SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1931, 3 May 1880, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinbad.

Judging from the telegrams, Mr Pereaval, the indefatigable secretary of the Auckland Racing Club, and his committee, have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the recent autumn meeting. The fixture was mainly remarkable for the successful debut of Maid of Honor, who won the Tradesmen's Handicap and Publicans' Purse on the first day. The Australian bred horses, in fact, seem to have performed well, though it must be confessed that the best horses we have in the oolony did not put in an appearance during the meeting. In this connection it is noticeable that the persevering and rather unfortunate Ratcatcher finished second for the Tradesmen's Handicap, while for the two-year-old race, the Ellerslie Plate, the first three, Hilarious, Kenilworth, and Tim Whiffler, who finished in the order named, are all Australian bred. King Quail was third for the Autumn Handicap, in which by the way Tatapa must have given backers an npper cut. Laertes and Vampire, who it is almost needless to say also hail from the other side, cut up rather badly, as did also Gillie Galium, an Australian who has sojourned in the North Island for some time with but little success. Grey Momus seemed to have but little difficulty in disposing of his eight oppoponents in the Hurdle race, one of whom, by the way, broke his leg, and had to be destroyed.

My Sydney correspondent writes me as follows :—" Our autumn meeting is ju*t over. Queensland, a filly trained by J. Monaghan, carried off the Doncaster Handicap, Selling race, and Rous Stakes, berides running a good second for the Free Handicap. Mr Wentworth sold Queensland the day before he went to England, but the filly remained in Monaghan's charge up to the meeting. Monaghan also won an up-country race with Otira, who is probably one of the best Sydney two-year-olds of the season. Monaghan has now in work Rapid Bay, who has been for the last two years at the stud, but does not seem to have lost any of his pace. Also, two very promising youngsters, one by Rapid Bay, the Other by Fireworks, from Robinson Crusoe's sister, Onyx (now in Auckland). The running of the last named will be watched with interest by the Auckland Stud Company. With regard to the recent meeting, Petrea was without doubt the best animal there._ She won the Cup and Lager very easily, but in the A.J.O. Plate Caspian turned the tables on her. It was a grand race, and just won by a short length. There is a Bill now before the House of Representatives which bids fair to damage the turf very materially. The Bill in question prevents bookmakers plying their vocation, and as the totalisator is not legal here I can hardly see how owners with large studs will be able to carry on. The Bill, everybody says, will pass, and will virtually ruin big breeders. Blood stock even now is wot easy to dispose of here. Had it not been t)T Mr Chirnside, who bought largely, the recent yearly sales would have fallen very flatly." There is every probability of a winter steeplechase taking place in Napier. The proposed fixture will, it is understood, receive the support of both the jockey clubs.

The nominations for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechases, to be held on May 24th, appear elsewhere, and in number, at least, augur well for the success of _ the meeting. Amongst the entries for the Maiden Plate, whioh number seventeen, are the aged Alma, Mormon, and Sir Ta'ton. Thilo, Swindler, Venture, Stella, and Clarenoe have all proved themselves fair performers during last season. Of the latter's abilities report speaks very highly. Eclat, who has been running over hurdles on the Peninsula, should, fit and well, run a fair horse, while her new owner has evidently decided to give the uncertain : Mireille a fresh start in a new line. Tarn O'Shanter, who is by Traducer from Lady Jane Grey, has won a few minor events in his own district, and they say jumps well when in the humor. Moonlight must perform a great deal better than ever I have seen him to have any show with several of the above. One and Three is a big, useful looking Traducer imported some weeks ago from Wanganui. He is a powerful horse, and should he jump well his weight will, I should think, not stop him much. Of Blue Bell I know nothing, and of Bellman and Miss Hungerford very little more, save that the former has been in work for some time and jumps fairly. Mr Egan's Tally-ho has plenty of power and is, I believe, a very certain jumper, but I Bhould question his having pace enough for some of those he will have to meet. Six of those just mentioned are also engaged in the big handicap, namely, Thilo, Swindler, Blue Bell, Mireille, Sir Tatton, and Clarence. The others ore Little John (the winner of the double crosscountry event at the last Metropolitan meeting), Mr Mclvor's useful pair Grey Momus and Loch Lomond, while the veteran Banjo is also engaged. Black Prince performed very creditably in many cross-country events laßt season, and next comes Baron, who recently won the Auckland Steeplechase and also credited his owner with the big Wanganui Steeple chase Handicap last season. The same owner, Mr Douglas/also nominates Harkaway, who, I presume, is the horse originally owned by Mr Murtagh. Mr A. J. Keith has two in—Hard Times and Ada. Of the former I know nothing, and the latter is a good, honest little mare, but whose weight-carrying abilities are not of the highest order. Royalty has been in strong work for some time past at Waireka, and will, in all probability, be piloted by his old rider, Sheenan. Though not one of the fast ones, he is a sure jumper, and stays his four miles well. Mickey Free, ridden by Hankins, ran third for the Maiden Plate and won the Consolation Handicap at the Grand National Meeting of 1878. The Australian Lone Hand oomes next, and is, I believe, doing good work. Hiß chance depends almost entirely upon who his rider may be. Of Mr McMaster's pair Scamp has shown himself a good useful littlo horse, but of the merits of his stable companion, Duchess, lam ignorant. The Agent comes at the bottom of the list, and his performances are too well known to need any comment on my part. Of the ten engaged in the Hunt Club Cup the only one not previously mentioned is Magic. He is a big, usefullooking son of Slanderer; at the recent 3lowai Pass meeting he cut up badly in the Hurdles, but showed a good turn of foot in the District Race at the Kowai Pass meeting. Those who know him tell me that he is a capital jumper, and can stay well. The weights for the big event appear this evening (Saturday), when also Mr H. P. Lance will bring out the long looked for weights for the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap. Mr W. J. Clarke has stated, I am told (says the same authority), that Petrea shall race no more, but that she is to be used by Mrs Clarke as a hack.

The flat racing season, if we except one or two meetings to be held on the Queen's Birthday, is now over, and in looking back through the past year a racing man cannot but be struck wi'h the want that has been felt of a Tattersall's Club. On every side •complaints have been made of the defalcations of certain so Btyled bookmakers. Men who, if a proper tribunal existed, would never •have the opportunity of laying wagers which •they had no means of paying. Prejudice on •one side, every sporting man knows that betting is a necessity of racing. It enables ■owners to support large studs, and without it it is quite manifest, as my Sydney correspondent points out above that our national pastime -will soon become almost a thing of the past. The effect of a Tattersall's Club would be to show by their selection o£ certain members of the riug, who were the right men for the .public to place confidence in, and even those among the layers who were not over honestly inclined, would hesitate a long while before -they would run the risk of disqualification by any attempt at repudiation. Betting is cither a necessity or not. As the general verdict is in favor it why should it not be conducted on S 3 equitable principles here as it is in England. JL Tattersall's Olub properly formed would do a jgreat deal for the interest of both layers and backers. One can never attend a race meeting now without hearing a duz?n expressions of regret that a well organised tribunal of this kind is not in good working order. It will be remembered that some seasons ago a club of this kind was started in Chrietchurch, and the committee, composed of some of our leading racing men, commanded so much confidence that the Canterbury Jockey Club agreed to accept their decisions. During the time they acted some very important cases were considered by them, and this had the effect of making both layers end backers less reckless in their transactions. Owing to the lengthened sickness of the secretary at a very critical time in the establishment of the club, it appears to have temporarily fallon through, and I now urge upon ull those who have the interests of legitimate sport at heart to tako immediate and decisive stops for tho revival of an institution of which all sporting men admit (he necessity.