SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8488, 12 February 1891, Page 5

SPORTING.

WHITFORD PARK RACES. The Annual Race Meeting at Whitford Park is to be held to-day; but, unfortunately, for the success of the gathering, the weather promises to be anything but favourable—steady rain having set in last night. There are seven races on the _ programme, and good racing should be witnessed, the more so as the majority of the events will have, comparatively, large fields. This morning the steamer Waitoa leaves Queenstreet Wharf at eight o'clock for the course, returning at seven p.m. Mr. T. McEwin is to provide luncheon on the course. Mr. L. I). Nathan has invited a party of the officers of H.M.s. Curacoa to be present at the meeting.

- THE DUNEDIN MEETING. [BY TKLKGIIAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] Dunkdin, Wednesday. Very little work of importance was done at Forbury to-day, the only gallop worth mentioning being accomplished by Wolverine and Wayland, the former going about two Major George's horses, Fiesole and Reprisal, arrived safely by the s.s. Hauroto to-day, and were walked up from Port Chalmers to Dunedin.

Many humorous and interesting anecdotes are (says an English writer) recorded in connection with past St. Legers; of the ten false starts of 1813; of the D#t of £1000 to a walking-stick against Theodore (who started at 100 to 1 in a field of 93, and won) in 1828 ; in 1825 of the news carried to Manchester by dogs trained to hunt by trail, and of pigeon expresses to London; of 1827, when 40 false starts (designedly made) lost Mameluke the race, and enabled Matilda to win, for which Robinson, the jockey, received £1000 ; Of the eccentric James Hurst, who died in 1829, aged 91, and who for many years frequented the races clad in coats, inexpressibles, and hats of sheepskin, and the waistcoat of drakes' feathers he loved, drawn by dogs, asses, or his bull in a carriage made without nails, of his own design; of the celebrated dead heat between Charles XII. and Euclid, 1839; of the sensational victory in 1544 of Faugh-a-ballagh, against whom William Scott had laid £1000 that he did not see the post; of 180S, when _ the _Prince Regent witnessed the race, and in 1835, when the Queen (then Princess Victoria) visited the famous Town Moor; of 1861, when Kettledrum (favourite at C to 4) was defeated by the Mai ton mare, Caller Ou (who had run indifferently in the Oaks, and started at 1000 to 15); of 1823, when, after a false start, 23 out of 27 starters ran the whole course (12 started for the actual race, which was won by Barefoot, the winner of the previous race, Roseanne colt being unplaced); of 1863, when Lord Clifden, after losing 150 yds, splendidly ridden by John Osborne, eventually won; and the achievements of Gladiateur, Lord Lyon, Robert the Devil, Dutch Oven, Or monde, and ICilwarlin.