COURSING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 9511, 20 August 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

COURSING.

THB AUGUST MEETING. Third Day—Fbiday. In fine weather—which was much appreciated after that experienced on tho preceding days—but on a wet course, the August Coursing meeting, under the management of the Dunedin Jockey Club, was concluded yesterday. The attendance was again poor, but the sport was of an interesting description. Commencing at noon, the day's proceedings—which embraced 19 courses—were brought to a close at 3.30 p.m. The Champion Stakes were won by Heart of Grace (whose owner was lucky in having both the courses run by the dog during the day given in his favour), the Maiden Stakes by Snowdrop, and the four Sapling Stakes by" West Lynn, Mermaid, Watercress, and My Fancy. Mr Henderson's slipping was very commendable, and Mr Kett's judging during the day_ was, on the whole, satisfactory; but his decisions in two or three cases were not generally approved. The owner of Avonside was much dissatisfied with the verdict on the course between that dog and Heart of Grace in the semi-final of "the Champion Stakes. So far as could be judged from the stand Avonside, who put up a good score in the early stages of tho course, seemed to have won; but the judge's decision was in favour of Heart of Grace. Appealed to as to how he allotted the points in the course, Mr Kett's explanation was substantially the following:—"Avonside was leadingfortheturn, when thehare jinked towards Heart of Grace; a point was allowed to Avonside for pace, and a point to Heart of Grace for the turn ; the exchanges were equal to the escapes, where the white dog twice raced past Avonside and scored the winning points." Then again, in the final for the Champion Stakes, in which Mr Kett displayed the red flag, denoting Heart of Grace's victory, there was considerable difference of opinion as to his judgment. As far as could be seen from the stand, Heart of Grace's lead and turn were, worth about three points, but then Lancashire Lad got in, through the favourite's running wide, and worked the game to the tune of four points or so before Heart of Grace rushed in to a kill which was without any apparent merit, for the hare turned to his mouth. Mr Kett explained his decision thus : " Heart of Grace led and got the first turn —three points; Lancashire Lad turned—one point; the white turned again and ran wide; Lancashire Lad got in and wrenched twice; Heart of Grace shot past and killed." The owner of Sillwood, who was put out in the fourth Sapling Stakes, expressed his dissatisfaction in strong terms respecting the judgment on that course, and with regard to it Mr Kett stated that what occurred was this : that Sillwood was leading by five or six lengths, when the hare jinked to My Fancy, who got the turn, but no points were allowed for it, and the latter wrenched twice to cover. The description of the course as seen from the stand —which is of course not tha best position from which to follow the in3-and-outs of a course—differs from that supplied by the judge, as a reference to our report of the event, which will be found below, will show. The following are details of the coursing:—

Champion Stakes. hi Heart of Grace beat Avonside Lancashire Lad beat Kinsman Avonside (5 to 4 on) and Heart of Grace had a rattling run-up, the dogs being level till tho last stride or two, when Heart of Grace shot out and just got the turn, but ho stood off while the favourite scored a turn and a few wrenches, Heart of Grace then racing past him into possession, which he held at the finish of an exciting and even course, given in his favour. The trial between Lancashire Lad (3 to 2 on) and Kinsman was a brief one, the former lending up, wrenching, and killing. FINAL ROUND. Mr W. Carswell (ns) w f d Heart of Grace, by Horse Marine—Zoe, beat Mr B. Crawshaw's f w d Lancashire Lad, by Kinsky—Bed o1 Stone, and won the stake. Heart of Grace (3 to 2 on) led up by two lengths in a short slip and turned, but, overrunning, let in Lanpashise Lad for some nice work, when the favourite again got in for a kill. Maiden Stakes. IV. Red Jack beat Admiral Snowdrop beat Pakeha ■■ Marine beat Chance It Ravenswing beat Snow The Czar beat Little Wonder Charlie a bye. Red Jack (0 to 4 agst) led up by a length and wrenched, and Admiral put himself out by immediately killing, Snowdrop (3 to 2 on) led Pakeha by two lengths, and keeping possession throughout did not allow the latter to get a point. Marine (3 to 2 on) led up by three lengths, and had all the best of the exchanges, Chance It getting a very brief innings. Ravenswing (5 to 4 on) led Snow by three or four lengths, and, driving, to cover, won pointless, the non-favourite ceasing to chase before the course was over. The Czar (2 to 1 agst), despite his lameness, which was less painfully apparent than on the previous day, led Littlo Wonder by two lengths, and won all the way.

Snowdrop beat lied Jack Ravenswing beat Marine Charlie beat The Czar. Snowdrop (3 to 2 on) was led up by Red Jack, but the favourite had a considerable advantage in the exchanges till Red Jack killed. Ravenswitif; (3 to 2 on) led Marine by a couple of lengths, and the work was pretty evenly divided. Charlie (2 to 1 agst) led The Czar, who had got unsighted, by a couple of lengths, and scored nearly everything, the favourite only getting a point or two in front of the escapes. VI. Snowdrop beat Charlie Ravenswing, a bye. Sncrfdrop (0 to 2 on) had a lead of six lengths on the run-up, and, being the cleverer, greatly increased his advantage in the exchanges. FINAL ROUND. Mr J. R. Sewell's bit w d Snowdrop, by Rocket—Spruce, beat Mr W. Davis' blk b Ravenswing, by Rod Pine—Misfortune, and won the stake. \ Snowdrop (3 to 2 on) led up, after a rattling race, by just enough to swear by, and did the bulk of the wort. Sapling Stakes, first.—final round. Mr J. Wilson's f w d West Lynn, by East LynnLuna, beat Mr R. Blackham's blk w d Black Mount, by Red Pine—Whiff, and won the stake. West Lynn (0 to 4 agst) led up by a couple of lengths, and had considerably the best of the work. SECOND.—FINAL ROUND. Messrs Scanlan and Swan's w blk b Mermaid, by Mariner—Miss Theresa, beat Mr J. Cooper's w r d Talune, by Aorangi—Snowflight, and won the Mermaid (5 to 4 on) led up by a couple of length?, and, keeping better on the "game than her opponent, beat Talune easily. THIRD.—FINAL ROUND. Mr J. Cooper's (ns) blk w b Watercress, by Obstacle—Waterbabs beat Mr R. Blackham's blk w d Black Doctor, by Red Pine—Whiff, and won the stake. Watercress (6 to 4 agst) raced away from Black Doctor in the run up, the latter apparently getting unsighted, and had somewhat the best of the exchanges. FOURTH.— FINAL ROUND. Mr T. Wilkinson's r b My Fancy, by Yellow Pine—Moss, beat Mr A. T. Price's r w b Sillwood, by Red Pine—Fownhope, and won the stake. Sillwood (5 to i on) led up by three lengths and turned, when My Fancy got in to drive to cover, scoring four wrenches ia doing so.