SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1942, 15 May 1880, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sinead. Owners are reminded that acceptances for the Grand National Handicap, and general entries for the other events of the meeting, close with the hon. see., Mr F. Egan, on Monday, the 17th inst. The first regular meeting of the Canterbuiy Hunt Club took placo on May Bth. There •was a capital muster, and the sport was good. Mr Cullen, of whom mention was made in this column a few weeks ago, earned golden opinions from all present by the manner ho handled hia hounds. Sam Powell and Pat McCoy officiated as whips, and amongst the chasers out for education was the northern crack Baron, who seems a grand fencer. On future occasions it would bo as well were some notice given of the various meets of the hounds. Mr Wilkie, the energetic secretary of the Ashburton Steeplechase Meeting, writes me to say that a capital course has been selected for the forthcoming meeting. In about three miles there are eighteen jumps, two of them water, and the others mostly stiff gorae. There is also about half-a-milo of plough. A good fair course, but one fully adapted to try tho capabilities of those competing. Nominations for the Melbourne Cup must he sent to Mr Begot, the secretary of the T.R.0., before June Ist. At a recent meeting of the North Canterbury Jockey Club it was decided that tho next -annual meeting should bo held on New Year’s Day. Acceptances and final payments for the various events of the Grand National Steeplechases close on Monday, tho I7th instant. In this connection I find that Stella, who is nominated for the Maidens, arrived, together with Baron, Grey Momue, Loch Lomond and others, since the date of my last writing. Stella is a big raking mare by Day Dawn, and is, I understand, an exceedingly good jumper. I am glad to see by advertisement that Mr Lance has called a meeting of those interested in the reconstruction of Tattersall’.s Club. The meeting, which promises I hear to be alarge and influential one, will come off on Saturday, the 22nd, and it is to he hoped that every sportsman who has the interest of such an institution at heart will put in an appearance. The desirability of reconstructing the club has been too often advocated in these columns to require any repetition of the numerous arguments which have been urged in favor of the club. I remind owners that nominations for the Waimate Steeplechase Meeting must bo made to the secretary, Mr M. Sherwin, before Thursday next, the 20th inst. lam indebted to Mr Luckie, the secretary of tbs Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, for a copy of the programme of that club’s Spring Meeting on October 7th. The items are the Hawke’s Bay Guineas of 105 sovo., the Selling Hurdle Race of 30 sovs., the Spring Handicap of 100 Bovs, (li miles), the Maiden Plate of 50 sovs., the Selling Hack Race of 20 sovs., and the Flying Handicap of GO sovs. Nominations for the Spring and Flying Handicaps close on the 25th May. A well-founded report reaches me, observes “Pegasus,” that.the Hon. G. McLean recently Bent by telegram an offer of 1000 guineas for the celebrated Australian filly Petrea, but it was declined. This may be looked upon as evidence that Mr McLean intends to go into racing, if at all, in a proper spirit, namely, that of obtaining good horses to carry his colours.

Stewart Waddell’s horse Eangitira, says “ Pegasus,” has never entirely recovered from the knocking about which he got on his last season’s tour up-country, and I learn that it is doubtful if we shall again see him on a racecourse. This is much to be regretted, as he is a really good horse and cost his owner some money to bring over from Australia. The Bill for the Suppression of Betting has passed its second reading in the New South Wales Legislative Council.

There is nothing of interest to report, the same writer observes, with regard to our approaching winter races. The horses which I have previously mentioned as being at the Forbury are all at work, bub as they go at various hours of the day and not in the early morning it is impossible to record their proceedings. Trotters are there in plenty, but I don’t think much interest is taken in their doings. The course is naturally in a rather heavy condition after the recent rains, but with an ordinary amount of fine weather between now and the day of tho races it will not be bad going. Acceptances and general entries close on the 15th inst.

The work on the course, in view of the forthcoming Steeplechase Meeting, is getting daily more brisk, and most of the animals engaged have taken up their quarters at Eiocarton. On Monday, being a fine morning, there were a great number out. Mata, Foul Play, On Dit, fSir Modred, Natator, and Ruination, a colt by Totara, representing the legitimate lot and looking all exceedingly healthy and well. The crosscountry element was represented by tone Hand, Agent, Mickey Free, Miss Hungertord, Harkaway, Baron, Clarence, Black Prince, Thilo, Stella, Grey Momus and Loch tomond. All of them did a fair amount of ■work. Lone Hand, Agent, and Mickey Free all declined the gorse in the centre of the course, but after a few refusals were taken over it. Thilo and Grey Mourns also baulked several times. The plough not being in very first class order, there has not been much fast work done lately. Mr Jas. Gordon Bennett, the world-wide-famed proprietor of the “ Now York Herald ” (says the English sporting correspondent of the " Australasian ”) is going to form a very extensive racing stud at Newmarket. Sir William Call will manage everything for him. I was [sorry to see the American’s blue and orange belt just suffer defeat at Croydon last week. It was in the United Kingdom Steeplechase that Latchkey just got done by a head, as is described elsewhere. Mr Bennett had given a cool thousand for him just before the race, and I wish he had got half of it back the first time of asking, as he so nearly did. No expense will be spared by tho enterprising American, so that doubtless we shall ere long see his colours first past the post for come important event.” From the above it will be seen that our American cousins have another representative on the English turf, and one who, if he import the same energy into hia new pursuit as he has into everything ke has hitherto undertaken, will take a lot of beating. For the following items I am indebted to Beacon.”:—

Jimmy Allen, who steered Scamp to victory in the recent Dunedin Hurdle Race and Steeplechase, will ride the little horse in the Grand National, albeit he will have to put up a couple of stone or so of dead weight. I am informed on good authority that the Hon. George M'Lean recently sent by cable an offer of 1000 guineas for the Hon. Mr Clarke’s filly Petrea, but that, as might have been anticipated, the answer was not favorable. Sportsmen will welcome this information in one way, however, for it shows that we shall probably have another racing stable in Otago before long, and “ goodness knows ” we want a few new men.

I hear with pleasure that Mr Henry Yeend, a once well known Otago racing man, intends returning here shortly from Tasmania, and that he will bring with him the horses Customs and Intrepid, a flatraoer and steeplechaser respectively, whom he has been running with varying success over the water. When he raced King Phillip and Kory O’Moro here Mr Yeend showed, under a continual run of bad luck, more pluck than is usually exhibited by a good many more successful owners, and no one would grudge him a share of Fortune’s favors on his return to his old quarters. SPORTING ITEMS. [From English and American files.] The celebrated rifle shot, Dr. Carver has challenged any member of the Paris Cercle des Patineurs to shoot the best of 100 pigeons, for £2OO or £4OO a side, or he has offered to hold his own against the best ten guns, at 300 birds, for £4OO or £BOO a aide. A match will probably result during the present month. Daniel O’Leary has beaten B. P. Weston n a six days’ go-as-you-please contest at San Francisco. Trickett, the Australian sculler, recently cabled Hanlan, “ Will go to England if you will meet me there in July. Answer.” Hanlan answered: “Cannot: will write.” This matter has been referred to before, on the occasion of Hanlan receiving a letter from Trickett a few weeks ago to the same purport as the cablegram. The reasons were then stated why the champion finds it impossible to accommodate his Australian rival until late in the Fall or during next Winter. Those reasons remain the same now as they were then, and consequently there is no chance of Hanlan and Trickett coming together the ensuing Summer.

Mr Wm. Blaikie, referee in the OourtneyHanlon boat race, says that there is now no donbt that a race between these two oarsmen will come off at Washington on or about May 15th. It would be exceedingly interesting (says “ Rapier ”) to know the precise difference in the speed of a boatraco made by the introduction of sliding seats ; but of course this can never be ascertained exactly, as no crow over rows at quite the same pace or over two tides which flow without any variation, oven if the identical course could bo kept. One of the best authorities on the subject, writing in the “Pall Mall Gazette,” says—'“Fifteen [years ago it was considered a fair performance for Oxford to row the race in 22min. 30aeo. on dead and smooth water, the tide being at a standstill when the crows got away. This year they do the same course, or possibly a slightly longer one, in 21min. 22aec. on similar water and with a slight head breeze : such is the effect of sliding seats.” This would make a difference of about a minute in some four and a bolf miles. I was on beard the Oxford launch with tho coaches when the crows were practising last year, however, and a famous Oxford stroke told me that he did not think sliding seats made quite so much difference as in the above calculation. It is certain that an improvement in speed is gained by tho use of sliding seats, and it is difficult to see why there should be a falling off in style, and why old stagers should shake their heads, as wo are told they do, and say, “ This may bo propulsion, but it is no longer rowing.” Why not ? Says “Rapier ” in tho “ Sporting and Dramatic News,” an instance of the sad way in which things sometimes go wrong in spite of all precautions is told of a trainer who lately died. He had in his stable tho favorite for a certain race; but, as occasionally happens, there were reasons why it was not desirable that the horse should win. The trainer, however, was much too scrupulous a map to instruct a jockey to pull his horse —besides, he knew another way. Just before the race the animal was regaled with a bucketful of water, and was then taken to the paddock, saddled, and mounted. The jockey had an idea that hia success was not absolutely indispensable to tho fortunes of the stable. He asked for instructions, was told to come away with the lead at his best pace. “And win ?” ho asked. “Certainly!” replied the trainer, resenting the knowing look with which tho question was accompanied. And ho did what he was told. As they came up the straight the rider who was intended to win, and who was in the secret, bogged the rider of the watered steed to take care. “Stop! I shan’t be able to get up!” he called out, as loudly as ho dared. “ Don’t mean you to, my boy !” the other answered, and finally won a good race by half a length.