SPORTING NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 143, 12 October 1896, Page 2

SPORTING NEWS.

RACING ITEMS. [By Gipsy Grand.] Nominations for the 11.8. Guineas, 1898, close to-morrow. Nominations close to-day for the Otaki hack meeting. The fastest H.B. Guineas ever run was won by Clanranalcl in lmin 45sec. Day Star's race was the slowest for the past dozen years, with the exception of Forme in '94. A large number of Hastings horses walked down to the Park to-day. Acceptances for Poverty Bay meeting close to-day. Esau, who has not run up to expectations, will probablv be withdrawn for the X.Z. Cup. Anita has been scratched for the X.Z. Cup. Day Star is favorite for the Cup. His weight now stands at 7st 31b. Mr Douglas's winnings at the recent Sydney meeting came* to .£'26o. Mr Gollan took £213, and Mr 1). O'Brien, £794. Chris finished unplaced in a hurdle race at Ranwick on Sept. 26th. Bloodshot was defeated by Piesolute in the September Stakes which was run on the 26th ult. at Melbourne. The Napier Park meeting commences to-morrow, and, with the prevailing fine weather and large fields, there should be a record attendance. Like the Hastings meeting, the events take a bit of picking. The programme opens with the Trial Hurdles with half-a-dozen starters. The finish should be fought out between Midas & Prairie Grass. The Criterion is sure to produce a good race, and for the winner I look to Douglas with The- Possible and Mars next best. In the Park Stakes I expect to see the numbers go up in the following order : Orion's Belt The Shrew Blarney. The Sapling should be won by DAUST. The big hurdles is a very open race and the best of the following should win:— Kauri Gum Tally-ho Kapca. The Railway Stakes will probably result as follows : Armilla Flying Shot Moonraker The first day's gathering will conclude with the Ahuriri Handicap, in which nine horses have accepted. I pin my faith to Sabreur with Maid Marion and Belligerent next best.

The weather was fine for the opening clay of the Caulfield meeting on Saturday. Following are the results :—Stakes —Hopscotch 1, Skipper 2, Wallace 8. Bloodshot and Tire were among the starters. Guineas —The Officer 1. >'ewhaven 2, Coil o. Won easily. Steeplechase— Waterloo 1. Chris was last. Toorak Handicap—Hopscotch 1. Mischief 2, Erewhon 3.