SPORTING NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4128, 20 May 1876, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

The entries and acceptances for the Tradesmen’s Races are out, and if the present boisterous weather clears up some interesting sport may be looked forward to next Wednesday, for all the races may be considered very open. For the Maiden Plate there are nine horses entered, not one of which has ever appeared in public at the Forbury; but Miss Elawickand Clontarf ran at the recent Mosgiel meeting. Mr Hastie’s two-year-old filly and Mr A. Smith’s three- ( year-old colt Sultan are at present most in favor; the former on account of the game Lace she ran for the Maiden Plate at the Taiori, and the latter because rumor Says he has been tried with Glengarry, and answered the question satisfactorily. For the Trot there are ten entries, including four—Lucy, Magic, Jessie, and Darkie—that competed at our last spring meeting. The rest are unknown to fame, with the exception of Frost, who won the Trot at Tokomariro last month, and Safety, who appears daily in public, but has yet to make his debut on the turf. Magic and Lucy have the call in the betting, though Safety has been well backed at rather long odds. The Birthday Handicap has six acceptors, and the general interest centres on this race in particular. Every horse has its partisans, and short odds are the order of the day abont them all except Merrybird, King Philip may, perhaps, be considered first favorite, but Glengarry and Right Bower run him close, while Tadmor and Rob Roy have, since their arrival in Dunedin, received a good share of attention. Eight entries have been made for the Selling Race, for which Fox and Euclid, both of which ran at the Taieri meeting, are most fancied. The former won the Selling Race there and the latter showed a good deal of foot for a mile in the Taieri Handicap, The Tradesmen’s Handicap includes amongst its nine acceptors all but Merrybird that are in the Birthday Handicap, the others being Haphazard, Seabird, Steamer, and Miss Elswick. This race depends so much upon the result of the big handicap that it is a difficult matter to spot the winner, but at present Haphazard and Tadmor receive most support. Backing Mr Smith’s horse appears like going altogether against public favor, for at Mosgiel L lengarry gave him 81b and a 51b beating, while now Haphazard is called upon to give the chesnut 21b. How this was arrived at is a mystery, but Haphazard is supposed by some to be better at a short than a long distance. However, he did not show very brilliantly in the Consolation Stakes at our March meeting, in which he was not placed; while Right Bower, giving him 21b and Steamer receiving 201b, ran second and third to blfin King. Now he has to meet the Bower on level terms and give 391b to Steamer—either of which, to say nothing of Glengarry, appears impossible. The betting may be set down approximately as under :

MAIDEN PLATE. 2 to 1 ogst Miss Elswick (tk) 2 „ 1 „ Sultan (tk) 4 „ 1 „ Fair Puritan colt (off) HANDICAP TROT. 2 to 1 agst Magic (tk) 2to 1 „ Lucy (tk) 4to 1 „ Darkie (off) 6to 1 „ Safety (tk) BIRTHDAY HANDICAP. 3 to 2 agst King Philip (off) 2 to 4 to 1 agst anything else. SELLING RACE, 2 to 1 agst Fox (tk) sto 2 „ Euclid (off) 4to 1 „ Miss Alfred (off) tradesmen’s handicap, 2 to 1 agst Todmor (tk) 3tol „ Haphazard (tk) 4 to 8 to 1 ogst anything else. double events. 20 to 2 Maiden and Birthday (tk) £0 to 2 Birthday and Trot (tk) 25 to 2 Birthday and Tradesmen’s (tk)

The ‘ Australasian ’ states that the added money to the Hobart Town Cup has been increased to 500 sovs, and the other handicaps will also be raised in value. Canterbury, Loquacity, and Emulation are the present favorites for the Adelaide Cup, run next week, Proto-Martyr, who was much fancied, being under a cloud through performing badly in a trial gallop. The grand two-year-old, Newmirister, has entirely recovered from his recent slight accident, and is again at the head of the betting for the V.C.R. Derby, “ Augur ” says tbe colt is a bigger and better-looking horse than his sire, the Marquis (imported), and he sees no reason why he should not be a superior animal. Some Hew Zealand backers of horses will feel uncomfortable when they find that several youngsters that they have invested on for our Derbies are, or will be entered for races in Australia. Mr Malloch has entered Trcs Douce and Foul Play for the V.R.C. Derby, Oaks, and St. Leger ; and Mr Griffiths has entered Tell-tale for the same. The latter Las also nominated five of his imported mares for the Mares’ Produce Stakes, and Tradueer for the Sires’ Produce Stakes. “Augur” trusts that Mr Koaworthy will follow suit with his grand colt Lc Loup and Watersprite, and that Messrs Redwood’s, Delamain s, and other Hew Zealand sporting men’s names will appear in the list. He states that Mr Redwood is almost certain to send over Puriri, who has been pretty heavily backed for New Zealand races.

Mr Charles Fisher’s filly foal by the celebrated English horse Prince Charlie out of the imported mare La Mousse, died a fortnight ago. The filly was highly prized by her owner, who would not have parted with her for any money. The Australian horso Kingcraft has been astonishing people in India. At the Bombay racesiu February he won a mile and a half handicap, carrying l ist. 41b. and conceding 4sfc. to Toucjiit and Sat. llib. to Blade Kudo, in 2min. TiOscc. Two days after he Winners’ Handicap, with list. 71b. up. Glengarry -(late Daudenong) won the Trial Stakes at Champaruu, carrying 11st. 31b.

PEQASV3.