NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 31

NOTES BY MASTER M'GRATH.

Already there is a large batch of entries promised for the Challenge Stakes, and this event will likely be the most important stake ever run in New Zealand.

The National Coursing Club of Victoria has been considering a motion by Mr F. D. Eenyon to alter rule 39, relating to long-odds bets. Mr Keny6n explained that the rule as it stood at present was unfair to bookmakers, as it provided that long-odds bets should be void unless the greyhound the bfct referred to ran one course in a stake other than a bye cfter the bet was made. He wished to alter the rule so that the bat would hold good at anjUima after the draw, bo long as a dog had run ow course otlur than

a bye. As the rule stood at present the door? was left open to fraud, as an unscrupulous owner could when only four dogs, say, were left in a stake back his own dog for a lot of money to make a market for another dog about whom an accomplice could take good odds, and the dog first backed could then be drawn on some excuse ; the bets made on him, of course, being off. If a bookmaker made a legitimate' book he must; be a loeer in such a case,, as he would lay the odds on the assumption that all four dogs would run. Though a bookmaker himself, he was more of a backer than a layer in connect tion with dogs, and therefore had no interest in bringing 'the matter up. Mr Willis thought' there should be very strong grounds to .induce them to alter the rule, which wag' made to.pro^ tect backers. The chairman pointed out that the supposition of fraud worked both ways. Backers might be defrauded, if the. rule were altered, by an unscrupulous owner and a dishonest bookmaker acting in collusion/ Mr Jerome thought that as no hitch had arisen in the past over the role it would- be unwise to alter it. *Mr Munday stated that he had discussed the matter with Mr W. B. Rounsevell and other leading coursing men from South Australia, all of whom were adverse to the rule being altered. After further discussion, Mr Kenyon withdrew his motion witft the view to giving notice of motion to be dealt with at the next meeting of the club in November providing for a new rule giving the stewards power to declare bets off in cases where fraud was believed to exist.

The last coursing meeting this season of the Oamaru Club takes place on Thursday, ' August 24-, when a Bracelet Stake will be run. The Acclimatisation Society has presented a hand* some trophy for the winner. * "Mr Price is sending three up to compete at Oamaru — Nettle, Isa, nnd C»ra Lynn.

The followirg are full particulars of the two stakes got oft' at the recent Christchurch Piumpton meeting : — Maiden Stakes, of 14 all-Bge*d doss, at 30s each. Mr ,T. White's f d Tauranga, by Bundoora— Nancy, beat Mr A. Lee's bd d Brewer Lad, by Deceiver— Yorkshire Lass Mr W. Patching's b w d Moderation, by The Brewer— Fairy Queen, beat Mr Castlebury's r d Mizepheto, by Rennie Mr H. Franks's blk b Snowfelt, by Snowdon—^ Fenella, beat Mr J. Dineen'a f b Meeting of the ■ Waters ~ ' • Mr A. Lee's ri) Twilight, by Forest Lad— Venus, beat Mrs Welbourne's blk w d Dan, by Obstacle— Forget-me-Not ' Mr D. M'Kay's f b Lady Manners, by MannerLady Onslow, beat Mr C. S. Howell's r d Honeysuckle, by Ranger— Honey Bee Mr J. Cooper's r d Belfast, by Rangitikei, beat Mr H. Franks's f w d Hermitage, by Snowdon— Fenella Mr J. Cooper's f b Papanui, by Aorangi— Peggy, beat Mr S. Myers's f d Chance It, by Home Rule— Moderation beat Tauranga Twilight beat Snowfelt Belfast beat Lady Manners Papanui a bye. Twilight beat Moderation Belfast beat Papanui. Final. Mr A. Lee's r b Twilight, by Forest Lad— Venus, beat Mr J. Cooper's r d Belfast, by Rangitikei, and won the stake. - 'The Canterbury Cup, of six all-aged dogs, at 40s each. . Mr H. Bailey's r b Accident, by ObstacleSymphony, beat Mr M. Taylor's f d Yorkshire Lad, by I vanhoe -Yorkshire Lass Mr F. Beverley's f b Wild Rose 11, by White Rose— Miss Kelly, beat Mr S. Myers's r d Stormy Petrel, by The Brewer— Stormy Night Mr Taylor's w r b Iveria, by I vanhoe— Yorkshire Lass, beat Mr S. Myers's bd d Kazzle Dazzle, by Morningside— Hazel. Wild Rose beat Accident, v Iveria a bye. Final MrF. Beverley's f b Wild Rose 11, by White Rose— Miss Kelly, and Mr Taylor's wrb Iveria, by Ivanhoe— Yorkshire Lass, divided the stake.

Our Auckland correspondent wired on Tuesday night the nominations for the two events to be run at the forthcoming Auckland Coursing Club meeting closed last night. Several southern nominations were received, and the meeting should be a most successful one. The following are the nominations :—: — Maiden Stakes!— A. Edwards (Christchurch) 1. M. Adams (Christchurch) 1, G. Pennell2, J. Hill 3,-L. Brennan 1, P. Quinlan 2, J. Caverhill 1, J. Gallagher 4, R. Blaikiel, J. Legar 1, F. J. Baker 1, H. Rose 3, C. Philpott 1, W. A. Fenton 2, M. Foleyl, J. Appleby 1. W. Laderove 2, J. W. Russell 3, G. F. 81. Baker 1, A Beattie 1, J, Beecham 1, A. Lsgar 4, C. C. Gordon 3, T. M'Ewen 1.

Champion Stakes.— M. Teylor 3, J. Forward 1, A. W. Edwards 1, J. Turnbull 1, J. Gallagher 1, T. Broadward 1, G. Broadhurst 1, J. Gallagher 1, J. Beecham 1, J. Legar 1.

More are expected, but owing to the floods communication is delayed.