SPORTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 73, 1 April 1901, Page 3

SPORTING.

LIVERPOOL GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE. LEVANTER FAVORITE AT 5 to 1. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, March 29. The Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase was won by Grudon (? Cushendun), Aruincll being second, and Buffalo Bill third. The New Zealand candidate Levanter was among the starters. London, March 30. Vrior to starting the Grand National Steeplechase several of the jockeys asked for a postponement of the race, but the stewards decided that the course was fit. The New Zealand horse Levanter was favorite at 5 to 1 against. i > - HAWKE SB LRY AUTUMN HANDICAP. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney, March 91. The following was the result of the Hawkesbury Handicap :

Nine started, the betting being C to 4 Kliand, 1:1 to 1 Lygon. The latter won by a length. Time 2.10.

DISQUALIFICATION OF MATEROA.

(Auckland Special.),

Auckland, Saturday

The Sporting Review has the following account of the Napier Cup, in which the Gisborne-owned Mnteroa had the misfortune to be disqualified : —“ Jadoo and Bonnie d’Eau had the lead to themselves undisturbed for a mile, when Ideal came up, and she soon extinguished the chances of this pair. Battleaxe, Matcroa and Sirius also quickly gave Jadoo and Bonnie d’Eau the go-bye, Tortullu bringing up the rear, and she seemed to be labouring heavily. When once in the clear run to the chair, Ideal could be seen to have the best of the argument, and as sho was going along free and well, looked to have the race at her mercy. Half-way up the straight Matcroa came at her and had a slight ail vantage from the little daughter of Dreadnought ; this was not for long, lor she was soon upsides with her again, in fact, about sixty yards from the line she uas a head to the good. Here Holmes got at Matcroa with the whip ami sho swerved away, bumping right on to [deal, who was hugging the rails. Holmes pulled her out', and when he hit her with the whip again sho repeated her swerving tactics, .lamming Ideal right on to the pickets, Davis had to pull his marc back to prerent his being sent over the rails, and therefore lost a lot of ground. Matcroa had to withstand another challenge, this lime from Sirius, who came fast in the last distance, but she headed this off by the barest of lengths, Ideal a couple of lengths away third, Battleaxe fourth, and Tortullu last. Upon returning to weigh, the lion. ,1. It. Ormond entered a protest against the winner for interference, which the stewards upheld, the stakes going to Birins, who paid J.l l Is, and his backers were luckly to collect, for laid the col li* sion not taken place, his position would have been third, and it is hard to say which would have won/, Matcroa or Ideal. Davis did not hit the latter ; certainly lie never does punish her with the bat, while Matcroa was under severe, pressure. It would, f should imagine, have been a close thing between the two marcs had no interference taken place. The losing of the stakes was hard enough luck for the owner of Matcroa and her trainer (i’ercy Martin) to put up with, but the coarse, unsportsmanlike remarks that a lot of the crowd meted out to Matcroa and those connected with her, was, I am sure, more keenly felt than the losing of the stake and tolalisalor money. Phaeton, in the New Zealand Herald, also writes : “ Though Sirius did not apparently suffer by the little bit of jostling that Mnteroa got off, it would certainly seem as though the result of the race would have been different had Ideal been allowed an uninterrupted course. It is never palatable to hear of a cup winner being disqualified, but the upholding of the objection against Matcroa was | apparently in every way warranted.” -

Tho disqualification of Matcroa was received with general regret in sporting circles here, and much 'sympathy was expressed for the owner, who has had very hard luck with Mnteroa since lie started racing her. The gentleman owning the mare is an enthusiastic sportsman, who goes in for racing for the love of it, and lie certainly deserved better treatment.

The sentiments expressed by our Auckland correspondent will be endorsed by the Gisborne sporting public, all of whom sincerely sympathise witli Mr Harding in the disqualification of Matcroa.

Lyyon 1 Bur-one ... ... 2 Heberts o