SPORTING ITEMS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9521, 14 September 1896, Page 2

SPORTING ITEMS.

■"• Weekly Press and Referee." Last week we presented to our reader., •under tho heading " Trainers' Lots/ lists of horses in training at some of the chief racing centres in New Zealand. These will be added to until a most formidable array is shown. It would be an extremely long one indeed were returns available from all quarters. However, indications are so good as to warrant the conclusion that the racing campaign of 1896-7 will be a most entertaining one, quite as productive of good sport as the most successful of its predecessors have been. Indeed, since the number of fixtures throughout the colony will again be limited, so as to keep within the four walls of the mandate lcid down by Parliament in. the session of 1894-5, viz., that race meetings shall not exceed two-thirds of the number held within the season of 1892-3, the probabilities arc that we shall find the average of the fields swelled to greater dimensions, and fewer meetings, providing better sport, ensuring larger attendances, and generally tending in the direction of all-round improvement.

Racing has indeed made gigantic strides in New Zealand, and is being carried on on a basis of a sound character. Most of the racing clubs are now in a good position financially, and as the sport is to be confined within reasonable and judicious limits, and meetings are not to be allowed to become of too frequent occurrence, we look forward with increased confidence to the future ef the minor as well as the leading racing institutions of the colony. We anticipate that such of them as have been hampered by having to pay heavy interest on money borrowed for the purchase of racecourses or the completion of racecourse improvements, and at the same time by having to contend against the difficulties which result from a multiplicity of race-meetings, will have a better time in store. The outlook is indeed bright. Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Canterbury, and Otago are racing districts, each coverine; a large area, and they appear to be remarkably well found in blood stock for racing purposes. The doings of the workers at the respective training quarters at Ellerslie, Hastings, Riccarton, and the Forbury are* now being watched with increasing interest as the time draws nearer and nearer for the. spring meetings. Great interest is taken .in the three-year-olds that will either be seen out for the first time or, having run previously will show whether they have improved or gone back upon their- early exhibitions of form. The progress being made amongst the New Zealand Cup candidates, young and old, is perhaps, of the greatest interest to the greatest number of racegoers, but what is being accomplished by aspirants for the Hawke's Bay Guineas, C.J.C. Welcome Stakes, Derby, Oaks and Canterbury Cup, and other classic events, which do not occasion ante-post betting, is of moment to many, chiefly to those owners in different parts, who are just now looking hopefully ahead, and counting upon seeing their colours unfurled in some of the good stakes on the calendar.

While we are yet hardly done discussing the Grand National Meeting, which belongs te winter fixtures, genial spring is upon us, and already nature seems to be smiling on all sides. The pleasant budding time appears to have been walled off from winter by the mild deluge of which evidence is still to be Been. And whereas, as remarked, we are still lingering over incidents at the big winter reunion, the Spring , Meetings are claiming attention, for the Marton gathering; where the season is inaugurated in the North, is now on, and the South J__tifli__j_ Mooting with *w_ich *■«» -curtain is rung up i n the South takes place next wepik —.«. •*■—.,,_. —« -" —iv-mug* th* Otago Hunt Club's Meeting which overlaps into:spring. It is perfectly correct to say then that there is no cessation of racing dnring the year in New Zealand; votaries of lhe feurf though they have a comparatively slack time of it for some three months in the twelve have their favourite pastime ta participate in or engage their attention the whole year round. The colonies are different in this respect to the Old Country where there is a well marked close season, during which even but very few meetings under National rules eventuate. Whether it is a good or bad thing to hare continuity in racing we are not prepared to say; but whereas we, a few years- back, declaimed against the excessive number of gatherings that were taking place —-and we were studying the best interests ofythe turf in so doing—the curb has now been put on, and the current season is not likely to be overtaxed in that respect.

The Palmerston (South) Racing Club has •—fawn up a programme with stakes £165.

Last year £427 was spent in course improvements by the Greymouth Jockey Club.

The Australasian condemns the action of the V.R.C in granting a license to C. Moore.

it is understood that the Ashburton Racing Chib will again hold its Summer Meeting on January 2nd, the day following the Tinwald gathering.

Cameron, the New Zealander who rode Larrikin te victory in the Caulfield National, get badly shaken by a fall at Sandown on August 25th.

The reason Wallace was not entered for the weight-for-age races at the A. J.C. Spring Meeting-was that at nomination time he was slightly lame.

Mr C. CPCennor has been asked and has consented to act as starter at the North Otajro Jockey Club's Spring Meeting extending over two days.

The stakes for the Taranaki Jockey Club's Autumn Meeting will be £1190, an increase ef £40 over the amount distributed at las__eason _ meeting.

The Gore Club has £50 owing it for nominations and acceptances, and it has been res-tved that no horse that had not paid the fees/should be allowed to start.

Nine hundred pounds in stakes will be (riven by the Greymouth Jockey Club for tkeir New Year Meeting.

Aapenleaf, the Australian-bred daughter •oi Larpent and Aspen, twice winner of the Newmarket Handicap, is now the dam of a filly to the Nordenfeldt sire Stepniak.

.Five own brothers took part in the jump, ing races in Adelaide on August 22nd. Wirrawa, Cataract, N-lpa, Gaillardia, and Snowdrift are all by Stilton from Alice.

The stakes for the Westland Racing Club's Midsummer Meeting will amount to £360. The dates have been now so arranged as not to clash with other West Coast fixtures.

The total of twenty-four nominations fov the Pakuranga Hunt Club, to be decided at Ellerslie, as against twelve last year, shows that hunting interests are prospering up Auckland-way.

At the annual meeting ef the Greymouth Jockey Club the following were appointed the committee for the year -.—Messrs Gieseking, Petrie, Walton, McKay, Yarrall, Hannan, McCarthy, Fricker, Nancarrow, Sheedy, Claughesey, Blair, Hungerford.

It appears that when Donald McKinnon fell at Randwick Redmond, his rider, had an arm broken. The fearless Hawke's Bay horseman has had a singular immunity from serious accident, and the news that he will be incapacitated iroxn following his profession is to be regretted.

There will be racing on eaoh day of the

week commencing November 9th, about | Christchurch. The C.J.C. Metropolitan ! gathering starts on the date mentioned, and on the alternate daj's not occupied at Riccarton there will be trotting at Lancaster -Park (two days) and Plumptoi: {one day). It was the intention of the Middlelon trainer, H. Lunn, to stand Clannmald again this season, but receiving an offer from Sir George Clifford for the son of St. Leger, he took a few days to think over the matter, and finally decided to sell. The price was 400gs. The Lower Valley Jockey Club are carrying out improvement, on their course by the erection of a weighing-room and by enlarging the jockey's room. A tree-planting bee was held lately at which a goodly number of members rolled up. Mr Henry has been appointed permanent handicapper to the club.. ! " Martindale " of the Sydney News says :— The information received from New Zealand that Mr W. R. Wilson had bought a two- | year-old by Quilt— Nymph, which was expected to arrive at St. Albans from that colony shortly, is contradicted by Mr Wilson, who says no such purchase has been made. In his notes on the last race meeting held there, an English writer says :—Thus, so long as fashion worships A3cot, so long will great racing prevail there, as it long has done in royal splendour. Not a mile away, on the right front of the stand, lies hidden in tho forest, the real cradle of the English racecourse. Yes ; there lies what was the Royal Cranbourne 'Chase, where dwelt the famous Marske, and thero were bred both Eclipse and Herod. At a meeting of the committee of the Westland Racing Ciub held on August 31st, a letter was read from Moran, the jockey concerned in the Poinsettia case, asking for removal of disqualification, as he was the only support of his mother and unable to earn a livelihood by hard labour. It was reßolved that the letter be referred to the C.J.C. It was decided that the Midsummer Meeting-be held on January 4th and sth, and the Autumn Meeting on Easter Monday and the day following. Messrs Benning, Thompson, and F. McGregor were appointed handicapper..

The annual meeting of the Gore R.C. was held on September Ist. The balance sheet showed the receipts for the year to have been £1004 18s, and the expenditure £1003 19s. A profit of £40 had been made over each of the gatherings, and during the year £50 had been spent on course improvements. The assets of the club were set down at £936. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows :—President, Mr G. M. Bell; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Green and A. J. Gibbs ; treasurer, Mr John Latham ; secretary, Mr R. Dewar; auditor, Mr G. Brett; committee, Messrs S. G. Inder, W. Martin, T. H. Biwer, F. Wallis, P. Souness, James McEwan, D. L. Poppelwell, J. H. Dolamore, J. S. Neave and Latham.

At a meeting of the committee held afterwards the following officers were elected — Judge, Mr T. Green ; starter, Mr W. Martin ; totalisator clerks, Messrs Poppelwell and J. Latham; handicapper, Mr Gibbs ; clerk of scales, Mr T. Grieve; clerk of course, Mr J. McEwan ; timekeeper, Mr Gibbs; hon. surgeons, Drs Donaldson and G. Copland ; stewards, Messrs Inder, Brewer, Wallis, Neave, and Latham. The programme committee were empowered to draw up alternative programmes for a one day's Spring Meeting and a two days' Summer Meeting, and a two days' Spring and two days' Summer Meeting.

At the* annual meeting of the Thames Jockey Club, the report congratulated members on the fact that the year had been the most successful in the history of the institution. ..-■■•^ u __»Xrs_ _**_■ „ amnnntpd <*/*» -EV435. xhe sum ot £275 had been placed on fixed deposit at the bank. The report and balance-sheet having been adopted, the following office bearers were elected for the ensuing year :—President, Mr James McGowan, M.H.R. ; vice-president, Mr Alfred Smith; chairman of committee, Mr E. McDonnell; stewards, Messrs McDonnell, Winder, Burch, Stewart, and Scott; judge, Mr J. Wilson ; starter, Mr Charles Short; clerk of scales, Mr Wm. Burton; clerk of course, Mr J. Teddy; secretary, Mr Wm. H. Potts ; treasurer, Mr C. J. Winder; auditor, Mr Arthur Russell; programme committee, the stewards; course committee, Messrs Winder and Potts; handicapper, Mr Knight. A limit to the stakes to be offered at the Summer Meeting was fixed at £750.

Atameeting of the committee of the Tinwald Racing Club held on September Ist, it was decided to add £5 to the New Year's Gift, £5 to the Trot, £5 to the Welter, and £10 to the Flying Handicap. The restriction in the Cup, "Open to horses that have never won an advertised race of £150," was struck out. Mr H. Piper was elected starter, Mr J. Heseltine clerk of the course, and Mr Cresswell handicapper. It was decided to carry out some improvements to the course. At the annual meeting of members which took place in June, office-bearers were elected as follows :—President, Mr G. A. M. Buckley ; vice-presidents—Messrs E. Gates, D. McLean, and Todhunter; judge, Mr E. G. Crisp; treasurer, Mr T. Stone ; stewards, Messrs J. Clark, J. Hampton, J. Redmayne, J. Stephens, Dr. Leahy, R. M. Cuthbertson, C. Doherty, and G. James; clerk of scales, Mr R. Friedlander. The old committee were re-elected, with the addition of Mr C. Wynn-WiUiams, Mr Gates being appointed chairman.