SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5566, 30 January 1879, Page 3

SPORTING NOTES.

(By Mousetrap.)

The course had become so hard from such a long continuance of dry weather that most of the trainers contemplated doing work on the beach instead, but last night’s downpour will not render this step necessary. Nevertheless, it is a matter well worthy the attention of the Racing Club whether it would not be advisable to provide a good training ground for future meetings. The soil on the course is so light that if drought continues for any length of timo the course becomes fearfully hard, and trainers find that it plays the deuce with tho horses' legs. If the club would only plough a narrow strip inside the course for training purposes, and harrow it nicely over about a month or so before the annual meeting’, owners would be very well satisfied. Tim expense would not be very large. Some of the worst portions of the ground might be avoided by a swerving on to the course itself. The expense would thereby be limited to something like thirty or forty pounds, and there are few owners who, if requested to do so, would refuse to contribute on equal proportion, to recoup the outlay incurred by the club for their special convenience and accommodation. If a soft training ground were placed at their disposal, owners living at a distance would send their horses to the course very much earlier, instead of, as is now the ease, doing their work in their own districts, and then putting in an appearance within a few days of tho races. I throw out the suggestion in the hope that it will be considered by the club, and acted upon between this annual meeting and the next.

Yesterday morning there was some good work done on tho course and on the beach. King Quail went three miles in clothing for a steady sweat. Katcatcher stripped, and was sent round for a mile spin, which be accomplished in good form. Mr. Vallance (who is also training Lrertes for Mr. P. Butler as well aa his own team) sent away Ltertes and Merlin. together for a three mile ran, and they finished in very good pace. Lady Ellen and Mufti had each a three mile sweat. Lady Ellen had Eversley for a companion. Mufti doing his work alone on the beach. Grey Momus and Maritana stripped, aud went about two miles in company at a steady pace. The Agent took merely a walking exercise. All the horses are stopping at Fraser’s, with the exception of King Quail and Katcatcher, who are staying at a private place near the racecourse.

Mr. Walker arrived yesterday frorn Wanganui, with Ottawa. Kata will arrive from Blenheim to-day. Longlands, Danebury, Catnballo, To Whetu, and Bribery will arrive by the Kotoma to-morrow. Mr. Andrew Young intends to let Sailor have a gallop on the course this morning. As the time gets nearer, the interest in the events naturally increases, and there are several visitors to the course from town every morning now. There will be a good crowd out on Sunday morning, I should imagine, because in all probability most of the horses will be doing some good work. The Southern contingent arriving on Friday, will do little more than a walking exercise on Saturday, but on the morning after they are sure to go in for some downright running. Tho betting took a sudden turn yesterday afternoon, with the result that for the Cup Fishhook has jumped into the position of first favorite. Throe hundreds to hundreds were wanted on Fishhook last night, but the coynoicenti would nottouchNeilson’srepresentativeat anything but evens. Danebury has improved his position, and 100 to 20 against him is readily accepted. With regard to the others left in the Cup, the quotations are the same as those given in yesterday’s issue. Mr. Young’s confidence in Sailor increases, and some spirited betting was done at the Empire on Tuesday night. As no odds can be got against Fishhook for the Wellington event, most of tbe transactions arc confined to doubles on tho Wellingtonand Dunedin Cups, and some were laid last night. The most popular double is that of the Fish for the Wellington Cup and Titania for the Dunedin event. I would remind owners that entries for the Wairarapa Jockey Club races close at Greytown on Saturday night next.