NOTES

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 282, 19 December 1895, Page 8

NOTES

[By

Gipsy King.]

[By wire.—Continued from page 13.] Maori Girl, the dam of the steeplechasers Queenslander, Gasparina, and Chrystal, died at Orua (Downs’ estate), near Foxton, on Friday. Two of her progeny—a four-year-old by Voltigeur, and a tbree-year-old by Flintlock ("both untried) —are running on the estate. Milksop, the dam of Mr Gollan’s Kimberley, foaled to Haere this season, but the youngster only lived about a week. Milksop visits Ascot this season. Jim McTaggart has not experienced very good luck since temporarily removing to Foxton with his team. Last week Trickery ricked the muscles of her shoulder, and it is doubtful if she will be able to fulfil any of her Christmas engagements; and Ruby Twist, the four-year-old half brother to Irish Twist, was taken suddenly ill with inflammation of the kidneys a few days afterwards, and she will also be spelled for a while. Both horses were looking well, and McTaggart had been very attentive to them all the winter, so that their retirement right in the thick of the racing season is decidedly hard luck. Owners and trainers will be so busy during the Christmas holidays that they will be glad to be reminded that the atraetive programme issued by the Foxton Racing Club requires attention on Saturday, December 28th (same day as Ashurst races), when nominations for all events except the Trial Hurdles and Anniversary Stakes close with Mr J. K. Whyte, Secretary, Foxton. Those interested should not forget that the Woodville Meeting follows a few days afterwards ; so that both meetings can be attended with little additional expense. The Woodville programme will duly appear in the Review, and owners will then see something to their advantage. The Woodville Club has a splendid course, and well up-to-date appointments, and is largely attended, this latter item always assuring owners a favourable dividend. Cheap fares will be available for both meeting. And owners at the same time should note that there are fewer meetings this year than last, consequently they must take advantage of meetings such as the Foxton and Woodville. For the Second Taranaki Hack Derby, I like the Ascot—Fides colt, Surrey, as well as anything in the race. My selections for the Ashurst meeting, to be held on the 28th December, are:—Maiden Hurdles, Jacobite; Flying Handicap, Streamlet or Iphimede ; Manawatu Gorge Handicap, Aio ; Maiden Plate, Mary -, Siberia Handicap, Slumber; Visitors Handicap, Allington ; Pohangina Handicap, Roll Call ; Scurry Stakes, Volta or Arlington. My selections for the Manawatu meeting are : —Telegraph Stakes, Kent or Hotspur ; Hurdles, Rangipai; Hack Hurdles, Barman ; Palmerston Cup, Leda or Brooklet; First Hack Flat, Seabreeze ; Grandstand Handicap, Bloomsbury; Ladies’ Purse, First Sight.

On Monday evening next the first of a series of Continental Water Concerts will be given, the p.s. Eagle having been chartered for the season by the Continental Concert Company. These concerts are to be conducted on similar lines to those which have been so thoroughly successfid on the Continent for some years. Everything will be done in first-class style, and no effort will be spared by the Company to make the concerts enjoyable to patrons. The charge is to be a popular one, viz., one shilling, and books containing a dozen tickets may be bad for ten shillings.