TURF GOSSIP.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 142, 16 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURF GOSSIP.

[By Hipfoxa.]

The Auckland Racing Club deserved a larger, attendance at their Winter Meeting on Saturday last, for the sport was of an exciting character, if we except the con test for the Great Northern Steeplechase. With the present scaicity of cash and loss of population we cannot expect to have the large attendances at race-meetings that we had a season or two ago, nevertheless I know for a fact that many did not journey out on account of objecting to pay the 3s 6d charged for railway fare and admittance to the course. The 10s admission to the grand stand and enclosure is also out of all reason at an ' off' meeting, and the Club only stand in their own light in not reducing the charge at the Spring and Winter fixtures to, say, ss. Ellerslie, of course, is the only place in the province where racing can be viewed in comfort and without interruption, but even bearing this fact in mind, those at the head of affairs should study the pockets of the public by lowering the prices of admission tio the course and grand stands. With regard to the racing, the Great Northern Steeplechase turned out the tamest contest that has been run over the course. Hitherto the struggles for supremacy among theequinocompetifcors have been of such an exciting nature that the majority of the onlookers have been worked up to a great pitch of excitement, but this was not the case on Saturday, and there was a funeral silence during the whole time the race was being run. This was on accounboftheridiculously easy mannerin which Allegro won. She went to the front from the. time the flag fell, and with a lead at parts of the journey of fully 100 yards, made her own running and ran homo winner, untouched by whip or spur,by half-a-dozen lengths. The race can safely be put down as one of the most hollow on record. Allegro showed that she possessed a lot of pace, and jumped in beautiful style, while Edgeconibe handled his mount like a thorough tradesman. He never gave tho rest of the field a chance. Many opined that had Allegro been " tackled " she would have shown the white feather, but, with her light weight, none of those behind, I think, had sufficient pace to get on terms. Both Magnesia and Orangeman ran up to their past form. Tho first-named would break the heart of the pluckiest owner and trainer in the land with the number of*' seconds " she has run, and I think she is deserving of having some of the weight taken off her back in future. Orangeman was looking as fit as hands could make him, but the horse again proved that his wind* is not sufficiently good to climb the hills. Huntsman spoiled his chance by slipping down. Macaroni and Guy Fawkes returned to the paddock cripples, and the chances of their winning another steeplechase, I think, are exceedingly remote. The Hurdle Race saw Shillelagh come out of his shell after a short retirement, . and triumph over a very decent field. This horse originally came from Taranaki, and was got by Hippocampus from Jenny (the dam of Blarney and Cushla). He possesses size, combined with bone and substance, and there is no reason why he should not make a good one at tho illegitimate game. Armourer was made a 'big pot' on Che totalisator, but when going well, spoiled his chance by jumping inside the rails, those behind the horse were sanguine of his winning. One of the surprises of the afternoon was the way Artist shaped in the Maiden and Selling Steeplechases. It was generally thought he was a nou-ftaycr, but he disabused^n. ideas on this score. He finished home in each event in a strong and resolute style, and his jumping was faultless. J. B. Williamson turned out both Shillelagh and Artist with the genuine polish on them, and as this deserving trainer lately has not had the best of luck, he camo in for a deal of hand-shaking at his treble victory. '

The veal ".live sensation " of the afternoon was Catesby's win in the Winter Handicap, and the respective dividends of £103 10s and £75 18s paid to the five lucky investors. Owing to Catesby being beaten in a ferial at the hands ot Pretender two days before the race, Harry Harrison let the horse go to the post without trusting him with a shilling, and it may be imagined his chagrin was great when he saw him fighting out the issue in the straight with Friendship and Tamora. Priest, the boywho rode C.itesby, finished home in a most resolute and determined style. Although Catesby claims being a son ot Musket and Prunella, he has hitherto been a disappointment, for out of a great number of starts he has only twice proved successful this season, and on three occasions last season. He was bred by Mr Percival, but his dam has since died. The closing race of the day, the Ladies' Bracelet, which fell to Ariel's son St. Michael, was the medium of another big dividend, thus sending supporters of the totalizator home with argument for its existence on out racecourses.

The only unpleasant feature of the meeting was Foriiib being left at the post in the Winter Handicap. I think it was entirely the faulb of Myers, who.displaying his usual eagerness to get away, had the bad luck to overshoot the mark. Mr Woolfield got the rest of the field away on even terms, and excepting a number who were speaking through their pockets- Fortiio being a warm favourite on the machine— the starter waß not in way blamed. The greatest sufferer by Formo not taking part ill the race was her new oWner, who is one of the best and most straightforward men who supports the turf in Auckland. With regard to Mr Woolfield's starting, I think lie showed his good sense by doing away AVith the two-flag system, whatever objection may be urged against where he stands. The new starter quite evidently is willing to do his best to Study the wishes of those interested, and with practice and a determination to let the jockeys know that he is master of the situation, he should succeed well. Mr Evett's handicapping came out triumphant after all, for'the 'good things' of the Hurdle Race and Steeplechase did not come off, which perhaps is the best test of all. Certainly, Orangeman did not start in the Hurdles, but it is very questionable if he could have finished in front of Shillelagh. The meeting, I regret to hear, will not be a success financially.

There was a general feeling of regret in sporting circles when it became known on Tuesday that Mr Keith had had the misfortune to'have Allegro, the Great Northern Steeplechase heroine, drowned while being swum, ashore from the s.s. HaWea off Taranaki. Mr Keith was an route, to Napier to take part in the Steeplechase Meeting to be held there this forthcoming week, and from Allegro's running here, she must have had an uncommonly good chance of winning. Apart from this, the mare was a valuable one, and Mr Keith has lost her services at the period when she promised to turn out above the average. Allegro was a daughter of Ottawa.

The Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, which is run on Thursday next, has dwindled down to a small, but select field. Those that have paid up are : Chemist, I2sb 61b; Mangadhone, list. 51b ; Kangaroo, list 21b ; Magnesia, lOsb 71b ; Denbigh, lOsfc; and Shillelagh,9s*\ Judgingfromtnewaythelastnamed ran in the A.R.C. Hurdle Race, he should be hard to beat with his light weight, and I shall be quite prepared to see him win. Of the others I like the chances of Chemist best. The Selling

Steeplechase looks a good thing on paper for Artist, unless the Napierites have a dark candidate in pickle. Magnesia, Artist, Shillelagh, and Erebus were taken down on Thursday, and accompanying them vrere J. Kean, J. B. Williamson, and the jockeys Hadfield, Nolan, and Hickey. Glancing over the entries for the big Australian races to be decided next Spring, I notice that Too Soon has been nominated for the Hawkesbury Handicap and Metrop. in addition to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Tetford is entered for the Hawkesbury Handicap, and Cinderella for the County Purse, one mile,, and the pair are also among the entries for theßosehill Cup. Pearl Shell is not engaged in either the Hawkesbury Handicap or Metrop., and Spade Guinea's name is also missing, but Pasha is entered for both races. Compared with the entries for last year, the Great Metropolitan Stakes shows a slight falling off, the entrants numbering 60, against 64 for last year. The Victorian contingent is a very small one. Cranbrook, Carlyon, Abercorn, Aberdeen, and Plutarch appear to do battle for the Kirkham stable, and Arsenal, The Australian Peer, Cardigan, Honeydew, and several other well-known equine heroes are also numbered among the candidates. The nominations for the Hawkesbury events show an appreciable improvement upon those of the previous year, the entrants for the County Purse and Grand Handicapnumbering 82 and 81 respectively, as against 73 and 76 for 1887. The Rosehill Racing Club have good reason to be satisfied with the support accorded to their first Spring Meeting, the Hobartville Plate having tilled with 55 youngsters, and the Rosehill Cup with 91. The candidates for the Melbourne Cup total 139, and the Champion Stakes, with 64 entries, exhibits an increase of 11 on last year's nominations.

J. Rae removed his team this week to the stables lately occupied by D. Munn, near the Otahulm racecourse. The horses at present under his care are Orangeman, Promotion, Holly, and a filly by Cap-a-pie— Perfume, rising three-year-old. The latter was broken in last season, but has not yet raced. She is both nicely shaped and wellgrown, and will be put into work at once. Near the stables is a comfortable cottage and plenty of ground, and before long Rae will no doubt have converted the place into a snug establishment. I notice by Sydney papers that Niagara now figures in the nomination of Mt George Adams. He is reported to be sound and well again, and is shortly to bo put into work. Mr Keith, Allegro's owner, and Mr Frank Hill, of totalisator fame, were good winners over Allegro's victory in the Great Northern Steeplechase; in fact, they pocketed the bulk of the money that was invested on the machine. Aucklanders stuck loyally to Huntsman, Magnesia and Orangeman, and local turfites who benefited by Allegro's win were very small. Froni Christchurch comes word that Artillery has resumed work again, and appears sounder on his feet than he has been for some time. Ray's charges, Exchange, Chaia Shot, and Son-of-a-Gun, are reported to have thickened out a good deal since they last appeared in public. Merrie England (by St. George—Rupee) and a filly (by Apremont — Nautilus) are the most forward of the yearlings in work at Riccarton. Altogether the youngsters are pronounced a promising lot. Among those who profited by Catesby's sensational dividend on Saturday was Mr R, Blaikie, the former owner of the horse. He trusted him -with half-a-sovereign on the off chance of the son of Musket " floppingup." The leading spirit of the Takapuna Jockey Club was also aniong the lucky division, and the burly gentleman who presides over Hancock's bottling establishment was. fortunate enough to have a full ticket on the winner.

In Melbourne, a little wagering—fancy and otherwise —has been transacted on the doubles, two Cups and Derby and Cup, f-ince the publication of the entries. Thousands to two, and in some cases thousands to one, are obtainable about mixed goods for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, while thousands to fives are laid about Derby and Cup combinations. The prices on oii'cr in the South for the New Zealand Cup are :—IOO to 7 Lochiel, 100 to 6 Artillery, Springston, Carbine and Lorraine, 100 to 5 Silvermark, St. Clair and Chain Shot.

Advices from Sydney this week state it is feared, that we have seen the last .of Mitrailleuse on the racecourse. After she contested in the Royal Stakes she was very lame; and since then her trainer, Mr W. Kelso, states that the daughter of Musket appears wovse instead of better. The seat of injury is in the shoulder ; and the chances of her racing again are very remote. It is worthy of mention that; since the inauguration of. the A.R.C. Winter Meeting, foul' years ago, the winner of the1 Maiden Steeplechase has on three occasions also carried off the Selling Steeplechase, while Tawhiao, who divided with Omata ifa the Maiden last year, afterwards got home first in the Selling Steeplechase. The first horse to carry off the double was St. Duhstan, and Falcon won the year following. Tawhiao was successful last year under the conditions above stated, Omata not being a, starter in the Selling Steeplechase, while this year Artist triumphed in both races.

Auckland friends of M. Carmody will be glad to hear that he has fallen oh his feet in Australia. He has been engaged by Mr R. O'Connor, of Tasmania, as private trainer, and the string tinder his care will consist of Hesperus, Silvermere, Claude, Chandler and probably a couple of others. Another New Zealander in the. shape_ of Charley Rutldings has started a training establishment at Caulfield in stables vacated by Batty. At present Ruddings has Munwyrtina and Achmet in worki

It appears that the Canterbury Jockey Club only propose to change the date of their Midsummer Meeting from the Ist to the 2nd of January, though nothing? definite has yet been fixed on. At the annual meetittg, the Hon. G. H. Clifford is reported to have said that the Midsummer Meeting MS a very useful one for owners of horses which were' just below the tip-top class, the best horses of the year being away competing for the large prizes at Auckland, and he explained that the meeting was in no way antagonistic to the Northern' meeting, any more than the Auckland Spring was antagonistic to their Metropolitan Meeting. " All the best horses in each case journeyed after the big money, only those staying away whose chances did not warrant the expense of the voyage. The Hon. J. White promises to have a strong team of two-year-olds to represent his colours this season. The most recent additions to the horses in training are Spice, a full sister to Abercorn, by ChesterCinnamon, and a colt by Martini-Henry out of Mascotte. The yearlings the Sydney sportsman has entered for next seasons juvenile races include Dreadnought, by Chester from Trafalgar, by Blair Athol from Mosquito, own sister to Musket; lanthe, a {illy by Chaster from lolahthe ; a filly from The Alpaca, the granddam ■of Lava and Volcano ; Dentnan, by Chester from the dam of Morpeth, Aberdeen, and Hexham; Avenger, by Chester from Lorraine, by Maiibyrnong, from Alsace, by Consul from Airedale,by Mountain Deer; Singapore, by Martini-Henry from Malacca, the dam 01 Sumatra; The Tribune,by Martini-Henry from a sister to Abercorn's dam j Raaoipn, by Martini-Henry from Rusk, by f TO"a Bread from Lady Sophia, by Stookwell_; Sinecure, by Martini-Henry from The Solent, by Favonius from Lady Newby, by Thorinauby ; and Camillo, a filly by Phil Athol from tho dam of Plutarch. ■ . The mammoth Hunters' Steeplechase of 2.CCO soys. was run for at the Sandown (Eng.) Park second Spring Meeting, but attracted only eight runners, and Coronet, by Blood Royal ■-Mavoumeen, carried 13sb. 51b and won easily from M.P., 12st51b,4he

I re\ «iles being done in ~ZT~~^* Another important jumping fi taln' «** ! Grand Intevaational^BX^ n^ galatly enough the lffih^ e',a^^. runnersshad previously S& i? $> i Grand National. BalloX §£&** Playfair,nst 9 lh, w ii?£ r Si e ?! CONDENSED ITEMS James Cotton, the wtfUw * trainer has tiled'his US&T Dun^ lhe death is announced of "the Vtiil ' : steeplechaser Mobrow. ' ctoriai» The names of Algerian and r™; > t '?i lv"4, evbolfc is now the pronertv n K» bourne Cup entries this yeaT - M sec r ;> °r k^ter have died in M^M *° Guildford, full brother to New tL X Neckersgat-Ada, died the^J Wl Caulfield from the effects of being JZ Tetford and the disappointing AuS) bred mare Rosebud, were being wSt company at Randwick at last atsJr? * ihe once-famous American trotter Datti, died at the stable of his- 0 «wrffi Bonner, on April 21, age d thirty yff "To what base, uses, etc.'" gffih Mr George Elliott complains that several breeders of thoroughbred stock W 2 ye sent m their returns for the next volum of "The New Zealand Stud Book " H. Dixon, former owner of Ascot, has bought the Australian etud horse County Boy, by Countyman.and intends, putting him to stud duties in the, ianui district. " ' ';;'" 6 Mr W, E. Man has disposed of Man^nr, behalf of the Hon. E. &S? i 5 new purchasers are Messrs Savage and Claxton, df Goulbourn Valley (Vie)., and h, is to be used for stud purposes, • m Duadine, who was entered■ lor the lasb Takapuna Meeting, ran'second fcoNancyin the Hurdle Race at the (Gisborne) races on Queen's Birthday. Kalo was a starter- at the meethig,. but failed fo win a race. A'band of Queensland'bookmakers recehtly offered Brisbane tatteWallV dlub £500 if the Committee fefusetl io illbW the totalisator to be worked at their next hide meeting, but the bait was deoliiled. %• •It is reported from Fleniihgtbii tiiafc a number of horses are suffering ffdin'a fofih of soreness which, in some instniiWe, amounts to : pdsi'tWe' lamefaessT'lt Is thought that it is a, form of rheumatlSi."" The Committee of' the Viet&ri|i Racing Club have decided that in cases of defitilt, unless reported to their body:Within"tMee months of taking place, no actititi will ie taken. '' ' The Crawford Plate, one of tßeprincifjal shortdis'tahe'e handicaps" of the Englfet jiurf, was run for on, April 17 and won if the Dilkeofildntt'bse'sfdur^year-old Dazzle, 7st lib, by See-saw from a mare by- Ad venturer. ,' ~'. ■;, '; ,;"' ttdvy 'is-ihis fot a record? FA^dh has riddeti' t!ie"wihrier. of ihe Goifdrbh.Phk Juvenile.Plate eeyeti' yekrs to.BUc'cesaitin, and ihcracejias ever since its iS^titUtion fallen to a horse' trained in : Mr Win.I'An son's stables.. > "■: ::■ ■ At a rebe'iit '.sale iti, Melbburhs Baron Neckar was sold lo MrDbhovaii for 175^, Mernder tolr S. Miller for i 32sgs, IrlsHman to Mr S. Miller for 300gS, ,aiid Wymlen to Mr W. GiasscockfoflOOgsT. ■•.■-. ;"■' A big unsightly knee is one d£ thß'resultt of Faugh-a-Bailagh'striptb Wdhlinuiiand it is stated there, will -be 's6m& tf6ablef,to bring last year's witihef to tM.bbsb for' toe Christchurch Grand Natibhal. f. Oh April 18th last; the sfceWda of the English Jockey Gliib passed' a motion tb the effect that the dhairihan of Comtaittees for the bime beihgb^the^t.R.Crihd A J.C' be honorary members bf the UUb.^ English tiirf statistics show that Hamb' ton was the most successful' feN ■ W ih xirdei- came; ■flermiti with J25.63& favourably with ariy' twenty nated for any one' Cup the Lehty years" while ijg^jfflgg whom we knovv nothing, barringtHebreJ iiig, are fir mbre . arlstocratid-- than tae brought bfto^d^ Animals Protection''&^^^ or during the race. ■ ■ t r jMjfe' known to lose as much as £14,000 ajgw rat at a single sittitig. _ •, i ™uJs v sd:fitSlThe proposal to t^.thoroughbiwsw Hi iAdelaide came oh W bef|3 Committee of the local f»|gfoS hbrae breeders aiid fJ'AI Victorian Government, Wf.MXffitfk consignment of 1000 Austra lCa for which they are P£ e Pa^OT { %# each on deUve^ * # . Allowing for the diaeren^9h. elb between G^*MM3SM cablegramcontainingtheresuJ^ j Epsom Derby reached Adeijm« three minutes.' *A™_2Ss "«)*■* that we can hear of ™% su ] £° bee n i rim, England so soon after it has v ft espleially if we remember then^ are difficulties in storting Hilllt The horses which ran Meeting, Pinchestown, Irelaua, li£tj . & SSsaddle^th^oWso^l^ our racecourses. The Marquis mv s struck with the *^g M a«-Markey,ofA S hbu^ nij gg Ste^SuSSf^^ at the North Canterbury H^Jgd M 1885, and that the jump was mg J rf f certified to by severa the meeting. RouSer is now gw > d » Aehburton, and Mr Marked^^, back the horse to «f°f,^S^ ''% which would be-the wor dsjecoi { At the Winter Steeplechase » SaDd the Bendigo Jockey Club, jei h pe ned hurst, an through a horse named m" j k ,- '0&» its ioc'key in the saddling paddoc^^^ persons were badly hurt. . J^ nata ed £*' his jaw broken, a bookma^ n Snuel broke his leg, W.-MeaJJf {brofffl bruised, and the ockey Hwry w«= ou bis back and badJ'HDjuiad.