SPORTING.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5614, 27 August 1889, Page 4

SPORTING.

[BY "CALLER OU."]

The publishing of a Racing Calendar is a step in the right direction, so I was glad to notice that, among tho items allowed to leak out as to the recent proceedings of the delegates of the Metropolitan Clubs, that -was one proposal. Like a good many others, I fail to understand why there should be so much secrecy as to the proceedings. The calendar will be generally approved of. Lately there was a very warm controversy between tho Canterbury Times and Mr Stead, and tho journal maintained that tho funds of many clubs went to support a particular sporting paper, while the local publications had much to do with the success or failure of a raco meeting. Every club must advertise its programme in tho paper referred to, while too often local journals aro neglected. Of course, it is very good for the former, but the influence it can excite in favor of on outside race meeting is not for a moment to be compared with that of the journal published in the locality, and to starve the district; paper is a mistaken policy. The Canterbury Times had all the best of the argument with its doughty antagonist—Mr Stead. Tho Racing Calendar will, however, put an end to such controversies in the futon. The other recommendations of the delegates may bo left alono until the new rules have been printed and received. Ono thing, however, is evident, the delegates did not give sufficient time to their consideration to ensure their being thoroughly satisfactory. A similar revision in England occupied nearly as many days as minutes were devoted in Wellington to the consideration. With the racing season opening next month in Australia we may expect shortly to be hearing of the condition and doings of the cracks. For the V.R.C. Derby Dreadnought and Singapore are quoted at 6 to 1, -while 10 to 1 can be had about anything else. I have a fancy for the Ballarat owned Richelieu. For the Caulfield Cup I like The Charmer and Bravo, and would not bo at all surprised to find Sedition the correct pea. The other spring events may throw some light on the Melbourne Cup, but my first impression when I saw the weights was in favor of Antams, Mnnton, and Tradition in the reverse order to that £n which I have written their names, and for a quartette will still adhere to them, with the winner of tho V.R.C. Derby for the fourth string.

According to tho California Spirit of the Times the yearlings by Darebin and Sir Modred wero very superior, and the averages made confirm that view. Ono good rosult may be anticipated; other American breeders may turn their eyes in this direction when the}' want sires, and thus the price of our stock will bo enhanced. An Amoricun paper, writing of the Canadian Clydesdale horso Jumbo, states that he is of "a dapple-bay color, standing 20$ hands high, and weighing 27001b, which, at 6 years of age, is exceptionally heavy ;in fact, Jumbo is the largest horse on record. Tho arm measures 32in round ; stifle, 45in ; across the hips, 34 jin ; around tho girth, 7ft llin; in length, lift -tin. The animal was sired near Brompton, Canada, and is a " right smart chunk of a horse. Jumbo has been known to draw over six tons. His walking gait is five miles an hour. His owner, W. T. Lundy, has refused an offer of £1500 for him. Tlio President of tho French Republic has conferred on M. Augusto Lupin the title of Chevalier " on account of tho valuable services rendered by him to the cause of horso breeding for upwards of half a century." Fifty-two years ago M. Lupin, an unknown man, made his first appearance in the Hampton Court paddock, on the occasion of the sale of the breeding stud of the deceased King William IV., and from his pur .base, are descended some of the best racehorses in France, Halvator won him tho first of h's two Grand Prizes of Paris, and bo has carried off the French Derby and Oaks each six tims's. Ho has been for many years an honorary member of the Jockey Club of England. The cricketing statistics of Cambridge University show that Mr S. M. J. Woods, of Sydney, has the best bowling average. His record reads '28!) overs, 72 maidens, 702 ruus, 44 wickets, the average being 15.42 per wicket. Mr K. 11. De" Little,"a Victorian, is third on the li. t, with un average of 18.23 runs per wichet. Both gentlemen came out with _ batting average a fraction over 14 ruus per innings. Tho weather in England has been all that could be deeired, from a racing point of view, and the season hits been one of tho most sujccssful ever exjwrienccd. Amongst the " now" racehorses—the two-year-olds —a rival to the Dnke of Portland's filly Semolina, by St. Simon from Donovan's dam, Mowerina, has como to tho front. This is Signorina, by St. Simon from Star of Portico, v mare bred in Italy. The filly is the property of the Chevalier Gini-trclli, and sho has an unbeaten record. Amongst, her more important wins recently wero the Kompton-park Grand Two-year-old Stakes, of 2000 soys, in which sho carried i)st 4lb, and in which she started favorite at 5 to 4 against her, und tho British Dominion Two-year-old Stakes, at Saiulown-park, in which she carried o.t 3lb, and started favorite at 6t02 on her. She had previously won the Whitsuntide Plato, of 1000 soys, run at Manchester on June 15.

For the football premiership of Victoria Esseudon now leads South Melbourne.— A gentleman who lays 10, 111.) to 100 against yearlings fur th" English Derby has never yet beon struck, hut he has laid the prico against an animal for next year's race that is now at 4 to I.—Merriu England has been bucked for the V.R.C. Derby. Momighan is sending _ lanton along at a great rate. The annual sale of yearlings at tho stud farm of Her Majesty the Queen was held in the last week of Juno. The top figure (3000 guineas) was paid by Colonel North, tho "Nitrate King," for a bay colt by Hampton —Land's End. Tho two next highest prices wore 1000 guineas each for a filly by Springfield—Pampeluna, aud a colt by St. Simon—Lady Gladys. Mr. W. Cooper and Mr. D. Cooper, of Sydney, were both buyers, tho former giving 410 guineas for a chestnut filly by Spring-field— Eglentyne, and the latter 200 guineas for a colt, by Sword Dance—Simplex. The Loudon Daily Telegraph has tho following interesting and pertinent observation* on the cost of breeding thoroughbreds in England .'—"What is the cost of it fashionable thoroughbred yearling:; or, in other words how much has a yearling colt, such as Colonel North recently gave 3000 guineas for at Hampton Court, cost his breeder when offered at public auction to the highest bidder 'i Answers to this knotty question have been hazarded by many experienced authorities, of whom, perhaps, the weightiest is tho late General Peel, who estimated tho expense at 120 guineas. That, however, was long subsequent to the time when the late Mr 11. S. Thompson, tho founder of the Rn_ cliffe Stud Farm, near York, declared that no yearling ought to cost his breeder more than £75, or when Voltigeur, at the age of 14 months wasoffered to Mr R. M. Juqueß, of Easby Abbey—who died on Sunday last—aud declined at the modorate figure of £100 . Enough has already been said to justify the oft-repeated amertion of Sir Joseph Hawloy that no yearling, however promising and well-bred, is worth moro than 500 guineas. Since Sir Joseph's death the fees of fashionable sires have bccoiuo so high that he might now perhaps be induced to raise his tariff to 1000 guineas. Certain it is that hundreds of the best performers have cost, like Goldseekor, less than one-teuth of what Colonel North has just given for a Hampton colt Yet the rage for expensive yearlings is on tho increase all over the world, and to preach against it would bo tho vainest and most unprofitable of follies "