Sporting Notes

.- ♦ The owner of the winner of this year's j Molbourne Cup had to pay about £130 income tux on the stuke.' Flagship, who won ilic V.lt.C. Iluudicap at the Cup meeting, has been tho possessor of v " leg " for some t me, but pulled up sound after the race. Tugelu who was so successful at tho recent Winton meeting perforated consistently last yeur, placing fifteen wins oul <>f 'thirty-two starts to her owner's credit. A local school teacher is reported to, have won £100 over Cunteen'n unory in the N./. Cup. A local carter nlao \v(in a like amount over the double— Canteen and Machine Gun. .Sceptic stnrted at 18 to 8 on—favourite—in a field of, IS u\ the Duke of York .stakes*, and only won it by a Lend i>h<' ran n tho name of Mr W. IVjss.. W. H. McKay, who was hurt- while rilling Hnwroore at Winton, was not so badly hurt us was onco feared, and is making a good, recovery. Novicij. whu won a trot at Gore on the first day, and ran second on the Tuesday, won a handicap at Addington on the last day of the big meeting there — the Saturday in the samp week. Sceptre added another victory to her already long scoro by cantering in in thoi Champion Stakes, for which sh» started at the ridiculous odds of 100 to 3 on. St, Amant by >St. Fiusquin — Lady Loirrule, who won the Ilous Memorial Staves of £700 at recent Newmarket meeting is greatly fancied for tho next Knglisf Derby. Tho last Melbourne Cup has been christened by the Australasian as " Tho l.'rippk/s Cup." Even Wakeful, who was conceding Lord Cardigan 4.Slt> comes under this heading, for toe " Httl« wonder " had a suspicious knee. liy winning \ho Duke of York's. Stakes of Loon oi'V.s. lust month, Sceptre. estab» lished a record by carrying 9.4 to victory. The highest previous weight carried by a winner was 8.0 hy Mouut I'rospec t . The Duke of Westminster, who Is visit,int! Soulh Africa, took with him from Home three racehorses, viz, Fledermaus, a three-year-old half brotner to Flying Vox, CJrey Mullet, v, two year old gold intr. and Forbidden Fruit, a two-year-old Persimmon gelding. A I a sale of racehorses on the Tuesday following tho Melbourne Cup week, Abundance was among the unsqld lots— 650 guineas being the best offer, whilo the reserve was 17f.0 guineas. 450 guineas was the top prieo paid by an Indian sportsman for Bruntwood by Grufton. The present owners of I>un.das are reported to, have paid £60 for the old Ron of Parkin Warbeek 11, and judging by the appearance of his leg on the second day of tho Wiuton meeting were lueVy to get a win out of him. The net values of some of the rapes decided at Melbourne at the last meeting were : — , ! Melbourne Cup (Ist) £4835 : (2nd), £1000, and rtrd) «500, Victoria Defty £992 ; . Melbourne Stakes £518 : Maribyrr.ong PJato £1010 ; Carnival Handicap £520 ; Cup Steeplechase £349. Tho total uiuount of tho stakes paid in connection with the meeting wna £18,54?*, and the biggest cheque £4094 to Mr J. Ma) o. Both in the- old country, Australia and this colony tho present racing season has been remarkable in the fact that it has brought out in their fullest splendour three remarkable mares, viz.. Sceptre, Wakeful and Cruciform. What a gate, a match over a inlie and a half at w.f.a, weights, theso three craoka would di'aw ? V. The following are the drawers of tho' placed horses in Tattersalls four sweeyg on the last Molbourne Cup : — No.' 1 at lOs. .1. McAlister, W.A., £12.000; 3nd, K. IJ. Ramsay. N.S.W., £4000; 3rd. V. Coivoran, N.S.W., £2000. No. 2 at sb, Ist, Mrs M. Curtois,- V.. £0000; 2nd, .), Uennett. N.S.W., £2000; 3rd A. Hunt. V., £1000. No. 8 at ss. Ist, B llradv. Q.. JCfIOOO : 2nd. P. McGuir*. N:S W., £2000 ; 3rd, J. Welham, N.S.W., £1000. No. 4 at ss\ Ist, Mrs It. Dinkley. N.S.W.. £6000 ; 2nd, K. Mason, N.S.W.. £2000 ; Brd. L. Hye, N.S.W,, £1000. AH four consultations were fully subscribed, and : the amounts stutcd above are net. Tho Australasian commenting on Sweet Nell s fall «n the 0. B. Fisher Flate on the last day of tho meeting says :— ".Lewis led Sweet Nell back in a few minutes. The jockey was not hurt, but Mr Wood who examined Sweet Nell informed Scotio that he was afraid her neck was injured. Lewis was riding in poor form at this meeting, and as far as could be seen, he hud no one but him.sHf to blame for Sweet Nell's fall, tie laid the blamo on Harden (on Postillion), but got no sympathy from the stewards. The Otautau Hack Club's proerainano for Hoxmg Day will also be found in ' another column. This club always presents an attractive bill of fare for the holiday, and this year's programme is no exception to the rule. The steeplechase as usual is the unost valuable prize, and as tlie country i B natural, will likely attract the usual big entry. F.ntrtes close on 15th December ami weights are due on the 21st. The Wyndham Club's programme for then- annual llxturo is advertised In another column, *showing stakes to be piv en awny to tho total of £2i20. Tho meeting is couiincd to one day thi« year, and as Now Year's Day has no other attractions of a similar kind the day's racing should attract a good attrodano*.

A mistake has been made to drafting the conditions of tha District Bacfc race hi making professional riders- carry a 7tt> penalty.. Rule 157 a passed by the last Racing Conference prohibits gentlemen riders from receiving any concession from professionals, and the Club will have to amend this mistake. Nominations close on 10th Decembtf, ana weights arc due a week later.