SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 360, 5 April 1861, Page 2

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

NELSON RAGES;

Tuesday was the first day of our Nelson Annual Meeting; but although we had beeh leii.io expect •" visitors from Canterbury and Auckland, there were fewer horses than for many years previously ; and had it not been that there were" a few unftied * horses entered for the several events, the interest ■ which has usually been felt in the amusement here by all classes alike hitherto would have had but _ little to.excite it, as they have not this year been characterised either by the attraction or success of former occasions. In' fact the smartness, if not brilliancy, that has marked the settlement and rendered it conspicuous in this respect for some years past, would lead any stranger who might have been present on this occasion to have suspected our notoriety to have been overrated—judging by the last exhibition; but, as we cannot sell our ' best stock and have the benefit of if also,' our present paucity of sport must be overlooked in our hopes for the future provision that wilt be made by enterprising fellow-settlert, and we do not believe tint our hardly.earned laurelswill be jeopardised for wautof effort on. the part of those' who have hitherto created and sustained them.

The weather on the first day was every thing that, could be wished, and although a considerable -diminution of. the: usual number of visitors was perceptible with the throngs there Appeared to be : the usual eagerness for teamsand mounts and the ; inevitable heterogeneous collection; of the species <?f quadrupeds most useful for aiding the locomor tive powers of man,'all helping to make the con- v\ course respectably numerous, if not so large as ■ heretofore. A plentiful, sprinkling of hackney carriages, Yankee waggons, and nondescript vehicles also plied with closely packed freight to and * from the course. .On the secoiiid day" although "",, the intervening night tftreabnld a downfall of j wet, the weather "offered a compromise in the' shape of a strong, cold wind, that converted" soine\ of the booths into sails or ensigns, and made the , fairer portion of the assembly resort to coverings that Would be mostly! considered unseasonable tor the time of the year. \ The Grand Stand, however, presented an animated appearance: the front rank had a gay assemblage of the fair sex; the back, was tolerably filled by the Lords in waiting; but plenty of room was perceptible-in the darker background of seats that would have looked all the better with lady occupants. ■■ Of the event in itself this year, we have but little more to add; the fact of starting only two horses for the Trial Stakes, out of thirteenentrie9, is sufficient commentary.- We^ ;were,i however, sorry to find that Mr. Stafford's, stable did not present a specimen of his usual per-, severance, and was unsuccessful throughout; with' but'one exception, there is, however, a qualification in being a good loser, and that lie seemed to be fully entitled to. The only stranger, who honored us with his presence (and that was no little in the present dearth) was Mr. T. White of Canterbury, the purchaser of-the noted Wetsail; the mare was evidently suffering from fthe'ieffect of late I successes and a sea trip, though her'game qualities showed themselves to the last:,- therefore, while we congratulate Mr. Moisc upon his successful debut, he must not rely too much upon the descendant of Sir Hercules beating former favorites under the present circumstances,'although the good mare has far surpassed the capabilities of the preceding members of that stock and has a future of conquest before her. r '? V. ,Tue GREAT NELSOtf TRIAL STAKES of 10 soys each, 5 ft"; 50 soys added by the Turf Club, provided eight horses start, and 30 soys, if any less number; *■ for the produce of mares covered in New Zealand in the season of 1556-7. If eightstart, the 2nd horse to receive 20 soys out of the stakes, and the third horse to save his stake; if any less number, the se-' cond horse to save his stake. ; Colts, Bst 71bs; fillies and geldings, Bst 3lbs. One mile and a-half. Mr Elliott's b c Brush .. .; ] (J. Redwood) 1 Mr Godfrey's br f Little-thoughtj-of; ~l_ (R. Ray) 2 Out of thirteen entries; three horses only appeared on the card, and Fompey • being scratched, left the race for the two above-named. Both horses got well-away together, 'the filly making the running for half the distance, Brush then came to the front, and although' Rny pushed the filly well for home, Brush kept the lead to the post, winning by a neck. Time, 3 mm. 7 sec. The TURF CLUB PLATE of; 40 soys, added to a sweepstakes of 4 soys each£ second horse to save his stake. : For three-yeats old, Bst 91ba; four. 9sl I3lbs; five, lOst 71bs; six arid aged", lpst lOlbs • 4lbs allowed to mares and geldings.. Two smiles. • : Mr. White's bm Wetsail, 5-yrs| „: (G: Cutts) 1 Mr. Stafford's.b m Ultima, 5 yrs; ■■;.. (A. Bright) 2 Otto scratched. Wetsail started with the lead;! Ultima tried ineffectually to ihead but was evU i dently nowhere; Wetsail' at; the last bard held,, and won easily. Time, 4 mm. 12 sec. ' i The HACK RAOE of 10 shillings each, with 10 bot» added, for air hacks. Catch weights. No horsa " that has run for any save a hack race to be illowed to start. Once round. Second horse to save his ' stake. Heats.; . '.'.[■■■ ■ "■ I ;■.-.; For this race eight horses started; the lead was :; at once taken by Frank Gay, on a bay raar^s belong- ;;■ ing to Mr. Sutton, and maintained throughout.' • The second heat was almost a repetition of the first, ::. except that only four startedl The little mate h" w*as ndt to be passed, arid won gallantly^ The HANDICAP SVVEEPSTAKpS of 10 soys each, h * ft, with 40 soys added* by the Turf Club; second horse to save his stake.; One mile and a-half; Mr Morse's Revoke, 3 yrs, 7se-101b (J." Redwood?) !1 -\i Mr Stafford's bm.Ultima. 5 yrs* SsHOlbs (Bright)-1 3 .'-' : Mr J. Redwood's b g Otto, 3 £rs, 7stlOlbs (Ellis) 2 !" Pompey drawn.": A good start was! effected, : , running well.together to the bottom of tlie course. Ultima evidently had to succumb here, ihe other two racing capitally for the finish; Revoke winning cleverly; by a necki This was the best race of the day. Time, 2 mm. 57 sec. . ' . " A match followed^ in which Mr. T. Wilson 7 named Mr. A. Cqllins's roan horse Bofr v. Mr. V. r Hewitt's b. h. Bushman. Won by Bob. r The LADIES' PURSE of 30 soys, added .to a 'sweep- • stake ofj soys each. T.C.P. weights; the winners of the Turf Club Plate to cany" 4lbs extra. Heats. Once round and a distance. Wetsail walked over, i

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3.

The MAIDEN PLATE 0f!25 ijovs1, aided to a s^eep- ; stakes of 3 soys each; second horse to save hia - stake. For all horses that never had, at the" time / of entering, won an advertised race where more than 20 si>vs of public money j was given (matches excepted). T.C.P. weights. Mr Godfrey's br m Cloe, 8 yrs',, .. • (Ray) -1 - Mr Stafford's br g Pompey, 3 yrs .. (Bright) 2 > Revoke did not Btart. Cloe at once took the lead when half rouud the little gelding appeared to be r - picking up a little, but he was evidently over- * . matched, Cloe winning easily. The TOWN PLATE of 50 soys, added to a sweep, stakes of 5 soys each; second horse to save his stakes. T.C.P. weights. Three miles. • , Mr MorseVb f Revoke, 3 yrs ' .. (Redwood) 1, Mr White's bin Wetsail, 5 yrs .. (Cutts),- 2 This was the best race of the meeting and elicited much cheering. Ultima and Otto did not appear, consequently the other two had the course to themselves, and a fine trial ensued. The filly started with inside place, and both horses were together nearly to the bend, Cutts afterwards forged ahead and took inside place, passing the , stand about two lengths ahead. Revoke again caught the mare almost neck and neck and again passed the stand, having materially decreased the . distance between them,1 the first time this con- ', tinueci to the bottom of the course, when Revoke took the running, and a capital race home ensued, the filjy passing the stud gallantly half a length ahead. Time, 6 rain. 2^ sec.

A match for 50 soys. between Mr. M'JRae's b g Chevalier, 3 yrs., and, Mr. Godfrey's b f Surprise, 3 yrs. T.C.P. weights. l£ mile- Won b > T Chevalier easily.

The SCURRY PLATE of 25 eovs, added to a handicapped sweepstakes of 5 soys each, h. ft. Second horse to save his stake. Heats, ono mile. Mr T. Redwood's b g Otto, 3 yrs, 7st 71bs (Ellis) 1 Mr Stafford's b m Ultima, 9st. 7U'S .. Bright) 2 The first heat was won easily by Otto, the second was a much nearer attempt, the mare improving'upon the second round pushing the gelding hard to the post. Time, first heat, 1 mm. 53 sec. The CONSOLATION PLATE of 20 soys, added to a handicap sweepstakes of 2 soys each, pp; for horses that hnve started and not won in the previous races. Second horse to save his stake. Horses to be named within a quarter of an hour after the last heat for the Scurry Plate, and to be handicapped by the Stewards, cr whom they may appoint. Once round and a distance. Mr Stafford's bin Ultima, 9st 121bs .. (Bright) 1 Mr Godfrey's bm Surprise .. .. (Ray) 2 In this race Ultima had it her own way, and came in several lengths in advance. The FORCED HANDICAP of 10 per centum of the gross amount of the public money won (exclusive of stakes or entrances); h ft; for the winner of any race, excepting the Great Nelson Trial Stakes and Consolation Plate; open to any other horse by making a stake of 5 soys; h ft. Second horse to save his stake. Horses to be named at the same time as for the Consolation Plate, and to be handicapped in the same manner. Once round and a distance.

Mr White's b m Wetsail, 5 yrs, lOst .. (Cutts 3 Mr Redwood's Otto, 3 yr ß , Bst Mbs .. (Ellis) 2 Mr Morse's Revoke, 3 yrs, Bst 51 bs (Redwood) 1 Mr Godfrey's Cloe, 6 yrs. 9st 121bs .. ..4 Ifr Elliott's Brush, 3 yrs, 7st 12lbs .. ..5 This was a well contested race throughout, Bevote coming about a neck in advance.