SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3453, 17 March 1874, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TOKOMAIRIRO RACES. The Publicans’ Handicap, 35 so vs, on the second day, was a sell for the bookmakers. The starters were Novice, Tambourini, and the Miss King filly, the old horse being the favorite at considerable odds. Tho ‘ Bruce Herald’s ’ report says that Miss King filly got away with the lead, Closely followed by Novice ; Tambourini a length or two behind. After passing the gtand stand, the leaders made rather wide running at the bend, when Tambourini cleverly slipped forward into the inside robbing, and all three at this point were abfeast of one anqtjier, which position they maintained until re cking the back of the course, where Novice drew away slightly, all three going their best. The question niw was, could the game chestnut live the pace Out ? At the distance, -she still maintained a lead of several lengths. Tambourini’s rider here administered a few reminders, which had the effect of bringing him up alongside the mare, when it was evident that the finish would he very close, both coming home under t*e whip. For the last twenty yards, it was a neck aud neck struggle, both jockeys doing their utmost, and the horses running gamely Novice managing, however, just to bob her head sufficiently in front, to catch the judged eye This must have been a very fast rac-’, but the excitement became so iut use that the time, curiou-ly enough, was overlooked being taken. Novice, as usual, walked off stiltly. as 4to 1 was being laid by the “talent” on Tambourini, they must have been bit hard in this race, as their faces showed absolutely blank astonishment when the judge - .gave his fiat. Tambouriui’a owner, too, we'fancy, did not half like it, as he went immediately and took* a quiet stroll to himself round the paddock which was a decidedly more sensible thing to do than “ bully,” as was done under similar circumstances by some partied’the day previous. HANDICAPPING.' A correspondent writing to a contemporary draws attention to the very uncertain manner in which horses are handicapped at the various races In this Oniony. He says ’f course opinions will always somewhat vary as to the relative superiority or inferiority of race horses, aud the most ski ful and experienced of handicappers will disagree over so nice a subject, and iwo or three pounds in weight is the allowance which owners of horses are prepared to expect when handicaps are made by different hauls. But when we see an animal giving another 33lhs in two miles and the penalised mare beaten by a short head, and in a similar race to come off a couple of months afterwards the same two mares handicapped, so that the beaten one concedes only 20Ibs to the successful one, we naturally ask what chance is afforded Yatterina at Greymouth, should she meet Calumny there? Take another example. Iu the Auckland Summer Handicap, rpn op the Ist of January, Calumny was asked io give Castaway while in tha Dunedin Cup, iu March, if the two animals meet, as probably they will. Castaway will get only 4lb from Calumny, both races being nearly the same < istunce. I have made a few notes on these and other handicaps of the season, which you may think worth publishing ; Calumny was handicapped to give Yatterina— IJj, In the Auckland Turf Club Cup—won after a severe race by Yatterina, by a short head 33 In the Auckland Summer Handicap - - 27 Jn the Dunedin Cup - - - - - 26 Ip the Greyipputh J.C. Handicap - - 20 i’hese races‘are’ alt either two miles or two miles and a.quarter, aud the weights are calculated by the Canterbury scale. Calumny handicapped to give Hatred—

lbs. In the Auckland Turf Club Cup - - 13 In the Auckland Summer Handicap - . 20 In the Dunedin Cup .... g In the Wellington Handicap - - - 15 In the Greymouth J. C. H. - 13 Hatred handicapped to give Yatterina—--21)8 In the Auckland T. C. C 20 Ip the Aiitekland Summer Handicap - 7 In the Auckland Frp'e Handicap’ ■!• . . jp In the Dunedin Cup . - . ♦ , I jg In the Greymouth J. C. H. - . . 7 Calumny handicapped to give Castaway—21)g, In the Auckland T. C. C. - . 11 In the Auckland Summer Handicap - . 17 In the Dunedin Cup 4 In the Wellington Handicap ... 2 How Admiral Rouse would exclaim if sucli wild work was brought to his notice. Can the gentlemen who furnish these weights be aware that in a severe race of two miles seven pounds is equal to a distance 7 (by our sporting contributor ) The stagnation in sporting matters which marked the latter part of last week has been dispelled by the return to town of book* makers and racing men generally from the Tokomairiro meeting. The appearance of the final acceptances for the Cup has also given an impetus to the interest attaching to that race; but the relative positions in the betting market of the nine horses that have accepted haye npt materially altered. Lurliue and Calumny still hold the places—the former being at the shortest odds, though an impression has lately been prevalent that Calumny and one of the lighter weights wM be sent for the big event. Templeton still keeps within a point of Calumny, his arrival from Canterbury last week tending to strengthen the support already accorded him. He is located at the Porbury, aud is iu first-rate condition and doing sple did work. Gossip also arrived by the boat, aud has reached shorter odds than were before to be had about her ; but I thiuk her breeding alone gives her friends—being full sister to Calumny to some people means that she must be as good ! Atlas xs still looking very big, bat those that kW»v him say thaViß his be& tttmutfg fcWti-

tiou ; afc any pretty freely of late at held in about the same estimation asAtlas, according to fancy, the same\dctds being laid about them, and each being; btibked against the other for a place. and Parawhenuaaro fought rather shy, of, but anything oyer 5 to 1 would be taken readily about either.;, Earl of Lynne 4a still in tho background, though no more than 7 to 1 is to be had against him I shall give a final tip in your issue v of Saturday next, meanwhile advising that the Earl be not left out of calculation, in case of a surprise, as he is going better than he ever has done. Some few Calcutta sweeps were drawn at the Empire last night, the prices realised showing the state of the betting to be unaltered. These and Derby sweeps will be on every evening this week, and the big sweep is filling up rapidly. In a' day or two large numbers of visitors may be expected in town, and doubtless a greater amount dt business will be done than at any previous meeting. The following is the state of the odds

Dunedin Cup. 5 to 2 against Lurline (tk) 3 to 1 „ Calumny (tk) i to i „ Templeton (off) 5 to 1 „ Farawbenua (off) ■ 5 to 1 ,, Spritsail (off) 6 to 1 „ Atlas (tk) 6 to I „ Tambourini (off) 7 to 1 ,, Gossip (tk) ... 7 to 1 „ Earl of Lynne (off) Publicans’ Handicap. 3 to 1 against Mabel 3 to 1 „ Farawbenua 7 to 2 ,, Spritsail Hurdle Race. 3 to 1 on the field (off)