SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1253, 25 March 1878, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sxnbad. [feom the peess.] Some time ago the various Southern Jockey Clubs received a cireular from the Committee of the Auckland Racing Club, announcing their intention of sending Mr Percival, their secretary, as Ambassador to the South. Mr Percival presents the following objects for the consideration of the Southern Clubs : First, the establishment of a New Zealand Derby. The plan suggested by the Northern Club is that a Derby shall be run alternately at Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, and Auckland. I must say that I see difficulties in the way of this plan, which are almost insuperable, not the least of which is that the D.J.C. have in consequence of an arrangement with Canterbury adopted the Leger as their three-year-old race, and at a recent meeting of the W.J.C. the Derby was excised altogether from their programme. A middle course, which was proposed at a meeting of the delegates held in 1876, and which I mentioned in a recent paper, is perhaps practicable, namely, to have a race at the Metropolitan Spring Meeting equivalent to the English Two Thousand for Wellington and Auckland, to alternate with the Derby, and Dunedin to retain the Leger. Whether this plan would ■ meet with the approbation of the various clubs concerned, it is of course impossible at present to say, but it is at any rate feasible. The second object of Mr Percival’s mission is the question of appointing a public handioapper for New Zealand. At the meeting of delegates before alluded to, the suggestion of the appointment of such an official was received with great favor by the majority of 1 those present. Without disparagement to the gentlemen who holds the onerous office of handicapper for their respective clubs, there can be no doubt that a man who visited personally the different meetings would be in a far better position to frame his handicaps than men who rarely visit any other meeting than their own, and for the most part have necessarily to take their ideas of an animal’s capabilities from newspaper reports—reports which, however correct, do not furnish all the particular items of information requisite for a handicapper’s purpose. When the subject was originally mooted here, the chief obstacle appeared to be the difficulty of finding a gentleman enjoying the confidence of the various Racing Clubs, and in possession of the requisite knowledge and experience required for the post. If the Clubs are still willing to give the liberal remuneration which ought to be given for the sole and undivided time of a competent handicapper, I have no doubt the difficulty alluded to would speedily vanish, although the special qualifications demanded are not very readily met with. Lastly, on behalf of his Club, Mr Percival has suggested the advisability of abolishing the penalties incurred by winners of certain amounts after the declaration of the handicaps. lam not in possession of Mr Percival’s reasons for advacating the adoption of this course, but am of opinion that many more cogent ones exist for allowing things to remain as they are. The consideration of the matter may lead to the varous handicaps being published later than at present, which would certainly be a step in the right direction. The Auckland Autumn Meeting takes place on Easter Monday and Tuesday. The programme includes, on the first day, a Tradesman’s Plate ot 50 sovs, a Hurdle Race of 40 sovs, the Easter Handicap of 100 sovs, a Novel Race of 50 sovs, and a Publicans’ Purse (weight for age) of 50 sovs. On the second day the events consist of the St. Leger of 100 sovs, Flying Stakes of 40 sovs, Handicap Steeplechase of 80 sovs, Autumn Handicap of 80 sovs, a Selling Race of 30 sovs, and a Consolation of L 2O sovs.

For the Summer Meeting of the coming season the A.R.C. intend including the following events in their programme, viz,, the Auckland Cup of 300 sovs, with a sweep of 15 sovs added ; the A.R.C. Handicap of 200 sovs, with a sweep of 5 sovs for the second horse, and a Steeplechase of 150 sovs. Mr Percival, who is still in Christchurch, is canvassing indefatigably for nominations, and so far has been most successful.

Owing to an accident, Mr Webb had a few days since to destroy old Spray. This grand old mare was the dam of Wetsail, ."cud, Stormbird, Belle of the Isle, Southern Chief, the Admiral, and others. Spray was bred in New South Wales, and was by Donizetti from Lady Ann, by Whisker, grand dam by Toss. She was imported to Nelson by Mr Redwood in 1851, consequently the old mare has been in -New Zealand for twenty-seven years, and may fairly be said to have been a useful colonist. I see that Oberon has scored a win in the Lawrence Handicap, where he defeated Chancellor and Glengarry. Later in the day Chancellor won the Flying Handicap easily from Spray. Sam Haynes has arrived in Christchurch, and will work in conjunction with Dan O’Brien at the stables of the latter.

The Tai Tapu meeting is fixed for the 4th April. The chief events are a Handicap Hurdle Race and Tai Tapu Cup, which are both open race. The District Hurdle Race, Ahuriri Stakes, Maiden Plate, and District Cup make up the programme, which, by the way, does not exactly state whether any of the events are weight for age. Nominations for the handicaps close to-day, and must be addressed to the hon. secretary, Mr C. L, Davies, Ellesmere Arms, Tai Tapu. At a meeting held at Leeston last week, was decided to hold the Ellesmere races on the 25th AprilThe steeplechase horses Eclipse and Shillelagh have both changed hands ; the former, “Pegasus” informs us, was sold to Mr W. McKay for 150 sovs.