DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 250, 9 May 1895, Page 8

DUNEDIN.

[by

wire. ]

May 7. Sporting matters are subservient to coursing this week, the only topic being the issue of the handicaps for our Birthday and Tradesman races. At our May Meeting Mr Dowse commenced his adjustment rather higher than is customary With him, but still his efforts have been well received, and one of the principal features, and perhaps the main one, here is double betting. A favourable price always commands big response, and I must- say Dunedin metallicians offer good inducement in doubles, and they do business accordingly. 100 to 4 is the maximum on the double, Birthday and Tradesman, down to 100 to 1, and by push they manage to do business. Skirmisher and Outpost are favourites for the first event and Barmby and Stockfish for the Tradesman’s. In consequence of the wires being down last week you will have received all particulars by post of any of our meetings within the range of my comments, so commenting would be useless. Dilemma will not be trained again, and is on the sale list for stud purposes. He can be bought cheap. The city is full of lovers of the leash from all parts, and our Challenge Stakes is exciting a lot of interest. It commences to-morrow (Wednesday), and there are fifty-eight dogs left in, the draw taking place last night. A fair amount of betting is being indulged in, and real good odds are on offer, with the exception of a few Australian competitors

which appear to have frightened the local owners. There is no doubt <we have ’the best of the Australian greyhounds here, and if they annex the stakethey deserve it’to encourage their pluck In coming over. The value to the first will be about £2OO, and to the runner up £6O, besides presentations. At ’the irooms to-night there was a fair,amount of business done, and the stake could be supplemented to the tune of £5OO in betting, but most owners held off until the decision of first trials. Several, however, were backed for amounts varying from £2OO to £5OO. The following were quotations : —lOO to 14 Bloomer, 12 Gbldsmith, 8 Pine Hut (taken), 8 The Joker (taken and wanted), 7 Haughran,'6 Clements’ Tonic (taken), Verdi. Sydenham (taken), Shylock, Blackbird, Ledeerkeeper ; 100 to 4to 1 the others. So a backer could get a good round sum cheaply for a small outlay, several being supported at long odds. The weather. is very fine, and there is every prospect of this proving the best meeting ever held at our Plumpton.