SPORTING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 76, 7 April 1913, Page 2

SPORTING.

FIXTURES. April 9 and 10—Manawatu R.C. Autumn. April 16 and 17—Hawke’s Bay J.C. Autumn. April 23 and 24—South Canterbury J.C. Autumn. April 24 and 25—Masterton R.C. Autumn.^ April 30 and May I—Marlborough R.C. Autumn. May 8 and 9-'—Ashburton County R.C. Autumn. June 8 c.nd 4—Dunedin J.C. Winter. COMING EVENTS. r May 31—Great Northern Hurdle Race May 31—Great Northern Handicap. June 3—Great Northern Steeplechase. NATIONAL STEPLECHASE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright, [United Press Association,] • i 4*.. »'• ' - /V- *• * ' London, April 5. In the National Steeplechase twenty-two horses started, and only three finished. Carsey fell- two fences from home when second. The jockey re-mounted. AUSTRALIAN RACING. Sydney, April 5. City Tattersall’s Hurdles. —Memo Lad 1, Gorlias 2, Honeybag 3. Denman Stakes. —Malt Mary 1, Lady Denman 2, Messina. 3. City TattersalTs Cup.—Maltz 1, Belove 2, Offa 3.

WELLINGTON AUTUMN MEETING

[Per Press Association.]

Wellington, April 6

AVith the exception of a shower just as the St. Leger Stakes were about to be run, the weather was fine for.the concluding day of the Wellington Racing Club’s autumn meeting. There was a large attendance of the and the racing was very, good, some close finishes resulting. The totalisator investments amounted to £30,949, as against £22,336 for the second day of the last autumn meeting, making a total of £52,929 10s for the meeting, as compared with £42;022 10s for the previous ■ autumn fixture. R. Berry, the rider of Anguish in the Pacific Handicap, was disqualified for three months 1 for crossing. Following are additional results : i Pacific Handicap, of ° 250 (for tivo-year-olds).—l Salzburg, 9.1 (F. E. Jones),* T; Pavlovna,-6.11 (carried 7.11), 2; 2 Briar Patch, 7.6, 3. ,6 Peronilla 9.1, 4 Historiette 7.9, 5 Anguish 6.13, 8 Gerbera 6.13,' 8 Hoopoe 6.7 (carried-7.2),. and 9 Sartova 6.7 (carried 6.11)/ also started. Won by a head, lour lengths separating the second and third horses. Time, Imin 15sec. -

N.Z. St. Leger Stakes, of 450 sots ; one mile and three quarters.—l W. G. and G. L. Stead’s Bon Ton, 8.10 (A. Oliver), 1; 3 Canute, 8.10 (Deeley), 2; 2 Haskayne, 8.7/ 3. The only starters. Won by three lengths, Haskayne ten lengths away third. Time, 3min ssec. : Suburban Handicap, of 250 sots ; six furlongs.—l Patronale, 7.3 (Bell), 1; 6 Crown Pearl, 7.13, 2; 5 Peroneal, 7.10, 3. 3 Culprit 8.8, 10-Gip-§y Belle 8.5, 4 Sanguinary 7.11, 2 Makara 7.8* 13 Naumai 7.G (carried 7.10), 9 Bootle 7.4, 7 Tetikura 7.11, 11 Styx 6.13 (carried 7;3), 12 Piriwai 6.13 (carried 7.1), 8 Caher Davon 6.10, and 14 W T ar Queen 6.7, also started. Won by a head, the same distance separating the second and third horses. Time, Irnin 15sec.

Belmont Handicap, of 120 sovs; six furlongs.—s Submersion, 7.11 (Lowe) 1; 3 Suratura, 8.13, 2; 4 Portland Lady, 7.12 (carried 8.5), 3. 7 Huia 9.0, 1 Ladoga 8.1, 8 Ainsdale 7.13; 2 Scottish Star 7.13, 6 Gerbera 7.6, Merry Gny 7.5; 11 Lanyard 6.7 (carried 6.11), 12 Saporific 6.7 (carried 6.10), and 10 Cadonia 6.7; also' started. Won by a head, a neck separating second and third. Time, Train-15 L 5 sec. THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEFEAT.

When the Steeplechase preliminaries were going forward at the Randwick racecourse a small crowd of elderly, comfortable-looking- dames sat in the inner ring, discussing events. The cry of “They’re off,’’ which ran through the rest of the 50,000 people present like a huge shudder, made no difference to the ladies, but when that half-shriek, half-gasp suggested that 1 something untoward had- happened’to one of the horses—as a. matter of fact, it was when Rude Boy fell —they’ got up in a bound. "He’s down,” somebody said, “Just ray luck,” exclaimed one of the dames. I’ll bet it’s HautapU. Just my luck.” She could not see. Neither could anybody else in the vicinity, but her watchful eye caught the glimpse of a red cap passing Tii front of the stands. “Red cap,” the self-styled unfortunate commented. “Hautapu’s a red cap. Has he any blue on ?” A kindly bystander said he had. “Then yet,’ ’and the corroboree was resumed, Hautapu didn’t fall. I’ve a chance yet,” and the corroboree was resumed, steered his mount safely home. “Where’s Hautapu?” came the query from the circle. “Not come in yet.” “Not come'in ? Then it would have boon all the same if,ho had fallen. Just my luck. Know anything for the next race?”

Desmond, the champion high-jump-ing horse of Australia, is to lie retired from the show ring. In 1903 Desmond, who is now 27 years old, put up the-Sydney Royal Show record of 6ft. Gin., together with J. Mclntosh’s Tancred and Eroni Bros.’s Strathmore. In 1907, with J. Chittick’r Euchre, he broke the record again

by jumping 6ft. 9in. Later, in the same show, Desmond went over the bars at Gft. lOin. in the President’s High Jump, and so established for the third time, a record which was not equalled till the recent show at Sydney, when C. Jarvis’s Radium went over the bars at the same height. Desmond will leave active life with an unbroken record, and nearly £SOOO in prizes.