SPORTING NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1847, 15 April 1887, Page 24

SPORTING NOTES FROM NEW SOUTH WALES.

(By. Ouh Australian Spobting Cobees- " PONDENT "WaBBIOB.") ' ' THE HAWKESBURY RACING CLUB AUTUMN MEETING. Stdnet, April 5. No doubt many; of my intimate sporting friends and readers haye N for some- time past missed the letters of " Warrior," which has been occasioned by the death of one of my dearest relatives. At all events, up to the running of the next Sydney Derby, I will do my best, as in the past to put my Dunedin and New Zealand friends on the probable winner of the next' Melbourne Derby!' " During my seven years' connection with the Otago Witness I have been the first sporting writer to name the probable winner of the Derby. To business. Having taken express train from Melbourne to Sydney I arrived in time to take my way- to the Hawkesbury racecourse, situated at Clarendon. The railway arrangements were simply disgusting, and would not do credit to a onehorss town like Launceston in Tasmania. Between sheep and cattle trucks, and crowded carriages, dome 3000 or 4000 people were nearly smothered by the time they got to their journeys end. And all for 10s return. During the last five weeks I have travelled 3000 miles by rail, but 30 miles to the Hawkesbury knocked my long ride into a cocked hat. Gloomy and disagreeable weather ushered in the opening of the seventh Autumn meeting of the Hawkesbury Race Club. Among those present I noticed his Excellency the Governor and Major Oeorge, the owner of Nelson. Mr Joe Eean ably officiated as starter, and Mr T. M. Alcock, timekeeper. The first day's racing introduced us to the Hawkesbury Handicap winner— Stanley— who ran second to the two-year-old Matador in the Rowley Mile, defeating 13 others. Then came the Claret Stakes, which was won by a racehorse whose name first came to light in the Otago Witness of December last, before he ever faced a starter. I speak of Abercorn. If the public of New Zealand have not backed this horse before now it's not " Warrior's " fault, for he not only wrote to a well-known Dunedin hotel proprietor, but stated openly that he would go near winning the Melbourne Derby and Cup. Abercorn fairly romped home in front- of; his field. Your old triend Oxenham was again in luck's way. Faugh- a- Ballagh appropriating the Public Auction Stakes, Fielder's Sentence running second, and Dagobert nowhere. Silver King once again proved himself a fraud by running into fifth place in a field of eight horses in the Railway Handicap, won by Fraud, old Willeroo gaining second honours. The weather on Saturday was the reverse of that of the first day. The sun was burning hot, not a cool place to be found on the course. Both man and beast suffered alike. Such a day I have never before experienced on a racecourse, and to make matters worse, the sheep and cattle-truck accommodation was again brought into requisition. The Windsor Band enlivened the proceedings, but poor fellows they had often to " wet their whistles in long sleevers." Sam Fielder's bay mare opened the ball by defeating a field of 11 horses in the Short's Handicap. Sentence is by Captivator, out of Sunbeam, a very taking five-year-old, and the easy manner in which she won proves that she is fit to ran in first-class company. The Hon. W. A. Long scored his first and only win with Exbank in the Selling Race, when he beat, three fillies by the Drummer, Maribyrnong, and Newminster, and one colt by Robinson Crusoe. Goldlake ' carried off the Disposal Plate, and Folly wound up the meeting by winning the Sportsman's Handicap from Willeroo, Coraban, Kitawa, Ravensworth, Dagobert, Silver King, Dreamer, Sentence, and Toorab. The following are the full particulars of the principal races : — THE ROWLEY MILE, A handicap sweepstake of ssovs each, half forfeit, with 200sovb added; second horse 30sovs and third horse lOsovs from the prize. One mile. Mr T Sampson's eh c Matador, by Newminster— Constellation, 2yrs, 6st 121b ... (Curran) 1 Mr John Mayo's eh g Stanley, oyrs, 7st 61b (Phoenix) 2 Mr J Monahan's b ra Honeycomb, 4yrs, Gst 101b (Longford) 3 Mr B A CornweU'6 eh h Fraud, <?vra, Bst <51b (Gough) 0 Mr D Cooper's eh c Blairgowrie, 3yrs. Bst 4b (B KlHs; o Hon W A Long's b h Abner, 4yre, Bst 41b (Power) 0 Mr H Kinsela's br c King6grove, 3yrs, 7efe Blb (Williams) 0 Hon James White's b f Tamarisk, 3yrs, 7st 61b (Hales) 0 Mr N T Payten's b c Fig Tree, 3yrs, 7st lib . (English) 0 Messrs Mathews and Son's br h Goldlake &yrs 7st 4lb ... ... ... (Archer) 0 Mr John Lee's, junr., br h The Felon, 4yre, 7st 21b (Fianaghan) 0 Mr D Laweon ns eh g Major, aged, 7st 2lb (MGrath) 0, Mr H Oxenham's br h Gipsy's Warning, syrs 6stl2lb ... ... ... (Gorry) 0 Mr W Gosper's b f Alma, 3yrs, 6stßlb (O Gough) 0 Lord Carrington's br f Bsperance, 2yr«, 6st (Keefe) 0 Betting : 3to i iigst Abner, 5 to 1 Gipsy's Warning, 6 to 1 Fraud and Matador, 8 to 1 Stanley, 10 to 1 The Felon, 15 to 20 to 1 others. Mr Kean lowered his flag without delay to a great start. Alma in the centre, and Tamarisk showing slightly in advance, and they led to the course proper, with Kingsgrove, Fraud, and Esperance scarcely half a length away and just in advance of a well packed field. As they sailed along the far side of the course, Esperance shot clear of her horses, and assuming command led past the two mile ; Fraud next a length away, with Matador and Alma at bis girths, and scarcely half a length away from Alma, while a well packed field was whipped in by Stanley, who, however was going well within himself. When rounding the far corner . Esperance was still going strongly, and had placed a gap of a couple of lengths between herself and Fraud, who had Alma still on his quarter, and next to them, in a bunch, succeeded Matador and Tamarisk together, and Honeycomb and Alma a length away, while Stanley was rapidly catching his horses on the outside. Fraud against the rails, Alma, and Tamarisk came round the home turn on terms, and Esperarce bolting out to the rails, effectually extinguished her chance. Fraud melted away at the distance, and Alma also retiring, Honeycomb and Matador appeared at the front, with Stanley hard upon them. A great race ensued, and Honeycomb tiring in the last 100 yds, Matador fairly outpaced Stanley, and beat him by a head. Honeycomb was a length and a-half away, and beat Goldlake by half a length for third place, and then followed Blairgowrie, Tamarisk, and Abner in close order; and then- after a gap came Gipsy's Warning and Kingsgrove ; while the last to fini&h were Major and Alma. Time, lmin 45|socs,

1 CLABBT STAKBS, ] Of lOaovs each, half forfeit, with 300!ovs added. For two-year-olds.- iColts, B*t' 21b {fillies, Bst; geldings at starting allowed 51b. Second horse 60sovs and third horse 25sovs from the prize. Five furlongs. ■ '■'>•• Hon. James White's eh c Abercorn, by Chester— ! Cinnaicon, Bst 21b ... ... (Hales) 1 Mr A Harvey's blk f Sumatra, by l'he Pontiff— | Malacca, Bst ... • .... ... (Power) 2 Mr D Cooper'o br c Huntingtower, by Darebin — ! Atholine, B»t 2lb ... ( ... (Ellis) 3 Betting: 5 to 2 on Abercorn, 4. to 1 agst Sumatra, 7 to 1 Huntingtower. The trio were sent away on friendly terms, and Abercorn at once taking up the running led at a good solid pace to the distance, where Sumatra, who had been within three lengths of . him throughout, challenged him,' and for a moment appeared to hold' him ; but it was only on sufferance, as the favourite drew away when asked and won by two lengths and a-half from , the' filly, who finished a couple of lengths" in front of Huntingtower. Time, lmin ssec. The following is a list of the placed horses in the Olaret Stakes : —

THE HAWKESBURY AUTUMN HANDICAP, J A handicap sweep of lOsovs,' half forfeit, with xOQsova added. The winner to receive 75 per cent.; second horse, 15 per cent.; and the third, lo per cent, of the gross amount. One mile and a half. Mr J Mayo'a eh g Stanley, by Grandmaster — Psyone, 5 years, 7st 21b ... (Leadbeat«r 1 Mr T Sampson's bl g Frisco, 3yrs, 6st (Argall) 2 Mr G Fagau's b m Sorella, 4yrs, 6st 101b (Campbell) 3 Hon. W A Long's b h Houeydew, syrs Bst 61b (Power) 0 Mr A M Cornwell's eh h Fraud, 6yrs, Bat 21b (Roberts) 0 Mr D Cooper's oh c Ghesham, 3yrs. 7st 61b (Ellis) 0 Mr W Mills ns b g Sloth, ago-i TV, lib (Gallagher) 0 Mr W J Forrester's eh m Foiiy, Jyrs, 7st 31b ... 0 Hon. James White's b f Tamarisk, 3yrs, 7st (Huxley) 0 Mr J D Robertson's b f The Nun, 3yrs, 7st (Fiddes) 0 Mr D Cameron mbc The Wreck, 3yrs, 6st 9lb (J Gough 0 Mr John Lee's, jun,, br h The Falcon, nyrs, 6st 91b ... ... ... . (Fianaghan) 0 Mr T Cook's b c Invader, 3yrs. 6st 71b (Fielder) 0 Mr M Ryan ns eh m Peeress, syrs, 6st 41b (Keefe) 0 Betting : 3 to 1 agst Honeydew, 6to 1 each Stanley and Invader, 7 to 1 Folly, 8 to 1 The Wreck, 12 to 1 Sloth, 20 to 1 each Tamarisk, Peeress, and 'Frisco. The flag went down to an excellent start, Tamarisk, Chesham, Folly, and Peeress showing slightly in advance. After going a few strides Chesham took command, and led Peeress half a length up the straight, Folly and. Invader next, almost on terms, with Tamarisk, Stanley, and Honeydew in a heap. When opposite the Derby stand The Nun galloped into something and fell heavily, fortunately without seriously injuring Fiddes, but he evidently interfered with 'Frisco and Sloth, both. oi. whom, lost a deal of cf ground. Making the most of his position and condition, Chesham led round the turn and past the old mile post' by a couple of lengths, Peeress following with Folly at her girths, and Invader, Tamarisk, Sorella, and Stanley next in order, with Sloth, last. Peeress reached Chesham's girths at the back of the course, where the pace was very strong, and Sorella, Stanley, and Folly were racing together scarcely half a length from the leading pair. As they made for the far corner Chesham began to waver, and Peeress, making a determined effort, cut him down and commenced the lead with a clear length's advantage of Chesham and Stanley, who were sue* ceeded by Folly and Tamarisk, while Honeydew who had been in slight collision with the rails, way hopelessly beaten, and Frisco began to put in a dangerous claim. A few strides further on Peeress was seen to be in difficulties, and Chesham also retiring, Stanley appeared at the front and turned into the straight, attended by Sorella and Frisco. The two last named then 'settled down after him, but he held his own without difficulty, and won cleverly by a length and a-quarter from Frisco, who beat Sorella by a neck for second place. Folly was three lengths away third, and then came Invader, Peeress, and Fraud, who were several lengths in front of Sloth, The Wreck, Honeydew, and' The Felon. Time, 2min 38|sec. The following is a list of placed horses in the Autumn Handicap t—

Grandmaster proved the most successful sire tof the meeting, having four winners ; Captivator coming next vri'h two, and Goldbrough, I Chester, Piscato, am? hx minster one each. The following priz-.:.-* were paid away this morning by the Hawk- abury Racing Club : — Mr John Mayo, £367; Mr T. Sampson, £310; Hon. James White, £255; Mr W. Forrester, £215; Hon. W. A. Long, £150; Mr Fields, £100; Messrs Oxhenham, M'lntyre, G. Matthews, £90 each ; Mr A. Harvey, £50 ; Mr G. Fagan, £45; Mr J. Cook, £40; Messrs D. Cooper and W. Kelso, £25 each; and Messrs Monaghan, Tom Brown, J. Payten, Welrnan, G. Rowley, and Cannon, £10 each. " Warrior " in a future issue will deal with his sojourn in Tasmania for a month.

Yr. Winner. Second. Third. i 1881 1882 1883 1384 188* 1886 1887 The Gem ... Piracy .\berfoyle ... 'Jargo Uralla V.cme \bercom ■... Etna Hecla Blue & White Honey dew ... First Chester Ohesham ... Sumatra Tbe Exeter ... Saionara ... Kingadale ... Lord Exeter... AJlendale ... Famarisk Hunting to w'r m.B. i 4 I 5 I 3* 1 4 i at i i| I 5 ■

Yr. Winner. Secoud. Third. i .881 .882 .883 LB-4 1885 LBBB 1887 The Barber... Major The Drum'er SweefcWilliam Ad Valorem Sardonj'x ... Rmpress ... Phyllis Moousb.ee ... Merlin ancer ... Bonnie Bee ... Stanley ... Frisco ■ FalmouUi ... Hawfchornden Willeroo ... 'ardonyx Normanby ... Cerise Sorella ms. 2 38 2 38 2 39i 2 39V 2 39 2 38* 2 38| I . I