SPORTING.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 105, 1 October 1874, Page 3

SPORTING.

SPORTING NOTES.

The Wellington Jockey Club have issued a most liberal two days’ programme, for December 3rd and 4th. A Maiden Plate of 100 sovs ; the Wellington Gup, of 200 sovs, with a sweepstakes of 10 sovs each ; a Selling Race of 50 sovs, and a Provincial Plate of 100 sovs (weight for age), are the items for the first day. The second day’s racing consists of a Handicap Hurdle Race of 75 sovs, the Wellington Derby of 100 sovs, the Jockey Club Handicap of 100 sovs, added to a sweepstake of 5 sovs, and a Consolation Stakes of 50 sovs. Altogether, a very pleasant bill of fare, and one which, I have not the slightest doubt, will draw like a magnet. Entries, for Wellington Cup and Hurdle Race, close on Thursday, Ist October. A singular entry (to us here) appears in the English entries for the Derby and Leger, of 1876. Lord Zetland enters a colt, named Thorfinn, by Thorraanby, out of Bumblekite, for both events. Thormanby is the sire of Albany, and Bumblekite, the dam of Blueboy. Mr Griffith and his friends will watch the performance of this colt with no ordinary interest, and I should not be surprised to hear of this colt carrying some Canterbury money. Traducer’s list is nearly full. As an instance of the estimation in which the old horse is held, I may say that Glenshee, own sister to Glencoe, of Australian notoriety, has come up from Southland to visit him. Reckoning up expenses by the way, and all fees, it will be a costly trip, and Mr Hill deserves to be the possessor of a good foal. Five mares arrived also from Otago a few days since for the old horse, one of which was the speedy mile mare Virginia, so well known here a few years ago.

The Dunedin Jockey Club programme, or rather programmes, are out. The St Andrew’s Day (November 30th) bill of fare comprises a Handicap Hurdle Race, a Maiden Plate, the St Andrew’s Handicap, one mile and ahalf ; a Selling Race ; the Spring Handicap, one mile and a distance; a Trotting Race, and a Consolation. Nominations to be with the secretary on or before 14th November. The big meeting comes off as usual at the end of March. Little or no material has been on last year’s programme, which is even more liberal than usual, for I see the stakes in several of the races have been increased. The Master Rowe Produce Stakes is a new event, and altogether the bill of fare is a most capital one. Mr Redwood’s recently arrived trio of youngsters are now being put through the mill under Martin’s tuition. Titoko, the Wetsail filly, is a big, powerful brown, who looks as if weight would not trouble her much, but she scarcely shows as much quality as one would expect. Nangara, a chestnut filly (out of Countess), is another three-year-old, looking rather rough and backward, but who will bear some picking to pieces. Martin will have all his work to get her fit, but I think she looks like good property, and ought to be able to get over the ground. Roro is an exceedingly handsome daughter of Simplicity. She shows, perhaps, more quality than anything in the stable, but she is small and almost too neat. The three are all by Ravensworth. The weather recently has been anything but enticing for touts, or favourable for work ; but on Thursday most of them were at it, Tambourini and Martyr w«nt together, the old horse going three miles or so, being picked up by Martyr about a mile and a half from home. Tam went very strong and well, I may state that Martyr is a big bay horse, by Towton out of Maria, and therefore own brother to Mariner. He is intended for the jumping line of business, and though quite green at present, is promising enough. Sonambula and Remnant went together once round, finishing up at a fair pace for the last half mile. Toi and Titoko did a steady gallop of about four miles, Batter joining company for the last two miles, all going welL Traitor went a serviceable gallop once round. Wainui and Parawhenui went together steady about three miles. The filly improves daily and the big son of Countess looks better than I have ever seen him before. Malvina went once round at a good striding gallop, coming home a good pace, and going in good form. Roro and Nangara did some good exercise. Scandal and Meteor went about two miles, and a-half ; the old horse is improving fast. The two Caledon and the Ada colts went a strong gallop once round, the grey going very well indeed. Sam Haines’ team went together about three miles slowly, coming home at an improved pace, Templeton and Elfin King in front. I hear from Auckland that Islcsman will probably put in an appearance here for the hurdles. I hear he is a good jumper with a fair turn of speed. He is entered for the forthcoming Auckland Steeplechase, for which I hear he is much fancied.

In the opinion of the best judges the show of thoroughbred sires at the recent horse parade was far ahead of former years, but to quote your report, “ thoroughbred mares are becoming fewer and fewer here every year,” and no one seems inclined to go in for breeding blood stock on anything like a large scale. The number of thoroughbred mares at present in Canterbury would not, should their names be published, take up very much space in your paper, and many of them are fast falling into the sere and yellow leaf. The other provinces are even worse off for mares than ourselves. Considering the valuable stakes to be run for, not alone in Canterbury, but throughout all New Zealand, there can be no doubt that a good race horse is good property, and it is manifest that blood stock is daily rising in value. I understand that both in Auckland and Wanganui Stud Companies are talked of, and, indeed, in the latter place there has been something very like one for a long while. I think Canterbury should not be behindhand in any movement of this kind. Mr Nosworthy’s welldeserved success has shown that the breeding of blood stock is a paying business, and as it seems that no one individual seems inclined to go in on his own account, it would appear that the best way of holding our own with onr Northern neighbours, would be to form a Stud Company. There are, I feel sure, many gentlemen, not to speak of breeders on a small scale here, who would go into such a speculation in the interest of blood stock alone ; and with a good capital, good management, and even ordinary luck, it would, I believe, pay like a bank note. Per last Australian files, the Cup looks a moral for Mr Tait’s colt. The Australasian says, “ Retting is almost at a stands till, paralysed by Goldsbrough, who is at such a weight that his winning is regarded merely as a matter of health and-fitness on the day.” agwortb, Horatio, The Ace, Lurline, The

Arrow, King of the Ring, are considered “ wiped out ” by Goldsbrough, and no public money will be put on them. Papapa is not mentioned in the betting. I hear both nags are doing good work, and that Cutts is quite satisfied with them so far. Goldsbrough looks rather too hot property for our representatives, but if Ted does not achieve success, he will, I know, like the friend of Sempronius, at least deserve it. I noticed in a recent publication of yours, a local chronicling the birth of a thoroughbred foal. If all owners would forward you intelligence of such additions to the stud, it would not only interest many of your sporting readers, but might possibly be the means of avoiding disputes in time to come. Apropos of foals, I again call attention to the fact that the C.f.O. have altered the date from which thoroughbred horses take age. For the future all horses will take their age from Ist August instead of Ist July as heretofore. At this season breeders should bear this in mind.

I hear that Mr Porcival, secretary to the Auckland Jockey Club, intends next season publishing a Turf Register. Such a publication would, to use the time-honoured phrase, supply a want which has long been felt, and a better man to edit it could scarcely be found, but the Stud-book, carefully edited and compiled by the oldest and most experienced sporting writer in New Zealand, has scarcely been hitherto such a pecuniary success as to induce further efforts in a similar direction, unless, of course, as a labour of love.

I see that Theodore and Exile were successful at Geraldine. I hope to see both names on the general entry day amongst the nominations, as Theodore, a good, useful cross-country horse, would, in the present scarcity of such animals, have a good show for the hurdles, and Exile is quite good company enough for many I see about. Since writing the above, I learn that Exile was more than usually successful at Geraldine, winning the Geraldine Cup of two miles, carrying lOst 11b, Hector Norman, 9st 71b, being second. He also won the District Race, Ladies’ Purse, and Forced Handicap. Alice Grey only managed to run third in the Hurdle Race, Theodore, carrying 12st 11b, making all the running, and winning pretty easily, Eclipse second, and Smoker fourth. Alice Grey carried list 51b. The Maiden Plate was won by Waverly, a three-year-old colt by Mallon out of Miss King’s dam. Waverly is, I hear, coming up to John Lunn to go into work for the coming meeting. I believe Theodore and Exile will also put in an appearance.