SPORTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 691, 29 May 1885, Page 9

SPORTING.

SPORTING NOTES. Queen’s Birthday appears to have been a fiDe day all over the colony, and race meetings were conducted successfully at several places. The principal meet, however, was the Dunedin Birthday, which commenced on Saturday. The hero of these races, apparently, was Captain Webster, •with whom Mr Stephenson won the Trademen’s Handicap and the Birthday Handicap, so that the son of St. Albans made a rather nice thing of it for his owner. The Provincial Handicap fell to Tim Whiffler, who at 7st lib could hardly fail to win if he were in anything like form. Both hurdles events were won by Little John, who seems, on. this and last year’s running, to be a very hard one indeed to beat on the Forbury •ground. With the exception of Rocket's ■victory in the Maiden, there was nothing else worthy of mention.

Up at Wanganui The Druid has distinguished, himself by winning the Wanganui Steeplechase ; and Billy-go-by-’em paid his supporters a dividened of £l6 7s by winning ■ the Grand Stand Steeplechase. Welcome Jack was never, dangerous in the Adelaide Cup, and he finished about tenth, being ridden by Ivemy. . The Australasian says of the Maori crack :—“ Strolling amongst the intending competitors we first : came across the--New Zealand champion, Welcome Jack, a stylish, symmetricallymade son of Traducer. Waiting until he was stripped ,of his clothing, we saw evidence of plenty of work of a certain kind, but he lacked the thoroughly trained appearance of a horse that had been wound up for a Cup contest. His coat was blooming, and his quarters muscular, but there was just a trifle too much upon his ribs to please us. Yet the party behind this Maori king’s throne expressed themselves satisfied as to his condition, and showed their faith in him by supporting him to win about £IO,OOO ; and still we were sceptical respecting his ability to get even a place, because we did not consider him as fit as he might be made. 'Sardius we found a vastly improved colt, and with due deference to those who were in ecstacies over the good-looking visitor from New Zealand, Sardius struck us as being even a grander horse.” The owner of Lord Wilton, winner of the Adelaide Cup, won only about £3,000 over the victory. Says “Augur’’ : —“ The announcement that Welcome Jack is to be sold by auction has created quite a flutter among racing men.” -

I clip the following paragraph from “ Phaeton’s notes Caspian,” the sporting contributor to the Sydney Town and Country Journal, republishes the remarks made in these columns on the blackmailing that took place at Christchurch on the Great Autumn Handicap, and also the remarks of “ Senex ” on the subject. It will be seen from the following remarks which he makes that the "Sydney scribe is quite at one with the opinion formed by myself on this blackmailing question. He says:—“ Now I would like to be informed on what grounds an owner can make a claim upon the holder of a horse in a sweep. Perhaps that man may have spent hundreds of pounds in sweep tickets, and he at last draws a horse, when the greedy owner comes down on him and demands half. W T hy ? Will that owner repay that man half the amount of money that it has and will cost him since he first began with sweeps and until he draws another ? The liberal horseowner would look upon that-as a hardship, but it would only be fair.” It is satisfactory to find that there are some opponents of the sweep .blackmailing system. I am indebted to “ Phseton ” for the following -interesting items -. Carbineer, the three-year-old son of Musket and Una, has undergone firing on both fore legs, so that it will be sometime ere we again see him sporting silk in public. After having undergone a very severe firing on both forelegs, old Lone Hand made his, re-appearance in public at the

meet of the Pakuranga Hunt Club on Saturday last. The old grey was still on his bad behaviour, and stuck up at almost every fence during the run.—Clarence did not start in the Steeplechase run at the South Australian Jockey Club’s Meeting, and it is quietly whispered about that he is being kept for the V. Grand National, to be decided at Flemington next month. The old ’chaser has gone into the Dowling Forest stable, and Mr Norman Wilsrn is put down as his new owner. For my part, I decline to believe that Mr Pilbrow has parted with the old ’chaser, and I shall be quite prepared to hear of the son of Ravensworth again carrying the green and salmon jacket of the Canterbury sportsman at an early date.—lt may interest turfites to know that, as a yearling, the highest priced among Mr John Field’s horses that have since become famous as racehorses was Blink Bonny, who realised £BS. Ringwood was sold for 35 guineas, and •Malua for'4o guineas, Stockwell £51,, Sheet Anchor £4O, and Tasman £35. Blink Bonny will be remembered as the winner of the rich Caulfield Cup last year, Ringwood annexed both the Hobart and Australian Cups, while Malua won the Newarket Handicap, Adelaide Cup, and Melbourne Cup, in 1884. Martini. By Electric Telegraph,—Copybight. (reuter’s telegrams.) v Sydney, May 25. The Birthday Handicap was won by Honeydew, with Venetia second, and Tom Brown third. Christchurch, May 26. Welcome Jack has been scratched for the New Zealand Cup. Napier, May 26. At the Petane races yesterday the chief event, the Birthday Handicap, of 100 sovs, was won by Mystery. Ugly Buck was second, Emir Bey third. Auckland, May 26. At the second day’s meeting of the Auckland Coursing Club for the President’s Gold Cup the attendance was small, owing to the weather. In the final heat for the Cup, Mr W. T. Buckland’s Chloe, by Kinpiri—Chloroform, beat Mr J. McCabe's East Lynne, by Crichhope Linn—Hinemoa. D. J. C. BIRTHDAY MEETING. (UNITED press association.) •Dunedin, May 22. The course for the D.J.C. Birthday Meeting to-morrow is rather heavy, but if no rain falls, the going will be very fair. There is very little betting, except in doubles. The Trotting Race has attracted most attention, and there are rumors that one of the horses engaged ha 3 been entered in a false name. The Jockey Club meet to investigate the matter. Later. At a meeting of the stewards this evening, it was decided to disqualify the mare Maud, as the entry was invalid, owing to the mare’s former name not having been given. Dunedin, May 24. The weather in the morniDg was rather threatening for the first day of the D. J. C. Birthday meeting. The afternoon turned out fine, but the attendance was only moderate. The racing was good. The following are the results : Selling Hurdle Race, 80 sovs. One mile and a-half, over seven flights of hurdles ; the winner to be sold.—Mr W. Hackshaw’s b g Little John, aged (G. Cotton), 1 ; Mr W. Browne’s b h Royalty, aged, 9st (Evans), 2 ; Mr Jno, Dooley’s b g Hector, 6yrs, lOst 71b (Joyce), 3. Tichborne, Foreman, and Gang-awa’ also Time, Smins 14secs. Totalisator dividend—£2 8s and £2 Gs, The winner was bought in £43. Maiden Plate, of 50 eovs ; weight for age ; 1 mile and a quarter.-—Mr A. G. Clark’s ch h Rocket, syrs (White), 1 ; Mr T. B. Mortimer’s b g May Boy, syrs (Dawson), 2 ; Hon G. McLean’s b g Matanaka, syrs (Kean), 3. Matipo, Toko, Sweetbriar, Captain Cook and Factory Girl also ran. Time, 2min 26sec. Dividends—£3 12a 6d and £3 15s 6d.

Provincial Handicap, 200 sovs, with a sweep of 5 sovs each added ; second horse, 30 sovs from the stakes ; 1 mile and a half.—Mr P. Butler’s b h Tim Whiffler, aged, 7st lib (Stratford), 1 : Hon G- McLean’s br m Lady Emma, aged, Sst (Kean), 2 ; Mr Stephenson’s eh h Taiaroa, syrs, 7st 101 b (Sharp), 3. Adamant also ran. Time, 2min 48sec. Dividends—£2 12s 6d on both machines.

In the Handicap Trot, Randall, with 20 secs start, came in first, Oliver, scratch, 2 ; Acrobat, 3. The stewards met and disqualified Randall for jostling Darkie and breaking, and gave the stakes to Oliver. The totalisator paid on Randall as first past the post. Dividends, £7 17s 6d and £4 10s. Selling Race, of 50 sovs. One mile and a distance.—Mr J. River’s br g Don Jose, aged, £2O, 7st 51b, 1 ; Mr J. E. Kennedy’s b g Laureston, 6yrs or aged, £lO, 6st 111 b, 2 ; Messrs M. and C. Hobb’s b g Jack, 4yrs, £3O, 7st 111 b, 3. Fifteen started. Time, 2min Bsec. Dividend, £5 Is. Tradesmen’s Handicap, of 100 sovs ; second horse to receive 10 sovs from stakes. One mile. The winner of the Provincial Handicap to carry 101 b extra. —Mr J. Stephenson’s b h Captain Webster, 4yrs, 7at 71b, 1 ; Mr P. Butler’s b h Tim Whiffler, aged, Bst (including 101 b penalty), 2 ; Hon G. McLean’s Matanaka, syrs, 6st, 3. Blue Jacket also ran. Sou’wester, Taiaroa, Talebearer, and Don Joe 4 were scratched. Time, lmin 50sec. Dividend, £2. A Hack Race closed the day’s proceedings.

The following have accepted for the Becond days’ races to-morrow. Hurdles. —Trapper, lOst 91b ; Garibaldi, lOst 91b ; Rocket, lOst 61b ; Glenara, 9st 121 b ; Hector, 9st 101 b ; Foreman, Bst 71b. Birthday Handicap. —Lady Emma, 7«t 121 b; Tim Whiffler, Taiaroa, 7et 71b ; Captain Webster, 7st 51b ; Adamant, Black Boy, 6st. Novel Race. Mokarakara, Bst 71b; Ouida, 7»t 51b ; Mayboy, Bst ; Laureston, 7st 81b; Jack, 7st 101 b; Resartus, 7st 81b; Yankee, Hazard, 7st 21b; Cheap Jack, 7st ; Lalla Rookh, 6st 121 b ; Toko, lOst; Factory Girl, sst 101 b.

St. Olair Handicap, —Taiaroa, 9st 91b ; Captain Webster, 9st 2IbJ; Borderman, Donjon, Bst 41b ; Ouida, Bst 21b. Thirteen horses have accepted for the Trot race.

Dunedin, May 25. The Becond day of the D. J. C. Birthday Meeting was successful. The weather was magnificent, and the attendance good. Handicap Hurdles. Little John, 1 ; Hector, 2 ; Foreman, 3. Dividends, £5 15s 6d and £7 16s. Time, 4min 30sec. Birthday Handicap.—Captain Webster, 1; Lady Emma, 2 ; Tim Whiffler, 3. Won by three lengths. Time, 2min 17isec. Dividends, £1 15s and £1 14s. Novel Race.—Mokarakara, 1 ; Jack, 2 ; Resartus, 3. Time, lmin 55aec. Winter Handicap Trot.—Daisy, 1 ; Oliver, 2 ; Dandy, 3. Time, Cmin 15sec. Dividends, £3 6b 6d and £3 12s. St. Clair Handicap.—Taiaroa, 1 ; Don Jos6, 2 ; Borderman, 3. Time, lmin 37Jsec. Dividends, £3 7s and £3 0s 6d. Totalisator Benevolent Girt.—Cheap Jack, 1 ; Warwick, 2 ; Resartus, 3. Dividend, £2 5s 6d. It was dark before the Consolation Race could be got off and as the judge was unable to place them, the race will be run to-morrow. Seven started. The total put through the machine [for the two days was £9972. Dunedin, May 26. The Consolation Race was run to-day, and was won by Jack, 7st 121 b ; Borderman, 7st 81b, 2 ; Hazard, 7st, 3. Seven started. The settling took place to-day, and the following amounts were paid over: —Mr J. Stephenson, £232 ; Mr P. Bntler, £250 ; Mr W. Hackshaw, £135; Mr J. F. Kitching, £65 ; Hon G. McLean, Mr A. G. Clark, and Messrs M. and C. Hobbs, £SO each ; Messrs J. Rivers and M. Sherwin, £BO each ; and several smaller sums, bringing the total up to £1157. Twenty-four nominations have been received for the Champagne Stakes, 1886. TAKAPUNA RACES. Auckland, May 25; The Takapuna Jockey Club races took place to-day. There was a fair attendance. The principal events resulted as follows : Birthday Handicap.—Castashore, 1 ; Victory, 2 ; Sir Bedivere, 3. Won easily. Selling Steeplechase.—Julia Ann, 1 ; Seagull, 2 ; Whalebone, 3. Won by a length. Handicap Hurdles.—Shotover, 1 ; Pipi, 2. Won by a neck. Selling Hurdle Race.—Shotover, 1 ; Derby, 2 ; Miss Griffiths, 3. Winter Oats Handicap.— Mystery, 1 ; Cinderella, 2 ; Castashore, 3. Selling Race.—Little Wonder, 1; Comet, 2 ; Notice of Motion, 3. Handicap Steeplechase.—Quilp, 1 ; Julia Ann, ’ 2 ; Seagull, 3. WANGANUI RACES. Wanganui, May 25. The Wanganui Steeplechase meeting came off to-day. There was a fair attendance, which would have been larger had not the weather been threatening in the morning, but the rain cleared off, and a nice bright day with light breeze made the meeting a very pleasant one. Ten horses started for the Wanganui Steeplechase ; 150 sovs, the resalt being—Mr T. Harrison’s Druid (Hedge), 1 ; Mr Bayley’s Caoutchouc (Edgecumbe), 2 ; Mr Russell’s Billy-go-by-’em (owner), 3. Dividend, £3 10s. Hack Steeplechase ; 15 sovs.—Waitangi, 1; Porotawa, 2 ; Alsace, 3. Dividend, £2 6s. Time, 3min 44sec. Maiden Steeplechase.—Mr A. Bayley’s Caoutchouc, 12st 31b, 1 ; Mr J. Stevens’ Diomeles, 12st 31b, 2 ; Mr D. Scott’s Abolition, 12st 31b, 3. Dividend, £B. Handicap Hack Steeplechase,—Porotawa, 10 st 101 b (McElwaine), 1 ; Mr Hughes’ Waitangi, list 71b (Edgecumbe), 2 ; Mr Hurst’s Waitai, 9st 121 b (Lee), 3. Time, 3min 48sec. Grand Stand Steeplechase.—Billy-goby-’em, 1 ; Pathfinder, 2 ; Rambler, 3. Time, 4min 55sec. Dividend, £l6 7s, Consolation Handicap, of 20 sovs. Nukurau, list 21b, 1 ; Pathfinder, 12st 71b, 2 ; Anaroa, llefc, 3. Time, 3 min 57sec. Total amount put through totalisators, , £1571. ■ MANAWATU BIRTHDAY RACES. Palmerston Norte, May 21. The following acceptances and general

entries for the Birthday meeting, to be held on the. Palmerston course on Monday next, were received last evening : Hurdles (acceptances)—Onepu, Skylark* Shamrock, Beauty Bright. ' Birthday Handicap Germaine, Ahau, Last Chance, Potaka, Stiletto, Shamrock, Beauty Bright. Maiden Plate (entries) —Beauty Bright, Onepu, Tam o’ Shanter, Voltaire, Soft Soap. Ladies’ Purse (entries) —Soft Soap, Lady Napier, Gallant, Royalty, Inanga, Polly. Palmerston North, May 26. At the Birthday Meeting of the Manawatu Jockey Club yesterday the weather was unfavorable and the course heavy, but the attendance was fairly good. The following are the results :

Handicap Hurdles, —Skylark, 1 ; Shamrock, 2 ; Beauty Bright, 3. Time, 4min 36sec. Dividend, £2 ss.

Hack Hurdles. Won by Davidson’s Ongo. Five started. Dividend, £4 13s. Maiden Race. —Onepu, 1 ; Soft Soap, 2; Beauty Bright, 3. - Time, 3min 15sec. Dividend, £l6 15s. Ladies’ Purse. —Hannah’s Gallant, 1 ; Fulton’s Inanga, 2 ; Pringle’s Lady Napier, 3. Time, 2min 6sec. Dividend, £4 2?. The winner was splendidly ridden. Birthday Handicap. —Scott’s Ahau, 1 ; Germaine, 2 ; Stiletto, 3. ,Last Chance and Potaka also started. Potaka fell at the back oE the course. Won by a length. Time, 2min 30 2-sth sec. Dividend, £3 13s,

Handicap Hack Race. —Harrison’s-Hogart beat three others. Dividend, £1 Is.

Novel Race. —Harrison’s Journal, 1 ; Derolle’s Restive, 2. Eight started. Dividend, £3 Bs.

£844 passed through the totalisator.

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. Christchurch, May 21. Very little speculation has taken place on the Grand National, which is fixed for Wednesday next. There is not a straight-out book on the event, but several metaliicians are laying doubles and trebles. All the horses are working satisfactorily. Liawood is considered almost a moral for the Grand National, and Master Agnes for the Hurdles. The Maiden Steeplechase will probably be a good race between Donald, Secretary, and Pickles.

Oep.istchup.ch, May 27. The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase meeting was held to-day, \ the weather being fine, but cloudy,, with a strong southwest breeze. The course was iu excellent order.- About 2000 people were present. Grand National Handicap, of 200 sovs ; about 4 miles.—Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Moody (O. Hobbs), list, 1 ; J. Kerr’s Linwood, list 41b, 2 ; Hon. R. Rodney’s Berrington, lOst llib, 3. H. Piper’s liavenswood (12st 71b), H. Lunn’s King Arthur (12st 41b), Protfit’s Scrutineer (12st 2ib) also ran. Time, llmiu 35sec. Totalisator—£6 11s 6dand £8 8s 6d. Betting—2 to 1 agst Linwood and Ravenswood, 3 to 1 agst Berrington, 4 to 1 agst King Arthur, 5 to 1 others. Cavalry Race, two miles, for piece of plate, value £lO.-r-Corporal Brown’s Hard Times, 1 ; Trooper Meikle’s Ben H., 2. Five horses entered, all belonging to members of the C.Y.C. Trooper Paterson was thrown, and somewhat severely hurt. Grand National Hurdles. Mr R. Leaver’s Secretary, lOst (Stewart) walked over. Master Agnes and Scrutineer were scratched. Maiden Plate, about two miles. —Mr Agnew’s Donald, 12st 31b (Lyford), 1 ; Mr G. B. Starkey’s Sefton (late Maori Boy), 12st 31b (F. J. Cotton), 2 ; Mr H. Lunn’s Pickles, 12st 31b (Lunn), 3. Totalisator dividends—£2 9s 6d, £2 Bs. Tally-Ho, about two and a half miles.— Kon R. Rodney’s Berrington, list (Lyford), 1 ; Messrs M. and C. Hobbs’ Moody, list 71b (Jeffersons), 2 ; Mr H, Piper’s Ravenswood (P. Campbell), 3. Time, smin. 57see, Totalisator dividends—£4 9s, £4 11s. Consolation Handicap, two miles, was won by Mr Proffit’s Scrutineer. About £4OOO was put through the two totalisators during the day.