MISCELLANEOUS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 66, 17 March 1894, Page 3

MISCELLANEOUS.

- The Hon. J. D. Ormond, of Napier, is evidently going in for breeding on a large scale. He made some important additions to his blood stock ab bho recent Victorian yearling sales. Ab Sir Thomas Elder's sale Mr Ormond's agenb boughb a brown filly by Neckersgab—Maribima for lOOgs, and ab the Sb. Alban's sale a brown filly by Eiridsford—Solitude at 60gs, and a bay filly by Eiridsford—Margarebab I2OgR, were secured on Mr Ormond's behalf.

Frank McManemin has gob Sb. Clements in groat form jusb now. The son of St. Leger wag sent to Napier specially for the Railway Stakes, his only engagemenb at bhe meeting, and he has fulfilled his mission satisfactorily. St. Clements leaves Napier for Auckland to-day. Those who took no notice of Rangipuhi's Wanganui Cup running, for which he wenb to the post a strong second favourite, and followed bhe fortunes of bhe horse for bhe Hawke's Bay Cup, have good reason to be on good terms with themselves. The weight Rangipuhi was called on to carry in both Cups was exactly the same, and the distance of bhe race ditto. There were only four etarters for yesterday's race, and Rangipuhi appears to have had an easy win.

The Helensvillo Racing Club's Aubumn Meeting programme ia published to-night. Tho gathering ia fixed" for Saturday, 7th April. Nominations for all races close on Friday, March 23rd, with Mr H. H. Hayr. I'm pleased to hear that Mr E. D. Halstead, who has been on the sick list for the past couple of months, is able to get about again. Messrs Alison Bros, own a full sister to Happy Land (dam of Hova) in Torment. The Napier Park Cup is run on Wednesday next. At the Victorian yearling sales a brown filly sired by the Melbourne Cup winner, Mentor, oub of the well-known ex-Auck-land sprinter, Mitrailleuse, realised 105 guineas. Mr A. McSweeney, a New South Walea sportsman, was the buyor. The Ambulance Corps at Wanganui attend the race meetings on the Metropolitan Course under Dr. Tripe, the honorary surgeon of the Jockey Club. Will the Auckland branch follow suit?

Mr D. O'Brien has commenced building racing stables at his recently-acquired property at Randwick, Sydney. The site is said to be one of the beet in Randwick. Mount "Vernon is close to the racing stables of Mr Sam Hordern, and stands on an elevation overlooking the racecourse. Word from the other side says that nearly all the Sydney bookmakers made a real good haul oubof Broken H ill's win in the Australian Cup, very few of them having laid him, and then only for small amounts. The Victorian bookmakers, however, lost over Broken Hill, as he was backed for a heap of money on the course down to 14 tol.

AC a committee meeting of the Palmerston Trotting Club the secretary was authorised to take steps towards formiug a Trotting Association for the district, embracing Hawke's Bay, Wanganui and Wellington. Musket has changed hands, the price being £120, and the purchaser Mr R. Kingan. The Hack Flab race on the Becond day of the Wanganui meeting proved somewhat sensational from the fact thab the winner— Kai Iwi Lady—was disqualified because her rider could not draw the weight on returning to scale. The difference was only about a quarter of a pound, and ito is thought that the error was owing to the loss of a "rubber." The mare was returning her admirers tho substantial divdend of £22 18s, po that they did nob look particularly happy when the race was awarded to Strike. .. .. . .. A hc-rse named Dandy, said to be sired by Betrayer, is at present tha subject ot an investigation by the Wanganui Jockey Club, He won the First Hack Race at the recent meeting, bub immediately after the weighing in, a protest was entered against tho winner and the stewards, having held a preliminary investigation, decided to make further inquiries as to the horses identity, and in the meantime the totalisator money (there were 958 investors) was impounded. The first prize in Tattersall's consultation on the Newmarket Handicap was won by T Jack, of Longreach, Queensland, valued at £4,000; second, H. B Taylor, VI adnamiga, South Australia, £1,336 ; thirdW. Yeo, Commercial Hotel, Kerang, Victoria, Hova's victory in the Hewmarket Hanclicap was wolcomed by the Australian public, as he was heavily supported throughout the whole of the colonies, besides which none of those knowing tactics were resorted to to hide his capabilities. He ia said to be owned by Mr R. Grice, a member of the V.R.C. Committee, who leased him to Mr A. Davis, the Flomington trainer. Ib is stated that had Loyalty a full brother Bonnie Scotland come sooner he would have beaten Destiny in the V.K.O. Sire's Produce Stakes. Destiny is owned by Mr Barr-Smibh, nephew of Sir Thomas Elder, the breeder of the colt. Major George left Melbourne witboub witneseingthe racing at the V.R.C. Autumn IVT f*ft£in£T The recent contest for the V.R.C. Champion Stakes, won by Porteea, is described as decidedly the best champion race ever seen in Australia. Up bo the distance, the issue was in doubb, but Porteea's remarkablo stamina and courage brought him home, a great finish resulting in his victory over Light Artillery by half a length, rhe race waß very severe on the horses. Lignb

Artillery showed less distress than the others, but Hova oonld hardly stand. Jacobite, one of the starters for the Wanganui Cup, was nearly distanced. At Sir Thomas Elder's yearling sale, the higheßb bid of the day was 550es. for a a brother to Moorite, which wae secured by Mr R. Orr, of Ballarat. Mr J. H. Aldridge's tine colb by Carlyon from Qneen of the Nations, realised 550g5., falling to Mr W. T. Jones.

From all accounts there was a handsome sprinkliug of Coolgardie gold at the V.R.C. Antumn Meeting at Flemington. In one instance a lucky digger or discoverer of the precioas metal ia reported to have laid £6,0000 to £4,000 on Carnage for the Leger. As Carnage went down the speculator is £6,000 out of pocket. 1 The victories of Patron and Por'tsea at the V.R.C. Meeting are reported to have enriched their owner, Mr F. W. Purchas, to the extent of fully £5,000, while Mr A. Davis, the lessee of Hova, and Hales, who rode the horse in the Newmarket, are credited with a similar windfall. The wijl of the late Mr G. B. Rowley, formerly secretary to the Roaehill Racing Club, has been proved at £3,055. Auckland turfites who know Mr W. Lyons will be glad to hear that he owns Sertum (by Guinea—Christabella), who is described as "a champion among the Sydney selling platers." The other day Sertum contributed £72 to the funds of Moorefield Racing Club, that being the sum at which Mr Lyons boughb him in after his Auction Stakes victory. A writer in the " Sydney Referea" urges the formation of«a National Jockey Chub to control racing, its ruling power to include representatives from the different colonies, and New Zealand.

Aftqr going two furlongs in the Newmarket Handicap a stirrup-leather broke on Capstan, whose chance of winning was thue early extinguished. Newßtead, who won the V.'R.C. Maribyrnong Plate, and beat Malua in a weight for-ape race in 1884, ran second in a selling race at Mount Gatnbier recently. I see by Melbourne papers that in the Newmarket Handicap, Hova hung in a bib, but Hales gently straightened his mount, and never once getting flurried, and handling his mount with the greatest skill, he landed Hova a fairly easy winner by three ■ quarters of a length. Hova wanted'a lob of coaxing, and Hales was the very man to ride him. There were some big Melbourne winners over Hova, Mr Morris Jacobs, Mr C. D. O'Halloran and others winning pretty large sums.

The Victorian jockey P. M'Gowan, who met his death in bhe Bourke Handicap ab Flemington, was one of the most accomplished horsemen in the profession, either on the flab or across counbry. He rode winners of any number of races, and among his most important successes are Caulfield Guineas on Strathmore, Caulfield Cup on Vengeance, Australian Cup on Vengeance, Champion Sbakes on Strathmore, A.J.C. Sb. Leger on La Tosca, Geelong Cup on Newman, and Caulfield Grand National Steeplechase on Marquis of Waterford and Kestrel. Some years ago M'Gowan was unfortunate enough to lose the use of an eye, and has since sustained several serious falls and injuries. Ab the inquest a verdict of accidentally killed was returned. No one was to blame, and the racecourse was without a defect.

During the presenb week Sir Walter Buller and Miss Buller spent an afternoon at Major Mair's estate at Lake Takapuna. Miss Buller is an expert with the camera, and she seized the opportunity of photographing both the brood mare Atalanta (dam of Hippomenes) -and her St. Leger colb foal, who is described " as an ariatocrab of the firsb water." Atalanta and her foal were photographed together and separately, and Ataianta was taken looking out over her stable door. This will show her beautiful blood-like head. The other thoroughbreds belonging to Major Mair, including Salute and Firft Nelson, were also photographed by Miss Buller.. John Cbaafe is looking after Byer's team during the latter's absence at Clmetchurch with Ben Godfrey. . The ponies Lord Fauntleroy and Nellie paused under the standard ab Ellerslie this week. A friend of mine writing from Christchurch says Southern turfites look upon the C. J.C. Challenge Stakes ac a good thing for Saracen.