SPORTING NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 4193, 4 August 1876, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

The New Zealand racing season is barely concluded, yet there are already many signs of preparations for a new one, which promises to excel its prosperous predecessor. Jockey Clubs all over the Colony are holding their annual meetings of members, submitting and drawing upjprogrammes'for future fixtures. The Christchurch Club was the firßt in the field with its liberal bill of fare for the November meeting, the only material alterations in which from that of last year being that the bonus to the C.J. Handicap is increased from 200 sovs. to 250 sovs., the Railway Stakes is raised from 50 sovs. to 100 sovs., and a Steeplechase of 100 soys, is added to the third day's events. Entries for the big handicap and the Canterbury Cup close on September 1. The Gerald ine Club followed with a copy of their last season's programme, but increasing the stakes for several of the races. The principal itemß of this meeting, which will be held on October 5 and 6, are the Hurdle Race of-40 sovs, Publicans' Purse of 30 sovs, Geraldine Cup of 70 sovs, and Ladies' Purse of 25 sovs. Owing to the success attending the June meeting at Tai Tapu a permanent jockey club is to be formed there, with at least one annual meeting. At the preliminary meeting of the Wellington Jockey Club the finances were reported to be in a satisfactory condition, there being a small cash balance in hand. "It was decided to hold the annual races on Deeember Hand 15, and Messrs Andrew Young, Paul, and Thomson were appointed a committee to draw up a programme—the added money not to exceed LJ.500. . This is LSOO more than the dub gave last year, and it gives a convincing proof of the- in creasing popularity of the meeting. From a discussion that took place amongat the members I should not be surprised it' an autumn meeting also wtre held nearer the end of the season.

Coming nearer home, the Lakes District Club showed at a recent meeting of members a flourishing state of affairs, and the Cromwell Club followed suit, but arrangements for their spring meetings are not yet complete. The Mount Benger and Tuaneka racing bodies are also stiniug themselves, and a new Jockey Club is being formed by a number of influential residents in the Roxburgh district. The once powerful Waitaki Jockey Club is also resuscitated, the large sumofL4so having already been collected to be given to a meeting fixed for the 28th and 29th of next month at Maerewhemm. Memories of Mr R. Julius and old Kauri Gum <who beat Sam Waldock's Victorian horse JFaleon on the Silverstream course in a match ior L6OO aside in the year 1862) will be aroused in many minds by the ro appearance of this long defunct club's familiar name.

Those interested in our turf register will be glad to learn that a son of tbe recently deceased Mr Oharles*Elliott intends contiuuing the publication of the ' New Zealand Stud Book' and the 'New Ze land Turf Register,' and that the first volume of the latter work will probably make its appearance during the present month. A meeting of the Oamaru Racecourse Trust was held on Monday last, at which a deputation from the North Otayo Turf Club

attended. Tha latter bid before tins Treat plans for the new course proposed to belaid est; also plans for grand stand, Sc. The cost of laying out the course Was estimated at Ll2O, ani of the stand and otliei fcufldings at about LbUO. It was resolved tuat tbe Secretary write to the Secretary of ths North Otago Turf Club, stating that the Trust will contribute the sum of LBO towards the cost of laying out the course as per plan submitted.

A few of the large lumber of horses engaged in the Melbourne Cup have made their first appearance on the turf since the issue of the weights. In the Flat Race of 100 sovs at Geelong, Electricity (<Jst 21b) and Gas (sst 71b) came in first and second, beating nine others, the mile and a half being done in 2min 49sec. As there was a 5 sovs. sweep added to the stakes, Electricity has incurred a penalty of 31b for the Melbourne Cup, in which his weight will there fore be flst'llb. On July 15 the Kensington Park Flat Race of 60 sovs was won by the Cup candidate Florin (6st 71b), beating Meteor (7st 31b), Artful Joe (6st 101b), My Idea (6st 21b), and thirteen others. In the Cup, Florin is handicapped at 6st, Meteor 6st 7lb, Artful Joe 6st 41b, and My Idea sst 121b.

The following horses have been scratched for the Sydney Metropolitan : Goldsborough, Imperial, Clifton, Burgundy, Yalentia, Blair Athol, Brunswick, Janitor, Kismet, Mendacious, Athos, the Princess gelding, and Lord Lyttou. None are as yet withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup, but the 9th inst. is acceptance day, and there will then probably be a long list of malcontents.

From Australian files I gather that there is but little betting on the big handicaps. For. the Melbourne Cup Irish Stew has be'en backed to win a few thousands down to 100 to 5, but 100 to 3 can be got about anything else. Kingsborouyh's price for the Metropolitan is 100 to 10, but cablegram states that he has not shown up on the training ground for a few days. For the Hawksbury Handicap Sterling has found supporters at 100 to 10.

Ah exciting billiard contest may be looked for shortly, Roberts, the' champion of England, having staked ' 50 with the sporting editor of the 'Austral .sian' and issued the following challenge to Mons. Carme, the celebrated French billiard- player, now in Melbourne:—" Hearing that M. Carme would like to play me at tue two games of billiards, viz., English and French, I beg to offer the following challenge :—I will play M. Carme a game of 1,000 up at English billiards, and will give 600 start j and will take 3uo cannons out of £OO, each cannon to count one, or will take 600 out of 1,000, each cannon to count two. I think the latter would be the best. Each of the above games for L2OO, not less ; and I will stake LIOO on highest aggregate score.—Yours, &c, John Roberts, jun. P.S.—Each match to be played on a new table by Alcock. Dated, at Hobart Town, July 17."

Buccaneer has covered himself with fame as a sire this year, as in addition to his brilliant sire Kisber, winner of the English Derby, he claims the parentage of Baron E. Oppenheim's br c Good Hope (out of Gorse), winner of the Austrian Derby ; and another son of his (out of Catastrophe) ran second. Mr J. E. Gosden, of Midhurst, has sustained a great loss iu the death of Czar, a two-year-old colt by Blinkhoolie out of Laura, and therefore half-brother to Petrarch, Fraulein, Lemnos, and Proto-Martyr. Czar was engaged in all the great races. The cricket season has commenced in England and big scores are being run up. The following have already exceeded a century : Mr A. P. Lucas, 105 ; Mr N. R. Gilbert, 205 (not out); Mr C. P. Lewis, 102 ; Mr F. Townsend, 176 ; James Lillywhite, 100; C. Howard, 116 (not out); W. oakes, 110 ; Mr P. Brown, 175; Mr A. L. Bennett, 131 ; Mr F. G. Monkland, 105 ; Mr G. Nixon, 171; Mr D. H. Brownhill 114 (not out); Mr H. Benny-Taibyoun, 134; Mr C. Evans, 153 (not out); Mr H. Chapman, 119; Mr I. P. Walker, 104; Mr R. Somerset, 233; Mr T. C. Tatham, 107 (not out); Major Dillon, 131; Mr W. S. Patterson, 154 (not out); Mr P. N. Trotter, 109 ; Mr C. Swann, 100; and Mr F. Townsend, 217.

On May 6 there was a monster bicycle meet at hampton Court, no less than 407 bicyclists running down to Bushey Park. Of these 72 belonged to the London Club, 47 to the Pickwick, and 15 other clubs were represented. Cook and Stanley recently played 700 up at billiards, the former conceding 180 points. Cook soon took a lead of 230 points, but * tanley, nothing daunted, quickly put together breaks of 101 and 135. Ultimately Cook won by 29 points. A few days after this Cook gave Stanley 250 out of 1,000. At the start Cook went away rapidly, making a break of 351 (49, 3, and 42 spots), and at the interval was 505 to 'Stanley's 380. The latter's best break had been 94 (27 spots), but on resuming he played in grand form and took the lead from Cook with breaks of 99 and 153 (49 spots), going out with an unfinished break of 236 (75 spots). The 'lllustrated Sporting and Dramatic News' states that the Australian sculler Trickett expressed his determination before the championship race not to row another match in England, win or lose. In that case he will not of course hold the title of Champion of England. Joseph Spencer, who lately attempted to walk 3,000 miles in sixty days at Cremorne Gardens, gave up after covering 1,326 miles in twenty-nine days. He is fifty-seven years of age, and walked exposed to the weather.

On May 27 J. M'Gibbon and W. Snedden concluded the home and-home quoit match for L3O at the Camlochie. Ground, Glasgow. The conditions were sixty-one shots up, at 21yds; and M'Gibbon was the favorite. Snedden was out of all form, and the favorite won by sixty-one to twenty-one. Cyrill© Dion and A. P. Rudolphe contested a billiard match-of 1,500 up for the diamond cue (emblematic of the four-ball championship) and 500dols. a side at Tainway Hall, New York, on April 7. The Frenchman sutlered a complete defeat, Dion leaving him 1,100 points in the rear. The winner's average of breaks was 39 9-19. O'Leary recently wajked 500 miles in 142 hours 54min., and his eclipsed that performance by covering the same distance in 139hrs. 32min. .

Dr Talbot, an Englishman resident in New York, has accepted the challenge of Captain Bogardua to .shoot any Englishman in America for the gold badge and champion* snip of the world. The match was to come off in June, </

On May 17, Neil Mowry and I. P. Smith rode a fifty mile match for the championship of California and 2,000 dollars, at the same time intending to tryand beat the best time on record—2hre smin 25sec. made by Squire Osbaldiston. Each man was to use ten horsea, and the mounting and dismounting were accomplished while the animals were at full speed. Mowry won the match, doing the distance in 2hrs 2min 36Jseo. thus beating the English squirr. At tbe Bay District track, San Francisco, on May 7, Golden Gate won the Handicap Dash, one mile and a-quartev, in 2min 12fsec ; and also the Sweepstakes, miie heats, in Imin 50Jseg, and lmin 54£ sec, beating Double Cross. The Swwepstakes, two miles, Mas won by Lady Amanda in 3min 45£seo, beating Golden Gate. Pegasus,