SPORTING NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9471, 21 July 1891, Page 6

SPORTING NOTES.

{FROM the VASTEHBVUV TIMES.} [by CASTOII.] It will be noticed that Mr G. G. Stead has three horses engaged in the Metropolitan Stakes at the A.J.C. Spring Meeting. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association takes place on J uly 28. Kulmne is the popular fancy at Riccarton for the Grand National Hurdle Race. Upwards of 250 twc-year-olds are worked at Randwick. Mr W. Duggan is the new owner of Moraine. Gatling is said to have become almost unmanageable. In America 333 trotters have a 3min 20sec or better record for a mile. The Cromwell Club is about to effect improvements on tbe course, to cost .£2OO. The Woodville Jockey Club has a credit balance of TiSO. H. Taylor, at one time a well-known jockey in Auckland, is dead. The Raugitikoi Hunt Chib Races are fixed for Sept. 3. The late Charles Parker is said to have been worth about .£3OOO. The fund for the testimonial to Mr E. de Mestro has now reached £1350. Dadu is to he mated with the Musket horse Chain Shot. Mr C. Arayes, of the A 1 Hotel, has been re-appointed caterer for the Canterbury Jockey Club. Mrs Henry Redwood, who died on July 5, had reached the ripe old age of eightyone years. A. Shearsby, the ex-New Zealander, has taken a range of. stabling at Wollongong, in New South Wales. “ ismodeus,” in tne Lmder t picks Teksum, Tarcoola and Paris tor the Caulfield Cup. The first of the great Ormonde’s stock to race was a colt from Thistle, the dam of the Derby winner Common. The colt won easily the first time of asKing, but a tew days later was defeated. Foxton, engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race, is reported to be jumping well. On July 7, Ixiou was backed for the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race to win between £OOOO and £7OOO. Marigold, a sou of the Traducer horse Atlantic, won the Monmouth Handicap at Canterbury Park (Sydney) Races on July-1. For the Adelaide R cing Club’s Grand National Meeting, thu-ty-five nominations nave been sent in for the Hurdle Race and twenty-eight for the Steeplechase. Mr Gollan’stwo winners at Wellington, Jet d’Eau and Ival, were trained by B. Newman. On being submitted to auction after winning the Selling Hurdle Race at Wellington, the aged Painter gelding Matchless was bought in for £ls. The North Canterbury Jockey" Club’s Spring Meeting is for Thursday, Sept. 20. The English jockeys, T. and S. Loates, White and Caider, are still without licenses. The present owner of Ormonde, Signor Bocca, of Buenos Ayres, is reported to be in such low water that he cannot pay his racing forfeits. The weights for the Wyndham Cup, SUO sovs.to be run on September 20, have been issued. Sultan and Rudolph head the list with Bst 101 b each. Scots Grey, Palliaer and Moraine have been entered for the principal events at the Hawkesbury Meeting, which is set down for September 2-t and 25. Mr J. J. Miller’s very useful and complete “ Australian Sporting Guide,” made up to a very recent date, is to hand. Mr H. Mace’s new range of stabling at New Brighton is almost completed. Mr Mace u also having a private track laid down on which to exercise his horses. A match for £SO a side was run off on the ID.mont racecourse on Thursday lasi, between the bucks Lady Gordon and I'-Lnuacl. The former, a mare owned at Hawera, won. . The programme for the Ashburton Hunt Club Races, August 21, and that for the South Canterbury Jockey Club, Sept., 17 ami 18, ha.ve been passed by the Metropolitan Club. The brown gelding, by Crawford Priory from Honeysuckle,one of Mr Douglas’ nominations for this year’s Derby, bas been scratched. It is stated that Mr. Donald Wallace has offered to back Carbine against Vengeance for places 1 in the Melbourne Cup for a couple of thousands. Red Cross, 7at 101 b, with young Kingan in the saddle, started for the Midwinter Handicap at Mentone on July 3, won by Briton 7st 121 b, with Adonis second and Memoir third. Mr Stead’s Lo Loup—Miss Kate colt has been taken in hand, and ridden by C. Boyle was on the course one morning last week. He is not big, hut takes somewhat after his half-brother Sultan. It is proposed to have Steeplechases in connection with the .Southland Hunt Club. If the meeting comes off it will be the first gathering of the kind in the district. C. O’Couuor bas in hand, to break in

and train, a brother to Raven, a four-year-old gelding by Flour-de-Lye “ om Mist, the dam of Salvage. , , R. Raj’ has had an offer from tiyonoy , his pony Parnell, and it is probaole tne midget will leave for the other side tms week. ■ ,' The Fulham Park stud, along with certain landed property, is to be disposed ot by art union. The stallions .Richmond ana Thunderbolt figure as two of the prizes. “Phaeton,” in the Auckland Yca-’s. says TheAVorkuian is aregular attendant at Eilerslle, and he gives every promise ot being a very substantial support for the apiu stable to depend upon during tbo approaching season. " „ During the present season, the sum of £111,147 passed through the totahsators in the Auckland district. Of this sum £11,347 was operated on at the meetings of the Auckland Trotting Club. _ The Eclipse Stakes was first instituted in 1830, in which year Bendigo carried 9st 71b to victory. In 1887 there was no race, and in the following year Orbit was successful. Aryshire, the Derby winner, won in 1889. Last year the race did not take place. Our Dunedin correspondent wires that the Gore Racing Club, having £250 at its disposal, is ascertaining the cost of preparing plans for the erection of a grand stand.

Rufus, winner of the V.R.C. Derby in 1884, won a handicap at Blue Lake (South Australia), a few weeks ago; returning Lis. backers in the totalisstor the dividend of £l4l.

Little Arthur started in the hurdle race at Mentone on July . 3, but failed to get a place in a field of eight. The New Zealander carried list, and was ridden by Hobbs. The winner. The Dane, bad 9st 121 b on his back.

A hitch has occurred in transferring Oakleigh Park Racecourse to the Victorian Trotting Club, which recently became the purchaser. Notwithstanding that all the necessary documents have been signed the Club is denied possession of the property. By the success of Common in the Epsom Derby, his owner received 5500 sovs, 500 of which went to him as the nominator of the colt. Poors wick, running in the nomination of Mr P. Tyson, won the double (Winter Handicap, 40 soys, one mile and a, quarter, 'and Tradesman’s -Handicap, 20 sovs, six -furlongs), at the Bairnadnle Meeting on July 7. Me carried 7st 111 bin the firsts and Bst slb in the second race. At the 'Williamstown Races on July 4, Belvidere won the weight-for-ago Selling Race, of 100 sovs, and was bought in for .690. The only other New Zealand bred oue that ran at the meeting was Pair Ellen, who was beaten out of place in the Hurdle Handicap. "Mazeppa,” in theOlago Witness, selects Tirailleur, Cissy, Strephon, Blizzard, Cajolery, and Tassy as likely to supply the winner of the New Zealand Cup, and likes the first two-mentioned best. At the inquest on Charles Parker, the Jury censured the lessees of the Morphetville course for not having the track fenced on the inside. The Australasian says Carbine maybe regarded as a certain starter for the Melbourne Cup, if nothing interferes with his preparation. The Sydney Morning Herald thinks Tirailleur, Cuirassier, Freedom, and Whimbrel, among others, have been fairly handicapped out of the Caulfield Cup. Albert Lyford has left tbc Wairarapa to take up his residence at Palmerston North. He is going to travel Porester during the coming season. Trotting matches along the highways are becoming popular in England. On April 10, at Croydon, a four-mile event in sulkies was witnessed, the horse that won doing the distance in llmin 55s°.c. The Bishop of Chester, backed up by leading representatives of his own as well as the Nonconformist . churches in his diocese, has protested against the Chester Council granting a lease of the racecourse attached to the ancient city to a company. The matter is still in abeyance. The New Plymouth correspondent of the Sparling Review sajs Mr W. Barnard has Jenny in work again, and the mare is looking well, having quite recovered from her strained leg. If she is weighted fairly she will have a cut in at the Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase. The following horses were backed at the Wellington Meeting for the New Zealand Cup at prices ranging from 100 to lu to 100 to 4CTackahot, Tirailleur, Strephon, 1 Cissy, Freedom, St Andrew, Merrie England, Mariner, Coalscuttle, Cretonne,; Jet d’Eau, Flinders, Tassy, Whisper and Cynisca. Since the declaration of the weights for the Grand National Meeting,.a good deal of wagering has taken place. Ahua lias been established favourite for the Steeplechase, and as short odds as 4 to 1 has been taken about his chance. Sentinel and i Tauraekaitai are supported at a point longer, and Mangaohane, Irish King, Darnley, Oeo, Kangaroo, Polly, Regina, Otaieri, Freeman and Waitangi are all being inquired for, prices offering against them being from 100 to 14 to 100 to 10. In the doubles Kulniue, The Idler and Regina are the favourites for the Hurdle Race, and these, coupled with Ahua, Mangaohane, Sentinel, Oeo and Tauraekaitai, have been hacked at from 100 to 4 to 100 to G.

The only horses carrying more than weight-for-oge in the New Zealand Cup are Tirailleur and Crackshot, each with 2ib. Tiraillerie carries her weight-for-age, and Lebel who has actually the highest weight among the three-year-oids. lib uuder. The moat leniently treated animals are lue-Kio and She with 421 b under the scale.

Many of the tobacconists in Sydney run totalizators, although the machine is not legalised in Now South Wales. Action is frequently taken against the proprietors, and when conviction follows, fines, running from £lO to £IOO, are inflicted. Such fines do nofact as a deterrent, as £2OO is often cleared over one race.

Montrose 11. has been handicapped at 9at 12!b for the Maiden Hurdle race to be run on the Y.R.C. Grand National Meeting. Tradition is one of those at the head of the list with lost 3ib. Montrose 11. is also in the Winter Handicap of 500 sovs, one mile and a quarter, which is run the same day. He is here asked to carry Gab 12lb ; Sultan has Sat lllb. ■

Quite a number of New Zealanders are engaged in the Open Flemington Steeplechase, which is set down for the second day of the National Meeting. Here they are: —Chemist, 12st 91b; Titokowaru, 12st21b ; Little Arthur, list Sib; Hob Hoy, list; Waiter, lOst 91b; Jupiter, lOsfc, 71b; Takanu, lOst -lib. Sir Wilfred, the top weight, has 13st Tib. The persons recently warned oft’ the racecourse and heath at Newmarket by the Stewards of the Jockey Club are Arthur Spalding, Charles Sheppard. Charles H. Hannani ajjd Alphonse Tooth (“ Mr Clover'’}. All four were owners of horses, and three of them were prominent characters in the betting ring! Mr A, .1. Keith was twice successful at the Moonee Valley Trotting Races on June 30. His horse Ivanhoe, 100yds behind, started a great favourite in the Delaware .Handicap, 30 bovs, and won very easily. Later iu the day his Jo won the Mobile Handicap, of 50 sovf. Besides riding hia own two horses to victory, he was on No Name, winner of the Selling Kace. The Ai'dralasifui. states that the funeral of the unfortunate jockey, Charles Parker, was very largely attended, the procession being headed by twenty well-known jockeys in colours. The coffin was covered with a number of beautiful wreaths, and there must have been upwards of five hundred people round the grave. The expenses in connection with the funeral were defrayed by the South Australian Jockey Club. ' The jockeys, on returning to scale after the Epsom Derby, each drew 21b overweight, but were passed by permission of the Stewards. Some of them looked as though they had been taking part in a steeplechase, being covered in mud from top to toe. , The H'liiumai*; Herald states that the yearling colt Ballance (by Administrator —Ruby;, purchased by Mr N. Grace, of ■Wellington, at Mr P. F. Tanercd’s recent sale, mat with a fatal accident last week. The Committee of , the Ashburton Racing Club met on Saturday evening

to inspect the balance-sheet and report, before these were presented to the general meeting of the Club held immediately after. Owing to the jllhealtih of the Secretary, the balancesheet had not been audited nor the report prepared. The Chairman, Mr Purnell, explained the position to the general meeting. Messrs Power and Luzford were elected members of the Club, and the meeting adjourned for a week. The trotting track on the Agricultural and Pastoral Association’s show grounds, as before mentioned, is to be made half a mile in circumference, though this necessitates the removal of the second dividing fence in the sheep paddocks a chain farther back than it stands at present. This, it is considered, will make the track the best for trotting purposes in tbe neighbourhood of Christchurch.

Speaking of Cuirassier, “ Augur ” says^: —I saw him in Sydney soon after his arrival from New Zealand, and it was then quite evident that it would be impossible to got him ready for the Melbourne Cup of XS9O. He was brought down, and run for the Cup ; and I can see him now as he shot out from the abattoirs and led the field, few people recognising what horse it was. The effort was too much for a horse in his condition, 4 and he soon retired. "Augur” has a fancy for Trenton’s brother for this year’s Cup, should he stand winding up. The full programme for the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting, set down for Friday, August 14, is published in this issue. The stakes to be given away amount to £235, which is a distinct forward move, and shows that the Club intends to treat owners as liberally as funds will allow. There is no need to specify the different events here, but the Association Grounds Cup, a four-mile event, in harness, worth to the winner GO sovs, and with suitable emoluments to rJie second and third horses, should attract i.a large, field. Indeed, the programme, 'taken as a whole, is a very good one, and will no doubt induce large entries. A wise proviso has been made, which other Clubs should also enact, and that is that no telegrams or other communications will be received unless the full fees, either in cash or P.O. order, are in the Secretary’s hands before the advertised time of closing,. Nominations close on Jhly.99. . The Y.R.C. Committee do not approve of Stewards after once giving a decision to vary the same by making the punishment lighter. At a Melbourne suburban meeting, as reported a short time back in these columns, a pony named Wasp, her owner, J. M'Leod, and jockey, E. Caldecutt, were each disqualified tor six months, but Caldecutt made a confession, and the Stewards altered their decision to a fine of •£2O on the jockey, and disqualification for two years on the mare and her owner. The Committee resolved to endorse the first decision arrived at. Similarly in another case a jockey named Banvard was disqualified for six months at Wyndham for pulling a horse, but on admitting his guilt was fined £5. The Y.R.C. is not satisfied with the punishment, and the jockey will have to stand down until the six months areup. In an action brought in Melbourne for the recovery of a share in a sum won in Tattersall’e sweep last year, and in which the defendant, while admitting there was an agreement to share, set up the defence that the transaction being a gambling one no action held, the Judge gave a verdict for £1192 and costs. Dreadnought, Whakawai, and Teksum are being trained at Ballarat. The Sportsman’s correspondent, writing of these horses, says that Dreadnought’s fetlock joint, which, when he saw him last October, was as big as two, is now down quite as fine as its fellow, and no one could possibly tell there was anything the matter with it. Ho is now doing his regular quantum of work, and seems to have settled down into a very short-legged and thickly-sefc horse, Whakawai is a regular gentleman in appearance, and has grown fairly stout. Teksum has also improved since his removal to Dowling Forest. The same authority says that at the time of writing (June 24) Donald 1 was, and had been for weeks previously, running in a paddock. The prices obtained for the horses driven by Lord Lonsdale in bis match against time when put up for sale were not stall great considering the excitement the event occasioned, and the achievements of the horses engaged in it. The average for the twenty-one animals sold was about 130 gs. A gray Russian-bred stallion brought 200 gs. Kathleen, with a record of 9miu oSjcc for four miles, was bought in. War Paint, a thoroughbred by Uncas, and who drew Lord Lonsdale the first five miles in 13min 39sec, brought only OOgs. As will be seen by cablegram in another column, the rich Eclipse Stakes has fallen to the sensational horse Surefoot, which, we may be very sure from his late tunning, started at long odds, more especially as the field contained such an exceptional colt as the dual winner Common. Surefoot, however, when iu the humour, must be a rare good one. It may be presumed he is a non-stayer, but over short courses he is hard to heat. Surefoot, after winning the Two Thousand Guineas last year, was made a red-hot favourite for the Derby—it was thought he could not be beaten. In the race he cut a moat ignominious figure, not even gaining a place/’ His only other win as a thrce-yesr-old was in the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Leicester, A prize worth £7750. This season Surefoot was established favourite for the Great Jubilee Stakes, but ran very disappointingly, being among the first beaten. The win just recorded has been his only other appearance in an important race as a four year-old. The runner-up to Surefoot, the Frenchbred Gouverneur, as a two-year-old won the Rous Memorial Stakes at the Newmarket September Meeting, and followed it up by winning the Middleparlc Plato at the Newmarket October Meeting, carrying 9st, and boating Slphonia fist lllb, Orion Oat, and six others. Gouverneur ran second to Common in the Derby. Common’s only two starts up to hie defeat in the stake under, notice were in the two great classic events, the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby., both of which ho annexed very easily. For these wins he would have to carry a substantial penalty in the Eclipse Stakes. Referring to the fire which resulted in the death of the mare Lucy Glitters while being conveyed to Wellington to take part in the races, the Evening Frees says ■When the doors of the horse-box were opened, a horrible and pitiable sight met the gaze of the rescuers. The two unfortunate occupants were standing terrorstricken, and evidently suffering intense pain. The straw bedding of the box was burned to ashes, and the flames had caught the sides of the box, which were burning. The clothing ou Lucy Glitters was almost entirely burned off her, and the unfortunate animal had her feet and legs completely roasted, from standing, as she must have been, knee deep in fire. Her hoofs were almost burnt completely away, and presented a sickening spectacle. Dangerous had escaped very easily, compared to his'companion. He was, however, singed about the legs pretty considerably. It was with difficulty that tho mare was got out of the box and into a paddock close by the line, where she was left, and the fire having been put out and Dangerous rendered more comfortable, the train proceeded on to M.amikau, where the guard reported the mishap; Arrangements were made to hare the mare destroyed, and a man was despatched there and then with a gun to put the poor brute out of her misery. Tho weights for the two chief events at the Grand National Meeting have been duly announced. The verdict ou Mr H enry’s latest adjustments is not so favourable as was passed on bis initial effort for tho Canterbury, Jockey Club—the New Zealand Cub handicap. Several blots are discernible; more especially in tho Hurdle Race. The new handicapper has made the mistake-—at least,what is hc 1 d to be a mistake by most turf authorities —of not taking into account tho flat performances of the horses ha is dealing with. It is a reasonable presumption that if a horse is nominated for a steeplechase or hurdle race the animal so entered can jump. Mr lleury would appear to have ignored, in some cases, the most meritorious achievements of several of the National

candidates ■who, for the first time, are to ha asked to race over obstacles. But to proceed to aa analysis of the handicaps. It was matter of speculation among many sportsmen as to which horse should be at the head of the list for the Steeplechase ; pride of place has been awarded to Chemist. The winner in 1880 is well entitled to the 12st 11 lb opposite hie name, but, as the horse is now in Australia, there is no need at the present time to discuss his chances. Ahua has only a pound less than his old conqueror. The form displayed by the son of Tae Painter in Wellington was too bad to bo true, and the haudicapper evidently thought so. The horse is susceptible of some improvement, and, if he trains on, will be hard to beat, despite his 12st ipib. Sentinel has been somewhat overrated, and will probably find the Eiccartoa country somewhat too much for him. Jenny is worthy of respect should she stand the necessary preparation, which is exceedingly doubtful. Tauraekaitai has been rather over-weighted at list 10lb, but Mangaohane, on the same mark, is let in light enough. "With list 21b on hia back he won in 1888, bub having been on the shelf for a couple of years he is unlikely to repeat the feat with Blb more on his back. Irish King is an improbable starter. Oeo and Darniey, with lOst 61b and lOst 51b respectively, have nothing to complain of; of the two, the victory of the former at Wellington notwithstanding. Darniey is moat to our liking. Mr Gollan’s horse has shown his ability to get over the severe course, and has undeniable pace. Kangaroo is notoriously infirm, and .is unlikely to see the post; and the latter part of this remark applies to Jupiter. Eegina is surely leniently enough treated with lOat 21b, but she will, in all probability be reserved for the Hurdle race. Folly may have a show, but on his past performances he has not been too kindly treated. Why should he concede weight to Waitaugi, Trim oil te and Ival ? They, all three of them, have exhibited good form, and the first-named has proved his ability over .big country. Omata is not likely to be dangerous, but the next in order, Otaieri 9.-;fc 111 b, is, on his running, the best-treated horse in the handicap; there is a question, however, as to his getting over the country. The three handicapped at Oat Sib must improve vastly to have any, hopes of scoring, and Dangerous 9sfc 91b is hardly the sort one would pick for a Grand National candidate. Of the eleven who have been given the minimum. Freeman and Christmas arc the only two at all likely to make a formidable display. To sum up, (pAhua, Darniey and Otaieri are the four that at present commend themselves to my judgment. In the Hurdle race Ahua is, of course, asked to concede considerable weight to the next on the list—but a stone is in all conscience a marked distinction. Mr Rutherford will, ho ivever, hardly ask the champion to face the starter; the.horse’s labours for the meeting will probably be over earlier in the day. Jenny, as before said, cannot be relied on' to stand a preparation, and Sentinel cannot have much show with some of the more lightly weighted candidates ; neither can Irish King, Beggaman, Ivanhoe, nor Caitiff. Pyramus has earned all the lOst 121 b allotted, him, but the company he has to meet is of somewhat different calibre to that to which the son of Natator is usually opposed. Master Agnes is done, and Darniey has more chance of success in the Steeplechase. Captain Abram is one of the badiy used ones, and Erin-go-Bragh does not strike one as particularly well in with lOst 71b. Jet d’Bau, for a horse that was considered a year ago good enough to bo made favourite for the chief handicap in the Colony, is let off light enough at lOst Gib, and should hold all above him safe. Ival, in the same stable, is too unsound to be trusted. Eegina lOst 81b must have a great show. She is unquestionably a mare out of the ordinary —plenty of substance, approved pace, and reputed a first-class fencer. Montrose 11. in Australia, and will hardly have time to return to take part. Of the three on the lOst mark, Couranto has never shown form to j ustify anyone to consider him dangerous. The other two, Kulnine and The Idler, have proved themselves racehorses able to hold their own on the flat in very good company. The Idler _ has already won over hurdles. He is a stayer and will be hard to beat. Kulnine has not yet rp,ced over fences, hut his ability to negotiate hurdles cannot he questioned. Passing over Comet and Kapo, Harkaway has nothing to complain of with fist 121 b, but the distance is likely to find out his weak spot. I’urscstring will be an absentee, and Foxfon is not to be trusted. Effigy 9st 81b, if brought to the post in bis best form, might have a say, and of those below him the best arc Otaieri 9st 51b, Norton 9st J slb, and Christmas 9at. Regina, Kulnine and The Idler are, however the picke of the handicap, and one o£ these will probably win. Acceptances will *be due On July 25. On all sides the Wellington Winter Meeting, held last Saturday, has been voted a success. It certainly was so from a financial point of view, and the substantial surplus accruing will doubtless induce the Northern Club, which has of late years been progressing by leaps and bounds, to still further increase its stakes. The fields that wont out to do battle At the Hutt last week were numerically stronger, and in point of quality far in advance of those at any previous {Steeplechase Meeting held on the course. Ival justified the good opinion that had been formed of him when he first started his racing career by annexing very easily the hurdle race. The horse showed a rare turn of speed at the finish. Ho was backed by bis connection, who had only to risk a small outlay for a substantial return. Gallagher, who rode Ival, is one of the light-weights in Mr Gollan’s employ, and scales only some 7st 31b. After the defection of Tauraekaitai ten were left in the chief event, of whom Ahua was most fancied, Otaieri being next in demand. The race was ‘a very fine one as between Oeo and Whalebone,,the judge being unable to divide them at the finish. Nothing was near this pair. Ahua finished fifth. The course, owing to recent fains, was very heavy; parts of it had' recently been ploughed and rode fetlock deep. The jumps, although not very formidable .to look at, were awkward obstacles. . When the ground came to bo looked at the defeat of the favourite carrying such an impost as 12st 12lb was not to bo wondered at. Ahua, too, was interfered with at the first jump and again further on in the journey. He was very distressed when pulled up. The fence at which Otaieri and Gladstone were put out was a post and rail blinded in gorse. In the Ladies’ Trophy, Jet d’Eau proved good enough to heat his stable companion Kimberley, the more fancied Lenore and three others. Three rather serious falls occurred during the day, Stowe, the rider of Otaieri in the big race, ..breaking hia arm; and Keegan in the Trial Steeplechase being stunned from a fall from Canute; while Fergus got a bad shaking through Theorem falling over the last hurdle in the second race.