SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8062, 1 October 1887, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. NKW ZBAL4ND. September 27—Napier Park Hieing Club. 8-pt mber29, SO—G"r»li!iuo ttacl n* Club, October 3, 4— Hawse's Bay Jock»y Club. October 19—Poverty Bay Turf Club. October -22—Pakaraaua iluutC nb. November 8, 0, 10—Canterbury Jockey Club. 1 November 9 — Wanganul Jockey Club November 9 and 12—Auckland Racing Club. December 26— Hawlce's Bay Jockey Club. December 26, January 1, 2-Auckland Racing Club. Decemlwr 29 -South Auckland Racing Club. January -Canterbury Juc«ey Club. April 3Auckland "acing Club. March 16, 17—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. June 9 -Auckland Racing Club. June 21—ilawke'i Bay Jockey Club.

AUSTRALIA. October B,ls—Victorian Am near Turf C!ub. October 29, November 1, 3, 6—Victoria Racing Club. December 31Victoria Racine Club.

, DATES OK COMING KVIiNTS. October 3—llawke'i By Guineas. October —tlawke's Bo; Spring Handicap. October 22 — Pakurnnga Hunt Club. October 15- Caulfle (1 Cup. 'October V. K.i'. Derby. November I—Melbourne Cup. November —New Zealand Cap. November Oanteronry Derby. November 9—Prion of Wales stakes (Auckland). November 10—Canterbury Hup. December 26— < ucklan'l Derby. January 1 - Auckland Cup. January 2—Auckland Steeplechase. April .tfaster Handicap (Auckland.)

CooNTaYiTE. — West Australian was got by Melbonn e from Mowerma, by Touchstone. Qumiv.— Tim Whifller was ridden by J. Wattle when be won the A. it.C. Derby. M.II.—Musket was bequeathed by tho Carl of Glitgow to Sir. George Payne, along with £30,000. SuB*CBiBBEU—We know nothing of the sweep you mention, so 'that we cannot s*y whether it it a bona fide affair or not.

J.—Prior to winning the Melbourne Cup, Sheet Anchor was beaten by Trenton at .wei«ht.-for-a;.j in the Melbourne Stakes. In tho first-named race the weights were:—Trenton, 7at J3lb; Sheet Anchor, 7«t lllb.

H.J.—Vanguard was taken to Australia, but going amiss In his' training, he never started in any race. It Is understood that Disowned has gone wrong, but so far as we at present know ho still remains in lor the Melbourne Cap. Dispcxi:.—X. Lady Norali was sold as a yearling for 325 guineas. 2. We cannot Say for certain, but bolleve that the conditions of Trenton's sale Were £500, and an additional £500 if he won oltuer the New Zealand Cup or Canterbury Derby. NOTES BY PHAETON!,

The Hawke'a Bay Jockey Club's meeting opens on < Monday next, and so far as at

present can be seen there is every prospect of some good sport. Oa the first day The Guineas will be the principal race set down for decision. The C.J.O. Derby favourite," Maxim, figured amongst the acceptors, bat so far as we at present know he has not been shipped North, so that whether he will-tike part is at present shrouded in doubt. At one time I thought Bangle had a bit of a mortgage on the race, but if she does no better in the race than in her trial Lady Florin will beat her, I feel certain. Toe Spring Handicap, for which the following have accepted, will come up for decision on the second day:—Pearl, Bst 10lb; The Shah, Bst 81b ; Turquoise, 8»t 31b ; Administrator, Bst2lb; Laurel, Bst 2lb; Strenuous, 8»t lib ; Maxim, 7st I3lb ; Rivulet, 7*t 71b ; Salisbury, 7st slb ; Lady Florin, 7»t 51b; Orwell, 6at 10lb

Forty was the number of nominations which it was generally expeoted the Auckland Cup would draw, but it was never anticipated that it would require such an array of the rough division to bring the entry up to that number. Looking down the list, I think it may safely be said that a third of those engaged could thus early be numbered with the dead and buried for all the chance they possess of winning. It is quite a conundrum to me how readily some owners find the two sovereigns for the privilege of seeing what weight the handicapper will put ou their "orocks." But there, I woß't be haruh, it pleases them and doesn't hurt anyone. Tbe present week has been one of the dullest experienced in sporting circles for many months past. Betting there has been none, and the cutting south-west wind which has bean blowing during the past few days has had the effect of completely clearing the " corner" of its usual denizens. The receipt of the details of the A.J.O. meeting, and what is the rating fancies for the Caulfield Cup early in the coming week, however, should bring about a more brisk state of matters.

The defeat of Trident at the hands of The Australian Peer, at weight-forage, in the Hand wick Plate, on Saturday la*t, is one of those periodical boilovers that bring home in a striking manner the correctness of the aphorism, " you never can tell till the numbers go up." If ever there seemed a " moral" on the face of the turf, the race in question looked one for the Hon. Mr. White's champion, for in addition to his stable mate Aberdeen, he was only opposed by Australian Peer, who had not only failed in the Derby, but could not even win the Maiden Stakes from Cranbrook on the Thursday preceding. That the champion was a " lump off 1 ' his true form, the time of the race gives abundant proof, for, if the cable speaks correctly, the journey took scuiQ 51£seo to accomplish. Trident's defeat was cabled over early, and those in possession of the information made the best of the opportunity to sneak a bit about Australian Peer for the Melbourne Cup at long prices. Looking, however, at his mediocre display in the Derby and his failure in the Maiden Plate, his chance in the Cap does not bear the stamp of being a very rosy one.

The news from the South concerning Nelson is of a more satisfactory character. Though he still limps slightly when waiting it is said to altogether disappear when he is going fast. On the strength of the improvement the ohampion has again worked his way to the top of the quotations, and by last advices he was an equal favourite with Lochisl at Bto 1. Artillery has also been: putting in some good work, ana one day last week at Riccarton recorded the fastest once round that has been got through this season.

As I anticipated, the brilliant form dieplayed by Aborcorn and Niagara has had the effect of deciding Mr. O'Brien not to take Sextant over to Australia to try conclusions with the Australian cracks, and therefore backers need no longer question the son of Robinson Crusoe fulfilling his Canterbury engagements should he keep all ri»;ht. Since it was known for certain that Sextant would not cross the water he has hardened considerably for the New Zealand Cap, and is now quoted at 100 to 10.

After Friendship's easy victory In the Suburban Plate, at Otahuhu, on Saturday last, the Railway Plate (6 furlongs), in which she had only 2lbs more to carry, was voted a real good thing for her, but Taylor did not keep so close to the leadar as in the first race, and coming a bit late, he could get no closer than third. It was stated after the race that the horses were started at the wrong post, and had run seven furlongs instead of six, and this, I have since heard, is correct.

"Olympus," the Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Witness, has always had a great liking for Mr. Mitchelson's colt Tranter in connection with the V.R.C. Derby, and in a recent letter to that journal he says : — " Understand me, I am not any more enamoured of Abercorn than ever I was. I stated months ago that both well at the post Tranter should be my fancy ; and I have no need to alter the statement up to the pre* sent. Rather t'other way." The son of Musket and Pungawerewere has not received much support at the hands of Auckland turfites for the blue riband, but nevertheless, should a victory be in store for his plucky owner, 1 ma;;e bold to say that a cheer will go up such as has rarely been heard here over the result of an Australian race.

The old 'ohaaer Hawthorn has usually been dubbed " as slow as a top," but his display in the Otahuhu Steeplechase on Saturday placed him in quite a different colour, and though he baulked no less than three times during the journey, he was even then equal to the task of winning. When Exchange was seen to get on terms with the old caestnut half way up the straight, it waa generally thought to be all over with him, but to the surprise of everyone, he stuck to his opponent, and after a ding-dong battle all the way up, Edgecumbe just managed to squeeze him homo a head in front. Hadfield rode a most patient race on Exchange, and both ho and Edgecumbe were warmly cheered for their display of horsemanship.

Antelope dodged her party very nicely at Otahuhu on Saturday last. in the Suburban Plate they stood her for a good few pounds, but she ran so badly as to never get near the front, and eventually finished pretty well at the tail end of the field, but in the Railway Plate, when a half-sovereign was the extent of their investments, she waltzed home in front in capital style, and her admirers received the nice little " div." of £11 17s. Mr. Thomas Chirnside, who, it will be remembered, purchased the valuable fillies by Musket—Sylvia and Musket—Onyx at the last yearling Bale of the Auckland Stud Company, and who a ahoit time back com-

mitted suicide, died a very -rich man. I Chirnside's real estate i* valued at £<M and the personal property at £60,000, ] £150. Mr. Chirnside never married] consequently he loft all he possessed t( brother Andrew. The will of anothei sportsman and breeder of thoroughbreds, John Finlay, pastoralist, was also prov« Melbourne recently at £119,000. MitrailleuM'« lister, Ricochet, is to Sword Dance this season. The daught Musket was last season mated with ] Cole, but no foal resulted.

The stallion Hilarious was killed recenlj w in the South by jumping into a ditch. Jl ro The Pakuraoga Hunt Club meet this aftijjl* | noon, at two o'clock, at Wattie's Hotel, Ijtb ' their weekly run. >, / ir a 1 lam desired to state that the members igf o the A.R.C. will be admitted to the PakjPh i ranga Hunt Club's meeting on the 22a| I just., on presentation of their tickets. lot Mr. Vallance has selected NordenfeMt aß a the mate for Rose d'Amour (dam of PashJp this season, and the daughter of Traduce® 3 was shipped to Auckland yesterday by thiP &.8. Tarawsra. pi The Canterbury men who came down til ' the Hunt Ciub races (says " Mazeppa") gives' it as their opinion that Nelson is far froiriw done with, aid were prepared to back their# opinion by a<j»epting any long odds offered against the crack. They say that he is certainly lame before and after every gallop, but that when fully extended he invariably cleans out everything opposed to him. What are we to make ff such a horse? The following amusing little par is from " Mazeppa's" naea : A little boy with a little harp was thp only musician performing at the Forbury tices last week. A friend suggests that at tthse small meetings, when it won't run a regilar band, a piano might be played in the rojal box, if only to amuse the ladies. ' \ The Victoria Aniteur Turf Club's meet ing opens' on Sattlday next, when the Guineas will be run. (The Cop will oomo up for decision on the Saisjrday after. Vanity Fair of July after announcing that the subject of its text cartoon will be the Archbishop of Canterbury, gives a cartoon of a young man iell known in the southern part of New Zeijind, with tbe following notice: — "Men i the Day. No. CCGLXXXIII.—Mr. Hwy Ernest Sohlesinger Beiizon.—Not maW years ago an acquisitive Jewish man cate from Hamburg whose name was Scblesinget He manufactured iron in the Midland Counties, made money, and, reverting to a Edition that his family had once been called Bnzoni, changed his name to Beczon and maried. Remaining for many years children, he adopted a daughter, but sfwequistitlly to this he was blessed with a son Who has lived to inherit from him a large ittnne, and to earn from the bookmakers the Turf the title of the 'Jubilee . Jiifginii.' Mr, Benzou wag born one-and years ago, and, having propitiously attaint! his majority before the Derby, be calibrated the occasion by launching himself as.a plunger in support of the British Turf. Ye was at once taken up by the noble sportfoen who devote themselves to that form of trvice to their country, and he has contrirc<j|ince to plunge in a way that excites the adoration and wonder of the boldest traders in fetiing. Bat Mr. Benzon is much more shre«i| than any bookmaker could bo got to beliera and so far he has prospered mightily. H has moreover some good personal qualities. %e is rich, to the extent perhaps of a quarter,.! a million, he is good-natared, he dresses Ikes and dispendiously, he is devoted to the Mr sex, he is fond of all manly sports and excises, he is fairly educated, a good lingult, and a man' who has never been known % break his word. Moreover, he drives 1 coach, and he is generally believed to havt been specially sent by Provideuce to tidfl racing men over the bad times. His ambi-\ tion is to end as a Tory member of Parlia-' ment.—Jkhit Junior."