SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8628, 25 July 1891, Page 6

SPORTING.

TO RACING CLUBS. The Auckland Weekly News has been appointed the Official Calendar for the publication of all' programmes in the Provincial District of Auckland, in terms of the new rules of racing. In order to ensure advertisements being inserted iu the page allotted to " The Sportsman" it is necessary that they be sent in by "Wednesday afternoon. [EXTRACT.] Rule 17i—The programme of each meeting in which the added money is £100 or upwards, must be advertised in full once at least in the Official Calendar. The advertisement shall show that the programme has beeu approved by the Jockey Club, shall state the days on which tho meeting is to begin »nd end, and the names of the stewards, judge, starter, rlerk of the scales, and handicapper. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. August 13—New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase. September 9—Doncaster St. l*ger. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE TUBF. M.R.S., Daraavillo.—The stallion Ingonur never raced in New Zealand. A bay gelding bearing the samo title was racing on the West Coast some years ago, which has probably given rise to the error. Ranch, Napier.—A fall yearling brother to Maxim (by Musket from Realisation) was sold in Sydney in 1885 for 80 guineas. He never recorded anything of note on tho turf. Subscriber.—lnthe list of scratching appearing in the Melbourne Sportsman iJonald s namo is missing, .so that we cannot furnish you witn the information you desire. SUBSCIUBKR.—In the Metropolitan Handicap.run at tho C.J.C, Meeting in 1880, Natator (6yrs) carried 7st 121b and won, beating Bir Modied (3 yrs, 7st 61b) and nine others. Wo can find no mention of Natator ever carrying lOst. H., KHerslie. —-"Welcome Jack's time, when he won the Auckland Cup (2J miles) was 4ra. 7s. ; Salvage's, 4ni. 3. Canard carried list 21b when he woji the A.U C. Summer Steeplechase. WAGER. —If thn Melbourne* Cnp was run nnder weight for aj;e conditions, Carbine's impost would be Uat 71b. Three-year-olds would carry 7st 31b. AQUATICS. QUERY.—In his match with J. GaudaurW. Beach is credited with having covered the distance from Plltnev to Mortlake In 22m. 295. In the SearleO'Connor match, rowod over the same course, the timo given is 22m. 40s. NOTES BY PHAETON. THK TOTALISATOK TAX. The members of the recent Racing Conference at Wellington addressed a joint letter to the Hon. J. Ballauce on the question of the proposed totalisator tax, in which they placed before the Premier, in a very powerful manner, the injury that would be inflicted on the New Zealand turf in the event of such a heavy tax as 2$ per cent, being levied. The letter was evidently most carefully compiled, aud from the fallowing excerpt which I make it will be seen that the delegates submitted a very strong case for tho Premier's consideration :—

As you are aware, the Racing Clubs deduct 10 per cent., and this by a consensus of opinion is adinitloit to be the maximum charge which the public would submit to ; in fact, were it not that the net profits are applied to provide sport for tlioso who thus voluntarily contribute the funds, efforts would have been mode long ago to reduce this rate. Were it increased, there is no doubt that the public would materially reduce their investments ratner than submit to the additional impost. Thus it may be bo taken for granted that.our calculations must be based upon the present rate of commission. The average cost entailodfor working the machine is fully 2J- per cent., -«o that if another '2k per cent, is claimed by the Government it would result in diminishing the racing clubs' revenue from this source by one-third. How serious this would be may be seon when it is borne in mind that tho bulk of the revenue,now received by racing clubs is obtained from this source, as since the use of the ir.achine has been permitted the other sources of revenue have been reduced to a minimum; for in.stance, the charges for admission to the enclosures, as well as for entrance fees, etc., are now much less thin heretofore, whilst tho public are no longer worried by being canvassed lor subscriptions. AsßUinine for the moment that the contributions continued in the future to the same extent as during the past year, the Auckland, Waiiganui, Hawke'e Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, and Dune,diu Jockey Clubs alone would lose some £7000 of revenue ; and, as the stakes would therefore necossarily be reduced by at least a similar Amount, 'he result could not fail seriously to injure high-class racing. But the damage would not und hero. We feel assured that if 2$ per cent, is levied by thu (Government the) result would be sill more farreaching, as the reduction in stakes wouicl result in the best horses leaving the country, and consequently with inferior sport there would be a rapidly decreasing attendance on the part of the public. This diminished attendance would mean a lessened sum going through the machine. We may be permitted to remind you that tho revenue derived by racing club 3 from the totaUsafcor is a voluntary contribution from those wiio find an amusement iii the spurt of racing, and there is no doubt it is the fairest system that lias yet been inventad to onanle the general public to obtain a pecuniary interest in the result of a race; and we cannot but think that this new mode of watering is far preferable to the old system of wagering upon credit.

This communication was followed up later on by a deputation of all the members of Parliament who acted as delegates at the Conference, at which the Hon. Captain Russe.ll again placed the matter before Mr. Ballanoe in a succinct manner. Tho Premier, in replying to tho deputation, spoke in a very favourable strain, and stated that if the necessities permitted, he hoped to reduce the amount of tho tax to onehalf per cent., as suggested. This announcement is very cheering, and though no direct promise has been made by the Premier, the reduction asked by the deputation will, iu all probability, be secured. MR. STEAD'S TEAM. The rumour that Mr. Stead was likely to send Medallion, Lebel, and Silver Knight ovor to Sydney in order to join his other pair, Scots Grey and Palliser, under the charge of R. Mason, has proved correct, and they were shipped thence on Saturday last. Whether the horses arc to remain permanently in Australia is not known, but as we have not hoard of their withdrawal from C.J.C. engagements, it would seem as if Air. Stead's mind is not yet quite made up on the point. As the Australian Jockey Club's Meeting takes place early in September, there is, of course, nothing to prevent Medallion and Co. fulfilling their engagements at the C.J.C. Meeting in November, but I should think it very unlikely that the Canterbury sportsman will adopt those tactics. I may remark that, in addition to other Australian engagements, Lebel and Silver Knight are amongst the entrants for the A.J C. and V.R.C. Derbies. THE NEW ZEALAND CUP. " Mazeppa" discusses the New Zealand Cup in the Otago Witness last week in his usual able style; and in concluding hisreview he says : —" Taking tho handicap as a whole, my opinion is that if Tirailleur had had a little more and Occident a little le.ss weight. there would have been no serious fault to find with the weighting of the known performers ; that in the most cases these horses have been relatively handicapped to the pound j and that what would otherwise have been one of the very best handicaps ever issued in the colony has been to some extent marred by what looks to me like a pernickety endeavour to sort out the light weights according to a fanciful idea as to their merits, instead of adopting the safer method _of proceeding by results, nud dealing alike with horses that have no results to show. This objection is, of course, purely a matter of opinion, and doubtless many will think that Mr. Henry is right and I am wrong. If this is so, lam not concerned to argue the point. Mr. Henry has at any rate made a handicap which will please a large number of owners ; and more than that, he has brought most of the proved performers together with consummate skill, and thus completely justified Iris appointment. For one thing, he has puzzled me as to what to do by way of concluding this notice. I am supposed to indicate what I look upon as the beat goods in tho handicap, and I'm blest if 1 know how to do it. I take Tirailleur without hesitation as being dangerous if he stops hero; but will he stop '! I cannot tell. Next to him there are half-a-dozen or more that are much of a muchness, and, indeed, as between about twenty that could be named, it is simply a question, not of weight, but of condition. As a fancy—being compelled to raise a fnncy of some kind—l should say that Tirailleur, Cissy, Strephon, Blizzard, Cajolery, Tassy, are about as dangerous a half-dozen as 1 can select, and to further reduce these to two. I should take Tirailleur and Cissy ; but really my advice is given with the greatest diffidence, and I would rather postpone the making of a definite selection until we seo some faet work being done, and also gain an idea aa to owners' intentions." MISOKIjIiANKOUS ITEMS. Mr. George Cutts intends leaving for Sydney by next steamer with Impulse, who he purchased on Monday last on behalf of a local syndicate. The son of St. Leger has proved himself a fair little horse, and properly placed should pay his way on Australian territory. Mr. Cults is not, iam pleased to say, leaving Auckland for good, and the veteran will probably bes found wielding the starter's ilag again at Ellorslie in November, The committee of the- South Auckland Racing Club have under consideration a proposal to make their next Summer Meeting a two days' gathering. Thanks to the energy displayed by the secretary, Mr. G. H. Carter, the finances of the club are in a very satisfactory condition, and au horse owners urc invariably treated liberally, tho gatherings at Claudelandfl will be sure to increase in popularity.

The tracks at Ellerslje have not suffered much from the recent rains, and indeed they are in much better condition this year than in any previous winter season. H. Harrison is a regular attendant with Major George's numerous team, and they are all doing well, The Workman and Reprisal especially shining out. The stallion Bundoora was shipped last week from Lyttelton for Melbourne, where he is to be submitted to sale. Bundoora, who is a son of The Peer and Argosy, is rising twelve years old. During his turf career he was a most unfortunate customer, always > going amiss, and the only race of note that his then owners, Messrs. Mason and Vallance, j;ot out of him was in the Christchurch Cup, in 1883, which he won, carrying Bst 31b, and compassing the two milos in 3m. 355. The Canterbury Times sent the horse away with the following certificate : —" A brilliant racehorse himself, Bundoora has left nothing of any noteno horse at all likely to emulate his own turf deeds—but some of his progeny have been useful, and the great majority of the hacks got by him are serviceable animals; big, stout, and temperate."

The wagering on forthcoming events continues very dull. For the Melbourne Cup Carbine still continues in request, and the best price obtainable about the son of Musket is Bto 1. Vengeance comes next on the list at 12 to 1, while 15 to 1 and 20 to 1 are quoted respectively about Dreadnought and Melos. The New Zealand Cup is almost a dead letter, and very little alteration may be looked for until the movements of Mr. Gollan's team are definitely fixed. Should the Napier sportsman elect to send Tirailleur to Ricoarton to fulfil his engagement, the public will, I opine, very speedily have him m tho position of favourite. Freedom is quoted at 100 to 8, and Strephon at a point longer.

Mr. Harrison has, I understand, received an offer for Raglan from a resident of Hawera, which he will most likely accept. The son of Cap-a-pie has, I fancy, from the nature of his break down ended his turf career, but I see no reason why he should not add further lustre to his name when he takes up stud duties.

The annual meeting of members of the Auckland Racing Club is fixed for Monday, 3rd August for the purpose of receiving statement of accounts and to elect six members of committee.

Carbine's pilot, R. Ramage, who had his leg badly broken on Queen s Birthday last while riding Bendigo, is making a good recovery, and he is now able to get about on crutches.

Randwick trainers are (says " Martindale ") somewhat troubled this season with their yearlinsrs, which, for a few weeks' past, have been spurting during the afternoon. Almost every one of the youngsters have exhibited lameness. Not a, single stable has been exempted. IN o cause can be assigned for it. At this early stage no reliable line has been gained, but one or two show more than the average amount of pace.

Though the date for receiving applications for the respective posts of handicapper, stipendiary steward, and inspector of courses to the_ Victoria Racing Club, closed on the 30th ultimo, no selection has yet been made, and it is understood that the appointments will not be made until after the new committee is elected next month.

The Colonel, who was purchased last year by Mr. Bobbett, and who turned out a rather unfortunate investment, is now being hunted by John Rae with the Pakuranga hounds, and he will most likely be a contestant for the next Hunt Cup.

" Centaur's Index" for IS9I, published by Mr. R. P. Hurren, of Melbourne, is to hand, and as usual contains a full list of performances of the horses engaged in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups together, with much other information. It is published at one shilling. The jockey C. J. Parker, who was killed in Adelaide receutly whilo riding in a race, was evidently a superior young fellow. It is stated that he intended submitting himself for the matriculation examination during the forthcoming term at the Melbourne University, for which he had been studying. Aβ an instance of what a well-behaved jockey can earn, it i 3 stated that during the short time lie was in Australia young Parker amassed £3000. Gatling, the threo-year-old son of Nordenfeldt and Petroleuse, who has proved a costlv purchase since Mr. W. Gannon purchased aim for 2000 guineas last season, has, it is stated, developed into a rather unmanageable customer, and it has been found necessary to ride him in a buckjumping saddle. The French srjortsman, M. E. Blanc, is having a very fair innings this season on the British turf. The Manchester Whitsuntide Plate of SOOOsovs fell to his lot with Rueil, on whom he is said to have won a big stake; and at Leicester he landed the rich Prince of Wales Stakes of 6000sovs with Rev6rend. Both these colts are sons of Energy, and were bred in France. It is stated that the Americana want £25,000 (as a minimum) for St. Blaise, who is now regarded as the most successful sire in the States, and when put up at auction it is expected that he will realise "by far the largest sum that was ever paid for a horse." If the son of Hermit be worth £25,000. what price our own Carbine, a far bettor performer on the turf ? Tho French Derby, as well as the Grand Prix de Paris, is now more valuable than the English Derby. In Australia (says one writer, commenting on the above) they would soon go one better than the French; but the members of the Jockey Club are still apparently indulging in their Rip Van Winkle sleep, and to get them to increase tlie Derby stakes to (say) £10,000 seems hopeless. In the course of an article on thoroughbred sales, the English Standard says : —" There is good ground for believing that, before many years have flown, the price of thoroughbreds descended from England's best blood will be assimilated, if not equalised all o\;er the world. Some time will doubtless elapse before an offer similar to that made, or said to have been made, not long since, to the Dowager Duchess of Montrose by Captain Machell will be repeated in any other country than this. Rumour alleges that Captain Machell, who has repeatedly proved himself to be one of the most spirited buyers of horses in existence, avowed his readiness to give the Duchess the enormous sum of £20,000 a year for five years on the condition that all the annual crop of thoroughbred foals produced at her stud farm or farms should be handed over to him. Still greater wonder will be expressed at the announcement that this magnificent offer is said to have been retused."

Commenting on the recent death of the widow of tho late John Scott, who during his career as a trainer enjoyed the soubriquet of "The Wizard of the JSorth," a writer in Horse and Hounds says : —" Mrs. Scott was tho lady that Lord Falmouth had his famous bet of sixpence with that Queen Bertha would not win the Oaks of 1803, and, losing it, His Lordship had the sixpence surrounded with diamonds and made up into a brooch. I see papers;-"commenting on this, say that this was Lord Falmouth's only bet. I believe this is a mistake, and that earlier than this he used to frequently wager; but one day when riding oii" Newmarket Heath with a friend, for whose judgment he had the greatest respect, he happened to say to him that by luck he had como oil' quits on tho day by backing the last winner at a cood price. His friend then said to him,' 'rake my advice, give up betting; that's the best way to come off quits.' And Lord Falmouth, taking his wise tip, never had another bet except Mie celebrated one of sixpence."

There is a story of Fred. Archer, in "Racing for Gold," which is not, I think, generally known. It seems that when this famous jockey was at Doneaster one year for the St. 1 eger, the evening before the race he receive:! i parcel which, on opening, he found to contain lOUsovs, and a slip of paper, on which wnn written a promise to send him a second hundred if he did not win on the morrow. Archer, who was to ride the favourite, at once went to Lord Falmouth, the owner of the horse, told him what had happened, and asked that another jockey might be put up in his stead. But Lord Falmouth would not hear of this, and told Archer to keep the money. The latter accordingly rode the favourite next day, and though he thought he had the race in baud, he was boat-en on the post by a short head. On his return to his quarters he found a parcel awaiting him, containing the second £100, and a letter thanking him for having kept his faith with his anonymous correspondent, but asking him "not to draw it quite so line another time !"

Tho four "warning off" notices which appearod in the Racing Calendar of May 21 do not, as was thought at the time, end tho action taken by the stewards of tho Jockey Club as the result of their lengthy investigations during the past winter. It seems that they have got others on the list, and the "blisters" will probably be administered in the months of June and July. The wheels of the club may grind exceedingly slow, but they go on grinding when once set going. I clip the following paragraph from tho English Sportsman s— Just belore the bell rang for the Prix do Bretagne, at Autcuil, on June 3, an Englishman went up to a PariMutuel oflice, and said ho wished to put 900 francs on Papillon IV. Owing to tho Englishman's faulty pronunciation, the clerk only understood the last word, 'quartre,' and accordingly gavo him ninety 10 franc tickets for 'Jean la Folio, , which was numbered ' four' on tho card. ' Jean la Folle' won easily, and the more than lucky Britisher cleared over 01,000 francs." Notice has been given in tho Victorian Parliament of a Bill to legalise th« totalisa tor.

.Freedom is said to be going on extremely well at Riccarton. Bungebah is in good request for the Caulfield Cup at 100 to 8. Old Dudu is to be mated with Chainshot (by Musket—Locket) next season. It is stated that there are upwards of 250 two-year-olds in work at Rand wick. Cambria still continues to figure in the unplaced division at the Sydney pony meetings. Regina (lOst 31b) is thought to have a mortfago on the New Zealand Grand National [urdle Race. Martenhurst, who ran third for the Derby, was purchased on the following day by Lord Rosslyn for 3500 guineas. Waitiri, who is this year in foal to Nelson, is to be covered next season by Quilt (a son of Robinson Crusoe and Patch). The 1M ew Zealand bred horse Pcerswick won the Winter Handicap and Tradesmen's Handicap at Bairnsdale (Victoria) recently. It is very likely that Mr. Gollan will tl'is year send Florence McCarthy, the dam of Tirailleur, on a visit to Musket's son Maxim. The present owner of Ormonde, Signor Bocca, of Buenos Ayres, is reported to be in such low water that he cannot pay his racing forfeits. Old Anteros claimed a winner at the Warwick Farm (Sydney) Meeting last week ; his son, Alcides, winning the Farm Stakes of 7osovs. Exchange (by St. George—Rupee) has been purchased by Messrs. Stock and Conroy, of Napier, and he takes up stud duties in that province this season. Crackshot is now doing good half-pace work, and for the time Charlie O'Connor is said to hdvo the son of Nordenfeldt and Pnngawerawera in capital hick. The Victorian turfite, Mr. S. G. Cook, has altered his mind as to submitting his horsss for sale, and the Pytchley Lodge establishment will therefore not be broken up. Satisfactory accounts still continue to come to hand from Caulfield, as to the state of Cuirassier's health, and he is reported to be putting in strong exercise almost every day. There died recently, at Great Bavington, a pony belonging to Messrs. Stephenson, which had t>een in the possession of the family for 37 years. The animal was 42 years old. , t On June 6 even thousands were bet that Common wins the St. Leger. The defeat of the son of Isouomy in the great Eclipse Stakes is not at all reassuring to the backers of the favourits.

The Melbourne Sportsman again offers this year a prize of £250 for the successful tipster or tipsters of the following five events : — Caullield Guineas, Caulfield Cup, Maribyrnong Plate, V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cun. An English journal says : —" Matthew Dawson and John Porter must possess some special secret for training horses for the classic events. A feature in Wild Dayrell's training was that he did his gallops about the hour of his great rn.ee—three p.m." As was the case with her stable mate Donovan, Memoir, who last year won the Oaks and St. Leger Stakes, has proved untrainable at four years old, and it is unlikely that the daughter of St. Simon will again carry the Duke of Portland's colours. The first of Ormonde's stock appeared on the English turf at Newmarket recently, when Goldfinch (a half-brother to the .English Derby winner, Common) kept up his sire's unbeaten record by winning the Two-year-old Race, beating eleven others in easy style. An English exchange says that one of the largest winners over Common was Tatham, the barber of Jermyn-street. Lord Alingr.on is a very regular patron, and Tatham generally has a bit with the stable commission. This time he had it by himself. In one bet alone he is said to have taken £35,000 to £1000.

Twice the Derby has been run either in a snowstorm or on a day when there was snow, and in each case the race was won by a horse that stood at outside odds; by Bloomsbury at 30 to 1 (May 15, 1839), and by Mr. Chaplin's " best friend," Hermit, at 6(5 to 1 (May 22,1867). THE MELBOURNE CUP. cahbine's " cruel" impost " Olympus," the spirited contributor to Melbourne Punch, pens : —" It has been stated that Mr. Wallace complains bitterly of what he tei-ms the cruel way in which Carbine has been treated in being allotted lOst 121b in the Melbourne Cup. Well, if that be so, then Mr. D. S. Wallace must have an idea that he should be simply presented year after year with the valuable Melbourne Cup. During.the last three years I be lias been made a present of the rich stake ■ on two occasions ; whilst the year that Carbine ran second with lOst it would have been another gift for the Musket — Mersey colt had he been in his best condition. Mr. Wallace may be a very estimable gentleman, and a great pillar of the Turf, but there's an old proverb about ' Live and let live.' As a matter of fact, Carbine's handicap weight for the Melbourne Cup this year should have been well over list —thaft's in all fairness, if you wanted to give other horses a possible chance. Last year he nasi away from his field at the home turn a.'j if chey were a lot of hacks, even although he had a gathered hoof (that burst next day, and exuded blood and matter for a wisek after), and had what had been designated as 1 the crusher' of lOst slb on his back. ' The son of Musket, , Mr. Wallace is reported as having stated, 'was all out on that occasion, and could not have gone any faster if his life depended upon it. . Well, considering that he ' smashed allpreviousrecords for the Melbourne Cup, and ran the distance within a quarter of a second of the World's Register (Ten Broeck's 3m. 285., accomplished agaiusfc time, mark you !) it's no wonder that he was all out. So were the other starters; they were all out, too—very much all out (of it), aye, at any part of the journey. When The Barb —a smaller horse than Carbine, albeit more nnggety —won the Sydney Cup with lOst 81b., what did the three handicapners who framed the apportionments then allot him for tlue following Melbourne Cun ? Only list 71b— that was all ! In those days, too, the miufitmim was sst 71b —a stone less than now. And yet to this day Jimmy Ashworth maintains that the black ' Demon ' would have won had John Tait elected to start him. But although 'Honest John ' refused to meet the 26 others that started that jaear (1869) he didn't complain about bf;ing treated cruelly. The sou of Sir Hercules and Young G ulnar e had earned a crushing impost, even as his stable companion, Glencoe, had earned his list 41b. Of course the generality of the public will siy, ' Oh, if Carbine can win with lOst 121b he oup;ht to be allowed to do srj.' But that isn't the principle of handicapping. The handicapper is supposed to try and bring all the entrants on some sort of an equality; but the very fact that ; Old Jack' is even now a most pronounced first favourite at the ridiculously short odds of 10 to 1 in a field of over 160 horses, proves to demonstration that the noble army of punters consider all the others to have been far more cruelly treated than Carbine avjis. Fit and well on the clay, bat accident, there's only ono in the forthcoming Melbourne Cup, and that one Carbine, who is, I am perfectly certain, at the present timo pounds upon pounds a better horse than ever he has been in his life before."