SPORTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 838, 23 March 1888, Page 12

SPORTING.

BACINIG.

(By Martini.)

FIXTURES. March 23 and 24—Napier Park Autumn Meeting. March.3l and April 2—Wellington E. C. Autumn Meeting." April 2—Waipukurau J.C. Meeting. April 2 and 3—C. J.C. Autumn Meeting. April 2 and 3—Auckland R.O. Autumn Meeting. April 7—lsland Bay Autumn Meeting. April 12 and 13 —Taranaki J.C. Autumn Meeting. May 25—Porirua J.C. Autumn Meeting. lIECL. A RA.TION OF WEIGHTS. March 2C—Waipukurau Jookey Club. March 2S—Templeton Stakes, Epsom Welter Handicap. anti Russley Stakes, C. J.C. Autumn Meeting April 2 Island Biy Autumn Meeting Nominations, Acceptances. &c. March 24—General entries C.J.C. Autumn Meeting, acceptances Christchurch Hurdle Race Handicap, and further payments Great Autumn Handicap, Champagne Stakes, and Challenge Stakes. March 28—Nominations Island Bay Meeting. March 2S—Acceptances and Genoral entries Wellington Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting. March 29—Acceptances Tradesmen s and Hurdle Handicaps Auckland Meeting. March 29—Acceptances and general entries Waipukurau Meeting. . March 31—Acceptances and general entries Taranaki Jockey Club’s Anniversary Meeting. March 31—Acceptances Templeton Stakes, Epsom Welter Handicap, and Russley Stakes, and fuitlier payments Challenge Stilces and Champagne Stakes.

The Hawkes Bay Jockey Club’s autumn meeting on Friday and Saturday appears to have been one of the most enjoyable and successful meetings the Club has held. The attendance was large and the racing was good. Racing began on Friday, with the Free Handicap, a mile, for which eleven weighed out. Tetford was the favorite, which is not very remarkable,.seeing that he was only asked to carry 7st 131 b, while Tongariro gave him 101 b, and Antelope 51b. Looking at the other starters, however, one would have thought the public would prefer either Miss Dargon, or that rare flyer Whisper, each of whom carried 7st 121 b only. Miss Dargon apparently was the best in it, and won easily from Golden Crest, a three-year-old filly by Apremont, owned by Mr G. H. Clifford. Tongariro ran third, but was given second place in consequence of a oross by Golden Crest. Whisper was beaten at the home turn. Ihe Hurdle race fell to Mr Lunn’s gelding Trea Sec, who managed to beat Chemist by a length, the West Coast mare Germaine running a good third, Denbigh, who did such big things a year or two ago, ran fifth, and our old friend Erebus (with lOst up) sixth. Mr Stead having scratched Sextant for the Cup, Beresford and Cruchfield were left to fight it out, none of the others being in the hunt when it came to racing. Beresford is a very doubtful sort of customer, and it is not at all surprising to find that he was. unable to oatch Cruchfield at the finish, the latter winning easily by a length in the splendid time of Smin 6sec. Salisbury ran third, Rivulet fourth, Pearl fifth, Falconet sixth, and St. Clair last. The Nursery Plate fell to Mr Butler’s filly Adulation, by Apremont—Flattery, Man Friday, by Robinson Crusoe —Charity, being second. The other starter was Redwood, a colt by Natator from Rosalind. Ho did not get a good start, and was not persevered with. Iu the Welter, Silence beat five others easily, and, carrying list 71b, did the mile and a-half in 2ruin 52 3/ssecs. In spite of hi 3 big weight ihe son of The Mute was made a hot favorite, and paid dividends of £1 6s and £1 7s. The race of the day was that for the Railway Stakes Handicap, three quarters of a mile, in which Goldeu Crest demonstrated her quality as a sprinter by putting dowD such flyers as Tongariro, Miss Dargon, Cinderella and Whisper. The finish was an excellent one, tbe filly beating Tongariro by half a length, Miss Dargon being a neck be hind tbe latter. This ended the first day’s racing, the Southerners having had all the best of the fun. On the second day the tables were completely turned in a good many races. At the outset Tongariro appropriated the Grand Staud Handicap, beating Whisper, Cinderella, Miss Dargon, and ethers ; and in the Hurdles Chemist (who is by The Painter, I think) managed to bert Tres Sec. The field for the St. Leger was rather a poor one, only three--Sextant, Golden Crest and Waterfall—weighing out. As might have been expected, Sextant had too much quality for the others, and won comfortably from Waterfall, He was consistently backed, and only paid £1 3s in the totalisator. In the Burke Memorial Stakes Mr McLean had a cut in with the unlucky St. Clair, who, as he won the Consolation at WaDganui the other day, will just about pay expenses. Carrying only Gst 71b it is not to be wondered at that he beat' Silence (9st 51b), while the distance would be rather far for Whisper and Waterfall. The son of Musket paid a good dividend of £l7. Mr Redwood’s colt Redwood gave us a taste of his quality in the Juvenile Handicap by winning that event from Fair Ellen and Adulation. Mr Redwood, I believe, has something in. i:i h»R5h which, can win the Canterbury Derby for him, and this

perhaps is the identical. The last race was the Consolation, which fell to the Auckland mare Antelope, Cinderella running a good second. -

Mr Stead’s action in scratching Sextant for the Hawkes Bay Cup would appear to be unpopular, judging by the following editorial in a Napier paper ‘ltis an Englishman's privilege to grumble, and a privilege he avails himself of pretty freely at times. Backers of horses which are scratched can generally do a good “growl,” and those unfortunates who backed Sextant for the Cup, growled most deep and long, when they heard yesterday morning that the pen had been put through his name. Of course, owners of racehorses can choose for themselves whether they shall scratch them or not, but it seems to us that Mr Stead behaved very badly to the racing publio iu not scratching the horse on Thurfday ! It was widely rumored on Thursday evening that he would not Btart for the Cup, yet the bookmakers succeeded in laying several doubles, in which his name was mentioned, the unfortunate backers who were not “in the know,” never dreaming that Mr Stead would wait till the morning of the race day before putting the pen through his name. The only satisfaction the public had was in seeing the non-success of Mr Stead’s other horse, Beresford, in whose favor Sextant was discarded.

Nominations were due on the 2Sth for the Island Bay Autumn Meeting. An English sporting paper says there is a rumor to the effect that the Prince of Wales’ horse Magic will be ridden in the Grand National Steeplechase this month by Prince Albert Victor, who is described as a' bold rider to hounds.

A mare named Mosquito, full sister to the the famous horse Musket, who is responsible for so many good horses in Australia, was recently sold by auction for lOOgs. The late Charles Blanton, the well-known English trainer, has left a personality of over £33,000. Mr Jas. White has won over £17,000 this season.

It is said that the Hon. J. McLean contemplates retiring from the turf shortly. The Wellington Racing Club received capital entries for their autumn meeting, though most of the horses are locally owned. That, however, is a good thing looked at from one point of view. Mr Redwood refused £IOO for his colt Redwood in Wanganui. Quibble is said to have gone amiss.

A horse that will need watching in the Great Autumn Handicap is Springston, who, on his Dunedin running, should be a very dangerous customer. He has, moreover, been backed, so it is said, in tne right quarter. For my part, however, I think St.' Clair is even better goods. Dudu’s victoiy in the Wanganui Cup upset the calculations of a good many knowing ones. Silence was a pretty warm favorite everywhere, and a clever metallician refused to lay Beresford some days before the race. ‘ Mazeppa ’ advises his readers to * watch Carbine for the next V.R.C. Derby.' Good mare as Dudu unquestionably is, one would scarcely think her value in pounds sterling ran into four figures. Yet the Fielding Star says that Mr Keith has refused £IOOO for the mare 1 He paid £35 for her. The Waverley-Waitotara Club held their annual meeting on Saturday last. The first event, the Hurdle race, fell to Mr J. 8.Martin's Clarice, 9afc (Potts), Mr J. Russell’s Blue Bell (Edgecumbe) second ; and a hack hurdle race was won by Mr J. Russell’s Le Clair (Edgecumbe). The Flying Handicap, three-quarters of a mile, rssulted in a nice race between Mr R. Higgie’s The Gem, Bst 71b (A. McCormick) ; Mr F. W. Harrison’s Hagar, 7st 21b (Croker) ; and Mr D. Scally's Rufus, 6st 91b (Friend). In that order they finished, The Gem winning by half a length. Dividend, £2 Bs. The Gem, Bst 71b, also won the District Handicap, a mile, beating Rirau, 7st 131 b, and Hagar, 7st 131 b. A hack race was won by Corsair, who paid £l3 2s ; a mare called Jenny (who may be our friend of the Hutt Hack meeting) running third. A little later she won a hack race by half a length. Tbe W. and W. Handicap, of 15 sovs, was the race of the day, the starters finishing in this order :—Mr J. Kennedy’s Rimu, 7st 10ib (Kennedy) 1 ; Mr D. Scally’s Rnfus, 6st 71b (Friend) 2 ; Mr R. Higgie’a The Gem, Sat 21b (McCormick) 3. Dividend, £2 6s. Yet another hack race wa3 won by Corsair ; and the Forced Handicap, of 20 sovs, fell to Ruapehu, 6st 41b, who beat Rimu aud The Gem. Nominations for the Wanganui Derby and Two-vear-old Stakes close on the 24th April.

The big event at the Masterton-Opaki J.C. Autumn meeting last Saturday, the St. Patrick’s Day Handicap resulted in a rare boil over, the winner turning up in the aged Pilgrimage, now owned by Mr T. Ray. In thedays of long ago. when The Diver was in his prime, and Kakapo and Annie were thereabouts, the green jacket and black cap led many a smart field home at the Opaki; but it is some time now since Mr Ray had a good cut in, and his win must have been a very popular one. Certainly it was a surprise, for one would hardly have expected to see such an old. stager beat good ones like Little Scrub and Yoltigeur. However, beat them he did, winning easily, and paying his backers iu the totalisator £3l 10s. The time was 2mln 52$seq for the mile aud a half, and Little Scrub must have been ter-,

ribly out of form not to be able to win, for his weight, Bst 121 b, was not a wonderfully heavy one. Later on, however, he could only get second to Revoke in the Flying Stakes, three-quarters of a mile, the time being lmin 22 and l-sth sec ; so that apparently the Wairarapa Cup winner is off his feed. The daughter of Ihe Premier and Gossip was, on the other hand, in good fettle, for she also won the Grandstand Handicap, a mile, her stable companion, First Water, running second, and Kangaroo third. A maiden hack race felKto Nina, who has tried so long to score a win, and who, I notice, belongs to Mr T. Ingley, of Greytown. The Flower, who ran at the Hutt the other day, and is now entered for big stakes at the Hutt, won another hack race, and a handicap hack race was appropriated by the well-bred Othello. The hick hurdles was won by Exchange. In the hurdles Mr Driscoll had a look-in with Reputation, who carried 9st 91b and easily settled Kangaroo, list 111 b. Freebooter fell in this race, and his jockey, Alexander, had a small bone in his left arm fractured.

Mr Mitchelson does not contemplate retiring from the turf altogether, aud Escutcheon is the only one of his horses that is to stay-in New Zealand so far as present arrangements go. The Sandon Hack Racing Club held a very successful meeting ou St. Patrick’s Day. Results are as follow : —Open Hurdle race, Doctor 1, Ngatoto 2, Zigzag 3 ; dividend £2. Hack Hurdles, Purataki 1 ; dividend £ll 4s. District Hurdles, Sir Garnet 1 ; dividend £3 7s. Maiden Race, Tit Bit 1, Raiubow 2, Hurricane 3; dividend £3 ISs. Open Stakes, Martonian 1, Queeuie 2, Little Vixen 3 ; dividend £1 Is 9d. Farmers’ race, Sir Garnet 1 ; dividend £S9 12s (only one investor—lucky man !). Flying Stakes, Rere 1, Little Vixen 2, Larrikin 3; dividend £lB 12s. Pony race, Gladstone 1; dividend £S 9s, Forced Handicap, Songster 1; dividend £1 16s. Hurry Scurry, Armadillo 1 ; dividend £3 6s.

The enjoyment of this meeting was marred by a sad mishap in the Flying Handicap. Songster cannoning against another horse, three or four others fell over, and three of the boys who were riding were injured. Oue, a youngster of fourteen, named McKenzie, died next day, and the other two, Collett and Hall, sustained severe injuries.

A DUTCH TROTTING RACE. LEONARD A. JENKINS, DRESDEN, GERMANY. In Hoorn, the ancient capital of North Holland, and the birthplace of Wilhelm Schrouten, who discovered the passage round the south coast of America, in 1616, and named Cape Horn after his native town, the writer witnessed a trotting race so different from what we know by the same term, that a description cannot fail to be of some interest, although no words cau do the subject justice. , It was a brilliant September day, such as a merciful Providence sometimes sends even to the Low Countries to dispel its clouds and mist, and tempered by a cool salt breeze. From far and near the sturdy peasants, with their yet more sturdy wives, had come to see the sport. The men had the independent carriage which characterises owners of the soil. They also had the shrewd, somewhat obstinate faces, characteristic ot the brave race which contended successfully for eighty years against the mighty power of Spain, and sent its dauntless navigators into every sea to found colonies. And the women \ They hadlgenerally discarded their picturesque and convenient national costumes, and were attired in all the ugliness and discomof a modern European dress ; but they still wore the goldeu or silver helmets under their lace caps, and displayed to our admiring eyes the brilliant complexions which Reubens baa immortalised in so many of his works. The course was laid out straight, 317 paces long from start to finish, through the principal street of the town, upon a brick pave* ment lightly covered with sand, aud divided iuto two parallel tracks. The outer barriers were by ropes, and either side was constantly patrolled by soldiers. To strains of martial music, a procession passed slowly up the course. After the band came containing the officers of the Agricultural Society, the judges of the race, and behind them the horses which were to compete, thirteen in number. The latter were harnessed to sulkies, in which were seated the drivers, each man with his horse s number on his arm. But such sulkies ! Two of them are seemingly of American manufacture, the others are native and of all degrees of clumsiness. The harnesses were heavy, many having rope reins, and some with curb bits. The horses, which show no signs of training, are unmistakably Dutch, with their great size, hollow backs, long necks, deeply set tails, shaggy fetlocks, kindly temper, and feet of the size and shape of breakfast plates. Any one of them might have been taken from the plough that morning. Slowly the procession moves to the starting post. Then one after another the hordes are sent down the track several times, to show their paces, and, after much playing of the band, and thorough warming up of the horses, the race begins. Two horses are started together, each one having a course to himself. They begin scoring thirty paces from the starting post, and the driver who has the qnietest horse indulges in the rudiments of jockeying, in faint immitation of his more dashing brother of the American turf. But there is no clanging bell to proclaim a false start. At a sign from the starter, the bugle is sounded, and the horses return to the post. At last they are fairly off, aud go poundiDg down the course at a better clip than one would have expected of them. One reaches the finish a length ahead, and both bring up Suddenly after passing the stand, as indeed they must do, since the crowd stands "block, ing the course only thirty paces away. A flag falls on the winner’s side of the ooursq

to announce his victory. Numbers 3 and 4 enter the course. When all have passed through this initial trial (number 13, having uo horse to contend with, trots the course alone), the winners and number 13, who is regarded as a winner, contend against each other, until, at last, the final victor is proclaimed. But where no time is kept, and upon a course the exact length of which no one seerhs to know, it is impossible to tell how fast was the pace. There has been no bookmaking, no open betting, no shouting, no excitement. The only approach to general hilarity is when a bewildered dog gets upon the course, and runs up and down trying helpleesly to find its way out, prodded at by the bayonets of the soldiers, and hooted by the boys. There is no restraint upon the sale of intoxicating liquors, but not a drunken man is to be seen. Everybody seems to enjoy the occasion, and, for the purpose for which horses are wanted in this small flat country, with its perfect roads, perhaps their method of managing trotting races is as well adapted as is the high training, the scientific accuracy, and the severe trials of the American turf in developing horses for American use. More than all, it gives the people a holiday, which, as their wives are taken to the races, ia sure to be orderly.

W.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING. The following entries have been received for this Club’s Autumn Meeting, which takes place on the 31st March and 2nd April:— Petone Stakes, three-quarters of a mile. —Forester, Pilgrimage, Giriri, .Smooth, Cupid, Escapade, Miss Dargon, The Gem. Hurdles (first day), two miles.—Reputation, Orient. The Jilt, Ngatitoa, Kangaroo, Freebooter, Glen. Hurdles (second day), one mile and threequarters.—Same entries as first day. Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half.—Revoke,* Orator, Pilgrimage, Little Scrub, Smooth, Dudu, Mias Dargon, Rivulet, The Gem.

Tradesmen’s Handicap, one mile.— Forester, Revoke, Pilgrimage, Giriri, Little Scrub, Smooth, The Flower, Escapnde, Dudu, Fabrication, Lancer, The Gem, Sylph, Scraps. Local Handicap, one mile.—Giriri, Smooth, Orongorongo, The Flower, Cupid, Fabrication.

Easter. Handicap, one mile and a quarter. —Revoke, Orator, Pilgrimage, Giriri, Little Scrub, Smooth, Cupid, Escapade, Dudu, Fabrication, Lancer, Miss Dargon, Rivulet, The Gem.

Waiwetu Handicap, three quarters of a mile. - Forester, Revoke, Pilgrimage, Giriri, Little Scrub, Smooth, Cupid, Escapade, Mias Dargon, The Gem. Weights for the first day’s handicaps are due on the 23rd inst.

MARTON HACK RACES. The above took place at Marton yesterday week. The attendance was good, weather, fine, and racing enjoyable. The following are the results :—Hurdles —Doctor, 1; Nga. nui, 2 ; Chance, 3. Dividend, £4. Maiden Hurdles —Cora. 1.- Flying Handicap— Songster, 1; Zodiac, 2. Maiden Plate— Rossiter, 1. York Farm Handibap-—Mar. tonian, 1 ; Defamer, 2. Dividend, £B. Novel Race—New Mexico, 1. Dividend, £l9 16s. Pony Race—Waihopai, 1. Forced Handicap—Mailman, 1.

Bt Electric Telegraph—Copyright

SYDNEY GOLD CUP.

(per press association.)

Sydney, March 19.

Trident, Abercorn, Craubroot, and Lava have been scratched for the Sydney Gold Cup

Sydney, March 21.

The acceptances for the Sydney Gold Cup number 20, including Arsenal, Carlyon, Acme, Australian Peer, Oakleigh, Ben Bolt, Bravo, Algerian, Forest Queen, The Nun. Not more than a dozen are expected to go to the post. Cardigan, Cairo, and Moorhouse have been scratched for the Sydney Gold Cup, and Enfilade for all engagements.

(per press association.) Feilding, March 15. The following are the weights declared by Mr J. O. Evett for the Feilding Easter Races:—Handicap Hurdles—Germaine, list; Orlando, lOat 101 b; Waitangi, lOst 71b; Satan, Sst 51b. Feilding Handicap—Tongariro, 9st; Waterfall, Bst; Germaine, 7st 121 b ; Lady Artist, 7st 41b ; Scylla, 6st 121 b ; Orlando, 6st 111 b; Partner, sst 101 b; Goth, 6st 101 b; Spray, 6st 71b. Stewards’ Stakes. —Tongariro, 9at 71b; Waterfall, Sst 41b ; Sincerity, 7st 81b ; Orlando, 7st 21b ; Partner, 7st; Maribvrnong, 6st7lb ; Rufus, 6st 71b; Peter, 6stslb. Winter Oats Handicap. —Tongariro, 9st 51b; Waterfall, Bst 21b ; Germaine, Sst ; Hagar, 7st 71b ; Goth, 7st; Spray, 6st 121 b ; Satan, 6st 121 b ; Little Vixen, 6st 101 b ; Rufus, 6st 71b; Peter, 6st 51b. Wanganui, March 20. At the jockey club meeting last night the question of the Canterbury Jockey Club refusing to accept the entrance of Keith’s Dudu, on the ground that Keith is a defaulter at Tattersall’s, was discussed. From the discussion it appeared that Keith had bet £BO eight years ago, but after a dispute settled it for £4O. When there was a likelihood of the matter cropping up again Keith paid £4O to the Jockey Club here, to be held till it was inquired into, and the Canterbury J.C. were wired to this effect by Jackson, aud he knew what the arrangement was when he was refused entrance. Keith evidently believes he is in the right, as he left Wanganui for Christchurch put matters right, and demand that lOudu s entrance be accepted.

Auckland, March 20.

Weights were declared to-day for the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting as follows Easter Handicap— Silence, 9st 31b ; Sextant, 9st; Escutcheon and Beresford, Bst 111 b; Strenuous, Bst 71b ; Cruchfield, Bst 21b; Tetford, Sat; Dudu, 7st 131 b ; Clogs, 7st lllb ; Vic. toria, 7at 61b : Friendship, 7st 51b ; Antelope, 7st 31b ; Golden Crest, 6st 91b ;Tamora, 6at 81b ; Balista, 6st 71b ; Leorina, 6et 61b; Lioness, 6st 31b; Eruption, 6st 21b; Miss Alice, Maratau, and Earnest, 6st, Steeple-

chase—MaDgaohane, list 101 b; Silvio, list 71b ; Peter Osbeck, lOat 121 b ; Guy Fawkes, lOst 101 b ; Magnesia, lOat 71b ; Allegro, lOafc 21b ; Orangemen, lOst; Recruit, 9st 121 b ; Huntsman and Blue Bell, 9st 101 b ; Don and Kangaroo, 9st 71b. Waikoitaiti, March 11. At Waikouaiti races to-day Princess Alice won the Cup, paying a dividend of £lO 12s. Dunluce, the favorite, fell, unseating his rider.

NAPIER RACES. Napier, March 16. The Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting today was fairly attended, the weather being windy, but the racing was excellent, and no accident occurred. «

Free Handicap, of 100 sovs ; one mile. Messrs Stock and Conroy's Miss Dargon, 6yrs, 7st 121 b (A. Woods), 1 ; Mr Clifford’s Golden Crest, 3yrs, 7st (McMorrin), 2 ; Mr Belcher’s Tongariro, 4yrs, Sst 91b (Belcher), 3. Antelope, Tetford, Whisper, Sylph, Scylla, Audacity, Lenore, and Meta also started. Time, lmin 44seo. Dividends, £9 19s and £7 9s.

Handicap Hurdle Race, of 120 sovs ; two and a-half miles.— Mr Lunn’s Tres See, 6yrs, list 121 b (H. Lunn), 1 ; Mr Effingham’s Chemist, aged, lOst 121 b A. Effingham), 2 ; Mr Olliver’s Germaine (aged), lOat 41b (Prosser), 3. Denbigh, Premier, Armourer, Erebus, Bideawee, and Bit of Blue also started. Won by a length, Time, smin 20sec. Divideuds, £3 12s and £3 Bs.

Hawices Bay Cup, of 500 sovs ; one mile and three-quarters—Mr Clifford’s Cruchfield, 3yrs, 7st (McMorrin) 1; Mr Stead’s Beresford, syrs, Sst 21b (Huxtable), 2; Messrs Stock and Convoy’s Salisbury, syrs, 7st 41b, 3 ; Mr Donnelly’s Pearl, 6yrs, Sst 71b (Wood) 0; Mr Muuro’s Rivulet, 3yrs, 7st 51b (Vaile), 0 ; Mr McLean's St Clair, 4yrs, 7st (W. Buddicombe), 0; Captain Russel’s Falconet, 3yrs, 6st 61b (Myers), 0. Mr Bobbet’a Tetford, Sst Sib ; Mr Stud’s Sextant, Sst 31b ; and Mr Belcher’s Tongariro, 7st 71b, were scratched. Cruchfield and Rivulet were the first on their feet, the next being St Clair and Beresford, while Salisbury and Falconet were Blow to move, and were some lengths away. Cruchfield made the running at a hot pace, olosely attended by Rivulet, with Beresford next. These positions Mere maintained until coming into the straight for the run homo, where Rivulet fell away, leaving Beresford to fight out the issue with Cruchfield, but the result was never in doubt, as the favorite won untouched by the whip.by a good length from Beresford, who secured a place from Salisbury by nearly a length, Rivulet finishing fourth, Pearl fifth, Falconet sixth, and St Clair last. Time, 3min Gsec. Dividends, £2 Is and £2 4s.

Nursery Plate, of 12 sovs ; three-quar-ters of a mile. —Mr Butler’s ch f Adulation by Apremont—Flattery, Sst 71b (Huxtable), 1; Mr Tatham’s br c Man Friday by Robinson Crusoe—Charity, Sst 101 b (Clifford), 2 ; Mr Redwood’s ch c Redwood by Natator — Rosalind. Sst 101 b (H. Thompson), 3. No time was taken, as it was • believed the start was a false on. Dividends, £2 6s and £1 16s.

Welter Handicap, of 80 sovs'; one and and half miles.—Mr Martin’s br g Silence, syrs, list 71b (Clifford), 1 ; Mr Hunter’s b g Brown Duke, 4yrs, 9st 121 b (McTaggart), 2 ; Mr Mann’s br g Waterfall, 3yrs lOst 101 b (Hickey), 3. Tetford, Clyde, Premium, and Armourer also started. Time, 2min 52 3-5 sec. Totalisator, £1 6s. Railway Stakes Handicap, of 115 sovs; three-quartersofamile—MrC. G. H. Clifford’s Golden Crest, 3yrs, by Apremont—Aurifera, 6st 121 b (McMorrin), 1 ; Mr J. P. Belcher s Tongariro, 4yrs, Sst 61b (Belcher), 2 ; Messrs Stock and Conroy’s Miss Dargon, Sst 51b (Woods), 3. |Cinderella, Whisper, Hiko, Audacity and Kupe also started. Time, lmin 18 2-5 sec. Dividends, £7 19s and £lO 4s.

March 17.

At the second day’s races there was a good attendance and fine weather with capital racing. The win of Mr G. M cLean in the big handicap of the day was a very popular one. Grand Stand Handicap, 125 sovs; one mile and a distance.—Tongariro, Bst 71b (Belcher), 1 ; Whisper, 7st Sib (Peters), 2; Cinderella, 9st (Hope), 3. Miss Dargon, Antelope, St Clair, Orwell, and Meta also ran. Time, 2min 45sec. Dividend, £6 18a.

Hawkes Bay St. Leger, 300 sovs.— Sextant (Huxtable), 1 ; Waterfall (Woods), 2; Golden Crest (McMorrin), 3. Only three started. Waterfall wa3 in front for six furlongs, when Sextant passed him and same in an easy winner by three lengths. Time, 3min 21sec. Dividend, £1 3s. Second Handicap Hurdle Race, of 100 sovs; three miles.—Chemist list) (A. Effingham), 1 ; Tres Sec, 12st41b (Lunn), 2 ; Germaine, Bst 51b (Prosser), 3. Uranus, Denbigh, Bit of Blue, and Octopus also competed. Time, 6min 20sec. Dividend, £6. Bubke Memorial Stakes, of 250 sovs ; one mile and a half. —St Clair, 6st 71b (McMorrin), 1 ; Silence, 95151 b (Clifford), 2; Whisper, 6st 131 b (Peters), 3. Rivulet, 7st, also started. Time, 2min 40 2-saec. Dividend, £l7. Juvenile Handicap, of 100 sovs ; threequarters of a mile.—Redwood, Bst (McMorrin), 1 ; Fair Ellen; 78t 41b (Kidd), 2; Adulation, Bst 131 b (Huxtable), 3. Time, lmin 19sec. Dividend, £4 Bs. Consolation Handicap, of 50 sovs ; one mile.—Antelope, 7st 51b (Williams), 1 ; Cinderella, Bst lllb (Clifford), 2 ; Waterfall, 6st 10lb (McMorrin), 3. Sylph and Bit of Blue also ran. Time, lmin 44 4-ssec. Dividend, £3 Bs.

MASTERTON RACES. Masterton, March 17

The Autumn Meeting of the MasfcertonOpaki Jockey Chib was held to-day. The weather was fine, but the attendance small, only about 300 people being on the course. Handicap Hurdles, of 35 sovs ; one mile and a half. —Reputation, 1 ; Kangaroo, 2. Freebooter fell, breaking a small bone of Alexander’s (his owner’s) arm. Dividend, £1 17s.

Hack Hurdles. Exchange, 1 ; Signor, 2. The latter fell twice. Dividend, £1 7s. St. Patrick’s Day . Handicap, of 70 sovs ; one mile and a half.—Pilgrimage, 1 ; Little Scrub, 2. Dividend, £3lloa. Maiden Hack Race, of 15 sovs.—Ten started ; won ea by Ngaire. Dividend, £3 2a.

Flying Stakes, of 50 sovs ■ three quarters of a mile. Revoke, 1 ; Little Scrub, 2 j Pilgrimage, 3. Dividend, £2 Bs. Handicap Hack Race, of 15 sovs.— Othello, 1 , Ngarata, 2. Dividend, £1 ss. Grand Stand Handicap, 30 sovs.—Revoke, 1 ; First Water, 2 Dividend, £2 7s. Hack Race, of 10 sovs. Six started. Won by The Flower, Right [Bower second. Dividend, £3. -

At the conclusion of the Handicap Hack Race a great sensation was caused by H. Campbell, a well-known settler, trying toseize the horse Ngarata. T. A. Lyons, who ran the horse, resisted, and after an exciting struggle both were arrested, and subsequently brought up before Mr W. Lowes, J. P,, and bound over in their own recognisances to appear on Monday. The horse meanwhile remains in custody of the police. Campbell claims that he gave the horse to Lyons to break in, and that he had not returned it.

NELSON RACES.

Nelson, March 21.

The weather was lovely for the annual race meeting, and some 2000 persons attended in Richmond Park, which never looked so beautiful, with its handsome new grandstand, &c. The appointments are now parfect, but delays occasioned by protests, &c., made the sport slow. Handicap Hurdles, 50 sovs; two miles and a half.—Orient, 1 : Myrtle, 2 ; Ooeola, 3. Seven started. Won by a neck. All-Aged Stakes, of 50 sovs ; six furlongs.—Forester, 1 ; Richmond, 2; Clio, 3. Richmond and Forester were racing up the straight together, when the former was jammed on Jto the fence, ([Forester coming in first. A protest was lodged against Forester’s rider for jostling, and against Richmond's rider for crossing immediately after the start. A deal of evidence waß taken, and both protests were disallowed. Time, lmin 23 sec. Nelson Cup, of £2OO ; two miles.— Orator, 1 ; Her Ladyship, 2 ; Smooth, 3. Won by a length. Waimea Plate, of 40 sovs ; one and a quarter miles.—Sweetie, 1 ; Forester, 2. Won easily. District Handicap, of 40 sovs ; one and a half miles.—Sweetie, 1.

TARANAKI RACES,

New Plymouth, March 21.

The following are the weights for the Taranaki races : Hurdles Orieut and Mangaohane, list 101 b; Allegro, lOst 71b; Armourer, lOst 51b; Bluebell, 9st lllb; Shillelagh, 9st. Jockey Club Handicap— Silence, 9st 101 b ; Beresford, Sst 101 b; Tetford, Lady Norali and Cruchfield, Sst ; Dudu, 7st 121 b ; Clogs, 7st 101 b; Tongariro, 7st 71b; Rivulet, 7st 61b; Victoria, 7st 31b; Antelope, 7st; Temora, 6st 71b ; Hiko, 6st 41b; Lioness, Katipo, and Maratau, 6st. Flying Handicap,—Cinderella, 9st 91b ; Tongariro, Sst 101 b ; Antelope, Bst 51b ; Formo, 7st 101 b ; Golden Crest, 7st 81b; Temora, 7st 51b; Escapade and Catesby, 7st 41b ; Greenmount, 7st 21b ; Okato, Lioness, Recluse, and Ruapehu, 7st; Partner, Hiko, and Artist, Gst 91b; Lifebuoy, Landseer, Hagar, and Katipo, 6st 71b; Marlbyrnong, Wanda, Rufus, and Peter Gat. Mr J, O. Evett was handicapper.