NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 18

NOTES BY BEACON.

A special meeting of tho Lake District Jockey Club was held at Quoenetown on the Ist inst., at which the Secretary reported that the old liability of £429 t» the contractors for the erection of the grand stard had been giadually reduced to £200, on which the Club had to pay interest at the rate of 10 per cent, per annum. A. good deal of discussion took place as to finding means for clearing off the debt, or at all events for reducing the rate of interest, and it was ultimately resolved that Mr Fiun, M.H.R. for the district, be communicated with re obtaiuing a Cown grant for the racecourse reserve. If this could be vested in the Club it was thought thab money could be borrowed on its security at a much smaller rate than it is now pajing. A subscription list was handed round in aid of the general funds of the Club, and (several sums, varying from three to seven guineas each, were guaranteed. The annual racas were fixed for January 2nd and 3rd, and committees were chosen to canvass the Arrow and Fraukton districts for contributions. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—: — President, Dr Douglas; treasurer, Mr L de Beer; secretary, MrjH Manders ; committee, Mebsrs k\ J Mulagbau, A Eichardfc, J Bodkin, C C Boyos, "W Warren, D P Cash, R Ross, F H Danial, J Edgar, L Hotop, H M Ad,iir, T G Botio, II Manders, G Atkins, E Monson, T Hicliß, J O'Kane, G H Donue, ' M Dwyer, J Brailon, A H Douglas, R M'Morran, H Arndfc, C Nelson, W Scoles, W Welsh, J Barlow, and J Colville.

The local papers state that a great deal of interest is being taken in. the Aloxandra spring races, which will be held on the 17th inst., and that the entries will be more than usually numerous. That meeting over, a move will be made to the Dunstan, whose races will be held on the 23rd inst. Following the latter oome«

Lake Wanaka's two days' sport, where something over £100 will be given in stakes. The prizes at this series of fixtures are not large, but an owner of two or three fair cut-and come horses often nets a handsome sum by attending them seriatim.

The Dunedin spring mooting is approaching, and it may be well to remind owners that on the 18th instant nominations close for the Sfc Andrew's Handicap of 100 soys, Spring Handicop of 40 soys, Trotting Handicap of 40 soys Hurdle Handicap of 50 soys, President's Handicap of 70 soys, and Grand Stand Handicap of 50 BOVB.

Amongst the numerous horaes which have recently taken leave of the turf, and are to be devoted to stud purposes in the southern districts, are Captain Douglas and Bothwell, who are advertised for sale as stallions ; and also the speedy but unfortunate Cloth of Gold, who will be located down Winton way. A full report of the Waitaki Jockey Club's races at Duntroon appears in this issue, and it will bo seen that Dunedin horses figured with some prominence thereat. Tho two principal races fell to Pinfire and Maritana respectively, but Stuart Waddell secured the 'County Plate of B0 soys with Rangatira, and tho Australian ran a good second in the J. C. Handicap. Mr Goodman ran second with York in the County Plate, and with Chancellor in the Cup and the Consolation Handicap, but he had a winning turn with the first-named in the Champagne Stakes of 50 soys. This last was a good performance for the son of Traducer and Moss Rose, for he defeated Pinfire and Libeller at welter weight for age. Mr Hill's evergreen Unknown created much enthusiasm amongst the local sportsmen by winning the Consolation Stakes, upsetting a great pot in the shifty Chancellor; but Blue Peter showed up very poorly.

Mr Oaborne's steeplechaser Black Prince, who beat the Australian Lone Hand in tho Geraldine Hurdle Race, hurt himself rather severely in the Maiden Plate at Duntroon by striking his leg, but it is believed that with care he will soon be all right again. I hear very good reports of Mr Chaafe's doings with Atlantic, Oberon, and the rest of Mr Kitching's horses ; but the first two are tho only ones that will visit Christohurch this spring, as no unnecessary risk will be run with tho valuable two-year-old colt by Traducer — Waimea. The two I have mentioned must have improved considerably on their early form, for they are in some quarters strongly fancied for their Canterbury engagements, and I am sure that no one will accuse either of having hitherto shown anything like Cup capabilities. The 24 acceptances out of 41 entries for the Canterbury J. C. Handicap is not a bad proportion when one considers how badly the weights were adjusted. Of the scratched horses Jangler has gone to stud dutiea, Foul Play was never a long distance horse, and York was crushed out of the race ; while Volunteer and other three-year-olds may have dropped out in consequence of their being engaged in the Derby, which is run immediately before the Handicap. _ Soukar (7st 21b) is an acceptor, his name having been omitted from the list of "contents " by error. I have endeavoured to get together a list of betting quotations on the Canterbury races, but there is literally nothing doing, and prioes are therefore merely nominal

For the C. J. C. Handicap " Hermit " fancies Fishhook, Natator, Maid of Honour, and Adamant. Concerning St. George, the brother to Chester, he says:— "He looks well and has evidently done plenty of work; but I would strongly advise my readers not to back him, at all events at present. He may be all their fancy paints him as a racehorse, but we have yet to see him perform, and baoking him merely because he is full brother to Chester is an infatuation I cannot understand. If he looks and goes well on the eventful day, it may be as well not to let him run unbacked, but I should say wait till his Dumber goes up before investing." Mr P. Butler has sold Fiction for 200 guineas, and I believe this young horae'a racing days are numbered.

A meeting of the Temuka Race Committee wa3 held on the 30th ult., when accounts were passed for payment and an honorarium was voted to the secretary (Mr Bolton) in reoognition of bis services. The meeting then adjourned till this evening, when a balance-sheet will be submitted.

A trottingmatch for £40 took place last week at Riccarton between Mr Kirkwood's Major and Mr Morlin's Victoria. The distance was two miles, and Major was ridden by his owner, while a Christchurch publican steered the mare. Major was kept in the rear for about a milo, when he went up, and passing his opponent, won with great ease, the mare breaking frequently. A return match is spoken of as likely to come off.

At the settling on Geraldine races Messrs Mason andVallanoe received £100 ; Mr R. Ray. £80; Mr S. Osborne, £70 j Mr Mundell, £30 j Mr W. Walters, £25 ; Mr Primmer and Mr Storey, £20 each; Mr J. Lunn, £12: and Mr Duncan, £4 10s— in all, £361 10s. "Sinbad" reports that Mr Lunn has disposed of Milo to a resident at Geraldine. Mr A. Barker's four-year-old Macilleathean, by English Tim Whiffler— Flying Scud, will be located at Ohapi this season.

Hammock has dropped a bay colt foal to Traducer. Gilda and Argentine will be sent to Leolinus this season.

Mr Ray has thrown Jangler out of work and sent him to travel the southern districts of Can terbury. This good horse has been as unfortunate as his old stable companion Trump Card, both breaking down irretrievably when in their prime, and thus losing all show of carrying out the promise of their early performances, The latest Christchurch training notes are " Hermit's," who in referring to lasb Wednes day's work, writes :— "Grand Duchess did some gentle work by herself, but this fine filly ia not yet forward enough to distinguish herßelf upon the racecourse. Billingsgate, who is a big, rather plain colt, was sent twice round with a hood on, and French has him in pretty good fettle at present. I fancy he must prove the sheetanchor of the Walters stable, judging from an inspection of the team (with tha exception of Libeller, away at Geraldine) afterwards in their boxes. The Parachute colt, who is a big little one with a good deal of power, had a big weight up, and was sent steady work with Luna to lead him. Tha latter mare has grown a good deal, but she did not go to please me, and in addition showed temper, succeeding in getting rid of her boy before the gallop. Ray's team were on the ground, and after cantering, the two veterans Templeton and Fishhook were sent twice round at a fair pace, some distance separating them. Each of them had a single rug on, and the difference of their styles of go. ing was as marked as ever. The Hook strode along crackiug his nostrils in his old fashion, and Tompleton followed him lazily. Both looked as well as it was possible for horses to look, and considering the work they have done, their legH are wonderfully clean, neither of them having a bandage on, Nunia acted up to hia character of a hard puller, as with a strong boy up he was pulling double all the way in some moderate work. Titania, who looked better than I expected, had a steady once round. Webb's lot moluded Daisy, Betrayer, Edward James, Catoh-me-not, Dundee, Adamant, the AlbanyAda colt, and a four-yenr-old fill; by Knotting!*

oat of Tantrums. Befrayer was stripped, and the two-year-old Ada colt, a very slippery gentleman to all appearance, started in hia company. The colt was pulled off after half a-milel and Dundee joined Mr Griffith's horse, who galloped well enough to please his friends, though I wish there was a little more of him. The Ada colfc Roes well, and so for the matter of that does his half-brother Adamant, who has grown into a. really nice horse, and is an improvement on Danebury. I was disappointed in not seeing the Anteros-Revoke colt, as I have heard great things of this youngster, though he may not be forward enough to take much part in the Welcome Stakes. Catch-me-not is a commoner, and the Tantrums filly will probably not figure at the November mooting, though I hear she has a fair turn of speed. Adamant, Edward James, and Daisy worked together. The filly is not a good goer, but gallops in a determined manner. Edward James is a good-looking colt, as heshould be, indeed, from his breeding Who fcher he is as good as he looks is another matter but I certainly was not much impressed with him on first seeiner him go. Adamant went very well, getting his hind legs well underneath him. To my fancy Maid of Honour is as nice a filly as I have seen for a long time. Having had a good deal of shipping lately, and having been thoroughly wound up at the back end of last season, she looked rather light. She is a trifle flat-sided, and has not the biggest bone in the world, but. she has a beautiful forehand and great hips, thighs, and quarters, and Bhe also looks sound!; still I fear that she will not be pink enough to have much show for the High Handicap. Mason gave CambaUo, Sinking Fund, lera, and Hilarious good work. I am told Tera can go fast, but shall probably see her before Jong. Mr Stead's team, under the care of D. Jonea, are doing their work on their owner's private course, so that I have not had an oppor tumty of seeing them go. The lot consist/ of Longlands, Naiad, Lure, and Zulu. From a hurried glimpse I had of them lately, I should fancy Lure was an improvement on Naiad if leg considerations do not stand in the way of her undergoing a preparation. Zulu takes more after his dam than his sire, and struck me aa a hßht-boned, leggy colt, who might go fast under a light weight, but whom Bst would effectually stop. In connection with the Wanganui spring meeting, it may be noted that nominations for the Wanganui Stakes Handicap of 100 soya and Hurdle Handicap of 50 soys close on the on th'mh ins" *" "^ be pabUahed

Nominations for the Waverle-Waitotara Handicap of 100 soys, Hurdle Handioap of 40 ym 5 ? andi ? a P of 30 soys, dose Novembe? 12th: Stant ' "^ tO appear on

The programme for the Wellington Club'a annual meeting has been issued, and on the two days the handsome sum of £1005 will be run :2 r ' jj I P nnci P al rrea °c is of course the Cup. the added money to which is 400 aova. Next m value comes the R C. Handicap of 200 soys, and there are also the Empire Plate (w.f a.) of 100 soys j Hurdle Races of 75 soys and 60 soy« respectively; Flying Handioap of 50 sovsj Maiden. Plate of 40 aovs ; Ladies' Puree of 30 soya j and minor events. Nominations for the Cup close on November 6th, and the weights will be issued on the 24th. ni I v C ? n w ( iv On i With T t^ c P r °i eote <l newßaoing Club at Wellington, I find by the Times that the movers m the matter, certain members of the old Jockey Club, have thought better of their intended secession from the present body and will start no rival institution. It is pointed out that the falling off in subscriptions and budport cannot be attributed to want of confidence' in the retiring stewards, who have worked well under no few difficulties and incurred peouniary liabilities in so doing. Sir Hercules Robinson toas accorded his patronage to the Club, and his Excellency's presence and influence will doubtless give an impetus to the somewha flagging teal of its members. Mr S. Horsfall, who recently took up quarters at Wanganui with King Quail, Ratcatcher, Kandwick, and two yearlings, has lost one of the last-named through strangles. This was a very promising yearling by Korari— Deception. At the annual meeting of tho Wairarapa Jockey Club on the 27th ult, tho balance-sheet showed the prevalence of a satisfactory state of the finances. It was, however, reported that the course was in a very bad state, the Tauherenikau River having out away about seven chains of the running ground. After the election, of office-bearers for the season the committee received instructions to examine the ground 1 and report as to the beat means of repairing it sufficieatly to allow racing on it this season, and also to recommend steps to secure it permanently from such dangers in the future. Another meeting will be held on the 25th inst , and if the report is then favourable the aunual races will be fixed for the week following the Wellington fixture. This course has been a source of great trouble and expense to the Club, largo sums of money having beeu spent in attempting to guard against the river's encroachments, and it is thought more than probable that an entirely new course will have to be found at a spot farther away from the river:

The Hawke'sßay Jockey Club and the Raoing Club at the same place are to continue separate bodies, the latter having decided that at present they do not consider it advisable to entertain the former's proposition to amalgamate. At a committee meeting of the Jockey Club it was resolved that all steps be taken, to prevent the Clubs^ from clashing, but a flat contradiction was given to a statement by a member of the Racing Club that the older body was insolvent. The J.C. Races were fixed for March 17th and 18th, and the good round sum of £750 will be given in added money. The principal stakes will be the Napier Handicap of 250 soys, Trades • men's^ Handicap of 125 soys, and Hurdle Handicap of 75 soys. A three-year-old race was also instituted, to be sailed the Hawke's Bay Guineas, to have 105 soys added money, and to be first run at the meeting in question. In Auckland Province there are plenty of horses in training, including a largo number engaged at the coming Pakuranga Huat Club Steeplechases, which are expected to bs the most successful held under the auspices of that body. One good performer of last season will, however be an absentee from the Auckland Club's summer meeting, Mr S. C. Oaulton haying on offer for sale as a stud horse Ghillie Callum, by that Australian oelebrity, The Barb, out of Robina. Yatapa is reported to be doinggoc d work. The following notes are by a correspondent of the Sydney Town and Country, who has recently been doing the northern part of New Zealand :— " I paid avisitto Mr John Leonard's property, where he keeps his thoroughbreds. Amongst the thoroughbreds I saw (of the late importations from Sydney) a chostuut colt by Kelpie, a brown colt by Maribyrnong, and a grey filly by M'aribyrnong (Messrs Morrin's). They are in good hands and look well. I am only surprised that such stock could be bought in. New South Wales for the money they realised there ; but they have yet to prove their real worth, and when that time comes I think they will not prove a bad bargain, if care is taken of them. Of the horsea bred by Mr> Leonard I noticed a chestnut colt by Paoino out of Minnie Athol, called Rifleman, just .rising < two years, which I really think will prow ft trump card ai » racehorse and ft iir«»"