SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3180, 30 April 1873, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

SOOTH CANTERBURY STEEPLECHASES,

This event took place at Waimate, on the 25th inst,, and the following account of the two principal events is taken from the Novth Otago Times :—

South Canterbury Steeplechase, of L7O, with a sweepstake of L 5 added. About two miles. Mr Schluter’s b g Honest John, aged, 12at lib (M‘Kay) 1 Mr W. Taylor’s ch g Sir Tatton, aged, 12st

11b - - - - . - - • ■ Mr NosworthyVb'g Merrimao, aged, 12st

lib 0 Mr Studholme’s b gTTim, aged, 12st 11b - 0 The four got well off, Sir Tatton having the load, followed by Honest John, Tim, and Merrimac. The first three took their jumps in splendid style, but Merrimnc swerved and bolted; his rider, however, got him again in haftd and brought him to the jump, which he cleared, but by this time he was completely out of the race. At the third fence Honest John closed up to Sir Tatton, when a splendid race ensued between the two, both taking their jumps in admirable stylo. By this time the Excitement oni the field was growing hot, and At "the- fourth •’jump f’ rom home the horses could fie cQvprqd fyy a pb)ccip|<h 5’ |fpf- immediately Sir Taftqn rya? seen tq'ktjjmqlq jvnd faji'kbhkpf; Honest Johnl'eavinghiipsqnjebaifra-doseri ya*(|? in the rear, but on coming towards the last jump Sir Tatton was again closing up with Uis rival; Honest John taking the jump about three lengths ahead. M ‘Kay then plied the whip and brought his horse to the front some six lengths. Time, 4min. 49secs. When Sir Tatton came to the stand it was seen that he had severely injured-one <J his fore legs by an over-reach ; ‘the' ac6idenff*to such a fine animal was regretted by afl, as if was ‘evident ; *that he will pot be again fit for racing, far -fa come.

Intkuprovinctal Handicap Steeplechase, ©f LIOO. About three miles. Mr Schulter’s b g Honest John, 10st 41b (Gay) 1 Mr Fraser’s b m Meclora, list (M'Kay) ... 2 Mr Nos worthy’s b g Merriraac, list ... 0 A good start was effected ; Merrimac leading, Honest John second, and Medora one or two lengths behind. All took the first jump, in this brder,-Jjiifc a’i'‘the next Horpst jTphn had the lead. ‘Thw position* Was : kep op k &jie|i vh«n Merrimac struck his fen&s' ratheriy 1 Severny} and fell back out of the face; never having another chance.' Medora now closed up with tier (fjfimqnL af}d in the two next jumps both ligraeS (sq w’as thp runpjijg) went deafi through the rail fences, ‘ When piftquj, qf t| } (» stand, and at the seventh jump from hoipe, Ijpdora led by at least three lengths, and cer ; tainjy It loplfsd ns if the race was secure to her; but sqon ttonest Johq was ijpgr, tp (dose up, and at the second fence from home ifc wa,s hftPd tp teJl from the stand which led, but in the running towards the last fence Honest John had evidently a very slight advantage, and j opt as both came to the jump the mare most unaccountably swerved behind her opponent, thus losing her only hope of the race.