SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9154, 8 September 1888, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES.

New 'Zealand. September 27, 2&— Gevaldine Racing Club. September 29—Onehunira Racing Club. October X, 2—Hawke's Bay .Jockey Club. October 10—Napier Park )lacing Club. November 6, 7, B—Canterbury Jockey Club November 9.—Wfcnganui Jockey Club. November 9, 10—Auckland Racing; Club. December 20, January 1, 2—Auckland Racing Club. December 2rt and 27—Thames Jockey Club. December 26Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. March 18, 10—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. June 26—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club.

Australian. . September B,l2—Rosehill Racing Club. September 8 and —Hawkesbury Spring. September 22, 26, 27, 29—Australian Jockey Club. October 13, *30. —victoria Amateur Turf Club. November 8, 6, 8, 10—Victoria Racing Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. September 12—Poncaster St. Loger. September 13—Hawkesbury Guineas. September 15—Hawkewbury Handicap. September 22—A.J.C. Derby. September 25—Great Metropolitan Stakes October 9—Cesarewitch Stakes. October IS—C&ulfleld Gulnetw. October Caul Held Cup. October 22Cambridgeshire Stakes. November 3—V.R.C. Derby. November o—Melbourne Cup, November (I—New Zealand Cup. November 7—Canterbury Derby. December 26—Auckland Cup.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

VICTORIAN.— was the amount said to hare been paid by the Messrs. Fisher for Fisherman. He was foaled in 1853, and was got by Heron from Mainbrace, by Sheet Anchor, out of a daughter of Bay Middleton. waqkr.—Doncaster was purchased as a yearling for 9&0 guineas by Mr. Merry, who sold him to Mr. R. Peck for £10,000, and the latter disposed of him to the Duke of Westminster for £14,000. T.R.—Nelson carried 7st Blb when he ran the Auckland Cup distance in 4mins ; he was syrs old at the time. Maxim (3yrs) carried 7st otb in the last Canterbury Cup, and ran the dintanco in 4niius Usees, Nelson (Ost Gib) being second. NOTES BY PHAETON. The coming week will see the curtain well raised on the racing season of 1888-89, the Hawkesbury Racing Club's fixture being set down for Thursday and Saturday next. On the first day the Hawkesbury Guineas are set down for decision, and as the V.R.C. Derby favourite Volley is amongst those engaged, a good deal of interest will be attached to the race. Mr. White, however, has four others engaged, and he may therefore eloct to reserve the daughter of Musket for the more important events to be decided at Randwick and Flemington later on. The Grand Handicap, which may be supposed to throw some little I; bfc on the "Metrop.," will come up for decision on the second day. At hist advices Plutarch (7st), Osprey (6st 41b), and Keith (Bst4lb) were the most fancied, and if the firstnamed is the horse he is represented to be, such a lenient impost as 7st should not prevent him from scoring a win for the popular banner of the Hon. Mr. White.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Club have now dealt with the handicapping question, and, as was generally anticipated would be the case, the proposal to have the duties performed honorarily by a committee has been waived, and the office again conferred on Mr. Evitt. It was not anticipated that) the club would be able to secure the services of a competent man to wield the starter's flag without making it a paid office, but Mr. Seager Buckland has consented to take up the duties and will perform the task honorarily. The selection of Mr. Buckland should bear the best of fruit, as he has plenty of nerve, while his long acquaintance with horses, in addition to his own abilities as a horseman, should stand him in good stead in handling the flag successfully. He must, however, give jockeys to understand that he will tolerate no nonsense at the post, and if he acts firmly in this respect his success will, I think, be pretty well assured.

The 108 th St. Leger is set down for decision at- Doncaster on Wednesday next. After Ayrshire's easy victories in the Two Thousand Guineas and Derby, the St. Leger was reckoned to be at his merey, but a month or two back a decided opposition set in against him, and the ring driving him to 33 to 1 betokened that there was only too good reason to believe that there was a screw loose somewhere. The son of Hampton, however, has since recovered his position, and by last accounts he was favourite at 7 to 4, the Oaks winner, Seabreeze being next in demand at 3 to 1.

I regret to state that the New Zealand Stud Company lost another of the gems of the Sylvia Park collection during the present week, to wit, Locket, the dam of Necklace, Thunderbolt, Bangle, Chainshot, and Necklet, who succumbed after foaling a colt to Nordenfeldt. Locket was foaled in 1872, so that she was seventeen years old at the time of her death. She was a very highly-bred matron, being got by Thunderbolt from Keepsake, by Daniel O'Rourke from a daughter of Hampton. Mr. Halstead, the Company's " vet.," made a poM mortem examination of the body, which revealed the fact that the mare died from internal hemorrhage.

If entrie3 are any criterion, tlio Spring Meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club should be a very great - success. The nominations for the three principal events came clue on Tuesday last, and are most satisfactory, both as regards numbers and the quality engaged. Auckland is very powerfully represented by Balista, Teksum, Leopold, Cuirassier and Escutcheon. The New Zealand Cup favourite, Carbine, is amongst the Southern owned nominations, and as ho is also engaged in the Guineas, his putting in an appearance may, 1 think, be regarded as pretty certain, should nothing happen to him. According to Southern papers of last week, Artillery and Lochiel nave worked themselves again to the top of the New Zealand Cup quotations at 100 to 15, while Carbine and Springs toil have gone back to 100 to 12. A short time ago it was stated that Lochiel was under offer to an American studmaster, and the Canterbury Times of last week gives us the following further information on the subject:—" We think we are correct in. saying that the negotiations for the sale of Lochiel to an American sportsman have not resulted in business. It is tolerably certain that the horse will remain here ; but this does not make him a 100 to 12 chance in the New Zealand Cup, and we would again caution backers against accepting a false price about last year's winner, who may play second fiddle to one of his stable companions."

Some important foaling* wars announced from Sylvia Park during the present week. Frailty (dam of Trenton) and Nelly Moore (dam of Lochiel) have each produced a colt to Nordenfeldt, while My Idea (dam of Nelson), Albatross (dam of Teksum), and Yattacy have produced fillies to the same sire. Scottish Lassie has produced a colt to St. Leger. Up to date eighteen mares have foaled, at the Park, the sexes of the foals being about equal.

At a meeting of the committee of the A.R.C. on Wednesday last Mr. L. P. Nathan was elected president for the year, the retiring president, Mr. A. K. Taylor, having the position of judge conferred on him.

It is expccted that the Marquis of Quoensberry will be a passenger oy the incoming mail steamer, due here about Friday next, and as lie expressed a wish to be present at a meet of the Pakuranga Hounds, the club have, I understand, arranged to make Mr. J. Lennard's place at Mangere the rendezvous on Saturday next. The Marquis will, I believe, have one of Kean's horses (probably Huntsman) placed at his disposal. The annual meeting of the Thames Jockey Club was held on Wednesday evening last. The club have had a successful year, and the balance - sheet showed a balance to credit of £*200, a condition of things which must bo deemed very satisfactory. The committee appointed were : — Messrs. Gellion, Styak, McDonnell, Butler, Nolan, and Sullivan ; and at a subsequent meeting of these gentlemen the following officers were elected :—President, Colonel W. Fraser ; vice-president, Mr. J. Darrow ; auditor, M. Butler; treasurer, Mr. McDonnell ; secretary, Mr. L. Mclhose; starter, Mr. Short; clerk of the scales, Mr. Burton ; stewards, Messrs. McDonnell, Butler, Darrow, Gellion, and Nolan. The committee resolved to hold the annual race-meeting at Parawai on the 26th and 27th December next, the total value of the stakes for that | meeting not to exceed £500. The duty of i drafting a programme was remitted to a i committee comprising Messrs. Bobbett, : Gellion, and Butler, and the question of appointing a committee was referred to the i o u'da.

. - Mr. T. Motrin has, I am' glad to say, almost recovered from the severe attack of bronchitis from which he has been suffering during the past month, and was yesterday able to come to town and preside at the •usual fortnightly meeting of the directors of the New Zealand Stud Company. . Jamaica was put up to auction yesterday .at Hunter and Nolan's, and was knocked down for 10 guineas to a Mr, Smith, of ' Whangarei. When the auctioneer's hammer fell there was a slight round of applause, but whether this was meant as a :Compliment to the purchaser or to Mr. -Enko for getting rid of an animal that proved himself the greatest " frost " Ellerslie has ever seen did not appear quite clear. As " the captain " led the applause, -however, the latter would appear to be the correct solution.

While the course was quiet one day last week, Major George had Raglan and Clive put together in a fast mile and a-half on the trial gallop, when the latter is said to have had all the best of it. They were, lam told, again associated yesterday in a like task, when Raglan reversed the former verdict.

Mr. Bobbett has, I understand, decided on placing his horses in George Hope's lianas, and they will go into that painstaking young trainer's hands to-day. Lady Norah, who has been recruiting her health at Meadowbank for some time past, will join the team at an early date.

From the training notes appearing in the Canterbury Times of last week I cull the following regarding the doings of the New Zealand Cup candidates :—Artillery was sent a long slow canter alone, moving none too freely, wa thought, during any part of the journey. Ruby accompanied Springston once round steadily, when he was pulled off, and the younger brother made another circuit alone at a rather better pace. Ruby still looks big and well, but has done only very moderate work, and Springston, who is more forward, seems to be going on as well as could be wished. Carbine was associated with the rest of O'Brien's team in a smart canter once round, and strode along in his usual commanding style. British Lion and St. Clair covered nearly three miles at half pace, and St. Malo and Ravenswing accomplished an easier task, all acquitting themselves satisfactorily. Chain Shot had Engagement for a companion in a couple of rounds. The colt, although looking wonderfully well, is not the best of movers, and Engagement again pulled up lame. Manton made two circuits of the grass steadily, and was followed by Exchange, who, after showing a strong disinclination to go into the saddling paddock, was sprawling all over the track in a strong three-mile gallop. Mr. Robinson's colt is, undoubtedly, a good one ; but he is evidently possessed of a temper, and his hocks will occasion some trouble.

Malua still holds his position as favourite for the Melbourne Cup, and by last accounts 100 to 7 was the best price obtainable about him. The Australian Cup winner, Carlyon, has been made the medium of staunch support, fully £10,000 going down against his name at 100 to 5, and he shortened a point. Australian Peer is also being nibbled at, but so far the stable has made no move in his favour. For the V.R.C. Derby Volley has been genuinely backed, and advices to hand state that an unlimited commission was floated to back her at 4 to 1, but after £4000 had been secured at that price, 3 to 1 became the best price. Lonsdale is the only other Derby representative that is receiving any support of note, his price being 5 to 1.

The absence of late days of that promising colt Bernardo from the Randwick training tracks has caused the circulation of many rumours with respect to his ailment. He is suffering, however, from a severe sprain, and of such a nature is it that there are more unlikely things than that he may never face the flag aeain. Another one under the veterinary's care is the New Zea-land-bred colt Too Soon. When galloping he is decidedly musical, but it is stated on good authority that the noise by which he makes his presence known is caused by " thickness in the wind," the result of strangles, and hopes are entertained that he will recover from it.

I clip the following from " Martindale's" notes in the Sydney Town and Country Journal of last week:—Taken right through, Lamond is doing far and away the best work at Randwick. Each morning he puts a mile and a quarter bohincl him in a manner which is very convincing to those who take notice of it. His finish is especially good, though he is just a trifle light to appearance, but still in great heart. Matador is another which is keeping on the even tenor of his way. On last Tuesday I thought that he shaped particularly well, as did also Frisco. Aristocrat, however, is getting terribly sore; and a fast gallop on the course proper on Thursday did not improve him. He is now doing all left-handed work on the sand. When ho is warmed up he moves very well. Honeydew is big, but does good work, as also The Jewel, and First Flaneur, Last Thursday First Flaneur and The Queen put in a rare good mile and a-half, when the daughter of old Black Swan proved the better of the pair. Plutarch ran a rattling once round the tan track, and " repeated the dose" a couple of mornings after in company with Aberdeen. The last six furlongs occupied the pair lmin 21 3sec. Aberdeen, in my opinion, had the better of the finish, but then he is only shod with leathers, which should be in his favour. Volley and Ensign have also on both galloping mornings done excellent work, finishing up strongly and well. Arsenal and The Australian Peer, on Tuesday, put in very strong work, "and both moved along in grand style. First Chester, which is one of the grandest-looking horses in work, is doing well ; and it is just possible that lie will stand the preparation. Should he do so, he must occupy a very forward position in anything he starts for. Monaghan has Bonnie Spec in great form. On Tuesday she moved very nicely in a mile and a half with Tuscarora. Buwmont has had the shoes removed from his front feet, and on Tuesday exhibited rare good pace over a mile. Pearlshell did fairly well over the same distance. But I don't care much for her ; and she has not grown very much.

At the time of the death of the veteran Australian turfite, Mr. John Tait, "Sir Launcelot" wrote to Mr. Henry Redwood announcing to him the melancholy fact, and asking him who was the oldest racing man, he of Mr Tait. In reply, the " Father of the New Zealand Turf" says:—"Mr. Tait raced in Australia before 1 did, for he was racing Cossack and Whalebone prior to my going to Australia to buy blood stock, and directly after Cossack had won the Queen's Guineas < over Honiebusli I returned to Australia and bought Zoe and Flora, who were his full sisters, and also his sire, Sir Hercules, and his dain, Flora Mclvor, and all his half-sisters from the same dam, except Florence. The reason I did not buy the latter was that she had a broken hip, which hail been discharging for years, owing to a piece ol broken bone, which I removed, and she got quite well, but I was afraid she was too weak to stand the voyage. Therefore, Mr. Tait raced horses in Australia before I did ; but, as regards who is the oldest racing man, I think I can say I am, as I have not been without something in that way for over 42 years in New Zealand, and I was doing a bit of racing in England before that, as I trained ami raced a mare in England, and rode her in two steeplechases at Rugby and Great Hay ward before I left the old country. Her name was Tixall Lass, by Discovery, and a good mare she was, but not qui!good, enough. No country was too big for her, and after running second and third with her I sold her just before 1 left for New Zealand. So I may say I have been racing and steeplechasing for over fifty years, and have been breeding horses for forty years. I was amused the other day looking over an old file of the Kelson Examiner relative to the racing there in the early days of New Zealand. I figured for three years as winning all the nest things over hurdles and on the flat, and I was somewhat surprised to see the tims that some of the races were done in, considering the weights that were carried. In one race in which I rode a horse called Patch, bred in Van Dieman's Land, got by Snoozer (a thoroughbred one of course) — the Ladies' Purse, one mile and 360 yards —the distance was cut out in 2min lOsec, Patch winning by half a length. This time would stretch the necks of many we now denominate racehorses with list 71b on their back, which was the weight carried by Patch." Shotover was passed in at 11 guineas yesterday at Hunter and Nolan's.

The Rosehill Cup will be run to-day. The most promising yearling at Sylvia Park is said to be the Nordenfeldt—Pulchra Colt. The Hon. J. White has every hope of Cranbrook standing a preparation after a spell. Nominations for the principal events of the Onehunga Racing Club's Spring Meeting are due on Friday next. Mr. J. B. Williamson returned from Taranaki on Saturday last, bringihg with him the thoroughbred stallion The Dauphin. The winner of the last Cambridgeshire Stakes, Gloriation, has been sold to a patron of the American turf for 5000sovs. He is by Speculum out of Gloria. Enfilade (the full brother to Nordenfeldt) and Silver Prince (the half brother to Martini-Henry) are both reported to be doing capital work at Flemington. The thoroughbred stallion Sir Oswald, purchased recently in England, has been brought out safely to Sydney. He is by New Oswestry, out of Mountain Maid. The Australian jockey, T. Sanders, who rode Dunlop when that horse won the last Melbourne Cup, and who went recently to the old country, has decided on returning to the colonies.

At Sydney Tattersall's meeting; held on 25th ultimo at Randwick, the Two Year Old Stakes were won by Alchemist, a son of Sardonyx and Penitent, who beat a field of twenty-one in great style. A hairless horse, bred in Australia, is now to be seen at Tattersall's stables, Sydney. He is certainly a great curiosity, and it is his owner's intention to take him to America at no distant date.

There is likely to be great diversity of opinion respecting the attempt of the National Agricultural Society to have a tax of £10 imposed on all stallions of three years old and upwards in Victoria. Mr. Allan McLean's recent purchase, the Arab stallion Crusader, has arrived at Napier. As Crusader is said to be one of the very best Arab performers that ever left India, he should prove an acquisition to Maoriland.

At the sale of greyhounds in Melbourne recently 25 guineas was given for Hornpipe (by Rent-Charge—Maid of Oborne), while 110 guineas was given for Huon (by Capri—Maid of Oborne), Mr. E. Weeks being in each case the purchaser. The third reading of the Totalisator Bill was carried in the South Australian Assembly by seven votes. The Bill has, however, yet to pass the Legislative Council and there is some doubt as to its getting through successfully. Perhaps at no period in the history of the Australian turf (says the Sydney Telegraph) have so many of what are vulgarly termed "stiff uns" been seen on racecourses as have been noticeable to even casual observers during the past few weeks. Volley is reported to have done a remarkably successful time trial over the Derby distance at Randwick recently. A report is gaining ground to the effect that the daughter of Musket will not be among the runners for the A.J.C. blue ribbon.

Sir Thomas Elder has had very bad luck in his stud this season. Several mares have lost their foals, and amongst them Josephine (dam of Hortense) and Peradventure (dam of Guesswork), both of whom had col beforo their time, and both foals died.

The Canterbury and Auckland Derby winner Disowned was put up to auction in Melbourne recently and was knocked down for 95 guineas. From the small price realised for him there would not appear much chance of the son of Albany and No Name surviving a preparation. Last year the Monmouth Park Racing Association (America) gave away 189,500 dollars, or nearly £34,000 in stakes. Judging from the manner in which the sport is advancing in the United States, America will soon become the greatest racing country in the world. The Musket—Maid of Honour filly Precedence (6st 121b) ran second to Nectarine (7st 21b) for the August Handicap at Elsternwick Park on the 25th ult, Fancy Free, (7st 21b) (by Musket Fancy), occupying a like position in the Disposal Stakes to Major (6st 111b), run at Hurlingham Park. Captain Machell, who is credited with being one of tho most astute of English racing men, declines to buy any yearling on which the hollows over the eyes are particularly marked. Hi# experience, he says, is that such animals furnish quickly, but are rarely any good except as early two-year-olds. One of the finest fillies in training at Randwick in the way of appearance is said to be Buona Vista, the three-year-old daughter of Musket and Sister Agnes. She has wintered exceptionally well, and moves in good form, and it is anticipated that she will do something this season to keep the memory of old Musket green. By last accounts Chicago was at the top of the quotations for the Caulfield Cup. At Elsternwick Park, on the 25th ultimo, he won the principal event carrying Bst lib, and beating a field of ten, which included Meteor, He has only 7st 41b to carry in the Caulfield Cup, at which weight he has all along been voted one of the best things in the race.

Boomerang (by Musketßyronia) has for the present bid farewell to the turf, and is now engaged in the responsible task of currying "A Tramp, Esq.," in a tour of the Northern districts. Like Dick Deadeye, Boomerang's looks are "much agin him," but what he is lacking in that respect will be fully made up by the commanding appearance of " A Tramp." At a sale of blood stock recently in Melbourne the following prices were realised : —My Lord (by Epigram — Olive), 680 guineas ; St. John (by Conrad—Euphrosyne), 200 guineas ; Sumatra (by The Pontiff—Malacca), 320 guineas ; brown filly, by Richmond—lnstep, 450 guineas ; chestnut filly, by Robinson Crusoe — Rose of Denmark, 300 guineas,; Lara (by Conrad—Miss Harriett), 300 guineas; Sambour (by Columbus—Neredah), 260 guineas.

The Canterbury Times of last week has the following : —"A few months ago we remarked upon the premium to roguery offered by the Lancaster Park Trotting Club in visiting a case of ' pulling' with a paltry sentence of three months' disqualification. We characterised this as culpable leniency; but. what shall we say of the latest departure of the Lower Heathcote Racing Club ? This last-named institution held a trotting meeting on Monday afternoon, and one of the competitors in the Maiden Race displayed such an extraordinary reversal of form that the stewards were compelled to hold an inquiry. The inquiry seemed to satisfy the officials that something was wrong ; and, after mature consideration, they determined to disqualify the horse and rider for the remainder of the afternoon .'"

One of our New York contemporaries, referring to the sale of the yearling King Thomas for £7600 at Mr. Haggin's sale, nays, " It was the struggle of the century." At first there were four prominent competitors for this much-coveted yearling— Mr. Gratz of Pennsylvania, Mr. Dwyer of New York, Senator Hearst of California, and Mr. Appleby of New York. Mr. Gratz was the first to tire, as he stopped short at 5000 dollars, or 1000 guineas. Mr. Dwyer, commonly supposed to be the best judge of thoroughbred stock in America, was stalled off after bidding 1.1,000, or 3000 guineas. The struggle was | then reduced to a match between Senator ! Hearst and Mr. Appleby. "At it," says I our contemporary in true Trans-atlantic phraseology, " they went hammer and j tongs, pitchforks and sawlogs. It was the ! West agiiin.-f. i tie East. The people stood jup and Mi el. Hearst made a spurt at i the 20,001) dollars post, and it seemed all I over. I >;■ < Appleby came again gamely, 1 .tin I wa» clearly leading at the 30,000 I dolltiis ; u Then the people went mad. : The C.O.ltoriiian was sorely distressed, but ! struggled on to 37,000 dollars, his final bid. Then Appleby shot past at the 38,000 dollars post, and, after a brief ' You can have him at that' from Senator Hearst, the hammer fell." A few days after, however, the Senator offered a hig advance, and secured the colt.