UNKNOWN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6572, 9 December 1882, Page 6

UNKNOWN.

Thk excellent acceptances that have been received for the Auckland Cup and Steeplechase ia the very best compliment that could be paid to Messra. Pcrcival and Kirkwood for the care exercised by those gentlemen in framing the handicaps. Out of an entry of forty-tnree for the first-named event, twentythree horse-owners have cried content with the imposts allotted to their horses. For the Steeplechase only five have dropped out, and they were not of much account, leaving fourteen still in to fight the battle of the 2nd of January, over the severe Auckland course.

Of the eight horses I named as likely winners,

when analysing the handicap a fortnight ago, only one has dropped out, viz., Hilda, whom, I take it, is ayain in Queer-street, for 7st. "lbs. waa certainly not an impost calculated to make her stop away. The C J.C. Handicap winner, Welcome Jack, is greatly fancied for this race, and now stands at the short odds of 4to 1. His party, lam led to believe, are very sanguine of the son of Traducer's ability to do the trick, and as they have the character of being "awfully clevah," that circumstance should not be disregarded. Turquoise is another whom the followers of the Southern stables pin their faith to. His recent victories at Duucdin have had the effect of bringing him into favour, and he now rules second favourite at 100 to 15. He beat nothing of much account in these races, but then he could do no more than win, and this he did, with apparently a lot up his sleeve. Ho belongs to a dangerous stable, and if they put the pieces on him, he may he depended on to be about at the finish. Fitz Hercules is a horse from whom I expect much. On hia running in the Spring Handicap, when he was beaten by Tim Wliiffler, I place no reliance, for it was not until a few days beforo that race that French received orders that ho would be wanted. Fit and well on the day I ohall expect the son ot Peeress to run a big horse, for I have every reason to believe that he can get the distance. Of those left iu the race 1 prefer the chances of the following six :—Welcome Jauk, Fitz Hiincui-Ks, Tukquoi.se, Rf.wi, Thk Poet and Jlkuli.v. would remind horse-owners that Friday next is general entry day for the various events to be decided at tho approaching Summer the Auckland Racing Club.

The work on the course duringVthe week has been of a satisfactory nature, though some trainers are waiting until the course gets a bit softer before dinging their quadrupeds along. On Thursday morning Bob Thorpe was the first to work, Paramena being sent two miles at half pace. Musketeer and Tempest covered a little over a mile ata fair pace, the colt moving very well. Dick Wheeler sent Merlin two miles at a good bat, coming home at top speed. This horse is in splendid fettle, and if he can only stay the Cup distance must run very forward on the day. Lone Hand did a mile and a half at three-quarter 3peed in his old style. Profitt sent Virginia Water and Kingask three miles, the first two being covered at half speed, but on the third the boys roused them along, and they finished at top speed, the mare having the best of it. Mavis and Rubina went two miles at easy pace, coming home the last quarter at threequarter pace. The two-year-old is a grand mover, and if she comes on all right, will without doubt give some trouble in the two year old races. Harrison had Major George's pair—Tenambra and Nelson —down, and they were sent a mile and a half at half pace, coming home a bit fast. The colt has improved a good deal since he ran at our Spring Meeting, and acquits himself in his gallops like a gentleman. Amazon, in company with the Randwiclc —All Steel colt, did two miles, coming home fast. Tim Whifller, Lady, Angler, Lara, Trieotrin, and Mitrailleuse were also out, but only did walking exercise. The work during the coming week should be of a more interesting character, as the Southern contingent will by that time have arrived. Mr. McDonald's two-year-old filly Rnhiiia must be able to travel a bit, as her trainer offered to back her the other day for a lovel

200, to beat any two-ye*r-old in the Mid

summer Stakes to be run at the approaching Auckland meeting. Rubina, \rho is by Kingsborough out of Etiquette, was imported from Sydney last season by Mr. Allan McLean. She has only started once, which was in the Trial Plate at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club's October Meeting, which event she won from Musket'i daughter, Waewa Hupi. 15y hia win in the Ashburton Cup Welcome Jack has incurred a 51b. penalty for the Dunedin Cup, which brings his weight up to 7st. l.'Jlbs. in the big Southern event. There areno winning penalties attached to the Auckland Cup, so that the colt's weight will remain the same in that event, viz.. 7st. Slbs.

A cablegram from London, announces the death of the well-known trainer John Day. During his career Day trained many winners of some of the most valuable stakes run on the English turf, and his stable was patronised by many of the leading sportsmen af the day. Of late years the name of John Day has seldom been heard in connection with turf matters, he having become almost blind for some considerable time previous to his death.

" Sir Launcelot" writes thus of the favourite for the Auckland Cup :—" Until I saw Welcome Jack give Turquoise 71b. over a mile and a half course, and beat him easily, I declined to believe that the son of Miss Platt could accomplish such a feat, but there was no mistake about the Ashburton Cup running, and by his victory in that race Welcome Jack established his claim to be considered one of the most brilliant colts New Zealand sportsmen have ever seen. There was no doubt, too, about his having travelled the journey in 2min. 45sec, but considering that next day Turquoise's time for 6 furlongs with 9at. 9lb. up was returned as lmin. 18sec, I must be pardoned for doubting the accuracy of the distance set down iu the programme."

Writing on the death of the Middle Park Company's fine stallion, King of Clubs, the Press says : —"lt appears that the horse got cast in his box some time prior to the commencement of the season, and injured his hip joint severely. Though the matter was hushed up at tho time we understand that grave doubts were entertained of his ever ultimately recovering. Notwithstanding these predictions, however, with careful nursing the home rallied considerably, so much so that for some weeks prior to his death he was allowed to take exercise in a paddock with merely a man looking on to see that he did not lie down and roll. On one of these occasions, three weeks ago, he cantered up to the fence, and the sudden check caused him to throw back his weight on tho weak joint, thereby causing his thorough and final break down, and hie ultimate destruction speedily followed. On dissection the head of tho thigh bone, where it articulates with the pelvis, commonly called the whirlbone joint, was found fractured."

"Helios," the English sporting correspondent of the Canterbury Times, sayi:—"ln the Middle Park Plate, we were introduced to Mr. Stead's two-year-old Splendor, that cost 420 guineas at Donc&ster, when his owner was on a visit hare last season. The

colt has since been in charge of Mat Dawson, and as Mr. Stead's jacket was not finished he sported the colours of hia trainer. The colt, to my thinking, wants time. He is a trifle high on the leg, but in the race lie ran much better than waa expected ; indeed, he waa with the front rank when coming iuto the Abingdon dip. Before this appears in print he will have sported silk again, and it would not surprise me if he were to be returned the winner of the Cheveley Stakes." Mr. Crowther Harrison, who bred the colt, was present, and he seemed very pleased to find that Matthew Dawson thought so much of the youngster. The stewards of the Takapuna Jockey Club imposed a fine of 2 sovereigns on the owners of Marquis for withdrawing that horse from the Residents' Plate after he had weighed out, at the same time stating that the withdrawing of the horse was done in ignorance of racing rulee.

The Hon. James White brought his recent j purchases of' youngsters out to the colonies, having changed his mind about running them in England. This sudden resolve was brought about, it is said, owing to the trainer's neglect in entering them for the classic events. Mr. Long's string are in work, aud he returns to the old country early next year to see them perform. ' A disgraceful fracas took place at the Williamstown races, recently. Great illfeeling was manifested by some of the losers over the steeplechase, and a lad named Burton waa assaulted by some of the iriends of Balthazar. A well-known horseman went to the boy's assistance. He waa in turn assaulted by a trainer, and at this another trainer took umbrage, and a general inetee ensued until police interference suppressed it. The stewards held an enquiry into the affair, aud fined the well-known Victorian jockeys:— Webster, Chifney, Yeend, and Floyd £10 each, or diaqualifiation for 12 months, in default of payment within seven days. "Robin Hood" writes anent the St. Leger:—"One gentleman who stood to win a lot of money by Dutch Oven'a success, put Archer on £1000 to nothing, and another £250 if he got a place. Unto him that hath shall be given is indeed a true saying in Archer's case, and I should like to have a cheque for all he is worth over £100,000."

The "grand horseman," T. Hales, heads heads the list of winning jockeys at the late V.R-.C. Spring Meeting with four successful mounts ; Cracknell, Power, Trahan, Moore, and Murphy coming next with two wins each. It is a notable circumstance that such a finished horseman as Yeomans went through the four days' racing without a winning mount.

From America I hear that "Plunger" Walton has been distinguishing himself again by his big betting. In a race between Barrett, Bootjack, and Girofle, he backed the latter for big money. He took 14,000 dollars to 10,000 dollars in one bet, but declined the "twice " of a big English bookmaker who had visited America. However, he came again, and took an even bet of 10,000 dollars. Girofle won, and Walton pocketed £4SOO. It took just about half that to pay his losses on the English St. Leger, for which he was standingGeheimniss and Shotover to be one, two, and got put out by the surprise of the year. The Federal Australian, writing oil "Queen's Plates," suggests that the Victorian Government should follow the good example set in England by voting a grant of money each year to stimulate aud improve the breed of that noble animal which provides pleasure for the million, and employment to those who make the production of blood stock their trade or profession; the more especially as nations in all parts of the world now vie with each other in producing animals that will hand down to posterity deeds worthy o: being chronicled.