Maitland Mercury and Hunter River General Advertiser (NSW : 1843 - 1893), Thursday 15 January 1880, page 4


Turf Notes.

[BY "VOLUNTEER.]

The Northern Jockey Club races are now close at hand, after a long spell, and if everything goes well is the way of good acceptances and fine weather, a most successful meeting may be anticipated.

The new committee recently elected have not dis-appointed their constituents in their first administra-tion of the affairs of the club, but on the contrary have clearly proved that they are the right men in the right place, who thoroughly understand the proper management of a racing club, and the wants of horse-owners. The club might congratulate itself on hav-ing procured an efficient and trustworthy Secretary.

I notice on the committee racing men of same ability which accounts for the very excellent programme about to be discussed on the 21st and 22nd inst. In previous years the programme was so illiberal that only a few handicap horses of the best Sydney talent could compete for the big handicaps, as there was only one race, the Flying Handicap, in which second class horses could with any show compete; and not only was the programme unsatisfactory to the man of moderate means, but the amount of entrance money and sweeps were enor-mous, in fact it was buying the money. The effect of the present programme is such that every class of horses are suited, both in the dis-tances to be run and the light conditions. On the first day's programme I find there are two excellent handicap races in audition to the big money, viz., the Flying and Epsom, the former being the first race and the latter the final event on the card, so that horses will have plenty of breathing time after the Flying to start in the Epsom. This is a wise provision, and done with the intention of bringing the largest field possible before the starter. On the second day there is another good race-the Maitland Handicap, suitable for those who don't consider their chances good enough in the Duckenfield Cup. The amount of entrance money in both the big events has been reduced consider-ably. On former occasions it would cost a man £15 to start in the handicap ; this year £9 in all will suffice. The Duckenfield Cup in itself tells a tale in favor of light conditions, as there is the grand entry

of 22 horses.

Taking into view the present aspect of affairs, the committee might well congratulate themselves on placing before the public a very attractive pre-gramme ; and all that now remains to bring matters to the highest pitch of success is a large attendance, which will no doubt take place on Wednesday and Thursday, the 21st and 22nd instant, when, in some degree, a glimmer of old times (when fun and joviality ran riot) might return to the old course once again.

The usual amount of work is done on Rutherford course these mornings. I will endeavour to keep your readers posted up in the doings of the various nags. On Friday morning the ball was set rolling by Black Swan cantering three miles slowly. Her companion Soothsayer proved himself a good horse over a mile and a quarter, but he has failed to come up to the expectations of his backers. Secundus is quite fresh from his spell ; he was sent one mile steady by himself, and in the next picked up Sooth-sayer, Lowlander, and True Blue, and the quartette finished together at a strong pace. True Blue gives promise of doing something this meeting, as he put Lowlander through on Saturday morning over a mile, doing the fair "dinkum" with whip and spur. Vesper was a bit above herself on Monday morn-

ing, as she unceremoniously landed the plump little light-weight soon after she started. He remounted again and sent her once round. Volun-teer looked in great form when stripped, and went along over three miles in a determined manner. This horse is much fancied for the Cup this meeting, as also Proserpine and Lowlander. Mr. Jesse Adams hits only old Nemo in work at pre-sent, his best horse, Premier, having broken down badly. They did not expect him to stand very long, as one of the sinews in the off fore leg was very "crooked" for some considerable time. This was a great horse in his time, and was backed some time back to win a double with Melbourne at Randwick for a large sum of money. Haphazard is doing his usual flutters, but failed to put in an appearance on Monday morning, his owner is not evidently bent on overdoing him. There are a few nags doing their flutters on the Maitland course every morning, but they are not of much consequence, they being in-

tended for the selling races.

[The above should have appeared in our last, but was unavoidably held over.]