SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 26, 11 August 1887, Page 3

SPORTING.

The members of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club have passed a recommendation that the stakes for the coming season should be reduced. It is understood that about £5OO less than last year will be given in added money during the year. Considering the present state of racing in the colony, this must be looked upon as an unwise step. Training stables are being erected near the Waverly Hotel, Taradale, by Mr T. Peddie. As they are within a short distance of the Napier Park Co’s course they should prove a great boon to trainers and owners of horses. Ormonde scored his fourteenth consecutive victory in the Rous Memorial Stakes at Ascot. He was only opposed by Kilwarlin and Agave for the Ecus Memoaial Stakes (says an English paper) and yet the contest excited far more interest than that for the Gold Cup. Some of the critics fancied that they detected a change not for the better in the renowned son of Lily Agnes, but probably the notion was ill founded, and he won the race quite in the old brilliantly triumphant fashion. A long way from home a sound-lunged admirer offered the tempting price of “ A hundred pounds to half-a-crown on Ormonde !” and a safe wager it then seemed, although the crack was opposed by no plater in Kilwarlin. Agave was, of course, beaten a long way, and something approaching enthusiasm could be noticed as the unbeaten Ormonde entered the unsaddling paddock.

We have heard of old buffers' races and smokers’ races, but never before of a bicycle race for fat men, each weighing over 151 stone. Such an event was recently held in Germany, and proved highly amusing. G. P. Mills the renowned English rider, has added another record to his already long list of wonderful performances on the road. On June 10 he rode 50 miles on a tricycle in 3hrs. 7min. 24 l-sth eec., thus beating the previous record by nearly 2min. The afternoon was fine, and the roads—as most English roads are —as smooth as possible. When he had completed 40 miles and a host of pace-makers had joined him, some leading and others following in the scorcher’s wake, it was seen the level crossing gates were closed, but the stationmaster, seeing that a race was on, good-naturedly kept his train back, and flung open the barriers. Had he not done so Mills could not have made * record.

When the last mail left England (June 17) Walter Head and Holler were in the middle of a sensational innings. Lancashire, who had not lost a match, were at,Old Trafford put out by Surrey for 205, A. G. Steele, who made his initial appearance for the season, making 32. The latest advices gave Surrey's score at 320 for 2 wickets, Bead 126 not out, Boiler 89 not out. They had already made 216 while together. Bead has a grand average this year. In 12 innings (9 completed) he hits made 706 runs, average 78'7. His last five scores were 74, 82, 118, 74, 136, not out.

The Committee of the Victorian Club has decided that ill future bookmakers joining the club shall be charged an initiation fee of £5O.