SPORTING NEWS. EXHIBITION RACE MEETING. YESTERDAY'S RACING. Dunudin, Nov. 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 425, 4 December 1889, Page 3

SPORTING NEWS. EXHIBITION RACE MEETING. YESTERDAY'S RACING. Dunudin, Nov. 27.

The weather tor the opening day ot the Exhibition race meeting was splendid. There was a great crowd present on all pt>rts of the course, but it was agreed by every Aucklander with whom I conversed that the attendance was scarcely tip to the number that, we see attend our Summer Meeting, and in our favour it must be borne in mind that visitors are here from all parts of the colony and immediate vicinity. The bountiful wealth that exists on all hands in the South Island was fully shown by the immense number of well-dressed ladies and gentlemen who were present and paraded tho lawn ; and I venture to say that tho costumes of the fair sex have not been excelled at Flomington, and that is saying a great deal. The various costumes wore new, sti iking, and original. So far as I could see, tho only Auckland lady who graced the grand stand was Mrs L. 1). Nathan, and she was suited by an oflective costume. To turn to the racing, it was noticeable for the large fields that contested the majority of the events. Tho Exhibition Cup turned out a onehorse event. From the moment the weights were posted Occident was picked out as being too leniently handicapped, taking his Chrititchurch November running as a guide, and so the result proved ; for the local horse was one of the first away," ana; always holding a prominent position throughout, came away as the home turn was approached, and, literally speaking, won i n the commonest of canter?. Messrs Stephen&on and Hazlett are locally respected on all sides, and as the winner returned to scale the cheers- were given in that enthusiastic manner which is characteristic of the "Land o' Cakes." Occident was purchased by the owners as a yearling in Tasmania for one hundred guineas. His victory makes the fourth that has fallen to the popular colours that he carried. As a three-year-old he won the Taieri Handicap, i His other successes were : — Forbury ITandicap Consolation, at the recent C. J^C. Metropolitan Meeting, aiid the Exhibition Cup. Occident went amiss tho other week, and his connections do noo win any great amount ; but it is worthy of note that they backtd for a small amount the doubleOccident in the Exhibition Cup and Francptt« for the Carnival Handicap. -„ francotte' was bred at the far-famed Sylvia? Parky"- and- 'was got by Musket — L'Ori^nfc}. consequently he is half-brother to-Ra4ames." It will be remembered that ou.r_' strajg'ht • going * o\yhor, Mr John Marshall, 'purchased' Pearl Shelly -Braemar, and Francotte as yearlings ; and James Kean having a commission'of £500 to buy a yearling, Mr Marshall secured for him Francotte. The horse was gelded as a two-year-old, but he had' shown lately several gallops good enough to indicate that he bad a chance, and they benefited thereby. The fittest-looking Cup candidate that paraded the paddock previous to the start was Cynisca. She was trained to the hour, but owing to her non-staying powers could get no nearer than fourth. Scots Grey was done with after going 5 furlongs. The colt walked round the paddock dottily, but no fault could be found with his. condition. The other candidates were all pretty fit excepting Recluse, who plainly showed ho was not wound up. > MrStead kindly supplied me with the following distances and times they weie run in :— Quarter mile, 28^?ec; 6 furlongs, lmin 22sec ; 1 mile, lmin 49~ec ; 1} miles, 2mtn 16sec ; 1^ miles, 3min 9jsee, which is a quarter second slower than the oilicial time. Considering the holding nature of tho course and the easy win, the timo was fast. Alma ran a great horse in the Hurdle Race in the heavy ground. Ho looked one mass of condition. Pygmalion won the" Dunedin Stakes in the commonest of canteis. He is a big colt with plenty of power, and if taken to Auckland will be a hoid nut to crack. Morraine met with an accident a few days ago, and taking this into consideration ran a wonderful colt to be second. The arrangements at Forbury are not up to those at Ellerblie. The Grandstand is a miserable and poor one and not so good as at Potter's Pa'ldock. Taken from any point of view I might say that the hospitality extended towards strangers is many removes below that extended by the Auckland Racing Club. Further, in the stewards enclosure ai*e admitted mites of undressed and immature jockey boys ; while those who have the right to be in the throng are carefully excluded. Again, the members of the fourth estate are shamefully neglected, and to view the races they have to obtain the beet position they can. The new toDalisators erected by Mason and liobeits proved a complete success, and 1 did »Ot he^r a single murmur or growl at the arrangements during tho day. This eptaks volume?. Cash betting Has done outside the paddock, which was surprising to Aucklanr'eis, considering the reply to the message sent by the Secretary of Tabtersall's in Auckland. The Governor's party seemed thoroughly to enjoy the racing, and mixed up with those in the saddling paddock without any formality. Aucklanders mustered in good force, including Mr A. E. Devore, the Mayor ; and not an uninteresting figure on the lawn was Mr Spence Gollan, who walked about with the utmost mikj froid. Despite this," the public at large had not forgotten the scratching of Tirailleur, and adverse comment at hia action and continue! to be heard on all Bides*. There was terrible delay in getting off the races, and tho last event was run fully one hour and three-quarters after the time eefc down in the ofiicial book. This was accountod for by the desire to wait for totalisator investments. Thos-e who patronised lunch had to pay fivo shillings for the luxury, which is something that Aucklanders are not used to. Taken altogether, the day's racing was a thorough success, and noticeable for the number of times local horses got home. Below is given the result ot tho events run after we went to press yesterday afternoon :—: — New Zealand Exhibition Cur, of J,500 soya, with a sweepstakes of lOsovs each. The second horse to receive 300sovs ; the third 200sovs from the stakes. One mile and three-quarters. Mr J. Stephenson's b h Occident, syrp, by Lapidisb — The West, 7sb 91b (White) 1 Hon. G. McLeans br h St. James, 4yrs, 6sbl3lb(W. Buddicombe) ? Mr F. Kays b h Wakatipu, 6st 51b (Ray) " 3 Recluse (Bsb 61b), Scots Giey (Bsb 41b), British Lion (7st 81b), Cynisca (7ab 71b), Masthead (7st 31b), and Foxton (7st 121b) aleo ran. The horses were formally paraded before the start. When the flag went down Occident was momentarily in front, but a3 sooWaa the horses Mere fairly

in their strides, Wakatipu rushed to the front, with Occident, Masthead, and St. Jauui as his nearest attendants. Wakatipu continued to make the running at a merry pace, and, passing the stand was lying at about half-a-length in front of Masthead, with St. Jainea just behind the mare, and Occident on the outside, Scots Grey evidently running a waiting race, but it was here seen that the latter made an effort to go up. For a second the Musket colt appeared likely to get to the front, but he died away. A quarter of a mile from home Wakatipu was going back to his horses, whilo Occidont was close up, and evidontly I going well within himself. Hounding the home turn, the two Dunedin horses gave Wakatipu the go by, and Occident was the I first into the straight, but when fairly in a line for home, it w»s seen that he would j win, and though St. James and Cynisca were by no meati3 exhausted, and Wakatipu was still going fast, it was only a question | of whether Occident would keep straight. Any doubt that might have existed on thia point was dispelled before the shilling stand wa? reached, and the Lapidist horeo ! was landed a winner by about a length and a-half— White, who had well judged the pace throughout, being evidently desirous of making a clever tinish : St. James second, and Wakatipu a fair third, with Cynisca fourth, and B itish Lion, Masthead, and Scots Grey next in the order named, the other pair pulling up. Time, 3min 9£sec. Dividend : Inside, £3 17s (3d ; outsiae, £4 9s. Duxkdix Stakks, of '25030v5, with a sweepstake of s»o\s each. For t\ro-year-olds only. The second horse receive 50sovb ; the third 20so\s' from the stakes. Five furlong*. Mr J. Harris' b c Pygmalion, by Apiemont—Nautilus, 9st (Matthews) .. 1 Mr O. G. Stead's be Moiaine, Bst 71b (DerriU) 2 Hon. G. McLeans eh.c Emmaaon, Bst 71b (White) 3 Bay King (Bst 7lb) also started. Pygmalion jumped to the front directly the Hag fell, and led all the way, winning with the greatest ease by about a length, Emmason u good third, and May King pulling up. Time, lnun 6sec. Dividends : Intide, £1 9s 6d ; outsido £1 10s 6d. Cakmval Handicap, of 200sovi?, with a sweepstake of 3sovs each. The second horse to receivo 20*ovs, and tho third lOsovs from the stakes. JSix furlongs. Mr J. Steplienson's b q Francotto, by Musket— L'Onent, 6st7lb (Lardner) 1 Mr Popham's b h Alcinous, Bbt 21b (Brcwn) . . ... 2 Mr Webbs eh h Ruby, Bs,b 31b (Derritt) 3 Recluse (9st 21b), Kcnnla (Tst 91b), Golden Crest (7st 91b), Lady Floiin (7st 81b), Apres Moi(7st9lb), Musk Deer (6st 91b), and Crawshaw (6st 71b) also run. Lady Florin and Goldon Crest jumped off' wioh the lead, but after covering a quarter of a mile, Francotte went to the front and kept there to the tinish ; Alcinous, two lengths away, was second, and Jtuby, same distance away, third. Time, lmin 17-fscc. Dividends, £9 10s 6d and £10I5«. Sullis'g Rack, of lOCkovs. One mile. Mr Toomeys Little Shamrock, £20 (Ray) . 1 Mr Lambert's L 00 .£40 (Wisley)... . 2 Mr Johnston's Le Temps 3 Laßose, Quibble, Windsor, Miloid, Mi/cpaJ), Bard, Allanah, Pennant, and Evening Star also ran. Little Shamrock won by two lengths. Time, lnan. 47i,sec' Dividends, £2 Is 6d and £2 6s. The winner was bought in for £50. SrXUNG TWO-IKAU-OLD RAtT. of 120SOV8. Four furlongs. MrJ. Stephenaon's eh f Timpe&t, £200 (White) . ... .. l Mr Butler's Lady Mab, £100 (Peters) . 2 Hon. G. McLeans Dormeur (Buddicombe) ... . L 5 Corollo, Moth, Inez., Apology, Koseleaf, and -Calora also ran. Lariy Mab and Doriineur raced neck and neck until 100 yards from the post, when Tempest came with a greatrush on the outside, and won easily by a 'length.' Time, 52isec. ' Dividends, €2 9s and £2 4s>. The winner was bought in for £200. Com mission j:ks' Puksu, a welter handicap of 15030V5. One mile. Mr A. Andersons Dispute, Bst (McGrath) .. ... .1 Mr Andallo's iMon Loup (Loughland) . 2 Mr Lambert's Sir Julius (McMorrin) 3 Erin-go-bragh, Foxton, Puraestring, Apres Moi, Wakatipu, Don Pedio, Cypriote, and Miss Ann also started. Enteiing the straight Dispute came in with a good run, and had the race in hand from the distance, winning easily, Mon Loup coming with a run and beating Sir Julius for second place. Time, lmin 47isec. Dividend, £3 Us.