SPORTING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 142, 17 November 1874, Page 3

SPORTING.

NOTES ON THE LATE METROPOLITAN MEETING, &c.

In spite of the small number of horses in training this year, and the fact that the weather did not look the most promising in the world for racing, the late meeting was productive of some good sport. It was a most unlucky meeting for backers of horses, and during the three day’s racing hardly any one of the public favorites succeeded in pulling off events that had been pronounced by their sanguine partisans to be “morals” for them. The first great race of the three days was the C.J.C. Handicap, and both Templeton and Traitor were backed for as much money as could possibly be got on in this limited market: they however were both cut down at the finish by Tamboiirini, who never stripped, I fancy, so good an animal as at this meeting. The handicapping throughout was very good, though if the C.J.C. Handicap had to be made again, the handicapper would not, I am sure, put so much weight on to the backs of some of the maiden three-year-olds, which were originally entered for the race. Probably the best races of the meeting were on the third day, and the struggles for the Christchurch Plate and Metropolitan Handicap were well worth seeing. There is no doubt that the performance of Ngaro in the Plate added enormously to her value, when the annual farce of putting up the racehorses for sale was carried out; but I must say that I consider she was an excessively dear animal at £525, and that the purchaser has paid for every hair in her tail, as the saying is. Ngaro’s own sister, Lady Ravcnsworth, was disposed of last year at a far more reasonable figure ; but even then she has turned out at present a decidedly dear purchase. I doubt if Ngaro is a thoroughly game honest mare, and she is an animal that for some time to come will require very careful riding on coming near the crowd at the rails, as she evinces a most decided inclination to shift the moment she comes near them. With regard to the other performances at the meeting, Templeton showed ns what a brilliant animal he is at bis own distance, by bis performances in the Grand Stand and Metropolitan Handicaps, and he must be very dangerous at distances varying from a mile to a mile and a half, as long as he continues in his present fine form. Wainui, from whom so much was expected by the public, on the strength of her illustrious lineage, and from the manner in which she dressed down a lot of rubbish in the Champagne Stakes, was out of all form ; and what possessed Mr Redwood, after her shocking bad performance in the Derby, to pull her out again for another event on the same afternoon, and to meet a fresh horse, I cannot tell. However, she got well beaten, and it served her owner, or owners, and the mysterious firm connected with the stable, whoever they are, very well right. _ Rangi, from the same division, ran one fair race, viz., the first heat for the Derby, but after that, her displays became worse in every successive race. I fancy she is about the same kidney as Awatea, her own sister, in which case she will not be a source of much profit to any one connected with her. There was one very good point about the last meeting, the fact of the races being won by so many different stables. It is some years since such an equal division of the spoil took place, Webb's being the only stable which did not manage to appropriate something. The animals turned out from the Bush Inn for the last year or two, have been less than moderate, and this is the more to be regretted, as we all know how capable Mr Webb is of doing justice to a good racehorse. I trust, however, that luck will shortly turn in his direction, and there are more unlikely things, should Gilda prove a worthy relation of Lurline, Castaway, and Co.

With regard to the arrangements of the meeting, they were fair, hut not first-class. A large number of persons evaded payment of the Is cntrace money, by clambering over the fence round the racecourse, and there seemed to be nobody to prevent them, at all events during the earlier portion of the day. The race cards were simply disgraceful. Whose fault it was I do not know, but in some races the weights were wrong, and numerous other mistakes had crept in some how or other. I trust that this will be rectified on the occasion of our Autumn gathering. With regard to racing news from other parts, it would seem from the accounts I have received from eye witnesses of the race for the Melbourne Cup, that Lnrline was, in company with Goldsborough and Co never prominent in the struggle. The latest private news I have had from Melbourne, were not satisfactory to backers of the mare, as she had been much affected by the hot weather, and had, from what I can learn, been a little over done in her work. Papapa was never fit, and all the bunkum that was indulged in of backing him for a place, against Goldsborough at even money, was put down accurately enough by the parties who backed him not to start for the great race. I fancy we have heard the last of Papapa as a racehorse on any course, and that we shall never bo treated to a sight of him stripped to uphold his shaky reputation. Calumny seems to have run fairly for a mile or more in the Hotham Handicap, but as I have before written, 1 think her best days as a racehorse arc over.

Of meetings to come, I have received the programme of the Cromwell Jockey Club’s next gathering, which will take place on December 29th and 30th. The principal events being, on the first day, the Grand Stand Handicap of GOsovs, distance one mile and a half, and on the second day, the Jockey -Club Handicap of lOOsovs, distance two miles. I have also received the usual preliminary notice of the Waitmate Steeple Chase meeting, which is advertised to take place some time in April next. I notice from this advertisement that the leading sporting men of South Canterbury have formed themselves into a club, for the purpose of pro motingwhat are somewhat magniloquently styled “ The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechases.” There is no doubt that the gentlemen who have this object in view, have the interests of sport at heart, and they arc enabled to issue an attractive programme, whilst the country to lie run over is well known to many of my readers. Mr Martelli is the hon sec at present, and will give any information that may be required by owners of jumpers. Altogether the afiair promises the successful carrying out of the only really good cross-country meeting in the island, and as such 1 wish it success. HERMIT.