SPORTING.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2259, 25 May 1881, Page 3

SPORTING.

HEATHCOTE RACES. A very pleasant little meeting was held yesterday at Heathcote, and the weather being charming, the paddock in which the races took place was wonderfully well filled. The Christchurch contingent was unusually numerous, and the local inhabitants wore present to a boy. The catering, which was under the auspices of Mr Piper, gave every satisfaction, and Mr Le Sueur did good business with bis totalisator, which was freely patronised. Mr James Wilkin made a capital judge, and Messrs G. O’Connell and Mears got their fields away upon the most equitable terms. The Steeplechase was won easily by Boer Tax, who was ridden with great judgment by Mr Barrett, while that good trotting artist, Mr W. Thomson, introduced uo to a very nice moving mare in Polly, who won, with rather a good start it must be confessed, very comfortably, Mr Thomson also won the Maiden Steeplechase on Bijou, a mare who was well supported by those who were acquainted with her. The Birthday Handicap brought out a good field, and was won by Supplejack. A Hack Race and Hurry Scurry brought the day’s sport to a conclusion in good time for the Christchurch contingent to return to town. The various events were got oil with much punctuality, and we had almost forgotten to say that Mr Leach appeared to much advantage as clerk of the course. Details are appended : Handicap Steeplechase, of 10 sova; second horse, 2!r sova. About 2 miles. Mr H. Piper’s b g Beer Tax, aged (Barrett) 1 Mr S; Osborn’s br g Native, aged ... (Owner) 2 Johnny, list 21b ; Claret, 10st 91b, and Gypsy Cooper, loat 71bs, also ran Beer Tax was the favorite. Johnny and Gipsy Cooper were out of it after the first jump, and Claret only got once round. The race was thus left to Beer Tax and the Native, bub the latter falling in the slippery ground at the last turn, Beer Tax won easily in a canter from the West Coaster.

Maiden Steeplechase, 7 sova; secondhorse, 1 sov ; weight not under lOst. One mile and a half. Mr Charles’ ch m Bijou, aged (W. Thomson) 1 MrQ. B. Woodman’s gr m Forsaken (Owner) 2 Mr J. Smith’s bm May Flower—Maori ... 3

May Flower cut out the work, and led over the second jump, at which tho rest, with the exception of Bijou, refused. The two ran together to the back of the course, where May Flower fell, and though very smartly remounted was passed by Forsaken. The Maori was, however, soon again on terms with the leaders. May Flower was first done with, and Bijou outstaying Mr Woodman’s mare won by two lengths. May Flower third. Trotting Handicap, of 7 sovs; second horse to save his stake; weights not under lOst. Throe miles. Mr A, W. Bennett’s g m Polly, 400 yards (W. Thompson) 1 Mr B. Hale’s Peter, 300 yards ... (Owner) 2 Mr Keir’s Magic, 200 yards ... (Owner) 3 Seven others ran.

This race requires but little description, as Polly, well ridden by Mr Thompson, was never caught, and won easily from Peter. Magic was a fair third. Birthday Handicap Cup of 10 sova; 2nd horse 2 sova. One mile and a half. Mr Orange’s ch. g. Supplejack, aged, Bst 101 b (Q. Rolands) 1 Mr Hale’s b g Johnny, aged, Bst 41b (Cornelias) 2 Mr Roberts’b g Fair Play, Bst 101 b (Hope) 3 Barbery, Chiniquy, foroeress, Bijou, and First Attempt also started, Batcher Boy being scratched.

Sorceress made the greater part of the running, but was supplanted by Supplejack after rather more than half the distance bad been covered. Bounding the last turn Johnny made his effort, without effect, however, for Supplejack coming on full of running won comfortably by three lengths, Johnny defeating Fair Play by about a length for second place. The day’s sport was brought to a conclusion by a hock race and a hurry scurry. In the former eight went to the post, the winner turning up in Tout, who beat Sorceress by three lengths. For the latter a field of five started, and Pinafore won by a couple of lengths from poor old Bido a-wee. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASES. TIMA EXT, May 24, The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase meeting to-day was a great success. The weather was fine and the racing good, with the exception of the Hunt Cup, which was a walkover for the Agent. There was a large number of visitors from Christchurch, Oamaru and Dunedin. The course was in capital order, and the jumps put every horse on its merits. The following are the results : New Zealand Grand National Handicap of 200 boys.; 4 miles. Mr H. J. Lunn’s Clarence, 12st 61b (Hedge) 1 Mr P. Butler’s Agent, 13st ... (Lunn) 2 Four others started. After the first two fences had been passed, the running lay entirely between Agent, Clarence and Sailor Boy. All but Agent baulked at the third fence. Agent led over the stone wall in front of the stand, Clarence and Sailor Boy close up. Agent increased his lead and crossed the double on the rood eight lengths ahead of Clarence, and Sailor Boy then went up, but was collared by Clarence coming back on the road. Bounding the turn into the straight for the second time, Sailor Boy ran into first place and led Agent and Clarence at the stone wall by ten lengths. The jumping was grand. This order was maintained to the paddocks opposite the course. Sailor Boy fell at the second double, Agent going to the front and Clarence lying behind. At the third fence from home Agent came down a terrible cropper, throwing and stunning his rider (Lunn). The race now seemed a certainty for Sailor Boy, but Clarence, splendidly ridden by Hedge, was called on, and, after an exciting finish, won by two lengths, A protest was at once entered against Sailor Boy for missing a fence. It was upheld, and Hedge, the rider of the winner at once went after Agent, caught him, and rode him in, thus securing first and second places with two different horses, Lunn being unable to remount. There was £293 in the totalisator, and forty-eight shares on the winner. Appended is a table of the winners of the Grand National:— Yeorj Horse. Eider. Weight Betting st lbs 1876 Royalty Mr Martelli 10 0 6to 1 1877 Fakir S. Osborne 10 5 7to 1 1878 Monsetrap P. McCoy 11 4 3to 1 1879 The Agent W. Hankins 12 7 2to 1 1880 The Agent Mr H. Lunn 12 7 2to 1 1881 Clarence Hedge 12 6 Maiden Plate of 100 sovs ; 2 miles. Mr F, St. James’ Qnamby, list 121 b (CnUan) 1 Mr J. Foster’s Sailor Boy, 12st Sib (Joyce) 2 Stella and Marvel also ran. Sailor Boy and Quanby went away with the lead. Marvel refusing the first fence. Sailor Boy increased his lead at the back of the course, Stella running into second place at the lower double on the road through Quamby’s baulking. Coming on to the field again Quamby went forward at a rattling pace, soon leaving Stella behind. At the sod fence at the turn he collared Sailor Boy, and a grand neck-and-neck race inensued, Q, Hamby beating the Boy on the post by half a length. Both horses were splendidly ridden throughout, but the previous four mile run had told on Sailor Boy. Out of £l2O in the totalisator fortyone tickets were on the winner. Hunt Club Cup of 150 sovs.

Agent had a walk over for this. Consolation Handicap of 50 bovs. Two

miles. Mr T. Lyford’s Winfield, 12st ... (Lvford) 1 Mr A. McAlpine’e Stella, lOst ... (Joyce) 2 Mousetrap also started. The gray went to the front at the start, closely followed by Winfield, Stella coining to grief soon after starting. On negotiating the first double over the road Mousetrap and Winfield would go no further, running round and round one another for several minutes. 'At last Winfield cleared the hedge and had the race to himself, Mousetrap remaining in the paddock up to the time of the people leaving the course. Joyce, who had remounted Stella after some delay, continued on the course and came in second. There was £l9O in the totalisator, and fifty-seven tickets on the winner.

DUNEDIN AUTUMN MEETING

DUNEDIN, May 24. There was a splendid summer’s day for the Queen’s Birthday race meeting, and a large attendance. Two totalisators, worked by the Jockey Club, were on the ground, and did a large trade. The Birthday Handicap, the principal race, was a great boil over, Lady Emma having been made a very warm favorite. The following are the details : Handicap Hurdle Back of 40 sova ; two

miles and a distance. Mr Smith’s Isaac. Sat 121 b ... (G. McCoy) 1

IMr Maokay’s Robin Hood, XOat Sib (Owner) 2 Mr MoMaster’s Romance, 9st (Mayne) 3 Milo, Leapyear, and Turk also ran. Milo was most fancied, but Isaac won with some ease. Maiden Plate of 30 sova; one mile and a quarter. Mr McLean’s Legerdemain, 2 yrs (M. Allen) 1 Mr George’s Bongblccn Dhoun, aged (Waddell) 2 Mr Kirby’s Mameluke, 2 yrs ... (Brown) 3 Pour others started, all local horses. Legerdemain won easily, as expected. Time, 2 min 28 sec. Birthday Handicap of 100 sovs; one mile and a half. Mr Bates’ The Poet, 3 yrs, fist 91b (Ward) 1 Sir H. Robinson’s Lady Emma, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b (Allnm) 2 Mr Bates’ Hilda, 3 yrs, fiat 51b (Webster) 3 Atlantic, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b ; Sylvanus, 3 yrs, fiat 81b ; Jasper, aged, sst 71b, also ran. Lady Emma was a particularly warm favorite, hut the course, being a bit heavy after the recent rains, was against her. Poet got in front after half the distance had been gone, Lady Emma coming up about half a mile from home. At the turn into the straight, The Poet had a lead of a length and a half or more. Lady Emma closed on him near the rails, but he went gamely under the whip and won after an excellent struggle by a neck. Time—2min, 50sec. A dividend of £ls was paid in the totalisator. Handicap Trot. Native Oat won comfortably from a field of ten ; Victor second. Time for throe miles, Bmin. 42aeo. Novel Race of 60 sovs ; one mile and a half. Barwon, 5 yrs, fist 131 b 1 Swede, fiyra, fist 101 b 2 Swagsman, aged, fist 3 Nine started, Mr Goodman’s Playboy being fancied greatly. Time—2 min. 58sec. Out of 276 investors in the totalisator, 17 were on the winner. Tradesmen’s Handicap of 50 sovs; one mile and a distance. Mr Lnnn’s Coldstream, 4yrs, 7st 31b (Blanch) 1 Mr George’s Atlantic, syrs, 7st 121 b (Thompson) 3 Mr Bates’ Hilda, 3yra, fist 101 b (Ward) 3 Only three started out of thirteen acceptors. Coldstream was favorite. Atlantic refused to gallop till the finish. Hilda fell, and Cold, stream had the running to himself. Consolation Back of 30 sova. Mr Bates’ Hilda 1 Six started. This race was run in the dark. WANGANUI STEEPLECHASES. WANGANUI, May 24. The steeplechase meeting held this day was a great success in point of racing. The attendance was hardly as good as usual, as the weather was very gloomy, a drizzling rain falling just before the first race was started. The course was in splendid order, while the recent improvements were greatly admired. The totalisator was largely patronised, £750 going in during the day. The following are the results: Handicap Steeplechase of 250 sovs; three miles. Venture, lOst 111 b (Keith) I King Don, list 91b (Heggie) 2 Chandler, lOst 121 b ... 3 Lone Hand, Grey Momns, Lady Mary, Eclipse, Snnray, Omanuka, Farikaringaranga also started. Venture won rather easily by two lengths. Time, 7min. siseos. Hack Steeplechase of £lO. Won by Gary a Wa boating a field of five. Maiden Steeplechase of 100 sovs. Mr Douglas’ Mira, 12st 31b (Keith) I Mr Stevens’ Snnray, list 21b (Campion) 2 Mr Rae’s St. Swithin, list ... (Owner) 3 Lady Mary, Parika, Czar, Monk, Hawthorn and Rawenata also started. Won by a length, none of the others finish* ing. Time, 7min. 19J-sec. Grand Stand Steeplechase of 75 sova. Venture, 12st 3lb (Keith) 1 Eclipse, 12st 31b (Munn) 2 Lonehand, 12st 31b (Molvor) 3 Consolation Handicap of 40 sovs. Grey Momns, list 61b 1 Czar, lOst 11b 2 Rawenata, lOst; Hawthorn, lOst; Chandler, lOst 121 b; Lonehand, 12st; Omanukn, lOst; also started. Won by half a length. Time, 4min. 13 4-sths sec. PAPAKURA RACES. AUCKLAND, May 24, To-day was observed as a general holiday. The chief amusement was the Papakura races, which resulted as follows : Handicap Hurdle Race of 40 sovs. Morning Star 1 Matan 2 Tommy Hodson, the rider of Lady Grey, broke bis leg through bis horse falling. Papakura Handicap of 100 soys. Grand Duchess 1 Faramena 2 King Quail 3 Railway Handicap of 40 sova. Ratcatcher 1 Maid of Honor 2 Consolation, Magic 1 Slander filly 2