SPORTING NOTES BY SCRUTINEER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1741, 21 July 1884, Page 2

SPORTING NOTES BY SCRUTINEER.

GRAND TRIENNIAL STEEPLECHASE, The two candidates for this great event—Cauliflora and Beetroot—came to the post, Cauliflora, who was trained by Star and riddpn by Lang, on being skipped looked very lusty, but on close inspection showed unmistakable signs of overmarking—eyes dull, anxious legs, puffy stomach, distended (suggestive of flatulency), and ; thick wind-rin fact the knowing ones who have watched him doing his work, swearie is a roarer and not reliable. Beetroot, who is one of those neat little ftntond-nomß-aeain sort, that is always good at the right end, looked the very pink of condition, and as fit as on artist could make him, was piloted by Payton. Samivel, the starter, had some trouble in getting them ofij Cauliflora being very fractious at the post, snorting and sweating tremendously, while the other took matters very quietly, They were at last despatched to'a very good start, Cauliflora going off with a tremendous rush, but on reaching the first .obstacle (land on deferred paymnts) was collared by Beetroot, both taking it together, and running neck and neck along the Gounty Council System Ihey neared the water jump, a very wide gap partly filled with land and property tax, unearned increment military' settlers and ex-constabulary men, with a million loan on the takeoff side. Cauliflora (like Balaam's ass) was heard to mutter" Jehosophat," I'll getsmothered in this here, Beetroot, who was full of running, led calmly up to the difficulty, clearing it beautifully in his stride, Lang, nothing daunted at Cauliflora's inutteririgs, rammed him at it, but to no purpose, he had evidently shot his only bolt, and floundering helplessly in the difficulty had to be dragged out, thoroughly done up, Meanwhile Beetroot had got over all the obstacles in grand style, going three times round without making a mistake, cantering in an easy winner amid the prolonged cheers of the people. La,ng (who got well chaffed about his riding) says that if there had been a toll-gate to get over he would .have been all right, Geordie, who was standing at the big jump, was very wrath, and swore he would never provide oats to bring out such cattle again,' remarking that these hairylegged una have no grit in 'em. They sometimes perform fairly well at'up country meetings, but they are not class enough for the company. they, meet in a stake like this.