NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 115, 23 May 1885, Page 4

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

N.KXT Monday will bo a busy day for turlitos throughout New Zealand, and so far as (tat racing is concerned, I ho curtain will then be rung down. Tho tliroo mo»t important gatherings arc thoso of tho Danfldin, Wauganui, and Takapuna lockoy Clubs, but thore is scarcely a province throughout both Islands that has not a race gathering of some kind. Of courso the fixture of most interest to local " sports " will bo that of the Takapuna Club, and if wo can judge by tho large number of acceptances and entries received for tho different events, it should be ono of the moet successful yet held on the suburban course. Tho following are the names of those engaged in tho principal races: —

Hukdles.—NlKgor, lOst 121b: Seagull, 9st 101b; New Year, !>3t 71b : Shotover. 9st 71b; Alfred. !fet; Tim. 9st; Pipi. !>st; Hello. 9st. Uiutitoav HANDICAP,—KowI, Sat 121b; Mystory. Bst SU>; Nigccr. Sst 41b; Buzsurd. Sat; Kalo, 7st, 121b ; Victory, 7st 121b ; Hevonifo, "st (jib; Sir Bevidore, "st 21b; Pipi, list 12lb ; Vortex, fist 101b ; Nannie, Bst 7lb ; Barb, Gst; Baraey, Gst; Cinderella, sst 121b ; Cust-ashore, ost 71b.

Stebi'LKCiusk. — New Year. I2at; 'Whalebone, Ust 21b; Quilp. lOst 71b: Julia Ann, 10<t; Shotover, 9st 101b ; Tim, 9.it 71b; Seagull, 9at 71b; Plni, flat 71b ; Lily Lanqtry. Oil 71b. Winter Oats Handicap.—Rewi, Bst Bib; Ka'.o. Sat; NixKor, Sat; Victory, 7at l'.'lb; Mystery, "at 101b; Buzzard, 7st 41b; Pipi, G3t 121b; Vortex, 6-rt 71b; Little Dainty, B-itllb; Nannie, fi.t llo; Cinderella, Gst; Castashore. Cut; A.8., Cat.

The first race is to start at twelve o'clock sharp, and as tho Ferry Company will despatch steamers at short intervals, theio should bo no ovorcrowding. For the Wanganui Steeplechase, which is tho big event of the bill of faro, the following lot have paid up:—

St. lb. St. lb. Macaroni.. .. 12 3 Tho Druiil ..10 ti Director .. .. 13 8 Caoutchouc .10 5 New Year.. ..HO Glencoe .. .. 10 0 Hilly-go-by-em .. 10 10 Diomcdes .. 10 0 Totara .. .. 10 8 Awaroa .. ..10 1 l'athlinder .. 10 G Speculation .. 10 0 My fancy for this event is Director, and should he have the support of his party, he must tako a lot of beating, despite his impost. Among the light division, Totara stands out as a good thing, for last season it will bo remembered he ran a great horse in tho event, and Clarence only succeeded in defeating him by half-a-length. The Druid also ia entitled to a deal of respect, and ho should be among the loading division when tho final question is being fought out. At the Ngaruawahia Meeting, the names of thoso engaged in tho leading events are as under : — RIRTIIDAY HANDICAP. Bt. lb. at. lb. JJrossmaker .. S " Alnhn .. .. S 4 Orakaiv .. .. !) 0 Kahikatca ..SO Kenilworth .. Si) I'eiatu .. ..7 0 HANDICAP HURDLES. 3t. lb. St. lb. Kahikatea .. 11 7 Nancy .. .. 10 0 Orakau .. .. 11 7 Pciatn .. .. 10 0 Bob Sawyer ..11 2 Owing to various causes, the Grand National Meeting will not be decided till Wednesday, and it looks as it the gathering will be a poor one. The names of thoso engaged in the two leading events are as follows :— QRAND NATIOXAr. STKKI'LKCHASK. St. lb. St. lb. Kavcnswood .. 12 7 Linwood .. 11 I King Arthnr ..12 1 Moody .. ..110 Scrutineer .. .. 12 2 Berrington .. 10 11 HUHDLE RACE. St. lb. St. lb. Master Agnes ..12 7 Scrutineer .. 12 0 Kaveaswood .. 12 7 Secretary .. 10 0 Tho s.s. Tarawora, which sailed for Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, had on board the well-known 'chaser Sunray, Rosebud (the two-year-old daughter of Musket and Ro3arina), tho i'iscatorious—Yatterinayoarling colt, and Musket—Fanny Fisher yearling filly. Thore is a certain amount of mystery as to what is to ba done with two of the quartette, but Sunray is to bo used for hunting purposes by Mr John Bonnotfc (a brother of Mr Joseph Bennett, of this city), and tho Pi-catorious colt, I understand, has been leased by Mr F. Wentworth, and will be prepared by J. Mona ghan. I had a look over tho lot beforo they were put on board, and was greatly pleased with the yearling colt, but tho filly is a weedy-looking thing. Both have anumber of valuable engagements in Australia.

The Committee of the Auckland Racing Club came to a definite decision during the week with regard to the new grand etand which is to bo erected at Ellerslie. It has been decided to adopt the design of Mossrs Grainger and D'Ebro, but the plan is to bo altered and modified to suit requirements. With this end in view, Mr Graingor is to be brought over from Melbourno, and whon he has completed his work tenders will bo called for tho erection of tho structure.

Tho weights for tho Groat Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Raco may be expected to make their appearanco about tho middle of the forthcoming week. To us New Zealanders, it is a bit amusing to read the many little dovices that are being resortod to in Australia with Welcome Jack. Tho latest wo have to hand is that the crack was offered for sale by auction in Melbourne after the Adelaide Cup was decided, but he was passed in at a reserve of £1,500, the best bid being 1,350 euineas. I notice that just previous to the start for the race above mentioned, the son of Traducer was supported to win about £10,000 at 100's to 6 and 7, but notwithstanding this he fell back almost last when real racing commenced. All of the scribes in their comments on the racing state that Welcome Jack lacked the appearance of a horse that had been wound up for a Cup contest, and waa devoid of muscle. He was ridden by Ivimy. Tho well-known Canterbury sportsman, Mr H. P. Lance, has been on a visit to Auckland this week, and one day he inspected tho Ellerslie course and thoroughbred stock at Sylvia Park. We are informed by telegram that the Hon. W. Robinson (Mr Lance's partner) has secured twelve months' leave of absence from his Parliamentary duties, so that he will, no doubt, take his departure for the othor side at once. At the suggestion of Mr Percival, the Committee of the Auckland Racing Club at a meeting on Tuesday afternoon, decided to lessen the width of the water jump in front of the grand stand. There have been a number of complaints from horseowners with regard to the jump ever since it was made, and several of their number intended petitioning the Committee on the matter. The alteration will therefore be hailed with pleasure. ' From Napier comes news of the death of theaged gelding Heretaunga.who duringhis career has placed several races to his credit in the Hawke'a Bay district. The horeo had been turned out for a spell for some months past, and his owner Mr Mason, in riding vound his run several days back, found him hangin" in a wire fence dead. Heretaunga ■was one of Kakapo's progeny. The unbeaten colt Nowstead is favourite in Melbourne for tho V.X.C. Derby. Daring the S.A.J.C. Meeting he was supported to win the great threa-yoar-old ©vent at 6's to 1. Old Clarenco figures among those entered fo- the Grand National Steeplechase at the Sydney Turf Club Mooting on thoGth .rune, a Mr D. Fountain being his nominator. Although ho only had list 01b in tho •' big stick" race at the S.A.J.C. Meeting, he failed to start, but by the time tho V.R.C. cross-country fixture takesplaconext month, we may sco him at his best. The Victoria RacingClubhavoissuod their programme for next season, and a number of alterations have been made, tho most notable being the increase of the added money for the Perby of 1880 to 650sovs. The Melbourne Cup and Champion Stakes remain the same as last year,viz., l,ooosovs, and entries closo on tho Ist of June. Mr Penfold, the Secretary ot the Canterbury Jockey Club,is instructed to receive nominators up to 12 o'clock noon. At the Victoria Amateur Turf Club Meeting a few weeks back, it will be remembered a fiasco occurred in the Steeplechase similar to that which took place hore in January last. A dispute, of course, took place with regard to the wagers on the race, and on being put before the Committee of the "Victorian Club, that body decided that all bets, except those scratched |>y mutual consent, should stand,

The Hawke'a Bay Jockey Club have receivod tho splendid nomination of SI for their big Steeplechase next month, which is largoly in oxcoss of previous years. At the meeting of tho Committee of the Club last week, it was resolved that the old steeplechase course should be used for the ensuing season, and that tho water jump should be opposite the grand stand if possible Lord Wilton's timo for tho Adelaide Cup was faster than Malua made twelve months ago, but tho going was particularly heavy at Morphottville. Dnnalil Nicholson rode the son of Countryman, It is said Lord Wilton's owner was not a largo winner by tho horse's victory, but it suited the ring, a number of whom made books for him.

Mr O. O'Brien, tho well-known Christchurch sportsman, was a passenger to Sydnoy lasr. week. Ho intonds to spend sovoral weeks ou tho other sido of tho water, and intondH if possible to bring back a lirst-cliiss horsoman with him,

At » shlo of blood stock in Molbourno, I notice that Mr Montague Smith purchased tho crack steeplechaser Blackthorn for -HO guineas, but ho subsequently rosold him to Mr W. E. Power. Tho erstwhilo Now Zoaland luitito also had a four-year-old bay gelding by St. Albans out of v Castle Hill mare knocked down to him for 120 guineas, whilo at tho annual sale from tho lion. W. Pearson's Kilmany I'ark Stud, he secured a bay gelding called Recall, by Vagabond—Queen of Trumps, for 70 guineas. Moore, the rider of Conjecture in tho Adelaide Cup, was reported by the starter for disobodience at tho post, and subsequently recoived a sentonce of three months' suspension from riding, tho most offectivo reprimand it was possiblo for tho stewards to administer. Conjecture started favourite for the race at 3 to 1, but she proved herself a thorough jade. \\ rites "Augur ": — " While Australians are congratulating themselves upon the possession of Musket's sons, Nordonfoldt and Matchlock, and flattering themsolvos that they havo in thesoor others tho winner of noxt year's V.R.C. Derby, thoy must not forget that there ia another New Zealandor or two engaged. Mr P. Butler has a colt by Cadogan, from Lurline's relative Waterwitch ; the Hon. W. Robinson has a colt by St. George, from Miss Flat (dam of Welcome Jack), and a filly by Cadogan, from Malice (sister to Lurlino); and Mr J Marshall Thunderbolt, acoltbyMuskot,fioinLockot. Thundorbolt possesses nn unboaton record, and ho is pronounced by good judges ono of tho best two-year-olds over socn in Now Zealand, as ho should bo by his breeding. His dam, Locket, was importod from England, and is by tho Stockwoll horse Thunderbolt, from Koopsako, by Daniel O'Rourko. This colt, with Turquoise and others of Mr Marshall's, was trained by J. Chaafo, who years ago was in the employ of Judge Cheeke. Ihopo to see Chaafo and Thunderbolt at Flemingtou before next November. Sir Thomas Elder's Juanna, Remus, and The Teacher were the only starters for the S. A. J. C. Sires' Produce Stakes, and they finished in the order written, One of the Melbourne papers, describing the race, says The Teacher was a bad third, which his rider apparently made no effort to improve. This is the colt that was so heavily backed for the Melbourne Derby and Cup some weeks ago. At tho sale of Mr Bryant's Cairn Curran stud held in Melbourne, the bidding was very languid. Bosworth, full brother to Richmond, Segenhoe, and Palmyra, was passed in at 1,000 guineas ; whilst Lothair, a full brother to Le Grand, was knocked down to Mr J. Cripps for SCO guineas. The majority of the brood mares- went choap, tho highest price obtained being for Star of Love, by Irish King—Ktoile dv Soir, who had a filly foal by Bosworth at her side. She was knocked down to Mr J, Wilaon for 230 guineas. Consignments of stock from the studs of Messrs John Whittingham, C. B. Fisher, W. Blacker, and W. Field were also disposed of, but poor prices were obtained. Aspen, the dual Newmarket Handicap winner, with colt foal it foot by Larpent, went to a Mr Elliott for 175 guineas.