NOTES BY " HIPPONA."

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 131, 17 March 1883, Page 430

NOTES BY " HIPPONA."

— Contrary to expectation, the weights for the 1 Takapuna Handicap and Hurdles wore posted on Mon- -I day night. As matters are a bit mixed over country <l meetings just now, I will not endeavour to "spot it," 1J but am of opinion that in the Handicap the owners of '1 Bavenshoe, Maori, and Kalo have no need to complain ; " ■while the Steeplechase and Hurdles — the former especially — look a good thing for Chandler. After his chance, I like that of Harkaway. Acceptances are due to-night (Friday). — Mr Hately has issued tlie weights for the Taranaki Jockey Club Handicap, Steeplechase, and v Hurdles, and I must certainly say it is a wretched at- | tempt. How he has arrived at an opinion respecting I the capabilities of several of the horses I am at a loss to understand, and it seems a great pity the Club ever en- _ trusted him with the duty. In the Handicap, St. Clair ■* is "crucified" with Bst 121 b, Hippodamia, Leonata, Bnzzard, and Fame being also badly treated. The best at the weights I take to be Libeller, Fishwoman, The *■ Poet, Wilberforce, and Armourer. The Steeplechase and Hurdles is a " moral" for Clarence, if he is fit and his owner chooses to send him, New Year being com- f pletely stopped. It is no wonder Mr Pollock does not i care to nominate his horses when Mr Hatelj adjusts the •weights. — All who admire an honest sportsman must ( have felt gratified when they learned Sir Thomas Elder had. appropriated the V.E.C. Newmarket Handicap with ] his four-year-old mare Tyropean, who, in. a field of i thirty-three, secured a neck victory from Coulstoun, . Transferred being third. According to late Melbourne •; papers, the winner was a very warm favourite, and had fceen hacked by the stable and public to win a large { stake. Mr E. Weekes, the owner of Transferred, also had a great fancy that his colt was able to do the trick, l for he accepted £3000 to £ 90 that he would get home first in lmin. 16sec. or under. The time the race was ( run in has-not been cabled, but the best ever made for i the contest was ltnin. lG^secs., by Hyacinth, last year. '. a Transferred had therefore to do the fastest time on ■^record, and accept all the chances of weather, health, j r and other possible contingencies to land his owner's j money. The Newmarket Handicaphasnowbeenrim ten ( times, and won by horses at the following ages :-- Twice by three-year-olds ; three times by four-year-olds ; and five times by five-year-olds. — To-moiTow (Saturday), the pleasant little ' fixture of the Henderson's Mill Turf Club takes place, and a good day's sport may safely be anticipated for those who patronise the gathering. The usual railway arrangements have been made for the public, trains leavingthe Auckland station at 11 o'clock and 12 noon,returning after the last race is run. Among the improvements effected by the Club is a newly-erected grand-stand, while the course is said to be in splendid going order. There are six events set down for decision, viz., the Hurdle Race, 40 sovp., 2 miles ; Maiden Plate, 25 soys., 1$ miles ; Henderson's Mill Cup, 100 soys-, 2 miles ; Selling Eace, 30 soys, 1£ miles ; Railway Handicap, 30 sov-s., 1 mile; and Consolation Handicap, 15 soys, 1 mile. The names of those left in the principal event of the day — the Cvp — are as follows : — st. lb. St. lb. ioneHand ... 8 10 Kalo 7 5 Merlin 8 10 Tinman 6 12 Eavenshoe 8 4 Moonstone 6 10 Maori 7 12 Katipo 6 7 Fish.worn.an ... 7 10 There is every reason to think that this field will be reduced, and that not more than five or six at the most ■will see the post. Of the lot, Maori, Eavenshoe, Fishwoman, and Merlin are the most likely winners, but the former is the only only one that a market sign has been made in favour of, and it has met with no response. However, putting this and that together, I see nothing in the race with a better show than Maori. The Hurdles has the following acceptance :— st.lb. st.lb. XoneHand ... 12 0 Tatters- 9 0 Harkaway ... 11 12 Miss Walton ... 9 0 Chandler 11 2 Native 9 0 Tinman 9 0 This event will produce a capital contest between the three top-weights, providing they start; and if Harkaway, ■who, I am informed, is in capital condition, be among the number, he should once more win. At the time of my writing-, however, there is just a chance if the stable do not get their " little bit on," he may not see the post. In his absence, Chandler, who is said to be looking well, should win. Tinman's party are sanguine of his winning, and have backed their opinion ireely. ■ — On Tuesday and Wednesday next, the Dav•gavilleites will hold their annual meeting, but it is much to be regretted that another date was not fixed upon by the stewards, for as things are at present it is doubtful •whether they will have so large an attendance of Aucklanders as their capital programmes generally secure. However, it is no use crying over spilt milk at this time, and. I can only express a hope that the meeting ■will be a big success. The following are the names of those who have accepted for the Cup : — st. lb. St. lb Kandwick 9 3 Maori 7 2 Lono Hand ... 8 2 Harkaway 7 0 Soukar 8 1 Harold 6 12 Eavenshoe 8 0 Kalo 6 12 Merlin 8 0 Moonstone ... 6 7 irishwoman ... 7 6 Katipo 6 4 To pick the winner before Henderson's Mill events are decided is by no means an easy task, but if Merlin is anything like fit, I do not think we need look any further for the winner, while there is an additional recommendation in his favour, the stable having their pieces down. Maori should be the chestnut's most dangerous opponent, while the beautifully-bred Fish•woman ought not to be out' of it with 7st 6lb, if. she starts ; and I tako Kalo to be the best of,., 'what may be termed the outside division. In th&rHurdle Eace, run on the second day, I see nothing at present to interfere with Chequita or Harkawat, unless old Lone Hand goes straight. - — Mr Horsfall's easy victories with Kiog Quail at Wanganui were received with a doal.of satisfaction in Auckland, for nowhoro I think has the consistent ■^ -little follow so many friends. Since Mr Butler took

o'flda of 50 toltht^^fflßra^Barkawayr^dCnanaJ^^B would not pass the post in the Henderson' 3 Mill Hurdl^^H Race in the order written. — At the Tasnaanian Racing Club Meeting, a j two-year-old colt called Prodigal (full briber to Tas- I man) won uo less than four racas during the meeting, I one of thorn being an All-aged Stakes. J — The acceptances for the C.J.C. Great Autumn J Handicap are fairly good. Tasman, Salvijg^ an d "Welcome Jack appear to be the bes^ of the l(,t, while I still fancy Quainby and Canard for the Steeplechase. — Piscatorious was led off the cour se dead lame, [ immediately after finishing second to Yankee in the Publican's Purse at the late Gisborne rac6 Si There was every indication of his having sustained a, bad strain in < ono of his fore legs. — There has been such a rush of visitors to inspect Eayon dOr in New York that th( 3 horse's custodians have been compelled to restrict, the hours of J '. exhibition, as the celebrated stallion is growing lrrita^Lea urder the infliction. ' . -'" — At the recent Dunedin Meeting }Pjneve were 22 races, for which 98 horses started, or fin average of 4£ for each race. Of handicaps there/^ere 14, with 70 starters, or an average of 5 per hand£j cfl ,p. There was not a single protest or dispute during the meeting. —Mr W. A. Long has gone/ to England again, having sailed from Sydney the /jther week. If he finds that any of the young racing stock recently purchased by him in the old country/ give promise of being any good, he will wire to Tom/Hales to cross the wide ocean and take " first mount^V The talked-of engagement has not gone further thocii this. — A sad raislyap has befallen the Adelaide oolt Laplander, by C/uuutryman out of Tinfinder. In returning to his box, 'from a walk, he trod on a splinter, which entered deeply into his foot, and it is feared he will be crippled for life. Laplander, from all accounts, had every attribute of becoming the best 3-year-old of his season throughout Australia. — Prometheus was scratched for all engagements at tl^e V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. There is nothing seriously wrong with the son of Lurlinej but not being sufficiently forward, after his spring catarrah, to tackle such dangerous animals of his own age as Navigator, Guesswork, &c, the pen was drawn through his name rather than run any risk of overdoing him. — My Napier correspondent informs me that whet Libeller was being hoisted out of the lighter there, he kicked fearfully, the box he was in being nearly on its side. On his being released, it was found he had kicked himself severely on the hind fetlock, taking out a piece of skin about four inches square. He bled very much, and walked quito lame afterwards. — The ranks of the Melbourne ring have re-ccn-ly received an addition in the persons of Messrs Cooper and Harison, a couple of English bookmakers, who are accompanied by good credentials. Their stay wil. only be temporary, though it is possible they may stco and see what the betting on the next Derby and Mellourne Cup is like. — -Mr J. Harris backed Salvage for the Dunedin Cup p win him £800, and was siinilurly unfortunate throughout the meeting. Messrs Belcher and Gardiner fielded, and landed a considerable sum. The latter, howevei. after winning £500 on the first day, closed his book. Suder only lost £300, although he was struck f»r a " thou over Adamant's win. — Wbie on his waj to the late Dunedin Meeting, one a the Southern pencillers fell in with a party, who he ensidered a bit of a " gr^en un," and taking him asid- quietly induced him to back Adamant for the Cup towin £600, with the result everybody knows. On theftrength of his good fortune, the "young man from tie country " indulged in a general fly round. — I&noiny, " the horse of a century," as he is called, hajfche following wonderful record :— ln 1878 he won the Caiibridgeshire Stakes, on which Mr Gretton, his owner, piled off £40,000. The horse started at 40 to 1 (offered) In 1879 he ran second in the Newmarket Handicap, ad won the Goodwood, Doncaster, and Brighton Cup; and in 1880 the Ascot and Manchester Cups. Isonoiy won Mr Gretton more than £120,000 in stakes and bet, and that gentleman swore never to part with him; bu death -put an end to the vow, and the great horse, st!l,a£nibbnost untried sire, fell to the bid . of Mr Crawf urfeggg§|p death yr&g lately announced by cable— for 9<Woffi||i|t

BBBBBBBBk^s; included- in.. the programme BBJBBfIBBBA /Poverty. Pay) races. The local ■^■BjBBBBjK es ifi : ~"' Tn e i "'Boot-and-Donkey ." ■88888888V 111^ an entirely original Wairakai in|BB_B^B_BBBBk resll^ * n a capital contest. The BBhßßHßb^i'^'' 1 !? horses must ride not their own ■■■■■■Preselected by lot. The rider of the first BHP"^ c !, c stakes so t^at each jockey will press ■■paount to the utmost, for each will remember that it BY 1 ! f w l\ er> not the rider > of the last horse, who is en- ■■ Bed to the boots. BB— The entries for the Adelaide Cup and GtoodH°? Handicap this year are not only strong in numbers Hin quality likewise. Amongst the Si in the former ■■inch, by the bye, is well worth winning, seeing that it ■Ja sweep of 10 soys., with £500 added by the S.A.J.C. ■fa a gold cup by Sir Thomas Elder) are noticed the Bmmes of Commotion. Guesswork, Fryingpan, Pro■■etheus, Plunger, Chuckster, Coriolanus, Little Jack, ■ja others of a similar calibre. The Goodwood HandiHP shows a strength of 72. The weights for each handi■bp appear on April 3. Bj — The new Australian Jockey Club rules have ■teen duly passed. There ia no startling difference after V 1 between the code adopted by the New South Wales ■eople and the Victoria Racing Club revised regulations; ■|ut the A.J.C. have decided not to have an official calen■lar, ana also have made a law that no horse shall run ■maer the same name as any other horse has previously ■jorne either at Home or in any of the Colonies. Another useful and quite proper by-law is to the effect Ma korso having carried declared overweight in w. dead heat, need not carry the said overweight in the ■run off.