SPORTING.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 964, 10 August 1903, Page 3

SPORTING.

GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE

WON BY MY MISTAKE.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrighi Received 5.25 p.m., Aug. 9. Caulfield, Aug. 8. Grand National Steeplechase. My Mistake J Loch Fad < Plunger 3

WQN IN A CANTER.

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright Received 9.45 p.m., Aug. 9. Melbourne, Aug. 9. There wae splendid weather for the Caulfield Winter Meeting. The following is the result of the principal ovent, tne Grand National Steeplechase :—My Mistake, Barbour, 1; Loch Fad, Rpgan, J, Plunger, Conolly. 3. Sovcnteon started. The betting was : 4 to 1 against Isis, 9 to 2 My Mistake, 6 to 1 Freedom, 8 to 1 Plunger. From tho start Freedom led, 'and passingfchostand was just in front o My Mistake, The position was maintained to tho turn, with Plunger and Loch Fad in close attendance. At this point My Mistake took up tho running, and never gave anything a chance, winning in a cantor by six lengths, there being the same distanco between second and third. The time was Bmin 7Jsec.

TROTTING MEETING,

(Per Press .Association.)

Christchurch, last night.

The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club’s meeting opened yesterday in splendid weather. The Governor and suite were present. The results were: — Maiden Handicap.- Wildborry 1, Glenroy 2, Miss Viking 3. Blaok Knight was scratched. Time 5.27, divs. £1 103 ftlJ d 10s. . ' t ' Lincoln Handicap.—Rawina 1, Velvet 2, Wildflower 8. Scratched : Pygmalion, Time 5.28, divs. £2 14s and £7 18s. Ladies’ Bracelet.—Alberta (coupled with Vesta) 1, Ben Hur 2, Miss Viking 3. Scratched : Reality, Thunderbolt, Mungo Park. Time 5.27, divs. £2 6s and £1 10a. , v , High Claßs Handicap.—Sir Hector 1, Verax 2, Black Child 3. All started. Won ■comfortably. Time, 4.63. Divs., £2 16s and £4 l2s. ' . August Handicap.—Pleetwood 1, retiwiti 2, Bushman 3. George was scratched. Time 5.2. Div £2 16s and £2 Ba. Advance Handicap. -Bill and Wildflower dead heat 1, Pygmalion 3. -Blacklock and Rowora were scratched, lime, 5.18. Divs” £8 10a and £8 14s. Electric Handicap. Auohmithy 1, Fleetwood 2, Sweet Marie 3. Scratched : George L, Brithooild, Bushman, Merry Bill. Kerry All was first past the post, but was disqualified for galloping. Time 2.82, divs. £8 6s and £6. Dash Handicap.—A.L.F. 1, Ve vet 2, ■Bessie B. 3. Scratched : Coral, Huo Morrimac. Time 2.27 2-5, divs. £1 8s and JEI 6s.

.GRAND, (NATIONAL MEETING

■The C.J.C. will inaugurate another Grand National Meeting at Riccarton on Tuesday/ (says Ph'acton in fthe Auckland Herald of Saturday last), and will - continue the same on the following Thursday and Saturday. The acceptances received for .the -leading events are in each instance satisfactory, and it would seem safe to offer the prediction that with anything like decent weather the gathering will prove as successful as any of its predecessors. The principal event of the opening tlay’s programme is the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, for-vjhich race', at the time of writing', a dozen horses remain in. Haydn’s burden of 12st 41b repre-Kcnts-an increase of 231 b on the impost which he carried to victory in last year’s race. The Nor’-wester gelding, can, however, 1/e voted a better horse this year than he was (fast, and even under his increased poundage I fancy that he will prove hardest to beat over the big fences next -Tuesday. Notwithstanding Awahuri’s wretched display at ElIcrslie last June, tlie big son. o£ Kaiwaka. has * a large number of admiters for the Canterbury race, hub his display over the big' fences at (Bllerslie was of so feeble a description that I cannot rid myself of a prejudice against him. The South Islander, Hurricane, should have a really good chance under lOst, for he has shown his ability to get over ■big fences, 'and is endowed with pace '.The‘record down against Hipstone* s name in cross-country work is not a very attractive one, for in two instances ho got stuck up early, and in his third essay he came to grief at the last hurdle. The Hipstone of, June last and the Hipstone of today are, however, there is some . reason to believe, two .very different animals. The half-brother to Explosion has been on the up-grade ■ever since he went into J. Rae s hands, and ,the fact of Ms having jumped the country at Riccarton successfully in hisschooling work causes his chances' to bear a hopeful aspect. In an attempt to 'anticipate the placing of the judge, I do not think that I can improve upon the following Haydn 1 - • r Hipstone... 2 TWOQ6y ; -one horses remain in the Grand "National Hir ir< l* oß > and tll at would seem to ensure one ov' the strongest fields that has . ever lined up iO a jumping race on the ojo ground. There will be another 1 opportunity of referring to the race, but I .will just say that lam prepared to still stick to my first fanoy—Battleaxe. n Early Bird’s ” selection for the Grand National Steeplechase is— Haydn ' ... 1 Straybird .... ... 2 Hipstone 3