Sporting.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 319, 23 March 1878, Page 20

Sporting.

A trotting match between Mr. Crosbie’s mare Castaway and Mr. Reeves’ Old Jack, for £‘2s a side, came off on Wednesday, on the ground chosen, viz., one mile on the main road between Kaiwarra and Ngaliauranga, and was v/on after a good race by the old horse. A large number of people were piesent, who appeared to take a lively interest in the proceedings. Giieyxouxh, Tuesday. The Greymouth races to-day were tlie greatest succes of the last ten years. The number of visitor's was the largest ever seen lie re, and the horses were more numerous. For the first event, the Trial Stakes, six started, and after a grand race it was won by Grey Momus by a bead; Kensington, 2 ; Blazing Star, 3. Hack Handicap Hurdle Race.—Four started. The race was won by Stoker. The Greymouth Jockey Club Handicap brought nine to the post, and was won after a hard struggle by Elfin King ; Jasper, 2 ; Morning Star, 3. Hie Hack Race was won by Camelia. For the Railway Stakes Handicap seven started—Elfin King, 1 ; Morning Star, 2 ; Blazing Star, 3. This race was won by half a length. Wednesday. The races to-day were again a great success, although tlie attendance was not so large, on account of the rain, as it otherwise would have been. The following are the principal events:— Goldfields Handicap.—Banker, 1 ; Jasper, 2 ; Native, 3. Seven horses started. Tlie race was won by half a length. Grey Valley Stakes Handicap.—Elfin King, 1 ; Grey Momus, 2 ; Native, 3. Five horses started. Betting: 3 to 2 on Elfin King ; 5 to 3 against the others. After a splendid race, it was won by half a length. Novel Race.—Rover, 1. Five horses started. Consolation Stakes.—Septimus, 1. Timaru, Saturday. The following official weights were declared last night for the forthcoming Timaru races : South Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap : Templeton, 9st. 121b5.; Ariel, 9st. 51bs.; Pungawerewere, 7st. 131b5.; Titania, 7st. 11 lbs.; Longlands, 7st. olbs.; Hippocampus, 7st.; Jatigler, 7st.; Mireille, 7st.; Cloth of Gold, 6st.. lOlbs.; Bide-a-wee, 6st. olbs.; Deceiver, 6st. libs.; Chancellor, 6st. Flying Handicap : Templeton, 9st. 71bs.; Pungawerewere, 9st.; Titania, Bst.: Isaak Walton, 7st. lOlbs.; John Stofel, 7st. 71b.; Mireille, 7st. 51bs.; Chancellor, 7st.; Oberon, fist. 121b5.; Lima, 6st. 71bs.; Manilla, fist. 71bs.; Maori Bov, 6st. 71bs.; Coronella, fist. 71bs. Timaru Cup: Templeton, 9st. 121b5.; Ariel, 9st. 51bs.; Pungawerewere, 7st. 121b5.; Titania, 7st. lOlbs.; Longlands, 7st. olbs.; Hippocampus, 7st ; Janf?ler, 7st.; Mireille, fist, 121b5.; Cloth of Gold, fist. lOlbs.; Undiue, fist. 81b.; Bide-a-wee, fist. 51bs. ; Maritana, fist. olbs. ; Deceiver, fist. 41bs.; Coronella., fist. 41bs.; Oancellor, fist.; Oberon, 6st.; Lima, ost. 121bs. Handicap Hurdles : Eclipse, list. 71bs.; Banjo, list. 51bs.; Kildare, list. 31bs.; Ivanhoe, list.; Theodore, lOst. 121b5.; Grey Momus, lOst. 81bs.; Shillelagh, lOst. 51bs.; Disturbance, lOst.; Pakeha, lOst.; Plevna, lOst.; Merry Monarch, 9st. lOlbs.; Harlequin, 9st. 71bs. Cloth of Gold is scratched for all his engagements. Lawrence, Tuesday. Tlie annual races were commenced here yesterday. The weather was wretched, but there were about 1000 people on the ground. Owing to the continued wet weather the course was in a filthy state, causing slow time to be made. For the Maiden Plate four started, Shaw’s Spey winning with ease. Three horses faced the starter for the Jockey Club Handicap, of fiOsovs., namely, Oberou, Chancellor, and Glengarry. After an exciting race Oberon passed the post two lengths in advance of Chancellor, who was first favorite. The District Handicap, brought forward a field of five, but Alice proved too many for her opponents. Chancellor and Spey were the only horses who faced the starter for the Flying Handicap, and the former won easily. The Hack Race fell to the lot of Romeo, who outpaced his companions, five in number. There is a likelihood of a good attendance today, the weather having broken up. Wednesday. At the races held yesterday (second day) the attendance was larger than on the previous day, the weather being splendid. The Handicap Novel Race, for which five started, resulted in an easy win for Romeo. Four came to the post for the Hack Race, but Testimonial did as he liked, winning with ease. The Lawrence Handicap was a gift to Chancellor, who defeated Oberou by several lengths. The Hospital Race was won by Spey, and the Consolation Handicap by Wild Deer. The racing was conducted satisfactorily, but the arrangements were bad. PORT RATA RACES. Judge: Mr. W. Brown. Starter: Mr. F. Smith. Collector: Mr. (I. Thompson. Secretary: Mr. W. Jillet. Stewards:- Messrs. E. J. Ring, Cameron, J. Whitehouse, J. Prosser, and X. Bould. Treasurer: Mr. J. McGrath. Clerk of the Course : Mr. J. F. Lloyd. The annual meeting, under the auspices of the Porirua Joclcey Club, took place on Monday, and in point of good racing, fine weather, and attendance of visitors, was more successful than any of its predecessors. The stormy and wet day previous was very unpromising, but more propitious weather succeeded, aud the morning broke fine, without a cloud in the sky. The course is on the sea beach, and at the time announced for the first race—l2 o’clock —the sea was still in, owing to it being the date of spring tides. This was an annoying circumstance, as it provoked a delay of nearly two hours, the first race only being started at two o’clock. ’The course was exceedingly

heavy aud sloppy, causing the jockeys to be covered with wet sand from head to foot. There were the usual surroundings of a race meeting—booths, refreshment stalls, Aunt Sallys, steeplechase-boards, and a host of other concomitants ; but bookmakers were conspicuous by their absence. A “grand” stand was improvised, which consisted of a few rough boards nailed on the top of some piles driven into the sand. Regarding the races themselves, it may be said that they were really excellent for a country meeting, the seven events ou the programme each bringing out a number of competitors, and six horses running for the Maiden Plate. The Cup—the big event —was run in three heats, and would no doubt have been won by Black Prince had that horse not run in the two previous races. Amongst other events introduced in tlie programme was a private match for £25, between horses owned by a Porirua storekeeper and a Pahautanui hotelkeeper. It proved a most interesting item, but owing to the surcingle of the publican’s horse getting under the animal’s belly, it caused it to kick instead of run, and the storekeeper scored an easy victory. Owing to the late hour of starting, the last race was not run until 7 o’clock. Subjoined is a list of the events : HURDLE race. Value £l2. Over four flights of hurdles, 3ft. Dai. Oae mile boats. Weight for age. Entrance £1 Is. Mr. T. Crosbie’s li Don, aged, lOst Sib (J. Campion) .. .. .. .. .. ..11 Mr. W. Galloway’s g m Minnie < * rev, aged, lOsfcSlb (.T. Prosser) .. .. .. ..32 Mr. P. J. Murtagh’s bk h Black Prince, f. yrs, lOst 31b (P. J. Murtagh) .. .. .. 2 J Betting : Even on Black Prince aud Minnie Grey, 2 to 1 against Don. A long delay took place in the start of the first heat, caused by the fractiousness of Minnie Grey, and after exhibiting a deal of patience, Mr. Smith managed to get the three well away together. Both Black Prince and Minnie Grey baulked at tlie first hurdle, thereby giving Don, wlm took the “sticks” in grand style, a long lead. Minnie Grey refused all the jumps, and Black Prince was almost as bad—only talcing one out of four •without being turned. Don came iu first by 150 yards, Black Prince second, and Minnie Grey a bad third. A protest was afterwards entered by Dir. Galloway, the owner of Minnie Grey, against the rider of Black Prince, for jostling. The second, and what proved the deciding heat, was run after a short interval. The horses took the first hurdle together, but Black Prince baulked at the second and third, leaving the race between Don and Minnie Grey, who were racing neck and neck. Don came in a pretty easy winner. MAIDEN PLATE. Value £ll. For all horses that have not won publie money : weight for age ; distance, 14 miles. Entrance, £1 Is. Mr. P. J. Murtagh’s bk li black Prince, syrs, Ost 91b (Mur. agh) l Mr. T. Crosbie’s Defamation, syrs, Ost lllbs (Stevens) .. .. .. .. . .. 2 Mr. Nopra’s g g Puhinahina, syrs, Ost 91b (Jenkins) 3 Fluke, Sam Slick, and Roauy also ran. Puliinahiua and Black Prince were the favorites. With a good field of six horses the race was a very open one, and during the first round a sheet would have covered the whole of them. Fluke ran away with the lead, but during the last half mile the horses separated considerably, and a close finish took place between the first and second horses. A protest was entered by .1. Smith (tlie rider of Fluke) against Black Prince, for running under a wrong name ; also against Defamation, by the same person, for running under a wrong name; and against Puhinahina for going inside a post. HURDLE RACE, Value £5. Entrance, £l. Mr. Beeves’ Jack (Reeves) .. .. . .. X Mr. McKenzie’s Bess (\V. Best) .. .. ..2 Mr. Cameron’s Castaway (Firmin) .. .. .. 3 Mi'. Smith’s Kakapo also ran. This was a two mile race, got up on the course. Castaway ran until the second round, after which Jack kept to the front. PONY RACE. For all horses 14 hands and under. Dr. Bradford's Nell .. .. .. .. ..1 Mr. Galloway’s Chance .. .. .. .. 2 Mr. Cameron’s Pat .. .. .. .. .. 3 This was a gift to Nell, as Pat bolted, aud Chance was disqualified for running inside a post. PORIRUA CUP HANDICAP, Value £2O. One mile and a half, in heats. Entrance, £2 2s. Dir. W. Reeves’ bk g Tim Whiffler, aged, 7st (Bell) 3 11 Mr. P. J. Murtagh’s bk h Black Prince 5 yrs, Ost 71b (Murtagh) .. .. .. ..122 Mr. Jillett’s cr li Castilian, 5 yrs, lust (Prosser).. .. .. .. .. ..230 The first heat was very closely contested between Castilian and Black Prince, the latter winning by a bare head. In the second heat Tim Whiffler came in first; and the final heat lay between Tim Whiffler and Black Prince. Tim Whiffler came in an easy winner, whilst lxis jockey rode cap in hand. ladies’ purse, Value £7 10s. Weight for age; gentlemen riders. Entrance £1 Is. Mr. Nopra’s g g Puhinahina, 5 yrs, lost (Campion) .. . • • • ■ • ■ • .. 1 Dir. W. Reeves’ b ni Vesta, 3 yrs, Ost (Burr) .. .. • • • • • • ■ • .. 2 Mi'. IV. Galloway's g m Minnie Grey, aged, 10;t 01b. (Galloway) .. -. .. .. .3 Puhinahina kept the lead throughout, and the only exciting part of the race was a struggle between Vesta and Minnie Grey for second place. HACK RACE. Value £J. Dir. Beeves’ Jack.. .. .. .. •• ..1 Mr. Campion’s Hit-or-Miss .. .. .. .. 2 Mr. Bell’s Dick .. .. .. .. ■ • .. 3 This race was a very fast one. Don and Quicksilver also ran. CONSOLATION. Sam Sliok .. .. .. .. • ■ • ■ 1 Defamation .. . - .. • • • • - Only two horses started, Sam Slick having the best of it the whole way. A ball took place in the evening, and dancing was kept up with spirit until an early hour next morning.

NAPIER RACES. Napier, Thursday. The Hawke’s Bay races commenced to-day. The meeting was held at P.dcowhai, about two miles from Hastings. The weather was glorious, and the attendance large. About 3000 people -were on the course. The events created great interest. The bookmakers were very numerous. The following aie the events and the results : Maiden Plate, of 60 sovs., with a sweepstake of 3 sovs. Distance, one mile and a half. Weight for age.—Merlin, 1 ; Day and Martin, 2 ; Darkie, 3. Five started. Champagne Charlie, Lallah Rooklr, and Pakelia were scratched. Champagne Charlie was a hot favorite, and great indignation was manifested at his being scratched, the bookmakers having made him a “stiff one.” This was an easy win for Merlin. Railway Stakes, of 30 sovs. Distance, three quarters of a mile. Weight for age.— Mufti, 1 ; Dura, 2. Seven started. This was a good race. Napier Handicap, of 150 sovs., with a sweepstake of 5 sovs.; the second horse to receive 20 sovs. from the stakes.—Buna, 1 ; The Worm, 2 ; Figaro, 3. Six started. This was a well contested race, Luna winning, only when close to the post, by a length. Selling Race, of 40 sovs. Distance, one mile and a quarter. Weight for age. The winner to be sold for £SO, or for less with allowances.—Robinson Crusoe, 1 ; Skysail, 2 ; Merlin, 3. There were six entries. This was a very close race, Crusoe winning by half a length. One of the jockeys fell in this event, but was not seriously injured. The Hack Race was the last event of the day, and was a very good race between first and second horses, and was won on the post.