SPORTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 992, 11 September 1903, Page 3

SPORTING.

AUSTRALIAN RACING. By Telegraph— Press Association—Copyright Received 1.0 a on., Sept. 11. Sydney, Sept. 10. ■ A declaration of the final forfeits failed tD enliven betting tor the Epsom Handicap, the ouly event operated on, and beyond Famous and Ibex nothing was in request. Famous was backed at 6tol to win about £IOOO, after which 9 to 2 was the beat offer. Ibex was supported to win £9OO at from 9toltoß to 1. Faithful hardened to 7 to 1, while Marvel Loch was quoted at 10 to 1, and Air Motor and Lanoline at 11 to 1. The card will be read to-morrow.

ASHBURTON RACES. £ t By Telegraph—Press Association— Ashburton, last night. There was beautiful weather for the , first day of the Ashburton County Racing r Club’s Spring Meeting. There was a large t attendance, and speculation was fairly r brisk—£lß72 for the day. Tho results were : First Hack and Hunters’ Hurdles. — Phmtonitis 1, Wonderful 2, Early Van 3. < Fairy Rose was scratched. Time, 3,2 3-5. J Div., £2 7s. , „ J Lagmhor Pony Handicap.—Cyclas Par- t ,va 1, Deceitful 2, Miretta 3. All started, t Time 60 l-ssec. Div £1 63. Braemar Welter. —Count of Kolmar 1, 1 Narcissus 2, Natalie 3. Time 1.45£. Div 1 £1 18s and jEI 11s. I County Cup. -Leonoro 1, Secret Sooiety 1 2, Palla3 3. Time 2.24 4-5. Div £4 4s. Fairfield Plate.—Gist 1, Royal Crown 2, I The Mohican 3. Juniper, Slow Tom, I Santa Maria, and Unknown were sorat- * ohed. Time 1.4 1-5. Div. £6 11s and £3 15a. . _ , < District Hack Handicap.—King Dick 1, ( Nautiloid 2. All started but Hurricane. Time 1.17 15. Div,, £ll 5s and £1 7s. 1 Spring Handioap.—Muscovite 1, Zolah 2, Black Traoker 3. All started except Gladsome. Time 1.16. Divs. £ll 9s and £1 ss. MARION RACES. (Per Press Association.) j Marton, last night. The woather was fine and the attend- 1 ance good. The eourse was heavy. The , totalisator opened with £4337. The re- 1 suits were : ; .* Open Handicap : Firelight 1, Wet Reef 2, Moetoropaku 3. Scratched: Lady Maud, Delight, Paotaloon. Won by a length. Time, 55sec. Divs., £2 11s and £3 Is. Hunters’ Hurdles: Halcyon 1, Pharos 2, Pushful 3. All started. Won by a length. Towhatu, when loading, ran off, at the last fence. Time, 3.16. Divs., £ll 83 and £1 Is. Flying: Lass O’Gowrio 1, Taniwha 2, Valina 3. Scratched: Inglewood ami Little Turk. Won easily. Time, 1.53. Divs., £9 Is and £1 11s. Hunt Cup: Sailor Lad 1, Mazique 2, La Belle 3. Scratched: Juggler and Turk. Led all the way, and won by four lengths. All fell but the winner. Time, 7.31. Divs., £4 12s and £1 15s. Maiden: Pantaloon 1, Wot Reef 2, Cosma 3. Scratched: Gold Mine, Otamoa, and Prospector. Won fairly easy. Time, 1.40. Divs., £2 13s and 16s. > Hurdles ; Beau Ideal 1, Ranui 2, Pushful 3. All started. Won easily. Time, 3.15. Divs, £3 19s and £1 Bs. Trial Steeples: Draga 1, Cassimer 2. Scratched: Sailor Lad. Time, 5.7. Divs £2 6s and £l9s. Tho three placed horses, Merrio Girl, Gun, and Juanita, were disqualified for going tho wrong course. Tutaonui Stakes: Ivatoa i, Stampedo 2, Little Turk 3, Scratched : Okaiowa and Mo'etoropuku. Won by a legth. Time, 2.13. Divs, £5 18s and 19s.

INTERVIEW WITH A NEW ZEALAND SPORTSMAN. SYDNEY, Sept. 10. Mr G. G. Stead, of Christchurch, in an interview favoring the totalisator, said that it tended materially to raise the tone of racing by providing such valuable stakes. There was 'no temptation to an owner to win by betting. There was sufficient money to moet the heavy expenses incidental to racing stables and racing, Now Zealand was never so prosperous boforo, and with a few rare exceptions the racing at metropolitan meetings was above suspicion. The totalisator encouraged a considerable number of non-betting '» owners to keep up races and* influence for the good of the turf, which was incalculable.