SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9064, 26 May 1888, Page 3

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. May 26—Takapirtia Jockey Club. May 26—Dunedin Jockey Club. June (t—Auckland Boeing Club. June 21— Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. May 30—Epsom Derby. June I—Oaks. Juno 9—Great Northern Sfceoplechaso June 10—Grand Prix de Paris. September 12.—Doncaster St. Lejjer. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. T.—Darebiu was raced as a two-year-old, but Australian Veer was not. W. A. «.—Only King Quail and Libeller foil. Nolan was ridinjr the latter. J. IiEOKOK. —Kangaroo, Guy Fawkes and Miss Griffiths fell at the stone wall at the top of tho straight. Maitai. —retrolouin ran twice as a two-year-old, but hart never started since. Ho was got by Cadogan from Petroleuse. Poroti.—l. We cannot say whether the " consultation" you mention is genuine or not. 2. A letter would find Mr. J. J. Miller, if addressed to Sydney Tattorsall'a Club.

THE LATE MR. JOHN TAIT. [by phaeton.] At the ripe ape of three score and ten, full of years and honour, Mr. John Tait passed away at Sydney, on Monday last, and thus another link that bound the old order with the new has been broken. It may certainly bo said with all truth that no man that over figured in the ranks of Australasian horseowners so endeared himself to all claasess as did John Tait; for, throughout his whole career, never once had his name been associated with those tricks which, alas, are only of too frequent occurrence with those who participate in the racing of horses, and well he earned the sobriquet which Australians proudly bestowed upon him of "Honest John." To follow Mr. Tait throughout the whole of his career, would fill volumes, and I will therefore confine my remarks to giving an account of its principal features. Mr. Tait's first great success was in 1860, when Zoe ran home in front of eleven others for the Champion Stakes, and again in the following year did the daughter of Sir Hercules carry the "yellow and black" to victory in the same race: which was followed up in Inter years by the victories of Talleyrand and The Barb. It was in ISob' that Mr. Tait won his first Melbourne Cup, which was accomplished by the. aid of that little wonder The Barb; and in the years 1868, IS7I, and 1872, his colours were again borne to victory in the great Flemington race by Glencoe, The Pearl, and The Quack respectively. The Sydney Cuj> fell twice to him, in ISGS and 18G9, The Barb on both occasions being the winner ; while in the years IS6S, IST."), and 1877, we find him credited with wins achieved by The Barb, Goldsborough, and Amendment, in the Great; Metropolitan Stakes. Turning to the great three-vear-old races, wo iind that he won two V.R.C. Derbies in ISIJS and 1869, both with Fireworks, and in tho year 1874 his nomination Melbourne proved successful, while both these horses figured as winners of the V.R.C. St, Legers in the same seasons. The A.J.C. Derby fell to him on three separate occasions by the aid of The Barb. Fireworks, and Florence, who won respectively in the years 1860, 1867, and 1870 ; but Glencoe, in IStIH, was the only horse that ever carried his colqurs to victory in the A.J.C. St. Leger. The last horse that ever carried the "yellow and black" of Mr. Tait, was, 1 think, Stratheam, and with the departure of that horse to the stud, the active turf career of " Honest John Tait" was brought to a close. Mr. Tait's successes on the turf were certainly unparalleled ; for it is necessary to consider that there were no high-priced colts and fillies, costing a thousand or two each : and that all the animals had to be prepared for long distances, at big weights, by which is understood two miles or over, at all-age weights for age, or three-vcar-olds carrying 7st 101b ami Bst 71b. at Derby; and Leger distances. But Mr. Tait and his assistants had graduated in the old school of turfdom, when ficat races of two or three miles were in vo"ue, as well as single events of four, antl they always managed to bring out horses fit to win the fairly long races, so long as such events were provided for them to operate upon. There were not in those times the early two-year-old races we have now, neither a host of live and six furlong flutters, for which the youngsters can go : but under anv circumstances Mr. Tait would not probably have cared to rush his colts along for events of this class, which of lato years have been run early in August. Clearly he didn't go much for two-year-old racing, for his name is only thrice attached to winners of the principal two-year-old events, once with Florence and Rose d'Amour for the A.J.C. Champagne, and once with the latter filly for the Hires' Produce Stakes. Mr. Tait was a great man to give his horses work, and it was said that no man better than lie could train a horse of good constitution ; few men could do it as well. He was a groat judge of constitution, by which he was enabled to secure such animals as The Barb, Fireworks, Glencoe, Melbourne, The Pearl, and others of equal goodness ; but the grandest constitutional horse ho ever trained was The Quack, and the following anecdote shows it. In the autumn before The Quack won the Melbourne Cup, Mr. Tait lent him to James kean (who now presides over the Kohimarama stable), to go the Western and NorthWestern campaign, though the hors« had been in work all through the season. He did all the meetings to Dubbo, by which time he had got himself worked into form, and won a race or two. When he came back lie was treated to no spell, but his owner went at him again continuously, and nothing but having him perfectly strung up won him that Cup. Mr. Tait didn't try to get another big race out of him ; and, if the horse hadn't been a wonder he wouldn't have stood that one preparation. Of course anyone who could go through years and years of racing without a mistake must be more than mortal, and there are two to notice in Mr. Tait's career. First and foremost, it was an error going for Falcon instead of The Barb for the Melbourne Cup, after the running of the latter in the A.J.C. Derby. The mistake between I'yrrhus and The Pearl for the Melbourne Cup occurred though never putting the two horses together, and the one was coming on while the other was going off; besides, The Pearl was able to run his own race in front, while the other "ot into the crowd and never got out. How Mr. Tait over let Tho Quack run for nothing for him next year few could ever divine, after all the pains lie had taken to get such a 'glutton fit. No surer guide could there be to the opinion of horse breeders on Mr. Tait's knowledge as a trainer, and his straight-going as a man, than the anxiety stud-maaters used to evince to get a colt into his stable. Mr. Tait ha<l been in delicate health for some time past, and about two years ago he paid a visit to the Continent in order to recruit himself, but he experienced little relief from the trip. Though his decease was, we are told, sudden, the intelligence does not come altogether as a surprise, for he had completed the allotted span of man a existence, and had fairly earned his " season of rest." ,

THE TAKAPUNA MEETING. The Winter Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club takes place to-day, and it only requires fine weather to bring off a most successful gathering. The programme is a large and varied one of seven races, the whole of which bear a very open aspeot, so that good fields in each instance are promised. As usual, the Devonport Ferry Company will put the whole of their fine fleet of steamers in commission for the conveyance of visitors so that no misgivings need be felt on that head. As the programme is a lengthy one, and the afternoon short, the Club have wisely decided to start the first race at halfpast twelve. The following are the acceptances and entries: —

Selling Steeplkchask.—Wat Tyler, 20 kovs ; Matau, 20sovs ; Monitor, nil; Larrikin, nil; Fuirplay, 20aove ; Ngata, nil. Skllino Rack.— Squire, sf)sovs ; Reproach, 20sovs; Catesby, 20sovs; Sirloin, 20sovs; Venetia, nil ; Capella, nil; On Guard, 40sovs. Novkl RAok.—Siena, Starling, Sirloin, Vcnetia, MayHosver, Ynba Bill. Birthday Handicap, one mile and a quarter.—Friendship, Sat 131b; Tamora, Sst 81b; Capella, 7st 71b; Waipiti, 7st 51b; Formo. 7st 21b; Miss Alice, 7st; The Cat, 7st ; Maratau, fet 71b; Brown Rose, 6st; Brvan O'Linn, 6st; Venetia, Cst. Hokdlks, one mile and a half and a distance —Magnesia, JOst lib ; Ma Petite Fille, 9st JOlb: Bluebell, 9st 101b; Dhudeen, 9»t 71b ; Artist, l)st 3lb ; Fairplay, !)st 21b ; Larrikin, fist: Wideawxke, Sst 71b; Jim, Sst 71b; Wat Tyler, Bst 71b ; Sirloin, Sst 71b. StekfIKCHASK, about three miles.—Magnesia list JOlb: Whalebone, lOstolb; Fairplay, 10af Recruit, 9st 7lb; Don, 9st 71b; Ma Petite Fille, S)st 7lb; Larrikin, !)st; Wot Tyler, 9st ; Wideawake, 9st; Trovatorc, 9st; Jim, 9st. „ , Victoria Handicap, seven fm-longs.— Squire, !)st4lb ; Friendship, Sst 71b; Tamora, Sst 71b: Pretender, Sst 21b; Capella, Sst; Formo, Sst; Wapiti, 7st 101b; Miss Alice, 7st 51b ; Sirloin, 6st 71b; Brown Rose, 6st 71b; Venetia, 6st. My selections are as follow : — Selling Steeplechase, Fairplay; Selling Race, Squire; Hurdles, Ma Petite Fille; Birthday Handicap, Friendship; Novel Race, Sirloin ; Steeplechase, Magnesia.

NOTES BY PHAETON. The acceptances for the Great Northern Steeplechase and Hurdle Race came duo last night, when it was found that fourteen cried content in the first-named race, and twelve in the latter. This is a much more satisfactory result than was anticipated, and there ie now every prospect of a very successful gathering. The following are the acceptances:— Great Northern Steeplechase, about three miles and a-half. St. lb. st.lb. Silvio # ... 11 5Ma Petite Fille 9 5 Magnesia ... 10 10 Promotion... 9 3 Macaroni ... 10 7 Whalebone ... 9 ° Orangeman ... 10 4 Recruit ... 9 0 Guy Fawkes ... 912 Allegro ... 9 0 Huntsman ... 911 Don 9 0 Erebus ... 9 8 Jim 9 0 Handicap Hurdle Race, two miles and a quarter. st lb st lb Peter Osbeck 11 2 Blue 801 l ... 9 4 Orangeman ... 10 6 Allegro ... 9 3 Armourer ... 10 2 Briseis ... 8 12 Erebus ... 910 Shillelagh ... 8 9 Ma Petite Fille 9 7 Highland Mary 8 7 Promotion ... 9 6 Jim ... ... 8 7 The 108 th Derby will be run at Epsom on Wednesday next. Ayrshire's victory in the Two Thousand Guineas, and the absence of Friar's Balsam, will no doubt be the means of sending the Duke of Portland's colt to the post a warm favourite, but from late papers to hand, I gather that Duke of Marlborough, by George Frederick—Ma Belle, full brother to Beau Brummell, for whom Mr. Abingdon gave 800 guineas as a yearling, was a good deal fancied by shrowd judges.

A big jump was recorded at Ellerslic one day during the present week. Mr. Williamson's two horses, Shillelagh and Artist, were being schooled over the hurdles, and in order to keep them from galloping close to the rails, a hurdle had been placed lengthways. As tho horses came to the obstacle, Shillelagh began to shift, and ran Artist over, with the result that the latter jumped tho hurdle standing lengthways, and the one in front also ; out Shillelagh was not nearly so clever as his companion, for he fell heavily, and rolled completely over Hadfield, who was riding him. Tho distance from whero Artist took off and where he landed was measured and found to bo 27 feet.

J. Rao did not profit by his trip to Wanganui, as Orangeman ran unplaced in the big Steeplechase, and in tho Consolation ho could only get second to Allegro. Rao's recent purchase, Promotion, was amongst the starters for the Maiden Steeplechase, but we are told that ho fell early in the race, cutting his legs.

The Southern turfite, Mr. P. Butler, was again tho victim of a piece of bad luck during the present week, his horse Tit Bit dropping dead while contesting in the Flying Handicap.at Heathcoto. Tit Bit was got by Musket from Renga (dam of Cinderella), and ho had proved himself a very fair animal up to a milo and a-half, but of late his performances were of a poor character.

Kangaroo came out of his shell at the Wnnganui meeting on Tuesday Lint. In the first evont of tho day, the Maiden Steeplechase, he was opposed by five others, and won easily, while later on in the day, in the big event of the day—the Wanganui Steeplechase,—with lOst olb in the saddle, he had a like record. This horse must not be confounded with the chesnut that has been running in tho Auckland district of late. He is a brown, and will be remembered as competing in the Great Northern Steeplechase in ISBG in the name of Mr. Sunclerland, for which raco he was greatly fancied, but when going strongly ho had the misfortune to tumble over Guy Fawkes, who fell in front of him at the stonewall at the top of the course.

The Sydney Press Association agent, in his wisdom, has not thought it worth his while to cable the result of either the Royal Stakes or Queen's Birthday Cup, run at Randwick on Queen's Birthday, but sends us the bald fact that Mitrailleuse and Cinderella both ran unplaced in the firstnauied race.

Mr. D. McKinnon has? selected the name of Lochness for his colt by Ingomar from Albatross ; while the colt by Grand Prix from Fleurette, owned by Mr. J. Kenn, has been christened Boulangcr, Mr. McKinnon has nominated his colt for the V.R.C. Derby and Caulfield Guineas of 1890.

Some of the Australian papers arc urging the authorities to take steps to prevent two or more horses running under the same name. The Sportsman properly remarks that purity of lineage is absolutely essential in our racehorse if the high character of the Australian horse is to be maintained, but with confusion on the turf and in stud records it must become an impossibility. They do these things better in France. There every horse, as soon as he is a day or two old, has to be registered with the mayor of the district in much the same way as births of children are registered here, while not only is a duplication of name strictly guarded against, but every mark borne by the colt is noted in order to prevent any case of mistaken identity. There is nothing to prevent a similar state of things here. Our shire Councils provide every facility for a similar system, and it is a matter of surprise that legislators have not .brought such a measure into action ere now.

" The Waverley" is the name given to a new form of racing paddle patented by Mr. A. W. Keen, of Victoria. The tree is wholly of metal of rounded form, made in one piece, and strengthened by two extra neck-bars or gullet pieces. It is a tree of great strength, and yet lighter than the old-fashioned one, and makeable in half the time. It will bend, but not break. The inner covering or panel to such tree is, in the new form, made of one cutting of thick felt or spongy pilae, instead of in the three layers of leather, serge, and flock in present use.

Young Eales, who went over to Australia with the Hon. W. Robinson's team last season, bids fair to make a name for himself as a jockey. At the recent V.A.T.C. meeting, ho scored a double win on Mr. S. G. Cook's Dividend, both of which performances are spoken highly of. " Asmodeua" says the New Zealander " has only to contiimo to hold filoof from the contamination of the so-called clever division, known notoriously jus ' the dead bird association,' to ensure a prosperous and creditable future career."

Speaking of the totalisator and the House reminds me - (says " Mazeppa") that a curious statement was made the other evening by Mr. Carroll, in seconding the Address-in-Reply, to the effect that if the Government insisted on every totnlisator ticket being stamped with a twopenny stamp there would be n contribution of about £'20,000 to tho revenue. Someone may have been "stufling" Mr. Carroll, or, as likely as not, he spoke at random— which is a common tiling for our legislators to do when talking about sporting matters. As a matter of fact, the amount passed through the totalisator each year—taking the average of the past three or four years, is about half a million of money. At 2d in the pound, this would mean a total contribution of £4166 13s 4d if exactly a half million were put through, or, eay in fche rough, £4000, for there would bo a trifling deduction for tho cost of collection.

It is more than likely that ere long the committee of the Australian Jockey Club will consider the advisability of registering only those clubs and race meetings which give upwards of a certain sum to bo run for annually, and the idea is perhaps a good one. ifnder the present system all meetings in order to prevent horses taking part at them being disqualified must be registered, no matter how small the prize money may be, and although it is proposed that they shall not be again licensed, the rule will probably be so altered that horses running at those unregistered meetings will not be placed under the ban. Writing of sensational trials, " Augur" says that the gallop performed by First King, prior to the Champion Stakes of IS7S, is probably the most extraordinary one so far as Australia is concerned. The Victorian scribe says :—"Mr. James Wilson knew he had a great colt, and when preparing him for the chief weight-for-age race of the year he discovered that he was really a phenomenon, and in his three-miles trial he set him a task which no other three-year-old of the day could have got through successfully. Mr. Wilson tells me that he carried within half a pound of 9-st. Savanaka, with not much more than sst, was told off to accompany him for a mile and α-half, but before they had gone a mile and a-quarter, First King had him in difficulties ; then Pardon was rtady to take him along from the mile and α-imlf post, and when she

dropped out Bosworth, with a light boy up, essayed to bring the great gun home, but First King, gallopftg just as strong as at the commencement, beat him cleverly, and in such time on a heavy course that Mr. Wilson felt certain he could beat 5.20 at Flemington, provided that the going was good. I remember well on the evening preceding the raco Mr. Wilson asking Mr. De Mestre what he thought Chester would do on the following day. Mr. Dβ Mestre then had Mr. White's crack under his care, and he replied that if necessary he would run the race under 5.30. 'Do you think he could beat 5.20?' asked Mr. Wilson. 'No,' replied the Terrara sportsman. 'Then I can,' said Mr. Wilson, ' and don't forget to back First King to win you a few hundreds, for he is far and away the best horse I have ever seen. . Those who saw the race will remember how First King romped home in 6.26, aud I verily believe that had there been anything to make the pace for him he would have beaten the 5.20 that Mr. Wilson declared he could. He was not within many pounds so good a horse when he ran for the Sb. Leger and Australian Cup, yet in the latter he carried Bst 61b, and gave a good colt like Swiveller a couple of stone and a beating." The Portland Stakes, of 7000sovs, which is the richest two-year-old stakes run for in any part of the world, came off at the Leicester Meeting last month, when by a coincidence the Duke of Portland supplied the winnor, hia colt Donovan (by Galopin— Mowerina), beating a large field of 24. The stakes were worth GOOOsovs to the winner. Out of the following high-priced yearlings ' originally engaged in this big race only one (Gay Hampton) took part:— St. Kynans, who cost 1050 guineas, Helvellyn 1800, Roslin 1050, Gay Reveller 1850, Toleworth 1200, Ma Belle Colt 2100, Napoleon 2400, Gay Hampton 3000, Hazlemere 1100, Sea Shell 1250, Hamptonia 1200, Barkham 1500, etc. An American sporting paper, in speaking of the rapid strides made with trotting, says the trotting racehorse is an American creation, and as distinctly American as the fast horse of the turf was at the same stage of his history distinctly English. Half a century ngo the trotting racehorse was scarcely known ; now the trotting record embraces '20,000 horses and mares that have trotted a milo in less than three minutes, the following are a few instances of the latest attainments of the American trotter, the ages being given at the time of the performance mentioned, every liorso being over six years old : —Maud S., llyrs, time 2tnin SJsec ; Jay Eye See, Gyrs, 2min lO.scc ; St. Julian, llyrs, 2min Rarus, llyrs, 2min 13isec; Maxy Cobb, 7yrs, 2nrin ; Phallas, 7yrs, 2min 13 j sec ; Clingstone, 7yre, 2min 14sec ; Trinket, Gyrs, 2min 14sec; Goldsmith Maid, 17yrs, 2min 14sec, Hopeful, 12yrs, 2min 1 4;jfsec ; Harry Wilkes, llyrs, 2min ISAsec ; Lulu, 12yrs, 2min 15sec ; Majolica, flyr.s, 2min 15 sec ; Smuggler, lOyrs, 2min ojsoc ; Clemmie G., 7yrs, 2min 15£ sec ; Hattie Woodward, 9yrs, 2min 15isec; Phyllis, llyrs, 2min lo.Jsec ; Antero, 6yrs, 2min lGJsec ; Edwin Thome, llyrs,'2min 16|sec ; Fanny Witherspoon, lOyrs, 2min lli-Jsec ; Lucille Golddust, 1 lyrs, 2min lGJsec ; Maud Messenger, Syrs, 'iinin lGAsec ; Wilson, 9yrs, 2min 16j see ; American Girl, 12yrs, 2min ; Darby, 9yrs, 2min IGAsec ; Jerome Eddy, 7yrs, 2min 10j,sec ; Phil Thompson, 7yrs, 2rain IGJsec ; Charley Ford, 9yrs, 2min 16g sec ; Occident, lOyrs, 2min lGJsce. In the course of an article on " Sires," the New York Spirit of the Times says ; — "Racing has assumed such stupendous proportions here, and the demand for racehorses is so great, that we are breeding from everything. High roarers:, spavined, ring-boned, curby-hocked brutes are pressed into the service to grind out racing material. The result is our horses, while marvels of speed, are not, as a class, as sound as they were a few years ago. We doubt if there ever was so larg'e a proportion of worthless horses on the turf as there is at present, nnd wo expect, with the enervating inIlucncc of exceflpivo racing, the next generation will be worse."

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. British Lion won tho double event at Greymouth on Queen's Birthday. ■ So far this season Fred Webb has been riding for the Duke of Portland. Shop-betting has become immensely popular of lafco months in Sydney. Wellington, who was one of tho best of Panic's progeny, is in the sale list. £5 a-head is the tax the Hon. Mr. Goschen, tho English Chancellor, seeks to put on racehorses. Nominations for the Grand National Steeplechase, to be run at Christchurch, are due to-night. Escort (by Chester from Superba) is another colt that a good few have a fancy for for the next V.lt.C. Derby. An offer of 700 guineas was recently refused for Ben Bolt. The would-be buyer thought of taking the horse to India. Variety in nomenclature is never exhausted. Seldom Fed is tho namo of a trotter figuring at Dunedin meetings. The New Zealand-bred Vinaigrette, by Api'omont, from Becky Sharp, won tho Selling Raco at Casterton lately, and was afterwards sold for oGsov. The New Zealand-bred stallion July has been landed safely at Graf ton. He is to bo at tho public service at> Dyradra, Casino, and takes the place of Sweet William. Maxim has been several times out on the Riccarton course. One writer states that ho moved rather short, while another states that he appeared to be suffering from wind galls. The owner of Hurlingham Park (Victoria), it is said, intends holding forty or fifty meetings a year. For next month alone he has fixed four. This is certainly going the " whole hog "with a vengeance. A jockey named Gardiner, at Thargomindah, Queensland, was wasting to ride tho horse Friendless, and took a fever, which brought on delirium, during which he walked into the river, where his body was picked up. Spade Guinea, who has proved herself a great failure during her sojourn in Australia, has been turned out for a spell, but will shortly be taken up again. T. Jones will prepare the daughter of King of Clubs for her next engagement. As tho Victoria Amateur Turf Club will lose something like £2500 in revenue by the recent decision of Judge Williams on the Club's right to charge Bookmakers a license fee, ifc is anticipated that the added money to the Caulfield Cup will be reduced. Of tho Hon. J. White's eight two-year-olds at present known to the touts, "Warrior" likes nothing better than the chestnut colt Tryon, and commends the following half-dozen for the V.R.C. Derby of 188S :—Tryon, Lonsdale, Sylvester, Venture, Volley, and Beryl. The Takapuna Jockey Club yesterday sent invitations to the English and Auckland ■ teams of footballers to be present at their race meeting to-day, which was accepted, but tho former having taken their passages for Sydney by the mail steamer will not of course bo able to bo present. At the salo of Hurlingham Park, in Victoria, recently one of the conditions was that the ground was not to be vised as a racecourse. When the bidding had reached £500 an acre there was a dead stop ; when the auctioneer withdrew tho condition, when bidding up smartly to £750 an acre, at which price it is understood the estate was bought in.

Hermit, whoso carear has been a very sensational one since Mr. Chaplin bought him for 1000 guineas as a yearling, and then won tho Dorby with him when all hope of his doing so appeared gone, and which event floored the Marquis of Hastings, has to his credit 200 winners of about (540 races, worth upwards of £320,000. There is no race of importance which has not Mien to the share of his progeny except the St. Leger. At Boston (America), early in March, an offer of 50,000 dollars was made and refused for the great trotting stallion, Guy Wilkes, but the owner, Mr. Corbitt, refused it, and asked the would-be purchaser, Mr. E. F. Lawrence, 00,000 dollars. Guy Wilkes lias a record of 2min lojsec, and is the son of Geo. Wilkes. Harold, sire of the queen of the trotting track, Maud S., is now doingstud duty at 200 dollars a mare. Some timo ago Mr. George Adams, proprietor of Tattersall's Hotel, Sydney, was convicted under the Betting Houses Suppression Act of having allowed his licensed house to be used for the purpose of getting up a " consultation" on the Melbourne Cup, and was fined £25 and costs. The decision was upheld by the Full Court on appeal. Mr. Adams' solicitor hereupon moved for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, but the Full Court decided that, as the penalty had been imposed under a criminal statute, it had no power to grant the application, which was therefore dismissed. . •