SPORTING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 572, 19 February 1891, Page 2

SPORTING.

ANNUAL MEETING AT TOLOGA. The Tologa Jockey . Club hold their annual race meeting on St. Patrick’s Day. This meeting always attracts a largo number of visitors from tho town, and also from higher up the Coast. The handicapping is entrusted to tho able hands of Mr Bennett. The Uawa Stakes, of <£3o, is a plum worthy of the little district, while the Hurdle Rice and Flying Stakes each figure at J>2o. There is big going for the money up Tologa way, everyone entering heartily into the sport. Mr George Kilburn is Secretary. TROTTING MATCH, An interesting trotting match has been arranged to come off on Monday week, from Read’s gate to the Masonic corner, between Mr J. Adeane’s well known trotting mare Maud S, and a hack owned by Mr James Stevenson. Mr Adeane will likely ride his own horse, and Mr J. Bremner will probably lake the mount on Mr Stevenson’s splemlid bit of horseflesh. Tho stakes arc £lO a side and a good deal of other money is likely to change hands over the match. ENGLISH OPINION ON MELBOURNE CUP. The Sporting Times (London) says : —lt is humiliating to think that horse loving and wealthy England is not only being distanced, but hopeles .iy distanced by one of her colonics in the sport which it was supposed she was at the head, and without a rival. Some time ' ago we suggested that at Ascot, where there is plenty of money, instead of £1 090 being wasted on the Alexandra Plate, and similar sums on other fai'ures, the whole should be given to a handicap of two miles, or two miles and a ha f, which should be made the richest race of its class in the country. Even in our imagination we never soared so high as to contemplate a race such as that which is advertised in the current number of the Racing Calendar. Unfortunately this advertisement relates to a race in Australia. It is the Melbourne Cup, with £lO,OOO clear money added, aud a trophy value £l5O. In addition there is a sweepstakes of 50 sovs. each, 10 ft. and 5 only if declared, all of which is to go with the stakes. What a contrast this presents to our £lO,OOO races ro which, in some cases, not one farthing comes from the fund. Great aa are the resources of Ascot, the meeting with its royal patronage, must hide its diminished head before that held under the auspices of the Victoria Racing C'ub at Flemington.

Tom Porter, a halfcasto who is credited with being very smart with the gloves, issues a challenge to a Hauraki man for a match to a finish, to come off on Saturday week. The pair have previously met, and the challenger is desirous of another match. At the Geelong races on January 30tb, two New Zealand horsc-s distinguished themselves. The hurdle race of 100 sovs., was won by Mr Wallace’s Kneecap by Cap-a-pie, 10 2, who started at odds of 5 to 1 against. The Trial Stakes of 100 sovs. fell to Mr Wilson’s Cooya by Nordenfeldt— Radiance, 2 years, 6.5, who started at 3 to 1 against, and won easily. When the Maori King Tawhiao, made his first trip to Auckland he was taken to Sylvia Park as one of tho sights, and here he met Musket, aud had his great racing qualities explained to him. Af:er a few moment’s reflection, Tawhiao, turning to Major Walmsley, said, “I’ll buy your horse ;name your price.” The major jokingly asked if he would give £lOO for him. “Oh ! no,” said Tawhiao, surprised at the largeness of the figure. “ I could buy two English wives for that.” The major asked if £59 was within the limit of the royal treasury, but the keeper of the exchequer said that he could only muster £26. The King for a while was perplexed. At last, turning to the major, he said, “ Friend, do you like my wife there (pointing to Pohaere, who was of the company) ? Hare are £2O ; take Pohaere, and give me your horse.” Bat the queen declined to be bartered away, and so the bargain was never dosed.—Sporting Standard.