SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1748, 26 September 1879, Page 2

SPORTING.

GERALDINE EACE3, First Day—Thursday, September 25. [By Telegraph.] Judge—P. Duncan. Stewards —Messrs J. McLean, Denoura, E. Taylor, J. Mnndell, J. Kendry, T. Corbett, D. McKenzie. Clerk of Course-W. Hellm. Clerk of Scales—Jos. Dean. Starter —John Meikle. Hon Sec.—D. McKenzie Handicappers— D. McKenzie, and Thoa. Corbett. The Geraldine races were a great success, many sporting men being present. The arrangements wore good, and every officer appeared to fulfil his duty to the satisfaction of the public. The first race was the Maiden Plate of .£3O ; weight for ago for all horses that had never won over .£lO of public money ; entrance, £3 ; distance, one and a half miles. E. Bay’s gr g Lone Hand, by Panic, 9st 71b (Owner) 1 D. O’Brien’s br f Pcnella, Bst lib (J. Ward) 2 Mr Parson’s Jack was scratched, but Mr Gibson’s Maori Boy, the only other entry, came to the post, but was soon out of the running. Betting—2 to 1 on Lone Hand.

Fenella had the best of the start, but Maori Boy kept with her for half the distance, when Lone Hand caught up and easily passed his horses, winning hands down. Time—3min. ssecs. Handicap Hurdle Eace of £7O; distance two miles, over eight flights of hurdles. Mr S. Osborne’s br h Black Prince, 6 yrs, 10st 31bs ... ... ... ... (Owner) 1 Mr B. Bay’s gr h Lone Hand, aged, Xlst7lbs (Mr Turnbull) 2

Te Whetu, Jack, and Robin Hood also ran. Fishhook was scratched, having broken a blood vessel the day before. Belting—Even on Lone Hand, 5 to 4 agst Te Whetu, 3 to 1 agst others. The start was good. Robin Hood led for the first mile, when Black Prince came to the front and kept this place to the end. Lone Hand waited on his horses till near the distance poet, when he came with a rush, passing all except Black Prince, who won easily by three lengths. Te Whetu and Robin Hood ran a dead heat for third place. It was the general opinion that had Lone Hand come sooner he would have landed the stake. The jumps were well negotiated. Time—4min. 40secs. Pdblicanss Handicap of £SO; distance, li miles.

Mr K. Hay’s h m Maritana, by Traducor— Hypatia, aged, 9st 21b (J. Wattie) 1 Mr Waddel’s b h Eangitira, Bst (J. Allen) 2 Mr 'Walter's bk Libeller, 3 yrs, 6st 121 b ... 3 Seven Bells, Pinfire, Dundee, Chancellor also ran.

Betting—2 to 1 agst Dunedin, 5 to 2 agst Maritana, 3 to 1 agst Libeller, 5 to 1 agst the rest.

The start was good, and the race a splendid one throughout. Hangitira led the first round, hara pressed by the other horses, all of whom seemed to be in it. Maritana, however, gradually drew to the front, and won hard held. Time—2 min. 22secs. Selling Stakes of 20 sovs, distance, one mile; winner to be sold for £25. Mr C. Storey’s r g Castout, aged, 9st 121bs (Demuth) 1 Mr C. W. Brown’s b g Seven Bells, aged 2 Mr Bradley’s Sparrowhawk, 9st 121bs ... 3 The only other horse entered was scratched. The start was good. The race for the first half mile seemed doubtful, but Oast Out stayed the best, and in spite of the Bells’ futile effort won with lots in hand by a length. Time—2min. Ssecs. The Hack Kace of £lO was won by Mr Osborne’s Johnny in 2min. Ssecs. There were eight entries, and the race was an excellent one. This concluded the first day’s sport. The weather was dull but dry till evening, when heavy rain set in. The course was exceedingly heavy, not giving much chance for good time to be mad*