NOTES BY BEACON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1598, 8 July 1882, Page 20

NOTES BY BEACON.

The Otago Hunt Club's race meeting, under tho direction of the Dunedin Jockey Club, is fixed for Saturday, 9th September. . A very j liberal programme has been issued, including the Tally-ho Handicap Steeplechase, of 70 soys ; Handicap Flat Race, of GO soys ; Maiden Hunters' Steeplechase, of 30 soys ; Galloway Hurdle Handicap, of 15 soys ; Hunt Club Welter Handicap Steeplechase, for a cup and 50 soys ; Hack Race, of 10 soys ; and a Consolation Handicap Steeplechase, of 20 soys. The date of nomination for all handicaps is Tuesday, Ist August. Now that tho Jockey Club have taken the direction of affairs, there can be but little doubt of the success of the meeting, so far as management is concerned, and it will rest mainly with the members of the Hunt Club to ensure its perfect success by providing good fields. A North Canterbury Steeplechase Club has been established, which purposes holding a meeting at a different locality in the northern district every season. The first gathering will be held in August," when the principal stake will be the Steeplechase Handicap, of GO soys. A trotting match for £40, between Mr Kirkwood's Our Pony (ridden by W. Thomson) and Mr Murfitt's Mischief, took place on the Wanganui racecourse on Saturday. Mischief received 15 seconds start in three miles, and was defeated by three seconds with ease by Our Pony, whose time was 9"mm. 11 sec. The betting was even. Mr Kirkwood matched Our Pony against Mr Chavannes' Little Nell for £50 a side, distance threo miles ; Our Pony to concede 25 seconds start. The match will take place to-day. Mr Kirkwood has also backed himself to run Mr J. H. Pollock 100 yards fgr £10 a side, the latter giving 10 yards start. It is stated that the action against the Taranaki J.C, which was threatened on account of their decision re Randwick, has been abandoned. / The following nominations have been received for the WAITARA SAPLIKG STAKES OF 1883. Mr J. Old's b c Fisherman, by Endymion— Lottie. Mr R. Ta.te'B b e Hori Wa'lton, by Izaak Walton—Starlight (imp.) ' Mr John Day's eh g Votary, by Izaak Walton -Forest Queen. Mr J. Thornton's b c, by Izaak Walton — Sunshine. Mr . l. Thornton's blk q, by Sir Walter— Sir Watkin mare. Mr K. George's cb g, by Resolution— Bess. Mr W. Elliot's b g Master Walton, by lawk Walton 1 —Coquette (imp.) • Mr M. O'Brien's br g Blarney, by Izaak WaltonJennie. Mr E. Wood's b f, by Gladiator -Traducer mare. Mr »V. T. Raymond's br c Emir, by Izaak Waltonimported mare."' Mr Wiremu Kitigi's blk i My Sister, by War EagleMaori Girl. A report was current in Auckland recently that Percy Martin, tho trainer, had been drowned in Napier. It turns out, however, to be untrue, for on Mr Vallance telegraphing, he got word back that Percy had been carried away during '-the recent floods and nearly drowned, but was rescued not much the worse. Day advertises that he is open to an engagement either as public or private trainer, or as manager of a stud farm. His want of success as a trainer in the Colony the short time he has been here is said to be no fault of his own, but is entirely owing to the miserable lot of cattle he had to deal with. Auckland sporting writers are noted for their lively imaginations and their exuberant style of describing races, but the individual who " did " the recent Tangihua races for the Auckland Herald is -probably the pick of the lot. Of the Hurdle Race (of 5 sovp !) he says :— " This race was run on its merits, and as there were no turf blacklegs preserit, there was no scratching, pulling, or scheming, and the whip and spur went to work' — from staj-t to finish. The neat pace and flying talent of Clothworthy's IO U triumphed. ' By the time the Maiden Plate (of 6 soys !) was reached the writer had wanned up considerably, as witness the following : " This was a slashing run, and the horses went with a bound and a rush from the start. Connynghain, who is a born horseman, having all the elvn and esprit de corps of the best jockeys of Goodwood and the, Curragh, requiring only their experience, will yet make his mark and score many a triumph on the turf." His riding of the Grey Filly was very creditable. The trio looked a pretty sight as they went spanking round the course ; each horse had full spirit up, and went like the snorting steeds of Tartary. Coming up to the scratch, the horses made a grand fight for winner, and on passing the box the following was the result : Minnie Casey, 1 ; Grey Filly, 2." The next race was the Tangihua Handicap, and as there had probably been an interval for refreshments, it is not wonderfully surprising that we should find the reporter ' mixing" it a little— the description of this raco being a curious medley of cricket, horsey, aud victualling terms. Here it is: "This was a neat bit of fielding, and the well-known points of Wharetana (late Swallowton)—although he had that symmetrical and frisky horso Co,ck Robin against him — a horse than which, perhaps, there is not a better half-bred roadster in the north—told when the tug of war came, and proved him able to swallow the stakes." Exhausted energy evidently required a spell just here, and the Settlers' Stakes accordingly passes over without a word of comment, but in the Consolation Handicap the critic comes with a final effort' and finishes 'gamely, though plainly almost worked out: " In this race the Wanganui-bred horse, Gi'ey Filly, wis deservedly the favourite, as she in a really v jatly-built iron grey, and looks every inch a good stayer although by no moans a 'Flying Childers,' being rather heavy and hunter- built ; bit little Tamaihia is a noted goer, and has frequently shown his powers on ' the local course. The horses figured thus : Tamaihia, 1 j Grey Filly, 2,"

Maori Girl.