SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1588, 22 March 1879, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinbad.

The date chosen by the South Canterbury Jockey Club for their annual meeting was scarcely the best that could have been selected, as not only were many of the supporters of the club engaged in harvesting. but the meeting itself clashed with Wanganui and Napier. For the future it would be better to hold the meeting a week or »o after the Canterbury Autumn one. This would not only secure better fields, but a far larger attendance. A 3 it was, however,the number of people present was far in excess of any previous year. The new grand stand, which is really a credit both to the clnb and to Mr Duval, the architect, has been fully described before in your columns. Its only drawback is a want of accommodation for the press, but this could easily be remedied by follow, ing the example of the North Otago Turf Club, and having a reporterß' stand alongside that of the stewards, with a room underneath for the members of the Fourth Estate. The arrangements on the occasion under notice were all good. Mr Robert Stansell wielcJed the starter's flag very effectively, and his brother was most assiduous in the discharge of his secretorial duties. Mr George Thompson was, as usual, a good clerk of the course, and Mr M. Studholme was the judge. The weather on both days was delightful, and the course in very fair order considering the dry weather we have had so long. The first event on the card was the Maiden Plate, which produced a field of eight. Here, as on the same occasion last year, Undine had the call in the betting, but with a different result, for the mare with Clifford up won with a bit in hand from Milo, Sapphira, the winner of the Kaitangata handicap, was a fair third. None of the others call for any comment except perhaps the Australian-bred Jenny Lind, by Gemma di Vergi, who made her first appearance on a racecourse. She is small, and will only be a handicap mare at best. Probably with a view of keeping them fresh for the Timaru Cup, both Templeton and Mata were scratched for the S.C.J.C. Handicap, and four only went to the post for this event. The race requires but little description. Titania and Chancellor were disposed of early in the race, and Laertes was never able to make Camballo gallop for the last part of the contest. The winner must evidently have improved a good deal on his Dunedin form, and that the stable were aware of the fact is evident when 2 to 1 was laid on the Australian. Ray had the Publicans' Plate all to himself with Templeton and Titania, and then Camballo was saddled up again to meet and defeat four others in the Flying Handicap. Laertes, who was carrying the same weight, was again second, and Templeton, who was conceding 271bs to both, could get no nearer than third. Ratcatcher ran about up to his Dunedin form, and York, who must,have gone quite off, rather worse. A felling Hack race, in which it was sad to see poor oM Malabar figure, woilud up the day. Business on the second day commenced with the Timaru Cup, for which only a trio went to the post. Mata went out of the paddock with 2 to 1 laid pretty freely on him, and though Clifford waited almost too long on him, he won with a bit in hand at the finish from Chancellor, who, running in much better form than on the first day, cut out the work at such a clinking pace, that at one time it seemed as if the favorite would never catch him. Templeton was never in tho hunt, and either the old horse was running cunning, or, which I think is more likely to be the case, he must be a bit off. Six jumped off at the fall of the flag for the Hurdle race, in which Mr Prince had for the firrtt time a turn with Eversley. The constant Agent, who was conceding him two atone, was his immediate attendant at the finish, and Moose, whorefnsed a fence in the early part of race, third. Te Whetu was n"t ridden out. Pakeha, with a lot of overweight, finished fourth, and Loyalty fell. The Selling Hack Hurdle 'race was won by nearly half a mile by Jack, the winner of the Waimate Maiden Steeplechase last year, Old Alma, who refused several times, finishing second. Titania upset a pot on Laertes in the match the pair ran for the Tradesmen's Handicap. The Australian cut up badly, and was never able to extend the mare, who was, however, not by any means herself. York was a great moral for the Consolation, but he was beaten badly by both his opponents, Sapphira and Milo. The latter was only conceding two pounds to the filly, but the winner was well suited by the distance, and got home comfortably a good half length in front of Milo. This event finished a very pleasant meeting. I return my best thanks to the secretary and stewards for the courtesy extended to your representative. Apropos of the Timaru meeting, I hear that next year Mr Jonas, who is one of the most hardworking members of the Club, intends offering a nice cup to be run for. One of the most successful meetings ever held in New Zealand came off at Wanganui on March 13th and 14th. The attendance was first class, and the sport exceptionally food. Victor won the Hurdle race, Grey fomus. who was winning easily, falling at the last hurdle. Forest Queen seems to have given Bome of them rather a surprise in the Derby, in which she lowered the colors of Gladys (her half-sister by Gladiator) who ran well as a two year old. The Slander colt earned 60 sovs for Mr Walters in the Sapling Stakes, which he won very |easily in lmin. 23soc , and in the Wanganui Stakes, which followed, Pinfire secured a neck-verdict from Resolution. |Mr Vallance seems to have been luck throughout the meeting, as he subsequently appropriated the Ladies' Purse and Railway Plate with the aid of Merlin, and the Jockey Club Handicap of 300 sovs with Pinfire. In the latter race the success of the chesnut seems to have been in no small way attributable to the horsemanship of Nolan. Lady Ellen did not perform so creditably as might have been expected, for in the Flying Handicap she was beaten over her own distance by Opawa, who was giving her 91bs. Peeu-o'-Day (6st 71b) also finished in front of her. Loch Lomond cantered away from his four opponents in the Handicap Hurdle race, and Midge, a two year old sister of Merlin's, who has been for some time in Mr Walker's hands at Wanganui, had an easy win in the Maiden Plate, in | which Foreßt Queen, the Derby winner, was second. Parawhenua spread-eagled his field in the Consolation, his nearest attendants at the finish being Expectation and Venus Transit.

The promoters of the recent meeting at Port Victoria are to be congratulated on the success of their first attempt, and by the interest taken in the matter by the residents in the neighbourhood, there will probably be a very good days sport there next season. The meeting showed ua a fair local animal in Swindler, who I believe might figure with credit in better company. In the report of this meeting, which appeared in your columns last week, I forgot to do justice to the sportsmanlike action of Mr George Robinson, the owner of Merry Monarch. The old horse, who cast his shoe during the race, ran a close second for the Open Handicap, and was far too good at almost any weight for any other animal on the ground. His owner entered him for the Consolation, but on hearing that no other owner would oppose him, he scratched the horse sooner than spoil sport by walking over.

Seventeen acceptors paid up for the Great Autumn Handicap on Saturday last, and, looking down the list, I should think twelve nt least will go to the post. Camballo's performance at Timaru has naturally brought hm into the position of first favorite, and I think on paper he has oertainly the best of it. That the stable think so too there can be bat little doubt, as its reproßentatives have backed him te win a considerable stake before his success at the late meeting |of the South Canterbury Jockey Club. The Yaldhurst confederacy have, however, another by no means despicable string to their bow in Vampire, who, since I last wrote, has been purchased by Mr Mason from Mr J. Stephenson, of Dunedin. The little horse, who was not by any means cherry ripe in Dunedin, can, I think, be got many pounds better than he was then, and, though not by any means a stayer, he has only a feather weight on his back, and should, if wanted, run a great horse for this event. Chancel-

lor's running in the Timaru Cup is a guarantee that, if he train on, he must be considered as very dangerous ; and of the others I at present fancy Nemo aad Maritana. The following is the latest betting on the Great Autumn Handicap : 4 to 1 agst Camballo I to 1 agst Mata 6 to 1 agst Chancellor, Loaglands, and

Templeton 7 to 1 agst Natator, Foul Play, Nemo, and Fishhook

8 to 1 agst Orange Lightning and Vampire Doubles—Champagne Stakes and Autumn Handicap—soo to 40 Camballo and anything else.

Champagne Stakes—s to 2 agst St. George and Marie Antoinette.