SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8170, 23 August 1887, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES.

[By Orlando,] (From the New Zealand Mail . August 10.) I have to acknowledge the receipt of the Hawkea Bay Jockey Club programme for 1887-1888. The Spring Meeting will be held on the 3rd October, and nominations for the Flying and Spring Handicaps and Handicap Hurdles are due on the 30th inst., and the handicaps for these events will be issued on the 6th September; general entries for other events will close on the 20th September. The Club will hold four meetings during the season, and the amount of added money (£4480), should entice owners to nominate freely. The Autumn meeting I mentioned on a previous occasion had been reduced to a two days’ venture. The racehorses Bangle and Turquoise will, in all probability, pass through next week to Christchurch, where they will undergo their preparation for the New Zealand Cup. Chaafe will accompany the pair and is bringing them down thus early on account of the bad state of the Auckland course, which, lam told, is simply a quag-mire. My informant tells me that Bangle, who is full sister to Necklace, is more likely to find her place amongst the shorter distances, and does not consider her likely to stay as well as her sister. Old Turquoise is well enough, but there will be considerable trouble to bring him to the post in the New Zealand Cup fit and well. Even if he does sport silk I can’t stand him against others in the race, and do not for one moment expect him to start. Victor, the steeplechaser, is for sale, and although the grey has been unfortunate lately, there is no doubt that he is a good fencer, and in proper company should annex a few crumbs for any enterprising specu lator.

The jockey Huxtable came down from Auckland on Sunday, and is going on to join Dick Mason.

The Canterbury Times says Captain Cotton has bought Romeo for 55 guineas. Although tbe chestnut is not first class, he should certainly be worth the money, and I expect to see him win some of the minor jumping events during the season. The same paper informs me that Nelson still shows signs of lameness, and there is a likelihood of Stoneyhurst sympathising with his stable companion. The steeplechase meeting held by the Christchurch Hunt .Club turned out, as it always does, an enjoyable and 'successful affair; but, as in the Grand National, the fences proved too stiff for the majority of ths contestants in the open steeplechase. This race resulted in a big surprise. Orient was made a warm favorite at two to one, and the others were all well backed. Irish King and Orient seemed to have made the running till the' last fence, where the latter in striving for the lead- came a cropper. The same obstacle proved disastrous to Ben H., Secretary, and Master Guy. Irish King, who was left in the lead after Orient’s accident, sailed home alone, followed by Romeo, who passed the unfortunates that fell and came in second. Master Guy was remounted and got home third. Marmion followed up his previous victories.by annexing the Hurdles, which he won with comparative ease. The peculiarly bred Cardale claimed the Hunt Club Cup. : The favorite,. Panic, falling at the double in front of the stand, All Fours and Cardale fought out the; finish, which resulted in a two lengths’ victory for the latter.

The South Canterbury Jockey Club held their annual meeting on Thursday last. It was proposed to amalgamate with the Timaru .Racing Club, and a deputation was appointed to wait on that Club. It would, in my opinion, be most advantageous on both sides to combine, and the sport that coaid then be produced would be a decided improvement. I learn since, however, that the Timaru Racing Club decline the overtures of the S.C.J.C., and intend having a meeting in October. The decision will, I think, generally be considered unwise, and in the interests of good sport it is to be regretted.

Mr Evett will retain his position as handncapper to the Auckland Racing Club, but will be subject to the supervision of a committee, who will pass all handicaps before publication. Horse owners will probably be satisfied with this arrangement, but is i t likely to prove satisfactory to Mr Evett ’i Artillery and Nelson are now first favorites for the New Zealand Cup, 100 to 14 being the beat price obtainable about either. Silence can be obtained at twelves, and there are plenty of takers at the price. Torrent can now be quoted at tens, and although he is supposed to have been backed by the stable, the public evince a disposition to leave him alone. Lochiel has also shortened in price, and if backers are satisfied that he is a stay er they cannot go far wrong in taking 100 to 10 about him, which price can be obtained Hermitage, Fair Nell and Gipsy King are quoted at eights, with small business. Ruby and Derwenter find a few backers at 100 to 6, but speculation is not likely to be very brisk for a month yet. Mr B. S. B. Bell's opening meeting at Plump'on Park can hardly be called a success, The entries were not large, and coursing men generally cry' ‘a go ’• after the Waterloo Meeting. His next meeting takes place on the 23rd instant, and there should be a substantial entry, as it is the last stake of the season.

It has been rumoured that the Island Bay Park racing ground was under offer of lease to the Wellington Racing Club. Whether such is the case or not I will not venture to say, but the W.R.C. will be holding their annual general meeting shortly, and then pro. bably more will be heard of the matter. There is one thing very certain, the Island Bay ground has not been improved by lying idle, and the course is in bad repair. 1 The following are the latest Sydney'quotations for the Melbourne Cup : —IOO to 7 v. Silver Prince, 100 to 6v. Trident, 100 to 5 Bravo, Matai and Meteor, 100 to 4 v. Thunderbolt, Cairo and Trenton, 100 to 3 to 1 the others. For the V.R.C. Derby, 4tol is offered against Niagara, 7 to 1 Aberoorn, 100 to 1 Enfilade and Cranbrook. In less than a month the Australian Jockey Club Derby will be run, and all New Zealand sports will look anxiously for the result of this race, as in all probability Enfilade will make his debut in this race. The two-year-old sister to Sextant has been named Sunbeam.

The Auckland bred Musk Rose, by Musket —Rosette, brought 225 at Messrs Yuille and Co.’s sale last week. Silvermine, who, it will be remembered, ran second in the Caulfield Cup and third in the Melbourne Cup last year, was put up to auction on August 3rd and found a purchaser in Mi H. R, Falkiner. The son of Napoleon is still in the Melbourne Cup, and with the nice weight of Sst 3lb up, should be beard of at the finish. The price paid for Silvermine was 750 guineas. The Hon. W. Robinson’s horses. Silver Prince, Disowned, Thunderbolt and Enfilade were all landed safely in Sydney from the

Hauroto. They were taken np to Phillips’ stable, at Randwick, where they will be quartered for some time. Mirella joined the rest of Mr Drake’s team none the worse for her trip.

From the Sydney Morning Herald I learn that Milne’s charges are doing good work and are quickly improving. At the Canterbury Park Meeting, held on the Ist August, a four-year-old sister to Sextant named Tuscarora won the Park akes, of 7 furlongs, in a field of fifteen. The distance was cut out in Imin. SlJseo., and the mare romped home a ten lengths' winner. This should bo encouraging to backers of Sextant in the C.J.C. Derby. According to ‘Augur,’ the Derby candidate Abercorn has receded considerably in the betting, and 7 to I can be obtained about him. From all accounts his stable companion, Cranbrook, would be a fitting substitute in case of accident. Niagara, although first favorite, is generally supposed to be suffering from some ailment, the nature of which is at present unknown. At the sale of the Royal yearlings on 18th June three fillies and two colts by Sword Dance, who was recently purchased for the New Zealand Stud Company, were put up, but the highest price realised was for a colt, and only 110 guineas ; the best of the fillies reached 35 guineas. A big stake is announced to be run for at Newmarket Second "Spring Meeting under the following conditions The Newmarket Stakes of 10,000 sovs, by subscription 'of 30 aovseaoh, for three-year-olds, colts 9st, fillies Bst 91b ; the second to receive 1000 sovs and the third 500sovs out of the stakes ; any surplus to be equally dividedainongst the other duly qualified starters; 300 entries or the stake may be reduced; AF., one mile and two furlongs (now yearlings). To close and name on the Tuesday after Doncaster September Meeting, 1887. N.B.—lt is intended so to arrange the fixture for , 1889 as to allow an interval of three weeks between the Two Thousand and the above race. From the latest files to hand I learn that Merry Hampton is favorite for the Leger at 5 to 2, Eiridspord coming next at 100 to 15. The Field says that Ormonde and Minting are likely to meet again in the Victoria Cup, to be ran at Kempton Park. As the distance is seven furlongs, the writer adds, Ormonde should have a bit the. best of it, but there is no doubt the meeting of the two giants again will ab orb more than ordinary interest. William Tell, hero of the Newmarket Handicap of 1886, is to go to the stud. The celebrated case in which Sutton, a well known bookmaker, and the equally wellknown Lord Deerhurst, were involved, and in which Mr Panton, P.M., in the District Court, sentenced Sutton to a term of imprisonment, without the option of a fine, for an alleged assault on his lordship, will be in the remembrance of our readers (says a recent Australian paper). It will be remembered that Sutton appealed to the Melbourne General Sessions against the decision of the magistrates, and was successful, the conviction being quashed, and Deerhurst ordered to pay costs amounting to L 52 10s. Deerhurst has since left the colony, and as he is out of the jurisdiction of the Sessions Court an application was recently made to a judge of the Supreme Court in Chambers that the order should be made an order of the Supreme Court, and that it might be enforced in Eng. land, where he now resides. It will be interesting to our readers to learn that the order has been signed, and that the money (if he has any) can be, recovered from the noble peer wherever - he may reside in the British dominions. Counter jumper, a steeplechaser well known in the Albury district some few years back, is stated to bare cleared 35 feet 5 inches in a race at Wodonga over big timber.