"HIPPONA'S" NOTE-BOOK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 13, 16 January 1901, Page 3

"HIPPONA'S" NOTE-BOOK.

The nominations for the three principal events run at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, viz., Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup and Champion Stakes, were cabled across this week. For the Newmarket Handicap there are 116 entries, which must be considered very satisfactory considering it is almost twice the number that were nominated for the event last year. There are 52 entered for the Australian Cup as against 51 last year while in the Champion Stakes il have been listed to compete. Advance has been nominated for the three events, •while Seahorse is engaged in the two long-distance races.

Betliug on the Takapnna meeting has been very quiet durlug the week. Formula still "ontinuea to hold her own as first favourite for the Cup, and in conjunction with Nor'-west for the Steeplechase 10 to 1 &as been taken. Bluejacket and Nor'-west iave been backed at 12 to 1.

The jumpers Dingo and Tarragon are shaping well in their work. The latter appears to have quite recovered from the Severe fall he received in the Summer .Steeplechase.

Straybira is showing improved form in siis work at Ellerslie, and there are not a few who fancy he will prove very hard to seat at Takapuna.

The Musket blood was well to the fore at the recent West Australian Turf Club's meeting—Flintlock, Model, Warrior 11., Gaiety, and Reliance all being descendants af the Toxopholite horse.

Tauhei is in work again at Gisborne. The }?rey mare is stated to jump hurdles in a Very proficient style. She is a useful stamp and should pay her way if put to the illegitimate game.

The English ainatetl1 jockey. Mr H. Randall, who affects tht, American seat, and did most of his riding against the professionals, acquitted himself well during the Reason just closed, his 297 mounts resulting :n 56 wins.

Volcano was shipped by the s.s. Mararoa ■on Monday last to Sydney, where he w.'ll take part in some of the cross-country events. The son of Torpedo is a good fencer, and is possessed of a fair turn of speed, and he should be quite capable of winning races against the class of 'chasers at present on the other side of the water.

Mr Alison's gelding- Tiki met with rather a painful accident on Saturday last. It appears the horse was turned out for a run in one of his owner's parl.---docks at the' Lake, and in galloping about ran against a twig of a tree, which penetrated into his side, causing a wound several inches long. The services of Mr Halstead had to be obtained, and the son of Regel is now making a fair recovery.

The way. Advance has been nominated In Victoria would suggest that his owners Intend taking the Vanguard horse across the water at a very early date.

Picklock is to be put into work again at Ellerslle. .The son of Flintlock and Plkau, who- is under W. Gall's care, has grown and filled out considerably of late.

Carbine's sons have been remarkably successful In connection with the Perth Cup. Mural won -it in 1599. Carbineer in 1900, and Flintlock this.year. The latter was purchased, recently for 90 guineas, and had.no.t scored a win for nearly two years. .... .

Mr A. Davis, who manages the Sylvia Park stud for the Messrs Nathan, proceeded to Sydney by the s.s. Mararoa on Monday last for the purpose of attending the sale of the Tocal stud.

At the Albion' Park races (Queensland) the Auckland-bred . horse Tinion, by Nelson-Fiesole,' won the Trial Handicap.

Some, little trouble has arisen between Mr Moss Davis and the Avondale Jockey CJlub over the future alterations and Improvements that are to be effected in the course. Mr Davis, who has certain interests in the building's on the ground, has issued an injunction against the Club removing the same, and the whole matter will;have to be decided by the Court at a later' date.

The famous *P6cal stud in New South "Wales, which 'has' been in existence for the last fifty years,' is to be disbanded and sold by auction on Tuesday next. There is sure to be a very large collection of buyers present from all over the Australian colonies as the Ftock to be offered are a very high-class lot. The sires include Sweet William. Splendor, Simmer, and the N.Z. bred Medallion.

In England " tH6' starting- machine is becoming more popular every day with racing men, and nearly all the jockeys aw in favour of being despatched by the barrier. At a recent meeting held at Manchester the well-known starter, Mr Coventary, made many unsuccessful attempts to get a field of twenty-six awajin the Stand Plate with the flag, and finally, he had to. fall back on the machine, "When a fair start was quickly effected.

*• The Doping of Horses.—The Jockey Clubs of Austria and Hungary have decided that, flaaU,cases;of doping, the offenders are to 4e reseluded from the racecourses under tbe supervision of the two clubs, but that tUe administration of whisky, sherry, and cnatapagne as stimulants to horses shall not , be regardea as prohibited.

From our latest English tiles we learu that Bill of Portland was purchased on behalf of Mr J. B. Joel, the wealthy South African sportsman, and it is the intention to limit the son of St. Simon to 20 mares next season ar a fee of 100 guineas. The

"Special Commissioner"' of the London ' Sportsman" writes in regard to Bill of Portland:—"Having sired Bobad.il, Mcrriwee, and Malster in three successive seasons, he has accomplished a best possible, for each of these colts is the best of his year, aud I caunot call to mind that any stallion, even SLockwell, has ever done the like."

A few weeks back the news was cabled from England that the stewards of the Jockey Club bad informed Sloan he need not apply for a license. Papers which arrived recently show that the stewards arrived at this decision in consequence of Sloan, in addition to speculating on the Cambridgeshire, having accepted the offer of a large present from Mr F. Gardner in the event of Codoman winning the race in question. Mr Gardner, who was unaware of the regulation forbidding such presents, expressed his great regret at having tnuis-

grc-ssed it. ami the stewards fully accepting his explanation, lined him a nominal penalty of £2.">. They indicted a similar fine on Mr C. A. Mills, who acted as Mr Gardner's commissioner.

Though Carbine has not yet fathered a racehorse of superlative merit, his stock have during the racing' season just ended made a fair show, and have credited their Sit'O'.s account with £4471, the result of.IS victories won by 11 horses. The best of Carbines-progeny are Semper Vigllnns and Duck Gun, both of which are decidedly useful, though uot near the first class.

The Bill of Portland colt Finland in snlil (o bo one of the fastest horses !u Australia at the present time.

Aecordins to our latest English advices, -Mr 11. C. White has shipped Kkopos to Australia. Old CIo". who suffered so much on the voyage to England, will not bo brought back to Australia, but will be offered for private sale. If uot sold. Mr White will retain her a.« a brood mare, and have her muted with Aurum.

Tt looks as though the stewards of the English Jockey Club are coming- round to the paid stewards idea. The following1 notice, which appeared in the "Calendar." may interest members of the A.R.C. arid other committees:—"The stewards of the Jockey Club wish to draw the attention of managers of meetings to the present very unsatisfactory mode of the appointment of stewards of meeting's. There are far too many stewards appointed at most meetings for convenience in the transaction of business. Three stewards who will undertake either to be present or to appoint deputies are amply sufficient, and it is found a convenient practice, as ensuringl continuity of management, that one steward should retire each year, and appoint his successor, with the approval of the remaining stewards. Local patrons of a meeting are very often not conversant with the rules of racingl, and had better head the programme as patrons rather than as stewards, who should be, for preference, members of the Jockey Club, or gentlemen of ( like experience." Commenting on this notice, the "Field" says:—"Seeing how much race meetinghave suffered from the want of capacity, and, at times, inattention of stewards, the notice excites admiration for the moderation of its wording. . . . What the stewards-are. of course, most anxious to secure is the attendance of men thor oughly conversant with racing up to date, who may be depended upon to watch each race narrowly, and not be absent when a last race is on—a by no moan? imaginary contingency. Personal observation is worth more than all the evidence that can be produced, it i.? when one studies the paragraphs In ihe ru-O5 of racingl in which the powers of the stewards are defined that one thoroughly r-ea'.ses how competent the racecourse stewards should be. Their powers are great, for the whole meeting is under their control."