SPORTING NOTES.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2001, 23 July 1880, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

By Sihbad. I have received from Mr D. McKenzie the programme of the Geraldine meeting, which will come off on September 23rd and 24th. The items on the first day consist of the Maiden Plate of 30 sovs., Handicap Hurdle Base of 70 sovs, Publicans’ Handicap (one mile and a quarter) of 70 sovs, Selling Stakes of 20 sovs, and a Hack Race. The seoond day commences with the Geraldine Cup Handicap (2.1 miles), followed by a Hack Hurdle Race. A Ladies’ Purse of 25 sovs, the County Plate (district), and a Consolation Stake, make up the second day’s programme. All nominations must bo sent to the Hon. Sec., Mr D. McKenzie, before 9 p.m. on September 18th.

At a recent meeting of tho Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, the following resolution was carried:—“That the Jockey Club pay £lO towards tho cost of publishing a ‘ New Zealand Turf Register,’ and that tho secretary communicate with other clubs in the colony asking their co-operation.” This certainly is a step in the right direction. The only volume of the kind ever published in New Zealand was brought out under the auspices of Mr Elliott, the well-known editor of the “Now Zealand Stud Book.” It was carefully and correctly got up, but pecuniarily was a failure, tho fact being that the composition and binding of such a work are altogether too costly for any editor to even pay his expenses, unless liberally subsidised by the various Jockey Clubs. The want of such a record has been long felt by sporting men, and it is to be hoped that the leading clubs of the colony will not only back up the notion of the Hawke’s Bay Club, but act conjointly in selecting a competent editor for the production of a work of so much importance. I acknowledge the receipt of Mr J, J. Miller’s “ Pocket Pamphlet,” which for those who take any interest in Australian racing will be found an invaluable vade mecum. In addition to the principal performances of last season, this book contains the nominations for all the big events of the coming year.

A correspondent sends me the following : “ A very pleasant meeting of the Canterbury Hunt-Club took place on Saturday last. The tryst was at Mr G. Phillips' farm, at Templeton, whore, at half-past one nearly forty horsemen put in an appearance. Amongst these were Mr Cullen on the Sunbeam filly, Mr Egan on Tallyho, Mr J. J. Thomson on Stella, Mr Lockhart on Satellite, Mr Clifford on Silvorstream, Mr H, Lunn on Tam o’ Shanter, Mr Ford on a useful light-weight carrying bay, Mr Allan Scott on his favorite grey, Mr Baker on Fireworks, Mr Kimbell on a very good-looking bay gelding, Mr Haydon on his cheanut, Master A. Delamain on Phoebe, Mr O’Connell on tho old veteran Sailor Boy, and many others whose names I do not know. Miaa Lanco, who, by tho way, is a very regular attendant at tho meets, was out ou a very handsome bay, who, however, would be the better of a bit more schooling. Tho nor’-wester which was blowing militated greatly against a find, and- a long delay ensued, during which many small paddocks were tried unsuccessfully. We worked at last into a large paddock about a mile from Mr Phillips’, where the hares were only too plentiful, the hounds breaking up and hunting in several squads. At last Cullen got them away to a good stout one, and we had a clipping little run in a sou’-westerly direction. The country was good, and one or two very stiff jumps were encountered, bnt negotiated in a workmanlike manner by most of the gentlemen mentioned above and some others. We cheeked finally in a ploughed field, the last jump being a deceiver in the shape of a sod wall, with enough gorse on it to conceal a double wire. This obstacle was approached with more or loss caution, but Mr Cullen got over well, while Mr Thomson on Stella coming to grief, warned, the rest of tho field

of the nature of the obstacle. As the shades of eve wore falling fast, we cried a go, and, speaking for self and party, gob into town as hungry as the proverbial hunter, after a very pleasant afternoon’s sport. I cannot closethis brief account without complimenting some of the * rising generation ’ on their riding. We are generally favored with the company of a host of young gentlemen who ride very pluotily, and in some cases with a deal of judgment. Conspicuous among these are Masters Arnold Delamain, Ford, Haesal and the Lances. I close in expressing a wish that many more young ladies would follow the example of Miss Lanoe, and patronise a sport which is at onoe exciting and health-giving. The master spares neither expense nor trouble in the support of his favourite sport, and in Mr Cullen ho has a really expert huntsman. If only a few gentlemen like Mr Allan Scott and Mr Kimball would back up the master, the Canterbury Hunt Club would be really .a big institution.”

I have received from Mr Sydney James the annual report of the Dunedin Jockey Club, which it is pleasing to bo able to state is in every respect a satisfactory one. There actually seems a possibility of the advent of a new cross-country horse in New Zealand, and a good one too. Mr Yeend, who has been for several seasons in Tasmania, returns shortly to his old quarters in Dane*din, bringing with him Intrepid, who it seems is a very fair performer over a country. “ Spectator” learns that a large number of young horses are now in hand for coming engagements. Amongst them are some likely looking animals. Mr Powdrell’s colt Tally Ho, by Papapa—Discretion, is a very taking animal, and the biggest of the family. Ho is a roan, with a white face and white feet, and shows groat power, but if anything is a little wide in front and rather short in the back rib. However he is one of the out and come again sort, and quite a different looking beast to his full brother, Ringleader, who, by the way, will not be tried again for twelve months, Mr Powdrell having turned him out in Napier. Mr Walker has a very nice filly by Opawa from Heather Bell by Peter Plat in the stable at Aramoho, and Mr M‘lvor has a Day Dawn filly from the dam of Lochinvor to put into work, and she is clipper built, and may some day emulate the doings of her half brothers Lochinvar and Bide-a-Weo. Albert Lyford, Mr Keith’s trainer, has his hands full, and will train several of old Day Dawn’s get for threa-year-old engagements. For Woitotara, Patea and Hawera a number of young ones are being broken and trained, Mr Newland has put Cigarette into Mr Haase’s hands, of Carlyle, In the Bangitikei district, some young ones engaged in the Patea Darby, Waverloy Guineas, and other three-year-old events, have been taken up. Major Morse has offered his well-bred lot for sale, but no doubt they will be kept in a thorough state of preparation during the winter month*. I publish the following particulars of a very rising little club with much pleasure. “ Hororata, July 20th, 1880. “ Beae Sinbad, —Knowing how well you like to hear of any advancement from the extremely rough article to something of better form in the necessary adjuncts of racing, even from such beginners ns we are in this district, I write you a line to lot you know the improvements wo are effecting this winter in our course. Imprimis , then, last year we topdressed llj chains of the straight “run in,” very heavily, putting it on 2 inches deep, and sowing some with 151 b of white clover, rolling, &0., which had a capital effect on the terribly gravelly bottom. Encouraged by our success, we have top-dressed 40 chains this winter, but not so heavily, the natural bottom and English grass with which the course is sown being better, and has come up with a superior sward than in the “ run in," which, when rolled in the spring, will make it capital going. There will bo held on the 21st August a general meeting in the district, when the programme for this year’s meeting will bo drawn out, and officers appointed. The result I will let you know. Four meetings have now been held here. The first round a plough furrow, “ pur et simple.” Now wa have a course of seventyfive chains, three-quarters of a chain wide, to the run in, which is a chain wide ; a good substantial saddling paddock, telegraph board, and a good stock of hurdles for hurdle racing ; also a fair plough gallop on the outside of the course. Considering the smallness of the district, I think we have done fairly well. “ Yours, &c., “A Hoeobataokiaw.” In reference to the “Jockeys’ Performances” given recently in these columns, I am informed that I have left out several of both Clifford’s and Matthew’s winning mounts. This I regret very much, but until (as recently very sensibly advocated by my confrere “ Voltigeur”) jockeys will themselves furnish sporting correspondents with a record of their mounts, it is at present quite impassible to give an annual reliable account of their doings. For their own sakes I hope the rising Fordhams and Archers of New Zealand will keep a record of their performances during the coming season, which might be at the service of any sporting writer who wishes to make use of it.