NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 19

NOTES BY BEACON.

The proceedings at the first meeting of com. mittee of the Dunedin Jockey Club will give general satisfaction, many of the arrangements being a great improvement on former years. No one will regret seeing Mr George Dodson wielding the flag in his old capacity as starter, and the appointment of three joint haudicappers in lieu of one will prove acceptable to everybody. I regret, however, to see that Mr it. H. Bailey has not been reinstated in his old position of timekeeper, which he was only compelled to resign for one meeting through severe illness. A.L a subsequent meeting I understand that it was resolved to give £500 in stakes at the Spring meeting, and to make several improvements in the programme for the big meeting. These will include a more liberal scale of payments for notuinationsnndacceptauces by owners of horses, which will prove acceptable; still it must be iemembered that our Club could never afford to bo so liberal in tbis department as Borne other similar bodies oan, inasmuch as it has alwaya had an enormous annual rentlo pay. Mr H. Prince has had a trotting horse purchased for him in Victoria, and he may be expected over here shortly. His name is Paddy, and he should be a good one of his sort, for Mr Prince paid £180 for him. A gentleman who saw Mr T. White's stud at Winton the other day, tells a Southland paper that Cloth of Gold, his well known thoroughbred sire, is looking renwkably well. The horse has both thickened and let down oince he was exhibited at the laveivargill Show, and ia now very inu'cular and full of quality. De>d He it, also, ii goiug on satisfactorily under the caro of Mr White. I believe that Bob Bay left last week per Wakatipu for Sydney, to take charge of Mata dutiug his Australian campaign. The races at the Forbury on Saturday were of an interesting description, some of the finishes being quite exciting. Dawdy won the ! Hurdle Race very easily from tha Gouiiov pair, bnt Sney did not clear his hurdles ws-11, and brought; Allen to the ground ouee. I'ho five competitors in tbo Trot broko rof,eJ.*eil]y ; still it was the best contest of the hind that wo have yet had, and in the last hundied yards ifc was a toss-up whether Native Cat or Kate would v;in. It is a pity that these two good trotters have taken to breaking, as when gnin-? properly they get over the ground at a givat pace Allen gwo us a bit of artistic riding in the Plat liiee, which he could have won by several lengths ; but he kept hard hold of Adamant, aud made a pretty finish cf it with Dolly Barwon and I Playboy, the throo passing fchu wiuniu/ posf. in a cluster. The heavy goitig made the timo (■low— no less than 3 mm. 31 sco for the mile and I hrco quarters ; but it must b i remembered that the horses were littlo more than half trained. Amongst; the beaten ones was the grey .vr^Kling Swaqfnmu, who is, I believe, a son of ll)<> Australian sire Snowdon, and was one« good enough to run in sn Adelaide Cup. Ho w.-f» ri'oently bronchi- over, hero, and got hid present n.imo from t ho occupation of hia thoii owner. Mr Goodman's Sydney b 'ed colt Play boy il'i l i,' t *\n >/ v) 10 nirush {idvantigo. The atteivi .(•<•*■ of Hii> Mil) ie tvMs not 1 irge. _VJv *<i j\y, i) Wrn ck, llio rPHiJoss and untiring y>i p. tuu of thu p Uent totalisdtor , ia now in jyifclixiuie, pitbbing the interests of the!

machine there. He will next prooeed to Wh'are Kuti races wtl be held on September 3rd, and the programme shows that there will be some half-dozen races thereat. Last year the stakes were between £70 and £80, and about the same sum will be given on this oooaBion. The principal event is the Cup of 25 soys. Entries olose on the evening before the meeting. The annual meeting of members of the Cromwell Jockey Club was held on the 12th ult, Mr Preshaw occupying the chair. The treasurer's statement showed that the receipts for the past season were £381 and the expenditure £387 18s 6d, leaving a small balance against the Club. Votesof thanks were passed to Mr Dignan (treasurer), to the president, and to the officebearers of the Club. The nomination of a committee for the current year was then proceeded with, and resulted in the election of the following gentlemen : — J A Preshaw, James Smith, James Dawkins, J S Dewar, D MacK<>llur, J Sherwood, S N Brown, C M'Kenna. P L DignaD, C A Stacpoole, D A Jolly, and G W Goodger. The following gentlemen were elected to the offices set after their names respectively :— J A Preshaw, president ; James Dawkins, vice president j P L Dignan, hon. treasurer; S N Brown, hon. secretary; D A Jolly and D JVlaeKellar, auditors ; J A Preshaw, J Dawkins, D A Jolly, D MacKellar, and John Marsh, trustees. It haa been decided to get up monthly trotting races at Ashburton, the horses on each day to Blart from scratch in the first race, and to be handicapped afterwards. The fy! lowing entries and acceptances have been received for the Canterbury Spring meeting:— J.C. HANDICAP, of 500 soys. Two miles. st lb st lb Foul Play ..90 Piscatorius . . 70 LeLoup ..8 9 Hilarious .. 613 Maritana .. 8 7 OnDit.. .. 612 Natator ..8 6 Sylvanus .. 612 Hornby ..8 5 Holdcrness .. 612 Betrayer ..8 3 Badsworth .. 612 Grip . ..8 3 Sir Garnet .. 610 Volunteer .. 713 Luna .. ..6 9 Chancellor .. 7 12 Sir George ..6 9 Pinflre.. ..7 8 Laertes ..6 7 Libeller ..7 5 Malvina filly ..6 7 Kosciusko . . 7 5 Miss Domett . . 6 7 Bogardus .. 7 4 Virginia Water .. 6 2 Marie Antoinette „ 7 4 CANTERBURY CUP, of 500 soys (w.f.a.). Two and a-quartev miles. Mr C H Owen's Sir George Hon R Campbell's Hilarious Hon R Campbell's Sir Garnet • Hon R Campbell's Sir Modred Mr T George's Leveller Mr T George's Nautilus Mr Wm C Webb's Virginia Water Mr W S Moorhouse's Holderncss Mr W S Moorhouse'a Badsworth Mr H Redwood's Norseman Messrs Mason and Vallance's Volunteer Messrs Mason and Vallance's Pinfire Mr H Horsford's Hornby Mr H Horsford's The Governor Mr H Goodman's Sylvanus Hon W Robinson's Foul Play Hon W Robinson's Natator Hon W Robinson's Grip Mr G Fraser's Betrayer Mr G Fraser's Lure | Mr G Fraser's Le Loup Mr H Adams' Kosciusko. The above acceptances for the J.C. Handicap are wretohedly poor, there being only 27 out of the 59 entries instead of the 40 odd that I bad anticipated. Last year there were only 41 entries, but out of that lot 24 accepted. Altogether tbis ridicuously early nomination idea of the Canterbury Jockey Club does not appear to have been a success, and I should advise them to drop ifc next time. The principal defaulters are Mata aud Camb&llo, whose trip to Australia is thereason for their dropping out. There is a great hole in the Otago nominations, Mr George's Leveller, Hippona, and Nautilus being absentees aB well aa Mr Goodman's York, Titanh, and Maligner. Three of Mr Eay'a (now Mr florsford's), five of Messrs Mason and Vallance's, two of Mr Fraser's, two of the Auckland Stud Company's, with Longlands, Sir Modred, Norseman, and_ other well-known performers, make up the list of delinquents. There is some good quality, however, left in, Mr Frasor looking most formidable with Le Loup and Betrayer. Next to him comes the Hon. W. Robinson with tfoul Play, Natator, Grip, and On Dit. Mr Horsford holds a strong hand with Hornby, Maritana, and Bogardus ; while the Hon. E. Campboll with Sir Garnet aud flilarious, and Messrs Mason andVallaace with Volunteer and Piufire, may be looked on with respect. Mr Walbors has Libeller and Piscatorius to hia name ,• Mr H Goodman, Chancellor and Sylvanua ; and Mr Butler, Laertes and Luna, neither of which can complain of the weight allotted them- Of course, fit; aud well, there is nothing in the race but Le Loup with his Bst 91b; but if he should be absent an interesting race may bo looked for. From " Sinbad " I learn that Mr Markey's unfortunate little steeplechaser Mousetrap returned from Tasmania last week, aud that after a Bpell ha will be put inlo J. Kean'a hands to be trained for the next Grand National meeting. The same writer has the following :— " Mr John Lunn has old Jangkr in work, and it will thus be seen that the first Leger winner will have a very careful and painstaking tutor, but it is to mo questionable whether the big son of Tantrums will ever stand anything liko a severe preparation. Should he do so, there is little doubt he will well repay any trouble his present trainer may have in his preparation. In Mr Lunn's comfortable boxes aw also located Laertes and The Agent. Tho latter, who is enjoying a well-earned rest, liaa been bli&tered, and Mr Butler is very Banguine about his old favourite owning out fresh wad well in time for his future engagemouta. Laertes is sound and well, but is ouly just, going into sbw work. Luna has been spelling up at Kaiapoi, aud ia reported as " never looking better." Sha will join her old stable companions at Mr Luun'a stable before loog." T. Clark, the jockey, has gone into Mr Hereford's service at Crisis Lodge. Messrs Masou and Vaiknce have sold tin filly Waterlily, by Castaway— Cascade, ito Mr Allan M'Le'an, of Hawko's Bay, for stud purposes. Dick Mason has lost hia training-ground at Yaldhurat, but is makiug another ; while tbe Hon. W. Itobiuson isforminc one also in that neighbourhood. The following loiter from Mr G. G. Stead appears in the Canterbury Times:— "Sir,— A para.-raph appears in your last issue, taken from the Wellington Post;, headed ' His Excellenoy'j Stud.' The writer proceeds to give particulars of the rneehors-.s Hir Heicules Jiobiui<on has purchased, and concludes by s:at- i ing that ' horseraciogin New Zealand is at present at a very low ebb, owing to the best hordes being almost exclusively in. the hands of the ring.' It is a pity that wild statements of this j character so constantly appear in tbe public [ papers, aa they have the effect of damaging the ; vary sport tho writers profosj a wish to support. ; Au a matter of .fact, horsa racing in New Zea- ! land was novor on a better footing, as, without oxoepfcion, all the first-class howes at, present in | New Zealand ato owned by sportsmen who aio ■ totally unconnected with tho ring. Tbo Hon. . W. Robinson owns FoulPby, tbe winner of the < Wellington Cup, &c, &c, Natator, the winnor of the Canterbury Champagne Stake 3 and

Derby, and he aim owns Grip, the winner of the Dunedin St. Leger. The Hon. Robert Campbell ia the owner of Sir Modred, the winner of the Champagne Stakes both in Duneditu and Christchnrch, anil' he also owns the Idalia. and Hammock yearliDga 1 , for whiob he paid 1125guineas and 600 guineas respectively. Dr Prios owns Fishhook, winner of th» Dunedin Cup in 1877, Maiitana, the winner of tho O.J.C. Handicap in 1878, &c, &0., Hornby, the winner of the Canterbury Derby,and lastly, thatpromisingooHk The Governor. I own Betrayer, the winner o£ the Canterbury Champagne Stakes, the Canterbury Cup, the Wanganui Cup, and the Timarm Cup. I alao own L 9 Loup and Lure. MrBatching owns that grandly-bred oolfc Leveller* by Traducer out of the celebrated Waimea, andi he also owns Nautilus, own sister to Natator., Outside the horses above euumerated there ia not a single performer in New Zealand of anjt' note, unless, perhaps, Hilarious ; so that I. think it is conclusively shown that not only are the best horses not owned by the ring, but that. all the best horses are owned by sportsmen. No one is better pleased than myself *o learn, that his Excellency intends racing in New' Zealand, but I protest againsc its being used as an excuse for crying down the sport ; aud lam satisfied that no one deprecates more than Sir Hercules Robinson the assertion that those already in the front rank of racing iv New Zealand are not equally keen and true sportsmen as his Excellency himself.— l am, &0,, G. Q, Stead. Chriatchureh, July 27<h." The above effusion may be taken for what ifc is worth, and such of the public as choose may believe, first, that none of theowneis mentioned, have the slightest connection with members o£ the ring ; second, that there is not a single, performer of any note in the country except the horses named and Hilarious ; and third, that all, the best horses are owned by sportsmen. " Volligeur" remarks as follows :— " 'Th 9 owner doth protest too much, methinka,' to slight ly altor a familiar quotation. He wants us to believe that there are no high-claas horses outside of Canterbury, and that virtually there are bat four owners, or, including Sir Hercules Robinson, five, who possess what may be termed real racehorses. Now thia is manifestly unfair to our North Island friends, who number amongst their ranks many good sportsmen, and, that there are|numerous highbred animals in the North is an undeniable fact. A little more charity next time, Mr Stead, and if I may pay so, was it worth while to contradict the state* ments of a writer who was evidently entirely unacquainted with his subject ?" Leolinus' stock at Homo do not appear to be of any very great; account, for the only winner of hia get that I have come across was a two-year-old cole that won a £100 stake at a small meeting. Another of his youngsters, Lord Dupplin's filly out of White Squall, started first favourite for a Juvenile Plate of 100 guinea* at Croydon in June, but could only get home a bad third. Another report of this race givea the filly's sire as Leolinuß or Kaiser, A few days later she ran last in the Two-year-old Stakes out of a field of seven, who are described as being " a dreadfully bid lot." I have heard several arguments as to whether Leolinus or Musket was the more likely to get good stock ia this country, but judging from the respective deeds of their yowigarers in England Musket has far and away the best of it A curious commentary on the letter published in a preoading paragraph is the fact that ia the list of acceptances for the Canterbury J.U, Handioftpthe horses entered by the bookmaker M.v U Piiaco bow appear ia the name of the Hon. K. Campbell. Tho Ohnstchurch papers stats that on the accepUncea boiDg posted up considerable betting iraneaotiona took plnco between several of the leaditiff bookmakers who were present, but as not a siugle trans 'odon ia mentioned I fail to see that any information i 3 vouchsafed to us. The Wauganui Jockey Club have, as I last year anticipated, soou had to come down from the lofty perch on which they elevated themselves with their £1000 Cup. At their next annual races the Cap money will be reduced to £600— ifc might juot aa well bave been £500, but then it would not have "sounded" bigger than the Dunedin and Canterbury Cups. The whole added money will be £1630, and the handicap on the first day will be increased to 259 boys. Tt\o Spring meeting will come off on the last Friday iv October, and at this £3io will be given in stakes, au increase of £50, which is given to the haudioap. Patriarch has arrived at hi 3 new quarters at Wanganui. Some well known cross country riders and horses took part in the second meeS of the Ofcago Hounds at Wanganui, aud there was some exciting work, ao will be seen from the following extract from a local paper: — Passing the elaughteryards a nx baried gate was met with _ Several of tbe foremost riders stopped and tried to open it but without success. Thero was no other outlet, so thai, tho gate had to be jumped or opened. One ridor more daring than the rest went at it, but his horse being somewhat pumped caught the top rail and came down heavily. The full wa3 a bad one, but fortunately, beyond a severe shaking, the ridor sustained no serious injury. The gate being broken, the field catue on through the gap, over several more fences en to tho road and up to Sb. John's Ho.el, thus finishing a very fast run. In tbe first run Mr R. M'lvor on Loch Lomond had a nasts fall over a gate, the gat-j giving way aud throwing tho horse on its head. Mr J . Higgie, on King Don, narrowly escaped jumping on tha prostrate man Rebel Oliiof came down a cropper with Mr Chaldicotb ovev the six-ban ed goto Mr Bolts was thrown on to his hend, aud received an ugly cub, Mr It. Edwards floated down tho before-mentioned creek and lauded in the shallow Messrs Foreman, LuuiEdou, Cross, Rio, Robertson, Jus Higgle, and Jackson all kissed Mother Ei-th during tho afternoon, but all seemed co liko tho shaking up aud rode none tho worsa afterwards. It id probablo tho hound 3 will be taken on to Ifcingitifeei for the next run. Atthn last moot of th-i Papakui-a Houudt the principal horsoj wore Youug Sledmere, Don Juan, Jouathiu Wild, Tear-away, tlarry Mount, Merry Lass, and Th.i Gho^t. Tho .jumping was pretty trying, over stiff ctono wiilin, and tho ground was rather roiuh, but two good ruas were offecLed, one oxtencling for fully five miles.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON RACES. Tha second of tho rer?es of theus meetings took plr.ee at Forbury Park on Saturday afteri noon. The aUondancj of tho public was very limited, a f.\ct partly to he accounted for, doubt-les-s, by the threat oning aspect; of the weather i-hortly after midday ; but; the afternoon kept fine, although FomewlKtt cold. Tha racing wag of a very fair ordor, the trot being on» of the hest-contoultid oveutu of the kind we ramomber aeeiag, _nurt an excellent finish waa also witnessed in tho principal handicap. The management was good, and the proceedings were over ia excellent time. Tne first race was tho HANDICAP HURDLE RACE Of 10 soys ; heats. Once round the training course. Mr W H Taggart's b g Dandy, aged, lOst 71b (Poole) 1 Mr II Gonrley's br g Romance, aged, lOat 31b (H. Gourley, jun) 2 Mr II Gourley, inn's b h Sandfly, i yrs, 9st 51b (J. Gourley) 3

.Mr W A .John's b g Spey, aged, 9st 71b (J. Alien) 0 Dandy was tho favourite, and won both heats .easily, being well ridden by Poole. Only one mistake waa made, Spey striking a hurdle in Ihe *eoond heat and throwing his rider. The lad T?aa unhurt, however. HANDICAP TIME TROT, Of 10 soys. Three times round the course Mr W. A. John's g a Native Cat, 5 yrs, scratch (J.Allen) 1 Mr J. Reany's b m Kate, aged, 40 sees (Poole) 2 Mr J. Hewitson's br g Tommy, aged, 40 sees (Owner) 3 Mr Gollar'd Little Nell and Mr Shaw's Doctor, each with 40 sees, also state i. Kate and Little Nell went off at an ( qual pace, and k«*.j)fc together for a considerable distance, I'ommy breaking continually at first. Kate eventually got well in front, but was overhauled by Native Cat, who trotted in grand style, at about " a distance " from home. The two bad a good contest for a little time, Kate making a fine spurt, but Native Cat won by four to six lengths. Tommy beat Little Nell for third place in the last quarter-mile. Native Cat's time was 8 mm 20 sao. HANDICAP FLAT RACE, Of 20 soys, the second horse to receive 2 soys. One mile and three-quarters. Mr F. Shaw's eh c Adamant, 3 yrs, Sst 121b (J. Allen) 1 Mr W. A. John's b m Dolly Barwon, 4 yrs, 7st (M. Allen) 2 Mr H. Goodman's br g Playboy, 3 yrs, Bst (Rudings) 3 MrTaggarl's Concrete (7st 91b), Mr Hamilton's Swagsman (7st 51b), aad Mr M' Master's Black Bess (7st) also ran, Adamant, Playboy, and Concrete were most fancied. From the jump Adamant led with a ru«h, but Dolly Barwon quickly took up the running, and led at a merry pace. Adamant settled behind, with Playboy, Concrete joining Dolly in front. About three-quarters of a mile from home the chestnut colt challenged the leaders, and Concrete, fell back to keep Playboy company. A hot contest enßued round the corner, but Adamant held everything safe, and galloped iD comfortably a length ahead of Dolly Barwon, who in turn beat Playboy by a couple of lengths. Swagsman and Black Besß never were in the bunt, The time was 3 mm. 85 sec. . HURRY SCURRY. Prizes, £5, £2, £1, Once round the course. 'Mr M'Master's Seagull . . . . . . 1 Mr Taggart's ßlazing Star .. ..2 Mr Cotton's Boroprathoneco . . „ 3 Mr Taggart's Jasper, Mr Shaw's Brighton, and Mr Morte's Tibby also ran. The field came in in a lengthy string, Seagull having a Commanding lead.