Sporting Item

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume II, Issue 74, 24 December 1891, Page 7

Sporting Item

Impulse, the Auckland owned horse, is now second favourite for the Summer Cup. The nominations for the V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup close on the 4th January next. The vet’s post-mortem of Chester, the celebrated race stallion, showed that death resulted from a rupture of the intestines. Mr. G. Lewis, of Pokeno, has a splendid colt foal by Carbineer out of an Ake Ake mare, and has christened the youngster Detonater. Priscilla got first out of five runners in the Christmas Handicap on the second day at Hamilton. The Steeplechase was a very funny race. Every horse took a turn at falling. Eventually Justice pulled it off. Justice broke down badly in the South Auckland Steeplechase. It is very improbable that he will be able to race again for some time. The stewards of the South Auckland Racing Club made the public pay the one and a-half per cent, totalisator tax at their Summer Meeting held last week. Mr. E. D. Halstead ought to feel proud of his handicaps at the South Auckland meeting. Several of the finishes were worth going a long way to see. JEgyptus, recently the property of Major George, won the Greystones Handicap at the Bacchus Marsh races on the 3rdinst., but could only get second to J 5 two days afterwards. Whimbrel was awarded top weight, 9st 51b, in the Standish Handicap by Mr. F, F. Dakin, but his owner ran the pen through his name as soon as the weights appeared. Pygmalion, late of New Zealand, is to be put to the “ sticks ” over in Australia. Rather a come-down for one of such pretentions as he was when taken over there. On Tuesday night, Mr. “Dan” McLeod offered to lay 100 to 5 Lebel for the Auckland Cup, and people went away wondering why it was not accepted. On Wednesday morning the horse was scratched. Tommy Hodson, we are glad to say, is once more about again, and has called and asked us to convey his heartfelt thanks through our columns to his many friends, who subscribed to the fund on his behalf. He desires to acknowledge the receipt of £29 10s. 6d. The following weights have been declared for the Novel Race to be run at Drury on Monday next, 28th inst. :—Mattie, gst 71b ; Fusilier, 9st; Little Raven, Bst 41b; Shark, 7st lolb; Tip, 7St 71b ; Coquette, 6st 71b ; The Dane, 6st 71b. Acceptances for this event are due at the post. Turf patrons will regret to hear that the jockey Davis, rider of Brigand at the A.R.C. Spring Meeting, is unlikely to ride in the Cup on Saturday owing to having severely injured his hand when riding at the South Auckland races last week. It now transpires that Merrie England was struck out of the Auckland Cup owing to a bad attack of influenza. His owner deserves a word of praise for striking him out at once, thereby saving the public any waste of money. Narellan, by Chester —Princess Maud, one of the late Hon. James White’s English contingent, is reported to have been sold in England recently for a sum of 160 guineas. Chicago, winner of the 1888 Caulfield Cup, was offered at the same time and place, but no bid was made for him. Pakeha, by Britisher—True Blue, was struck dead by lightning about a month ago. Readers will remember that this horse was a great public fancy for the Melbourne Cup three or four years ago, in which he only gained fourth place. Mr. Weir, who was leading the horse at the tune, was also struck, but was not killed.

Adelaide, by Nordenfeldt—Victoria, has been purchased by an Australian “ sport,” and departed for her new home on Tuesday last by the s.s. Manapouri. ' .- Huerfaua, who is owned by Captain Russell, of Napier, derives his name from the Spanish language, which being interpreted, means “ The Orphan.” The Tauranga Racing Club have issued their programme for the annual race meeting on the 29th January, when £lOO will be given away in stakes. Judging by the programme, the meeting should prove a success. The following are the current quotations for the Auckland Cup : —6 to 4 Hilda, 3to 1 Fraternite, 6to 1 Queen of Trumps and British Lion, 10 to 1 offered any of the others. Cup and Steeple : —lO to 1 Fraternite and Sentinel, 10 to 1 Hilda and Sentinel, 10 to 1 Fraternite and Hopeful Kate, 8 to 1 Hilda and Hopeful Kate. We are in receipt of a copy of the programme of the Whangarei Park Racing Coy. A splendid “ bill of fare ” is provided which should satisfy the most fastidious. Quite a large number should be found journeying down there on the Bth and 9th of next month. .-in Great interest amongst “shootists” was centered on the pigeon match between Dr. Carver, the American, and Mr. L. Clarke, the Australian. Owing to a chain of unforseen and unfortunate circumstances the match has been discontinued, much to the disappointment of interested watchers. Mr. E. Wilson, son of Sir James Wilson, and a good supporter of racing in Tasmania, has gone the way of all flesh.. By all accounts the deceased gentleman has been the life and soul of racing in Tasmania ever since his father s death. He had the reputation of being a quiet unassuming doer of good. “Augur,” in the Australasian, 1 thinks Joe Thompson, the leviathan, will act very foolishly if he posts those who have not paid up over the CzaYewitch betting. The writer’s remarks are ' very sound, and exceedingly well-timed. Notwithstanding the trouble of collecting the divs., those who have disappeared may “ come another day ”to advantage. < ; The Onehunga Racing Club have fixed the date of their Summer Meeting for Saturday, January 16th. The programme is a very attractive one, £226 being devoted to stakes as follows Maiden Plate of 20 sovs., one mile; Hurdle Race of 30 sovs., one mile and a half; Onehunga Cup of 50 sovs., one mile and aquarter; Handicap Pony Race of 15 sovs., five furlongs; Handicap Flying Stakes of 20 guineas, six furlongs; Handicap Steeplechase of 50 sovs., about three miles ; Selling Race of 20 sovs., six furlongs; Welter Handicap of 20 sovs., one mile. A largely attended meeting of Tattersall’s Club was held at their rooms on Tuesday evening last, called for the purpose of rescinding a resolution which had been passed a few weeks since on the casting vote of the chairman, which made it imperative on bookmakers to pay an annual license fee of three guineas. On this occasion that resolution was rescinded by a majority of one vote, 25 being favourable, and 24 against. Great interest was taken in the result,.and bookmakers are highly jubilant at their narrow victory, as the rule now stands, their annual license fee is one guinea, and any new members joining will be required to pay three guineas. There was a large attendance at Messrs. D. Tonks and Co.’s auction mart on Monday, on the occasion of the sale of privileges for the Auckland R.O. Summer Meeting ana the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting, as follows:— Auckland Racing Club: Lean-to bar,' £143, Dunn, Market Hotel; grand-stand'bar (inside), £ll2, Brown, Newmarket Hotel; No. 1 booth, £6B, Dunn ; No. 2 booth, £32, Tooman, Aurora Hotel; No. 3 booth, £29, Mrs. Hope; No. 4 booth, £29, Mrs. Ziegler; sole right to refreshment stalls, £36, Mrs. Macintosh ; cards, £l9O, Mr. W. Blomfield ; stabling, £8 10s, Parker. Auckland Trotting Club : Sole right to publican’s booths, £BO, Purcell; sole right to refreshment stalls, £5, Mrs. Macintosh; cards, £25, Mr. W. Blomfield; stabling, £2, Mr. C. Philpott; gates, £63, Mr. W. Blom- ~ field.