NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 18

NOTES BY BEACON.

It was intended that the annual meeting of members of the Dunedin Jockey Club should be held on Monday last, but it has been adjourned to the Bth prox. in consequence of some matters not being thoroughly arranged. The committee met a fow days ago, and passed lha yearly balance-sheet, so that everything will doubtless be in order for the members next Monday week. The colt by Heratio — Bluegown, imported by Mr E. Devine from Tasmania a few weeks ago, will most probably not bo put in training, his owner having received numberless applica tions from settlers in the northern districts of this Province to travel the woll-bred youngster in those parts, in which case he is assured of plenty of support. Mr Devine haa therefore almost decided to keep him for stud purpoßes. The Duntroon Jookey Club's spring races will be held on October 23rd. On Saturday the first steeplechase me3ting under the auspices of the Otago Hunt Club will be held at the Forbury Racecourse, and if the weather is favourable, an enjoyable day's sport may be looked for. The entries for the principal events are as follows : — SteepiißCHase Cup, of about two and a>haU* miles. Weltar weight for age. Bt. Ib. Dr Murphy's br g Erin-go-Bragh (late Stockm*.n), aged .. .. .. „ 12 1 Mr D M'M&ater's oh g Scamp, aged .. .. 12 1 Mr H Gourley's eh g Kildara, aged .. .. 12 1 dlr J A. Duthie'a b g Abdallah, aged . . ..121 Dr Pleicher'i fer g Congreve, aged .. .. VZ 1 Mr F W Petre's b g 'CurJr, aged „ .. 12 1 Mr 8 "Walker's br g Marquis, aged .. .. 12 1 Mr Win Stuart's b g Native, aged .. „ 12 1 Match for £30, half forfeit. Onco round the Steeplechase Course. lOat 71b each. Mr A Barker's blk g Tim Flaherty Mr E Jonas' cr m Lucy Nealo. Hakdioip Steeplechase, two and a-half miles. Gentlemen ridera allowed 71b. ot.lb. Dr Murphy's br g Ertn-KO-Bragh, aged . . 12 4 Mr J Cotton's br g Romance, aged .. .. 11 5 Mr lVtjftfart's g g Fro»tflsb, aged „ „ 11 3 Mr V WPetre's Turk, aged .. .. .. 11 0 Mr W Stuart's b g Native, aged .. .. 10 5 Mr A Smith's br B Huutsman, aged „ „ 30 0 Mr H Smith* br g Volunteer, aged . . „ 9 6 Mr Tuggart's b m Tiflis, aired .. .. 9 5 Mr J Low* br m Antoinette, 6 yra .. . . 9 0 Mr J Monday*! blk m Black B«as, aged . . 9 0 Mr T H Dodaon's b m Little Buttercup, aged . . 9 0 As all tho above have been follewing the hounds regularly during the hunting season, there ought to be few mistakes made on the Forbury course, and therefore there should be some interesting contests. The first event is th 9 Gup, for which there are eight nominations. Erin-go-Bragh, better known in his old name of Stockman, is an old stager on the turf, and has performed creditably on several occasions, [In the season 1877-8 ho won the Elletraere Steeplechase, b«aling Luuafcic, Silverstreatn, and others ; ran third iv the Timaru Steeplechase Cup, and third in the Tally- Ho Handicap; ran second in the Wai- i taki County Cup at Oamaru, and won the j | (Sonsofotion Handicap. In the season 1878-9 j hia best performance was at the New Zoalaod Grand National meetiog, where he ran well in the big handicap, and in the Consolation Sfcake3 finished second to Loch Lomond. Kildare aud his deeds are too wdll known to need much comment, so I need only say that he is in | in pretty good nick, and that I prefer his chance of the lot. Native is not to be depisad, for although he has uot done much in public, he ' has done well after the hounds. The others have not done anything on courses. There is a, good entry of 11 for the Handicap Steeplechase, and of these only three are amongst the Cup nominations. Romance is a horae that has baen successful at Gore and other upcountry meetings, and ifc will be remembered that at our last May races he looked unce-m monly like winning tho Hurdle Race, but struck the very last fence and came to grief. He should go very near winning the Handicap. Frostfish has figured to advantage at small meetings up Canterbury way, but I think his day has gone by. Thi rest are unknown to fame, except that which they have achieved with the hounds, and I fancy th«t raca will lie between Romance and Eria-go Bragh — taking the former for choice. The match between Lucy Neale and Tim Flaherty is expected to prove interestiag, and both have plenty cf supporters. The programme will include a Pony Race and the Consolation Steeplechase, besides the match and a Hack Raca.

" The Druid" furnishes some interesting notes culled by him when on a visit last week to Mr Ray's stables at Hornby. He writes as follows :— " The firßt box I visited was occupied by Maritana, and I found Bob Ray bisy fomenting her hock, whichlud been injured by a blow on the cap. The mare looked very fresh and in good condition. It is much to be regretted that she has mot with an accident, as sba will barely recover from it in time to permit of her starting for the C.J.C. Handicap. Hornby occupied the next box, and since I last him (a few daya before the Autumn Meetitsg) he has fined down. For the time of year, Hornby looks veiy well, and by the time the Derby is ruu he will strip as good-look' n;r as any cf the yoimfisters on the course. He i» by Songster— Toi-Toi, the dam of Kakapo, and takes vary much in appearance after bis haltbrother. Templeton, considering he ia commencing his sixth season on the turf, looks well up in flesh, and to all appearance is as sound as when he ran third to Papapa in the Derby of 1873. Titania has been placed ia the hands of Messrs Delajnam and Co,, for sale aa. a

| brood mare. Fishhook haa been bo often seen by my readers, that I can say no more of him than that so far as condition and soundness ?o, ; he never looked better. Jangler, another addition to the Hornby racing stable since last year, has up to the present time been doing good work, and a? far sb hie old lameness is concerned, goes sound, but he has unfortunately struck his back tendons, and Bob Ray does not intend to train, him on, and has offered him for sale through Messrs Delanaain and Co. I finished up my inspection at Hornby by looking < in upon Lonehaud, the celebrated ,Vie fcorian steeplechaser, and I must confers to a very agreeable surprise in Mm. Such a length of rein I have seldom seen, with a head bold enough to face anything, and quarters and thighs having sufficient power to get over whatever he is put at. With all Mb power and substance he is not without quality." Talking about Lone Hand, I hear that tbe cr«ck Victorian steeplechaser has since his arrival here been tried at jumping, and that he ; cannot be got to try a bit. If this ia the case, his owner has a poor look-out, and I (believe there is something in the report, for Victorians say that no one but his old jockey could ride him in his races on the other side. Again, tbe Australasian cautioned his New Zealand purchaser that Lone Hand had a nasty habit of running down his fences. It will be rather hard on Ray if he has to go to the further expense of importing a Victorian jockey for the purpose of ridicg the great gunj but, otherwise, ifc seems he will turn out a white elephant. Mr Kay has sold his colt Saunterer, by Sator —Little Nell, to Mr Bull, of Geraldine, for stud purposes. In looking through the last volume of the New Zealand Stud Book, I notice that the filly Marie Antoinette, by Traducer — Maria Theresa, has the word "dead" placed opposite her name. As this filly ran in our last Champagne Stakes, and also in the Canterbury Champagne Stakes since the publication of the volume in question, it would be well for the correction to be made before confusion ia caused. At the Middle Park Stud foaling has already commenced. The English mare Idaliahas a bay colt foal to Traducer, and therefore full brother to the last Canterbury Champagne winner. Charm has a bay filly to the same sire, and Bed Rose a chestnut filly to Papapa. The Maribyrnong training establishment has been leased by Mr P. Butler, the well-known owner of The Agent, and he appears to have purchased Luna and Te Whetumarama from their late owner. These horses, Fiction, and Laertes are all in work. The English mares Miss Kate and Mackj siccar have been sent to Leolinus, who is limited by Mr G. Stead to twenty mares, independent of his own. S. Powell is giving Soukar, one of the Canterbury J.C. Handicap candidates, good work j with old Eide-a-wee, and may prove a tough | customer to tackle in that race. Last season he won the Turakina Handicap of 80 soys. carrying 6st lib ; and the Auckland Tradesmen's Handicap of 50 soys (7st 121b), beating Izaak Walton, Yatapa, Merlin, Parawhenua, ! and half a dozen others. "Sinbad" has a long article on the youcgatf rs engaged in the Canterbury Derby, in which he says that the half-ai'ster to Guy Pawkes, the filiy Marie Stuart, by Totara— Fidget, has been leased or purchased by Mr R. M'lvor, Mr Redwood has the chestnut filly by Totara— Constance, and the bay colt by Totara— Corona in work at Spring Creek. Mr Mallock has On Dit and the brown filly by Albany—Sludge in work, but the Blueboy gelding and the Anrifera filly have not yet been taken up. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club held its annual meeting of members last week, and after the report and balance-sheet had been read and adopted, office-bearers and committeemen for the ensuing year were appointed. Mr I If itzroy then moved, and Mr Allan M'Lean seconded — " That measures be taken with a view of amalgamating with the Hawke's Bay Racing Club," which was carried. It will be remembered that the latter body was last season formed by a number of gentlemen who seceded from the Jockey Club, and gave a downright good day's racing on March 17th. At the annual meeting of members of the Auckland Club it was resolved to ask Sir Hercules Robinson to become a patron. The question of raining Mr Percival's (the secretary) Balary by LSO was discussed, and ultimately left in the hands of the committee. At the Waikato Races, held in February last, the Maiden Plate of 30 soys, one mile and a-half, was won by Mr W. Walters' two-year-old colt by Traducer — Yatterina, beating the only other starter, Mr E. Hall's Sultan, aged. Mr Hall lodged a protest against the colt's receiving the stakes ; and after consideration the stewards gave the race to Sultan. Mr Walters referred the matter to the Victorian racing authority, Captain Standish, aud to the Australasian, and at the Waik&to Club's annual meeting of members, held on the 4th ir.ft, Mr W. M. Hay, on behalf of Mr Walters, mad<^ application for the prize. Ha claimed the prize for Mr Walters, as no provision existed in the rules whereby a two-year-old colt should not run the distance, and quoted the fact that the Australasian and Captain Standish, when referred on the matter, had both decided in favour of the colt. Mr Hay also stated that Mr Walters had written to tbe stewards offering, without prejudice, to refer the matter to arbitration, but that no answer had been vouchsafed to hjs letter. The matter was referred to the committee. The Waikato Turf Club, at its meeting just mentioned, elected Sir Hercules Robinson as president, his Excellency haying when onavisit to Hamilton exprested his willingness to accept that position. Colonel Lyon waa chosen as vice-president, and a satisfactory balance-sheet was produced and adopted. From Auckland I learn that Mr John Smith has purchased frame land opposite the race course afc Re tun era, and has commenced erecting extensive stabling and necessary adjuncts for the reception of his stud. Mr Edgar has sold his racehorse, The Don, to Mr Snowdon, of the Waikato, fo* 100 guineas. The Don is an aged gelding, and has, during a long catear on the turf, run some good races. Tbe Auckland Jockey Club haveremovedf mm Mr Owen C M'Gee tae disqualification under which he haa laboured since the race meeting of' that club held in April, 1878. The sentenca of disqualification was then passed upon Mr M'Gee, hit horso Faleou, and the rider (yo\ing M'Gee) ia consequence of the manner in which Falcon was ridden in the Selling Race. Falcon made a dead head of it with Belle of the Isles, and won iv the run-off, yet — most absurdly, a I wrote at the time— thft Club disqualified the ) ot mentioned above. The Australasian was appealed to, and instantly replit d that ac Falcon won the Club bad no power to disqualify ; but the Club stuck to their line of conduct, and have ouly now given Mr M'Gee some redress. What has moved them to remit the sentence it is hard to say, unless they are so dense that it is not till now that a suspicion of the stupidity .of their action has dawned uponthom. Mr O. M. Crombie ha 1 ! from his businefifl duties been compelled to resign the secretaryship of the Wellington Racing Club, and. bia place bus bean filled by Mr H, Lyon, '

The recently - formed Wayerley - Waitotur* Jockey Club has come ont in more ambitious styla than was anticipated, the programme for its first race-meeting, to be held on November 27th, being a very good one. The principal s * a^ are th 9 Waverly-Waitotura Handicap of 100 soys, two miles and »-quarter; Cup of ™ xOVI'x OV l' A wo miles ' weight-for-age ; Maiden •Plata of 40 hovb j Hurdle Handicap of 40 bovb j and Flying Handicap of 30 sovb, threequwterß of a mile. The Club will raco under the rules of the Wanganui Jockey Club. The wretched form shown in Tasmania by the steeplechaser Mousetrap haa not yet quite discouraged his owner, for the grey's name appears amongst the list of entries for the Southern (Hunt Club meeting to be held on Ootober 2nd.