RACING IN ENGLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1486, 8 May 1880, Page 18

RACING IN ENGLAND.

THE TWO THOUSAND GUINEAS STAKES. NEWMARKET SPEING. April 28th. the two thousand guineas stakes, A Bubiorlption of 100 boys o»ob, h ft, fir three-year-olds 5 colts, Bst 101b, fltliei, Bst 61b ; the owner of the second horse to receive 200 novs out of the stakes, and the third to nave his stake. .Rowley mil* (I mile 17yda).-92 uilbioribera. Duko of Beaufort's blk c Petronel, by Munket— Duke of Westminster's "eh cMuncaßter, by Doncaster—Windermere .. .. .. «• 2 Mr R. 0. Aaylor'a brcThe Abbot, by Hermit— Barchettin* .. .. •• •• •• 8 At the date of latest Home papers Prince Soltykoff'B Maßk was a warm favourite at 3 tol. PEDIGREE OF THE WINNER.

Petronel was bred by the Duke of Beaufort, and is the ninth foal of his dam, amongst his half-brothers being Reveille, War Cry, Town Crier, and tho steeplechaser Bardolph. He made hia debut last year in the Middle Park Plate, in which he ran unplaced in a field of eighteen behind Beaudeserb, Grace Cap, and Dora. His only other appearance waa in the Newmarket Troy Stakes, which he won easily, beating the Duke of Westminster's speedy filly Strathardle, Emmanuel]*, and suter to Lanedowne. In commenting on this race Bell's Life said : " Petronol is a tough sort of colt, anl ought to train on, as he possesses plenty of size, good limbs, and will probably prove aa good a stayer as his sire." He is trained by J. Cannon.

Muncaster was also bred by his owner, the Duke of Westminster, and ia Windermere's third foal, the first of the family being Ether, by Ethus. He was heavily engaged as a two-year-old, but did not race, his owner having Bend Or and other good representatives to depend upon.

The Abbot was bred by Mr H. Chaplin, and is full brother to Charon, who won for the Duke of Hamilton the Brighton Cup of 1877, three Queen's Plates, and ran third to Hampton and Skylark for the Goodwood Cup. The Abbot was bought by Mr Naylor as a yearling for £1250 guineas. On May 27th of last year he ran third at Epsom in the Woodcote Stakes of 1177 soys, behind Sabella and Prestonpans. At Newmarket July, ran unplaced in the July Stakes of 1690 soys behind Mask, Ambassadress, >£nd Evasion. At Newmarket Honghton meetlug, unplaced, in tb,e Dewhuret Plate, behind

Grace Cup, Ambrassadress, and Dora ; and at the same meeting won the Houghton Stakes of 300 soys, beating four others, His trainer is John Dawson.

New Zealand is fortunate enough to possess Petronel's sire, Musket, he having been purchased at Lord Glasgow's eale for some 500 guineas and imported to Auckland by the Cpbham Stud Company. Muaketwas foaledin 1867, so that he is quite in his prime, and with ordinary good luck has a long career at the stud before him. As a three-year old he won for Mr G. Payne the Ascot Stakes Handicap with the big weight of Bst 121b, and amongst other good Btakes secured by him was the Alexandra Plate at Doncaster when he was a couple of years older. A Northern writer who interviewed him a few months ago at the Auckland Stud Company's farm described him as follows :— Musket is a dark-brown horse, standing 16.2 J. He shows immense quality, and whas strikes one on seeing him for the first time is the tremendous strength of his quarters, which are like thosa of a dray horae. He has rare legs, and is unmistakably a splendid horse. At the taking over of the Cobham Stud he was valued at 2000 guineas. That stud was from a variety of causes a failure, and .in July last the present Company, which was formed by several influential racing gentlemen, took over the whole of the thoroughbred horses and mare at a valuation.

TOKOMAIRIRO HONORARY COURSING CLUB. President, James M'Donald, Esq. ; vice-presi-dent, George Coombe, Esq ; field stewards : Messrs George Reid, John Waters, John Burt, A. M'Laren, and John A. Duthie ; slip steward. Mr H. C. Cameron ; flag steward, Mr John Draper; judge, Mr John Conway ; slippeiß, by members of the Olub ; treasurer, Mr A. M'Laren; secretary, Mr James Daniels. Saturday being the- opening day of the coursing season, the Tokomairiro Honorary Conrsing Club held their first meeting at Waihola Gorge. There were 28 entries for the one event, and as bares were plentiful and the weather fine, those who attended enjoyed some good sport. In fact, had game been mora scarce, sport might have been better. The meeting will be continued to-day. ALL-AGED STAKES, For an unlimited number of greyhounds, the bona fide property of members of the Club, at £3 3s each ; the winner to receive 60 per cent., runner-up 35 per cent., two dogs 10 per cent., and four dogs 5 per cent. FIRST ROUND. Mr A. M'Laren's brd b Sly beat Mr J. M'Donald's bl and w dog Bruce. Mr Dodson's blk b Sea Lass beat Mr George Coombe's blue b Butterfly. Mr Draper's blk and w b Scalding Water beat Mr Nichol's bl dog Ben. Mr J. A. Duthie's w and r b Wheel of Fortune beat Mr Clegg's r and w b Victoria. Mr J. C. Bannatyne's w and f b Billiards beat Mr Carroll's blue dog Count. Mr Taggart's f b Luna beat Mr J. M'Donald's b and w d Hawthorn. Mr Mercer's f and w d Morcator beat Mr M'Gavin's b and w d Young Sedan. Mr J. M'Donald's r and w b Verbena beat Mr W. Reid's brindle dog Leith.