Sporting News.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7612, 8 December 1886, Page 3

Sporting News.

i NOTES BY. "FETLOCK."

I am sure thatall who admire a sterling and consistent racehorse will be pleased that there is a probability of Commotion again standing a good preparatory, as the old fellow pulled up quite sound after the race for the Melbourne Cup, and his injured leg is said to have grown hard and callous. If the. son of Panic— Evening J3tar cti.u stand his windrqg-up gallops for Hie. Champion Stakes, for which race lie is to be reserved, there will be not a few racing men who will pin their faitli to him ,fpr the sake of his brilliant victories in the past. That equine wonder Ormonde lias now won more money in stakes than any other racehorse the world has ever seen, and this too when the value of the Two Thousand Guineas, Derby, and St. Leger Stakes which he won were below the usual amount for these events. Taking into consideration the fact that Ormonde is very sound, and the easy way in which he has accomplished all his victories, lie will probably leave behind him "footprints on the sands of time " which will remain for many years before they are erased. The three-year-old colt Bravo, by Grand Flaneur— The Orphan, has been sold through Messrs Yuille and Co., of Melbourne, for 1000 guineas. It is believed the purchaser is MrM. Loughlin, the wellknown Ballarat sportsman, who is so successful with his cross-country animals. Notwithstanding the very moderate form shown by the Hon. James White's two-year-olds this season, the owner of Indent bids fair to again top the list of winning owners at the end of the season, as he has already won something liko £5380 in stakes, which is nearly double the amount won by any other sportsman. I notico that the Hon. E. Mitchelson's colts Musk Rose and Whakawhai have been sent to Melbourne to be trained by Mr W. E. Dakin for tlieif Australian. eiu gageinents. Although Musk Rose is a grandly bred colt, and I have a great liking for him, I do not think lie will distinguish himself in weight - for - age contests on the other side, as he was unfortunately born in the same year as that splendid colt Trident, and. the latter should have no. difficulty in settling the pretensions of tho handsome son of Musket — Rosette should they ever meet in a classic contest. Whakawhai, who is a two-year-old colt by Leolinus, out of, Lurline's sister Lure, is said to be a really nice-looking horse, who gives promise of developing into a good one when he is older.

The weights for the Wellington Clip have made their appearance, and I do not think the most captious critic could fiud. much fault with' them. I look upon the handicap as one of tlio very beat of the many good productions which Mr Evett has treated us to. Of course Nelson heads the list with 9st 121 b, and as the distance is two miles, the weight appears to be just about what the horse is fairly entitled to. Pasha, Sst 41b, comes next, and although at iirst sight he looks harshly treated on his New Zealand Cup performance, I am inclined to think that his running in that race was not his true form, and that the weight he has now been allotted is about right. Administrator, Sst 311), wonid have a good show were he in his last year's form. Fusillade, Sst 3lb, is always a good horse when lit, but being a very difficult animal to train it will bo safest not to back him until lie faces the starter, and then if the stable connections fancy him ho will take some beating. Waitiri, Ssfc 21b, is just about in her right place, and judging from her Christchurch running she should be about able to turn the tables on her Cup conquerors, Nelson and Spade Guinea. Thunderbolt, Sst, is a horse who has never started in a race over such a distance of ground, but he is very fairly handicapped on his performances. Tetford, Bst, is very favorably treated, and will, I fancy, run a really good horse if started. Tigridia, Sst, would liave a capital chance of annexing the stake if she were in good trim. Spado Guinea, 7st 131 b, might, I think, have been let off a few pounds .lighter, but still a writer who did not see the New Zealand Cup race run can scarcely tell how much the mare had in hand when she won that event. Cinderella, 7st 111 b, is a marc I am very fond of, and if she can only stay she will be one of the hardest to beat. Silence, 7st 101 b, is a little over- weighted, I imagine. Artillery, 7s_t- 91b, is one of the best treated animals in the race, and should give a good account of himself. Titbit, 7st 81b, will most likely be a nonstarter. First Lord, 7st 81b, on his last year's running must certainly be treated with respect. Rumour, 7s_t 71b, lias a good show, and so has Victoria with the same weight. Armourer, 7st 51b, will find the company too good for him, and the same remark applies to Derwenter, 7st 41b. Trickster, 7st 4lb, has seen his best day, but Ruby, 7st 4lb, must have a splendid chance if bronght out in good fettle. British Lion, 7st 4lb, is not class enough. Salisbury, 6st 121 b, has a weight which should not trouble him if he be only good enough to carry it to the front. Torpedo, Cst 12lb, is well-bred enough, but his performances hitherto have been almost below mediocrity. Charmer, 6st 101 b, I cannot stand ; but Rivulet, Gst 91b, should have a say if she is sent for id Ahua, Gst 7lb| niay be a dangerous opponent, but I doubt it, while Musk Rose, at the same weight, is a certain non-starter. Cremorne, 6st 61b, has no chance in the company. The Shah, 6st slb, cannot get the distance successfully, and I also doubt the ability of Lady Norali, 6st, to do so. The last on the list is Fardingale, and her form has been so atrociously bad as to give one the idea that she could not win •with even a postage stamp to carry. Mr Abraham Snider, who is well known to Hawke's Ray sports, has had a bad time of it since going across the water to pursue his call ing.^ Tliisiswhal "Augur" says : — " It is not'often that o bookmaker has to take the benefit of the Insolvency Act, but on this week's list is Mr Abraham Snider, who has had a bad time. At ono time it was hoped that he would pull through, for a strong effort was made by some of his friends to help him to tide over his diflicullies, but one usurer who had promised support backed out at the last moment; he considered 'his case vos too critical,' and so the poor booky had to file his schedule. He hopes, bowever, some day to be able to pay everybody in full. His liabilities were set at £1780, and the assets at £1, leaving a deficiency ot £1779. The causes of insolvency were stated to have been losses in business as a. turf commission ajjent, he having during the last two yens lost £5000. All the debts are owing for money lent, and the following arc the insolvent's creditors, all of of them being unsecured: — Aaron Waxinan, financier, £500 ; Miss Soloicons, tobacconist, £250 ; George Patterson, turf commission agent, £210: Reuben Barnard, money lender, £220 ; Leonard Levy, money lender, £200 ; Laurence Zucker, turf commission agent, £200; Joseph- Harris, turf commission agent, £150 ; Solomon Hyains, pawnbroker, £50." The railway fares to Flemington during the late four days' racing of the V.R.C., amounted to close on £20,000, and yet some people hold that racing benefits no ono.

I do not often indulge in the practice of quoting Hie opinions of other sporting writois who fierce with me upon any subject, but as there has been a considerable amount of controversy upon the merits or demerits of Mr Evett's handicap for the Auckland Cup, I nmy be pardoned for referring to the sporting writer of the Canterbury Times, who in entering upon a short review of the handicap, congratulates Mi- Evctt. upon the manner in which lie performed the arduous task of allotting the weights. The writer in question states that the haudicappoi- has committed no flagrant blunders, and winds up by picking Nelson, I'iisha, Fusillade, W.aitiii, and Moar.fl, ai the best of the public performers, and ho thinks that tlm tlirco-year-old division will furnish the Until favorite, if not the ultimate winner. Of course sporting

writers, like other mortals, are not infallible, and I should not have referred to the criticisms oti the. handicap had not the siibjec't first been brought up by a contemporary who loses no possible opportuiiiry. of publishing, remarks-a dverse to Mi- Event's abilities as a liandicapper. I do not know whether the writer for this contemporary thinks it his "duty" to point out to tho public that every handicap emanating from Mr Evelt, must necessarily be a bad production, and that other writers bosides himself hold that opinion, but if lie does, I must congratulate him upon the enthusiastic and zealous way he docs his "duty," and apparently makes it a - "pleasure." Fortunately, tho success or otherwise of a handicap 'is not decided by a contest among tipsters ahd writer's whose ideas are. as varied as the colors of the. minnow., but upon the racecourse, ami if the resnjt of .tile Auckland Clip 1 should show liiat th'd Jiamlicapper has "thrown in" any particular animal, then the writers can' have their fling atth'e' a'd jnst'er of weights, and bring forth with triumphant glee the customary remark, " I told you so ; months ago I predicted that that horse would win theracei" In reference to the sneer of " Flaneur" in the Wanganui Herald, that the "soft thing " in Mr Evett's handicaps is gene-: rally a Hawke's Bay horse, I may mention that except in this province and at Gis-borne-not one of the many' big handicaps for which Mr Evett furnishes tiie weights has been won by n. Hawke's Bay animal during the last two years. . ,Puck, by Leolinus— Titania has been sold to Mr H. Goodman, of Dunedfn. The price paid is said to have been 300 guineas. Mr A. Drake was so disappointed at the running of Ike at the Duneilin Jockey Club's spring meeting that be disposed of him to Mr Sowness, of Otago, for 50 guineas. Kingfiph arrived in Auckland from Sydney last week, and has gone into Chaafe's stable to be prepared for his engagements at the Auckland summer

meeting. Probably one of the most sensational, if not the most sensational, wagers ever recorded on a horse race, was recently

made in England, !is a Mr Fred Robinson, a bookmaker, laid the enormous odds of £5000 to £50 on Ormondo for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. Ormonde of course von the vace, but what a risk it was to run for the money ! Necklace has broken down, and now goes to the stud. . Mr P. Harris's colt Invormay, who won

the Wagga Wagga Cup, also secured the Derby at Hie same meeting, easily beating his only opponent Tamarisk. He also ran second in the Grand Stand Handicap won by Paladin, and second (after a dead heat with Astrcca)in the Ladies'. Bracelet, so that he started in all four times on the same day. Zeno, ' by Goldsborough — Avalanche,

has changed hands at 300 guineas. It is stated that Mr Pierre Lorillard intends disposing of the whole of his breeding stud, which includes the stallions Mortemer, Iroouois, Duke of Magenta, Pizarro, and Sidartha, and about 70 brood mares, so that breeders will have a large variety to select from, the Yankee sportsnian's'stud being almost as large, in point of number, as that of Mr Andrew Town, of New South Wales.

An animal rejoicing in the name of yelocipedestriauisticalarianologist started in the Selling Race at the recent Wellington Racing Club's meeting." The horse did not win, probably owing to the large amount of dead weight he carried in his name. What a treat for the "bookies" if this horse ever starts in a race in which they have to call out the odds against him 1