NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 159, 29 September 1883, Page 6

NOTES BY SPREAD EAGLE.

— (xeraldine races take t place to-day. —Esmond is scratched for the Melbourne Cup. — Santa Olaus has quite recovered his accident, and is looking well. — I hear that Martini-Henri, like Petronel, ia not a boy's horse to ride. —The scratching of Matanaka has frightened " punters " on the N.Z. Cup. — It is a great pity that Dirk Hatteraik, First Demon, and Le Grand, -will not meet for the Y.R.C. blue ribbon. — Tricotrin and Harlequin seems the favourite double for Steeples and Hurdles at the Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting. '~ !L ~ ' — Blue and White, Bordeaux, Prodigal (T.), are going- well. King of (the Vale and Commotion are none too forward. —At the first Plumpton Meeting in Tasmania, held early in this month, there were 1500 people on the ground, and it was a great success. — TheiEiccarton course was opened on the 14th • for horses engaged at G-eraldine, but up to then no fast work of any moment had been done fchere. — A- bay two-year-old, out of Jenny Lind, by Atiteros, has gone into Jack Laing's stable. I believe Laing is also , handling another youug Ariteros— Countess. . — -Once again I would remind racing men that the nominations close to-day (Friday) for Spring Handicap and Hurdles at the Auckland Racing Club's Spring Meeting. / . -—Stanley, by Camden — Lady of the Lake, an old horse well known in the South, took the staggers, fell, and broke his neck, from the effects of eating a poisonous weed. — The Challenge Cup will be run for at the Newmarket Houghton Meeting, and the Whip at . the second October Meeting, at the same place. The Duke of Beaufort holds both. — Buadoora is scratched for all engagements in the Christchurch Metropolitan Meeting, having strained the sheath of the back tendon. If he does get all right, he'll be a rod in pickle for some coup yet, as he is a good 'un, ' —The Assyrian, last year's Melbourne Cirp ■winner, having. gone to the stud, has began well by taking the first prize at the Midland Agricultural Show, at Launceston, as the best thoroughbred for all purposes. -. ; — I heard that Mr Thorpe's filly, Mary, slippGji down in her box, and strained herself. I hopir it is nothing serious, as her owner is -not one of the luckiest. When I saw this filly a fortnight ago, she struck mo as being a very useful sort. The final course at the Mowbray Inaugural Meeting," Tasmania, for the Ladies' Bracelet, was between Miss 'Charlotte Atkinson's blk and wh b .

/lyiirarida, by .dPeri^Hmi^^lao' beat Mrs .Richards' 'blltWiad^li.ib; Fia,metta, by Financier" — Cassbpea. , ■ — A New Zealand bred Clydesdale lias been sold to Mr Weston, of Illawarra, for. 400 guineas. He is called Young Sir Greorge Grey. His sire, Sir Greorge Grey, was imported to New Zealand from Scotland, but was again resold for 300 guineas to go back to England. " '' ~ — In looking over horses, for cross-country purposes, it is wonderful the number of good jumping ones that are descended from old Pocahontas, through her four sons, Stpckwell, Rataplan, King Torn, and Knight of Kars. These four were all powerful and large-boned horses. The Manawatu Racing Club programme consists of eight events, including a Handicap Hurdle of GOsors., Maiden Plate of 40sovs., Manawatu Handicap of 200sovs., and Flying Handicap of GOsovs. Mr A. Higgie is handicappcr. The principal race is altered from two miles to a mile and three-quarters. — In the nominations for ths principal events at the Dunedin Autumn Meeting in February, there is not a single Auckland name. There are 49 nominations for the Cup altogether, against 58 last year. The J.C Handicap haa 42, the same as last year, and in the Forbury there is an increase of one, viz., 41. Local betting has been rather quiet this week. First Demon has been backed to win about £'GOO for the Melbourne Cup, and Kalo and Leonora have been backed for a little in the Sj>ring Handicap at the Hawke's Bay Meeting ; Cheviot and Turquoise have also been pencilled for a few wagers at Southern prices for the Melbourne Cup. — The latest V.R.C. Derby and Cup betting is as follows :— Cup : 100 to 7 against First Demon ; 100 to 7, Nicholas ; 100 to G, Despot ; 100 to 6, Le Grand ; 100 to 4, Bordeaux ; 100 to 4, Dirk Hatteraik ; 100 to 4, Pollio ; 100 to 3, Stockwell. ! i Derby : 2to 1 against Archie ; sto 1, Off Color; 5 to 1, Martini-Henri ; 12 to 1, others.

— At the Agricultural Sbow at Sydney, in the thoroughbred sires class, Paris was first, Monmouth second, and Reform third. Subsequently Paris was disqualified, and Sweetmeat was placed third. ' Much dissatisfaction was caused on account of the handsome Sweetmeat being passed over. Strange to say, the above four horses are all by Yattendon. — Lurline's son will be a second edition of Darebin, though not quite so big. Progress' sister promises to be a beauty, and Calumny's filly is a big one, and is full of quality. Topaz's son hiife any amount of running biood in his veins. A filly from imported Fortress is likely to prove anothey Lurline. I fancy Fortress. is the sister of the celebrated 6how stallion Citadel, the handsomest horse I ever saw. — From Wanganui, "Eclipse" states that Fame, Wairuareka, Leonessa, Bayard, and Hinemoa are doing strong work in Sam Powell's stable Mount and Himalaya did three miles. They are in pretty fair form, all things considered. Mr Keith's team, comprising Buzzard, Hippona, and brother to Hard Times, went in good form for two miles, stripped. Dr Connolly's horses, also Dan,. have been doing useful work. — The\handicnpper at Oarnaru has pretty neai'ly followed Greraldine, only on a scale 7lbs. higher. Greraldine has followed the New Zealand Cup weights, with one or tw,o exceptions. If the lead is right, the others will be so. Oamaru having last say, provides for penalties. A winner of a race valued on the advertised programme at £50, shall carry 3lbs. extra ; of £100, 51bs. ; of £200, Vlbs. ; and if over £200, 101 bs. extra. —"Warrior" says that the Y.R.C. Derby 1 should produce a good field. Martini-Henri, Archie, Off Color, St. Laurence, Kingsdale, Copra, Narina, Prodigal,, Blue and White, Kaipara, Waxlight, "Lord Wilton, and Mitchem are pretty -sure to go. The two. last both pei'formed well in Sjßputh Australia — the former winning the Mares' sHroduce and Farewell Handicap, and the latter the South Australian Jockey Club Two (?) .Year Old Stakes. —New Zealand Cup betting to the 22nd : 100 to 20 against Cheviot, 100 to 15 Turquoise, 100 to 10 Tasman and Envious, 100 to 8 Hippod'^mia, 100 to 7 "Welcome Jack and Adamant, lOO'.to 0 Taiaroa and Matanaka, 100 to 5 Lady Emma and

The DauphiivlOO to 4 Sou-Wester and ftonsense,' 100 to 3 July, Hyacinth, and Trickster. Derby': 3 to 2 against Oudeis. Cheviot and Turquoise have both been backed by their stables. Adamant and Taiaroa are fancied in Dunedin. —Mr Stead's imported filly Polly is scratched for all engagements, as, while doing a gallop, she smashed a fore fetlock joint. " Senex " says : — " Her racing career is at an end. This is unfortunate, as she has shown great speed lately on the training-ground." Her grandam Cantine won the City and Suburban in 1861, and is also the grandam of Lord Falmouth's Bal-G-al and Dutch Oven, so that, Polly belongs to the fast side of the family, with possibly the roaring propensity as well. — The Wellington Racing Club have decided to hold their Summer Meeting on Friday and Saturday, Ist and 2nd February, 1884. The pro-gramme-will be as follows: — First Day: Flying Stakes, f-mile, GOsovs.; Hurdle Handicap, 2| miles, GOsovs. ; Wellington Cup, 2 miles, 400sovs. ; Stewards' Handicap, U miles, ISOsovs. Second Day: Railway Stakes, f-niile, 50sovs.; Hutt Park Stakes, 1J- miles, 120sovs.; Wellington Racing Club Handicap, If miles, 200sovs.; Consolation, 1 mile, 40sovs. — Mr D. S. Wallace has given £2000 for Le Grand. This gentleman evidently is fond of the Epigram blood, as he also owns Waterloo, who is engaged in the Melbourne Cup and other races. Waterloo is an own brother to Wheatear, and a great favourite of his owner's, who will now have a good line to try him. As a thrce-j'-oar-old, Waterloo won both the Queensland Derby and Leger, but he did not sport silk last year. Howover, should he come into the market, a small investment might bo worth the risk. — The well-known stud horse Javelin had to be destroyed some time ago. He will be a loss to Mr Douglas, as First Demon, to whom the horse was closely allied, lias made a name for ! himself. Javelin was a very stoutly-bred horse, having a double Sir Hercules cross, though not taking to the eye. He was a good performer in

his day, and no doubt will leave a few gallopers behind him. There is a colfc by him called Jacob in the Hawke's Bay Guineas that possibly next week I may have to say a few words aboufc. — The V.R.C. seem to have passed rather a hard sentence on little Billy Opie, who, through the bullying of a stable companion, bolted from Mclvenna's to Moran's. Opie's father apprenticed the boy to Moran, but McKenna fetched the boy away, and now, on the complaint of Moran, the lad is disqualified. This is rather a pity, as good light-weights are very scarce, and the lad shows promise of being a good rider; still, it does not do to let them get above themselves, as they are often spoilt early, and go from bud to worse. — We have received from Mr Abraham, of Dunedin, on behalf of Ada Mantua's Melbourne Cnp consultation, the sum of five guineas, to be awarded to the successful tipster of the first three horses, under conditions announced elsewhere in these columns. Wo hear that Ada's consultation is nearly full, and that the drawing for the ten thousand jiounds will take place immediately thereafter, in the presence of an influential committee. A re]:>resentative has been appointed by the Ohservjjr, and the result of the drawing will be telegraphed to this office next morning for publication. — By a private letter from Sydney, I learn that Martini-Henri got a cold, and the Hon. James White, as the colt was such a favourite, " paid up," to give everybody a run, as it was hoped he would be better. However, the next day. he was so bad that he had to be scratched. Of course, people say all sorts of things ; but the Hon. James does not require defending, as, had he not wanted to give the public a run, he would not have paid up. The stable have got a lot on him for the Melbourne Cup, and I now fancy their chance a good one, although many think Despot the Simon Pure of the Newmarket division. — -Prom a Napier correspondent, I hear Alec. Sutherland has got Kalo in very good heart. The distance should about suit him, although I think li miles would be neai'er his dart. Leonora, if sent, I fancy for the Spring Handicap ; but I hope to hear further news before next issue. She is fancied by some of the knowing ones, but weight stops many a good 'un. Of the young

ones, Escopeta, Sfarjory, and Scud, all show form. Tim Whiffler, Eeonata, Biibiha, and Mischief are, all looking well, although' the latter, is hnrdly expected to be ripe for the Hawke's Bay Meetings Mavis is not among the final payments.. ; Fit actSl well, tins mare would have been dangerous,, frorpf" the form of her race with Libeller, when 'she boat the game little son of Yatterina on a former. occasion. , ,■ . f — A very good judge, in writing from Sydney^, says : — " Lie Grand is a fine-looking colt, but leggy. He won his three mile race In the slow time of 6-12, and as he only had Sweet William, who is out of form, and Sardonyx (the gamesfc little bit of stuff I over saw in my life) to meet, and there was nothing to make the pace,, it was only a striding canter for two and a-half miles, and a brush home. Many good judges consider that if ever the pace be made warm from the jump, Le Grand will not see it out, though he has grand foot, and, like The Gem, Coriolanus, and others, has one fine run at the finish. If I hear anything startling about Martini-Henri, I will drop you a letter, and as I know several connected with the stable, you wiil probably get a . line occasionally." ■ • — At the last meeting of the shareholders of the Auckland Plumpton Coursing Company, it was agreed not to finally close for any ground at present, the reason being that a great difference, of opinion exists as to the most suitable ground. All people who know anything of enclosed coursing grovmds, know that it is indispensable that there ■ should be a running ground GOO yards by 200, at, least (some people say 800 by 400), and so level that from the Grand Stand, and enclosure as well, the public can have a good view of the whole course, no matter what part of the gronnd the hare may make for. I would suggest that the directors, having secured such ground,, should then vote (say) £50 from the funds of the company to get a competent man from Australia to lay out the ground to the best advantage. Discoveries are being made by which the enclosed, grounds in England and Australia can be improved ; therefore, the company, by a little expenditure at the outset, will probably save in. the end, and the directors will have the satisfaction of knowing they have laid out the shareholders' money to advantage ; whereas, possibly, if undertaken by anyone without practical knowledge, the mistake will be found out when too late to be remedied without great loss. — The following are the entries and final payments for the Hawke's Bay Spring Meeting : — Maiden Plato (entries).— Escopeta, Heretaunga, Kuni, Snider, Fear Not, Comet, Radqmes, Waewactikn, Oberon, Jacob, Briar. Hawko's Bay Guineas (final payments). — Escopeta, f, by Musket — Winifred •, Snider, c by Musket — Maid of Athol ; Marjory, f , by Javelin — Ngaro ; Jacob, c, by Javelin — Scratch ; Oberon, c, by Sator — Sybil. Hurdle Race., of 75sovs. ; distances, two miles. — Lone Hand, list lOlhs : Loch Lomond, list 71bs; Reform, lOst 121bs'; Wild Dayrill, lOst olbs; A.G., lOst Olbs; Lady Bab, lOst Olbs; Doubtful, i)st 121bs; Heretaunga, Ust 121bs ; Fear Not, 9st 121bs ;' Juliet, 9st 121bs; Waewaetika, Ost lOlbs ; Pastime. 9st 71bs. Spring Handicap, of 200sovs. ; H miles. — Mischief, Ost 41bs; Tim Whiffler, Bst lllbs; Leonora. Bst lOlbs; Leonata, Bst 31b s ; Kalo, 7st-101b» The Laird, 7st 81bs ; Lone Hand, 7st SlbsJl^ Yankee, 7st -libs; Rangipo, 7sL llb-p-Kinguisk, fist 81bs; Scud, Gst 71bs ; Marjory, Gst 51bs. Flying Handicap, of lOOsovs. ; j£ mile, — Mischief, i)st 71bs; Leonora, Sst lOlbs ; iLalo Bst Olbs j Kinyask 7st lOlbs ; Rubina, 7st 71bs ; Yankee, 7st 71bs ,• Radames, 7st 51bs ; Rangipo, 7st lib ; Kuni, 7st Olbs; Oberon, Gst lllbs; Carmen, Gst lOlbs ; Scud, Gst 81bs ; Marjory, Gst Tibs. — A few words about rearing young thoroughbred stock, by one of the best autborities of the day in England, may prove interesting :— " Colts and fillies should be separated, and not run too thick in a paddock. The best corn and hay procurable given in mangers, beneath sheds ; all the rest of their time they should be out of doors, unless the weather is very rough indeed ; but of course they must be sufficiently handled to lead round the ring on the day of sale, to show themselves iv proper form." W. Day says that Sir Tatton Sykes adopted this plan, and he (Day) never had any from Sir Tatton with contracted' or diseased feet, none ever had sore shins, ring- ! bone, splints, curbs, or thoroughpin. Attention of course must be paid that the auccstors are free from hereditary faults, particularly crooked legs ,„ and bad feet. The old Yorkshireman's motto t p " No foot, no horse," holds particularly good in ' racehorses, and as one of Ihe finest judges of a horse I ever knew, used to say to me when a boy, " Judge a horse from his feet upwards." In . horses we want muscle, not fat. The rough appearance of yearlings may be dismissed as a matter of no consideration. Colts reared as described, when put into training, if properly treated, improve just as fast as the fat ones go back. The simple fact is, the muscular ones have been in training themselves months before they get in the trainer's hands, whilst the others, debarred their freedom, have had their growth prematurely forced at the expense of Nature, aud nve like hot-house plants, drawn-up, weak, and slender. Ido not mean for a moment that young horses should be starved into condition j but in two words, let them have plenty of exercise, and plenty of the right sort of good food. The Arab proverb is, " That a horse's goodness goes in afc the mouth." — The hounds met on Saturday last at the Mount Albert railway station, and, after being most hospitably entertained by Mr Allan Waterhouse, the hounds were laid on to the drag, which , was laid by Harford, on Hawthorn. The Ime^ taken was through Mildred's, over Monaghau's, * across Crawford's, into the Asylum grounds. Here the manager of the Asylum farm rendered every assistance to In-y the drag. The, line was continued through Woodward's and Potter's, finishing the first vkv. <m t\,,i J\ r ( »\v North Boad. After a check of I.woin.r umhuios. ibc second drag was started over Y.'aU'Y, Wali-i.r, ami W,it!i.>rs', finishing with a- &->'. xl ring from Patter's ivurnl Mount Albert, bringing np opposite A. iv. Taylor's. The jumping was iim-elfiss, and the ieuees pretty big. Ser-inii fulls occifveri during the run. Whenever a grey \ioit : ,> dew ;ui i tiling good or bad in the hunting-field, ~lw- i* always conspicuous, therefore, whenever Greyhound oi 1 The G-host get over a wall ot get rid of their riders, they are generally seen. There were . numerous^

'Chicles of all sorts on the road, and there were ) ! .^ great, number of equestrians who did a good deal of " coffee-housing" on the road, not caring to follow, although armed cap-a-pie for the fray. Mesdarnes Waterhouse and Stevenson, on their favourites, went well. I noticed present Messrs f H. N. Smith (on a grey), Dunnett, sen. and jun. , (Gl-host and Comus), Waterhouse (Harlequin) , R. Isaac (c. thoroughbred pony), Halatead (Tri- ; cptrin), G-oodrnan (Major Shepherd's bay), Capt. IDawson (Derrick), W. Shera (Sir Q-arnet), Per- ; r oival (St. Swithin), Laing (King Don), E. Russell > (Quick's mare), Lumsden, O'Sullivan, Burke, A. and P. Yonge, Waters, and West. A bay mare, . .said to .come from Waikato, called Kate Kelly, jumped beautifully ; but she will not be able to qualify for the Pakuranga, or she might make it warm for some of our fliers.