NOTES BY MONITOR.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue VII, 18 August 1900, Page 294

NOTES BY MONITOR .

To-morrow (Thursday) the Winter Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be continued, and the fixture will conclude on Saturday. In the second day’s programme most attention centres, of course, in the Hurdle»Race, and for this Auckland bids fair to play a strong hand with liecord Reign and Cavaleliero, and I must confess to a strong partiality for the former. If there is a horse engaged who is able to lower the colours of the Castor horse it may be that it will be Roller, who is reported to be in very fine form.

Mr Foley, in moving the adoption of the report at the Avondale Jockey Club’s annual meeting, referred to Mr. Nathan’s remark re the stewards of the Metropolitan Club also acting in a similar capacity for the suburban clubs. In Mr. Foley’s opinion the appointment of such officers was to be justified on the ground that it would place the smaller clubs above suspicion. On this point I cannot help thinking that Mr. Nathan held the more correct view, and at the same time would point out that it is surely possible to secure the services of enough gentlemen of unimpeachable integrity without the necessity of asking the same gentlemen to act in any dual capacity. When any question Is referred to the metropolitan body, as is so often the case, it becomes little more than a farce if stteh gentlemen who have already settled the point as stewards of the suburban club should also be called upon to decide the same question in their capacity as Stewards of the A.R.C. To-day (Wednesday) is the first day of the August meeting of the Coursing Club, and the fixture will be continued on Saturday, and this will terminate the sport for the season. The two chief events are the Recovery Stakes and the Champion Collar Stakes. For the former sixteen entries have been received, while the Collar Stakes has attracted twelve nominations. As is invariably the case at the concluding meeting, much interest is sure to be shown in the various trials, as all the dogs are out with the intention of earning their winter oats, while the hares are reported by the caretaker to be in exceptionally tine order. In addition to the following nominations, two supplementary stakes will Im* decided at the meeting. Retting on the New Zealand Cup shows very little alteration during the w< ek. both bookmakers and punters having their attention taken up with the Southern Grand National Meeting. Mtilatua is at 7 to I. while 12 to 1 ts quoted about Record Reign. Tortulla and Dundas. Seahorse is a shade longer. It to 1 being obtainable about. Nelson’s son. Fulmen. Miss Delaval and Sant Ilario are each at 16 to 1. while 20 to 1 can be had about Explosion. Jabber. Nobility. Beddington, Military. Field Rose and SkobelofT. The chairman of the Avondale J.C. meeting gave great praise to Mr. H. 11. Huyr. who lias undoubtedly done loyal service for some seasons past, and it was only fitting that his salary should be raised to .£ 15(1 per annum. Mr. J. O. Evitt. the handicapper, also came in for an increase of salary. The two Vim Zealand Cup candidates, Explosion and Seahorse, are getting through their preparation in a

very satisfactory manner at Ellerslie. The first-named is being allotted plenty of hard toil, and he appears to thrive on it. Seahorse moves well In the work apportioned him, and should Nelson’s son be sent down to Christchurch in the spring he is bound to have a large following in the big two-mile event. The list of winning sires in Australia this season is to hand, and it is pleasing to note that the ex-New Zealander Lochiel stands at the top of the poll, his progeny having won no less than 56 races, of a total value of £18,109. The St. Simon horse. Bill of I’ortland, has steadily improved his position, and now is second to the Prince Charlie stallion with 13 winners, and £12,405 in stakes. The expatriated Carbine follows with 28 wins for his descendants, of the value of £BBO2. 'Then follow Malua, £8207; Gozo, £7801; Grand Flaneur, £7715; Metal, £5353; Neckersgate, £5350; Sunrise, £4472; Pilgrim’s Progress, £4263; and Trenton, £3525.

The balance-sheet which was presented at the annual meeting of the Avondale Jockey Club disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs, there being a balance of £978, with no liabilities. This was a very satisfactory statement for the chairman to have to announce, and the members of the committee must be congratulated on the success attending their efforts. I notice that both daily papers record the fact that after the sale of La Carabine to Sir Rupert Clarke last week the daughter of Carbine was backed at 1000 to 4, the wager being accepted three times. If this is the correct figure it would seem as if the bookmakers over there were fully convinced that Sir Rupert Clarke intended adhering to his intention never to race again in Victoria, for the price laid is altogether a fictitious one. Mr Stead intends despatching Screw Gun to England by the s.s. Papanui about the middle of this month. It is greatly to be hoped that the Hotchkiss horse will be able to repeat some of his good deeds in the Old Country and thus make up for the non-success of Multiform, who is being returned to New Zealand by the Gothic. On Saturday last the Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase was decided. TT-«e winner turned up in Mr R. H. Frew’s Chelsea, a five-year-old grey gelding, sired by Portsea, who defeated Signal in the run home by fully eight lengths, while the favourite, Euro, only managed to squeeze into third place. The race proved a chapter of accidents, only seven out of the seventeen runners managing to negotiate the country safely, the others either coming to grief or ran off. The winner carried top weight. 11st lOlbs, started at 9 to 1. and was ridden by Brooks. It will also be remembered that the top weight triumphed in last pear’s event, this being Floater, who romped home eight lengths in front of the field with the heavy burden of 13st 51b on his back. The balance-sheet of the Napier Park Racing Club for the past season discloses that the club is in a highly satisfactory position. The year’s operations resulted in a clear profit- of £651. which enabled the. club to pay off their overdraft and stand slightly in credit for the first time in its existence. The slim of £3429 was spread over rhe three meetings in stakes, the totalisator returning £340. Some of tlie horses fetched fair prices nt the sale in the estate of the late Mr W. R. Wilson, at .Melbourne. As might have been expected, that wonderfully good mare La Carabine brought ’lie highest figure. Sir Rupert Clarke giving 1000 guineas for the chestnut daughter of Carbine and Orotava. Kinglike would ito have fetched his full vahte at 9 guineas, at which price Mr J. Scobic secured the black son of Wallace and Bonny Rosette. Tin* same buyer purchased the Trenton—Water Lily gelding R ■■ ;*nue for 725 guineas. The Bill of I’ortland colt Barraguudu was bought by Mr Earnshaw for 600 guineas, whilg another noted Bill of Portland horse, viz., ftobndil, fell to Mr Grimwade at 100 guineas less. Debenture, who is described as being by Eiridspord or Wallace from Water Lily, was secured by

Mr Murray for 575 guineas, while all the other lots evoked brisk competition. The following colonial bred horses figure in the Cesarwitch Stakes: — Tirant d’Eau, Old Clo’, and The Grafter, while in the Cambridgeshire Stakes, which event is run over a mile and a distance, the same three horses are among the entrants, which also includes Uniform, Syerla. Sailor Boy and the Australian Star. Acceptances are to hand for the two big races of the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, and also for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. In the Epsom Handicap, which is run at Randwick on the Bth of September, 55 horses are still left in, but no doubt the scratching pen will be very busy as the event draws nearer. There are three more still remaining in the Metropolitan Stakes, with Paul Pry at the top of the list. This horse has been very harshly treated in the race in question, as he is asked to give weight to Tarquin, although the latter has been given top weight in all three of the other big events. After the payment of the first forfeit for the Caulfield Cup, which was due on the 6th inst., no less than 115 still remain in, and an equally lengthy list of horses have been accepted for the Melbourne Cup. I notice that the Aucklander Seahorse has been left in, but among the withdrawals are the New Zealanders Malatua and Military. A horse that is being supported for both Cups is Severity, and J. Alsopp is always pretty dangerous in these events. ' Horace and Vocalist is another favourite double. As horses now in the Cup list can remain without incurring further liability until about a week before the respective races are to be run, there will be plenty of scope for backers for some time to come. The first meeting of the newly-elect-ed Auckland Racing Club Committee took place on Monday, when the following officials were duly elected: President, Mr. W. McLaughlin; vicepresident, Mr. P. L. Dignan; stewards, Colonel Dawson, Messrs. A. Kidd, G. W. S. Patterson, F. Earl, S. T. George, H. O. Nolan, J. C. Smith and A. J. Dennison; judge. Colonel Banks; treasurer, Mr. H. T. Gorrie; handicapper, Mr. J. O. Evitt; secretary, Mr. W. Percival. Various sub-committees were also ejected. When our latest files left England, The Grafter was announced as being for sale. Referring to the matter, an English paper says, “The old bus-’oss was on offer for £2500 after the Ascot meeting. Sir J. Blundell Maple had a nibble, but would not swallow the bait.” So far punters on the other side have not settled on any decided fa-

vourite for either the Epsom Handicap or Metropolitan Stakes. Both Revivor and Dandy have been backed, while Anpier has firmed very considerably. Other horses to meet with favour are George Frederick, Balastite. Lancaster, and Fleet Admiral; while for the longer race Cynide, Johansen, and Paul Pry have been supported. ® ® ® N.Z. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE MEETING. STEEPLECHASE WON BY THE GUARD. CHRISTCHURCH RACECOURSE, Wednesday. The weather is exceedingly fine for the first day’s racing of the N.Z. Grand National Meeting. There is a very large attendance. The first race was delayed quarter of an hour owing to one train being late, consequent on a railway carriage on the previous train being found on fire. Details of the racing are appended:— First Hunters’ Hurdle Race Handicap, of 50 sovs; second horse to receive 10 sovs out of the stake. For qualified hunters that have never won an open hurdle race. Minimum weight of handicap, Ust. Once round and a distance.—Long Tom, 11.5, 1; Izal, 11.10, 2; Crash, 11.3, 3. Hairtrigger was scratched. Ferndale and Cadet fell. Won by ten lengths. Only the placed horses finished. Time, 3.17. Dividend. £4 5/6. Maiden Hurdle Race Handicap, of 150 sovs: second horse to receive 20 sovs, and the third horse 10 sovs out of the stake. One mile and three-quarters.—J. E. Thorpe’s br g Record Reign, by CastorWinnie. 6yrs, 12.12 (W. Clarke), 1; Coeur de Lion,. 10.11, 2; Halcyon, 3. All acceptors (seven) started. Time, 3.2 1-5. Paria led to the back of the course, when Coeur de Lion closed up. At the turn approaching the straight Record Reign came up and took the last fence slightly in advance of Coeur de Lion, winning easily by three-quarters of a length. Halcyon five lengths behind Coeur de Lion. Dividend, £3 1/6Winter Cup (Flat), a handicap of 300 sovs; second horse to receive 25 sovs, and third horse 10 sovs out of the stake. One mile.—Spider, 9.0. 1; Sir Lancelot, 11.9, 2; The Spinner. 9.10, X Scratched. Ideal. Time, 1.47 2-5. Dividend, £ll 16/6. N.Z. Grand National Steeplechase Handicap, of 650 sovs; second horse to receive 100 sovs, and the third horse 50 sovs out of the stake. Three miles and a half.— J. Prosser’s The Guard, by Vanguard— Yattaway. 6yrs, 10.6, 1; The Friar, 2; Stray Bird, 3. Time, 7.25 1-5. Dividend, £4 5/6. Kanaka was scratched. Tally-ho Steeple.—The Whip, 1 ; Crocus, 2 ; Johnny, 3. Dividend. £l2 12/-. Enfield Handicap.—Silver Ray, 1; Zither, 2 ; Popgun. 3.