SPORTING MEMS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 323, 6 December 1875, Page 4

SPORTING MEMS.

The Wellington races come off tomorrow ond Wednesday, and, weather favorable, promise to be fairly successful, though it is likely the meeting will suffer from the weights for the Cup having been determined before the principal horses engaged in it met at Christchurch. The first race will be the Maiden, mile and a-half, weight for age, and the following horses are engaged : — Tattler, Pungawerewere, Cocksure, Banker, Voltarine, and Lady Grey, The two first named ran at Canterbury, and were either not . in form, or only very second-rate animals. Cocksure . was thought well of by his stable, and must have proved himself a fair colt in his trials to have earned the reputation he enjoyed, but he went amiss and did not start. The, two remaining hail, we fancy, from Wanganui,. but we know neither of thera'. If Cpcksure starts we think he will take the race. The Aatlanta filly beat Tattler for places in tbe Derby at Riccarton, and will likely repeat this at Wellington. Banker, who has beeo trained by Mr Redwood for Mr Ray ncr of Blenheim, showed fair speed at the last Wairau Meeting, but whether he is entitled to rank as a race horse, we are unable to say. He is by Day Dawn, out of a St. Aubyn mare. As Mr Redwood has taken Cocksure to Wellington, we presume he considers him fit to race, and we expect tbe colt will make his public debut in the opening race. The Cup (handicap) of 200 soys; second horse co receive 25 soys, aod third horse to save his stake, two miles, will be the next race, and tbe following horses accepted by paying each their 3 soys on the Bih ultimo:-—

The field willl probably oomprise Templeton, Guy Fawkes, and Karora, horses from other provinces, and Gleoery and Voltaire, local representatives. Gienavy is by Traducer, out of the imported mare Sweetmeat, aud is as well bred as any animal ia the colony. Being in tbe bands of an experienced trainer, and greatly favored in weight — receiving lllbs from Templeton, Blbs from Guy, and' 9lbs from Karora — her .chance on paper looks favorable. Voltaire is 3lbs leas weighted, but we know nothing of him. Tambourini having gone south wiil not be present. Putting the Wanganui mare aside aa a dark animal, we give the preference to Mr Redwood's representative, probably Guy Fawkes, Karora being reserved, we expect, for the Derby. As Guy beat Templeton for plans in the Cup at Canterbury at racing weights, and again in the Metropolitan Handicap, when giving him 7lbs, we do not see how Templeton is to beat Guy when he meets him on lOlbs worse terms tomorrow. The Selling Race bas oqly two entries, Firetail nud Castilian. We fancy a mile and a half is beyond the old Nelsou gelding's distance, and think the race will fall to Mr M'lvor, who, we believe, owns Castilian. The Provincial Piato is, of coarse, confined to local horses, and six are entered for if. .Plenary we have already spoken of; Princess Mary is a daughter of Regtna, by Ravensworth, and the remaining four— -Phoenix, Flora M'Donald, Volatrine, and Premier,* are unknown aliko to fame and the pages of the Stud Book. The roan, like her daro,. can stay, but the Traducer mare |is bred for greater speed, we take the latter forcboice, unless ehe does battle for the Cup. The Hutt Park Stakes, ,with which the sport commences on tha second day, being a handicap, it is impoaaible to speak of the probable result until we see the weights and they will not be. published until the close of the first day's racing. Seven horsea accepted for the Derby, namely, Daniel O'Rourke, Karoro, Fi hetman, Pungawerewere, Backer, Cocksure, and Voltarine. We shall not be surprised if the race proves a match between the first namdd two. The Canterbury running showed unmistakeably tbat at eveu weights, Fisherman and Punga had no chance against either, but it remains to be seen whether the Flaxstick is not above the calibre of the Derby and Cup winner, good little horse though he be. The time in which Daniel won bis races was comparatively slow, whereas Karora won the Christcburch Plate in very fast time, when carrying 71bs penalty. Judging the two animals by their Metropolitan performances, oue may be styled a good honest race horse, and the other a brilliant performer. The meeting of the pair at the Hutt will be watched with great intereet from Canterbury, where Daniel is naturally a great favorite. For the Jockey Club Handicap sixteen horses were entered, but as the weights will not be published until the evening of the first day of the races, it is idle at present to speculate on the chance of any particular animal. /It was stated a few mornings ago in the Daily Times, that Karoos time in the Canterbury PJate-^-2 miles in 3 mm. 44 seca.— was the fastest on record. Tbia was ao. egregious mistake. The time named is almost iuvimbly baaiea

in handicaps, where first-class hcrses receive large allowances from their racing weights. The last Melbourne Cup, was won in 3 rain. 38 sees., by Woolamai, handicapped at 32 lbs. less than his racing weight, and lhe Hawkesbury Handicap was won in 3 mm. 35. gees. Calumny getting 14 lbs. leea than her standard weight. But the performance of Goldsborough, in the last Metropolitan, was one of the greatest achievements oo any course, as he did his two miles in 3 mins. 33£ sees., with only 2 lbs. less than his racing weight. If we examine the weigh t-for-sge races throughout Australasia during the last ten years, we find tbat only on very few occasions has Karor&'e performance at Canterbury been beaten, weight considered. In , fifteen weigh t-f or-age races over the Melbourne course during the last ten yeare, only on three occasions has the time beeu less by a second, and this by the very best horses in the country, while the average time, at Flemington for 2 miles, weight for age, has been 3 mins. 49 sees. What enhances tbe Flaxetick's performanoe in the race in question,- is that he carried 7 lbs. above his racing weight, and did his 2 miles io 3 mins. 44J sees. — that being his correct time. Few persons who have not. studied tbe effect which weight has on horees, in shortening their strides, and fatiguing them in a loog race, will believe the difference which a comparative trifle, more or less, on their backs, makes in increasing or lessening their chances of winning, particularly when the distance is over n mile, and the animals are young. The old axiom, tbat 7 lbs. in two miles is equal to a distance (240 yards), is doubtless an exaggeration, nor can the story be regarded as true, of two horses trained together and often tried in company, and the one which bore the jockey who last left the stable and carried tbe key, being invariably beaten. With tbe generality of horses when racing weights are exceeded, the effect is crushing ; Skfld The Barb, who could race two miles in !3 mins 40 sees, carrying 161bs above the racing weight, has never had bis fellow, ond his like may never be seen again. Only fourteen horses at all the race meetings in Australia and Van Diemens' Land since 1864, have won a two mile race carrying racing weights in less time than 3 mins 44 £ sees; one of these being The Barb, who did it on four occasions. Lurline's time for the Christchurch Plate, carrying the like penalty as Karora, was Sarins 43 sees. It is matter for general congratulation tbat a settlement has baen effected of the outstanding claims against the Nelson Race MeetiDg of 1874. when the treasurer suddenly left Neleon immediately after tie races, without paying the winners their stakes, as well its other race moneys entrusted to him. We cannot say the settlement has been safisfactory to all parties, as the stewards have had to make a heavy contribution, while those to whom money was owing have had to content themselves with only pait of their rightful due. We shall remark no further on this painfui subject, but are happy to be able to state that there is now a prospect of the Jockey Club being revived on a souni footing. Several gentlemen have expressed their willingness to become members, aud means will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such a contre-temps as tbat just referred to. Ac soon as the Club is formed measures will be taken to prepare a programme for the ensuing autumn, and as the railway will then be open, snd visitors to the races cau be landed on the course both from town and country, it wiil be a great pity if the Wakefield Club does not join with Nelson in getting up one good Race Meeting, instead of our .haviog two indifferent ones.

at.lbs. Mr O'Brien's b g Tarabotpini, aged... 9 6 Mr Delamain's.bh Templeton, sytj 9 3 Mr Redwood's b h Guy Fawkea, 4 yre 8 3 Mr J. Walker's eh m Glenavy, 4 yrs 7 6 Mr h Voltaire, 4 yrs ... 7 6 Mr Redwood's brcKanrq, 3 yrs ... 6 10 Mr Redwood's eh c Banker, 3 yra ... 6 7