SPORT AND PASTIME.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 133, 12 June 1909, Page 14

SPORT AND PASTIME.

The Turf. RACING FIXTURES. SEASON 1909. June 16 and 17 — Hawkes Bay J.C Winter. June 23 and 21 — Napier Park R.O. Winter July 8 and 9— Gisborne R.C. SteepleJuly 17, 21, 24— Wellington R.C. Steeplechase. 'Ausust 10. 12,' 14 — C.J.C. Grand National. Stallion, obituary notices have been almost weekly features during the past few months, whilst genei'ally the present 6ea6on has been witness of a heavy niortaiity in the ranks of well-bred stud horses. In some cases death has ensued if rom the heavy burden of years, and in others accidents have cut short promising careers : strfl, after making" all allowances, the mortality appears, to have been, considerably above ,tho average. Accidents of one kind or another accounted 'for the deaths of Kilcheran, Explosion, and Qnarryman. Nelson, Torpedo, and •Hotchki&s were, of course, well on in years, but Merriwee, .The Officer, Phoe<bus Apollo, Euroclydon, and Waiuku were all in the prime of eqiune life. Nor •hae this abnormal mortality been confined to this country, for both the EngJish and Australian sporting press have (recorded an exceptionally large number of losses in the stallion ranks. . For example, Simmer, 'Metal, and Light Artillery might be quoted as Australian ■cases, and Persimmon, St. Simon, and The Victory in the Old Country. Thero •must 'be several other cases in Now •Zealand in addition to those given above, ifor I just jotted down the names ol those Coming directly under my notice. ' There is tl well-known story of an (umpire in a cricket match who, when appealed to for a catch at the -wicket, re•plied, -"Not out; and I bet you a dollar •we win!" This yarn no doubt is the ibasis of the tale told of the racing judge who put up the number of what everyone in the crowd thought was the second •horse, and upon being asked by how much tht> alleged, winner had -scored, answered promptly, "A neck; and its the first bet I've Avon this meeting." The nomination lists for the handicap i stakes run at Flemington and Caulfield , in the spring reveal the presence of quite an imposing array of horses bred ! and owned in New Zealand/ which will I cause the publication of the weights to be looked forward to with additional interest this year. Melbourne Cup, of 5000 soys ; two miles. — Bebrikoff, Downfall, , All Bed, California, Master Soult, Ikon, Aborigine, St. Felix, Pink 'Un, Motoa, Saltaire, Ngauruhoe, Golden Slipper, Don ■Hannibal, Waipuna, Idyll, Nobel, Seddon, Maranui, Delaware, and Socialist. Caulfield Cup, of 3000 soys ; one mile and a half. — Master Soult, All Red, Aborigine, Artillerie, Don Hannibal, Pink J Un, Motoa, Saltaire, Golden ' Slipper, Waipuna, Moriarty, Ngauruhoe, | Seddon, Maranui, Idyll, Delaware, So1 pialist, Kerlie, William, and Nobel. Glancing through the foregoing, it strikes one as somewhat remarkable that the sprinter Motoa should be considered by D. J. Price as worthy to be nominated for two such trying races. ' Evidently Motoa is to be asked a seri- j ous question or two before long, for up to the present the leggy brown son of I Conqueror has not done any good to hisowner, Mr. Manifold. At a Sydney race meeting a week or two back there was a great finish between three horses. The judge hoisted I Featherstitch's number, and, in discussing the affair, an Australian writer delivers himself thus :—: — There was a howling rumpus the other day when Featherstitch got the yerdict. The non-official verdict • was — Storey by a head from Dryite, with Featherstitch half' a length away third. P^sonally, cannot offer an opinion, but wiU swear that even Payten and the rider of Feather reckoned it up as lost. How lucky is the owner who gets jt when his horse runs second ! Ye gods ! how much luckier must be~he when a third is converted into a first. In a close- finish only the judge can tell j in an open finish it seems to be the same. The owner of Storey might have been reconciled to a decision in favour of Dryite. Similarly, the owner of Dryite to a decision in favour of Storey. But to one in favour of Featherstitch ■was enough to give them a stitch of a .very sore kind. Uncertainty is one of the principal elements in turf matters • Generally it is not extended to the judge's box, but at odd times it inyades even this structure. For once in a way, this was a race that could be easily judged by those around and about, but not actually in the box. The horses were not spread across the course ; they were finishing together. A majority of those persons) who dispute the judge's decisions do so on th» tickeYs they have in their possession. They are not judging by the eye, but by-ithe porkct, and at limes very shallow at that. r In this race Featherstitch was on the outside, and, although a goodly number of those nearest to him had Feather briefs, they would have sold out cheap. As a rule, it is my custom to be with the man in the box, believing that his eyes will be open. So many spectators closa their eyes at the" crilidal' "moment, and ~give their mcratljsTr that they are not likely to b"e correct. , ' With. Featherstitch, the case is different, and the owners and backers of horses that apparently fipished in front of him are condoled with; if not conioled. From RicctirLon it is reported that St. Aiden is shaping nicely, and although rather young for the hurdling branch, according' to our ideas, there is no valid rens>on why such a well furnished three-year-old should not be a 'success over the hniall sticks. In England some very tmart performances over brush hurdles have been credited to three-year-olds. C. Pritchard's rising two-year-olds — St. Bees and the Stepniak — Crimea colt are both settling down like well-behaved youngsters to their preliminary tasks. Mr. Whitney's colt ib framed on much more massive lines than is Mr. Barclay's, but the latter is built on such rare sprinting lines that he may come to hand earlier than his mate. Murray Hobbs, who, a few years, ago, was one of the foremost trainers at Riccarton, is once more to return to the active practice of his profession. M. Hobbs visited England la^t year in company with R. J Mason. Stephen, a full brother to Martyrinm, by Birkenhead — Martyr, won a Weltei Purse, six furlongs, at Epsom, Victoria, last month. Stephen, who was well backed by his owner, handicapper J. H, Davis, beat a field of 23 in very at tractive style. L Though still a- young manj. the promin

ent English jockey, M. Cannon, has, writes an exchange, decided to definitely retire, one reason perhaps being that a rheumatic complaint has been giving him some trouble for some time past. Tod Sloan's arrival in England a few years ago gave Cannon a set-back, as, notwithstanding the American's phenomenal success, the English champion would not admit there was anything gained by the crouch seat, and refused to adopt it, with the result that the \ demand for his services lessened. It is' said that he did eventually take his leathers up * a hole or two, but never rode in anything really approaching the American style. Cannon's best year was 1895, when he had 184 winning mounts, two more than in 1892. Altogether, Cannon headed the winning list six times, and his successes include the Derby and Two Thousand once each, and the St. Leger and Oaks twice each. In connection with the handicaps he did particularly well in the City and Suburban, riding six winners of that race. He was on the Australian horses Newhaven and The Grafter when they won that race in 1899 and 1900 respectively. The revision of racing colours is to be tackled in real earnest by the conference next month. A" casual glance through the Jist of registered colours shows one that some very useful colours are claimed by people who have not owned or raced a horse for years. The list is badly in need of revision. The last two or three conferences have been distinguished for "much wood — little fruit,' and it is to be devoutly hoped next month's meeting will establish a record of "something accomplished, something done" to relieve the barrenness of the past. The conference meets for a few hours only each year, and far too large a proportion of precious time is consumed by one or two of the talking delegates, whilst the practical men — men of few words — never get a show. There should be some form of moving the closure at this racing parliament. THE BLADE.