SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7008, 3 May 1884, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES:"."'" : ' ' . NEW ZEALAND. May 23 and 2t—Dnnedin J.C. Autumn Meeting. May Jockey Club Meeting.' May 24-OrandNaiion»l Steeplechase Meeting. . Hay 24—Waitara J.C. Steeplechase Meeting. May 24—Wanganui J.C. Steeplechase Meeting. June Meeving. ,;■. ; ■"»•■.■• ..^ATJSIBAIiIA. Hay 10,15, and ,17—South Australian J.CL Autumn Meeting.""' ""'...

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

WAikato.—lt fa said that only once has Lord Pair mouth made a bet on a race. This was on the occasion of the Derby- oMSTQ. when, he risked sixpence with his trainer's wife against the chance of his horse Kingcraft* winning. As everyone knows. Kingcraft won, and Lord Falmoutb. lost his wager, which he paid by presenting Mrs. Dawson with s> sixpence let in a bracelet worth £300.

NOTES BY PHAETON.

By cable we' are informed of the result of the first of -the great "classic" races—the Two Thousand Guineas—which event was run at Newmarket on Wednesday last. The winner on this occasion turned up in Mr. J. Foy's colt Scot Free, Mr. -Gerard's St. Medard being; second, and' Lord Falmonth's Harvester third. So far as I can gather neither Scot Free nor St. Medard had mads their appearance in the betting market at last advices, and it would therefore j appear as if another surprise had to be recorded. The winner (Scot Free) is a son of r] Maegr'egor—Celibacy, by Lord Clifden," and\ on looking, up Jliis performances . of, last season; rfiria'that he started on three'occawith a record of twice unplaced and one win, which victory was gained in a high class field in the great Sapling Plate, run at Sandown Park. St. Medard,. who ran second, started on six occasions last season, and finished up with two wins, neither of which victories was of muoh importance. Harvester also started on six occasions, and plaeed two wins to his credit— the Triennial Stakes and Clearwell Stakes at Newmarket. The winner is not engaged in the Derby, but the second and third horses are. _

■ Williamson, who will be remembered as tee jockey of Martini-Henry when the son of Musket showed such brilliant form at the "V.R.C. Meeting, bnt who was rather ungraciously shunted by the. White stable early in the present year, was again put up on the colt in. the Cumberland Stakes and A.J.C Plate. In these two races the oolt apparently knew that he had his master up, and although defeated he ' certainly retrieved his character so far as gameness and oonrage were concerned. In the description of the first-named race the Sydney Herald says :—Le Grand was the first to move, bat no sooner had they got away than Pell Mell took np the running, and led into the straight, and passed the stand by three lengths, followed by Le Grand, who was a length clear of the other two, and even thus early the devil began to show out of Martini-Henry. Ho was fighting all he knew to get away with Williamson. When fairly at the back of the course MartiniHenry and Le.Grand challenged Pell Mell, and soon settling" his the two colts drew away andran side'-by side till 200 yards from home, when Martini-Henry got a half-length advantage,'"anS" ; looked like winning,-but O'Brien having cast e> cautious look'at Sardonyx) who was eiieakihg up on the inside, sat Sown on the big. colt when 60 yards from the-post,-and the"' Leger winner responding, :won a nicely rid(j6n;~and wellcontested race by half a length, and Sardonyi was two lengths off, .while, .Pell Mell a bad'last'. ~,'* . ' <"K'\ % "

"Oh the*occasion of Bis leaving for "Victoria, Mr. A. Snider, the well-know.n; bookmaker, was entertained at a banquet by his brother pcncillers and other sporting/lriende. The reason of Mr. Snider's departure from amongst'.us.' is said. to".'be: owing 'toW'Ull health,". but; many . believe that "ill heaUh" . to. . be' found .in, the. patronage -■ bestowed -on ; the' tdtalisator. -If the " mechanical • bookmaker" would have the effect of clearing out some of the scum, who almost altogether gain their liylihood by laying dead-'uns to the unwary, then indeed it would be, doing .good service; but if it should be the means of driving sound men like Mr. Snider from New Zealand, then I make bold to say it does the turf a very great injury. Through, a long career amongst-us., Mr. Snider has deservedly gained the respect o£ all with whom he has come in contact, and carries with him to his new home the hearty good wishes of fiis many friends residing in Maoriland for his future prosperity. The Cambridge Jockey Club's meeting took place on Wedneiday and Thursday last, and appears to have passed off in a very successful manner. The two principal events were won by Normanby, who.-was in great nick. * 'The Steeplechase" ' ij*°g < ?' her spoilt by Chandler and Fajlr :^Pliy' coming down," and an outsidet seenred the race. , .... J .'■"-'.'

! The two-year-old bdlf Garfield, who shewed such gao'd form at the. recent 'A>J.C; Meeting, has come in for some notice for the forthcoming V.K.C l)erby, his party accepting 7000 to 1000' about him foV that event, f The colt was a go.qd 'deal tfjonght of for the last Maribyrhong'PJate,; but b.eing somewhat over : trajned, he out an, inglorious figure when the silk was up. 'fis'was ijy Julian Avenel out of the Tat'tendon inare Toung Gossamer. . -ThetSydney : correspondent , -of the Melbourne Sportsman says :■—" L.b Uraifd,- by his- Wins -in -'■ thej lieger andj~',Cumberland Stakes and Jpokey Club -Plate, haeproved most that he is the best three-year.-oji pf,,his..year, though there are still mkny-that incline to the opinion that his opponent Martini-Henry is not quite himself, and will yet turn the tables. I cannot say that ■ I am one ,of the number, and shall always stick to the Queenslander to b'eal; the Maori whenever they meet, and both well." Sardonyx ran his last race in the A.J.C. Plate, and - will bo put to the .stud next season. A Sydney paper says that a gamer bit of stuff than this little son of Onyx could riot be found in the whole universe, and he has certainly earned the rest which his owner is abont to give him. It is to be hoped for the honour of New Zealand that his halfbrother by Musket, who was purchased by the Hon. Jas. White at the sale of the New Zealand -yearlings for 1250 ). guineas, will emulate if not surpass the deeds of his relation. ... ._..

Speaking of the split which recently took place between R; Peck and his trainer Hopper, i'Hudibras," the English correspondent of the Leader, says. :—" That same young trainer (Hopper), let me tell you, ia a scorcher and no mistake. For audacity and kindred qualifications I would write it almost a dead heat between his" crony Charley Archer and himself. The things that could be laid at the door of the' young England school of trainers and jockeys'at Newmarket are almost past belief. Neither, ties nor associations do they respect; they worahip only at one shrine, and that shrine is self. ' A wellrknowa: local:bookmaker (says the Adelaide Observer of- April J,2) who was at Caetertorihae returned. Full o| a joke played by the' owner of 'The Andes'. ; According to the Ring-man*'the hofse r '-was' sent to the starting post, which was at the back of the course, very early,- amd while rthere he dieappeared.down a convenient creek, for a minutes. ■ • After the v horar had 'gone to the post, an individudrcainefbTne bookmakers i and backed the horse from an outside pritje down to 3 to 1 on. -. VChen The Andes went out he had heavy shoes on, but while he waa down the creek he lost these incumbrahces,. and won the race in a canter. The relator of the story surmises that while in the creek The Andes met a blacksmith. The Andes is in the Adelaide Cup, and those who know him "»ay • he is a good horse. Truly the trioks of the turf are dark and mysterious. At a sale of blood stook at Sydney recently Hesperian (winner of the Metropolitan Handicap in 1881) was sold for 200 guineas, while the disappointing. Pell Well brought 400 guineas, and Chester's full brother (Grosvenor) went dirt cheap for 200 guineas. A full brother to First Demon was passed in at 300 guineas. '■"■"':. , Sir Modred is said to be looking and-going in rare style, and should he stand the final gallops necessary'to send'him to the post fit, will, it is expected, be about oneof tWa hardest to beat in the Adelaide Cup, in which race he has the nice weight of Sat lOlbs. The distance of the race is one mile and five furlongs—a journey the aon'bf Trad r, oer' and Idalia is a great horse'over.' •■ ' ' ' :; : At the reoent A.J. C. Meeting it will be remetnbere,d that we were informed that Lord Exeter and lolanthe ran a dead heat for the Nursery Handioap, five furlonge, but' nothing .was said of the run ■ off/ ' ■ Lord Exeter was the favourite, and beat the filly by a length and a half, in lmin. 17secs. ■ Tke day before the running 1 of the Sydr.ey Cup, in which race Morpeth met with juch injuries as.necessitated hie deatructioj, Mr. offered, and refused, 1000 guineas for the son of Goldsborongh. .?.: :

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. Mr. M.H. Smith has sold Kingask to Mr. Vallance for 80 guineas. : ;: The English Derby is this year to be ran on Wednesdays M*y 28. Mn Pearson has taken 5000 to 500 about Frying Pan for the" Adelaide Cap. ■' ': Yuba Bill has been fired in both fore legs, and will be turned out until next season. , * There is a full sister to'Lβ Grand in the Grange stud, who is said to be "a perfect picture." ' •.'..... *' Seriex" speaks very highly of Musket's son, Trenton, and prefers him to the Robinson idol, Liverpool. , • ,-- , - It is stated that Capfcaiu Cotton has purchased the ■ steeplechaser Heroules from T. Sheenan for £350. ■' George Williams appears to have got into badfavour with the starter at the Cambridge : races, wbiph cost him £15. •■-..; ■ ' It ie said that Lβ Grand's chance in the Sydney Cup "was greatly interfered with by the accident which took place., '■ Trenton has already come in for some support in Christchurcb for the Hew Zealand Cap and Darby, as also has Krnpp. . . Cash betting is 'being put down with a firm hand at Randwick. Any bookmaker found transgressing is at once ejected. 'Mb. A.E. Bibd J"Sir Launcelot") returns to New. Zealand by the Wairarapa, which arrives from Sydney during the coming week. Of the youngsters about to receive the rudiments of their education, none appear so promising as Billingsgate's half brother by Musket. ..Mr. Cooper's colt Buckingham having gone wrontr, the intended match between him and the Hon. Jas. White's Iqlanthe did notiCome oft Mr. Cooper ;h'adi therefore, to pay a forfeit of 500sovs. .

.A match has been made in Melbourne between two colts named The Andes and Star, for £500 a-side. The distance is to be two miles, and each horse 13 to be ridden by his owner. The race is fixed for Thursday next.The Australian Jockey Club paid away in stakes over their late meeting the large sum of £8124-. The largest winners were :—Mr. W. JR. Hall, £1498; Mr. J. Monaghan (ns), £1354; Hon. Jamas White, £1112; Mr. D. S. Wallace, £861. At the sale of- the late Count Lagrange's effects the various cups won by his horses were put up to auction, and realised £1392. The French Jockey Club purchased the picture of Gladiateur for £97, and the bit and bridle of the great French horse realised £21. - While riding in a'steeplechase at Dowling Forest, Rory Mclvor, who will be well remembered here by his association with Loch Lomond, Grey Momus, and Co.,' received a severe shaking, by Bis horse falling with him at a fence. The horse (Fearnacight) had his neck broken by the fall. . ,'.'

MAJOR GEORGE AND HIS " GBIEVANCB." '. 1 , -' !' [TO THE SPOUTING XDITOK.] Sm,—ln the Hemid of the 19th April, I notice a letter from IHajor George, m which he rails In no rulaUken language against the manner in which the Auckland handlcapnera perform their dnties- Major George writes as fallows:—" I'm of opinion the handlcappeis are not competent tc perform the duties they have undertaken. I can give » score of instances. One will suffice—Wapiti's weight In the Tradesmen's Plate." All racing men know that nothing is easier than to make ont a case against a handicapper. If, for instance, a horse is in the hands of a carpenter, who, therefore, is naturally ignorant of training, or if the hone is prilled, is unlucky in not at the proper time being able to get through his horses, is badly riddeo, or the animal is out of condition. The bandicapoera here have formed an honourable estimate of Major George's horse Wapiti, and if they beliere that from, any of the above came* Wapiti has not won, they are quite right in weighting him as they hare done. Jn givinz the cue quoted by Mijor Gaorge in proof ofthelncompetency of the handlcappers, there are no excuses made for them, it is simply incompetency without any extenuating circumstances, and In the opinion of Major George is sufficient reason for the course he his taken, viz.—ln first insulting the' committee of the Auckland Racing Clnb, who iare the gentlemen responsible for the handicaps, and then retiring from racing here "until some more competent gentlemen are appointed to make the handicaps." Major George says further that "I don't think anyone is of opinion that my horses have not bean run on their merits." What does Major Geo-ge want us to believe?—that his horses have always been fit, aad have in consequence done their best? If so. I am not with him.' On some occasions they have run like donkeys, whilst on others they"have performed like racehorses. . Should the handicappers have weighted them on the donkey orracsborse form? I think Major George should have been more manly than to have quoted the offensive opinion/of his friend with reference to the handicappers. and it was not necessary for him to have endorsed his friend's opinion by rtathg he declined to be made either a rogue or a fooL lam certain that neither the stewards nor the handicappers have any de.ice to make him either. . Although a thorough novice he has won with his two horses (had handicapping and all) about £900 In stakes alone. Why did not Major George give another instance of the handicappers' incompeteßcy on the per contra ride, and so make some pretence to act fairly by the gentsmen who handicap. I refer to the weight hii hone, Kelson, was awarded in the Cup and'in the late Autumn Handicap. Major George would, no doubt, have us believe tnat he ik.a paragon of hlghrmindedness, but surely the threat that Nelson would be scratched for the last named race, unless his owner stood-in in the wagers, hardly, I think, entitles him to the character. If the foregoing is a fact,'and I have unbounded proof that ft Is so, Major George's opinion most have been, that he was' unfairly handicapped, and have given this case as an" evidence of the lncompetency of the handicappers. ■■ In the Easter Handicap, the gallant Major should also have, known the fact that a well' known bookmaker here took the opinion of a gentleman who understands racing and bets, against everything in the rs£e,- and.- s&ved . Nelson, who won in a walk. If the gallant Major had any.of the true sportsman in him he would, I think, have"pocketed his very few defeats and have given the handicappers credit for knowing his horses better than himself, they being gentlemen of experience whilst he is quite new to the game —Tours, ex., Faxb. Play. .