THE TURF. NEWS AND NOTES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 125, 25 November 1908, Page 2

THE TURF. NEWS AND NOTES.

Few stables have so many consistent) followers as that presided over by E. Cutts, and this veteran trainer has a very numerous team in his charge at present. That his hand has not lost its cunning was proved by the winning form, of Husbandman and tne other bearers of the blue and gold at the C.J.C. meeting. The following is a list of Sir ,'Geo. Clifford's horses now in training, and it will be seen that more than one half ara two-year-olds : — Br m Stratagem, 5 years (Nelson— Dtidu) ; br h De Witte, 5 years (Stepniak — Illnsion) ; eh h Goldbeater, 4 years (Clanyauald— Gold Leaf) ; inGlenodlooh, 4 years (Clanranald — Madowla); b c Whiatlecraf t, 3 years (Birkenhead — Windtvhistle) ; eh f Flitaway, 3 years (Clanrandd— Elusive) ; eh f Inchbonny, 3 years (Ckaranald— Teredina) ; br c Husbandman, 3 years (Treatmill — Golden -Vale) ; b c Broadsword, 2 years (Clanranald— Safeguard) ;• br c Appkgarth, 2 years (Treadmill— Gold Leaf); eh f Fasnakyle, 2 years Teredina) ; b c Kilwinanig, 2 years (Kilcheran — Success) ; eh c Sharpshooter, 2 years (GhmranaM— Weath&reye) ; b o Somersault, 2 y«ars. (Soult— Sprite) ; b f Thistledown, 2 years (Clanranald— Elusive); br f Ploughshare (Treadmill — Golden Vale) ; b c Merchantman, 2 years (Birkenhead^ — Brave Heart) ; eh c Full Sail, 2 years (Pilgrim's Progress— Windwhistle) j br c Taskmaster, 2 yearg (Treadmill — Madowla). The scratching of Signor in the St. Andrew's, and Flitaway in the Flying Handicap, was a bit of a set-back for double event backers. ' Mtiskerry and Crucinella are a pair of very speedy fillies of rather better class than those below them in the Flying Handicap. Crucinella certainly failed in a halfmile race at the meeting^, but sh« was rapidly overhauling the winner, Kirstv, at the finishi Muskerry gave' promise last season of being a sprinter of more than average merit; indeed, Quinlivan held a high opinion of this full sister to Boomerang. At Ellerslie, a,fortnight ago, Muskerry filled third place to Royal Soult and Santa Rosa over seven furlongs, and as she was conceding both of these smart sprinters weight, her performance was meritorious. Later oh the same day ~Royal Soult beat Cambrian over six furlongs, thus enhancing tho form. Last year the St. Andrew's Handicap was annexed by Maniopoto, one of the top weights ; Moral, who heads the list of acceptors for next Monday's contest; was second. Lasj; year, however, the lightweights were an indifferent lot ; but with such as San Julie, Tan Sanj' and Sunglow representing tho lightweight division this year, the horses near the top of tho handicap have a Harder task in front of them. Shuja, by Soult— Sprite, that cost 500 guineas as a yearling, won his first race at the Waverley meeting in the early part of this month. This colt, a very handsome aad racy-looking sort, will make his next appearance in the Fitzroy, Hack at Foilding on Monday. Shuja, who cla.im» engagement in the Auckland Cup, is trained by Percy Johnston, who considers that this son of Soult should make a rare galloper. < A half-brother to Downfall andi Ohanteuse. named Sims Reeves was racing in the South Island last season in very moderate company without earning a, winning bracket. Now that Downfall has shown himself 'to be such a stayer, no doubt Sini6 Reeves, who is very well • bred, being by tJie Sti Simon horse Simmer, will be given a 'chance to show ■what he. is made of over distances instead of being' kept tc- scurries- " and dashes, as was the case last year. With Heorthen's example to guide them, it is a wonder that owners j of well-bred Jiorses do not more often test them to find out if stamina and not mere sprinting is their forte. , A few weeks back an English, ca-ble« gram stated that William Blenkiron, who-, at one time was a leading racing man in the Old Country, had died i» * common^ lodging-house. Papers now ft* hand bring details, and 1 the one I quot* from headed the article thus: "Squandered Fortune. Owner of Derby Winner Dies in Lodginghouse, where lie was known as, 'No. 11.' Life Secret Laid Bare." The following is the story: — The tragic death; in a common lodginghouse at Hammersmith has revealed the secret of a mysterious individual who at one time was possessed 1 of considerable wealth, and who, being reduced to the lowest depths of poverty, prefensed to sink his identity and live a recluse sort of life at Hammersmith. He waa an elderly man; of respectable appearance, and had taken up Ihb quarters at a lodginghouse known as Jubilee Chambers. No one kri&w his name, and no letters had ever been received there for him. For months ho was known aa "No. 11," that being, -fche number of his cubicle. A fellow r«ad€nt recognised him as William Blenkiron, aged 70 years, a former racehoßse breeder. Upon the death of his father the deceased participated with other members in a fortune of between £70,000 and £80jOOO. Directly after, Blenkiron started a life of dissipation, which only terminated when the whole of his fortune was escnausted. Later he worked on many racecourses, until age interfered even, with that precarious occupation. Eventually ho drifted to life in a common lodginghouse. Such is the sad story of William Blenkiron's death. An acceptance for the Auckland Cup and Stewards' Handicap falls due on Friday and a fair number of tho, moderates who wero nominated on thp offchance may bo allowed to drop out.