SPORTING.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1883, 13 September 1886, Page 2

SPORTING.

ISLAND BAY SPRING MEETING, Tbe first Spring Meeting of the Island Bay Racing C:ub took place ou Saturday afternoon. Local Handicap, of HOsovs. J. Saunders’ The Sbab, 4yrs, Bst 51b .. 1 L. A. Marline’s Fisherman, 6yrs,7st 51b,. 2 E. J. Bell’s Reputation, aged, Bst 31b .. Won cleverly by a quarter of a length. Time, 2min 23|seos. Dividend, £2 19s. Handicap Unrdle Race, of 50 sovs. A. Shearsby’s Patricious, 6yrs, 9st 71b .. 1 A. Arthur’s Forward, 6yrs, 9at 71b. .. 2 J. Leopold’s Forest King, aged lOst 21b .. I! Halioore also started. Good race; won by a length. Dividend, £3 2a. Time, 4miu 24jsecs. The Spring Handicap woe won by Normanby. Flying Handicap by The Shah. The Welter was won by Patricious, and the Selling by Forward. Hack Hurdles, Old Sarah 1, A.Q 2.

A most unique case in the annuals of racing in the colony has cropped up in Ashburton, in connection with the Flying Handicap at the last spring meeting of the Ashburton Racing Club. The circumstances are as follows Four horses were weighed out for the race mentioned, and committed to the hands of the starter. By some extraordinary blunder, the startar despatched the horses from the two-mile post, and the distance run was about 133 yards short of the six furlongs prescribed by the condition of the race, This race was won by Talebearer, with Rocket second and Jack third. The stewards, after failing to bring about an agreement with the owners interested, ruled, under rule 31, clause 8, and rule 33 of the C. J. C. rules, that the start was void, and that the horse* must be started again. In the meantime, the horses, with the exception of Rocket, were l«ad off the ground, and at the second start Rocket only appeared and cantered over the course. On settling day, his owner, Mr. Hammond, instead of receiving the full value of the stake, was tendered only half the money, the stewards contending that, as Rocket had walked over, they were only entitled to pay half the stakes, as provided by the rules of racing. Mr Hammond protested, contending that, as the other horses had not been scratched the race was really run over again at the proper distance. The club refused to accede to Mr Hammond’s suggestion, that the matter be referred to fhe Canterbury Jockey Club for arbitration. It is probable Mr Hammoni will take further action in the matter.

Over fifty horses are said to be in training in the Napier district.