SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 6

SPORTING.

J ! RACING FIXTURES. ' ; Mav 3, Egmont Eacing Club. " May 11, 15—Auckland Trotting Club. ; Slav 15 and 16-Asiiburtcn Racing Dub. i May 23 and 24— Wanganui Jockey Club. . May 24 and 25—Donedin Jockey Club, • : May 24 and Takapuna Jockey Club. [ May 24 and 25—Duned.n Jockey Clnb. ! Jane 3, 10. Auckland Eacmg Club. ' June 26, 28—Hawke's Bay Jockey Club. - i July 17 and Wellington Racing Club. | DATES OF COMING EVENTS. i NEW ZEALAND. • May 2-!Wanganui Steeplechase. : June 3—Great Northern Steeplechase. ; Jnlv 23— Wellington Steeplechase. j June 10—A.E.C. Grand National Hardlo Eace. . July 17—Wellington Hurdle Race. - I ENGLAND. i ■ June s—Derby Stakes. I June 7—Oaks Stakes. | ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 1 Tandem. Thames.— was raced in i the spring of his two-year-old career ; but ' Thunderbolt was not seen on the turf until j the summer. j W.M.—l. Auraria wa3 a three-year-old when ' she won the Melbourne Cup. 2. St. Hippo was I defeated in the Auckland Cup by Anita. ; MONTE.—I. The placed horses in the Mel- ' bourne Cup of 1333. were Martini-Henry. Fresh ! Water, Commotion : 1355, Sheet Anchor, : Grace Darling, Trenton. 2. Carbine was sold i privately for 13,000 guineas. Probably you i have confounded his sale at a later date with j that of 1888. when he -was seld by auction for j 5000 guineas. ! RENOWN. Karangahake— The distance of i the Canterbury Cup last year was one mile i and three-quarters. Advance wen by half ' a length from Renown, who in turn was tour - lengths in front of Fiumen. The official time j of the race was 3m. 7 2-s=. i _ ___ | NOTES BY PHAETON. I The 93rd annual contest for the Two Thoui sand Guineas eventuated on Wednesday last j at Newmarket, and by cable we learn mat j the distinction of supplying the winner m I the contest over the Rowley mile rested I with Sir E. Cassel, whose representative, ! Handicapper, came home in front of Mr. ] L. de Rothschild's Doricles and Lord WoiverI ton's Rawdon. Of late years most of the I winners of English classic races have been j raised at private studs, but Handieapper. : who was picked up at auction, is an excep- | tion, and as he only stood Sir E. Cassel in i 530 guineas, he must be considered a great j bargain. Looking over Ruff's Guide, I find ! that Handicapper was not heavily taxed when I a two-year-old, as when a youngster he was I only required to face the starter en four cc- | casions, his record being one win, a second, j and 9 brace of unplaced performances. HanI dicapper was got by Matchmaker (a son of I Donovan) from Agues Osborne, by BeauI desert from Aggie, by Wild Dayreil from I Fair Agnes, by Yoltigeur. Handicapper is I engaged in the Derby, but, singular to remark, he was not nominated for the St. I Leger. During the coming week Mr. Evett- will lave to address himself to the task of allotting the imposts in connection with the two big event* of the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting. The prospective allotments in the Great Northern Steeplechase will not, perhaps, engage a large amount of thought on the part of turf students, but the probable adjustments in connection with the Grand National Hurdle Race present so many interesting points for consideration that they can be depended upon to give rise to much discussion. The withdrawal of Record Reign of itself puts matters in a dif- ] ferent light than would otherwise obtain, and j the probable standard weight which Mr. Evett will decide upon in casting the handij cap is somewhat difficult to guess. The most I interesting point in this impending Grand I National handicap is the imposts to be meted ! ttf to the two leading maiden candidates for i Grand National honourßoreas and Battlej axe—who came up for handicapping for a J jumping race for the first time. In weight- | ing this pair for event* on the flat, the j A.R.C. handieapper has. (if I may so speak) 1 dodged about a good deal in assessing their I abilities. In the A.E.C. Easter Handicap , (one mile) he assessed Boreas to bo 111b in j front of his opponent, but on the next oc- ; casion that he weighted them—which was in i connection with the Autumn Handicap, one ; mile and a-half—he called upon Batt'.eaxe to i concede his chestnut opponent 41b. which al- ! lowance he cut down to lib in the Thompson j Handicap (one mile) : and then, in the : W.R.C. Autumn Handicap (one mile and aJ quarter) he called upon Boreas to concede j the sou of Hotchkiss 111b. In tho face of I this it is somewhat difficult to gauge what line of thought Mr. Evett will adopt in al- [ lotting the burdens to the two leading new j aspirants for Grand National honours. The I weights are duo to appear on Friday next.

An old identity of the New Zealand turf this week went off the scene in the shape of Ta.=man, who, we learn from a Wellington telegram, had of late suffered to such an extent from the ravages of age that it was deemed merciful to destroy him. There is many a stirring incident wrapped up in the career of thedefunct sou of St. Albans. If I remember rightly, Tasman was bought in Australia when a three-year-old by a Canterbury auctioneer, and on being transported to Riccarton he was placed in the hands of the | iato Sam. Powell, and it was while under the charge of that trainer that " Dan" O'Brien secured him for something like 130 guineas. Subsequent events proved the purchase of Tasman to be one of the luckiest deals in horseflesh that was ever made in this colony, and the son of St. Albans proved such a consistent stake-earner that he quickly placed his owner in a most comfortable position. It was but a few weeks subsequent to passing into Mr. O'Brien's hands that Tasman won back a bit more than his purchase money by landing a double at the Goraldine meeting. It was, however, as a five-year-old that the most interesting phase of Ti'isman's career was reached, for in the spring of 1335 he led off by winning the New Zealand Cup. A very interesting' little story attaches to that race, and how the son of St. Albans came to be ridden, by R. Derrett. That jockey was under engagement to ride for the Hen. W. Robinson, who was thought to hold the key to the position with Cheviot and Nonsense. Something, however, cropped up to endanger the relations between Derrett and the Robinson stable, the upshot of which was that Derrett was released from his engagement. What joyful news that must have been to the owner of Tasman, for Derrett had ridden the brown son of St. Albans in most of his races, and it was reckoned that he would do more for him than any other rider. Well. Derrett took the mount on Tasman in that ever-rm-movable Cup. <uid in a great finish he sue- i ceeded in flooring the intended coup with Nonsense, who Tasman defeated by a head. "What poor old Mr. Robinson's thoughts were that afternoon when Derrett came out on top with Tasman can better be imagined than described. Tasman subsequently won many valuable races under big weights, and his winning record must have been very pleasant reading to " Dan" O'Brien. Though Tasman could not be regarded as a great horse, he certainly took rank as a good 'one and the gameness which characterised his performances was of the highest order—in fact he was of the sort that would gallop till he dropped, and it was this great quality that enabled him to drag a good few races out of the fire. Tasman had not proved anything like a marked stud success. In his early career he claimed one good stake-earner in Home, who won the C.J.C. Derby and Otago Cup in 1891; but were it not for the fact of his being mated with Ladv Moth (the result of which union was Hohoro). he might justifiably have been placed in the category or stud failures. Tasman was foaled in 1880 Stadia,.™ rising 21 years at the time of his death. English papers now to hand furnish details of the race won by the Auckland-bred Levanter in the Old Country. The Riverside Handicap Steeplechase, three miles, was the event in which the old son of Captivator distinguished himself, and in a field of nine under list 21b, he was made favourite at 11 to 10. Of the nine starters onlv three completed the course, and these were Levanter, Nepcote, and Zodiac. Levanter, who had been jumping well all the way, closed with Nepcote and Zodiac at the last fence and, passing them on the flat, won by half-a-length. Zodiac was second and Nepcote - bad third. Time for the three miles 6m 23 3-ss. The old New Zealand horse has certainly improved in his jumping, but lie seemed inclined to be lazy, and wanted a bit of rousing. Still, the stable, clearly thought the performance a good one, as immediately after the race Mr. George Ldwardes, the well-known theatrical manager and' the owner's brother, went into the rimr and took the large bet of £10,000 to £800 'about Levanter for the Liverpool Grand National Stcopjechase. [We have since hear:! by eabb that Levanter finished fourth for the" latt"' race.]

Cruciform is not the only two-year-old jyc-r of the weaker sex that Mr. Stead can this rear claim the credit of owning. San Patricia (by Hotchki-— Evelyn! was slipped for the Pacific Handicap at Wellington, on Saturday last, and when it is recognised that she fairly galloped away from Nonette ',*;' a difference of Sib. and cut out the -vs. furlongs attaching: to the race in question in Iro. It 4-55., there is pretty strong evidence of brilliancy on her part. San Patricia, like her stable companion Cruciform, was bred by Mr. T. Morrin at Wellington Park, and she was purchased as a yearling by Mr. Stead for 110 guineas. Some little time back I mentioned the fact that Mr. Pan McLeod contemplated sending Record Reign aero?:, to Australia, ?nd I now learn that space has been engaged for the big son of Castor on the Mararoa, and that it is intended to ship him to Sydney bv the Union liner leaving on Monday next. Both on the Sat and over hurdles Record Reign has shown himself to be a first-class horse, and it is to be hoped that- he will be able to reproduce his best form in Australia. The h'>rs.» is to make the trip to Sydney under the charge of J. Gainsforth, and on arrival on the "other side he will gc into Frank McGrath's stable.

Record Reign will have a companion on his trip to Sydney next week. Minerva being booked to recrcs.s the ocean to Australia. The little daughtei of Metal has been kept idle in Auckland all through the present season owing to tho doubt existing as to her eligibility to start since she is under the ban of'the A.J.C., on account of having started at an unregistered meeting in Australia. The parties who bought MimYva are to be sympathised with in their ill-luck. A well-known Aucklander experienced a royal day on Saturday last in his betting operations. lit* invested £15 on Dormant for the Hack Handicap at Wellington, with instructions that if it came off the profits were to go upon Palaver in the Autumn Handicap. Both wagers came off, and the ring were as a consequence relieved of over £700. On the same afternoon the same backer had a pound on Despatch in the Avondale Nursery Handicap, over which a dividend of £76 15s was paid. Not a bad afternoon's work, truly.

When the London Sportsman stated that the late .Sir Edward Stafford rode a mare called Hamblctonia, by Hambletonian, to victory in a steeplechase at the age of 14-, a writer in the Sporting Times confessed to having some doubts on the point. A later issue of the Sporting Time- contains some valuable information from a correspondent on this matter. The writer says: "I notice r. your last issue an inquiry is made respecting Hambletonian's girth broke, and his jockey have been a daughter of Harabletonian. I have frequently heard the late Sir Edward Stafford speak of this mare, who was well known in her day in the North of Ireland. She was bay in colour, end was, I believe, bred at Maine, Sir Edward Stafford's property in County Louth. Sir Edward informed me that he was 14- years of age when he rode her to victory, defeating, if I remember rightly, a hot favourite in Slashing Harry. Hamblctonia was killed out hunting hortly afterwards, being kicked on the heart by another horse. She was then 15, but I cannot state her exact age when she won the steeplechase alluded to." Sir Edward Stafford was born in 1819, so that the dates agrse all right. There is no reason why a mart"-, say, 15 years old in 1833—that is, sired in 1817 should not have been the daughter oi the Leger winner of 1795, who would have been 25 years of age at the time of covering. Sir Edward Stafford told this correspondent that in the celebrated match against Diamond Hambletonian's girth broke, and his jockey rode in tvith the saddle in his hand. General O'Bryan Woolsey, whose place, Milesdown, adjoins Maine, has stated that lie well iemembers the old bay mare Hambletonia and her untimely end. Never in my long recollection of English racing has the Derby so 'ate as this presented such an open appearance (writes " Robin flood'"). At this time of the year it is usually a case of odds on one horse, who, on all previous form, is undoubtedly head and slioulders above everything else. This year, however, it is quite different. At the time of writing odds of 7 to 1 are being freely offered on the field, and even at this price backers who fancy Voiodyovski decline to do business. An offer—never before do I recollect such a oneof even money any five mixed, also went untaken. I have no doubt that Toddington, whom Mr. Sievier purchased for 10.000 guineas last year from Mr. Musker, would be backed well if it were certain that he has recovered from the injury sustained last summer at Epsom. But there is a very big "if" here. The fillv Princess Melton, for whom Mr. Joel gave 15,000 guineas last year, is not engaged in the Derby, unfortunately, too, as the form n the Oaks, at least on last year's running, seems certain to prove superior to that of the Derby. On all previous experience it is safe to say that when a number of three-year-olds appear to be all about level, they are all moderate, or. at least, that there is no real smasher amongst them,, and such will undoubtedly prove tho case this year.

It is often interesting to know how horses come by their names (says Sporting Times). We are not much of a novel reader, and do not know in what novel Voiodyovski is a hero, but that he is a character in a novel we know. Donovan got his name from a novel that had much pleased the Duke of Portland. Simon Dale is the title of a novel. We were for a long time at a great loss to know liow who won the Derby of 1377, came by his name. " What is the meaning of Silvio?" we asked the late John Lovel, who was then manager of the Press Association. " God bless your sporting ignorance," he replied, "do you not know one of the sweetest canzonettes in our language? Who is Sylvia? What is she that all our swains commend her?" We knew that canzonette well, and pointed out to him that Silvio was a " lie," and spelt differently. Another superior gentleman said tho horse was named after Silvio Pellico, of the Carbonari, who spent a good deal of his time in the dungeon under he burning sun on the leads of the Doge's Palace at Venice, where he was nearly bitten to death by mosquitoes. There seemed to be no affinity, however, between a son of Blair Athol and Silvorhair and the leader of the Carbonari. A more likely explanation was that he was named after Silvio, a famous horse of the last century, and to this day there is a training establishment known as Sylvia House. The "v," however, was against that interpretation. Eventually we went to Lord Falmouth himself, and asked him the meaning of the name. He, to our surprise, said that it had no meaning at all, and that he thought of the name one nigh<when he was in bed, and thought- it w-a.s euphonical. No wonder that we could not find the explanation in any book we had !

In an article en " Nomenclature" " Milrov" writes:—Nearly every " Ilaut" in the French dictionary has been used up to name the sons and daughters of Ilaut liriou, and already owners are cudgelling their brains to fit their youngsters with a Haut that has not been used. Musket and his sons fairly cleared out the supply of warlike titles, and nearly every metal in existence has found place in the Turf Register since the stock of Metal began to win, and so scarce have metals become for naming purposes that Mr. J. R. Smith had to resort to Hoop Iron and Iron Hoop. We may now confidently expect a "Tin Can," a " Wire Nail," an "Iron Pot," or the like, as the high-sounding metals become gradually used up.

There are very few stallions owned by private individuals in France. According to the "Special Commissioner" of the London Sportsman, the reason is that there is no demand for the horses, and this is due to the Government competition, which really renders private purchase of valuable horses impossible—at least on a business basis—unless they are of the Flying Fox class, and so capable of holding their own even against a Government. The French Government gives up to 6000 guineas for its stallions, and these are available to the best mares at fees which are commercially impossible. So, of course, unless a breeder buys a horse specially for his own mares, he has no sound reason for doing so at all.

" Milroy" writes:—The brutal fashion of chopping a beaten horse with a whip has caused many a good one to turn tail, and the sooner the whip becomes a relic of the pist, like the starter's flag, the better it will be lor the temper of the thoroughbred. The modern jockey is as much out of place without a hidesplitting whip as the average stockman i? without spurs on a cattle camp; yet we nave had jockeys who could get horses all out without a whip, and the best stockman 1 c"or knew never wore spurs, even on the most idle of horses. Tom Hales, who could outride any jockey now in the profession, seldom used a whip, and then only for :■•.; last few strides; .J. E. Brewer is another «''<-. has little use for a whip at a finish; y»t, iii spile of such examples, jockeys will persist in arming themselves wiih these formid able weapons, and take a pride in tho wells they put upon a horse. Unless they lay a weal an inch thick on a horse they feel that their reputations as " finishers" have suffered.