NOTES BY PHAETON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9112, 21 July 1888, Page 6

NOTES BY PHAETON.

The totalisator question again came before the Legislative Council on Thursday last, in the shape of a motion proposed by the Hon. Mr. Miller, that the recommendation of the Select Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the instrument be given effect to, e.g.,, that licenses to use the machine be only granted to those clube which comply with the rules laid down by the Metropolitan Clubs. If we are to judge, however, from the attitude taken up by the Attorney-General on the question, the Government do not feel disposed to fall in with the proposition, as he tabled an amendment to the effect that a license fee be charged for the use of the machine at the rate of £100 for the first day, and £20 for subsequent days of any meeting. I have always been of opinion thab if a tax is to be put on the machine a license fee pure and simple is the form it should take ; but in fixing the amount at £100 Sir Frederick Whitaker, I think, goes a little to extremes, and I fancy from my knowledge of the subject that a fee of £50 for each day would have been found ample to protect the machine from being abased. Of course, those who are in favour of blotting country racing out altogether favour the high license fee ; but surely those clubs —such, for instance, as the Henderson's Mill Turf Club and Pakuranga Hunt Club —which hold but one meeting a year each, and then only out of pure love for the sport, are entitled to some consideration. However, rather than allow matters to go on as they have during the past few years, I for one, would like to see the AttorneyGeneral's amendment carried, as without doubt it deals an effectual blow at an abuse which the racing authorities have up to the present been quite unable to grapple with. We are not told in what frame of mind the Legislative Council received the amendment of Sir Frederick Whitaker, and after some discussion, the question was adjourned. [Since the above was written a telegram to hand states that the debate was resumed in the Council last night, when the Hon. Mr. Swanson moved "the previous question," which, being carried, had of coaree the effect of throwing out both the Hon. Mr. Miller's motion and the amendment proposed by Sir Frederick "Whitaker.]

In penning ft paragraph last week with reference to the withdrawal of Gipsy King from the New Zealand Cup, I sounded a note of warning to backers not to blindly jump at the conclusion that because Mr. Stead had struck him out of the Canterbury race he intended sending the son of Le Loup over to Victoria to fulfil his engagement in the Melbourne Cup; and if we are to accept the remarks of the Referee on the subject as correct, the colt's withdrawal was owing to Mr. Stead being of opinion that the committee overweighted him with 9st 31b rather than to any desire on hie part to have a cut at the Australians. Of course, Mr. Stead is the best judge of his horse's capabilities, but it is rather a remarkable fact that against his opinion there is ranged a whole army who declare that the colt was decidedly well in with the impost allotted to him.

Mr. Stead gave backers another pill last week, in the shape of an advertisement appearing in the Referee, which set forth that he was prepared to sell the New Zealand Cup favourite, Lochiel, for 600 guineas, with the further enticing bait that " lengthened terms will be given to an approved purchaser. " It wul be interesting to note if anyone is inclined to enter into negotiations for the purchase of the handsome son of Prince Charlie, and whether his figuring in the sale list will affect his price in the betting quotations. Commenting on the statement thai Lochiel and Co. have not yet been taken up, " Senex" says :—" What the move of the stable may be I do not pretend to know, but at all events the information with regard to the horses still running out should have some weight, even with rash speculators." Unbelievers in first foals have often had their theory shattered, especially during the past decade. In Australasia many of the best performers, notably Goldeborough and Trenton, have been first foals, and latterly among the best of them have been Acme and Cranbrook. Abercorn was the first living foal of his dam Cinnamon, who previously had a colt which died, to Chester. In the old country they have had some wonderful examples of the excellence of first foals. Touchstone was a first foal, and of all horses in the English Stud Book, he is now perhaps the most famous, very few of the great horses of the present time being without a dash of his blood, and, in many instances they have three or four. Hampton, the most successful of English stud horses of the present time, was a first foal, and so was the great American horse Foxhall. Sylvia (dam of Martini-Henry), who was last season put to Nordenfeldt, has, I regret to state, slipped her foal. For the two previous seasons the daughter of Fisherman had proved barren, and as she is now 24 years old the company will have good fortune should they get another foal out of her. Onyx (dam of Nordenfeldt), as I stated some time back, is in foal to the defunct Sword Dance. The New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, which is to be run at Christchurch on Thursday next, has a capital acceptance of eleven, and it is on all hands regarded as very open. Chemist or Kangaroo should, I think, supply the winner. The following is a list of the acceptances :— st.lb. st.lb Chemist . ... 12 10 Panic 912 Faugh-'Ballagh 11 10 Waitangi ... 910 Mangaohane ... 11 2 Haka 9 7 Kangaroo ... 11 11 DaddyLonglegs 9 7 Irish King ... 11 0 Shillelagh ... 9 0 Isaac 10 9

Latest English files contain a full report of the race for the Derby at Epsom on May 30. The weather was beautifully fine, and a large and fashionable assemblage witnessed the contest for the " blue ribbon" of the English turf. Out of the 158 entrants for that classic event, only nine went to the post, viz., the Duke of Portland's b c Ayrshire, by Hampton—Atalanta ; Mr. R. Vyner's ch c Crowberry, by Eosebery— Lizzie Lindsay; Mr. Rose's ch c Van Diemen's Land, by Robert the DevilDistant Shore (who filled the places) ; and Galore, by Galopin—Lady Maura; Orbit, by Bend Or—Fair Alice ; Chillington, by Chippendale—Duvernay; Netheravon, by Avontes ; Gantby, by Hajioscope—Silverband ; and Simon Pure, by Peter— Genuine. Ayrshire, on the strength of his two-year-old performances and his easy victory in the Two Thousand Guinea Stakes, was elected a firm favourite, and went to the post at 6 to 5 on. Orbit was next in demand at 11 to 2 against. Crow berry's price was 6 to 1, and a point longer was obtainable about Galore, and 20 to 1 could be got about Van Diemen's Land, while the others ranged from 40 to 200 to 1. Chilli ngton was very fractious at the post, and delayed the start for nearly three-quarters of an hour. Galore opened business at the fall of the flag, but was soon replaced by Gantby, who, with Van Diemen's Land, made the pace to the straight, where the latter had command, followed by Orbit and the favourite. In the run home Ayrshire cut down his horses, and stalling off a challenge from Crowberry, who came very fast at the half-distance, won easily by two lengths from the latter, who was five lengths in front of Van Diemen's Land, tb" journey having been covered in 2min. 42 l-sth sec.

Nelson's half-brother Rataplan was trafc into work this week. It is understood that the entrance fee to the V.R.C. is to be raised to £20. The will of the late Mr. John Tait, the well-known sportsman, has been orm-eH under £24,300. It is said that horses suitable for the Indian market are just now at a terrible discount in Otago. Exchange, of whom we have heard so much of late, has been showing bad temper in hie work at Riccarton. There is, I understand, a good prospect of Escutcheon being sent down to talfilhis engagement in the New Zealand Cup. The Auckland Plumpton Coursing Club intend holding another meeting at their grounds, Papatoetoe, about the middle of August. Out of the 108 English Derbies that have been run, the favourite has won 37 times being second 24, third 15, while he has only been unplaced on 32 occasions. The New Zealand Cup representative Torrent, is being for the jumping business, and will probably make his debut at the Grand National meeting next week. The New South Wales sportsman, Mr. J. J. Miller, has established a stud farm at Dandenong for the breeding of trotters. He intends importing four fashionable animala from America, at a cost of £3000. It turns out that Kangaroo, by his vietory in the Wellington Steeplechase, incurred a penalty of 51b for th« Grand National, and his weight for the latter race is now list lib. The Squire was offered by auction yesterday at Hunter and Nolan's, but was passed in at £35. An Auckland turfite made an offer for him later in the day, but I have not heard whether it was accepted. In handicapping galloways in England the lowest weight is generally lOst, going up to 12st 71b. This is done to ge.&the right sort of pony, as no weed would be able to carry such a load and gallop very far. The steamer Bancoora, which arrived afe Melbourne recently, from India, was the bearer of a couple of Arab s.tallions, one being for Mr. R. J. Hunter, of Malvern, and the other for Mr. M , In tosh, of Gippsland.

I understand that E. Kelly, who untjl recently had charge of Cinderella, contemplates entering an action against the Messrs. Twohill for the recovery of 10 per cent, on the mare's winnings daring the past two seasons. " Mazeppa" has been making careful inquiries as to the amount of money that could be got in Dunedin about a horse for the New Zealand Cup, which he pute down at £1750 —that is, of course, for anything new in the market. "Augur" selects the following fifteen to furnish the winner of the Caulfield Cup :— Enfilade, Brave,, Silver Prince, Mentor, Kohai, Remus, Whakawai, Recall, Pakeha, Meteor, Touchstone, Chicago, Worcester, Stockwell, and Silver King. According to Mr. Thomas Learmonth, who has just returned to Victoria froip India, the statement that the Indian Government would be prepared to pay £53 for Australian horses, is not correct. The 650 rupees guaranteed are equal only to about; £43 10s. Apparently by an oversight, the Hobarfcville breeder, Mr. A. Town, omitted to nominate any of the progeny of Maribyrnong, Grand Flaneur, Monmouth, Epigram* or Moorthorpe for the V.R.C Sires' Produce Stakes, for which privilege he had already paid £100. A meeting of the Victorian Amateur Turf Club has been fixed for August 18, when a five-event programme will be play<sd out for which the added money amounts to £1600, and the principal event is the Grand National Steeplechase of lOOOsovs, over a four-mile course. It is said that the New Zealand Cup winner, Fusillade, will be sent to India with the New Zealand Stud Company's shipment in September. The son of Musket has furnished into a great horse, and when looking over him recently he appeared to be as sound as a bell. This is how a Queensland hor&sowner showed his appreciation of the handicaps of the principal events of theGympie meeting. In a telegram to the secretary of the Gympie Club, he said : " Scratch for all engagements ; dress handicapper in all blue ; photograph him, and forward me a copy." The Morphettville (S.A.) course h*ts been sold to Messrs. Sylvester Browne, T. F. Wigley, and R. B. Pell for £8000. The new proprietors intend to use the place as a racecourse, and as there is every prospect of the totalisator being again legalised in that colony, the "spec " is regarded as a good one. The London " Referee" thus speaks about the decadence of the English Derby :— "If nothing else goes to prove the decadence of the Derby as a popular race the lack of speculation thereon might certainly betoken it. The Derby is evidently a dead letter as a speculative medium, and as such it compares very badly with the more important handicaps." It appears that the reason E. Kelly's horses—-Paddy, Mystery, and Octopuswere not shipped to Sydney last week was on account of their being seized for debt. The horses were to have been sold by auction on Tuesday last, but in the meantime an application was made in the Supreme Court to have Kelly adjudged a bankrupt; and, the order being made, the sale did not take place. Sydney papers to hand state thai; Ensign has been backed for small amount; at 100 to 3 and 4 for the Melbourne Cup; 100 to 5 is offered on the field. Doubles still continue to attract a little attention, Cranbrook, Lord Allen, and Bravo being the picks for Caulfield, while Cardigan, Silver Prince, and Carlyon are the most fancied for the Melbourne Cup ; 1000 to 5 is offered on Derby and Cup.

I anticipated that Mr. Williamson's representative, Artist, would come in for .some hard knocks at the hands of the Southerners for his moderate looks. The Canterbury Times has the first shot at the son of The Painter, dubbing him " the greatest scarecrow ever admitted to the course." Scarecrow and all as he looks, however, Artisb can give many of his more handsome rivals a bit of a start, and then beat them over six furlongs. Lord Charles Beresford, in giving evidence in the libel action brought by Wood, the English jockey, against the Licensed Victuallers' Gazette, ga% r e the plaintiff a very bad character, stating he was a jockey of the worst reputation, and in this he was supported by several prominent racing men. Wood will probably by this have Jearnt that it was better to try and live matters down than appeal to the law, and the proba bility of his regaining registration appean more remote than ever. A graceful tribute of respect has beer paid to the memory of the late Alec Robertson by Mr. William Cooper, to whose order a handsome monument has been erected over the last resting-place of the deceased jockey, in Waverley cemetery. It consists of a marble cross, artistically wreathed with floral embellishments, and supported on a massive bluestone base. The plinth bears the following inscription: — "In memory of Alec Robertson, aged 27, who was accidentally killed at Randwick on January 2, 1888, whilst riding Silvermine in Tattersall's Cup. This memorial wa» erected by William Cooper as a mark of esteem and respect." So far as Auckland is concerned, betting on the New Zealand Cup is confined to very small dimensions. Lochiel, Artillery, and St. Clair claiming the most attention, while Carbine—now that he is known to be in work—is occasionally inquired after. From '' Mazeppa's" notes I gather that the Musket—Tres Deuce colt, Manton, is as much in demand for the C.J.C. Derby as anything. Artillery, Lochiel, and Springston (says my confrere) could be laid at comparatively short odds to almost any extent, but there is \ ery little money in the market for either of them, and those bookmakers who have laid pretty near their full book about these nags are not anxious to go on, being commendably cautious to avoid a repetition of the Lochiel disaster of eight months ago. The local odds on the Cup are as follow:—

S to 1 agst Lochiel. 8 to 1 Artillery. 10 to 1 Sprincston. 10 to 1 St. Clair. 10 to 1 Carbine. 12 to 1 Maxim. 12 to 1 —— Nelson. The contributor to the Canterbury Tima. writes:—"Those backers, if any, who accepted 100 to 15 about Artillery for the New Zealand Cup last week have only to deplore that they did not get full value for their money. We saw the son of Musket do a nice gallop with Faugh-a-Ballagi yesterday morning, and thought him loolb ing wonderfully well.