NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2051, 15 June 1893, Page 31

NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

There was a lot of betting of small sums on the St. Leger run last week at the Forbury. Especially was this the case on the course between Lord Zetland and Sillwood, and another course for which there was money for both dogs was that between Mephisto and Sbarry Night. The Christchurch men were apparently prepared to lay .odds on Mr Casselburgh's dog, and the Dunedin men thought ib good enough to concede a point or so for the sake of getting on to Mr Myers's slut. Strange that with such confidence on both sides there was so little foundation for it. Mephisto did not show any exceptional form, and Starry Night failed to prove herself a wonder, though she certainly met a good pup in Victor. I regard this Victor and Lord Zetland as a very promising pair. Both are at any rate faster than the average. Mars and Prefix are also the makings of good ones, and Bird on the Wing may perhaps develop into a second Btsa Morley. Among the results that were most unexpected at the meeting were the victories of Mars over Bluestone aud of Marine over Red Jack. Speaking generally, the picking by the layers of odds was pretty accurate. Beadonwell was slow and lumbering in his course with Bess Morley, and the latter got cub of her trial in that round without much exertion, wherefore she was able to make mincemeat of Razzle Dazzle in the semi-final for tho cup, the latter dog having run two courses previously during the day. A less enthusiastic owner than Mr Myers would have drawn Razzle from the Supplementary and thus given the dog a show against Bess Morley. But if Mr Myers did not display smart judgment in this respect, he is to be commended for giving the public a fair run for their money on each occasion, and he has his reward in the good opinion of all the crowd. But everybody would have liked also to see him win one of the stakes, and ho might have had a chance of doing so if he had nob given Razzle Dazzle so much work. This dog ran with fire and gameness against Bes3 Morley, and if he had been as fresh as she was he might have beaten her. As it was, he fell away badly after beginning well, and Bsss had an easy win at the end. In saying thi3, however, I by no means wish to be understood as under-rating Bess Morley. She is a grand bitch, and her record of 31 wins out of 32 tries is, I think, unparalleled in the colony if not in the colonies. Tainui is- the only dog that ever beat her. Lizzie Woods was plainly the best of all the other dogs that went in the Cup, and on fair terms she would at least have put Bess on her mettle. But by sheer bad luck she had the longest and most fatiguing course of the meeting when she met Charlie in the semi-final, and the hare being a strong one she ran herself prettj well to a standstill in that course, being utterly unable to go to slips in the final. This Charlie has a lot of pace, and if he can be cured of his besetting sin of standing off he will yet win a decent stake. Of the known dogs in the Cup that did nob show their besfe form 1 may instance Beadonwell, Pine Hut, and Lancashire Lad as prominent examples. They ran as though the job was a trouble to them. Speed is not everything even in Plumpton coursing. Bird on the Wing was twice led upin the Leger. Mr Martin Taylor has had to destroy his stud dog Brewer, sire of Bess Morley and Lizzie Woods. Mr Ketb has taken the most dignified coarse open to him. He refused to resign at the bidding of a section of owners who said they were dissatisfied, and, supported by the D.J.C Committee, he acted for one more meeting, during which his decisions were always prompMy given and generally accepted as fair. Then, having proved that the censure which had descended on his head was not ail cle3erved r ho handed in his resignation, thus executing a retreat in a creditable aad k strategic manner worthy of an old general. I thiuk, too, that he has acted wisely in resigning. The position is* a thankless one to hold, and no one but art exceptionally qualified person can hope to give satisfaction. Mr Kefcfc has done his best ; hehas, I maintain, judged honestly, without partialiby and with an everagc amount of success ; and if he has occasionally made a mistake the blame lies rather on the present system of judging than on Mr Ketb personally. Ib seemsto me that it is only the exceptionally quickwitted man who can be warranted to never make an error in counting up two sets of point* and giving the result by an unaided mental process. Some day the systems will be changed. In its place we shall have each dog's score registered as it is made, and then not only will there be fewer mistakes but the incidents of the course will be available for reference afterwards. What I have always suggested — and tbe reason why it should not be has never been made clear to me —is that a pole like a telegraph pole should be planted in the centre of the ground, with the judge's seat on top ; that an assistant should write on a slate the points as they are called out by the judge; and that the scores should then be counted up and transcribed in tho record -->f the da>'s work. The judge would then not havt his mind occupied with two jobs at the one time. I repeat that Mr Kott has fallen a victim to our absurd prejudices against innovations, and that the chances are all against his successor being more reliable than be was,

The stud dog Padlock has been accidentally poisoned at Oamaru. Nothing has yeb been done, so far as I am aware, in the direction of electing a man to take the vacant judgeship. The meeting of the Nabnal Coursing Club, called for Saturday night, lapsed for want of aqucrum, the weather being exceedingly bad, and it is understood that nothing will now be done till the D.J.C. s Plumpfcon Committee have considered the matter. I should not be surprised were the outcome to be tho reappoinbmenb of Mr Kcit. Ab a meeting of the Oamaru Acclimatisation Society a telegram was received from the Colonial Secretary stating bhab he could find no precedenb for issuing day licenses for coursing. This telegram was ia reply to a request that the Governmenb would alber the regulation so that day licenses of 2s 6d could be issued to owners of coursing dog 3. The reply is equivalent to saying that bhe request is refused. DUNEDXN PIUttPION COURSXHGr MEETING. Second Day— Thursday, June 8. There weie frequent heavy showers or rain during the day and bhe atmosphere wis piercingly cclJ, so that the conditions were fhe reverse of favourable. a There was nub a long programme, and the day's proceedings were concluded ab 3.30 p.m. The arrangement* during fie day were satisfactory, and the judgiug of Mr Kett gave rise to no complaint. Results : — St. Leqer.— For 26 puppies, at £2 each ; winuer £26, runner-up £12, two dogs at £4 each, dogs at £2;— total,2 ;— total, £52. in. Mars beat Midge Bird on the Wing beat Lord Zetland Victor beat Marco Philosopher, a bye. Mars (2 to 1 against) led up from Midge, and did the bulk of the scoring before the hare escaped. Bird on the Wing (3 to 2 on) was led up less than a length by Lord Zetland, but, after the first turn, the slut gob in and did all the rest of the work in smarbsbyle, driving to cover. Victor (3 to 2 on) passed Marco in the run up and led by a length and turned, bub overrunning the hare then let; the black in for a fair innings, and after some sharp exchanges in favour of Marco, a kill by Victor finished the course. IV. Bird on the Wing beat Mars Philosopher beat Victor. Mars (2 to 1 against) led up and got the firsb turn, bub Bird on the Wing bhen obtained possession, turned thrice, wrenched several times, aud turned to the escapes. Philosopher (6 to 4 on) led Victor by a couple of lengths, and won nearly all the way, Victor only scoring a turn. FINAL ROUND. Mr M. Taylor's f w b Bird on the Wing, by Brewer— Deception, beat Mr A. Oursey's f d Philosopher, by Newton— Briar Root, and won the stake. Bird on the Wing (2 to 1 on) led by two or three lengths and turned bhrice, and Philosopher wrenched a few times in driving to cover. Forbuuy Cup.— For 16 all-aged dogs ab £3 10s each ; winner £32, runner-up £14, bwo dogs ab £5 each ;— total, £52. ». Razzle Dazzle beat Chorister Bess Morley beat Beadonwell Lizzie Woods beat Pine Hut Charlie beat Jack Tar. Razzle Dazzle (3 to 1 on) led Chorister two lengths and scored two points before the slut got in for a wrench and turn; the favourite turned again, and the black then ran up a few points by good work, but bhe briDdle was again in posEession afc the death. Bess Morley (5 to 2 on) led Beadonwell four or five lengths, and turned thrice ; Beadonwell wrenched, and the kill was a mutual one. Lizzie Woods (2 to 1 on) led up by three lengths, Pine Hut stopping towards the finish after running well, and obtained the turn, after which the non-favourite scored three or four points, but Lizzie Woods then got in again and had a good deal bhe besb of the subsequent exchanges. Charlie (evens on) had a close run -up with Jack Tar, and bhe former apparently got the firsb turn, while in the substquenb work he was gmarber and bebter. in. Bess Morley beab Razzle Dazzle Lizzie Woods beat Charlie. Bai-s Morley (4 to 1 on) raced away from Razzlu Dazzle, led up by six lengths, and had the best of the exchanges all through, though : the non-favourite stuck well to his work. Char-lie (3 to 1 against) led up a couple of .lengths and scored the initial points, bub stood off while Lizzie Woods rattled up a big score ; while in the latter stages of tha longest course cf the J meeting he rushed paßt the slut two or three times and flicked the hare without, however, putting himself on terms, and eventually, -just before the hare escaped, he stopped — Lizzie Woods, who had done a great deal of work, winniDg easily. FINAL ROUND. Mr M. Taylor's brd f b Bess Morley, by BrewerDeception, obtained a bye and won the stake, Mr S. S. Myers's w f b Lizzie Woods, by BrewerDeception, being withdrawn. Supplementary Stake.— For 14 all-aged dogs at £i 10s each ; winner £12, runner-up £6, two dogs at £1 10s each -—total, £21. ii. Chance It beat Razzle Dazzle Marine beat Index Tantrum beat Briarlcaf lied Jack, a bye. Razzic Dazzle (3 to 1 on) shot out towards (he close o? tha run up, and had a three lengths lead when h? turned, bub Chance It had much the besb of tho subsequent work aud ran up a good pcore. Index (3 to 2 against) got the firsb burn aflfr an exciting race, bub Marine scored eventhiDg after that. Tantrum (3 to i against) led up from Briarleaf and ran up a heavy score before the favourite got in for a fair innings without wiping out her deficiency, but the fawn then regained possession, and outw woiked the favourite in a gruelling course. in. Marine beat Uhanco It Red Jack beat Marine. liiarine /2 to 1 on) led Chance It to the firit ■turn, then raced past him, and did the rest of the work in a short trial. Red Jack (2 to 1 on) led Tantrum five lengths, and had all the best of the exchanges. FINAL ROUND. Mr T. Scanlan'e br w d Mariue, by MarinerMiss Theresa, beat Mr W. Davis's r w d Red Jack, by Red Pine— Misfortune, and won the stake. Marine (2 to 1 against) led Red Jack by a couple of lengths, and scored nearly everything till the favourite killed. The following amounts were paid over at the settliiig-up in connection with the coursiDg meeting concluded on Thursday : —M. Taylor, £52 l*s ; S. S. Myers, £18ji8s; A. Cursey, £U 8s; T. iS^nlan, £10 16s; J. Kirkby, £5 8*; J. Mitchell, £4- 10a; J. Samscn, £2 Us; J. Swan, £1 16j. A- i n i ii q u'st on a very old residect of h&v, o:k c-med Robert JJaty, who died feudally on Monday, agverdiot of "Accidental death " was returned.