SPORTING NOTES FROM. WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5732, 27 November 1896, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES FROM. WELLINGTON.

[CORRESPONDENT " CANTERBURY TIMES."] The Wellington Exhibition meeting began under the most favourable circum-stances-—the Weather was simply perfect — and with the exception of the unfortunate accident which, occurred to J. » Gallagher, there was nothing to mar the success of the day's sport. That a serious accident would take place at the sharp turn into the straight, where Acone and Eangipuhi fell, has been long predicted. There is not another course in New Zealand with such a sharp turn so near home, and it is no uncommon thing to see horses losing their feet there. Horses, except in the hands of very powerful riders, invariably run wide rounding this bend, and many a race the late W. Clifford won at $his corner by watching his opportunity and slipping up on the inside whilst horse 3in the hands of less experienced horsemen made a wide turn, and lost ground. Indeed, it is generally admitted that it is not safe to round this corner unless under a strong pull. The only remedy would be to run the reverse way round, as in Auckland. Then a much better turn into the straight could b<i obtained, and the chance of an accident minimised. The racing was interesting on account of the contests being of aninterprovincial character, Mr Evett was highly successful with his handicaps, and good fields were the result. The well-bred Orion's Belt made the best use of his feather weight in the opening event, and^ taking Command early in the race, won with something in hand from Blarney and Leda. The latter was a strong local tip. Martyrdom stood on the mark when tho tapes flew up, and lost at least ten lengths, otherwise she might have troubled the winner. The Exhibition Handicap was a runaway victory for Armilla. The public overlooked the fact that this filly was tried tc stay in the Oaks, and with only 7st hei connections no doubt looked upon the race I as the best of good things, and I hear they profited to a considerable extent by the victory. Those more than useful second-raters, Errand Boy and The Miser, ran well, but several that finished behind them were either interfered with by the accident, or were not ridden out, and may win before the end of the week. Armilla's victory m the Shorts, with top-weight, Bst 101 b (71b extra) demonstrated what a real good bit of stun* the daughter of Necklace is, as, with P. White m the saddle, the issue was never in doubt. To give weight to such speedy horses as Flying Shot, Dauntless, Sedgebrook, Barshot, Torpina and Tutanekai, is a performance that will cause handicappers to hold her in respect for the rest of this season. "Undoubtedly the best horse at the weights won the Hack Eace, although Marina (a full sister to Sea Breeze) gave Hillstone some trouble. Tv Kingi, a very handsome son of Flintlock, was slow to move when the signal was given, and lost several lengths thereby, or he would have been with the leaders at the finish. The Welter Handicap was won by Kingsman (a full brother to that good performei Florrie) principally through his rider getting up on the inside at the sharp turn already alluded to. A protest was entered on the grounds of inconsistent running in the November Handicap, but was very properly dismissed for the very good reason that the running of a horse with a feather weight up is no criterion of what the same animal may be capable of under welter weights; indeed, some horses run better under a vigorous horseman than with a much lighter but les3 powerful rider. The Flying Handicap resulted in a splendid set to between Flying Shot, King's Bowman and Torpifla, the issue being in doubt right up to the judge's box, whilst several others were close tip at the finish. The big grey gelding finished with more determination than he did ir the Shorts, and considering that he had 101 b less to carry, it is surprising that he was not better supported. His owner, a son the late Mr A. Young, a stannch sup?i 'er of the Wellington Racing Club, )"Bsfi\ heartily congratulated on his win, #$$ v ij j a i s f r iends would have been "HtoSflHL » hear that he had supported his ? leasedl *c heavily on the totalisator. This, icrsenww. he could not do on Fl { le explain^.. i n the Shorts. The gallop 3hotfßTiuMi»! tiy sharpened the horse iiowever,. c\ l id<s&. x "P' ~v .• „, _. the associated bookThe- Ctettßtt A , ialf of ten of the makers' offered,. Ctt-^ of £m f tl bookmakers, the sitttf * addling paddock privilege of- access to th* *> The " B^ wards only during the meeting- . off and ' however,, declined to- accept ■ Jb. wit hi n the no bootmakers' were allowed!- '* club's enclosures. 1 Press The following- appeared in tOifflO^a. d in answer to a table of odds' puMSsfr*. -„ Cup dividends :■— Bookmaker vemif 'x " talisator; To the Editor. Sir I;—As1 ;— As s6fl3t newspapers published the odds the- totalSsator would have paid had certain 1 horses 1 won the New Zealand Cup, we ask ; jfbiv mall fairness to publish the odds actually laid by us for that race. The same will show that for owners and heavy backers straight out odds contrast favourably with' those' obtainable from the machine. Also kindly answer the following :— What sum would the owner of Euroelydon have had to investon the machine if he wanted to stand to win one thousand pounds?' The prices laid by us were as follows : — 1150 to 57 agst Lady Zetland, or 20 to 1 ; 700 : to 52 agst Euroclydon, or 13£ to 1 ; 600 to 29 agst Defiance, or 20 to 1 ; 750 to 35 agst l Epaulet, or 22 to 1; 800 to 42 agst 1 Fabulist, or 20 to 1 ; 900 to 29 agst ThePossible, or 32 to I.— We are, &c, Ytjile' and- Co. An American lady, hearing that a New York clergyman had predicted the speedy end of the world, believed it, and gave away all her belongings to friends. Finding that the date fixed upon passed without anything serious happening, she asked for the return of her property. The friends objected, and the lady now threatens them with a lawsuit. Hospital' Physician . (with a- view to diagnosis) : " What do you drink ?" New Patient (cheering up at the proposal): "Oh, sir! — thank you, sir — whatever you — I leave that to you, sir 1" A German paper contains the following unique advertisement: "Any person who can prove that my tapioca contains anything injurious to health will have three boxes of it sent to him free of charge." A new method of stopping hiccoughs is said to have been accidentally discovered in a French hospital. It consists in thrusting the tongue out of the mouth and holding it thus for a short time.