OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1858, 1 July 1887, Page 24

OUR AUCKLAND SPORTING LETTER.

(Pbom Our Special Sfobting QobeesFONDKNT.) • ,

Auckland, June 28.

Turfites assembled iv good force at Onehunga on Saturday, where a capital afternoon's sport was produced. The coarse was in a very greasy condition from, recent rains, and this circumstance caused the complete downfall of the favourite division. The sport, opened with the Maiden Plate, which drew out a field of nine, of whom Weasel was made the favourite, -but the winner turned up in Antelope (a daughter of Apremont), who- beat Tupaki by half .a length. Dividend, £7, 25. The Hurdle Race, two miles, had a field of six, Victory (lOst 81b) being a .staunch favourite. Three-quarters of? a mile from home he looked like winning, but here Coral went to the front and ;Was not • afterwards caught, Orangeman, (Bst 2lb) finishing second, and, Revenge .(9st' 7lb) third, ' IKvidend, £5 3a. Six weighed out for the Selling Stakes, one mile, which ended in a victory for Yankee (Bst 71b), who beat Sir Lovin (Bst . 71b) and Pipi (Bst 71b) by a length. Dividend, £8, I7s. A splendid field of 11 went, out, for the Steeplechase, of lOOsoys," three miles., Huntsman (lOst 71b) was made favourite,, but when going extremely well .he came down, and Quflp '(10s t), Orangeman (9st 121b), and

Magnesia (10 121b) came forward fdrtheron home in that order. Orangeman' caught Quilp at the' straight,! and eventually won by two lengths,. Magnesia being a good third. Dividend, £15. "The 'Winter Oats Handicap, df >70sqvs, one mile' and a-half, 1 drew out the* following field Jr-Tttrqaoise/flstaib), Friendship (Bst 121b), Snake (8stllb); Tamora(7st 121b), Ma . Petite Pille '(7st 21b), Bangalore (6st 101b), Brittania (6st 51b), r: Cannon (6st 101b), > and The' Cat.v Friendship was the favourite.' Snake was first away, and led for nearly a quarter of a mile, where 1 The Cat 'took command, and was 'never' afterwards- caught, winning by half a length from' Snake,' with Friendship 1 close up,, third. Dividend, £22 13sii/ Taylor 1 f did ' nbt . handle, Friendship at Tall well, or 'she must, I think,' have r won. The Selling Steeplechase drew out af ield of nine,s' Quilp and" Huntsman being- installed favourites. The 'former refused to race a yard, and. the latter coming down when looking all over a winner, -left the race to Whalebone and Pipi, and the former eventually won by a length. Dividend, £11 11s. The Flying Stakes, one mile, drew out the following :— Friendships 9st 2lb;Rewi,' 7st 91b; Tupaki, 6st 51b ;" Catesby, Jfsfc 81b y Antelope, 1 7st ;■ Artist, 6st 81b; , Rewi was made a staunch favourite, and entering the straight lookedNdl over a winner, but Friendship' coming with a great rash 50yds from home got up and beat him by half -a length.- Dividend, £5 -3s; ' It is worthy of remark that not one of the favourites, won; During (the afternoon £2471 was passed through the machine: > ■ | - Messrs^ Lyons and' Blaikie's horses Too Soon' and Queenie will be shipped to Sydney to-mor-row. > Mr Lyons, who' intends to reside per-* manently in Sydney, was entertained at a banquet to-night by a large number of sporting friends, all joining in wishing him the best of luck in his new home. 1 The Onehunga Club had, I understand, great trouble to gain a permit from the; Colonial Secretary to work the totalisator at their late meeting, and it was not- until the ndf rning of the ' races that the welcome authority came to hand. ,The goody goody people sent a number of wires to Wellington prayings that the permit should not be granted, but in Sir Maurice Otßorke; as' president of the club, the latter had a big lever, land of course won. "' .' . ••<

! .FOOTBALL. ; Graftoh v.— Pbnsonby.— This match, which excited a lot of interest, took place on Saturday last, and it being the first meeting of the two clubs this winter, attracted, a large' crowd of people to Epsom,' there, being fully '2000 persons' on the ground. '" From first to, last the play was most brilliant, and' as each team was equally matched, excitement ran very high. Neither side had scored when the first term closed. In the second spell, ,by a piece of capital play, Ponsonby scored, a try, but no goal resulted. Graf ton then played up splendidly, but though' they pressed Ponsonby hard, they failed to score until just before time was' called, when Yeale, M'Kenzie, and' Leckie, by grand play,' got the ball into, Ponsonby's territory and scored a try, but the kick at goal was a failure. ' The match therefore ended in a draw, each side having scored a try. It is' understood that a protest will be lodged by Pbnsonby. | North [Shore v. Alberts. — After a capital game, North Shore won by a try to nil. ii' • ' *