NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1489, 29 May 1880, Page 19

NOTES BY BEACON.

In order to allow of full reports being give n iv this issue of tho Dunedin races and of the Grand National Steeplechases at Christchurch, a quantity of interesting English racing news is held over until next week. For the same reason my comments on the two gatheringa mentioned are also held oven

Full details of the Trtpanui, Eiverton, Mandeville, Wyndham, and other races held on Monday are not yet to hand.

The following nominations have been received for tho Oamaru Handicap Steeplechase, of 100 bovb. :— Mr A J Keith's Hard Times, aged Mr A J Keith's Ada Mr G Goodman's b jj Ivanhoo, ag'cd Mr P M'Coy's eh g Blair Athol, aged Mr A J Keith's oh g Tc Kooti, aged Mr II JUuir's eh g Tarn o1o 1 Shanter, aged Mr H D Bradley's b m Miss Hungcrford, 5 years Mr H Ilankins' br g Magic, 5 years Mr F Brittan's b g Royalty, aged Mr W Clifford's b g- Clarence, 6" years Mr W Scalmght's b g Zetland, aged Mr W M'Kay's b g Shillelagh, aged Mr T Butler's eh §• Agent, aged Jlv P Butler's eh m Stella, aged Mr T M'Kay's eh g Banjo, aged Mr C TuriibuH's g g Lone Hand, aged Mr II Schluler's b g Little John, 5 years Mr T Henderson's g g Dapple Mr li M'lvor's g g Grey Momus, aged Mr It M'lvor's br g Loch Lomond, 5 years Mr T M'Kay's b g Leap Year, aged Mr Dillon's Mickey Free Mr Dillon's Bluebell.

From "Vvltigeur" I Jemi that the well known West Coast racer Blazing Star has been sold by Mr G. Stepheimon to Mr F. Egan. Mr G. Osborne's cross-country horse Cannonball had to be shot last week through breaking a leg while following the Canterbury hounds. Fred Matthews was riding him at the time. Oanuonball has run two or threa time 3 during the last few seasons, but without success ; his most noticnftble feat being the breaking of H. Lunn's collar-bone in the race for the Maiden Plate at the third Grand National meeting of two years ago. Old Sir Tatton also met his death last week through an accident. He was a horse of a very different stamp to Cannonball, having been one of our best performers across country. The following lett?r has been received by the Secretary of the Danedin Jockey Club :— " Wellington, May 19th. Sir,— l am directed by his Excellency Sir Hercules Eobinson to ; beg that you will submit to your Committee rule 43 of the Australian Jockey Club (copy annexed), and ask them to consider whether such a rule might not with fairness and advantage bs adopted by your Club, As illustrating tho want of such a rule in New Zealand, I may mention that Sir Hercules has lately purchased a colb by Thunderbolt out of Lyra, foaled in the Auckland district on the 15th April, 1878. He will accordingly bo legally a three year-old on the Ist August next, whilst in reality but two years and three months old. It is obvious, therefore, that without the allowance given iv Australia, the colt will baoflittle use for racing purposes in New Zealand, and had better bo exported. The rule ban already been adopted.

by the Napier Jockey Club.— l am, &c, Beauohamp St.- John, Captain, A.D.C." The rule referred to is as follows:— "In all races an which standard weight for age shall be carried, an allowance according to the following Bcale shall be made to all horses sired north of the line, and foaled between the Ist January and the Ist August, viz. c— Two and three years old, 101b ; four years old, 71b ; five years old, 31b." It was adopted by tho Dunedin Club when the Australian scale of weights, with all tho rules connected therewith, Jwas introduced in October last year. Waimate steeplechases have attracted the following entries :~ MAIDEN PLATE of 50 soys. Clarence Mickey Free Leap Yeav Miss llungcrford Uncle Tom Bluebell Stella Alice May Tarn o' Shantcr. WAIJIATE STEEPLECHASE HANDICAP of 100 soys. Lone Hand Ivanhoo Noumea Grey Momus Loch Lomond Stella Agent Jack Little John Leap Year Banio Miss llungcrford Zetland Royalty Clarence. COUNTY CUP of 75 soys. lone Hand Grey Momus Agent Stella Jack Little John Leap Year Banjo Zetland Royalty Mickey Free Miss llungcrford Noumea Alma. Mireille is to go to the stud next season, her first visit being paid to Perkin Warbeck. Swindler, who came to grief at the Grand National meeting, died on Tuesday. I hear that the Australian fraud, Lone Hand, , has been purchased for L 250 for Corrigan, his old rider across the water, who thinks that he can still win races with his favourite. The grey will certainly be no loss to New Zealand. The Wanganui Herald's sporting writer says that a number of well known horse-breeders intend sending mares to Auckland to visit the grand thoroughbred horse Musket this season. Amongst the number will be Mr Wilson's imported mare Sissie, Mr W. Hately's mare, the dam of Locbinvar and Bide-a-wee, Mr George's Confident, and two of Mr Vavasour's beat. Probably these gentlemen will find themselves forestalled, or Musket's fee raised a bit higher than they dream of, for there is certain to be a *ush for the sire of a Two Thousand Guineas winner. A settler in the Patea district is in treaty for Patriarch, by Yattendon— Days of Old. The Waverley-Waitotara Jockey Club are making strenuous efforts to get their course in thorough order by the time of their next annual races, November next. The following nominations have been received for the Hawke's Bay Spring meeting :— SPRING HANDICAP, One and a-half mile. Soukar My Dream Hilarious Sir Garnet Hailstorm Never Miss Omega Prince Charlio Parawhcnua Kiwi Florence Merlin Little Wonder Addition Silence Laverock Mavis Rangiora Transit Otupai ;" Marie Stuart Libeller Piscatorius Ruanga. FLYING HANDICAP. Soukar My Dream Barwon Hilarious Sir Garnet Hailstorm Never Miss Omega Prince Charlie Parawhenua fiewi Florence Numa Scottish Queen Moanataiari Mavis Firefly Rangiora Otupai Marie Stuart Libeller,