SPORTING NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1560, 15 December 1883, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES.

(By Tipster).

Ik my last notes I mentioned that Mr Graco a colt Kohi had broken down. This was i mistake, the chesnut was only suffering from strangles at the time, and I think this correction is. necessary in iastiee to Mr Haywnrd, who has him in hand. In selecting my tips for tho various events at the late meeting, I did so on the assumption that they would all start and be raced out. As this was not the case in the Maiden Plate I was, of coarse, oat of it. Gabble was scratched and the three that went for it performed, to. all appearances, a deliberatepantomime—one that the stewards would have done well to have sifted before allowing them to race again at the meeting, It was evident to all that either Bamboo or Swordsman could have palled the rate off, and whyi

the riders held baok till it was aeon that Misa Dpnobury could not lose it, should have been explained straight away. It would at least have restored public confidence, which was considerably shaken over the event. The only things worth noticing in the Railway Plate are the bad start and the good riding of Gravestook, the Btart only gare two horseß a show in the viz,. Gabble and Glaiks, while Gravestook puiled it off on the post with The Consul, after waiting patiently on • his stable companion till B he was licked •by Glaiks, The Opaki Stakes was a great surprise, and oven after Mr Tanere'd had deolared with First Water the- chesnut filly did not command the publio support as did the others in tliisstaWe, The way. in which Administrator cut out the running with the Mountain Door, sticking like a leeoh to him, and .the game race that Ninette ran, watched like a cat watohiug a. mouse by Odd Triok) will long lie remembered, and when First Wator got the favor of the judge's oye publio estimation of Mr Tanored's stable went up considerably, as the cheers at the soales • testified.

The Hurdles Handicap doei not call for much comment, unless it is to the ehamolol way in which . Backet clapped the weight on Kohai, especiaHy as tho old horse did not seem in good trim, as he repeatedly struck the hurdles. No doubt a great temptation, but I could no reason why the animal should have been punished In that way, with a stone and half overweight when there were plenty of good horsemen present who oould ride the weight required, The Konini boilover in the Distriot Handicap was little eipeoted, and was .as great a surprise to those who edged off on the Southern Chief mare, as to those who. so liberally backed The Consul and Ninette, but to those who have wetched - the running of Konini for the past two years the result was not unexpected. The 1 way Bhe won the Distriot at Featheraton in 1881-2 and ran second to Oomus in the Settlers' Stakeß last New Year's dayon ut/ the same course, carrying Gibs ,oret-X weight, and then went out just after vso;. won the Consolation aro still fresh in thvT minds of lower Valley sportsmen, while the number of hack and other races, she has shone in tinoe place her among tlie front rank of Wairarapa racers. Thero ii no doubt that the race would have ended differently had Fist Water made the running for The Consul instead of the colt going away and distressing himself, in the way he did j but as Kaiser was, ovidently powerlens to koep him baok and Konini carried them along at such a clinking paoe for the socond round, it was evident before the race was lliroo parts, over that Mr Tanored's horses wero out of it, and eren the game Ninette would be unable to overhaul her half-sister. Kakapo, as I expeeted, was not in it, condition for the company, although he tan the genuine horse he always was, . . The Consolation again proved that Treasurer once in tho lead is a demon to go and a terror to beat, and also proved l that Swordsman is not eaoh a slow goer as he was made to appear in the Maiden, and of which we shall ere long gat more conclusive proof. The meeting, as a whole, was fairly satisfactory, but very muoh more is required to ensuro its complete success. What these requirement) are I will ere 1 long endoavor to point out, trusting they, may assist, if oarrieil out, in raising the Masterton and Opaki'Jockey Club meetings to the position it ought to occupy, -