SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 3756, 8 March 1875, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

THE MOUNT IDA MEETING. It was only decided (remarks tht ‘Chromele’) to hold the annual meeting this year ni 6 u> one or wo e ® or * :B - A number of the Club e supporters thought that, considering the depression so general throughout the past year, a year’s rest would do no harm. Ino energy of the secretary and a few zealous sporting men was, however, too much for the indifferent, and, after one or two false starts, the committee got to work in earnest, and drew up £ very fair programme. This year the racing was confined almost solely to district horses, there being only one or two BtrangeM, &nd thoss of very moderate pretensions. The attendance was very limited, which is accounted for by the fact i hat the greater part of the resident population, when water is scarce—instead of waiting for rain, as they used to do—more wisely go and earn money harvesting. The principal events were :

Pirao Handicap of 30 sova. Distance, 1 mile. Four entries. Cotton’s Envy, Bst 21b... 1 Laverty’s Venus (late Mary Ann),’ 6sfc 121b 2 Keenan’s Wild Manx Boy, 9st 0 Holden’s Maggie, 7st ’ 0

At the first attempt a capital start was effected—Venus inside, ffinvy and Manx Boy tussling for second position, all three horses well together. Little Maggie was outpaced Irom the start. The horses kept this order tne nrst half-mile, Venus going very prettily, and Envy held to the chestnut mare. At the three-quarter distance Manx Bey threw up, and Envy drew past Venus, winning as she Uksd—being ridden by Cotton with good judgment throughout.

Gbaud Stand Handicap of 60 bovs. Distance, two miles. Six entries. Keenan’s Gamecock, Bst 81b 1 Cotton’s Envy, Bst... "* 2 Foster’s Coquet, Bst 61b ”* 0 Holden’s Miss King, 6jt 121b 0 For this race, which was the event of the day, Venus and Manx Boy were scratched kuvy was much fancied. We thought a little pot was being boiled quietly, which the mare s defeat bubbled over. Gamecock and Coquet, who have had many a game set to at or about equal weights, it was thought would fight well for second honors, Coquet was dimpled with fat, while Gamecocka though big-looking, as usual- -was hard and ht to go. There was a good deal of trouble to get the horses away, owing to the fractious, ness of Coquet, who wanted tobo't into the crowd. After one or two trials a very fair start was effected for a long race—Gamecock having the inside, Miss King and Coquet close behind, Envy not far away. At tb%’ first mile Miss King had tailed, Coquet coming up best; but Cottou on Envy was playing with him, and put the mare’s nose m front at the post, holding her hard. At one mile and a half Coquet and Gamecock were lumbering a good deal, and it looked a certainty for Envy, so much so that the stable were offering ten to five on her. Gamecock, however, was not to be shaken off. At the last turn he appeared to gather himself up, and fairly closed on the ? a i er T^°^ n ® ki® owll > and creeping up inch by inch as they came up the straight, till on the post he had a fair neck and shoulders in front, thus winning the concluding and best race of the day. Both Gamecock and Envy wore well ridden—('otton’s attempt to steady the mare home being a piece of really good riding. ‘ 0

A railway laborer at Havelock is the lucky drawer of Traitor, the favorite horse for the Dunedin Cup, in the first Ll,ooo sweep. The drawer has refused an offer of 1.66 for his chance. On two previous occasions, second and third money from these big sweeps has come to Havelock—vis , with Protos in -he last Melbourne Cup, and witn Horatio in the previous one.—‘Tuaoeka Times.’