumn. He does his work well, and "oil Dick " will have him pretty fit, but I think the distance will prove too far for his liking, Luekpenny (Gst. Slbs.) I have no fancy for, and the same remark will apply to N or M (Gst. 41b3.) and Gilderoy (O.st.). To recapitulate,' I like nothing hotter than Mischief, Slander filly, Louie, King Quail, and Dewdrop, and reserving to myself the right of alteration before the day, I give my vote in favour of Mischief. The Steeplechase is also a very open race, aud he will indeed be clever who can spot it. The following are the horses engaged :—

Grey glomus (list. Tibs.) looks very well, but ho is, X think, more at home over slicks, than country. Te Whetu (list.) is iu good iunii, but lie forfeited my good opinion the other morning by several times refusing the double hurdle. Matau (list.) is a very giddy horse at his jumps, but, if he has a good man up, should run a great race. Hard Times (10.it. 51ba.) has a leg, and the old lellow is not one of the best juirpcrs. U.irknway (lOst. 51bs.) is decidedly veil iu, but I think the severe course will fix him. Ciiteh'uin (lOst.) is a very clever jumper, and lias a good turn of speed. He v.on the Taranaki Steeplechase recently, which is, I am told, over as-severe a course as the Auckland one. If that be so, his chance must be considered second to none. His new owner has, I hear, "put his little bit on," and as he does not often make a mistake, the circumstance should not be disregarded. Wild Dayrell (lOst.) is, I beliere, a maiden at the business. He ia a

line upstanding horse, and appears pretty | tit. He takes his jumps well, and shows no inclination to turn, his head at any obstacle. Kakau (lOst.) belongs to the same stable as Catoli'em, and as the latter is without doubt the best of the two, will probably only be se.it to do the shepherd. To sum up, I like nothing better than Catch'eni, Matan, and Wild" Day re! 1. and to reduce them to one, my hat goes up for Catch'km. I shall postpone giving my selections on the other events until Monday, when I shall be better able to judge as lo what races owners intend to start their horses for. 'the disqualification of llandwiok. Ins owner (?), and jockey by the Taranaki .loekey Club for malpractices has of course been the talk of tho week, and the prompt action of the Auckland Racing Club in endorsing the decision of the Tarauaki Club lias met with general approval, lor a more " shady , ' proe, eding was never before perpetrated on any Xcw Zealand racecourse. A remarkable circumstance in connection with the case is the allocation that the jockey took physic tho iii-lit previous to the race for the purpose of wasting, to ride flat. lib., while on the first dav he could rid,. '.Ist. without declarin" overweight. W,- are told that the police have learned sonic tacts in regard to tho case, and that a weight has been found iiiissiii" from a certain place. That's all ri"ht, "but I'm pretty well satisfied that tho doctored weight used in this case did not belong to Taranaki. It is such disgraceful proceedings as these that briuj: the turf into disrepute, ami in all such cases where there is even suspicion, and it not ofte'i errs in these eases, prompt and condign punishment should be meted out to the olienders, for they are a disgrace to the turf. It is also said that an action is to be taken against tho 'J'arauaki Club for the purpose of compelling the stewards to pay the stakes over to tho Jiaudwick party. Ido indeed hope the case will be taken into Court, for under the searching legal investigation there, many unpalatable 'facts will" be disclosed. The stewards will thun have an opportunity of showing the grounds they had of coming to the decision they did in disqualifying Randwick, his alleged owner, and jockey, and it is not impossible that the present unknown history of the doctored weight may be made known to an interested public.

The Canterbury Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting opens on Monday next. For the big event of the meeting—the Great Autumn Handicap—fourteen horses have made the final payment, which must be considered very satifactory. If Libeller is fit and well on the day, the little fellow should, I think, be there or thereabouts for this event, and as I understand that The Poet is a bit oil", I shall look for Natator and Matakau to be his immediate attendants.

On Saturday next the nice little meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club takes place. The course has been greatly improved in various ways, and altogether the stewards and the indefatigable secretary have loft no stone unturned in endeavouring to make the meeting a very great success. A saddling paddock, (iti feet by 132, has been fenced oil', and boxes, jockeys' room, weighing room, and other conveniences have also been erected. Nominations for Handicap Hurdle Race, Takapuna Produce Stakes, Devonport Handicap, Selling Race, Handicap Steeplechase, ami Devonport Ferry Company's Handicap close to-night witlx the secretary, Flagstaff Ho-el, North Shore, or in care of Mr. \V. Perrtival, up to 10 p.m. The weights are due on Wednesday next, and acceptances are to be made by 10 p.m. on Thursday. Commotion, who ran second to Darebin in the V.R.C. Derby, and afterwards defeated the son of the Peer in the St. Leger run last month, recently changed hands, being purchased by Mr. \V. Peuder for the large sum of £1400 guineas. Pell Mell, a stable companion, was also sold for a like sum to Mr. \V. Pearson.

When the mail left Sydney. Sweet William was the first favourite for both the HawkcsIniry Haudicap and Sydney Gold Cup at 4 to 1 each. It will be seen in another column that ho was defeated in the first-named race by The Drummer, whose price was 12 to 1. The protest that was entered against Little Nell, for the Panmure Maiden Plate, on the ground that the mare had won an advertised prize of 12sovs., has been disallowed. Mr. Bates lias decided on disposing of The Poet, and the son of Auteros is in the market for sale. The greyhound Princess Dagmar, winner of the Waterloo Cup in ISSI, was recently sold for £300. It will be remembered that her owner refused an oiler of £1000 for her just prior to the Waterloo Cup this year. The American horse Iroquo's is first favourite at 10 to 1 for the City and Suburban Handicap to be run at Epson on April 19. Iroquois' weight is 9st. Marden was first favourite for the two thousand guineas at 7 to 1 when the mail left London, and Bruce for the Derby at 8 to 1. An American bred colt named Gerald is second on the list for the latter race at 7 to 1.

Lord Falmouth's crack filly, Dutch Oven, who was supported very freely for this year's Derby, has (says Bell's Life) gone quite wrong. All hopes, therefore, of seeing the filly tread in the footsteps of Kingcraft and Silvio, on Epsom Downs, must, under such circumstances, be regarded as gone. The well-known sport/Mr. M. Gallagher, returntd to Auckland by the Rotomahana, after a two months tour in the South Island.

An anonymous correspondent sends the following :—"The success of the stout Venison blood, so often chronicled, was very marked at the late meetiug of the Victoria Racing Club. The following positions were attained by the offspring of Panic, Tim Whitller (English), and Lord of Linne :—First in Hurdle Race, first and second in St. Leger, first in Corinthian Cup, first and second in Australian Cup, first in Newmarket Handicap, first and second in Town Plate, first and third in Steeplechase, second in Brunswick Stakes. All the horses thus placed, with the exception of Pollio (by Tim Whiffler), the winner of the Australian Cup, and Hyacinth (by Lord of Linne), the winner of the Newmarket Handicap, were sons and daughters of I'amc. In all instances these carried heavy weights. It 13 to be regretted that we have so little of the Panic blood in this colony. All his stock are remarkable for their excellent legs ami feet, and for their stoutness and power of endurance. They mako admirable hacks, hunters, and steeplechasers. These are the things we ought to have, and these are the things we have not."

THE DISQUALIFICATION OF RAND. WICK.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —As I perceive by this morning's paper that the Auckland Jockey Club have endorsed the decision of the Taranaki Jockey Club in reference to this matter, I hope you will allow me to publish the following facts, which I think will convince all disinterested persons that the decision is unfair and unjust. lam accused with having knowingly ridden the nice on the rjlst March last, weighing less by one atone than the weight lixe'd. I maintain thai; the decision arrived at is without the slightest foundation, as the fallowing facts will show: —My own weight the day after I rode the race, and after my weight bad been cjuestioned, was Ssfc. Hlbs., and this weight was ascertained in the presence of Mr. Humphries, the clerk of the .scales, and .Mr. Williamson, tin: .supposed owner of Larry, the second horse, and other persons, in addition to my own weight, my saddle weighs not less'than olbs.; the saddle cloths or rubber, lib.; breastplate, Mb. When my weight was taken after the race I had no waistcoat or colours on ; when I rode I wore them, and carried about olbs. of lead in -ny pockets to make up the required weight. X am willing to be weighed now as I aland, and as it is only seven days after the race, all impartial persons will admit that I cannot have made lllbs. of flesh in that period, which 1 must have done if the theory -jf the Jockey Club is to be sustained. It is a very strange thing that after the alleged tampering with the weights had been discovered, that I was not recalled and re-weighed with that weight, instead of letting the matter stand over to the following day, when the weight had disappeared. I unhesitatingly state that there is not the slightest foundation for the accusation made by the Tiiranaki Club, and a-, the matter will be brought before a legal tribunal, 1 ask the public to defer coming to a decision on the case until all the facts are brought out. It is, of course, a very serious matter for me, as I make my living by riding, and I am therefore eager for a thorough inquiry in order that my character may be cleared. In conclusion I would ask the Auckland Jockey Club, who I am sure will lie impartial, to have me and my gear which 1 rode in weighed at once, so that my weight can lie ascertained and recorded, sufficient lime not havinp elapsed since the race (only 7 days) for such a wonderful increase of weight to take place. lam prepared, at their request, to come before them at any time for that purpose.—l am, &.c, J, Williams, i Randwick'a Jockey.

Odds. Horsos. AVeight. Trainers. st. lb. j 00 to 10 Maid of Honour 3 S J. Thornton 309 to 25 Mischief S 4 Y. Martin 100 to 15 King Quail SO S. Horsfatl 300 to 12 Larry! 7 11 J. French 109 to 33 Slander flllv 7 10 J. French 100 to 10 Tim Whilller 7 9 J. Thornton 100 to 20 Louie 7 5 J. Chati'e 100 to 15 Soukar 7 5 J. Munn 100 to 7 Aucler 7 2 P. Murtugh 100 to 3 Yatapa G 12 J. Hunt 100 to 10 Don-drop 6 Iβ J. Laing 100 to S Lone Hanil G 10 J. Thorpo 100 to 15 My Dream 0 10 It. Wheeler 100 to l> Luckpenny OS O. JIcGee 100 to 5 N. or M. C 4 K. Williams 100 to 2 Gilderoy l> 0 J. Wilmol. J Inclusive of 51b. penalty.

Odds. Horses. Weight. Trainers. St. 11). ICO to 23 Grey Mourns U 7 J lt-ie 100 to JO Te \Vhetu 110 C. Warren J00 to ;i:j Mitau 11 0 .7. lain* 1(0 to 11 Ilaril Times l.j r, o MeCue 100 to 2'J Hiirkaway 10 .1 ]•;. Willinnig 100 to !il> Uitcli'ciil 10 0 lj "J'-iylor loo to io -\yii4i uayrtii io o ]•:. w a y 100 to 10 R;ik:m 10 0 J). Taylor.