Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Wednesday 13 April 1864, page 5


SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

The formal demise of the Victoria JockeyClub took place on Friday last, at noon, closely following the dissolution of the Victoria Turf Club, which occurred in the preceding week. Their new and vigorous successor, the Victoria Racing Club, has already enrolled upwards of 160 member?, and has taken over the liabilities and responsibilities of the Jockey and Turf Clubs. The first meeting of the members of the new organization will be held at two o'clock this afternoon, at Scott's Hotel. Very important business will come under the consideration of the members present-the appointment of a committee of management, and the adoption of rules and regulations for the governance of the club.

The career of the W. R. C. commences under favourable auspices the prestige of popular opinion with them, and the sporting world hailing their advent to power as joyfully as the Royalists welcomed the return of Charles Stuart, the Whigs the accession of William of Orange, or children disappearance of the Christmas pudding. The newclub cannot be any the worse for the multitude expecting good things from its leading spirits, and may be all the stronger that its rulers are credited with the capacity and the disposition to advance the progress and the prosperity of the national sport.

The Metropolitan Trotting Races having been postponed to Saturday next, on account of the Flemington course being flooded, the only noticeable racing event of the past week was the Smeaton meeting, of two days (Wednesday and Thursday). The principal performers were Blink Bonny, Carisbrook, and Bosh, and the running showed this worthy trio to be nearly of the same form, not mightily dangerous to a racehorse of quality, albeit Blink Bonny, aged 8st., once defeated Banker, 3 yrs 7st. 7lb. ; Chrysolite, 3 yrs, G:r. 1246.; and Falcon, aged, 9st., over three miles, in a storm of rain, for the Geelong Criterion Handicap.

It appears that in the Beechworth and neighbouring districts, at Wangaratta, Wahgunyah, Chiltern, Beechworth, Albury, at, Mr. McKenzie's " b or br f Riverina (late Deer-foot), 3 yrs," has been proving herself far better than the three-year-olds opposed to her, and winning several prizes. It is nowalleged that Riverina (late Deerfoot) is, like many ladies, something older than she has been described ; but that her case materially differs from that of the ladies, inasmuch as the proof of the misdescription is derived from the evidence of her own mouth. Actionsat-law, in several forms, have been commenced, and more than one body of country stewards have been altogether scared from the feelings of propriety, and their powers of doing right. In one instance, the stewards have actually called upon the owner of the horse that ran second to Riverina to defend an action which Elvorina's owner has brought to recover the stakes, withheld on account of her being a year too old. Such transactions operate as a " heavy blow and sore dis-couragement" to stewards and to racing. If, therefore, a wilful fraud has been committed, and proof of the same can be shown, the offence merits the serious displeasure of the governing powers of the turf In every district, and the utmost rigour in the measure of the punishment Inflicted-disqualification of all the parties concerned, and banishment from every racecourse in the country'.

The annual sale of the Woodlands yearlings, and the final sale of the Bournefield Stud brood mares, sires, and yearlings, have both been postponed until the Monday after the Melbourne Race Meeting, in the third week in May. The recent operation of the new racing club in taking up the liabilities of the old ones has given great satisfaction to the breeders and owners of young blood stock, and restored confidence to buyers.

It is, however, to be regretted that the Geelong and Western District Turf Club, with a number of wealthy members, should have allowed the Great Western Produce Stakes to remain in the present unsatisfactory state. The Produce Stakes run for in 1863 are still only partly paid, and the balance is awaiting the decision of the judges of the Supreme Court on a point of law, not yet actually determined. It is not yet too late to run the Produce Stakes of the present year, if some respectable effort be made to save the honour and credit of the Geelong Club. The amount of the stake consisting of the sweepstakes paid by the nominators of horses and the added money promised by the stewards may be about f?00. "Where there's a will there's a way, the affair can be very easily arranged. There was a balance left in hand at the close of the last race meeting (carried on ultra the control of the club), which, doubtless, the stewards would be willing to appropriate to such a purpose as supporting the sporting credit of their town, provided the stewards (to whom, in point of fact, the money itself is of no consequence would make up, say, onethird of the stake payable and the owners of the horses engaged would be willing to make up a sum equal to, say, another third of the stake, arranging among themselves that the winner shall eventually pay back to the others their several donations. This arrangement is really asking of the stewards very little more than that they shall pay back to the persons interested the amounts they have received from them in the instalments of the sweepstakes.

The absence of any summer race meeting in Melbourne this year gives an unusual prominence to the Randwick Meeting, Sydney, N.S.W. Mr. Hurtle Fisher, who carries with him the good wishes of the sporting men of Victoria, 1103 proceeded to that colony ; his highly-bred filly the Rose of Denmark, engaged in the Handicap on favourable terms, and in two other races, will follow him to-morrow, in charge of Mr. Filgate, by the Wonga Wonga steamer. The same steamer will also convey Mr. Cheeke's celebrated mare Zoe, stint 3d to Fisherman.

The Victorian horses sent to Adelaide for the races there next week Banker, 3 yrs ; Falcon, aged ; Roebuck, 3 yrs ; Lantern, 2 yrs; and Chrysolite, 3 by ra have all arrived safe and well at their destination. Musidora leaves for Adelaide by the next opportunity. At the same time, while noting those departures hence for a time, it must be mentioned that the Maribyrnong Stable has recently received from Adelaide the following valuable thoroughbred yearlings, belonging to Manuelle Fisher Angler, br c, by Fisher-man-Marchioness; Lady Heron, of by Fisherman-Omen; Kerosene, bf, by Fisher-man- Nightlight and Fisherman's Daughter, br f, by Fisherman- Gildormiro.

Lancefield races take place on Thursday and Friday in this week. The stewards have published the following handicap for their principal race ; distance three miles :- 5s Mr. Drj-Uon'H cliff Elis need .. 9st. 5lb. Sir. Kvans'8 h(f Nkli-oI-tho-AVoods, 0 jm. Oat. lib. Mr. D'A revs eli K ltohlllo, Cj'rs.8at. 1911. Mr. Borers br of Fleur-de-lis, 4 yrs. .. Bat. 7th. Mr. W. Smith's elie Mickey Free, aged ., 7st. 8lb. Sir.aroeiishlc'klB'B br g Garibaldi, ayr. ., 7st. 2lb.

names KILLED BY A SNAKE -On Thursday night. while Master Alfred Turner, a lad of twelve years of age, son of Mr. Thomas Turner, of Llangrove, near Burrowa, was riding a small pony along a cattle track, a snake about five feet long, sprang at the animal, and fastened on the inside of its fore leg. In this position it was drained for a distance of thirty yards, when it let go its bold. Master Turner then dismounted and pursued the reptile, which unfortunately escaped. In ten minutes afterwards, the pony a valuable one staggered and dropped down deadness Courier.