TURF GOSSIP. (By Outsider.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3045, 30 April 1867, Page 5

TURF GOSSIP. (By Outsider.)

Tse large number of nominations that have been received for the Auckland Handicap Sweepstakes should be a source of considerable satisfaction to the promoters of our autumn meeting, as it must likewise be to all true lovers of sport not so immediately interested. From the very outset of their endeavours the promoters had unusual difficulties to contend with, owing to the somewhat remarkable unwillingness exhibited by some members ot the so* called Auckland Jockey Club to render any assistance towards the attainment of the proposed object. Had it not been for the persistent obstinacy of one individual, some assistance would, 1 think, have been rendered; and the result would have been the best race meeting ever yet held in the province of Auckland, both in a monetary and sporting sense. As it is, thanks to the" energy of a few, we ■hall still have a meeting, perhaps not quite so good as would otherwise have been the case ; but, at least, of sufficient pretensions to induce the advent of a fair proportion of the very best horses in New Zealand, and amongst the number, I believe, will be found next year's champion. First, amongst unfavourable prognostications "we were told that there would lie but a very poor show of horses, as the stakes advertised -would not be of sufficient attraction to induce any of the Southerners to throw in for competition. Then again it was said that a very large sum of money was still necessary to enable the committee to pay the amount of prizes they had advertised. The members of the committee were sympathised with as unfortunate, credulous individuals that would have to put their hands somewhat deeply into their pockets in order to make both ends meet. In fact everything detrimental that could be urged in connection with the undertaking was very freely given utterance to. The whole affair was denounced as a public swindle that was got up merely for the sake of a stable of screws, &c, and a great deal more was said which, coming from the source it did, was as little worth moticing as it was impertinent. However, the nominations first called for have, I fancy, given a flat denial to all evil prognostications, whilst the ultimate result of the meeting will, I think, very clearly show that the Auckland Jockey Club, if there is such a body in existence, is really not of such wonderful importance as it was imagined, and that the sooner it becomes re-organised the better for the interests of the sporting community of this province. If the Auckland Jockey Club, a« is usual with the majority of race clubs, would publish a balancesheet after their meeting!, a much fitter course would be adopted than the present system of excluiiveness, of which we have had such good reason to complain. With regard to the Autumn meeting, I hear that the former course will be adopted, and that both subscription list and balance-sheet will be laid before the public, who will then have every possible opportunity of judging for themselves whether the Autumn Eaces were really intended as a swindle or a ■porting meeting open to all. As the weights for the Auckland Handicap have already been published, the name of the handicapper being attached thereto — a course I highly approve of— a few lines from my pen with reference to them may interest my sporting readers at the present time. Taking the Handicap on the whole, I have very little hesitation in saying that it is far and away the best that has ever yet been made here ; and the truth of this assertion is very practically exemplified by the very general satisfaction that it appears to have given. In two or three instances, I certainly do think slight alterations would be desirable ; but I must candidly say that in these instances the handicapper, if he has erred, has done so on the side of leniency, of which there is seldom much reason to complain. Nourmaha 1, at 9st. 71b., heads the list of weights, and I know that in the opinion of a few she is considered to have been somewhat hardly dealt with. Looking at her performances here, such an opinion is very reasonable; but taking her performance in Canterbury in 1866, when she won the Canterbury Jockey Club Handicap, one and a-half miles, carrying lOst., defeating, after a dead heat, Golden Cloud, 9sfc. 41b. 5 Nebula, 9st. 71b. ; Hatter, 9st. ; and another,— and doing the two heats in 2m. 55sec. and 2m. 59sec. respectively — it was a performance quite good enough to warrant' the weight that has been imposed upon her. It is true the mare did not run quite so satisfactorily here in January, but tnen she was well known to be dead amiss, notwithstanding which, however.she did manage to run Glengarry a desperate race in the Welter. I hear she does not look over and above well now, and even admitting this much, that is no fault of the Handicapper, whose duty rests with her solely as a public performer. Glengarry, at 9st. 41b., has very little reason to complain, for, whether or not he may be well in at the weights, he is only carrying what his recent achievements down South fully entitle him to carry. Lord Lyon, 9st., is one of those dark horses that we know little or nothing about ; but, with some pounds less on his back, we know he won his race easily in January last from a really good field. Numa, aged, Bst. 131b., must also be considered fairly handicapped in considering late doings at Napier, to say nothing of the splendid race he ran at our last annual, with 81b. less on his back. Euclid, aged, Bst. 91b., if any good at all, should be well able to carry this weight, although, according to his running in Napier, at the respective weights, Numa should hold him safe enough. Koheroa, aged Bst. 81b., in my opinion could not win it, if he had only a saddle to carry. Taking his age and running at Otahuhu into consideration, however, he must be considered as fairly dealt with. Balrownie, Bst. 10lb., ran some capital races in Wellington, where he polished off both Volunteer and Policy at his dead ease. With some, I know that these performances go for much, but I think that they are not greatly to be relied on, as I can hardly fancy that either of the two could have been over fit on the occasion referred to. Old Bird, Bst. 71b., appears to me to be the first horse in of the lot, and if he only comes out anything like as fit as he did when George Cutts first piloted him here, if not the actual winner, he will make it precious hot for the one that does win it. Magenta, 3 yrs, Bst. 61b., certainly, at first sight, does appear somewhat hardly dealt with. It is a great weight for a three-year-old to carry, especially in proportion to the weights imposed upon some of the aged horses ; but then it mußt be remembered that according to the Auckland Rules he is within a couple of months of being four years old, in addition to which he is only paying the penalty of hiß former splendid achievements. My own individual opinion respecting this horse is, that he will furnish the future champion of the colony; and I believe if the horse accepts that he must win it in a walk, notwithstanding the weight he will have to carry, and the comparatively good field that will be opposed to him. Mr. Stafford's otherjnomination, Nebula, 9st. lib., appears to me to be remarkably well in, and I certainly do think that the visitors altogether have very little reason to complain, nor do I I fancy they will either. Moss Hose, 4 years, Bst. 41b., is pretty well turned loose if good enough, and her owner' must surely congratulate himself on his chance should the mare only come out fit. Warwick, 7st. 61b., is a three-year-old, who ran second for the Maiden Plate at the laßt Dunedin Races, since when he won a handicap up country. I have not yet seen him ; but, if any good at all, he should surely have no reason to complain. Marchioness, Bst., has, I think, quite enough to carry. Ido not fancy her owner will accept at the weights ; besides which, the little mare is altogether wrong, and there is every probability of her having to be turned out previous to the meeting. The Miller, 7st., I have always said belongs to the veritable duffer division, and I don't suppose his owner

will think him worth accepting with. This, I think, concludes the list as far as yet known, andlmuitleave any farther remarks for a future occaaion.