SPORTING MEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 96, 22 April 1875, Page 2

SPORTING MEMS.

I observe that sporting writers in the Canterbury papers approve of the weights in the Great Autumn Handicap, to come off on Saturday next. "Hermit," in the Globe, says, "the great handicap appears to have given general satisfaction," while " Sinbad," in the Press, remarks, "as I have not yet heard anyone abuse the handicap, I imagine tbat Mr Lance bas succeeded in that most difficult task of pleasin" everyone."' Let us see how far Mr Lance is entitled to Buch praise. There are two piinciples of handicap ping — one souud, and calculated to insure good, honest sport; the other, unsound, ruinous to spoil, aud offering a temptation to fraud. The first is to weight horses according to tbeir ability, when in condition, to race', the second, for the handicapper to weight them according to his estimate of their ability whtn short of oondition,

giving trainers the benefit of their own j mismanagement, ignorance, or attempts ts hoodwink the public. The handicapper for the G.A.H. has adopted the latter, aa will be seen when we examine the allowance from racing weights which the different animals receive — all but Templeton, who will have to carry 41bs in excess, and Tambourini, to whom lib above his racing weight was assigned : —

*The horses marked (*) did not accept. If sound and in good condition, Castaway is pounds better than any animal in the race. Tn the spring Metropolitan meeting of 73, Templeton was outpaced by the Mermaid colt, in the fastest Derby ever ran in the colonies, and was beaten by him for place by fully a dozen lengths; while Castaway's superiority to Tambourini we get through thetussel between the latter and Papapa (Castaway's victor in the Derby) for places in lhe Cup. At Welliagton, in February following, the son of Mermaid again showed himself a good colt, though the company he met was not nigh class. After that he went amiss, but horses constantly do tbis and come out again better animals than ever. Look at Calumny, easily beaten here in Nelson by Yatterina less than a year ago, both mares carrying Bst 81bs, and now winning race after race in Australia, beatiug most of the best horses there. To throw a really firstclass horse into a handicap, with nearly a stone and a half less than his racing weight because his condition is not what it should be, is a great mistake, and most unfair lo other hoises. To quote agaiu the words of " Jucket" in the Otago Guardian:—" Ahandicapper has nothing to do with condition. It is the owners' look out thut his horses are fit and well on the day of the race." Moreover, the policy of encouraging horses to race when out of condition ia moro than questionable. Next look st the weights given Hercules and Ngaro. At Duuedin, Hercules ran very fairly, making the runniog for Templeton in all his races, and winding up by winuing the Consolation when giving 4lbs to Ngaro, and lumps of weight to every other horse in a field of seven. Iv the handicap which has "given general satisfaction," Mr Lance has made a difference of lib only between the colt and filly, so tbat Ngaro has to meet her victor on 3lbs worse terms than when she was so far beaten by Li_u that she could uot secure a place. Take next the two top weights, Templeton giving Tambourini 31bs. If the pair started in equtlly good condition, the gelding, taking public running as a guide, is decidedly the best animal of the two. In their several encounters, and they mot repeatedly, the son of Opera invariably beat tho colt while conceding him weight. "Tarn" went lame ou the West Coast, and has not accepted. One moro instance of Mr Lance's success. In the Canterbury Metropolitan, in November, Tadmcr ran second to Templeton, when carrying his racing weight, while Yatterina, wiih Gibs less than her racing weight, did not get a place, yet in the wonderful handicap which " pleases everyone," and " no one abuses," Mr. Walters' mate is weighted to concede 41bs to the colt! In short, Mr Lance has acted upon the rule of contraries. When one horse has beaten another, he puts weight upon the beaten animal to bring them together when next they meet. Yatterina is treated nearly in the same fashion towards Guy Fawkes. On the West Coast, where the pair met eeveral times, the mare had not the ghost of a chance when conceding the colt 6 lbs., and it was only when, instead of giving him

weight she received from him a stone in one race and 9 lbs in another, that she succeeded in beating him. But these performances have been ignored by Mr Lance, though quite of recent date, and he handicaps the mare to givo Guy Eawkes slbs, being but lib less difference than wben he beat her three races in succession at Greymouth and Hokitika. As it would have been a hopeless business for Mr Walters to take his mare to Christchurch, he returned home with her, not well pleased at having been seduced to contribute £5 to a race which he was shut out from competing for. A paid handicapper, to act for all the principal meetings in the colony, is urgently required to make racing a success, and to satisfy the reasonable expectations of owners of horse?. The programme and entries for the Canterbury Autumn Meeting, promise, as will be eeen, good sport for Friday and Saturday next. Rory O'More, an Australian horse, is entered for several of the races. He is a hxyear old gelding by the imported Obscurity, and was handicapped in the Melbourne Cup at 7st 3lbs, so he ranked telow first-class at home. If he starts for ihe Trial Plate we shalljearn bis quality, as he wiil meet there some tolerable hones on even terms. Trial Plate, of 100 soys. Weight for age» with penalties for winners since Nov. 1, and allowance for maidens. Mile and a quarter, Mr Gilligan's m f Princess Mary, by Ravenswprth—Regina. 3 yn Mr Murphy's b c Hercules, by Eaveusworth —Plover, 3 yrs Mr Ray's eh f Sonnambula, by Tojvton — Opera, 3 yrß Captain Hutchinßon's b c King Phillip, hy Camden— Miss Dowling, 3 yrs. The St. Leger, of 100 gvs, added to a sweepstake of 10 soys each, has only four acceptances out of fturteen who entered : — Mr Delamain's b g Elfin King, by Malton— Mountain Nymph Mr Ray's b c Tadmor, by Caledon — Brunette Mr Ray's eh f Sonnambula, by Towton — Opera Mr Watts's eh f Ngaro, by Ravensworth— Countess. All four are by imported horns, and the two first are out of imported mares. We bad hoped to see Wainui in the " melee," but suppose she has not recovered her Ja3t year's form. The Champagne Stakes of 100 soys, added to a sweepstake of 10 soys ea<h, six furlong*, for two-year olds, will probably show a good field, seven youngsters having acceptted out of sixteen entries ; — Mr Redwood's th c Runolf, by Towton— Phoebe Mr O'Brien's b c Lough Ncagh, by Traducer —Laurel, by Peter Pint Mr Delamain's br f Pungaherewtre, by Golden Grape— Atalanta, by Towton Mr Delamain's b f F'ollcfarine, by Ravensworth — Belle of the Isle Mr Walker's b f Gilela, by Ravensworth— Mermaid Mr Nostfoithy's b c Casli ian. by Sladmerc— Azucena, by Towton Mr Noswortby's eh c Daniel O'Rorke, by Sledmere— Brunette The only one that has appeared in public is tho last on the list, and he ran very fairly nt Dunedin, but the ditances were too great for him. Ihe Mermaid filly is thought a gcod deal of in Canterbury, and we know the colt named after the hero of Mr Domett's poem to le^a well grown youngt-tcr and likely to have a good turn of speed. It promises to be the best two-year-old race ever ran in New Zi aland. The St. George's Handicap of 100 soys, with a sweepstake of 5 soys adde', will conclude the firat day's sport, and the following are the entries and weights: — Mr Yeend'sb g Rory O'More, 6 yrs, 9st 121bs Mr Delamain's. b'c Temp'eton, 4 yrs, 9st lOlbs Mr Campbell's eh c Castaway, 4 yrs, 7st Mr Watts' b g Parawhcnua, 5 yrs, 7«t Bbs Mr Ray's eh f Sonnambnla 3 yrs, 7st Gibs Captain Hutchinson's b c King Phillip, 3 j rs, 7st 4'bs Mr Ray's b c Tadmor, 3 yrs. 7st 3lbs Mr Murphy's b g Hercules. 3 >r<>, 7st Ub Mr Stevenson's br g Guy Fawkes, 3 yrs, Gst 12lbs Mr Watts' eh f Ngaro, 3 yrs, 6st 71bs Captain Hutchinson's br m Spritsail, 4 yrs, . Gat slbs Mr Lunn's b m Nectar (Dolly Varden), 4 yrs, Gst 3lbs Mr Redwood's eh f Twitter, by Towton — Sky bird, 2 yre, sst The racing on Saturday will open with the Handicap Hurdle Race, of 50 soys, added to a sweepstakes of 3 soys each for acceptors. Distance two miles, over e'ght flights of hurdles. Mr Yeend's b g Rory O'More, 6 yrs, 12st 71bs Mr White's eh g Sir Tatton, aged, list 71bs Mr Ray's b m Medora, aged, 1 1 st 4lbs Mr Stevenson's b g Tommy Dodd, aged, I Ost 71bi Mr Markey's gr g Mousetrap, aged, 9st Mr Lunn's gr m Alice Grey, 5 yrs, 9st If Tommy Do Id landed all right we predict lie will run into a forward place. The Me'bourne horse is assigned the top weight, so he roust have b; en accustomed to that kind of work at home. The Great Autumn Fandicap will follow the Hurdle Race, and then, atter a Selling Rare, will come the Flying Handicap of £ of a mile, for which 15 animals are entered, including sof the two year-olds. Tbe weights will not appear until the evening of the first day's races. The meeting will wind up with a Consolation Handicap, We observe by the Australasian that two excellent horses have been purchase! in Melbourne, for New Zealand, by Mr Holley, of Canterbury: Presto, by Panic, out of Louisa, by Peeping Tom, is t-pnl-en of 8S a first-class racehorse. He unfortunately treke down when winning the Three- year-old Handicap on Ntw Year's Day, or he would probably have reached the top of the tree. He is a horee, ot great tiro and power, and has fine action. The otber purehesd* is Marnoion, also by Panic, out of Barbellea, by Peter Wilkins. The four days of the A J.C. Autumn meeting was most successful atßandwick, and the presence of Lurline excited great in! e; est there Her Grtt appearance on the New South Wales turf was on ihe second day, wben carryiDgthe highest weight (Ost), raking her ccx allowance into account, she ran third, the race being taken by Imperial, syrs, 7pt Albs; while the six-year-old Reprieve, with Bst 71bs, ran second. The unplacced horses were amor-gut the lest in Austaolia, and comprised The Diver, Priam, Fitz-Yattendon, Melbourne, M' Galium Mohr, Haricot, Lord Lym, Viva, Feredah, bultan, Ladybird, Llama, and The JS'ovice. The two miles were ran in 3 mins 36sic, and but for the 511 s penalty incurred for her victory nt Melbourne, there is little doubt but the New Zealand maie would have won it, as she was not 2 lengths behind the winner. On the next day Luiline won the All- Aged Stakes of one mile, beating Llama, Kmgsborough, and Redwood, son oi Manuka. The interest in this race was spoilt by the breaking away ofthe Governor's grand colt Kingsborough, the winner of tbo Leger, •who ran twice round the course befora tbe boy could stop him. The race was delayed ior some time to allow the colt to recover, but he had taken too much out of himself, and finished a dozen lengths behind. Lurline's great victory remain* d for the fourth day, when she carried off easily the A J.C. Plate of three miles, weight for age, from The Diver, Melbourne, and Kingsborough. 'lime 5 mins 45 sees. The mare was a great favorite with the spectators, who cheered greatly over her

victory. What a pity the exigences of a partnership, dissolved because one of the partners was going home, should have compelled Mr Redwood to part with his mares just as they had become acclimatised and got into condition, thus losing the rich reward of his patient labors. We observe the death recorded of Lord Clifden, a L3ger winner, and a great horse in his day, at the early age of fifteen. The proposal to get up a Stefplecbase and some minor racing on the Queen's Birthday appears to be well received by the public, and it only remains to ensure success that a few gentlemen should meet, form a committee, proceed to work, and before ths end of a week we believe they would see their way to issuing an attractive programme We therefore suggest that gentlemen who favor the proposal meat on Saturday at three o'clock,, at the Mascnic Hotel, to take preliminary measuics for carrying it out.

Templeton atove racing weight 4lbs Tarnbourini „ 1 „ *Yatterina bd.w 10 „ King Phillip „ 13 „ Tadmor „ 14 „ * Traitor „ 15 „ Guy Fawkes „ 15 „ *Petrobe „ 19 „ Castaway „ 19 „ Hercules „ 20 ., Ngaro „ 21 „ ♦Wainui „ 23 ,, Princes Mary „ 23 „ Right Bower „ 28 „ Parawhenua „ 30 „ *3pritsail , t 35 „ *Septin_U9 „ 42 „