SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 4115, 5 May 1876, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

MOSGIEL RACES.

The annual meeting of the Taieri Jockey Club passed off very successfully after the postponement from last week. The course had dried up wonderfully, the only effect of the heavy rains being to render the running ground dull and the tune ot the various races rather slow. The nine events on the card were got off in admirable time, no less than eight of them being run between half-past twelve and half-past four o’clock. This was mainly owing to the exertions and energy of Mr D. Doyle, the honorary secretary and treasurer, who was übiquitous and did the work of all the stewards. Mr Butler officiated as starter, and got his fields off excellently for five races, but for the remainder bad starts were effected. There were a large number of visitors from Dunedin, including a swarm of bookmakers, who appeared to be out for a holiday and did not try to do much business. Several ladies were present in buggies and on horseback, and altogether the attendance compared favorably with that at the recent Tokomairiro and Balclutha meetings. The grand stand is a rather shabby structure, but there is a very fair saddling paddock, an unusual feature at up-country meetings. The hurdles used were of a very fragile nature, and there was no fear|of dangerous spills as the slightest toueh smashed them to pieces. Kildare won the Hurdle Race pretty easily, although Swaggerer, with Batty up, looked dangerous at one time. Old Lottery jumped in his well-known grand style, but has tost all his pace. Some well-bred horses came to the post for the ■ Maiden Plate, including Nabouchlish, for some time a dark ’un for the last Dunedin Cup; Flying Fish, by the Australian sire Fishhook; and the two-year-old filly Miss Elswick, by Elswick out of Jenny. The winner, however, turned up in Mr M'Laren’s Darkie, who possesses plenty of foot and looks as if he would do well over timber. Miss Elswiek almost made a dead heat of it, and would have undoubtedly won if she had had a more experienced rider on her back. Her n»mn is to be) found amongst the entries for next year’s Dunedin Derby. Another Darkie was made a hot favorite for the Trot, and he passed all his competitors but one in the first mile. Then, however, the advantage of having a professional rider on Dick was proved, Darkie, with his amateur rider,; losing by a few lengths. The District Plate was won by the veteran German Louis, who used to run at the Dunedin Tradesmen’s races eight or nine years ago. Mr Waters’s Bucephalus would, however, have won if he had not bolted after going a mile. The Pony Race was won easily by Mr Show’s Sultan, and Mr M‘Laron’s Darkie scored another win in the Farmers’ Purse, beating Bucephalus, German Louis, and Sam. As was previously anticipated a protest was lodged against the winner on the ground that his owner is not a resident in the district, and this has not yet been decided. As the paddock in which the races were held actually belongs to Mr M'Laren, there seems to be some reason to think he has a chance of getting the stakes awarded to him. The Taien Handicap was the great event of the day, and for this Glengarry, Haphazard, Steamer, and Euclid weighed out. The two first were backed freely. Glengarry having a slight call in the betting, and he justified his backer’s confidence by winning a fluctuating race by two lengths. Euclid went away at a great pace at first, but soon ran himself out, end the final issue was left to Mr Goodman’s chestnut and Mr A. Smith’s recent purchase - Haphazard. The latter had a great lead at one time, but two miles seems a little beyond his tether. The Selling. Race was a surprise, the winner unexpectedly turning up in Mr A. Smith’s Fox, and the Consolation was an easy thing for Haphazard. The following races came off too late for insertion in our yesterday’s issue:—

Sellixo Back, of 25 sovs. One mile. Weight for Mr A. Smith's ch g Pox, 7st 21b (L2O) ... 1 Mr J. Donne's oh g Color-Sergeant, aged, Sst 21b (L3O) ... ... ... ... ... 2 Mr J. Walsh's b g German Louis, aged, Sst 21b Mr ;D. Davidson's b g Clontarf, aged, Sst 21b (L3O) ... 0 Mr D. Corsan’s b m Empress, aged, Sat Sib (L4O) 0 Mr Doyle's b m Carrier's Hack, aged, SstSlo (L 10) 0 Betting : 3to 2 agst Color-Sergeant; 2to I German Louis ; 3 to 1 Empress. Empress cut out the running, followed by Color-Sergeant and Clontarf; the rest au together a few lengths behind. At the back of the course Fox went through his horses and drawing gradually away won with plenty in hand by two lengths. The winner was bought in by his owner for L3O.

Consolation Handicap, of 15 so vs. One mile. Mr Smith’s Haphazard, Bst 121b ... - (Smith) 1 Mr Stephenson's Steamer, 7st ... (Gonrley) 2 Mr Barry’s Skybird, 7st ... ... (Allan) 3

Betting: 3to 2 agst Haphazard; 2to 1 Steamer.

Haphazard won all the way; Steamer a bad second.