COURSING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 456, 20 April 1899, Page 8

COURSING.

[By

Dioken.]

The coursing season will open next month, and the Auckland Coursing Club will once more afford those who profess to have a love for the sport an opportunity to support it. The prospects of a successful season, however, are not promising, and unless the owners of dogs afford the club better and more contented support than

they have done in the past, I should not be surprised to find the Avondale Plumpton closed, and the few hares remaining sent to the kitchen. I wonder who they will have for judge this season. Mr Coombes, I do not think, has a fancy for the job ; Jim Barr has vanished from the scene, while the services of Mr Knight and Mr Henderson will not be available. [Since writing the above, I hear that it is likely Mr Coombes will be persuaded to take the position of judge.] The first meeting of the Auckland Coursing Club will be held on Saturday, May 13, and Wednesday, May 17. The programme consists of three events. The New Lynn Maiden Stakes is for an unlimited number of dogs at 30s each, and is open to all doge that have not won any advertised money. The Puppy Stakes is for an unlimited number of puppies at 30s each, and the Avondale Cup is for an unlimited number of all-aged dogs at £2 10s each. Nominations are due on Friday, May 5, by 8 p.m., and the balance of the sweeps must be paid in by 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 11. I have not heard of many new dogs this season. Tim Troy claims to have “ a brace of bines,” but then that Napier disqualification has to be considered. by the Alameda news was received from Frank Baker, who is now settled down in a suburb of San Francisco. Frank is not so enthusiastic con cerning coursing in America as - ' some newspaper writers, and Mr Jerry Jerome for instance, have been. But then there is this difference to be considered : Mr Jerry Jerome is a much travelled

man and is at home anywhere, while Frank Baker has not been much outside of Auckland, and, it may bs, has a strong preference for the green hills of North Shore to the busy, seething scenes of the Golden Gate. However, Frank seems to have commenced very well. It will be remembered that he took with him a couple of the progeny of Shylock and Dora 8., and very soon after his arrival he sold them —one for £3O and the other for £40 —and the new owner at once placed them in the hands of Frank, on liberal terms, to be trained. The little slut, Portia (by Shylock— Primrose), was very bad on the way over, but she soon recovered again and will be got ready. For her new owner’s (Mr Hackett’s) sake 1 hope she will turn out well. She is small, but as sharp as a needle. Old Shylock landed in splendid condition and is still under the care of his old trainer. In concluding his letter, Frank Baker asks to be remembered to his old Auckland coursing friends. The two sluts, Dora B. and Maud 8., will be sent to America by the Alameda on her next trip. I understand that a New Zealand-bred pup will also be sent over by the same boat. Old Auckland boys will be glad to hear that an old friend, Mr W. W. Robinson, is still en evidence. Mr Robinson was a thorough sportsman, and was identifit d with Auckland cricket up to seventeen years ago. He is now-sojourning in England, and, to show that he has not for otten Auckland and old Auckland boys, he sent by the last mail —to Mr J. W. Russell, of the Occidental —the issues of the London Sportsman containing

the full reports of the running in the Waterloo Cup. Australians tpok unusual interest in the event this year, inasmuch as the veteran colonial trainer, Mr Sam Bladon, had secured two nominations and was represented by Bogan and Tarana’s Pride. The cable has already informed us that the Australians were beaten in the first round. In the long odds betting, when the card was read over on the night before the great event Bogan was quoted at 1000 to 15 offered, and 1000 to 5 Tarana’s Pride. The favorite at that time was Real Emperor, who was quoted at the short price of Bto 1. Black Fury, at the same period, was at 1000 to 30 (taken and offered). The favorite went out early, and the deciding course was between Lapal (by Fortuna Favai.te—Nopal) and Black Fury (by Mad Fury—Mischief X.) The deciding course is thus reported by The Sportsman “ Betting :9to 4 on Black Fury. Plenty of time being given for squaring accounts, it was nearly 1 o’clock when the last brace were placed under the slipper’s charge, and a few snaps were then quickly taken before Bootiman took up his position. It was not long before a hare came past'the screen, and at the first attempt the pair were despatched for the momentous tussle. Black Fury, the quicker into his stride, almost instantly showed with a slight advantage, but Lapal forged to him, and a desperate neck and-neck race followed for two hundred yards. The extra long stride of the dog then began to tell, and as they neared the hare he drew clear. Just in the last few strides he increased his lead to two lengths, the bitch evidently being then intent upon trying for

the second point. The hare being only a weak one, however, Black Fury remained in powerful command, and wrenched strongly three times before puss broke round. Lapal quick as lightning, shot to. the front, but instantly destroyed her chance by bringing her teeth into play. Black Fury scored a splendid victory, but it was only a moderate trial for a Waterloo final, its duration being exactly 18sec I may mention here that Black Fury’s previous course with George Tincler extended over 28sec, whilst that between Lapal and Keeper stretched out to49sec.” Referring to the Australian doge “ Vindex,” in The Sportsman, remarks : —“ Before concluding these remarks, mention may be made of the Australian leaven amongst the entries, which, it may be remarked, eerved to accentuate the cosmopolitan character of the contest for the Blue Riband of the Leash. The defeat of Bogan in the Cup was not satisfactory, and it was certainly desperately hard lines to bring a dog all the way from “ down under” to have him snuffed out in what was merely an apology for a trial. However, in the Purse he had every scope for demonstrating his prowess, and his poor effort against Ben Clachan, who in turn succumbed to Countess Udston, would go to prove that the class of Australian greyhounds is far below that of the Mother Country. His compnfrio', Tarana’s Pride, if she was not heralded with such a big reputation, much more pleased good judges of the make and shape of a greyhound, and, considering her jolly condition, she did not acquit herself so badly in

raising a couple of flags in the Purse. Still harping on the colonial chord, it is an item of news that the Hon. Opbert Molyneux has purchased Baldcoot (sister to Bogan), and that in a trial spin after the meeting was concluded she beat Flash Flossie.”