SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3417, 3 February 1874, Page 3

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

DUNEDIN CUP. The following interesting letter to sporting men appeared in the Nelson ‘ Examiner,’ at all times a well-informed paper on matters connected with the turf: — “ Sir, —For this great handicap, two and a half miles, to be run in March next, there are thirty-nine entrances, which embrace most of the horses of note in the Colony. “To Lurline is given the top weight of 9st 9lbs, which is a crusher for a four-year old Her racing weight is Bst 131bs, and an additional lOlbs for a distance of over two miles, is what no horse ought to be asked to carry. I do not complain of the weight the mare gives to other horses in the race, although to several she conceded from two to three stone ; but I disapprove of putting a heavy weight upon a valuable animal, so as to risk her breaking down, in order that horses not a twentieth part of her value may be able to run in her company. In the last Melbourne Cup, the greatest weight accepted by a four-year old horse was Bst 21bs, which considering sex allowance, is Ist lOlbs less than is given to Lurline in Dunedin. The top weight in the Melbourne Cup was Bst 91bs, awarded to Dagworth and the Ace, both five-year-old horses, and animals of acknowledged superiority. The Ace did not start, but Dagworth could not get within three or four lengths of Don Juan, with only 6s 121bs. To Papapa is assigned Bst, being lib above his racing weight, and he has therefore a concession of 91bs from the mare. The whole of the remaining thirty-seven horses entered are handicapped below their racing weights, and to the allowances they receive must be added the 101b and llb extra given to Mr Redwood’s pair, when estimating the differences in the handicap weights. I will state what this allowance is to some of the principal horses entered : Calumny gets lib ; Castaway, 51bs ; Tambourini, 71bs; Hatred, 91ba; Defamer, lllbs; Templeton and Ada colt, each 151bs; Verbena, 181bs; Batter, Revoke colt, and Traitor, each 171bs; Earl of Lynne and Spritsail, each 191bs ; Parewhenua and Atlas, each 21 lbs ; Burgundy and Butterfly, each 221bs ; Mabel, 251bs ; Gossip, 361bs; Yatterina, Banjo, and Staysail, each 271b8 ; the remainder with increasing allowance up to 351bs; the aged Malabar being awarded 7st 21bs,. and the four-year old Prioress fist filbs. Many of the light weights are not race- horses, properly speaking, and. could not gallop two miles against such horses as Lurline and Papapa, providing the latter ran with their racing weights, if turned loose, and it is of little moment what weights are given animals of that class. But for Lurline to concede 371b to a mare like Yatterina is another matter, as also is the two stone allowance conceded her by Papapa. I shall not at present criticise the handicap in detail, but will briefly say that the weight upon Lurline is excessive, that Calumny and Tambourini are harshly treated, that Yatterina is specially favored, and that the Derby colts which ran at Christchurch behind Castaway are as a lot let in easily,—lam, &c., Sportsman.