THE BETTING MARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9452, 24 August 1889, Page 6

THE BETTING MARKET.

From Australian papers to hand I gather that so far there has been very little wagering of note over the big spring handicaps. For the Hawkcsbury Handicap Tourbillon has been installed favourite at 100 to 14, and after her Bernardo and Lamond are the

most in request at 100 to 12. For the Metropolitan Stakes, Lamond and Abercoru are favourites at 100 to 10; and after them comes Cardigan, Cranbrook and Arsenal, at 100 to 8 each. Silverton has received further support for the Melbourne Cup, and is now quoted at 100 to 7. Hundreds to six have Deen accepted about Singapore and

Tradition, while Daniel has been nibbled at at a point or two longer. The Caulfield Cup is scarcely mentioned, but the V.R.C. Derby has received some attention. Singapore and Dreadnought are the favourites, 6 to 1 being • offered on the field, and 10 to 1 bar these two. UNLUCKY SPORTSMEN. It is odd to notice how lack comes in streaks. For instance, last year the Duke of Westminster won well over £IS,OOO in stakes ; iu ISS6 he won well over £24,000 ; this year he has scarcely won a. race. The Duke of Beaufort was to the fore with nearly £16,000 the year before last, Mid thus season, so far, the " light blue and white hoops" have never once been in front. These are owners who do their best to. get good horses, whose studs are carried on with shrewdness, knowledge, observation, and large expenditure, who, in fact, do everything that can be done to ensure success. It will be seen, therefore, that there is no Royal road to victory on the turf. Tin; ARAB AS A KACEUOK-SK. _ One often hears arguments as*to the relative abilities of the Arab compared with the thoroughbred. From a copy of the weigh far-age scale in force at the Calcutta Meeting, it is evident that the racing authorities in India have a very poor opinion of the Arabs ability to cope with his rivals in question. Over a mile the English three-year-old carries 9st 31b, the Arab sst4lb. That is to say, the Arab receives jour stonz all but one pound. Colonial readers may not know, however, that the capacity ot other breeds, besides these two is estimated. The Australian 1 torso is reckoned to bo lOlb behind the English ; the Cape follows at a very respectful distance, and the country-bred comes between him and the Arab. The figures are : English, 9st 31b ; Australasian, Sst 71b ; Capes, Gst9lb ; country brals, (Ist 4lb; Arabs, sst 41b. Over two miles and a-half, which, according to ouce accepted theories, would have been all in favour of the child of the desert, the English three-year-old carries Sst 71b, the Arab 4st lib, or an advantage of four atone six jKrurtd. A DEAD- XN COMK3 TO LITE. Some very curious and highly amusing market transactions occurred in connection wit!i the Hurdle Race run at the Victoria Amateur Turf Club's Meeting recently. The Howling Forest representative, Bolton, long since regarded as a rod in pickle, opened favourite, and at one time it wis a difficult matter to obtain 2to 1 about him. For some unaccountable reason, however, he was overtaken by a sudden attack of metallic fever, and gradually yielding to the overpowering influence of the mighty pencil he was eventually knocked out, any odds asked for being obtainable as the horses took up their positions at. the post. _ A more hostile demonstration than that instituted agaiuat Bolton has (says " Asmodeus'') seldom been known on a racecourse, and one avaricious member of the ring, more anxious than his confreres to insert the last nail in the coffin of a supposed dead un, actually offered £50 to a sovereign. How the-vultures dxt flutter, screech, and peck at what they considered " dead meat," to bo sure, yet notwithstanding all this Bolton effected a particularly easy victory, to the utter astonishment of those who had evinced such a strong desire to operate against him. It is said that nobody was more surprised at the result than Scobie and the rank and lile of his stable followers ; be this as it may, Bolton won without an effort, and such an exposure of form will materially minimise the chances of effecting any bis cowp that might have been meditated with him. AN INTERESTING ANECDOTE. The late Mr. Proctor, the eminent astronomer, had a roofed conviction that betting was iniquitous and rascally, and nothing else, and here is another I'roc tori an anecdote of odds :—" A curious instance of the loss of all sense of lionour, or even honesty, which betting begets, occurred to me when I was in New Zealand. A bookmaker ('by profession,' as he said), as genial and good-natured a man as one would aire to meet, and with a strong sense of right and justice outside betting, had learned somehow that ten horses can come in (apart from dead heats) in 3,628,800 different ways. This curious piece of information seemed to him an admirable way of training money from the inexjxjriciiccd. So i he began to wager about it, endeavouring— tliough, as will be seen, he failed —to win money by wagering on a certainty. Unfortunately, he came early across a man as cute as himself and a shade cuter (a brigand brigand tt demi), who worded the question on which the wager turns thus : — 4 In how many ways can ten horses be placed ?' Of course, this is a very different thing. Only the first three horses can be placed, and the sets of three which can l>e made out of ten horses number only 10 times 9 times S, or 720 (there are only 120 actual sets of three, but each set can be placed in six different ways). My genial, but (whatever he thought himself) not quice honest friend, submitted the matter to me. Not noticing, at first, the technical use of the word ' placed,' I told him there were 3,fi23,5G0 different arrangements; he rejoiced as though the money wagered were already in his pocket. When this was corrected, and I told him his opponent had certainly won, as the question would be understood by betting men, he was at first depressed ; but presently recovering, he said, * Ah, well; I shall win more out of this little trick, now I see through it, than I lose this time.' "

MISCKLLAN'KOUS ITKMS. The Auckland Racing Club issued their book programmes during the present week. I notice that the dates of the spring meeting appear as November 9th and 11th. This, however, does not, I understand, set the matter at rest, and no doubt the committee will, at an early date, again deliberate as to the changing of the second day from Monday to Saturday.

The mishap which befel Lady Norah recently is apparently more serious than was anticipated. From wliat I can learn on the subject, it appears that the daughter of Cadogan struck herself badly while being indulged in a mild canter in the centre of the course, and a bowed tendon is the result. Of course the injury being taken in time may prevent her being knocked right out, but so tar as the New Zealand Cup is concerned she must, 1 think, be placed in tire list of very doubtful starters.

Mr. R. BL&ikie, the well-known penciller, returned to Auckland during the present week, after a couple of months' sojourn in Australia. A rumour has afloat to the effect that Mr. Blaikie intends leaving Auckland and taking up his permanent residence in Sydney, but this is incorrect. He will still remain with us to do battle over forthcoming events, and if he cannot pretty well fill the little volume over the V.R.C. Derby and Cup, I shj.ll myself begin to think that there is something in the cry, " Auckland's done." The only foaling announced from Sylvia Park this season is Steppe (dam of Ritssloy and Lady Norah), who has produced a colt to Nordenfeldt, and the half-sister to Hermit will be mated with the same wre again this season. At Mr. Walters', liipporina has produced a filly to St. Leger.

The Island Bay (Wellington) course and surroundings is (says the Referee) fast going to destruction. It is a great pity to see such a popular seasido resort going to ruin. 'J.here is certainly 110 room for two clubs here. I believe the lease held by the W.R.C. of the Island Bay course is up, and there are various rumours of starting another club, a trotting club, cutting the ground up hi sections, and each shareholder having one, etc. The latest addition to the track is a dead horse.

A requisition signed by nearly all the leading steeplechase jockeys, as well as several amateurs, was presented to the committee of the Victoria Racing Club recently, requesting that brush should be placed in front of the steeplechase fences at Flemington. The committee, however, have declined to entertain the request; and it need scarcely be said that the* decision has caused much dissatisfaction.

Writing of the' Melbourne Cup candidate Maxim, "Spectator/' says The exact mature of Maxim's trouble is this. He gallops on his heels, not as I had supposed of striking his hind hoof against the heels of the fore ones, but by stretching himself to such an extent as to bring the sensible part of the horn of the heel too close to the ground."

1< oalinga have commenced at the Hobartville (Sydney) paddocks, and among the additions Mr. Andrew Town has received to his stud is " the first of the Trentons," Rosedale having given a pledge of affection for that stallion in the shape of a good-looking filly. Rosedale is the dam of the Hawkesbury Guineas winner Kingsdale.

Old Rewi has again been distinguishing himself in Australia. At the Wyndharn Meeting he carried 7st 131b, and won the principal handicap (a stake of lOOsovs) in easy style from a field of eleven. The old gelding is now the property of E. Kelly.

The two-year-old Bay King (by Cadogan— Corcyra), which Mr. Butler purchased from Major Mair last January, is said to be striding along in capital style at Riccarton, and is thought to be a youngster of much promise.

A racehorse, reported to be thirty-five years of age, was soldi by auction at the Dnncdin saleyards recently. His name is Tapioca, but his breeding is unknown. Mr. W. H. Taggart owned him twenty-two years ago. The English turfite, Sir John Willoughby, last year opened a yearling book on the Derby, and amongst other wagers laid 10,000 to 100 against Surefoot. 4tol is now the best offer against the colt, so that it will cost the unlucky baronet a nice penny to secure himself, unless, of course, ne elects to stand what looks like a very bad wager,

A Spanish donkey was sold recently in Sydney for £100. Mr. James Monaghan, the well-known Sydney trainer, was married last week. "Tranter (by —Pungawerewere) has cone to the scud in the Deniliquin district. ° The Canterbury Times says that the stallion Albany can De of little further service to the stud. The Morphettville racecourse, close to Adelaide, was sold recently to Mr. S. Brown, of Melbourne, for £9400. The Pakuranga hounds returned from Waikato yesterday.. The " meet" to-day is fixed for Panmnrc Bridge at 1 p.m. Ricochet (the full sister to Mitrailleuse), who went astray in Now South Wales recently, has turned up all right. The Hawke's Bay Jockey Club have issued their programmes for the ooming season, which show added money to the extent or £3715. The Middle Park Stud Company will probably this year submit their yearlings for sale in November, instead of, as formerly, in April. Mr, P. Tancred, the well-known Wairarapa sportsman, talks of discontinuing racing, and is trying to dispose of his stud of horses. It is rumoured that Messrs. J. and D. Munti have come into a considerable sum of money by the decease of a relative in Australia. As in almost every other place, pony racing in England lias got into very bail repute, because of the bad character of certain of its prominent supporters i The stallion Coronet (by St. Albans—Prima Donna), was submitted for sale recently in Victoria at a reserve of 1500 guineas, but no offer was made for him. By last accounts from Sydney the Hon. James White was said to be slightly better, bat is still confined to the house, and few of his friends are allowed to see him. It is probable that the turf has seen the last lof Pasha. At any rate he is not likely again to carry the racing colours of Mr. Oxenham, who has placed him in the sale list. _ j The Melbourne Sportsman offers a prize of £100 to the subscriber who first names the winners of the treble—Canlfield Cup, Melbourne Cup, and Maribyrnong Plate. The English-bred horse Metal (by Sterling Fair Vestal) has been purchased by the well-known New South Wales breeder, Mr. Chas. Baldwin, of Durham Court, for £200. Writing on the Melbourne Cup " Augur" says .—"I have a fancy for Silvertou, Sinecure, Singapore, and Richelieu, and the best of this quartette will be very near winning." It is reported that Mr. Pierre Lorillard, the well-known American sportsman, who won the English Derby with Iroquois in 1881, will shortly resume his connection with the turf. The police authorities are still making it decidedly hot for the private total isa tor people in Sydney. Several of them were recently fined £20 each for breaches of the Betting Act. Tourbillon, who has the nice impost of 7st Gib in the Hawkesburv Handicap, has been claiming some support for that event of late, 5000 to 500 being accepted on one hand about her chance. At the sale of Mr. J. B. Hoggin's Californian yearlings, a colt by King Baa realised '22,000 dollars, or £4200. King Ban is halfbrother to the New Zealand Stud Company's stallion St. Leger. That unfortunate horso Lorraine, who has been flattering the hopes of his admirers for some time by the character of his work, is once again under suspicion, and it is doubtful if he will see the post for the New Zealand Cup.Owing, it is said, to the difficulty of obtaining suitable accommodation on any of the Sydney-going steamers, Mr. Hammond, for the present, has given up the idea of sending Sultan to Australia before the A.J.C. Meeting. Very little speculation is being done in the South over the New Zealand Cnp. According to the quotations in the Referee hundreds to ten are on offer about either Chainshot, Corunna, Merrie England, Dudu, Recluse, or Tirailleur.

According to the Canterbury Times, there have been several commissions in the market lately to purchase a stud-horse for the North Island. An offer was made for Vanguard, but led to no business, and the same buyers are now enquiring about Sextetnt. A pigeon match for a stake of £10 a-side is to take place to-day at ton's Farm, Mount Eden, between Messrs. J. Henderson and T. Johnson. The conditions are :Ten birds, 30 yards' rise. An unlimited sweepstake of £1 each is to be fired off at the same place. The lx>ok written by Benson, " the Plunger," entitled " How I Lost £250,000 in Two Years," has had a great run. The demand has been so great that it is intended to treble the number originally proposed for the first edition. The price is fixed at 10s 6d per copy. The business of Messrs. Brown Brothers, the well-known Sydney horse auctioneers, has been formed into a company with a capital of £50,000. According to the prospectus, the commission business of the firm alone during the past two years amounted to the large sum of £114,000. Among the orders issued by the Brooklyn (America) Jockey Club on their opening day was the following "If any person give or offer to any trainer, jockey or employ?, or if any trainer, jockey or em ploy 6 accept or offer to accept any gratuity, whether in the form of money, share in a bet, or any other benefit, without the previous specific and written consent of the owner whose horse gives occasion to the gratuity, and by whom the trainer, jockey or is engaged, the person so offending shall be ruled off the course."

The Sydney Referee recently got off the following bit of bombast: — The world acknowledges the fact that Young Australia, Queen of the Southern Seai has taken the whip hand in all kinds of sport. We have thrown down the gauntlet of battle, on tlieir own soil, to England's greatest, and from little beginnings in that line we shall undoubtedly go on till the Kangaroo has downed tike old lion in fair combat, and the Emu shakes his bald crest above the prostrate Eagle and screams, ' Advance Australia !' " An English paper says that a discussion upon how much can a jockey know during a race of what his competitors are doing tends to the conclusion that they can really know very little. A knowledge of the pace of their own mount is about as far as they can go. The late Admiral Rous esteemed a jockey's judgment as of very little value. "I have often made matches," he once testified, on the representation of the jockey that if he had not done so and so ho would have won, and in nineteen out of twenty cases I have found the jockey wrong. Any man who follows the advice of his jockey-is sure to be ruined."