SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 6692, 28 September 1882, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

(From the Nffyr Zealand 2fait.)

I have before me the full programme for the Wellington Racing Club Spring Meeting, and must at once give the Committee credit for having made a very judicious arrangement for a day’s sport.. The handicap events include the Railway Stakes of 50 sovs, miles ; Hurdle Handicap, 50sovs, 2J miles ; Hutt Park Spring Handicap, 125 sovs. If miles ; and a Trotting Race, of 20 sovs, over a course of 2Jmiles. If I entertain any doubt with regard to any of these events it is in connection with the latter, for I do not think that the merits of the local horses are sufficiently known to enable anyone to say what one should concede to another. On the other hand, however, it must be borne in mind that if the owner of one of the Wanganui cracks were to come down he would stand an excellent chance for a walk over. A Selling Race of 15 sovs has been added, with a minimum weight of Bst, the winner to be sold for £2O. Ido not think that this will draw much except hacks. With a three days* meeting at Dunedin about the same time, we must not expect to see a gathering of the best blood ; yet I think there will be visitors from more than one of the neighboring districts. It must not be forgotten that nominations close on Monday, October 23rd. I must congratulate the Dunedin Jookey Club on the long list of nominations received for the Dunedin Cup. Last year there were only 38, showing a falling off from the previous year; now, however, we have a jump ahead of 20, or a third more. I have received a copy of a circular from Mr Stead, informing me that he has disposed of his 20 brood mares, described in a catalogue previously to hand, to the Auckland Stud Company. I have no objection to publishing the fact—indeed, it is a very interesting item of sporting news ; but I am asked to publish reasons for the withdrawal of these animals from sale by auction. I must decline. The sporting columns of the colonial Press already bristle with cheap advertisements, and I for one certainly do not feel inclined to insert what is nothing more nor less than an apology to the public as an ordinary item of news.

By the transaction just alluded to the Auckland Stud Company has acquired one of the finest lots of brood mares that could be obtained in the colony, and many a Southern breeder will regret that he did not get a chance to bid for soma of them. The price paid has not as yet transpired, but such a lot of high-class blood stock would certainly never go for a small sum. So far Navigator has undoubtedly proved himself the horse of the season in Australia,

for he has won all that he has been sent for in the very hottest company. The opinion prevailed that had Hecla been sent for the A. J.C. Derby, she would have stood an excellent chance of winning, as she carried off the Spring Maiden Stakes over the same distance in four seconds less. But what about the difference of 91b in the weights ?

Phieton understands that Moonstone will shortly go into Jack Laiiig’s stables to be trained for the forthcoming season, also, that Mr S. Morrin’s filly by Musket out of Brown Bess has gone into Tommy Clarke’s hands to receive her education. From the same authority, I further learn that a commission is out to purchase Hippodamia for £3OO.

The Thames Jockey Club offers £490 in stakes at its Summer Meeting, to be held on the 2Cth and 27th December. It is mentioned as a curious fact that not one of the first five horses in the Sydney Metropolitan, is engaged in the Melbourne Cup. Le Loup, says “ Mazeppa,” has been sold to Mr Taggart for£soo, and will in future do stud duty. I certainly think he was purchased “ dirt cheap.” The Committee of the Auckland Racing Club, says “ Phieton,” have decided on the improvements to be effected at Ellerslie. These include the erection of a new grandstand, 100 feet long. Underneath this structure there will be four circular _ bars, of 23 feet each, and at the rear a dining-room, 80 feet long. It has also been decided to remove the saddling paddock to where the lawn is now, and greatly enlarge it. The old grand-stand will, I understand, be pulled down next year, and rebuilt further back. The o’Connor-Burkcase,of which we have heard a good deal from Dunedin, affords ample food for reflection. If we are to believe the telegrams from Dunedin, there is a section of “sporting men” in that city who are terribly indignant, because, forsooth, O’Connor, according to their own versions, promised to lose, and then won. If O’Connor had carried out the swindle, not a word would have been said about it. I can only say that those who are now attempting to throw discredit on men who ran on their merits are an absolute disgrace to sport of any description, and those who back them up in the Press are no better. Supposing O'Connor had promised to lose a second time, would it have been more to his credit to have lost than to have won ? No doubt such a proceeding would have hit the blacklegs very hard, but would O’Connor be to blame for changing his mind and running squarely ? Of course, a good deal of money can be made by doubling of this description, but it is only the blackleg fraternity—which, I am sorry to see, has found a mouth-piece at Dunedin—which would lose. I must, however, say this :—I have known O’Connor for some time, and I have always known him to try and come in first. As Burk has a similar reputation, was it worth while for a set of men to wash so much dirty linen before the public of the colony ! Any man possessed of regard for decency would have been glad to have no noise made about the affair, whatever might have been bis losses. Spur.