CAP AND JACKET

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 28, 26 March 1881, Page 291

CAP AND JACKET

— Merlin lias broken clown completely. —John Thompson and his brother Barney returned to Melbourne by the " Cotopaxi." —The Grand National Steeplechase (of N Z ) will, after all, be held at Tiniaru. —It is rumoured that the Royal banner of the Heir- Apparent will be frequently seen on the Eno-lish turt during the ensuing season. — I have received a very lengthy epistle from Mr. Owen McGee auent some remarks of " Old Turfite " It will be dealt with in next issue. —A new paper, called the Sportsman, has made its appearance in Melbourne. The proprietors are understood to be Messrs. Winter, of the Herald, and Bradshaw, formerly of the Melbourne Baihj Teleijraph. —Miss Pinneo, a young lady of Colorado, is a decidedly plucky person. She has issued a challenge to the world for a twenty mile race, to be ridden early this year, for a wager of 10,000 dollars. — Goodison, having successfully "drawn" Drake for .61900, coolly refuses to pay his own creditors, who, strange to say, are members of the very club which decided the dispute. Comment is needless. —Mr. Belcher will, in all probability, be the sole representative of the Southern talent at our Autumn meeting. All the others intend patronising Christchurch. — Mr. W. A. Long has not any intention of sending Grand Flaneur to England, but he is quite prepared to match tin; colt to run Robert the Devil if the owner of the lattm- will consent to meet him half way, and have it decided at Bombay. —Messrs. Drake, Gardener and Belcher, with other members of the Southern talent passed through Auckland this week on their way to Taranaki. Some of them have not heen very well lately, and wish to put of!' going home as long as possible. — The Racing at Henderson's Mill, last Thursday, was in most respects capital. Such a contest as that for the Cup has seldom heen witnessed on n country course, and the lmndicapper (Mr. Percival) well deserved the cheers awarded him. —"Caspian" considers that the winner of the Hiiwkeslmrv Ant-inm Handicap will spring- from the following: -Black Swan. Lord Bnrghley, Hesnerian Geraldine, Strathearu. Canary, Milbrodale, "Wandering Jew, Chesterfield and Major. — Mr. Anthony Nichol, once a well-known owner of racehorses, <liod at Newcastle, in England, early in January, a^ert eisrhty-four. He won the Two Thousand Guineas twice— in 3849 with Nunnykirk, and in 18W with The Wizard, and secured the Leger twice— in 1851 with Newminstor, and in 1856 with Warlock. — Betting is now becoming brisk in Sydney on Randwick and Hawkeshury events forthcoming. Doubles on the Handicap and Cup at 1000 to 10 are taken, the following beini? the most in favour: — The two Bimrhleys, two Strathearns, two Hesperians, two Deans, two Canar.vs, and Hesperian and Wellington. — The Lurline — Peer colt Parebin would, apparently, have won the Ascot Vale Stakes had not O'Brien, his rider, been caught napping. His stable evidently believe they have a good thing in this youngster, as he has been backed to win the V.X.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, his price for the double being lOOOto 10. — The English racing season of ISBI commenced at Lincoln on Monday. The Lincolnshire Handicap was run on Wednesday, and the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase yesterday (Thursday). The result of the latter event will be cabled, and I shouldn't be surprised if Empress (last year's winner) were to pull off the Cross Country Derby for a second time. — I am informed (says "Augur" in the i4u.sti-n7n.sinH) that the reason why the Adelaide Racing Club did not endorse the V.R.C. disqualification of Mata was that the information was not forwarded to the A.R.C., but that the courtesy was extended to the South Australian Jockcv Club. If this be true, then the A.R.C. has some trround for not taking any notice of the horse's disqualification, because the A/R.C. is just as much entitled to the information as the S.A. J.C. — The Sydney Bulletin devotes a paragraph to the disputed wager of £1900 between Goodison and Drake, but omits to state that the latter paid up the money promptly on the day appointed by the committee. This is rather rough, for when a bookmaker " stumps iip" a sum amounting to close on £2000, he naturally likes to have it known. There are not many men in the New Zealand Ring- who could find such a large sum in a hurry. — Ward, the jockey, who shot himself at Wilcannia the other day, seems to have been perfectly in his right mind at the time. The cause of the rash act was the marriage to another of a girl to whom he was very much attached. He loaded a gun with swan shot, put the muzzle to his face, and pulled the trigger with his foot. The shot missed its aim, and the unfortunate man reloaded and put the gun to his forehead. But with the effort of discharging it he seems to have leaned backwards too much, for the shot did not enter the brain. It tore off the flesh, however, and inflicted a terrible, but still not fatal, wound. — The annual sals of blood stock and purebred sheep at Mr. Redwood's Farm at Spring Creek, Blenheim, will take place on Tuesday, the sth April. The catalogue of animals to be submitted to the hammer comprises some of the finest thoroughbreds in the Australasian Colonies. Nine two-year-olds and seven yearlings by such sterling sires as Traducer, Maroro, Korari, Totnra, and Puriri will be offered, and also a- number of fine brood mares, with foals at foot, and stinted to Anteros and Ramaraina. It is also intended that the stallions Lillipee, Auteros, and Ramarama shall be put up for sale, if they are not previously disposed of. Such a splendid assortment of animals should meet with ready sale, and an opportunity like this of procuring some good blood for this district should not he lost sight of by our sporting men. Messrs. Sharp and Pickering are the auctioneers. Saul. nEREAIONYOF LAYING THE FOUN\J DATION STONE OF FREEMASONS' HALL, PRINCES-STREET, ON WEDNESDAY, 30th INSTANT. All Master Masons are invited to attend the above Ceremony. Brethren will assemble at the Choral Hall, Symondsstreet, when the District Grand Lodge, E.C., will be opened at 1 o'clock p.m. sharp, after which the Brethren will form in procession and proceed to St. Paul's Cathedral to attend Divine Service, thence the procession will re-form and proceed to the site of the New Hall, when the Foundation-stone will be laid according to ancient custom at three o'clock p.m. by the R.W. Brother G. S. Graham, District Grand Master, E.C., assisted by the R.W. Brother Pierce, Provincial Grand Master, 1.C., and the R.W. Brother the Hon. F. Whitaker, Provincial Grand Master, S.C. The Musical portion of the Ceremony being conducted by Brothers Gordon Gooch and Angelo Forrest. A platform for the accommodation of ladies will be erected, tickets for admission to which may be obtained by Brethren from the Trustees, Brothers Durance, Nathan, Fenton, Dawson, Nelson, Niccol, and Boycroft. LAWRENCE D. NATHAN, Chairman of Trustees. A. S. BUSSELL, 596 Acting Secretary.

FIRST DAY. EASTER MONDAY, APRIL 18, 1881. TRADESMEN'S PLATE (HANDICAP) of 50 soys. Nomination, 1 soy.; acceptance, 1 soy. Distance, 1 mile. ELLERSLIE HANDICAP of 100 soys., with a sweepstakes of 3 soys. each, amount accruing froni sweepstakes to go to second horse. For 2 and 3-year-olds. Distance, £ mile. Nomination, 2 soys. each to the funds. HURDLE RACE (HANDICAP) of 50 soys., with a sweepstakes of 2 soys. 'each, the amount accruing- from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Entrance, 2 soys. to the funds. Distance, 2J miles, over 9 flights of hn rdles. EASTER HANDICAP of 100 soys., ndded to a sweepstsikes of 5 soys. each, second horse to receive 15 soys. out of the stakes, and third horse to save his stake. Nomination, 2 soys. to the funds. Nominations, with 2 soys. enclosed, to be made to the Secretary hy S o'clock p.m. on Friday, March 25. Weights to appear on or about Monday, April 5. Acceptances, with 2 soys., on night of general entry, balance of sweep, 3 soys., at the post. Distance, 2 miles. NOVEL HANDICAP of 50 soys., with a sweepstakes of 1 soy. each added. Entrance, 1 soy.; acceptance, 1 soy. to the funds. Distance, 1 mile. Winner to be sold by auction, with his engagements, immediatelyafter the race, and the whole of the proceeds of the sale of the horse to go to the funds. PUBLICAN'S PURSE of 60 soys., with a sweepstakes of 2 soys. each, amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Entrance, 2 soys. For 2-year-olds, 6st. lllbs.; 3-year-olds, Bst. 61bs.; 4-year-olds, 9st.; 5-year-olds and upwards, 9st. 21b. Distance, 1-J miles. SECOND DAY. EASTER TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1881. FLYING STAKES of 50 soys., with a sweepstakes of 2 soys. each, amonnt accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Nomination, 2 soys. to the funds. For 2-year-olds, 7st. lib.; 3-year-olds, Bst. 81bs.; 4-year olds, 9st.; 5 and upwards, 9st. lib. Winners since November 1, 1880, of an advertised weight-for-age race of 50 soys., to carry 51b. extra ; of 100 soys., 71b. extra; of 200 soys., lOlbs. extra. Distance, 1 mile. HANDICAP STEEPLECHASE of 100 soys., with a sweepstakes of 3 soys. each, amount accruing from sweepstakes to go to second horse. Nomination, 2 soys., and acceptance, 3 soys. to the funds. Nominations, with 2 soys. enclosed, to be made to the Secretary by 8 o'clock p.m. on Friday, March 25. Weights to appear on or about Monday, April 5, and acceptances on night of general entry. Distance, about 3-j miles. AUTUMN HANDICAP of 100 soys., added to a sweepstakes of 5 soys. each, second horse to receive 15 soys. out of the stakes, and third horse to save his stake. Nomination, 2 soys., to goto thefunds. Nominations, with 2 soys. enclosed, to be made to the Secretary by 8 o'clock p.m. on Friday, March 25. Weights to appear by 8 o'clock p.m. on first night of the races, and acceptances, with 2 soys., by 10 o'clock p.m., balance, 3 soys., at the post. Distance, 11- miles. SELLING RACE of 30 soys., added to n. sweepstakes of 2 soys. each. Entrance, 2 soys. For 2-year-olds, 6st. lllbs.; 3-year-olds, Bst. 61bs.; 4-year-olds, 9st.; 5-year-olds and upwards, 9st. 21bs. The winner to be sold by aiiction immediately after the race for 100 soys. If entered to be sold for 50 soys., allowed 71bs.; if for 30 soys., 141b5.; if for 20 soys., 211bs. Distance, If miles. THE SHORTS (HANDICAP) of 50 soys. Nomination, 1 soy.; acceptance, 1 soy. to the funds. Weights to appear by 8 o'clock p.m. on the first night of theraces, and acceptances by 10 p.m. Distance, 1 mile and 240 CONSOLATION HANDICAP of 25 soys. Entrance, 1 soy. Distance, 1 mile. RULES AND REGULATIONS. Horses to take their age from August 1. In all races in which standard weight-for-nge shall he carried, an allowance according to the following scale shall be made to all horses sired north of the line, and foaled between January 1 and August I—2 and 3-year-olds, lOlbs.; 4-year-olds, 71bs.; 5-year-olds, 31bs. In the Selling Race the winner shall be sold with all engagement at the meeting. Any surplus above the selling price to belong to the Auckland Racing Club, and any horse in such Selling Race, though not a winner, may, at the request of any person made to the stewards within fifteen minutes of weighing the first horse, be put up to auction in the same way as the winner, the upset price to be the amount at which he is to be sold, together with the value of the stake. Any surplus to belong to the Auckland Racing Club. No entry will be received for any of the races except upon this condition — That all disputes, claims, and objections a arising out of the racing shall be decided by a majority of Stewards present, or those whom they mayappoint. Their decisions upon all points connected with, the carrying out of this progamme, shall be final. Any Jockey riding except in the colours entered, shall be fined 3sovs. When two or more horses start, the property of the same owner, a distinguishing colour must be worn. No entry will be received on any pretence whatever, after the hour named, or without being accompanied by the necessary amount in cash. All persons intending to withdraw horses are required to give notice to that effect to the Secretary or Clerk of Scales, one half-hour before starting. Any person neglecting or refusing to comply with this rule shall pay a fine not exceeding ssovs., to the Race Fund. All entries to be sealed and addressed to the Secretary, Queen-street, Auckland, as at foot, entrance money enclosed, with the name, age at time of entry, pedigree, and, in case of handicaps, where horses have not previously started on the Auckland or Canterbury Courses, performances of the horse, name of the owner, and colours of the rider. Winners to pay 5 per cent of their gross winnings towards the expenses of the Course. All races to be run under the A. B.C. Rules. NOMINATIONS, ENTRIES AND ACCEPTANCES, AND AMOUNTS TO BE FORWARDED. Friday, March 25.— Easter Handicap, 2 soys.; Steeplechase, 2 soys.; Autumn Handicap, 2 soys. Friday, April 8, General Entries. — Tradesmen's Handicap, 1 soy.; Ellerslie Handicap, 2 soys.; Hurdle Race, 2 soys.; Novel Handicap, 1 soy.; Publicans' Purse, 2 soys.; Easter Handicap (acceptances), 2 soys.; FlyingStakes, 2 soys.; Steeplechase (acceptances), 3 soys.; Selling Race, 2 soys.; The Shorts, 1 soy. Wednesday, April 13, Acceptances. — Tradesman's Handicap, 1 soy.; Ellerslio Handicap, 3 soys.; Hurdle Race, 2 soys.; Novel Handicap, 1 soy. Second day as per conditions.