SPORTING NOTES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 568, 26 February 1878, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

Bv Tim Wiiifvleii. There is a wonderful increase in tlio I number of acceptors for the principal handicaps to bo run at the forthcoming races as compared with those of hist year. This is to sonic extent to be attributed to the very excellent handicaps made by Mr. ■Shenvin ; but in the main I fancy the chief reason for the North Otago Turf Club obtaining so large a proportion of acceptors is due to the fact of the date for the reception of acceptances being fixed prior to the Dunedin races. Had the Club waited until after the running for the big events in Dunedin had taken place, and the respective merits of the horses to some extent been judged, they would not, I am confident, have received anything like the number of acceptors that they have obtained. Tli.it thirteen horses out of eighteen should cry contented with the handicap for our big event is highly creditable to Mr. Shcrwin. The most noticeable of the non-acceptors are Titania and Cloth of Gold, both of whom had fair shows, the former being, to my mind, the best in of the lot, Her owner, however, seems to have determined upon reserving her for the Tradesmen's Handicap. It is worthy of note that, although Fishhook is stated to be altogether out of condition, O'Brien has determined apparently to have a cut in. If the Hook can be brought to the post in anything like his last year's condition he should have a very fair chance of pulling off the big race ; but of this I am extremely doubtful, though it would be well for backers of other horses not to treat last year's flyer too cavalierly. Jt would, of course, be an extremely difficult matter to pick the prospective winner from amongst the thirteen acceptors until after the Dunedin races liaye taken place, as the penalties likely to be incurred down south would make a wonderful difference to the chances of any of the horses. With such a number of acceptors, nearly the whole of which are good performers, we should have a fine raoe, and I expect to see at least eight horses face the starter, as against the two of last year. The proportion of

acceptors for the Tradesmen's Handicap is simply wonderful. That thirteen horses should be induced to accept out of the sixteen entered is a result seldom if ever achieved; but I shrewdly suspect that this is in some measure due to the fact of the Committee having, through an oversight, omitted to penalise winners of big races elsewhere. For this race there should also ho fully half-a-dozen starters. For the Hurdle Race seven have accepted out of the ten entered, which must also be looked upon as highly satisfactory. Altogether the Committee of tiie North Otago Turf Club are to be congratulated upon the success winch has so far attended their etlbrts to get up a go id race meeting. That they should have succeeded in parting forth a programme sullicicntly attractive as to induce so large a number of really good horses to enter and accept for the diiFerent events, is highly creditable to them and to the town. It is worthy of remark that the acceptors for the two handicaps to be. run on the first day of our races are in each case only <>ne less than the number for the Dunedin Cup, while they are far away ahead of those for all the other Dnnedin races. It is true that the entries for the Selling Race and Novel Race arc scarcely equal to those of last, year, but this slight falling oil is more than counterbalanced by the remarkable increase for the larger events. It may be interesting to note the difference in the number of entries and acceptances as compared with hist year. The following statement will show the improvement :—North Otago Turf Club Handicap, acceptances —1877, •> : 1878, 13. Tradesmen's .Handicap, acceptances— 1877, 7 ; 1878, Ilk Maiden Plate, entries—lß77, f> ; 187 S. (i. Selling Race —1877. 7 ; 1878, (5. Novel Race—lß77, S ; 1878, 5. Although I do not pretend at this distance to be able to discuss matters in connection with the Dtmedin races, which are to take place this week, 1 may be permitted to make a couple of remark's. Never before, 1 believe, was the Dunedhi Cup such a glorious uncertainty. No one seems capable of dropping upon the prospective winner with any degree of certainty, and it is truly amusing to read the many opinions put forth by the knowing ones as to the chances of the various horses. For my own part the thing seems a complete pu»;le. but 1 have a strong fancy for Templeton. While 1. do not place any great weight on the fact of his being suddenly made first favourite. 1 must certainly say that nothing seems to have a better chance than (he game little horse, more especially .-is J hear Hob Ray will himself ride the Cup winner of IS7o. The other matter I should like to refer to is the amount of excitement that has of late been got up with reference to va-heis horses. One would like to know thr originators of the tunny startling bits of news that have of late gained currency. I shrewdly suspect that the bookmakers are pretty much mixed up in these things, the object being to gull a too easy-going public. The scratching of Orange Lightning, that wonderful llyer that; we heard so much about a few days ago, is not. to say the least of it, a very credit able transaction, and requires some explanation from his owner. The public had been induced to put a considerable amount, of money on him in consequence of the information Hashed by telegraph throughout the Colony by the Press Agency, at whose instigation I should like to know. The scratching of Orange.! Lightning. taken in connection with the non-accept-ance of Trump Card, in whom .air. Redwood also, L am told, has an interest, creates an amount of suspicion in the public mind which it would be well for that gentleman to clear away.