AUSTRALIA.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 345, 18 July 1885, Page 14

AUSTRALIA.

September i2.— Great Metropolitan Stakes. October 17.— Caulfield Cup. " 31 — Victoi'ia Derby. November 3. — Melbourne Cup.

Betting on the New Zealand Cup is very dull. The veteran steeplechaser Banjo has turned up in Hobart. In the Melbourne Cup, Oudeis' weight is Bst slb, instead of Bst 31b. I have to acknowledge the receipt of the C 3. 0. programme for '80-'BG. Minerva is being well supported in Dunedin for the New Zealand Cup. 'Vigilant' thinks the V.E.C. Steeplechase Avill be won by Morven or Game. Nominations for the Christchurch Hunt Club's Steeplechases are due on July 25. Master Agnes' name was included in the list of acceptances for the Wellington Hurdle Handicap through an error. Denmark is top weight for the Melbourne Grand National Steeplechase with 12st 111 b. Clarence's weight is list 111 b. The Tiraaru Eacing Clut> — one of the best of, the Canterbury Country clubs — intend holding a race meeting on October 27. Adamant (who won the Dunedin Cup iv 1883) was sold by auction, last Saturday, at Dunedin for £50. Mr Allison was the purchaser. Sporting men in Dunedin wonder why they cannot have a steeplechase meeting as -well as other important centres in New Zealand. Vanguard is second on the list for the County Purse (one mile) with 9st ; Oudeis Bst 91b ; and Liverpool and Thunderbolt 7st 121 b each. Albert Lyford won golden opinions for tbe manner iv which he handled Macaroni in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase. Mr T. Lyford, who was severely injured at the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase Meeting, is progressing favorably towards recovery. The entries for the Australian Grand National Steeplechase closed with 28, and for the Hurdle Eace with 22. Clarence is nominated for the former. ■ Trenton is looked upon as the best treated of the New Zealand candidates in the Melbourne Cvp — some solace to his owner for his harsh treatment in our premier event. For the Hawkesbury Handicap, 1^ mile, "Welcome Jack has been allotted 9st 51b (top weight) ; Vanguard, Bst 121 b; Oudeis, Bst 6lbs ; Liverpool, 7st 81b ; and Thunderbolt, 7st. Vanguard (says the Dunedin correspondent of the Referee) is in great demand in Dunedin for the Melbourne Cup, and 100 to 3 is readily taken abouthim. Commotion has been backed for £1000 at 100 to 2. At an auction sale of racehorses at Christchurch, on Saturday last, Mr Bate's Patrician was sold for 50 guineas, the Painter for 22£ guineas, and If So for 20 guineas. Mr Lunn's Bally fetched 32 guineas. Minerva, the New Zealand Cup candidate, is (says the Wellington correspondent of the Referee) looking well, and should be in grand form to stand a cup preparation. She is in charge of Hickton at the Hutt. The Sydney correspondent of the Sjwrlsman says that Vanguard, Oudeis, Liverpool, Thunderbolt and Winchester are without doubt- the best-looking lot of horses in one stable in N.S. Wales. The following prices have been laid in Dunedin on the Melbourne Cup : — IOO to 3 each Vanguard, Oudeis, Thunderbolt, and The Broker ; 100 to 2£ Eeginald, 100 to 2 each Commotion, Prometheus, Anchorite, Dirk Hatteraick, Plausible, and Manchester ; Favo has been supported at 500 to 7J. The following twelve horses have paid the final payment for the Wellington Steeplechase Handicap : Eavenswood, 12st 61b ; Macaroni, 12st 61b; King Arthur, list 101 b;

Orient, lOst 121 b; Berrington, lOst 101 b; Borneo, lOst 71b; Faugh-a-ballagh, lOst 41b: Billy-go-by-em, 9st 101 b; Erebus, 9st 101 b; Fair Play, 9st 51b; Flemingfcon, 9st; Bobby 9st. Ely is the only one who has cried quits. Macaroni is the favorite. A case of importance to tli3 unfortunates who were injuredinthe Cootamundra accident has, says the Sportsman, just been decided in the Banco Court of New South Wales. The plaintiff was Mr Adams, who suffered on the occasion, and the defendant the Commissioner of Kailways. The jury unanimously found that there had not been any negligence in the construction of the culverts near Cootamundra, and that the officials of tne latter place had done all they could be reasonably expected to do to stop the tram on the Bethunga side before it reached the place where the accident occurred. The approximate amounts won during the past season by Musket's progeny are:— Thunderbolt, £600; Mitraileuse, £604; Trenton, £500 ; Fusilier, £370 ; Revolver, £298 ; Necklace £225 ; Tetford, £190 ; Foul Shot, £153; Woodnymph, £129; Derringer, £126; Linda, £115; Snider, £8o; Carbineer, £80; Kosebud £36 ; Fusikde, £25 ; A 8,29 ; Rifleman, £10 ; total £0906. Anteros' progeny :—• Black Koso, £1043 ; , The Poet, £625 ; Fay, £529 ; King Arthur, ! £175 ; Rocket, £140 ; Sediment, £40 ; Spec, £39; Amazon, £25; total, £2598. Lcolinus progeny :— Tigredia, £1057 ; Leonora, £29 1 ; Clogs, £230 f Puck, £185; Leon, £100; Leonata, £100; Corrie Vick, £30; total, £1999. Cap-a-pie's progeny :— Capella, £n; Makiri, £10 ; total, £87. The C.J.C. has issued its three programmes for the season of '85-'B6. The Club has increased the stakes considerably. The spring meeting is fixed for the 10th, 12th, and 13th November, and no doubt there will be larger fields this time for most of the events, as the second and third money has been risen in almost all the races, in fact the Club has made some of the events more like consultations with their first, second, and third money, or prizes. I have no doubt it will cause better racing, at least more will try for a situation than we see now— hence the handicappers will have a better show of taking the ' measure ' of most of the « hangback's ' for a better-day sort ; but with all the great temptations for owners, I do not believe that more than a dozen will face the starter on the 16th November next. The Wellington Steeplechase Meeting takes place to-day (Saturday), and judging by the number and class of horses engaged in the different events to be decided, it should prove very succeesful, so far as sport is concerned. Thirteen still remain in the Wellington Steeplechase Handicap, but I expect two or three of the number will not come to the post. If Macaroni puts in an appearance, fit and well, and ' on the job' he will be very difficult to beat. He had very little trouble in disposing of his opponents in the Hawkes' Bay Steeplechase ; and the same may be said of him in the Great Northern Steeplechase, although the task might have been a little more difficult had old New Year not come down at the last jump, thereby causing Ngata to run round the hurdle. However, very few know what he is really capable of doing, and I don't think there is anything in it to beat him, even with five pounds more in the saddle than he carried at Napier. I shall expect the result to be : — Macaroni, 1 ; King Arthur, 2 ; Orient, 3. The Hurdle Handicap is sure to bring out a good field to face the starter, and should be well contested. Eavenswood, I fancy, will about win it if he goes for it, and I shall therefore^ place Eavenswood first, with Billy-go-by-'eni and Loch Lomond as his immediate attendants, in the order named. As the acceptances for the other' events have not been received I cannot make any attempt to spot the winners. The arrival of the Hon. W. Robinson's horses in Australia from New Zealand has directed the attention of the Australian sporting men to the state of racing affairs in this colony, and they were not slow in coming to the conclusion that it was a manifest sign of weakness or decadence in turf affairs, and things were in such a deplorable state as to cause one of the leading sportsmen and his fine string of horses to seek fresh fields and pastures new. The totalisator had so crippled the members of the ring that owners could not back their horses to any extent, they found it imposi sible to get enough money on to keep their large stud going, and pay trainers and a retained jockey; therefore they had to go where the * infernal machine ' was not in existence. No doubt it has been the means ; of placing most of the leading clubs in a | solvent position. At the same time, I am not a believer in an indiscriminate use of the. j instrument, and this is the rock upon which the New Zealand Clubs will wreck themselves if they do not take steps to prevent a too frequent use of the totalisator by those that patronise race meetings merely to make money by its instrumentality. It was conduct of this kind that caused the people of South Australia to cry out for a repeal of the Totalisator Act, which I hope to see reintroduced into this country. The abolition of the machine means the extinction of many of the outside racing clubs in this country, a consummation devoutly to be wished. Keep it — or the percentage — within proper bounds. Reduce the percentage to five per cent, and then perhaps it may be in existence for two or. tl ree years longer.