SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1790, 15 November 1879, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sikbad. Otira, who ran a dead heat for second place in the Maribyrnong Plate, was the property of Mr Wentworth, and was trained by Monaghan. A Northern correspondent writes mo that Danebury has furnished into a really beautiful horse, and has the prospect of a capital season. In reference to a nuisance daily becoming more common in New Zealand, the sporting correspondent of the “Melbourne Weekly Times ” says : “Australian Studbook” complains bitterly of the system of nomenclature that prevails amongst owners at the present day. Directly any horse distinguishes himself on the turf, fifty namesakes start up in the different colonies. The compiler justly remarks that twenty years hence things will get so mixed owing to this practice, that it will be impossible to trace the breeding of horses with the least exactness, or to decide on the correct ancestor out of several horses of similar name. Racing clubs could easily take action to check this practice, and ought to do so.” Ihe Havelock Meeting is fixed for December 26th. The principal items are the Havelock Handicap of 60 sovs, and a Handicap Hurdle Race of 35 sovs. Entries on December 11th. The Greymouth Jockey Club (says the “Grey River Argus ”) have issued their programme for two days’ racing nt Christmas, and it is sufficiently liberal to induce all the owners of horses in the district to compete. The money to be run for amounts to close on £2OO. The several events are —Omotumotu Handicap, 20 sovs, 14 miles ; Hack Race, 10 sovs, 14 mile; Midsummer Handicap, 30 sovs, 2""miles; Hurdle Race Handicap, 15 sovs, 14 miles. On the second day—Grey Valley Stakes Handicap, 25 sovs, 1J miles ; Hack Handicap, 10 sovs, 14 miles ; Borough Handicap, 20 sovs, 14 miles; Novel Race, 15 sovs, 1J- miles; Hack Race and Consolation Stakes, of 15 sovs. The days fixed for the meeting are Friday and Saturday, 26th and 27th December, and nominations must be sent to Mr Payne, before 8 p.m. on the 24th December.

It has been resolved to hold a race meeting at Hokitika providing subscriptions can be collected for that purpose. The committee of (says “Beacon”) the Cromwell Jockey Club met a few days ago to make arraugem n l s for their annual races. Mr Dignan (treasurer) submitted a report to the effect that the club was in a satisfactory condition financially, there being no liabilities, while the payment of outstanding members’ subscriptions would give a cash balance. It was resolved to hold the annual meeting on December 26th and 27th, and to give .£250 in added money thereat. The committee were appointed to act as stewards and handicappers. The chief item on the programme will be the Derby of 50 sovs ; J. C. Handicap of 40 sovs, Grand Stand Handicap of 30 sovs, County Plate of 30 sovs, Maiden Plato 25 sovs, and Flying Handicap of 20 sovs. Acceptances for the Derby, for which there are twenty nominations, close on Saturday; entries for the Grand Stand and Flying Handicaps on December 12th, The Gore Jockey Club find themselves with a small balance to the good after the past season, and the next races will take place on Boxing Day. At the Wanaka races the Maiden Plate of 15 sovs fell to Topthorne, the Hurdle Race was won by Architect, with Topthorne second; Stewart Waddell won the Albert Town Handicap of 15 sovs and the Wanaka Handicap of 25 sovs with Rangatira ; the Shorts of 5 sovs was appropriated by Playboy, the Trial Stakes of 15 sovs by Concrete, and Dandy, who ran Rangatira to a neck in the Wanaka Handicap, pulled off the Consolation. The weather was fine and the racing excellent. The question of reducing the distance of the Timaru Cup from 2£ miles to miles, and that of the Jockey Club Handicap from 2 miles to 14 miles, will shortly engage the attention of the South Canterbury Jockey Club. The Cambridge race meeting is fixed for December Ist.

We were invited (says “ Pegasus ” of the “ Sydney Town and Country ”) during tho week to attend a “ consultation” of £IOO on the Melbourne Cup, the affair being held at a leading hotel, and in the presence of about forty gentlemen, and certain it is _ that it would be hard to get a more influential body together. To the uninitiated we will explain the mode of “working” such a “consulation,” the process being very easy, and although such is the case, it is entirely out of the reach of fraud, as we will endeavor to show. First of all there were 1000 marbles carefully numbered from 1 to 1000, and placed in ten trays, each containing 100, while in another tray was placed other marbles to the number of 121, with the names written on them of each horse entered for the race the “consultation ” was called for. These trays having been inspected, and the names of the horses on the marbles checked with lists carefully prepared, a chairman and two scrutineers were appointed. Then two barrels were placed upon a table, the larger of the two containing the numbered marbles, while the smaller one was used for the written ont s. Both barrels having been well turned, the chairman took charge of the smaller of the two (that one containing the [names), while another gentleman c delated at the numbered one. Then lists of the horses’ names were handed to tho secretaries, a proceeding that terminated all preliminaries. Tho “ drawing ” then commenced, a marble being first taken from the numbered barrel, and called out, likewise one from the written one, a similar form being gone through, both number and horse going together, which means that the possessor of the ticket with the number drawn becomes the owner of the chance in the consultation represented by the horse drawn immediately after. Everything was conducted in the fairest manner possible, and we can assure our readers that after entering the room the principals took no part whatever in the business, and we feel positive that if fraud had been intended, there was not the remotest chance of such an end being gained. The consultation lasted about an h ur.