SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8263, 23 May 1890, Page 5

SPORTING.

THE NEWMARKET STAKES. Press Atsoeiation.—Ukclrie Telegraph.—Copyright.

London, May 21. At the Newmarket Meeting to-day the following was the result of the race for

The Newmarket Stakes of boOOsovs by subscription of 30sovs each. For three-year-olds: Colts, 9st; fillies, Bst 91b. The owner of the second horse to receive lOOOsovb, and the owner of the third 500sovs from the stakes. A. F. one mile anil two furlongs straight (161 subs).

Duke of Portland's br f Memoir, by St. Simon—Quiver, Bst 9lb 1 Duke of Westminster's br c Blue Green, by Cceruleus—Angelica, 9st 2 Baron de PvOthschild's ch c Le Nord, by Tristan—La Noce, 93t 3 Twelve horses started, amongst whom was the Hon. J. White's Kirkham. The Australian colt retained third place for a mile, but died away and finished fifth. Time, 2m. 12|s.

This is the second year in succession that the Puke of Portland has furnished the winner of this valuable Stake, his representatives last year, Donovan and The Turcophone, running llrst and second respectively, who, like this year's winner. Memoir, was bred by His Grace at the W'elbeck Stud. Memoir started on six occasions as a two-year-old, winning three of her engagements, viz., the Bradford Plate of 43050V5., the Zetland Biennial Stakes of 800 sots., and the Prendeigast Stakes of 572sors. In the Thousand Guineas, run on the 2nd of the present month, she wa* a contestant, when she finished second to her stable mate, Semolina. During last season the horses carrying the colours of the Duke of Portland piled up the great winning total of £73,858, and with such a great team of horses as he possesses, he will in all probability again distance all opponents in the matter of stakes won. THE AUSTRALIAN COLT KIRKHAM. London, May 22. The Sportsman considers that yesterday's running in the Newmarket Stakes disposes of Kirkham's chances for the Dei by. "Queen's Plates," in England, which were abolished some years ago, as not fulfilling the purpose for which they were instituted, namely, the improvement of the thoroughbred, were onco great features of the old country turf. Amongst great winners of Queen's Plates were Caller Uu, 34; Lilian, 27; Fisherman (afterwards imported to Australia), 26; and Rataplan, 19. In a work entitled " Winners of Royal Plates, in 1837," we rind that in England and Scotland these " Plates were 34 in number, and nearly all of them over three or-four miles of ground, interspersed occasionally with two mile heats. As a rule, three-year-olds which took part in them carried from 7st 91b to Bst, while the burden imposed on four-year-olds and upwards was generally from lOst to lOst 71b. Thus, at Newmarket, in the October of 1837. the Queen's Plate was run over the Round Course (three miles four furlongs, and 139 yards), and won by Mr. Sowerby s St. Luke, 4yrs, lOst 7lb.

The council of the Agricultural Society of Victoria have wisely determined not to include buck-jumping on the schedule for the next show. Such exhibitions are utterly useless, besides being cruel to a degree, ana quite outside the aims of an agricultural society. It has always been a wonder why the council retained buck-jumping on their prize list.

A largely-attended public meeting took place at Walker's Harbour View Hotel, Awanui, last week, Mr. Henderson, one of our local J.P.'s in the chair, when it was resolved to initiate a proper and bona Jute racing club on the coast. This is decidedly a step in the right direction, and so, evidently, thought some 50 influential settlers who attended the meeting. There is already a Waiapu Jockey Club, founded some time ago, supposed to be still in existence, but, as a speaker (Mr. Lincoln) at the meeting observed, " It having manifested no signs ot life for the last seven years or more, ought to be cremated, and (alluding to the new association) 'The Waiapu Racing Club Resurgum' written in its ashes." It is the proposed intention of a strong committee already formed (with power to add to its number) to absorb the above moribund club, and amalgamate the several small racing clubs along the coast, thereby at once removing the stigma attached to so-called public-house race meetings, and establishing a strong central and respectable racing association. Another public meeting will be convened at an early date, when the committee will report progress as to the selection of a site for a "course" somewhere inland, which it is proposed to purchase, fence, etc.