MY NOTE BOOK,

Observer, Volume 3, Issue 55, 1 October 1881, Page 46

MY NOTE BOOK,

By "Satjj,."

"Is Saul also amongst the prophets."

— Monmouth has gone back to 10 to 1 for the V.X.C. Derby. — The stakes at the late A.J.C. meeting totted up to L 5025. — Mr Cassidy's Elfin King and Kensington are for sale. No reasonable offer refused. — Acceptances and general entries for "VVangainui, October 10th. — Mr Coombe will dispose of Flying Dutchman by art union. ■ — Roddy Mclvor had a mount at Randwick, and ran second for the Hurdle Race. — The meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt Chib will take place at Ellerslie on November sth. — Spinningdale has quite recovered from her accident at Hawkesbury. -r-^ln the first flush of his Cambridge Cup victory an enthusiastic sportsman backed Stanley for the Auckland Cup at 100 to 4. — Mr E. H. Ferguson is sending his mares IJocket, Dundee Katie, and Olive (by Pero Gomez.) to Musket. — Waxy, who ran second for the Metropolitan and is now favourite for the Melbourne Cup. has been sold for L 2200 to Mr J. Wentworth, of Sydney. — Imported sires seem to be doing well. The subscriptions to Musket, Cadogan, and Leolinus are all full. — Nautilus, who is engaged in the Y.R.C. Derby, and was a i>romising outsider, has broken a blood Tessel. — Owing to the disqualification of Mr Mayo and his jockey, The Gem will not be able to run for the Melbourne Cnp. — Savanaka is in splendid fettle, and did what lie liked with the Australian Cup winner, First "Water, in. a two mile 3 trial the other day. — Somnus, at 6 to 1, is second favourite for the V.R.C, Derby ; Somerset, at 7to 2, heading the quotations. — A French journal announces a steeplechase at Dieppe with lady riders in jockey colours. What next? — Waxy tops the Melbourne Cup quotations at 10 to 1, Bathurst at 100 to 8, and Sir Modred at 100 to 6 iehig next in demand. . — The Gkreat Yorkshire Handicap, won by Musket's famous son Petronel, is run over the St. Leger course — 1 mile, 6 furlongs, 32 yards. — The field for the Canterbury Derby will in all probability consist of the following : — The Dauphin, Peeress colt, Louis DOr, Blue Jacket, and Nonpareil. — The Wairarapa Jockey Club will hold a meeting on the Prince of "Wales' Birthday (November 9) at Tauherenikau racecourse. The chief event is the birthday Cup of 50 soys. r— Bill Lyons drew Stanley in Bob Kirkwood's Calcutta Sweep on the Cup at Cambridge, and let him go for 22s 6d. After the race Bill's face was a picture. — The stewards at Cambridge fined Wilson ;£4 (£2 in the Hurdle, and £2 in the Steeple) for riding in elastic-side boots. — The Pakuranga hounds met at Mrs Gwynne's, Epsom, last Saturday, but in consequence of the weather the meet was postponed till to-morrow, same time and place. —Much dissatisfaction was expressed at the stewards not taking notice of "Wilson's riding in the Hurdle race at Cambridge. Had he not interef er ed with Harkaway that animal would have won. , — Mr Stead's imported mare Crinoline has ! dropped a bay filly to Leolinus. Crinoline is by Lord Lyon (winner of the Two Thousand, Derby and Leger) out of Crinon by Newminster. — Those interested in promoting consultations ou sporting events have resolved to test the new Gaming and Lotteries Bill in various ways before knocking under to its (intended) provisions. — Mr Abbott does not propose to wait for the running of the Melbourne Cup to distribute the money prizes in the LIO,OOO sweep. They will be paid to winders within a few days of the drawing. — Musket's stock evidently possesses a fair turn of speed as well as great staying powers. Brown Bess covered the Goodwood Stakes distance in lOJsec. less than her immediate predecessor Keveller, and 13sec. less than the 1879 winner, Bay Archer. Even the renowned Hampton could only get over this course in one second faster than Brown Bess. ,

— Williams, the rider of Harkaway, showed splendid horsemanship in the Steeplechase at; Cambridge. The way he took the last jumx) standing was grand. ■ — " Soukar" says Mr Walters' intends sending a team to represent him at the Wanganui, Waverley, and Itangi'tikei meetings, and anticipates that the Slander filly will win the Waverley Guineas easily. — The entries for all the principal handicaps at the Dunedin (February) meeting close next Saturday. This is absurdly premature, and has caused no end of grumbling amongst horseowners, who cannot possibly tell how to place their animals thus early. —Miss Domett looked like winning the Stewards' Handicap at Cambridge easily, when suddenly she stuck her toes in the ground and refused to budge. Her owner was so much disgusted that he relegated the mare to the stud there and then. She is now on a visit to Ariel.

— "Beacon" is always "blowing" about the strict integrity of the Southern ring, but I observe from his notes of the 17th ultimo that another of the fraternity has sought " fresh fields and pastures new," leaving disconsolate creditors behind. But why not give the name, so that " sports " may avoid the gentleman ? — Says " Sinbad," " I was glad to see Mata out doing walking exercise a few days ago. Le Loup is looking well, and his party have been bn clang him of late for the Canterbury J.C. Handicap and Cup ; but I think the question of his standing a thorough winding up is still a moot point.

— Eoddy Mclvor owes Billy Weston the amemnt of several unsettled wngers, and at the last Wanganui meeting Billy applied to have Koddy suspended from riding till he paid. The stewards refused, but I hear that in Australia the bookmaker has been more successful, and managed to render Mclvor's visit to Melbourne abortive.

— The announcement that, the committee of the Aiickland Racing Club (exclusive of horseowners) intend doing the handicapping for the forthcoming Christinas meeting has caused intense dissatisfaction both amongst local " sports " and down South. After the marked success achieved by Messrs Percival and Kirkwood at the Autumn meeting, people looked U2>on the question of handicapping as settled for ever. It appears, however, some fanciful committee man is of opinion that if the secretary does the handicapping he will endanger his popularity, and therefore his usefulness. A rottener argument I never heard. A good handicapper is bound to be liked.

— Says " Tout Cela," in the Melbourne Sjwrl.smmi :• — " A probable exi>lanation has been given me as to the mistaken report that the Adelaide Jockey Club had confirmed the V.R.C.'s disqualification of Mata. It is to the effect tbnt n, telegram was shown stating that the A.J.C. had decided against both Rae and the horse ; but the said A.J.C. meant the Auckland Jockey Club, and it was not noticed at the time that the message dated from New Zealand." I can't see how this can be, for the Auckland Jockey Club decided against Mata and Ray months ago, whereas this mistake occurred only a week or two back.