V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 24, 10 January 1891, Page 5

V.R.C. AUTUMN MEETING.

NOMINATIONS.

The Newmarket Handicap, a sweepstake of 20 sovs each, with 1500 sovs added. Three-quarters of a mile. Renata, Tirailleur, St. Andrew, Chaldean, The Promised Land, Jew Boy, Enuc, Annesley, Don Giovan, Teksum George, Crackshot. Whimbrel, The Spot, The Admiral, The Harbour Light, King William, Pygmalion,‘Elsie, Second Thought, Carrington. Town Talk,. Letter, Lady Lovell, Daniel Clonard, Marvel, Wilga, Montrose,. Vengeance, Swertha, Umslopograss, Casuist, Aspen Leaf, Propounder, Prattler, Merriment, Forest King, Megaphone, Bendigo, Tourbillon, Walter, Mazeppa, Mikado, Sunbeam, The Serf, Gaudy, Magic Circle, Nerissa, Greygown, Gladstone, Amina. Conceit, Hiehborn, Fiance, Havilah, Fernando, Lady Gohghtly, Doncaster, Cooramin, Stamboul* Wild Rose, The Loon, Newton, Linburn, Churchill, Proh Pudor, Winifred, Highlander, Richelieu, Portland, Investigator, Goldreei, Litigant, Tennyson, Simpleton,- Surefoot, Elworthy, Buffalo Bill, Bothwell, Bungebah, Magdala, Too Soon, Don John, Lavender, Matador, Courteous, Toastmaster, Loyalist, Choice, Loiterer, Epic, C.ooyal, Floreneitta, Cuirassier, Mota, Ginger, Calm, Deerswood, Radoo, The Despised, Essex, Politician, Egyptian, Larose, Little Bob, Ronald, Silver Prince, Victor Hugo, Insignia, Fama, Savant, Correze. ' The, Australian Cup, a sweepstake of 20 sovs each, with 1000 sovs added. Two miles and a-quarter. Tirailleur,' Enuc, Annesley, Whakawai, Crackshot, Masher, Whimbrel, The Spot. Pioneer, The Admiral, The Jebusite, Melos, Gatling, Little Bernie, King William, Vengeance, Tarcoola, Litigant, Escutcheon, Cuirassier, Pingara, Calm, Plenty, The Lawyer Highborn, Crown Jewel, Fernando, Gibraltar, Muriel, Correze, Dilisk, Prince Consort, Lottie, Politician, Ronald, Lyndhurst, Greygown, Forest King, Tantallon, Megaphone, Carbine, Theorist, The Serf, Chintz, Swing, Cooramin, St. Ambol, Benzon, Richelieu, Portland, Burlesque.

We beg to acknowledge of the full programme of the combined Championship Meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association and ’Cyclists’ Alliance, which will be held in the Domain on Friday and Saturday, February 6th and 7th. The programme is an excellent one, and entries for the various events close on January 24th, 1891. Athletic events close with Mr. L. A. Cuff, Hon. Sec. N.Z.A.A.A., P.O. box 96, Christchurch ; and ’Cycling events with Mr. P. H. Withers, Hon. Sec. N;Z.C.A. P.O. box 113, Christchurch. The following horses,, the property of Major Mair, are advertised for- sale. They consist of The Dreamer, -jyrs old, -by Somnus—Sweet Alice. He is a nice, useful colt, and should pay well at country meetings. Sweet Lavender, by Captivator—Bianca, who ran second in the Nursery Handicap to Roie at the Auckland Racing Club’s Spring Meeting should pay her wav. There are also Sweet Alice, served by Nordenfeldt, and Coreyra, by King Tom out of Cerintha, by Newminister, served by Nelson. This is one of the very few King Tom mares in the Australian colonies, therefore worth looking after. Polo.does not appear to have taken with , Colonials, though it is played by Englishmen and others in all parts of the globe. Looking through the files of The Field one comes across the following: —“ We spent a very pleasant day at a place called Maham, about ten miles from Simla towards the interior. While out there I met a number of Ladaki men going to play polo after the regular Thebitan fashion. The ground is up a very steep hill and was a piece about fifteen yards broad by fifty or sixty long, and, as you may imagine, by no means level. The men who play are very good fellows, all from Shadoo, close to Gilgit, and who spend their time as wood-carriers, in fact the ponies they play on have to carry heavy loads of wood for six days and then by way of a holiday on Sunday they play polo. They asked us if we would play, and as I thought they would like it I joined in on one of their ponies with a great Thebit saddle. What put me out most was the very short stick they play with, which is only the size of a common walking-stick, with a great end fastened on to it. About fourteen or fifteen men play at the same time, and they will charge down on the ball anyhow from all directions. The ponies, however, appear to know the game, and stop when they get on the • ball, when a general scrimmage ensues in which the ponies legs generally suffer the most. They start the game by throwing the ball into the air, and then hitting it before it touches the ground. It was really great fun watching them. They were all so keen, and with their long hair flowing behind looked a real wild set. Of course the usual “larga” consisting of a tom tom and horrible pipe played at intervals to, encourage the'players.”