SPORTING NOTES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4189, 24 December 1884, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

[By " Hippo."] i Christmas is drawing- near and with it f tho Boxing Dny races. Should the weather keep fine the course will bo in good order, g and a large attendance may be expected. 1 The first race on the cards will be tho ) Maiden Race, of 50 soys, distance one mi.'e.^ For this race only three horses are entered, Oberon, Jacob, and New York. The last time Oberon and Jacob met was at Petane \ in the Ladies' Bracelet, when Oberon gave Jacob 91b and got rather easily beaten. Now, there will only bo 31bs between them, ' and as Oberon is very much fitter now than ho was then, I think he will turn tho P tables by winning this time, so I shall tip , for this race Oberon 1, Jacob 2, New York 3. Tho next race on the programme is tho Christinas Handicap, of 100 sovc, distance J once round. For this race there were , thirteen nominations received, and seven accepted. The following is a scale of w.f.a. handicap weight and the difference in ' pounds.

—It will bo scon by this that Tigredia is the only one carrying over her weight for age. The last timo she and Forerunner met was at the spring meeting in the Flying Haudicap. Forerunner was then carrying 51b more than the filly who won. Now tho filly has to carry 51b more than the colt, or on 10lb worse terms than when she met him before. Upon these terms I think the colt will beat the filly, but then there is Abraham who is reoiviug , 20!bs at w.f.a. scale from Forerunner and 30ibs from Tigredia, should he be fit and well and get a iair start he should make it very interesting for both of them. Then there is Deceiver at 7st 71bs lie is at w.f. a scale, has lib more to carry than Forerunner. Ido not like his going of late, and do not think he will be quite himself on the day. For the race I shall place Abraham 1. Forerunner 2, Tigredia 3. Tho next race will bo the Handicap Hurdles of lOOsovs., distance, 2 miles. Kincraig being scratched for this race, leaves six still in. For this race I like nothing better than Assegai at lOst Slbs ; and if lie had been a few weeks longer in Warren's hands, I be- V" liove there would have been nothing: eke in the race, but as it is I shall still P in _ m Y faith to him, and place Assegai 1, Pastime 2. The great race of the meeting , comes next the Hastings Handicap of 250 soys.; , distance 2} miles. For this i™ o thci 'o were ten horses nominated, and Leonata being scratched leaves seven still to contest the race. I also have compiled a scale of weights for this race.

Lijirisu""' • - •. « i .. ii. ~ —Hero again ligrediais the only one handicapped over her w.f.ii., and is made 1o appear by the handicap a 4lbs better mare than her stable companion Leonora, who is handicapped at w.f.a.-weight. After Leonora's running at Canterbury and Wellington I think she was justly entitled to a few pounds more weight. In the Wellington •Jockey Club Handicap she carried 0»t 31b, and ran second to Black lio.se, beating Ugly Buck," Normnnby, Administrator, and others. No doubt she is very leniently treated, and bar accidents must win. Emir Bey ia too big a rogue for

mo to trust, otherwise T woixld place him second, and if The Laird was only in good hands and well ridden I would not ignore him for a place, but I do not. think ho is going as well as he was a week ago. I shall place Leonora 1, Forerunner 2, and should. Tigredia start I shall place her third.—Sibella has left Percy Martin's stables and gone home to go into the paddock, and Smeoroch has taken her place at Martin's. It will be remembered that A thi3 maro won the catch weight hack at the \ spring meeting.—W. Clifford has gone to Auckland to ride "Welcome Jack for his engagements. The Paid Paid races promise to he a great success as a great many hacks are in training, and good races may be expected. The acceptances for Takapau are very good, and a good meeting is expected.

iv. f. a. Handi- lbs. Tigredia Forerunner .. Deceirer Yankee Abraliiim Miss Dargon C)bcron cap. st lb at lb lb. 7 9 .. 8 0 .. 5 over S 0 .. 7 9 .. 5 under . 7 11 .. 7 7 .. 4 „ 9 0 .. 7 5 .. 23 ,, 9 0 .. 7 3 .. 25 „ 7 9 .. G 10 .. 13 „ 9 0 .. (3 [) .. 33 .,

vr.f.u. Handilbs. st. lb. Leonora .. 9 0 Emir Bey 0 C The Laird 9 3 Tigrcdia 7 ■* Forerunner 7 9 Deceiver 7 0 <"!liri.i<.ina 7 i cap. tit. lb. 0 0 s s 7 10 7 8 7 3 7 2 G 7 12 under 21 „ 4 ovor 6 under ■1 „ 11 ..