SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10408, 5 April 1897, Page 5

SPORTING.

A nOMonR was current in town on Saturday night that Mr. Caul ton's filly Porangi Potae had dropped dead. This fortunately proved to be incorrect ; in fact, so far wide of the truth, that the daughter of Castor Was credited with recording a capital gallop over a mile and a-half, in company with her stable mates, The Sharper and Canopua. The rumour probably owed its origin to the death of Quickfire, who succumbed to an attack of inflammation of the bowels.

The autumn meeting of the Victoria Racing Club resulted in a loss of about £200. This is less than was expected, as this year the added monev, including sweepstakes, was £7350, as against £0300 twelve months oeo, when a small profit was realised. Of course, but for the fact that the Champion Race was run slower than the conditions allowed, the club thereby saving half the stake—£23o—the deficit would have been heavier.

In view of his visit to England, no doubt, Mr. W. R. Wilson has had printed a private studbook pertaining to the St. Albans stud, and in addition wine very interesting information is given of the record of the St. Albans stable since he took it over. In six years the stable has won £41,359 in stakes; the best season being in 1891-92, when the winnings, thanks principally to the Auck-land-bred colt Strathmore, amounted to £13,493. During the six seasons the stable won the V.R.C. Derby three times, the Canlfield Guineas twice, and the Australian Cup, V.R.C. St. Letter, A.J.C. St. Leper, Champion Stakes, A.J.C. Champagne Stakes, and Sydney Cup once. Prime Minister, who some years ago on the eve of a big race in Sydney, was purchased by a couple of sports for the long price of £2000, was recently submitted to auction there, and pasSed in when the bidding had reached 130 guineas, The horse market in Calcutta is glutted and stagnant. Shippers are seriously discuscussing the advisability of taking their horses back to Australia or of shipping them on to the Cape to save a total loss. The steamship Gulf of Bothnia, which left Syduev recently for England, took a valuable shipmeut of trotting and jumping horses, the property of Mr. Horatio Bartlett, of George-street West.. Mr. Battlett, who had already taken his departure for England, where he intends remaining for some time, is a trotting enthusiast, and has owned a number of good performers. Mr, Bartlett evidently intends to patronise the trotting track and hunting field during his stay in the old country, for the shipment which left by the Gulf of Bothnia included the trotting horses Era (champion), Oliver Tasker (colt), Turpin (gelding), and Fille (mare); the high-jumping mare Matilda (record 6ft 3in), jumping mare Barbara (record sft 9in), and jumping pony (12.3) Olivette (record sft), the cross-country horse Comus and another steeplechaser, Hercules and Oamperdown (heavy-weight hunters), Clipper (light charger). Discussing the ever fresh subject of handicapping, an English writer says-.-When Admiral Rous took over the reins of management the Jockey Club were well-nigh insolvent, and gave but a paltry sum to be run for in stakes; but under the admiral's admirable regime, not only was a huge debt wiped oil, but additional property was acquired, and the revenues of the Jockey Club enriched to an extent which permitted, with the advent of the seventies, the added money for stakes to be increased to £10,000. Compared to what is given at the present day, this was but a small amount, for it represents the value of one stake alone, while a similar amount is given for another. Yet it was a, big slice from'the Jockey Club's income 25 years back. The handicapping he undertook for sheer love of the work, and when a good finish resulted from one of the more important events, he was as pleased as a hen with a new cockerel. The Victorian sportsman, Mr. W. R. Wilson, has left on, a visit to England, and will, it is understood, make a prolonged stay in the old country.

THE SCRATCHING OK NEYVHAVEN." Press AsaociaMon.-E'ectric Telesraph.-Copyriglit.

Melbourne, April 4. There being no other explanation forthcoming for the withdrawal of Newhaven from the Sydney Cup, the Age says that Mr. Cooper's idea in scratching the colt was, no doubt, that he considered the horse too valuable to risk accident in a big field, and may be regarded as a significant indication that Mr, Cooper has high hopes of Newhaven earning distinction in England. The same paper adds that Mr, Cooper is apparently very sensitive about the champion being beaten, and maybe his defeat hi the St. Leger Stakes has had something to do with his withdrawal from the Cup.