Inter-Provincial.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 524, 9 August 1900, Page 12

Inter-Provincial.

[By Our Own Correspondents.]

CANTERBURY. TROTTING GOSSIP-THE GRAND NATIONAL MEETING. Christchurch, August 7. The President of the Trotting Conference has received from the President of the hew Brighton Trotting Club a letter with reference to the re marks of the Hon J. Carroll at the recent Conference. The President of the Club points out that the difficulty experienced in obtaining a quorum for the annual meeting was due to the fact that the majority of members live in scattered districts. He is surprised at appointments on the ground having been questioned, but says the stand will be improved by having a cover placed over it. He expresses astonishment at Mr Carroll singling out the New Brighton Club for unfavourable mention when clubs like Ahuna Park, receiving three permits, have neither stand nor any accommodation for ladies. A copy of the letter has been sent to the Colonial Secretary. The first meeting of the nexly elected members of the New Zealand Trotting Association was held last week when it was agreed to remove all disqualifications from p rsons who had taken part in unregistered meetings at Halewell and Heathcote. Among the correspondence dealt with were letters from the secretarys of the Hawke’s Bay and Nels >n Trotting Clubs regarding the mare Vim, who had won races at meetings of both clubs. The mare’s name had been placed on the forfeit list for money due to the defunct Johnsonville Club. Before she raced at Hawke’s Bay, the sum was paid to the secretary of that

Club, but as the Johnsonville Club has ceased to exist, he could not forward the money, cqnijg,quently Vim raced whilst her name was ktjlj, o» the forfeit list. The Nelson Club decided under the circumstances to pay over the two stakes won by Vim and forwarded two protests on behalf of Iris and Trickster, who finished second to hqj in the two races she had won. The Association decided to uphold the action of the Nelson Club, dismissed both appeals and returned the deposits, and that the Chairman be requested to write to the Clubs affected, also to point out that all moneys due to the Johnsonville Club should be paid into the Association to be held in trust;, an.d that the late secretary be asked to forward a list of debtors and creditors and' money received by him at that meeting. Mr P. Selig was elected president, Mr C. S. Howell, vice-president, Mr A. L. Myers, treasurer, and Mr W. Rollitt, secretary, the last named at a salary of £l5O per annum.

Mr J. A. Backland’s team of. trotters arrived at Lyttelton by the Waikare this morning, in charge of >■ . Piper. After the declaration of first forfeits 40 horses remain in the C.J C. Welcome Stakes, 25 in th® Derby, and 21 in the Oaks, to. be run at the 0.J.0. November Meeting this year, and 77 iii the Ninth Challenge Stakes, run at the Autuntto Meeting next year. The latest arrivals from the North are Morag, Sir Lancelot, Ideal, Boiler, Honors, Tally-hq, Coeur de Lion, Black Dust and The. Guard, who came by the Mararoa to-day. During most of last week the weather was beautiful, and enabled trainers to give their horses plenty of work. Since Saturday, however, it has been very unfavourable, and th® galloping ground has been made rather heavy, Although it is yet a week before the Grand National Meeting I must make selections for the first day. Between now and the meeting much may happen, but taking the events in tl^eorder of running Skipper and Cadet seem to be a. good pair for the First Hunters’ Hurdle Race. Th® winner of the Maiden Hurdle Bace may oom® from Dr Bill, Coeur de Lion and Record Reign. In this connection I may state that it is rumoured that Record Reign will be reserved- for the Winter Cup, for which event he should have a good chance. Of the twenty-two others still engaged Conqueror and Sir Launcelot tak® my fancy. The next race is the Grand National Steeplechase Plain Bill has only been given light tasks since his arrival, as an infirmity from which he is suffering is causing his supporters some anxiety. It is said his connections believe that with two or three good gallops he can win,, but the question is whether he can stand such work. Blackberry, last year’s winner, is also giving his connections some worry, one qf bis fore legs being the seat of trouble Dundee, arrived last Thursday, and is rapidly coming into favour for the cross-country event. He has never been over the course before, but still he should prove a safe conveyance. Gillie is another Southern representatives who has made friends. He has remained sound up to the present, and if he comes safely up to the post he should run prominently, as he may safely be expected to negotiate the country. In the event of Plain Bill coming to the post he must be danger- • o' e, while next to him 1 like Dundee and Mobag. The field in the Tally-ho Plate is not too good in quality. Csocus, Pbovebb, and Huntingdon may prove to be the placed horses. Should Stbaybibd be reserved for the Enfield Steeplechase he should have a good chance, though Pipi will probably have to be considered. Entries for the next event, the Woolston Plate, are not yet in. The next race, the Ladies’ Bracelet, may go to the Napier representative, Honours. The principal event on the secpnd day is the Grand National Hurdle Race, for which Record Reign is still favourite. It is possible, in view of other engagements, his stable mate CaValiero may be selected to run in that event. Both the Auckland representatives are going on satisfactorily. Cavaliero was troubled a few days ago with one of his feet, but is now sound and well again. TARANAKI. GENERAL GOSSIP. New Plymouth, August 6. Two Taranaki Hack Guineas candidates have been taken in hand. Mr W. O. Phillips, of Rahotu, has placed his gelding, by Recluse from Patience, in Mr J. Goodwin’s stable for preparation. Mr J. Russell has received Royal Flush, by Recluse from Ling. Both will, therefore, have plenty of time to get polished up, as the race is not run till Boxing Day, and Tupara in Mr F. Watson’s stable, and the Waiuku-Lady Onslow colt in Mr Russell’s stable have also an engagement in the same event. Ka,imate was railed South last Friday en route to Christchurch to fulfil his National engagemanti. The son of The Australian has had a a good deal of steady work over the sandhills and on the beach, and is reported to be in good nipk. It is reported that his connt chons are sanguine of p : cking up something at the Meeting;’*' I understand he is a certain starter, all going well, f it the r ational Steeple on the first day. P. Johnson has left for Cbristchuych to assist in the preparation of Cavahero and Record Reign. It is reported that he will ride The Friar in the National Steeple and Cavaliero in the Hurdles. Mr M. Fleetwood is now engaged in drawing out the programmes for the Taranaki Club. The programmes will be submitted to a Committee meeting at an early date. I understand there will be very little alteration in the programmes as regards matters of detail. Plain Bill is the favourite National Steeplechase pick here Hauriri has lately come into favour for the Hurdles. E. Laurent has started training at H&wera.

August 7. A private report received here states that Plain Bill is. wrong and an unlikely starter in the Grand. National Steeplechase. P. Johnson leaves on Thursday for Christ■hiiTch- He will ride Cavaliero <y Record Reign in the Hurdles, and The Friar or Kaimate in the Steeple. My impressions are: — National Steeple : Morag, 1; Kaimate, 2; The’Guard, 3. Winter Cup: Lasting, Bush Rose and Female Franchise. Maideri 'Hurdles : Dr. Bill or Cceur de Lion. Enfield Steeplechase; Straybird or Barbarossa. National Hurdles : Hauriri, 1 ; Cavaliero or Record Reign, 2 ; .■ orpipa, 3. HAWKES BAY. GOSSIP ABORT HORSES, MEN, AND CLUBS. Napieb, August 7. Morag, Sir Launcelot, Honors, Ideal, Roller, Tally-ho, and Cour de Lion left by the Marj.roa fox Lyttelton on Saturday. Bush Rose did not journey South to fulfil engagements entered into fbr him in connection with the Grand National Meeting. Torpedo’s son is all right as regards health, but a private gallop that he took part m last week did not show him out in a sufficiently brilliant enough manner to favour his chance of Suecess at the Riccarton Meeting this month. Pearl Shot, the victor in the last Hawke’s Bay Bracelet, has been taken out of work, and her •owner intends this season to put her to the stud, as she has the main strains of blood that permeate Industry, the dam of The Grafter, and Gaiilufj. Would it not be good business to put her to Gozo, sire of both Gaulus and The Grafter? I have often suggested this idea to her owner, Mr G. P. Donnelly, not exactly as regards Pearl Shot, but as regards a relative of hers, Pearl, who is a half-sister by Bolton Green to Industry. . Last Friday, at the Te Mahanga Stud farm, Black Belle, by Mute—Heather Bell, foaled a Ally to Torpedo. Philanthropist has made another start on the tracks at Napier Park. Mr P. Neagle left for Christchurch yesterday. He has made such a rapid recovery from his mishap at Gisborne last month that he will be able to get up in the hogskin at the National Meeting. Stormberg got his head badly cut while running about in the paddock through coming into con tact with some trees. His injuries were so severe that he had to have several stitches put in to repair the damage. • It is very probable that Douglas will be useo as a stud horse during the present season. Right up to last Thursday Tire was going very •satisfactorily in his work, but after pulling up on that morning when he had completed his task it was.'.seen, that Medallion’s son was amiss. This doubt, accounts for his absence from the list of the New Zealand Cup acceptances. When it was "made up after the first payment last Friday night. Tire was on the track again on Saturday morning, but was not ridden, being led in the work that he did. Stewart Waddell has a big string in work tor the Laird, of Kara mu, his contingent numbering twenty-two. A, quartette of thes?, are twq-iear-olds, the Auckland owned stallion, Fhntlock,

being responsible for three, Snooze, Memira and Pellicle, who are from Lullaby, Lyrebird and Film respectively. St. Andrew claims the other juvenile, Andree,, who is out of N’orsemaid, dam of Naiisep. paint’s five-year old full bro.tber. Intrepid is also. one. of -the membeijai of the labour gang. At the annual meeting of the Hawses Bay Jockey Club, held on Friday afternoon last, the following new, members were elected : — Dy, R< Nairn, and Messrs G? P Dasent, Bernard Chambers, W. H. Smith, Charles William Fitzherbert, Alex O’Dowd, Godfrey E. Groome, and Hemi Nuku. Captain Russel was re.-elected president,, and Mr G. 8. Sunderland treasurer, unopposed. Thirteen gentlemen were nominated for ejection to the Committee, the. ballot resulting in favour of the following nine: Messrs L. Depeliohet, G. P. pbnueUy, W. J- po.uglae, George Hunter, F. Logan, T. H. Lowry. W. Shrimpton, E. J. 'Watt, and the. Hon J. D. Ormond, the meeting closed With a vote of thanks to, the outgoing CommitteeAt the meeting of the Committee it was decided to . adopt last year’s programme for the Spring Meeting, with the alteration of the “Welcome Stakes ” to “ Juvenile,” and the Spring Handicap was made £l5O in place of the amount given last year £2OO, including the 5 per cent. This means that the Club offer £2OO more for this meeting than at the last Spring Meeting. It was also arranged that a meeting should be held on Friday, 31st August, at which all applications for licenses must be made before the Committee. On the, following day the ordinary monthly meeting will be held, when the applications will be finally dealt with. Two of the newly-elected Committee, Messrs E. J. Watt, and W. J. Douglas, occupy their position for the first time. The fornaer is the well-known racing map, owner of Paia er, The Shannon, Nobility and Company Mr Douglas being a son of the late Mr W. Douglas, and owner of the Te Mahanga breeding establishment.