SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1347, 8 June 1878, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinead. [feom the eeess.] The Waimate Stc?plechase, which came off last Saturday, brought the racing season to a close. The meeting, a full account of •which appears elsewhere, passed off well, and must have been a pecuniary success. Next year the stewards, I believe, intend issuing a very liberal programme, and the meeting will take place either a fortnight before or after the Grand National, which has been fixed to come off in Oamaru. A correspondent from the West Coast writes me to the effect that there is every probability of the various clubs so arranging the dates of their various meetings as not to clash. If the proposed programme be adhered to, sport will commence on the other side of the mountains with a meeting at Westport, then Beef ton, where the committee are very sanguine about giving' the biggest stakes ever run for on the Coast. After Kceiton will c me Ahaura, <-'reymouth, and Hokitika, in the order named. For the sake of owners, and in the interest of the West Coast Clubs, X hope this arrangement may be satisfactorily adjust d. A spe ial meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club will be held on Monday next,

when the draft programme for the Metropolitan Meeting, as drawn up by the committee, will be submitted. “Pegasus” states that Mr Swanson has purchased The Baron for £l5O, This horse ran on one or two occasions under the name of Warwick, and, in spite of being quite out of condition, performed very fairly. Ho won the Hurdle Race at the Dunedin Birthday Meeting, Kildare, who was conceding him 221bs, running second. This does not make his form very extra, but I think he will make a very useful horse next season. Mr Swanson at any rate will be able to know what his capabilities arc, as he possesses a good bit of trying tackle in old Tommy Dodd. The veteran has been turned out now for a long while, and I should not be at all surprised to see him come out next season as fresh as ever. Dick Mason, who, it is almost needless to say, has been, since leaving Mr Delamain, training for Messrs. Kitchiug and Co. in Dunedin, is now staying in Christchurch, having left his Southern employers. Atlantic and Oberon are at present under the care of Derrett, but it is more than likely they will shortly be turned out for a time. James Cotton is also in Christchurch, on the look-out for employment. As he is well-known as a quiet, pains-taking lad and a good horseman, it is probable his stay will be a permanent one. I notice mention is made by some of your contemporaries of the probability of a new edition of the New Zealand “ Turf Register” being published. There can be no question that such a work is much needed, but, judging from the result of Mr Elliott’s attempt in this direction, the work would not be a pecuniary success unless |subsidised by the various Jockey Clubs. A meeting of the Hunt Club took place on Monday last at Waimate. Mr Egan acted as master, and the meet seems to have passed off successfully.