Coming Events.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume III, Issue 145, 4 May 1893, Page 6

Coming Events.

[By

SIR LAUNCELOT.]

EGMONT RACING CLUB.

The Egmont Racing Club will bring off their Winter Meeting at Hawera on Wednesday next, the 10th instant, when a nice little programme of seven events, with £450 in added money, will be run off. I am sorry to say that Mr Henry’s handicaps for the three principal events have not met with a very large acceptance, but, nevertheless, some of the best of the North Island performers at . the “ illegitimate” game are left in, so there should be some good sport, and the two Hack Flat Races are sure to attract big 'fields, for hack racing is extremely popular on the West Coast of this Island. Business will be commenced with the Handicap Hurdles of 70sovs, 2 miles and a distance, for which seven have accepted out of 14 that wer.e weighted. Couranto, who was top weight with 11.13, has been paid up for, while his stable companion Waterbury is missing from the list. When I reviewed the weights I stated that Mr Henry had been flattering to Couranto,’ and expressed my opinion that if he has retained his last season’s form he will be hard to beat. With the field opposed to him I think, presuming he be fit and well on the day, he will just about win. Empire, 10.12, I looked upon as a certain acceptor, and his owner paid up for him, but I am surprised to find Gondolier missing Marechai Neil-will be held in reserve for meetings nearer home, so his absence is accounted for, and of those that were placed below the Marechai in the order of weight and have been paid up with I like best Disturbance, 9.11, and Jacob, 9.9. I shall take Couranto to win, with Empire, Disturbance and Jacob to fight out a battle for the other places. The weights for the Hack Hurdle Handicap are not to hand at the time of writing, so I will pass on to the succeeding item, the Handicap Trial Steeplechase of 55sovs, 2 miles, for which 12 out of 17 have accepted Waterbury is at the top of the tree with 11.3, with which on his past form he cannot be considered overburdened. Next to him Hike best Disturbance, with 10.5, and Allegretto; with 10.2, and in my estinia-

tion one of these will be capable of lowering the colours of the top weight. The Egmont Handicap Steeplechase of 150sovs, about 3 miles, is the principal ■item of the programme, and has attracted 11 acceptors. The Aucklander Shillelagh is now at the head of the poll with 11.9, and should take a lot of beating. He won this same race last year with 10.6. Empire, 10.9, has a previous engagement in the Hurdles, and I do not fancy Booties, 10.7. Chester, 10.5, is in the Hurdles, and therefore I will reluctantly pass him by, but I like Auckland at 10.2. Iroquois’ Trial Steeplechase form should show whether he has a chance at 9.12, and of those below him the only one I look on as having a show is Allegretto, 9.7. I think whatever beats Shillelagh will be returned the winner of the Egmont Handicap Steeplechase of 1893, and failing Williamson’s horse I expect Auckland, Empire and Chester to fight it out, providing the two latter have not had all the steel taken out of them earlier in the day.