Turf Topics

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 49, 8 June 1901, Page 16

Turf Topics

By Seahorse.

AUCKLAND WINTER MEETING. The (iiand National meeting of the Auckland Racing Club opens at Ellershe on Saturday, and will be continued on the following Monday and Saturday. With one or two exceptions the gathering has attracted all the best talent in the colony. Sylvanus forfeited his inteiest in the Maiden Steeplechase through winning at Takapuna Kowhai and Sudden, who were placed at Takapuna, are engaged at Ellershe. The best of the pair ma\ find the opposition from the Wangamu gelding Hinau, who is in at tho minimum weight, difficult to dispose of. The First Handicap Maiden Welter, seven furlongs, has no les.s than twentytwo engaged, including the HutMrained pair Jemima and her sister, Stepina. Sly Miss, Stepina, or Merry Kate may supply the winner. Judging by the quality and quantity of the Great Northern Steeplechase field, the race should be one of the best vet contested at Ellerslie One of the top weights may win, but Kaimate has been the journey before, and may be going when some of the cracks are stopping. I like Nor'-west, Moifaa, and Kaimate in that order. The big; field of eighteen is engaged in the Maiden Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters. Whichever of the top weights (Sundial and Dartmoor) is started is sure to be greatly fancied. Tiki ran well at Takapuna, and Hinau (9st) has been given a good chance. One of those named is likely to supply the dinner. The Winter Welter, one mile, is another hard race to pick. The local horse Fashion is engaged, with lOst. Formula, in mv opinion, is the best of the top weierhts, and Gipsy Queen and Winsome the best of the light weights. Cavalicro has taken on the Remuera Hurdles, two- miles, with a stone more than he has to carry in the big race, and in which he may incur a 31b penalty. If he is beaten, I expect the winner to turn up in Forty-Seven or Rufus, botli of whom ran respectably at Ta,kapuna. The Ladies' Bracelet, one mile and a half, should go to Mars, Fashion, or Derringootte. They are better than the general run of horses that compete in this class of event. The Grand National Hurdle Race will be run on Monday. If Cavaliero scores on Saturday, he- will be the most difficult to beat in this event. Kaimate must have a good chance. Last year he lan second to Cavaliero, at a difference of olb , now he meets the Cuirassier gelding on two stone better terms.

The dissolution of partnership of a local firm of bookmakers is reported Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup entries close on Monday next. Will any New Ze-alanders be engaged ? Sundial did not pay up for the Welter, but is in the two hurdle races and big steeplechase on the first day. The Auckland Trotting Club recently disqualified a man named Wm. Knight, for life, for using insulting language to the secretary MoGrath is at present located at Woodville, wheie he has in work two hlhefc One is by Vanguard — Ruby, and the other by Recluse — Ruby. The Racing Confeience is unlikely to agiee to the Wairarapa Racing Club's amendment to mle 142, which debars jockeys owning 01 leasing horses in training. Messrs. Duder Bros sold Dium Major (Cuirassier — Hune) to a New South Wales breeder a few v\eeks back. They have since disposed of his full brother (Waterloo) to a North Otago buyer. Ostiak dropped out of the Welter at .Kllershe, consequently tho Porirua stable will not be represented at the Auckland winter meeting. The Hutt will be represented by Fashion, Stepina, and Jemima, who should manage to pay expenses. The Wellington- and Egmont Racing Club and Dunedin Jockey Club lecently took action against alleged wrongdoers. The only place inconsistent horses or owners get through safely is Canterbury, where some of the clever division are said to arrange matters batibfactory to themselves.

It is stated that Percy Johnston will ride Cavaliero in the Grand National Hurdles. He rode him when ho won last year, also Mutiny, in 1893. It appears to be unnecc&saiy now to catch a man betting in the street to found a charge. Making use of a street for the purpose of betting" appears to be the formula now. The favourite pick for the Auckland jumping double is Nor'-west and Cavalier. The combination has been backed for all the money available at 10 to 1. "Boz," m the "Observer," expects them io take a lot of beating, and mentions Cannongate and Moifaa as likely to run well. Haydn declined the Remuera Hurdle Race engagement, in which he was awarded list 71b, just about two stone more than he would have received in the Grand National Hurdles. Cavaliero was also raised a stone, but Mr. Evitt pointed to Haydn as the probable winner of the hurdles had be been engaged. An Auckland turfite 1 , who likes to see all the racing he possibly can, established something like a record last week. He was at Wanganui, saw Moifaa win the steeplechase on Friday, and on the following afternoon was enjoying the sport at the Shore. Some people put in the first day at Wanganui, and the following day at Otaki. A Taranaki writer considers the racing authorities should take action to prevent racing clubs bracketing horses not the property of one owner. The Conference should compel the totahsator proprietors to supply twenty-horse machines, which would overcome the difficulty. There is enough made out of the business to supply proper machines. Racing clubs could stipulate for this in their contract. The Wairarapa Racing Club wants the racing rule altered so that jockeys shall ride their horses out whether they have a reasonable chance of winning or not. This will not receive the support of the majority of delegates. It is the horses that are eased off and just miss third place that want riding out. Some of the youngsters, and hurdle horsemen, too, ride their horses out when they aie beaten and 100 yards in the rear. It is very seldom the stewards notice the unnecessary punishment, and take action. Recently the Wairarapa Jockey Club applied to the Metropolitan body for a grant of a sum of money to purchase an ambulance. The reply to the request was that there was no money available for the pui pose. The country club has taken a further step, and instructed its delegates at the Racing Conference to move — "That the trustees of the Trainers' and Jockeys' Provident Fund in each district be authorised to invest such portion of the funds as they think fit in ambulance and medical outfits for the various clubs in their respective districts." Belfast and Sly Miss, who* fought out a close finish in the Maiden Handicap at Takapuna, are owned by two Auckland pencillers, Messrs. R. Cleland and R Blaikie respectively. It is rumoured that a well-known New Plymouth penciller is interested in Takapa, and that is the reason why the Egmont Racing Club dealt so severely with him. The Haw era racing authorities are probably still sore over the Minerva case. She was owned by bookmaker Jas. Beckett. The previous season Tangahoe, with W. Butler and Geo. Laing, were put out for twelve months, but the Taranaki Jockey Club upheld the appeal of W. Ryan, the Wanganui penciller, who owned the gelding. The Paterson case, at Hastings, is fresh in the minds of Wellington readers. Clubs who refuse admission to bookmakers cannot refuse their nominations, but no owner, whether bookmaker or not, should enter a horse at a meeting where he cannot be present to see him run. Should layers own horses ? The three jockeys recently disqualified—L. H. Hewitt, R. Derntt, and W. Holmes — have all been connected with R. J. Mason's Yaldhurst establishment. The South Canterbury Jockey Club climbed down, and reduced Hewitt's term to three months, on account of his previous irreproachable behaviour." At this tim"e of the year such a sentence carries no penalty, and the full term originally imposed would not, have debarred him from competing at the spring meetings — if he gets his license. After such a lengthy career — Demtt's name appears on the winning record list since 1872 — the disqualification carries with it a black mark which wdl be difficult to efface. The Dunedin Club can hardly remove such a sentence unless it turns nght-about-face and whitewashes the lot. Selling races as a rule are not desirable events, and have been generally done away with. Metropolitan clubs should not encourage them. We ought to have straighter running next season, as owners, traineis, and jockeys will beai in mind that stewards of clubs intend to make the racing as clean as possible in the interest of the public, who have to pay dear enough to witness the sport, and keep it going, without having to sort out the live from the dead.

Herr Vonnermark, the well-known scenic artist, who, for some years, has been exercising his talents in New Zealand, has lately returned to Sydney. * * * Bland Holt's company is to disband after his season at Melbourne, and the veteran actor-manager will retire for two years, under medical advice. * # * Musgrove's Grand Opera Company inaugurate their New Zealand season at Auckland on Wednesday week, 19th instant. Thcv will reach Wellington in In Sydney the dancing teacheis are making more than a good thing out of the child coon-singer boom Half of the youngsters over there are said to be learning to dance. The exceeding heaviness of all the big singers who have been introduced to Australia of late is causing funny people to make reflections on the fatty degeneration of the art. * * * The friendship lately existing between McKee Rankin and Harry Phmmer (remarks an "other side" paper) appears to hare ceased. Said that Nance O'Neil and Mrs. Plimmer are also at issue. # # Montgomery, formerly with Bland Holt, and now a boniface in Melbourne, says he finds hotelkeepmg less arduous than acting and more to his mind "Monty," who was never a small man, is now quite gigantic in his proportions. * * * Albert Whelan, "Australia's only mimic," is the son of a one-time wellknown Melbourne money-lendei Albert, in his time, has gone through a considerable fortune. He is now about to push his stage fortunes in London. The maiden name of Marie Lloyd, now the reigning variety favourite on the "other side," was Matilda Wood. Her first public appearance was ma do some fifteen years ago at a Band or Hope concert. Rumour says that she then worked in a laundry. borne oi her songs are also said to be suggestive of the blue-bag. * * * Arthur Hahn has joined J. C. Bains touring variety company. ±S am, by the way expects to be busy touring JNew Zealand tor the next four or nve months. After that, he thinks it quite possible he may strike out tor the estates. It he goes to Ameiica, he will take with him Master Claude Sullivan, Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Bain, and Ins little hve-year-oid daughter Alma, who plays sketches in conjunction with Claude, the vesfc-pocket comedian. Madame Belle Cole calls her concert paity the "Imperial Concert Company and she has opened her second colonial tour at Adelaide. Her voice is said to have lost none of that velvety richness which is peculiar to the contralto organ. At the opening concert she sang ' Light" — a vocal arrangement of Handel's celebrated Largo, with organ, violin and piano accompaniment — Veidis •'0 Don Fatele," and "My Lady s Bower" (Hope Temple). She also joined Mr. Avon Saxon in Tosti's duet "A Venetian Song." But the gem of the concert was "Light." * * * Mdlle. Virginie Cheron, who is described as a soprano with a very powerful, though iather metallic, voice, which she uses with consummate ease, sang the well-known cavatina "Nobiie Signor, fiom ' Les Hugenots," "Still as the Night" (Bohm) and "Mignon" (D'Hardelot), besides taking part in two duets with Mr. Saxon. This baritone singer, whose style is vigorous and spirited, contributed the Prologue from "I Pagliacci," and Denza's "Call Me Back. Master Raimund Pechotsch, the young violinist, is praised for his "marvellous bowing" and for bis power and tenderness of expression. Madame Ella Russell will not accompany Musgrove's Grand Opera Company to New Zealand. She has London engagements for September, and, therefore, leaves Sydney, along with her husband, the Count di Righim, on Tuesday next, by the San Francisco steamer. It seems that she arrived hatloss in Australia. At Naples, on the way out, her large hat-box, containing seven hats, was either lost or stolen. Madame la, Contessa, who is fair-haired, and of tall and stately figure, is a native of Cleveland, in America, but leceived her musical training undei Mdme La Grange, in Paris, and Signor San Giovanni, in Milan. Her debut was made at Piato, Tuscany, in 1882, and she made hei hist appearance (as Gilda) m London fom years later

New Zealand was not going to let Old England call in vain, Together the\ the foemen met, And side by side weie slam 'Tis said " disease kills moie than wai," And nothing can be tiuei When coughs and colds knock at the dooi, Take WooDb' Griai PtPi'titMiNT Cokl.

THE COMMISSIONER AND THE BOOKIES; OR £i WORTH OF EXPERIENCE.