THE Racing World

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1905, Page 11

THE Racing World

By

RACING FIXTURES. March '25 —Thames J-C. Autuma March SO and April 1— Wellington R.C Autumn April 5 and B—Avondale J.C. Autumn April 4—Akarosi County K.C. Annual April 5 and 6—Manawatu R.C. Autumn April 8 and 10—Reefton J.C. Autumn April 12 and 13 —Soutlaud R.C. Autumn April 12 and 13—South Canterbury J.C. An turn ii April 13 and 14—Masterton R.C. Autumn April 22 and 24—Wairarapa R.C. Autumn April 22. 24, 25—Auckland R.C. Autumn April 22, 24, 26. and 29—Australian Jockey Club's Autumn. (Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup) April 22, 24, 28, and 20—Australian Jockey Club's Autumu Meeting April 24 and 23 —Canterbury J.C. Autumn From nn exchange we clip the following:—The Duchess ot Montrose. arter trie defeat" of one ot her lavourites, was apt to take the matter to heart. tier trainer on one occasion attempted to console her, saying that it was the -sort of thing that could not be helped in racing, and advised her not to worry herself about it. The Duchess on being condoled with was herself attain in a moment. "1 <lo not intend to worry myself." was her vigorous reply; and from the strong emphasis that she placed on the "myself," the trainer came to the conclusion that the worrying would have to be done by himself. A writer in the "Town ana Country Journal" is responsible for the following:— It is a most notable fact that of all the religious bodies Roman Catholics are the most liberal-minded in the matter of sport, aud especially racing. Their priests can frequently be seen at our race meetings, and no one enjoys the sport better. I see by the Mudgee "Guardian" that they are a bit short of funds for the erection of a chapel at "Wollar; and have hit upon the idea of a race meeting, to be held on St. Patrick's Day, iv aid of the funds. It is pretty safe to tip a big attendance, as hot a man in the district but what would give a helping hand. Then the day and the object should make it a bumper. A writer in the "Sporting ami Drramatic News" pens the following:—lt does seem strange that no one should be sufficiently interested in the reputation of the late Lord Calthorpe to save his name from the ■ismoniiny -of appearing in the Forfeit List. The late lord dir>fl some dozen years ago. leaving £385 flue; and it is due still. The former owner of, the light blue jacket, white cap, met with a very fair share of success. He won the Oaks and the St.. Ijcger of ISSB with that beautiful mare. Seabreeze, for instance, and no doubt in tlie stakes which he received for those two races, money -was included from various men to whom he owed money at his death. Periodically the Forfeit List is published in the Racing Calendar, and there always - occurs In it "Calthorpe, the late Lord, D?. 02, £385 15/." This peerage is. I believe, one ol the richest in England. The London "Sportsman" says:—Quaint in the extreme aTe some of the letters received by owners or racenorses. ine late Colonel Harry McCalmont was favoured, in November, 18'J3, witn tne rouowIng communication rrom a near neignoour: "Brinkley, Near isewmarket, November «. "Dear Sir, —When your Isinglass has a little foal, would yon please give it to mc, or a nag foal. "Hope this letter will find you quite eafetr.^ —Yours truly, c •'Age 5». John a. Kicnes. • The application does not oppear to nave been a successful one, tor tnus far isinglass has foaled no foal, little or big. Riches cannot command everything, ysee. In the last number of the "Sporting World" more particulars are given of the position of the Jockey Club and the public In respect to the old Cambridgeshire than, any we have seen elsewhere, -xnis is derived from a fuller examination or the documents in the old box in the vestry of Kxnlnz Church than time permitted us to give. When the late Mr Willes ("Argus" of the "Morning Post") was warned oft' Newmarket Heath, and tne Jockey Club were made to set forth their .title, we believe that their case, as drawn up by the latft Mr Kitchener, who was a si relative of L.ord Kitchener, was a most masterly one, rendering the position of the club invulnerable. Dut it did not apply to the Cambridgeshire Course, concerning which we know that Mr Kitchener had doubts. Probably ne nad no doubt at an, but did not like to give the position away, and it was from a hint he then jrave us that we were, after his death, induced to examine the deeds in the church at Kxning, concerning which there Is now so much revelation. An English writer eays:—lt is rumoured that Riekaby *s to have his license restored, and as he has been riding gallops at Newmarket, usually a step towards restitution, doubtless there wiLl be this addition to the scanty list of jood horsemen. Exile was specially hard for Bickaby, who does not solace himself by reading, and as, if I am correctly informed, he was only vory indiscreet and not dishonest, the penalty exacted from him has perhaps been sufficiently severe. Though not a scholar, Rlckerby has a ready wit, and once said a good thing. It was on the Limekilns. An inflated owner of a had animal was watching it do a lnmbering gallop, Rickaby ou his hack chancing to be by his side. "How do yon like him?" the owner inquired, hoping for a compliment on toeing the prond possessor of such a noble steed: but Rickaby had observed that it was not only travelling very slowly font would not have been able to go much faster, and made an ■answer singularly devoid of enthusiasm. "He was only going half-speed. iron know?" the owner observed. "Yes—but it would puzzle him to pull out the other half!" was Rickaby's reply. On her return from a theatrical tour in America, Mrs Langtry. for whom Merman won the Cesarowitch, 1897, in conversation with a representative of the London "Sportsman," spoke hopefully of the success of her new stud farm at Uazeley, where Merman and Anrum arc now accommodated. She proudly pointed to a picture of Merman, with Sharpies up, after the Cesarewitch. and exclaimed, "Captain Machell came to mc after the chestnut had beaten them all for the Ascot Cup and said, "You have the most wonderful horse in the world.' 'No,' I replied, 'the most wonderful horse in the country, if you like.' The captain ins'stcd upon his contention, aud pointed to the fact that Merman had beaten the French crack, all the English cracks, nnd the Ans« tralian Newhavcn. I hope he Iβ going to do something great at the stud. 1 have sis. two-year-olds by him, all goodlooking, and it will be the happiest day of my life when one of his progeny wins a classic race to? mc." Last season a colt by Merman woji a couple of small races. The English writer "Ranger" is responsible for the following:—At a recent eymposinm of sportsmen an interesting question arose as to the difference- between the practice of riding over fences in the hunting field and on the racecourse, sonic illuminating ideas being expressed. The difference suggested is not inappreciable. A hunting man can take his time in regard to the "lepping;" the pace* he adopts is not so warm as that enforced in the other arena; he trusts a gTeat deal to his horse (if he is wise), and is content with a nice long rein; nor is he compelled to jump what does not appeal to his prudential instincts. He is usually mounted on a pretty safe conveyance. But jockeys do not always enjoy that felicity of position. They are obliged to race overt the obstacles, oftenon a tired or beaten steed, and, no matter •what may be said, the present regulation ; ditch wants, in colloquial phrase, "a lot of doing." Few Nimrods might care to tackle it, assuming that it came in their line of country during one of the best runs of the sweep. The custom of "calling a cab" that is, throwing up an arm with abandon whilst clearing a fence—may be noticed occasionally ' when bounds are running

authorities. Jockeys do not indulge, as a rule, in such wildness of gesture. They realise that it is likely _to be inimical to their personal well-being." One of them, so the story goes, saw an aninteur waving his arm as described in a race, whereupon the professional told him: "If you go ou. dear sir, 'calling a cab' like that, you'll soon find yourself in the wrnuc vehicle. A hciirsp," he chuckled, "will lie gaudy enough for your requirements." In none, of the many obituary notices that we have read of the late' Mr ueo. Lambert have we seen it mentioned tnar he was in partnership with Stephcnson when by a tragical event the career of the latter was ended (says the "Pink 'Un"). Mr Lambert was the principal witness at the inquest, aud his evidence clearly established that it was not anxiety over tue enormous book he had on the Derby of IS6O that impelled him to the rash act. He also showed that his financial" condition was sound even to affluence. We arc satisfied thnt his mental state was touerwu , long before the suicide took plifce, and we recollect lull w°U how strange wer» - his actions on the afternoon that ho laid. 10,000 to 1000 against Caithness for lluLiverpool Cup, and gave the taker of the bet control of the horse until after the race. He believed that with Uogalln, who was trained in the same stable, he hml a stone in hand of Caithness. At the .luly meeting at Newmarket the same year, after a very handsome little chestnut colt of the Duke of Hamilton's, called Ohatelherault, had won the Chesterfield Stakes, he laid heavily against him for the Derby at 1000 to 20, and after he bad done all he could at that he tempted backers further with offersuof 1000 to 15, and finally 1000 to 10. In all he had lairt nearly £100,000 against him: with suenn a horse nowadays we ctoulit wnetner tne ring would offer 10 to 1. Asking .Stephenson—whom we knew very well—the reason for this outburst against the colt, he replied very brusquely, "If I do not lay him now I shall never have a chance again." They have one in the stable that can give ihim 211b, so what's the use of talking about him?" The one in the stable was Wild Oats. "Wβ often hear of a stable being forestalled, frequently those that get in early have every reason to be sorry for having "rushed" the E<}od thing. Th« horse does not run up" "to anything like what it was expected, to do. - Ifc is not the general public that' forces .-a, hovse into the market, but usually someone who beta big, acting" on information, takes the risk. The small backer is far too wise in these •days to bet his money without seeing a good lead. It would appear, according to the following clipping, which I take from the London "Sportsman," to be much the same in England. The writer says, iv the course of •an article <m professional backers:—"There-seems to be a terribly mistaken idea abroad that little backers who have their few pounds ou materially affect the price of a horse. It is not this :at all; it is the big amateur, and professional backers who has his £500 on in the ring at a time that rules the price.. These men know more than any other racing man from sources beyond the" reach or little men. - That the ordinary- rich owner cau afford to keep.a stable, of. .racehorses without betting we showed to 1)6 impossible a few weeks back, and if something could be done to ensure an owner a better price than is generally the case even at the expense of the public and other betting men—on the plea that those who keep horses for the public's amusement should be allowed to make some profit for themselves—lt would meet with the support of all right-thinking men. way not try the pari-mutuel? It is a machine tliat cannot speak, and there need not be «*e single soul know whether the owner mc backed his horse or not. If secrecy ts desired, this supplies the requirement, a*d there would be no more need for comniilesioners and their huge following to sap the market, and for owners to saddle the short prices on to the publicity given t* a horse's chance by the sporting press." Touching on the fact that all the steeplechasing in. England takes place during the winter months, "Vigilant" delivers himself as follows in the lxmaon "sportsman": —"It has always been difficult to understand why we should insist upon fisteeplechasing during the very - worst months of a climate which has little to recommend it at' the best of times, and' it is not easy to follow the arguments ot those who declare that it is impossible for steeplechasers to run in safety unless the ground is in a completely sodden ana slushy condition. A flatrace horse, when fully extended, makes an effort at- least equal .to . anything demanded from a steeplechase horse, and strikes the ground with equal force. Un tne lace or it, therefore, it would seem that if the state of the course is-such-that a 'classic' candidate can extend himself with .safety, surely there can be nothing to prevent a steeplechase horse from striding comfortably over his fences; It-is true that it the ground were really oh the hard side there might be some little jar to a -horse's legs on landing, but that is a matter so easily remedied that it is hardly worth while thinking about it, while, on the other hand, it must be remembered tnat it is far. easier for a horse, to gallop ana jump when he is going on the top of the ground than when he is sobbing and labouring through the mud.- And. if convincing proof were necessary-that it is not in any way injurious to steeplechasers or hurdle-racers, to run their races on firm going, we only have to turn to tne records of steeplechasing in France to see that their horses last at least as long as ours, and that the pace at which ttieir races are run is, with few exceptions, much faster than that which obtains lit races of a similar.character in this country. It must not be forgotteu that, after all, it is money that "makes the mare go." and that if, as Major Hugh Onslow so very sensibly'suggests, more '. Steeplechasing were to take place in-the early summer and autumn, whea.the weatner is pleasant, a step in the right direction would have been taken: while there can be no disputing, the. wisdom of his Idea that the founding dt some good weight-for-age races would be a strong inducement to owners to purchase good horses."