SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3054, 2 December 1872, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TilK SCRATCHING OF rtfRESK. “ Bannathlath” writes to tie Greg River Argun : —.l will begin by sayin that it is no uncommon occurrence forowncsof horses to publicly or privately sell thcr favorite or outsider, as the case may be, with or vrituout their engagements. It might be argued in opposition to this that such tiings are not done in Australia. For instance, Mr De Mestre scouted the idea, of taking L3OOO for Uagworth when the owner of this horse made him aware of the offer ho had got, but it must be also borne in mind that the owner was thinking seriously about this grand sum total, three thousand pounds, which was of a far greater amount than the Melbourne Cup was likely to reach with all the sweepstakes added. In the meantime Mr De Mestre was thinking about the honor be would gain by p’acing his care and colors first past the post. If this horse had been Mr De Mestre’s private property, it remains in doubt whether he would have pocketed the certainty or not. Your readers, no doubt, remember the sale of Hobbie Noble, who was the strongest favorite that ever started for an English Derby, and caused great anxiety amongst the sports in ’52 when he was beaten for that great event by Daniel O’Rourke. It is a well-known fact that if Hobbie had won the Derby, a great many of the betting gentry would, to use a co’ouialism, have ‘‘gone up a tree.” Those parties referred to held a meeting, at which it was decided to buy Hobbie Noble, aud arrange matters after. As a matter ©f course they got him, hut had to pay pretty well for him. They dared not scratch him in England, especially such a hot favorite ; consequently they started him, and the cure was worse than the disease for the uninitiated. I need not say he lost it, and that the buyers got recompensed for their trouble. Great as was the row, there was no blame attached to the gentleman that sold the horse for a long price with his engagements. I think a leaf out of Hobbie’s book would have the Peeress admirably at Christchurch. Now, whatever fault may be found with Mr Walters for scratching the mare, I think Mr Bed wood is entirely Gee from blame, especially when I notice that he offered this mare with her engagements to several parties for 1800 previous to the Cup day, and also cantioncd some of the Peeress’s supporters that she was in the market. Those who think lit to censure Mr Redwood so severely seem to look at the dark side of the picture all flic time. 'Perhaps tlijs gentleman firmly jje|ieved that the mare could not win the Pup, apcl th:}t t|»is was a (Inc chance to sell Jjer. Of coqrsc this is pu|y a supposition of jpipe; hilt I thjok if your readers would compare the titpe it took Pecfess to accomplish that (jam© distance for the Cup of last year in the deciding heat wjth Rnqttingley,' she raced it every yard, and tQoJc the exact same tijnc, 4min. losec., whije Lurline won it ip this year with hands down, they wjll say that jibe good old marc cmdd not have wop jt, apcl tljqt Mr Redwood is the John Tftit of New Zealand in matters of a horsey nature. As to the disqualifying of this unfortunate Peeress, it strikes me fi rcibly that when the Jockey Club were about it, they might as well have put the pen thrnjjigir the gentleman’s name that scrats^imlier; hut I suppose there are rcathat, as there are for everything else of the kind. The Peeress has not got the gift of the gab, and consequently can make a very poor defence. The charges against her are numerous. She is accused of goh'B off her feed," and with being feverish in her feet too, near Cup day ;ap l also w lfc h y° w p inclined to tlirt with other horses, which is no guarantee that she is in proper racing condition. In fact,, the owner is so thoroughly disgusted with the misdemeanours of her highness tht Peeress that he wdl suffer to lose a little aud take L4;>o for her now.” THE O.J.C. MEETING. The dull, cloudy morning appeared to have had the effect if thinning the attendance at the races t*-day. At noon, there were not many penons on the ground, but the number gradually increased as the time wore on. „ The first race wjs the Handicap Hurdle Race, which was looked forward to with, some interest. The horses, in taking thciP preliminary gallop?, seemed to be all n? prime condition. Kildare was the hvv°ritcp though Medora had her admirers. The betj> ting was not heary, Handicap Hurdle Pace, of 2o sovs v Entrance, 3)s; one mile and a hall c over seven lights of hurd’es, 3 feet 0 inches high, ii Mr J. Cotton’s bg Nigger, aged, 10st 7lh v J- Stephonsoi’a ch g Kildare, aged, s satm ... ... c g j Pilgrim, agcd,Tost ... g Ajl started, thVigh they did not get < yell together { Pjgrira bringing up the rer M tfee ttat hutdh Sgtadig

one of tnStp into the ditch with his rider. At the thircr hurdle Pilgrim refused, and as there was no chance for him his jockey, pressed him no further. The race was then between Nigger and Kildare, the first leading, altbongl Kildare appeared to have a good chance. This, however, was completely lost tlrongh his jockey fading at (he fifth hurdle ; pickly remounting, there was still a fodorn lope, which was ultimaMy ex*tinmushed by a second fall. Walter Taylor now had it ;I1 his own way. Nigger took every leap stcxlily, and won as she liked. A second jockey mounted Kildare, and Pilgrim having (veveame her difficulties, there was an cxcithg race for the second place ; Ki'daro winni g by three lengths. Saladin carried 171b, lildare 111b, and Pilgrim 41b, over weight. Time, 3min, 43scc. Maiden Peat,, of 20 sovs. Entrance, 1 90 V.; one mile and a quarter; weight for age. For horses that have never won an dvertised prize exceeding L2O. Mr A, Smith’sch f May Morn, 4 yrs. ... 1 Mr Haync’s clf Pasquinade, 3 yrs. ... 2

Four horses .tarted, Kate Tvcarney having been scratdiei They all got oIF well together, and mpassing the Grand .-tand the first time. Paprinade was in front. This was maintainc for nearly two thirds of tbe distance, wherMay Morn collared her, and a fine race btween the two horses took l>lace in the s*aight running, both jockeys whipping hard May Morn was the winner by half a neck The betting before the race was Pasqninaa against the field, and 2 to I against MajMorn. Time, 2min. 24secs. St. A Nonew’,4 T andicat, of 55 sovs., with a sweep n 1 sov.; tho amount accruing from the sweepstakes to go to the second lusc ; one mile and a Half ; nominatic, 2 sovs.; acceptance, 1 sov. Capt. Hutchim’s b.g. Wild Boy, aged 7st lOlbs. (Tanner) 1 Capt. Hutchisi’s b.m. Miss King, aged Sst slhs, Pear*on.) 2 Mr O’Brien’s f. Kat-j Kearney, 3 yrs..

7st 41b" Mr Gourlay’s h.g. Bobby Burns, aged,

(jst 01b. ... ... ••• l - Catapult an Pasquinade were scratched, Time, 2min., 'sees.

Selling Eac of 25 sovs. Entrance, 30 shillings one mile and and a distance ; weight f age. Horses entered to be sold for 50, to carry 101b overweight for age for L4O, (o carry weight for ago ; f0r.30, allowed 14 lb ; L2O, 281b ; LlO, 421 The winner to bo sold by auction, ml any surplus to go to the funds. Mr A. Smitl ch g St Andrew, 5 yrs, to he sold f LU) (Smith) 1 Mr Gourlaych g Bobby Turns, aged (T. Cotton) 2 Mr Roberts’; g Kaka, aged (Malone) 3 Dido Ra, for a subscription of LlO.

Won by /x. Finlayson, who rode Kaka; Robert Pot - , on Saladin, being second. Both arc sars on board H.M.S. Dido.