COURSING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVI, Issue 956, 2 July 1908, Page 6

COURSING.

THE NORTH N.Z. COURSING CLUB’S JUNE MEETING.

The June meeting of the North N.Z. Coursing Club was commenced on Saturday at the Otahuhu enclosure. For some days prior to the gathering the weather had been very wet, and with heavy showers. falling up to the time of making a start it was only to be expected that the attendance would suffer. As a matter of fact there were a very considerable number of people present, and these were rewarded by seeing some very fine trials, while the rain held off until the programme had been concluded. Mr. C. R. Tapper, the energetic secretary, helped to make things go smoothly, and he was assisted by Messrs. Jas. Tapper, W. C. Griffiths, C. Hannigan, and J. Coulson. As usual, Mr. F. W. Coombes occupied the judge’s chair, giving his decisions with the utmost promptitude. Mr. G. Stevens’ slipping came in for warm praise, the despatches being very even. The opening round and first ties of the Railway Maiden Stake were run off, twenty-eight trials being decided. The best of those in the first round were when Multiform led Honeywood, the bitch doing some smart work before the dog beat her; when Lady Nelson all but outworked ■ Romany Lass after being easily led to the hare, and when Ruth outstayed Clyde after a gruelling course all over the enclosure. In the first ties a fine trial was that between Lord Ranfurly and Fleetfoot, when the former led up and just killin time to beat the bitch, who outworked him. A tremendous course was that between Romany Lass and Fireman, in which no less than 26% points were scored, the Lass just getting her flag. Cerito and All Night had a no-course owing to being unsighted. Slipped again Cerito, although unsighted from slips, led to the hare, but All Night getting in wrenched twice and picked up a very weak hare, this bringing off the judge’s cup for an undecided. In the third attempt All Night led and killed, winning a fairly even trial. Multitude led Heather Bell two lengths, but the hare staying out he went to pieces, and was narrowly beaten. The particulars were as follows: —

RAILWAY MAIDEN STAKE of £5O; first dog, £25; runner-up, £l2; third dog, £6. two dogs at £3 10s. First Round.

Mr. J. Coulson’s folk and w d Ropata (3) beat Mr. W. P. Knight’s brdl d Slippery Don (nil). Mr. J. Smith’s brdl d Multiform (6%) beat Mr. F. Baker’s r and blk b Honeywood (4). Mr. T. Higgins’ brdl and w d Lord Ranfurly (5) beat Mr. A. Macready’s blk and w Glen Retreat (2). Mr. R. Levy’s blk and w b Fleetfoot (3) beat Mr. C. Carter’s blk b Bella Cole (nil). Mr. J. Porter’s brdl d Fireman (3) beat Mr. F. Baker’s f and w d Better Land (nil). Mr. E. Morrow’s w and f b Romany Lass (5) beat Mr, W. Crisp’s rd b Lady Nelson (4). Mr. S. Barnes’ blk and w d Lochnagai' (5) beat Mr. C. Charlton’s blk and w b Miss Ebony (3). Mr. J. Smith’s w and rd d' Inspan (4) beat Mr. P. Russell’s brdl and w d Kiatere (1). Mr. M. Taylor’s f and w b Cerito (3) beat Messrs. Sheeran and Gillespie’s blk and w d Goldbearer (1). Mr. D. Howard’s blk and w d All Night (6) beat Mr, A. J. Searle’s brdl and w d Mutiny (3%). Mr. H. Wilson’s rd and w d Glenloth (4%) beat Mr. A. Wallace’s brdl and w b Miss Mona (2), Mr. R. Levy’s brdl d Loyal Sport (9%) beat Mr. S. Barnes’ rd d Disowned (nil). Mr. W. Hunt’s w and brdl b Billet Doux (5) beat Mr. D. Howard’s w and brdl d Master Pat (1).

Mr. F. Mcßeynold’s blue d Blue Boy (9) beat Mr. A. Julian’s rd and w d Coronet (4). Messrs. Tapper Bros.’ brdl and w d Multitude (6) beat Mr. T. Buckland’s f and w d Uhlander (1).

Messrs. Martin and ' Tomlinson’s w and brdl b Ruth (9%) beat Mr. D. Howard’s rd and w d Clyde (6). Mr. A. Menzies’ brdl and w b Heather Belle, a bye.

First Ties. Multiform (9%) beat Ropata (3). Lord Ranfurly (5%) beat Fleetfoot (4%). Romany Lass (14) beat Fireman (12%). Lochnagar (3) beat Inspan (1). All Night (6) beat Cerito (4). Glenloth (7) beat Loyal. Sport (2). Blue Boy (4) beat Billet Doux (1). Heather Bell (6) beat Multitude (5). Ruth, a bye.

SECOND DAY. The meeting was continued on Wednesday afternoon, when there was a very fair attendance considering the very wet weather which had prevailed during the morning. It was found on arrival at the ground that a number of the hares had escaped from the enclosure, and it was therefore impossible to run all the trials. A commencement was made with the first round of the Sylvia All-aged Stake, Bally-e-Gren narrowly winning the opening course. There was also a close go between Black Nose and Garryclough, the former getting the verdict by a point. One of the best courses ever*seen on the enclosure was that between Mikado and G’lenore. There was a great hare which, after leading the dogs a lively dance all over the ground, got away, Mikado just winning by 13 to 11%. In the first ties Blacknose led Bally-e-Gren to a racing hare, and won handily. Lady Rosette led Don, and, picking up very smartly, beat the white dog pointless. In the second ties of the Railway Maiden Stakes Multiform [narrowly beat Lord Ranfurly, and Lochnagar easily defeated Romany Lass. In the go between All Night and Glenloth, some dissatisfaction was expressed at the judge raising the red flag for the former, as from the stand it appeared that Glenloth had won by 3 points to nil. As a matter of fact in the run up he had not been on the line of his game at all, and, losing the points for the lead up, lost him the course. Heather Bell led 1 and easily beat Ruth. The results were as follows: — SYLVIA ALL-AGED STAKES. Mr. Baker’s Bally-e-Gren beat Mr. George’s Prodigal, 4—3. Mr. J Homes’ Blacknose beat Mr. Smith’s Garryclough, 4%—3%. Mr J. Harper’s Don (an accidental bye. Gavotte withdrawn. Mr. P. Gordon’s Mikado beat Mr. Barnes’ Glenora, 13—11%. First Ties. Blacknose beat Bally-e-Gren, 3—l. Lady Rosette beat Don, 4—o. Mikado, a bye. RAILWAY MAIDEN STAKE. Second. Ties. Multiform beat Lord Ranfurly, 2 —l. Loehnagar beat Romany Lass, 3 —o. All Night beat Glenloth, 2 —l. Heather Bell beat Ruth, 6% —3. Blue Boy, a bye. The concluding trials will be run on Saturday afternoon, when the ground will be thrown open free cf charge. Mr. Brice continues to judge at most of the meetings in England, Mr. Dodd taking the others. The veteran E. Wilkinson still does the bulk of the slipping, although J. H. Skinner officiates at a few meetings. « * * » After assisting at most of the big Southern fixtures, Mr. Martin Taylor, the well-known coursing enthusiast, got back to Auckland in time to attend Saturday’s reunion of the North New Zealand Coursing Club. * * * * Dr. Stopford, the newly-elected president of the Kennel Club, is giving a prize for the best greyhound in the coming dog show. As a rule entries in this class are poor, but this should induce owners to bench their dogs. The only drawback is that the show will probably take place during Fleet Week, when the Coursing Club will be probably holding a big meeting.

No. 18.—THE HON GEORGE McLEAN.

The news that another St. Simon stallion has just arrived in the Dominion having been purchased by the Hon. George McLean focusses attention on the well-known Dunedin sportsman. He belongs to the older generation, having, indeed, exceeded the allotted span of “ three score years and ten.” but is yet well to the fore in racing matters in the South, although he has not favoured Ellerslie with a visit for a very long time. It is hardly necessary to say that he came originally from bonnie Scotland, having been born in Elgin in 1834. At the age of eighteen he came out to Melbourne, where he joined the Oriental Bank. Promotion was more rapid in those bygone days, and in 1863 we find young McLean managing the Dunedin branch of the Bank of New Zealand. Political aspirations were not wanting, and he successfully contested the Waikouaiti seat, representing that constituency for many years. In Parliament his shrewd business ability was highly esteemed, and eventually Major Atkinson offered him the portfolio of Post-master-General. Neither were his abilities overlooked in commercial life, for he became chairman of directors to the Union S.S.C., and chairman of the Colonial Bank, besides holding other appointments. Mr. McLean’s racing career goes back to the early eighties, when he ran a horse called Voltigeur. That good sportsman, Sir Hercules Robinson, was then Governor of New Zealand, and he went into partnership with Mr. McLean in a racing stud. Sir Hercules had raced horses in Australia, and by his advice Gitana, Lady Emma and Legerdemain were brought over from Australia. Gitana was a bay mare by Rapid Bay from the Yattendon mare Gipsy. After winning a few races she was put to the stud, but her three foals were of not much account. A better speculation was Lady Emma, a brown mare by Yattendon from My Fancy, by Blair Athol. She was a particularly smart m'are, among her being the Great Autumn and Easter Handicaps of 1881, the Dunedin Cup, D.J.C. Handicap, and Forbury Handicaps of 1882, the Forbury Handicap of 1883, the Dunedin Cup, Provincial Handicap and D.J.C. Handicap of 1884. At the stud she produced a number of foals, the best of these proving to be Lord Rosslyn, who was got by St. Clair in 1893. Legerdemain was a bay mare by King Cole from the Daniel O’Rourke mare Skittle Sharper, and she won a race or two, but her stud contributions

were not very remarkable. When Sir left the colony A'lr <lcjLou.ii continued to race on his own account, and has done so ever since.

About twenty-five years ago Mr. McLean founded the Warrington stud, at which many fine horses have first seen the light. Euroclydon, the New Zealand Cup winner of 1895, was one and that fine sprinter Blazer was another. One from the stud who knew how to gallop was Vladimir, as also was Pampero, winner of the Otago Cup of 1901 and the C.J.C. Easter Handicap, but the list is too lengthy to give them all.

The Zetland tepots were always dangerous down Dunedin way, and a glance down the list of big events in the Southern capital shows that the squire of Warrington has placed most of them to his credit at one time or other. Thus he won the Dunedin Cup in 1884 with Lady Emma, in 1890 with St. James, and in 1897 with Lord Rosslyn. In 1884 he captured the D.J.C. Handicap with Lady Emma, winning again three years later with St. Clair, in 1897 with Lord Rosslyn, and in 1901 with Pampero. With the aid of St. Clair he carried off the Dunedin Birthday Handicap in 1888, taking it again in 1906 with Sychem. Twice he secured the Dunedin Champagne Stakes, once with Lady Evelyn in 1884, when I remember seeing Cotton' pilot the brilliant daughter of Perkin Warbeck to victory, and once with Vladimir in 1902. The Dunedin Forbury Handicap has on two occasions fallen to the bearers of the Zetland spots, Lady Emma getting the verdict in 1883 and Apollodoris in 1906. The list of minor events which Mr. McLean’s horses have taken are too numerous to mention.

A number of years ago Mr. McLean paid a visit to America, and while there effected the sale of Maxim to Mr. J. B. Haggin, the celebrated horse ranche owner of California. Maxim was a great stud success in the States, siring winners of some of the biggest events run in the land of the multi-millionaire.

Mr. McLean’s latest importation from the Old Country is Sarto, a son of the great St. Simon from Miss Mildred, by Melton from Merino, by Young Melbourne from Braxy, by Moss Trooper. He has won over all kinds of country himself, and with such unimpeachable breeding should be a valuable addition to the bloodstock in the South. In wishing the president of the Dunedin Jockey Club good luck with his new purchase, I can only express regret that the Zetalnd spots are not seen at Ellerslie. Assuredly they and their straightgoing owner would be warmly welcomed.