SOUTHLAND NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2426, 12 September 1900, Page 40

SOUTHLAND NOTES.

B.v Goi^jspuk,

Senior Wrangler is on the warpath again. The Gore Club contemplate erecting a semaphore. " A moderate sum will purchase the hurdler Seabieeze. She needs a spell badly. The Winton Jockey Club pay 1J per cent, for the working of the totalisator this year. All fractions go to the club's funds. Miss Collins is in foal to the siandard-breel sire Kentucky. Mr George Dowse was selected as haudicappor by the committee of the Winton Jockey Club after a close contest with the local man, Mr J. M. Kennedy, who is fast coming into prominence as a weight adjuster. - Typhoa is now being used as a shepherd's hack. Mick Lav/lor, River&dale, is handling a nicely shaped filly by Kentucky out of the well-known Topthom mine Miss Mac. Lexington put up a, splendid performance in til s JBlectric Jiandicap, trotting the mile in 2.30, and later on, although unsuccessful, registered a better performance, when he wa3 just deieated for third place m the Canterbuiy Cup, two miles, woji m 4.51. 1 understand hia owner intends placing the son o' Berlin at the service oi breeders in and around ihe Tapanui district. The lesult o'. the deliberations of the Racing Coi.lerence will ioice those "v\ho act as slewaids of racing clubo to lecogmse not only that they hu\t duties, to perform, but that the eyes of the world ft'e wats'tung their potions. Mi Fnaik J?im.cgtui, v .'ho had several winning trotting mounts to his credit a few years aj,o, gamed chiefly lounct about JOunedin, the Taieii, and Milton, is snugly settled down m "Wintou, administering to the " spiritual ' retaiiremeiito of the district, and is doing all righ'. Frank is v real decent chap, and dsscive^ to bo m the wheel of fortune. He cairies v bit of adipose tissue, but ifc doestfi; Xoievcnt hini renewing hi& old recreation. By the way, he is an officer of the local club. The sporting fiaternity generally will be glad tc hear that Mr George Dowse is the official har.dioapper to the Dunedin Jockey Club. His opening off oils at Timaru for the new season, showed his piowess in the position, and there are a great rnaay down m these. parts who would like — if his duties peimitted — the old fellow to pay Southland a visit, and give a racing to_ie to sonic of our meetings. A recent arrival in horseflesh is Zeehan, Appienioni — Silver Rose. /I expect that he wilt spori, silk at ■the Winton meeting in the colours ot Mr Willie Swale, the populpi vice-president of the club. - * Local handicappeis please note that Gold* spur has been asked to carry 11.10 >at the Oamaru meeting. The new training track at Gore is most fcrpu ably commented upon by the local trainers. • ■> JJoxli Air Thomas Wilson and Mr Thomas Lamport have acted gratuitously in the capacity, of clerk of the scales and cleik of tho course' to the 'Winton Club almost continuously for over 25 years. In fact, Ihe latter gentleman hda filled the office ever since the inception of tho chtb in '6S or '69. They were both reappointed at the last meeting, and long may they live to do honour to iheii club in this sportsmanlike manner. The owner ot Sciutmeer has refused to comply with the request of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club to lei'und the stakes won by that horse vi their last meeting. The matter -\?ill be dealt with by the New Zealand Trotting Association. The 'Winton Club telegraphed a message of condoleace to the relations of the late Mr Sydney James, and the Gore Club sent their &scret«i'-y, Mr J. Latham, as a representative at the iuneial. The i_4oie racecourse was the scene of a, match for a small stake between two locallyovned horses, which are both well-known to fame, but I am afraid not destined to greatness — Southerly Buster and Senior Wrangler. Tho conditions were two furlongs, with' welter: weights up. Quite a number wended their way down to the track, and so great was the interest taken in the match that over 200 people were attracted to view the contest. The race is easily described and quickly told. Senior 'Wrangler, ridden by- G% Hendricks, got .the best of the start, and, maintaiiiT ing his advantage right up to the winning post, scored by three lengths, in "the -fast time o£ 25sec. From a flying start Southerly Buster was piloted by W. Pine, and, although held higher in estimation, never had the ghost of a. chance with his erratic opponent. The over-rated J.J. is in commission again at his owner's place, near Balfour. An institution that is likely to go ahead now is the Southland Gun Club. Mr Flood has been imported into its management, and the auspices are altogether fresh. Valuing the irnpoitance of the Colonial Secretary's edict anent moneys being rung on the totalisator after races were started, the Winton Club have appointed a paid clerk to check the inside working of the machine. A leform in this direction was highly necessary, as, owing to several flagrant cases occurring throughout the season, the public were getting pretty full up of the little games that were being carried on at their expense. The only club to take action in the matter was the Wyridham institution, but the result of the inquiry didn't satisfy the investors all the same. As a, tree is judged by -its fiuit, so should a horse be valued by his progeny. A true illustration of this is the favour in which Kentucky is held by those who are anxious to breed good horses for harness and saddle purposes and also fast trotters. This sire, has breeding to recommend him, left some splendid stock on Wahnea Plains, where he has travelled, for the past two or three seasorfs, sncl his new owner, Mr Thomas Affleck, of Drummond, is to be congratulated on his excellent judgment in making a purchase which I feel certain will redound to his credit as well as to the further fame of General Tracey's full brother. But little interest was evidently manifested in the affairs of the Southland Racing Club at the annual meeting, as out of a reported membership roll of 103 only 16 members managed to roll up. A matter that should not be tolerated at any hazard is the ensconcing of a totalisator steward in the machine house during the whole time moneys are being invested. It is surprising that any club should permit such an act of bael taste, to say nothing of the unfulfilling of the duties pertaining to the office. The Colonial Secretary has spoken on the subject. Lady Lorraine is due to foal next month to Palliser. Mr A. T. S. Gibbs, of Gore, was an ana©*