NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6807, 8 December 1883, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOTES BY BEACON.

Arlee Ijo barrcstor'a, Aitee ! Viewjour labours and be vrlao ; Depend on me to point thy war; Aiise, be bf, make no delay. For nows tho day, a".d nows the hour To fjo and lake a harveit tour, And (setber h'ney liko tho bee, For insuring years wo cannot toe.

By winning the St. Andrew's and President's Handicaps at our Spring meeting Taiaroa baa incurred an 81b penalty for the Dunedin Cup, bringing his weight up to 7st 31b. The Poet has by winning the Wellington Spring Handicap incurred a penalty of 51b for our race, making his weight 7st lib. Mr G. Wallace'? trotter Shillelagh, who won the big trotting event at our meeting, was found dead in his stables at the Glen on Saturday afternoon. A postmortem revealed the fact that some diseas9 of the lunga was tho cause of this sudden death. Tho deceased just lived long enough to pull bis owner and backers through, but just a day too long for some people. The following are the nominations and weights for the Wfikouaiti handicaps ; — HURDLE RiCiS. •Mb Mr B Irwin's Tichtiorno, 5 yr« .. 10 7 Hr P Ku-Bell'B Fortinan, aged ..10 0 Hr B Bray's Maori Cirl, aiied ..90 Mr W Heckler's Flamingo, i yra ..90 WAIKOUAITI COUNTY CUP. »tlb Mr Bglnvin'o May Horn, aged ..90 Mr J KenyoVs Nsoora, Sys .. 8 0 lir P Bus-ell's ForwuaD, aged .. 7 7 Mr J Johnstone's Hiss Fits, aged ..67 Mr B Bray's Miss Morris, agal ..0 0 PUBLICANS' HANDICAP. ttlb Mr B Irwin's May Morn, ayed .• ..9 0 . Mr J Kenyon'B Hr corn, 3 yrs .. 8 7 Mr P Russell's Foreman, aged .. -8 0 Mr J Jchnstono'a Miss Fits, aged .. 010 Mr B Bray's Mida Hcmis, agoa ..07 ■A meeting of the stewards of the Waikouaiti Race Club was held on Wednesday evening, at which there were present—Messrs B. Bray, P. Duncan, H. Heckler, and others. Mr Bray occupied the chair. A letter was read from Mr J. Duncan; stating that he was unable to be present, and applying on behalf of Mr Kenyou to train his mare outside the boundaries of the Race Club. The requisite permission was granted. An offer from Messrs Roberta and Mason, Oaniaru, for tho sole right j of working the totalieator at the forthcoming races was declined in the meantime. The gross amount that passed through the three totalisator machines on the course during Friday and Saturday's racing was £8929. The machine outside the grand stand enclosure was worked by the proprietors, Messrs Mason and Roberts, of Oamarii, and' this alone put through the substantial sum of £3921. The commission of the Jockey Club during the two days amounted therefore, in all, to very nearly £900. In connection with the racing it may also be mentioned that the sum of £918s 9d was collected on the course for the Benevolent Institute, and the surplus of the selling price of the winner of the Scurry brought £16 18s 9d in addition to the fund. The mashine worked by Messrs Mason and' Roberts gave very great satisfaction to investors in it, there not being the slightest hitch throughout the two days. I was glad to see that these gentlemen adopted a suggestion which I recently threw out, that Backers of scratched horses should have the right to exchange their tickets for other horses in the same race. This plan worked admirably, and the public were loud in their praises of the innovation, as by it the | rush and pressure during the last few minutes were greatly lessened. I think the Dunedin Jockey Club should take up the idea now that it has been proved so great a success. Mr T. Pollock has bought tho hurdle-racer Melbourne from Mr H. Smith for 55 guineas.

I do not know that our Spring meeting requires a great deal of comment, a full report of it appearing in this issue. Messrs Stephen^ son and Hazlett's star was quite in the ascendant, Taiaroa, Captain Webster, and Don Jose pulling them through with flying colours. Taiaroa was certainly quite a different horse to what he was at Oamaru and Chriatchureb, and he must have come on amazingly during the last three weeks; while Captain Webster is, &s I suspected, a batter colt than our handicappera fancied. Ho may not be good enough to win the Dunedin Oup, but he would undoubtedly not have been badly used with 71b more on his back than he is treated to in that race. Lady Emma is not yet at her best, though she ran a good second and ono Drat. Emir Bey, Hippodamiii, and Epicure ran disappointingly, though the first-named certainly won his race' on the second day like a racehorse. In the jmnping races Jimmy Cotton made a bold attempt to secure the double with Karearea and Wildboy, and probably only lost the latter of the two events by Wildboy's singular mishap. The trotting racea caused much excitement, the fine struggle on the second day especially pleasing those who delight in that branch of sport. A Committee meeting of the Lake County Jockey Club was held (says the local Mail) last week for the purpose of drawing up a programme, &c. for the forthcoming annual raceß. Present: Dr Douglas (president), Messrs K. Bourchier, L. De Beer, A. 11. Douglas, T. Gilmour, J. T. M. Hornsby, J. L. Jopp, M. J. Malaghan, J. O'Kane, E. Monson, W. Warren, and J. Edgar (hon. see). The Secretary, in reply to a question, said that two tenders had been received by the trustees for leasing the Racecourse Reserve, one from Mr jr. M'Brido at £42 per year, and the other from Mr M. Dwyer at £32 10s a year; the tender of the first-named was accepted. Two tenders were opened for working the totalisator, one from Messrs Mason and Roberts and the other from Messrs Solomon and Murrell, Cromwell; the latter being accepted. A letter •was read from Mr H. B, Smith, chairman of

•üb-committee, Arrowtown, statiug that a meeting had been held, and the ouly suggestion uiado was that a bond fldt Minors' Haco Iro iuoludcd iv tho programme. Business was dull, but nevertheless ho thought that about £25 could bo reckoned on from tho Arrow for mbscriptiona. A lofctor was road from Mossra F. G. Whutham and T. J. Walker, Dunodin, soliciting aid in publishing a Tarf Record. Mr Bourchior thought it wuuld tie a very trood thiug for tho Club and useful to huudicflppera for reference Stewards, &o. r woro tlieu elected. With rospoct to amount to be run for, Mr Da Beor handed ia soma written Buggestions. Ha said that after it time the. Club would bo able to give a little moro ; but in the meantimo they would have to keep a littlo for improvements required, such as the erection of refreshment Btands, for a totalisator, &o. He thought it would not bo adviaablo to mako tho stakes too high, as outaido horsos would tako away the biggest prizes. Mr Bourchier thought that tha Club was able to givo higher stukos. They gavo £175 last year, but ho thought they could aasily givo £250 for tho next meeting. He thon went into detail to prove his statement. After discussiou, the various events ' woro settlod upon and a programme (appearing elsowhere) was decided, the total amount being £225. Thu principal events aro the Arrow Handicap of 40 sovh, J.O. Handicap of 50 sovh, Flying Handicap of 25 soya, and Hurdle Handicap of 25 soys. Nominations for tho preceding cloao on the 32ud inst. At Kakanui races on Boxing Day, thero will not be quite bo much money given as usual, the total reaching ouly £100, but the programmo should attract larger fields than hitherto, as high-class horses will not probably put in an appearance and smother those owned in tho district. Nominations for tho Kakanui Handicap of 20 soys, Novel Handicap of SO soys, and Publicans'. Handicap of Ij soya, close to-day (Bth inst). Tho committee of tho Lumsden Jockey Olub havo accepted Messrs Maßon and Roborts offer to work the totaliaatoi; at their approachins races. Nominations for tho Lumsden Handicap of 30 soys, District Handicap of 20 soys, Hurdle Handicap of 12 soys, and Trotting Handicap of 10 soys, close on tho Hth inst. til Mr T. Mortimer has purchased Blue Jacket, a somewhat erratic performer at our meeting, from Mr Pelhain Jones for 40 guineas. A special meeting of the Maniototo Jockoy Olub was held (says tho Chronicle) on Thursday evening. Present—Messrs Mackenzie, Turnbull, Weir, Hosio, Johnstono, Evans, Foster (Hamilton), Cogan (Serpentine), Laverty (Hyde), Hall, Monk, Browne, and George. Tho election of officers for the ensuing year was first proceeded with, with the following results:—President, Mr M. J. S. Mac kenzie: vice-president, Mr O. lurnbull; starter, Mr Inder 5 clerk of course, Mr Hall; clerk of the scales, Mr Hosio; secretary, Mr George; treasurer, Mr Browne; Committee, all the members present at the meeting. It was resolved that the races should be held on January 18, £140 to bo given away in prizes. A Hurdle Handicap was substituted for the Trotting Race. Mr Foster moved, and Mr Cogan seconded—" That tho qualification fee be paid with acceptance." In speaking to the motion, tho mover said he had no doubt whatever that if it were carried tho Club would be greatly benefited in the future. Mr George moved an amendment to the effect that no alteration should be made in the direction indicated by Mr Foster's motion. Mr Johnstons seconded the amendment. On .being put to the vote tho amendment was lost, and tho motion carried by 12 to 1. Mr George then wroto out and handed in his resignation as secretary, and immediately loft the room. Mr Foster proposed that his resignation bo accepted. Mr Cogan seconded the resolution, which was, carried unanimously. Mr brans was then proposed for the vacant office, to which he was subsequently elected without opposition. The meeting, which was characterised by liveliness, broke up about 1.30 o'clock on Friday morning. The Invercargill Racing Club will hold an Autumn meeting about the end of March. Mr Lintott has forwarded mo a copy of the Oamaru Jockey Club's programme for their Autumn races on March 13 and 14. I find that £570 will bo given in stakes, of which tho leading nre the Autumu Handicap of 100 soys j Stewards' Handicap of 50 soys; St. Patrick s Handicap of 50 soys; and Novel handicap of 40 soys j Oamaru Derby of 50 soys (closed); Trotting Handicap of 30 soys; and Maiden Plate of 40 soys. Nominations for tha Handicaps oloso on January 9, and the nomination fee is only one sovereign for each race, so there should be plenty of entries. Hazard, winner of the Novel Race at the Dunedin meeting, has bean purchased by Mr J. Stephenson from Mr Driver, M.H.R., for 70 guineas. Mr R. Vallance informs me that he and Mr R, Mason are about to dissolve partnership, and that the former will, in all probability, shortly proceed to Australia. "Under tho circumstances, the fow horses they have left and thsYaldhurst training establishment will bo open for aalo privately. They have already disposed of Epicure, the three-year-old son of1 Yattendon and Ghiva, to Mr D. H. Mervyn, of Otago. The Tiraaru Racing Club have adopted rules, among which are the following :—(1) That the races be run under the S.C.J.C. rules or other approved rules, and tho steeplechases under G.N. rules; (2) racing clubs to paj £50 per day in advance for the use of the course for meetings, the clubs to receive a training fee of £1 Is for each homo when the training ground is made, and to be responsible, under bond, for all damage, whether at meetings or caused by trainers; (3) £5 to be paid for private matches for the course only. Tho rules as to the charge wore not unanimously adopted. A claim for £2500, the value of the permanent improvements effected by them, was received from the South Canterbury Jockey Club, also a list of outstanding accounts for improvements amounting to £105 15s, which the trustees were requested to pay. The consideration of these wa3 deferred. Sheffield races have been fixed for April 3, • and Mr E. Griffith has beau appointed handiC3pper. The programme for Hororata, races on January 3 shows that there will bo seven events, and £120 divided among them in prize money. I hear that a Christchurch blacksmith has bought the trotter Lunatic, from Mr Lunckell, for 200 guineas. Th& Canterbury Jockey Club, Bays the Christchurch correspondent of the New Zealand Times, declined to interfere between Derritt, the jockey, and Messrs Robinson and Lance at their last meeting; consequently the former, who stands accused by the latter, he having been discharged by them, is anxious to make himself right with the public, as various damaging rumours have been circulated with regard to his conduct. Ho has attempted to justify himself by writing a letter to the Lyttelton Times, which has, however, been dee'.ined, on the ground that it is a "personal matter." One of the directors of that journal is a prominent member of the Canterbury Jockey Club, and it is alleged is likely to be connected in a closer manner with Messrs Robinson and Lance. Henco the refusal to publish. We have it, however, from a person who has interviewed Derritt on the subject that his letter merely opened the eyes of the public to the manner in which he, as first horseman to. that firm, had been treated, and fully exculpated him from all blame in the matter.

Now thai tha Canterbury Jockey Club has definitely decided to havo nothing to do with the manner in which Derritt came to leave Messrs Lance and Robinson's employ on the ground that it is none of their business, it is just as well to point out that cluba, as a rule, are very ready to take notice of jockeys and trainers leaving without notice. I(" Spur ") imagine that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, all the world over. Derritt, undoubtedly, has ail the sympathy of the sporting public: therefore, if it was thought that he would be injured by tho circumstances under which he left, a great mistake has been made.

i Mr Chitham appears to have had a good I innings at Island Bay races, for he secured the Cup with tho veteran Dan, and a couple of races with Ruby Ring, Wellington Spring races passed off very well, Mr P. F. Tancred was successful in no less than three events, The Administrator dividing the Railway Stakes and winning tho Flying Handicap, while Odd Trick landed the Consolation Stakes. The Poet could only get third in the Flying Stakes, but secured the principal event of" the meeting, the Spring Handicap, for Mr G. Bate. A protest for a cross was not sustained, but the second and third horses. Odd Trick and Miss Juan, have beon disqualified on the ground of passing inside a post. The Club will consider at their meeting whether to pay the second and third prize money over to the horses which camo in fourth and fifth. There ought not to be much doubt as to what they should do, the rulea of racing being very clear on the point. At tbo half-yearly meeting of the Taranaki Jockey Club, last week, tho lion, secretary (Mr Paul) said that although they had not made both ends meet at the Spring meeting, yet tho deficiency was not so largo as might have beon expected. Ho did liot believe the meeting at Waverloy made any difference to them. Tho shortness of money had moro to do with the attendance being smaller than usual, but the Spring meetings were very necessary to give a fair trial to young horses. Mr E. Humphreys said as a rule Spring meetings did not pay anywhere. Mr Paul said tho Club were in a good position, and when they had got their debts in they would have over £100 to the good. It was resolved to hold a two days' meeting in tho a\itumn. Trenton's victory in tho Auckland Welcome. Stakes was (says " Hippona ") altogether unexpected, for most of his stable companions beat him in hia trials, and so little was his chance thought of for that journey, that his popular owner, who likes to have a " bit on," failed to win moro than a couple of hats, besides the stake.

Welcome Jack, Envious, Clarence, Ugly Buck, and Baibary left Lyttelton for Auckland by the Tarawera, to fulfil their engagements at the Auckland Summer meeting.

The Auckland Star says:—"The result of the St. Andrew's Handicap at the Takapuna Jockey Club's racea on Saturday gave rise to an ebullition of feeling on the part of several gentlemen, which provoked some strong language and much suggestive comment. Eight horses mustered at the starting-post for the event, and considerable delay took place in getting them away. When at last Mr Alison dropped the flag, Colonel Eraser's horse Woodpecker (one of the favourites) was a length or so in the roar, but he finished a good second to the winner, Yuba Bill, of which Mr Alison is either owner or part owner. Accusations of partiality on the part of the starter wero freely indulged in by some of those who had dropped some money over the event, while Mr Woolfield (Inspector of Abattoirs), who bad been backing Woodpecker, made himself vory offensive to Mv ITenton, the

judge. The result was that Mr Alison threw up hia dutie» as starter, ami Mr T. Brown took hi» placo ; while Mr Feuton having oonTonud a ]iinotiii£ of tha stowiirds to consider Mr Wonlfleld h o'mduct, a resolution waa paarifcd to expul that gentleman from the padduck and tho Club, and to acquaint the Auckland liaoing Club with the action that bad baon taken."