SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1784, 8 November 1879, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sixbad. The, entries for the Dunedin Handicaps are excellent. I notice Mr Jcllett has nominated Richmond, Bosworth, and Filibuster, and only hope one, if not all, thcce Australians will put in an appearance. I am sorry to sea miss Maid of Honour’s name from the nominations. Fishhook and Volunteer, who will not put in an appearance in Christchurch, are both entered, aud I hope their respective trainers will be more fortunate with them than on the present occasion. I call; attention to Mr Delamaiu’s advertisement of his sale of racehorses, to be held immediately after the Metropolitan Meeting. Messrs. Ford and Newton intend holding a similar sale about the same date. A four-year-old mare by Traducar out o' Tarndale, and a four-year-old mare by Cassivelaunns out of Mignionette, have arrived at Russley on a visit to Leolinus. An English trainer (says “Nimrod”) named Jamieson, has entered partnership at Auckland with Fred Matthevs. They have a good string of horses in training, including Omega, Kepo, Merlin, Artful Joe, and a two-year-old called Prince Charlie. Donald Taylor is looking after the preparation of,Malvern, Maidof Atnol, aud Gillie Callup, , , , , Mr Mclvor seems to have had a good cut in at Patea with G ey Momus, by whose assistance he appropriated both Hurdle Races. The Patea -Derby was won by Letitia, the Flying Handicap by Queen of tho Vale. In this race Mr Horsfall’s colt Randwick, who,is own brother to Gicsy Cooper, finished, second, and old Otawa third. Hailstone won the Carlyle Cup, and was again] ucoeastnl in the Jockey Club Handicap. .On the second day Confident carried off the Ladies Purse, Rocket the Marclen Plate, and Balmoral —better known here as Parthenopceus—the Forced Handicap. The nominations for , Ashburton are scarcely so good ns I expected to see. Tho local races have filled well, bat the entries for the open events are limited in number. This is the more to bo wondered at, as the meeting does not clash with any other, and owners could have taken it en routo to tho St. Andrew’s fixture. However, as I remarked above, the largest fields are not necessarily productive of the best contests, and X have no doubt the meeting will be as pleasant and successful as, usual, Mr George Coombea, of Tokomniroro (says “Pegasus!’) has sustained another losa by death while foaling of his brood mare. Swindle. This mare was foaled in 1868, and was by Maltou —Revoke, and therefore half-sister to Trump Card. Mr Webb brought her down to Dunedin for the Forbury meetingof 1871, and carried off with her the Maiden Plate of .£0 aovs, beating eight others ; and the Town Plate of 60 sovs, weight for age In the latter race the two year-old filly beat Exile, Backbiter, Comet, and Yalterina. She was subsequently furchaacd by Mr Coombes, but owing to an injury inflicted by a stable boy, sho never did much more good on the turf. Nominations for the GeralnineS res Produce Stakes of 1883, a sweepstake of 10 aovs. each, added to 50 aovs. given by the club, close on the 12th inst. _ Sterling (says the English correspondent of the “Leader”) was supposed to have accomplished the best thing on record in tho way of a handicap performance, when as a three-year-old, and carrying ,Sst 111 b, he made a dead heat of it with Allbrook for second place in.tho Cambridgeshire, won by Sabinus. That.ywa in the autumn of 1871, and two seasons later he “ palled through in the Liverpool Cup, with 9st 41b on his back. This latter victory fairly set the seal on his fame, but renewed attention has been called to his brilliant deeds by the latest achievements of his son Isnnomy, who, in addition to his “ welter win” in the Ebor, just alluded to, has this year won tho Gold Vase and tho Gold Cup at Ascot, the Goodwood Cap, and the Brighton Cup. The South Australian commissioner of police has reported in favour of the Bill for Legalising the Totalisator, and has made an excellent suggestion —that it should be under the control of the stewards. It has hitherto (says the “Argus” telegram) not interfered with peace and order, and, if properly conducted, will, no doubt, be highly appreciated by the Government. Lone Hand’s- four-year-old brother, Forrest King (says the Queensland correspondent of the “Sydney Town and Country ”) is still in Brisbane, eating the bread, or rather the corn of idleness ; what it is his owner’s intention to do with him I know not, hutT think it was a pity he was not put through the mill at the late races. It was once reported that he was to be taken to England as a steeplechaser, though I must confess that I rather doubt the authenticity of the rumour, as his owner would surely endeavour to get a line through colonial horses bsf re shipping him home. He is a strapping fine horse, and from his looks and breeding should pay his way as a steeplechaser. At the Birmingham and Midland Counties Horse and Hound Show there was a large attendance to witness the;jumping competitions. During the contest Erin, a remarkably bold fencer, after cleverly clearing the water, jump,, took the fencing at the end of the ground, clearing the spectators, who were standing five or six deep at the spot. No one was seriously injured by this somewhat astonishing leap, although -one gentleman received a kick on the back part of his head. The rider, a young lad, was quite unable to control his horse, which subsequently manifested an inclination to. repeat the performance. ;It is estimated that the animal must have cleared a distance of about ■37 feet. In writing of a horse not very sensibly named “Winslow’s Soothing Syrup,” a sporting correspondent wants to know “ how can a beast with such a monstrous name as the second was cursed with ever be expected to win anything ? ” It would be satisfactory, perhaps, if only horses with obviously appropriate names ever won races, but it is none; the less ,a-fact that vile .names sometimes, 1 manage to obtain winning brackets. If .anything could have stopped a decently conducted horse it must have been, one would have thought, such a name as “Here-I-go-with-my-oye-out; ” yet we find that in 1843 Lord George Bentinck insulted a wellbred two-year-old with that idiotic name, and that, after .running last in a race with six competitors, as might hive been expected, it was victorious in a natch against Lord -Glasgow’s unnamed filliis, as might have been expected. In the same year Golonc 1 reel's “I am-not aware” won three out of six ; but Sir VVatkin Wynn’s " Let-us-ctop-awhile-says Slow ” was no good, and whoever christened “She-is-not worth-a-Name ” showed £, nice appreciation of -the beast’s qualities. The talk of establishing a pack of foxho wads (says the “Sporting and Dramatic Ne\Yfi’”J near Brussels recals to mind an acooviari; of hunting in Belgium, of which a veraci wm chronicle was sent to an old sporting by an astonished participator. The qua.wy was a stag, and when the writer’s friend called for him he was horrified to find the rash m (aft in pink. This had to he taken off, for reas.'isa which the friend explained. Only snhscri.W's of 600 francs a year were allowed to we.w red. They might also carry large French horns slung r und their necks and under their arms, and might blow them wherever they hiked. Subscribers of -400 francs might wear »sd also, and even carry a norn ; imv, ulna i hur&i.heir privileges ended. They might never blowi, e instrument: that sweet boon was hie.% 4-O-ndu. The third class, paying 200 fraires, wear green coats and red collars, »u 3 l.{jj|jt carry a short brass horn, like tho .but totally unlike the lovely music mxHfaotory in which tho first class subscribers p au id encircle themselves ; and the humble’, class were not allowed red or grt’*-' O . were forbidden any sort of instrument. writer reached the scene of action, tho hii/*” was driven off by two men with whips, the pack trotted after her down the green drives; there was _ not a ditch, a hedge, nor an inequality in the ground, unless the hunt madly abandoned the drives, for many miles around. The sportsmen followed in pairs. Presently the writer, not liking the business, turned aside, jumped a ditch, and tried to cut in nearer the head of the procession. Cries of horror and indignation greeted him ; he was actually riding before a subscriber of the first class, who would have blown his horn only that his horse was cantering and he had to hold on. Soon after his return to the rear of the cavalcade the “mort” was sounded, which implied that Nancy, the hind, was tired, and on the way home she dropped a kid. It was generally agreed that the sport had been superb, and the daring sportsmen rode home in triumph. One of the first class subscribers most condescendingly asked the writer whether they had any sport like that in England, He said “No.” a

The nominations for the Auckland handicaps closed on Friday last, and like those of the Canterbury Jockey Club show a wonder • ful improvement on those of former years. The Steeplechase nominations are ten in number, all of whom are old performers. The Racing Club Handicap and Auckland Cup have filled remarkably well, and contain representatives from nearly every part of the colony. From appearance I should say that the groat northern fixture will be well attended at Christmas. A cavalry officer at present stationed in garrison at Leipsic has, at the reqm st of the editor of the “ Sport-Zeitung,” written in that journal some interesting papers on the history of certain famous Hanoverian studs. The passage which would probably attrac; most attention from Englishmen relates to the celebrated Royal breed of wbito horses at Horrenhausen. It is as follows : —“ a breed of white hors s is no longer to bo found in the Royal stables at ' openhagan, the Herrenhauson stud is now the only one where this special class is regularly produced by breeding. The race originated with the Memsem stud between 1730 and 1740, under King George 11. of England. For stock were selected a fine white stallion, named Augustus, a silver grey English s'allion known as Le Ba-bo Blanc, a light gray brood mare of the riding class, daughter of a brown horse, Crosar, of Barbary origin, and seme other clear gray and pale dun mares. The number was augmented subsequently by some white mares of Danish origin. After several years the wished for result was produced—viz , a pure white offspring. If the white Augustus may be regarded as the founder of the race it cannot be denied that a succession of white Danish stallions contributed to the result, and especially one purchased, in 1746 named Do Blanc. It was after his arrival that the young produce become . quite white. For many years all these white horses have coal-black eyes. They are in general strongly built, but with elegant shapes and over the middle size ; they have beautiful action, excellent tempers, and great endurance. There are at present thirteen horses in the stud. Neither a horse nor mare is ever sold or given away to strangers. Any animal with the slightest blemish is killed.” I have received (says “ Augur ” in the “Australasian”) a remadcably well-got-up sporting paper called the “ Olympian,” published in - San Francisco. The editor evidently takes an interest in matters Australian, and in an article on ‘ ‘ Australian Horses for California ” he expresses a desire to sea some of our cracks figuring on the tracks of San Francisco. He says:—“lt seems impossible to get together in California more than three first-class horses of about equal speed for long distances. But we have neighbors who could supply us with little difficulty, aud to Australia we now look for fresh blood to quicken tho pulses of our sluggish turfmen. The colonies of Victoria and New South Wales justly pride themselves in their brilliant stock of racehorses. Recent advices from Melbourne inform us that some of the owners in that city contemplate trying their fortune with colonialbred horses on English racecourses. Parole’s victories raised the enthusiasm of Victorian horseowners, and already visions of winning the .English Derby or Ascot Plate have doubtless disturbed the dreams of Messrs Finlay, Gardiner, and Fisher. We beg to suggest to them that they can have some excellent sport nearer home. Let them bring to California half a dozen of their best horses—say two each for one, two, and three mile races. The distance is less than half the journey to England, and the voyage perfectly safe at the right season. Once here all details could be satisfactorily arranged, and a grand international race, with Australian, Californian, and Eastern horses, would awaken a spirit of enthusiasm unknown to us at least. . . . Victoria can boast many men with ample resources to respond to such an invitation from the leaders of the turf here. In Victoria, Messrs W. J. Clarke, A. K. Finlay, Dr. Bathe, S. Gardiner, C. B. Fisher, and W. Filgate each have stab'es large enough to send us horses that would try the mettle of the best blood California can produce.” The writer makes a mistake in stating (that our Australian racing season is practically over in February, for wo raoe pretty well all the year round. He also seems to imagine that our climate is not what it is, for he goes on to say ; —“The change to our mild climate would greatly assist in training them, and doubtless the result would be that faster time would be made than is usual at either Flemington or Randwick.” Then he adds;—“There is another phase to this suggestion. We Californians know but little about jumping horses. If Messrs Martin Loughlin, E. Weeks, and John Wagner would send us some of their steeplechase horses th'y would reap a splendid harvest in the profits of an exhibition alone. Should our suggestions lead to any practical result the colony of New South Wales would certainly join in the .undertaking, or perhaps take tlm lead. Her turfmen are both wealthy and spirited, and the horses of New South Wales rank, perhaps, i higher than Victoria’s as winners of the great events. Amongst many others that might be named are Messrs C M. Lloyd, A. Loder, J. Bales, 'J. White, J.vTait, E. DeMestre, and H. J.,Bowler, These gentleman stand in the front rank) of New South Walec sporting men, and if they once took such a matter in hand, the result would be beyond peradventure. As a speculation, the plan is well worth considering by Australian turfmen. They would, of course, bring the finest stock, and they could find no better market than our own. -Shou-dthey carry off the Californian stakes, they could cross the continent and show our eastern friends what Australia can produce We hope our own turfmen will take the matter in hand, and so manage matters that we may soon have to chronicle a brilliant racing carnival.” Now here is a chance for some of our enterprising Australians, some of whom will probably pay our cousins across the Pacific a visit, if they will only -hold out sufficient induce,ment. _______________