SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11680, 15 June 1901, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. June 10—Auckland Racing Ciub. June 26, 23— LtawWo'a Bay Jockey Club. Julv 3. 4—Napier Park Kacin? Club. July 17 and Wellington Racing Club.

' DATES OF COMING EVENTS. ! NEW ZEALAND. I June Kawke's' Bay Hurdle Race. | Jnne 28— Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. . July Wellington Steeplechase. i July 17—Wellington Hurdle Race. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. A UC!CX.AND€E.— Dreadnought's time for the ' Australian Cup of 1890, was 3m. 59»5. I S.H.. Cook-street.—Hail Tira won the Remu- ' era Hurdle Race he would hare incurred a 71b j penalty for the Grand National Hurdle Race. ! WAGHU.— Vampire, the dam of Flying i Fox. is a daughter of Galopin. 2. Bill of I'ort- ] land was sold for 4900 guineas at the disposal I of the St. Albau's stud in December last. I INQUrBKB. —Beoord Beisrn won the City Hani die;;i} [9st 21b), Prince of Wales' Handicap (9st I 51b!. and Ascot Handican '9st 121b) at the I A.R.C. Spring Meetinsr of 1899. You arc cori rect in savins that the horse won four races j prior to being defeated in the Auckland Cud. You have, however, evidently overlooked the fact that he contested the Plumpton Han--1 dican at Avondalo, in which event he was deI feated a head by St. Ursula. 1

NOTES BY PHAETON.

It was anticipated some time back that the Railway Department would experience great difficulty in coping with the traffic during the visit of the Royal party to Auckland, especially with a race meeting in {ho same week, and an announcement was made on Wednesday that the Department could not undertake to carry passengers to Ellerslie on the thud day of the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting, which was fixed for today. Tho committee of the A R.C. were thus confronted with a most serious position. Though a big crowd of enthusiasts might Ixj counted on even if they had to tramp tho whole way on a newlymetalled road, it is quite certain that the club would have suffered a serious loss by the absence of special trains to convey the bulk of visitor?. Under the circumstances, tho committee determined to postpone the third day's racing until Wednesday next. It was with some reluctance that the committee took the step of postponing the concluding day's racing, for it was quite recognised that the visiting division especially had strong claims to consideration. The committee were quite warranted in taking tho action they did, but it would have been as well had they met a little earlier and decided the course to be pursued. Intelligence comes from Canterbury of the death of the stallion Stonyhurst. The horse, it appears, got cast in ids box recently, and, fracturing a leg, it was deemed necessary to destroy him. Stonyhurst, who was owned by Sir George Clifford, carried the Canterbury sportsman's colours with distinction as a two and three year old, and amongst the victories gained by the son of King of Clubs at the latter age were the C..1.C. Derby and Canterbury Cup. Sloiiyhtir.it will be remembered by Auckland as having raced at Ellerslie in the summer of 1835, and there is an interesting little story wrapped up therein, in that he was a stable companion to Nelson when the chestnut son of King Colo unexpectedly burst forth as a Cup winner. Stonyhurst was a warm favourite for the Auckland Cup for some time that year, but he went off, and, though Nelson dressed him down decisively on several occasions in Ins gallops prior to tho race, it did not have the effect of causing a run on the latter. The fact of the matter was that in summing up the position most of us look the view that it was due to Stonyhurst going oft' that Nelson beat him, instead of giving the latter credit for coming on. 1 have always thought, so far as the tipster's reputation was concerned, that it was, to their disadvantage that Nelson and Stonyhurst should have been stable mates in the summer of 1885, for had the former been worked with something of less pretensions, his brilliancy might have been recognised hi fore lie won his first Auckland Cup. Though Stonyhurst was Riven a fair chance at tho stud, he was not what could be termed a success, as the best of his stock were Goldleaf, Golden Crest, and Miss Charm. Stonyhurst was foaled in 1352, so that he was rising 19 years at the time of his death.

Nominations for ho Caulfield and Mel- | bourne Cups fell due on Monday last. If j the list cabled is correct, the number of i horses nominated in both races shows a ] falling-off. In the Caulfield Cup this year i 150 horses figure in the list, as against 170 I last year; while in ihe Melbourne Cup, as against an entry of 172 last year, 156 horses i are engaged. New Zealand only claims one representative in the Caulfield Cup with ! Record Reign; but in (he Melbourne Cup we have threeßecord Reign, Advance, i and Seahorse. That good mare La Cara- ; bine {inures in both races, and I suppose we ; may expect to hud her figuring at the head i iof the. handicap in each instance. The j weights are due to make their appearance : on July 1. j Writing on the Vanilla disqualification case, j the Duneciin correspondent of the Referee ; says:— answer to the inconsistency made , by Derrett was that in the first day's race j a piece of mud was splashed into his eye, j half-blinding ; m, and causing the mare to j lose five or six lengths, after which, her j chance being gone, he did not further perse- I vore with her. If tie: inconsistency had ; been tiio only thing the stewards had to coiirider, Vanilla might have had a chance , of exculpation. But, it. was not nil, by i any means. A serious question arose as j to the sale and purchase of the mare. While ' the stewards were taking evidence, it was j stated by Mr. Joseph Toomey that he bought ! Vanilla from Mr, Curran aftet the accept- i ances for the second day, and gave £55 for j j her. Mr. ( urran's evidence was thai the sale ! j was for £60. and that Mr. Toomey did not speak to him about the marc on the firs! j I clay. Then the stewards had the statement ■ I by Derrett that MoCinnis gave him the in- , I structions. And, in addition to these com- : I plications, 0. Trjpp, -alio brought Vanilla j I from Oamarti for Mr. Curran. said he was i told before the first day's race that Mr. ! ' Toomey had bought her. Putting all the cvi- j I deuce together, 'the stewards came to the j conclu.'ioii tl>->( Vanilla <!i<l not try to beat . i Murr/muiii (who is Mr. Toouiey's horse) on j I tin first day. and tin's was the reason of their j i decision to qualify. I

i In the House of Lords, on the 22nd of last j ' month, the Bishop of Hereford presented a ! | Bill to render penal the inciting of persons | : to bet, and it war, read a first time. In ts ■ , first section it says in the usual exhaustive ! : style that you must not invito any persons ' j to bet. In the second it says it, will bo * I ' misdoamcanour to publish in any newspaper, [ , etc., any tip, belting odds, or racing news i And in section 4 it gives power to any nolicd j , nan to arrest any person whom they belie v.- ! I to he betting. The London Sportsman says: I ; ]'. is one of the most remarkable Hills ever i I introduced into Parliament, and one can i j only fool groat regret that a Bishop should ! ' have been unwiso enough to lie sponsor for . j it Surely there should have been uffiei'-nt ' instances of the hopelessness of attempting ' i to make people virtuous by Act of Parli T ' ■ ment, and it seems a sad pity that a limb '< j ti.gnilary of the Church should have allowed ■ ! 1: msolf to be made a catspaw of by Mr. John | lii'.vke and his follower.-.. for unmitigated ; impudence and folly commend us to section \ 1 Imagine placing such power in the hands j of the police as to allow iiicm "to ana.;- i and convey to a police station ami search i an; person whom they rcaboualilv believe to '' , b.- betting in the siix-els." Under «uch eh- I j .■'lines, it, is quite certain that it would j lot ho sat.: to stop lor a moment to speak ! | to a friend at any street corner; indeed, a ! I ..-ai.-.oiii cab for one would be the only saf- i ! method ''1 transit from place to place, for, l ■ i: the vehicle were occupied by fc,vo, i,. miglc . i-.o stopped on tins reasonable .suspicion tin.. | ] th" ojcupants were, engaged in ):iaki.v s ' hot.-) | Mad of us have the greatest respect for th • I jo'.iee, and _ nothing but admiration lor flu- • v.'i.y in which (hey usually carry out the i : . duties, but I think it. would betryiug them ' ,i little too h>c.h to place such power m I their hands, j

Matters on the English turf are certainly on the upgrade in so far as the classic races are concerned. In my notes las; week mention was made of the field (25) which contested this year's blue riband being the largest that had" been seen at the post for the timehonoured Epsom race since Hermit v .,n in 1i67. The pleasing fact has now to be recorded that tho field that contested the Oaks Slakes last week numbered 21. which, 1 may remark, is the largest since Cymba won in 1848.

Ihe committee of the Auckland Racing Club are rc-Don=ihle for one modest little notice of motion at the forthcoming Racint, Conference. It Is to the effect that the gelding allowance be 51b instead of 3!b, as now laid down by the rules of racing. I do not know that very much importance attaches to the AR.C.'s action, but it is to bo hoped, which ever way it go**, that clubs throughout the colony will loyally recognise the ruling on the subject, In the past the A.R.C. has been the chief sinner.

Had anyone wanted a bet that Royal Conqueror would beat more than beat him. in the Grand National Hurdle Race, lie would, no doubt, have been tired out by those wishing to be on what most would have regarded a i=oft thing. The son of Muskapocr was. however, found going when a let of them were stopping, and he eventually ran into fourth place. I don't know that there i.-, any reason to go into ecstacics over Royal Conqueror's performance, for there can be little doubt that he owed his position largely to the fact of the accident which placed three dangerous ones hors de combat ; but, still, he beat more than beat him!

Mr. J. E. Henrys, the well-known handicapper, witnessed the first and second days' racing of the Grand National meeting at Ellerslie, and proceeded to Rolorua on Wednesday with » view to witnessing the Maori welcome to Royalty. Mr. Henrys returned to town yester:lny with the object of witnessing the concluding day's racing at Ellerslie. but the postponement puts that out of the question, and he returns home to-day. During his sojourn in Auckland Mr. Henrys has enjoyed himself immensely, and it, goes without saying that lie has made many friends.

When the result of the One Thousand Guineas came to hand by cable last month from London, the winner's name was given as Art p.. It transpires that a mistake was made. The winner was Sir James Miller's Aida (by Galopin—Queen Adelaide). As a two-year-old Aida demonstrated that she could gallop by bowling over Volodyovski in the Imperial Produce Stakes at Kempton Park.

Some time back it was mentioned that Lancaster was a gone coon so far as racing was concerned. The son of Hotchkiss does not figure amongst the entrants for the Melbourne Cup, so we may, I suppose, conclude that his racing days are over. The terrible downfall of Lancaster in the last Melbourne Cup, when that event was popularly thought to be at his mercy, will for ever remain one of the stiffest conundrums for the turf student to engage his thoughts upon.

In previous years the publication of the , entries for the New Zealand Cup was rei sponsible for some belting; but this year the j bookmakers are standing off the Southern race, and from what 1 can hear the Auck- { land pencil will not be keen for bnsiI ness, even after the declaration of the | weights. It is quite certain that there will ! not he any big books opened this year in I tho North on the New Zealand Cup.

11l referring to the disqualifications meted ! cut by the Dunodin Jockey Club over the I Vanilla case, " Menschikoff" says:—That a \ nan in Dcrrett's position should be ciisqita.fi j tied, or give cause for disqualification, is 1111I fortunate, as ho has been held up to young j riders as a model, and has often been re j quested by the "powers" to note the be- ■ hr.viour of other riders and report anything ; thai might require investigation. It is comI non knowledge that Derrett is more than " passing rich," and rumour had it that it j wvi his intention in the near future to ro j ti:e from the saddle and devote his time to i training.

I Mr. Dan.. McLeod is finding Regalia 11. ! an expensive horse. On the strength of a ■ good gallop on the flat last week the popuj lar penciller was brought to fancy his horse | for the Grand National Hurdle Race to I such a degree that he took bOO to 100 that I he would will. Prior to the Kegel gelding { fulfilling his big engagement he was given , a run in the Ueniuera Hurdle Race, for ' which event he was strongly backed by his i owner: but, in addition to jumping badly, : he made no sort of a. show, and his dis--1 play was so bad that he was not started for ' the" Grand National Hurdle Race.

As Plain Bill did not fulfil his engagements in the Great Northern Steeplechase- or Grand National Hurdle Race, it was assumed that something was seriously wrong with the Flint-lock gelding. He was. however, exercised over the steeplechase course on Thursday, and, as he was subsequently accepted foi in connection with the Winter _ Steeplechase, he may perhaps he seen out in public at Kllcrslie for the first time on Wednesday next.

Ihc Napier sportsman, Mr. R. J. MeCulloch, cam-.' up to Auckland in order to witness the running of the Great Northern Steeplechase, in which event he was thought to claim a dangerous representative in Blackberry. While running well up Mr. MeCul!och 3 horse broke clown, and ho came home very bum* in front. This time last year Mr. Mc.Culloch was in the Transvaal, fighting with the New Zealand Second Contingent, and he subsequently was taken prisoner by the Boers. Mr. McOulloeh was not in the best of health when he came back from .South Africa, but he is now quite himself.

The Auckland-bred Uniform (by Hotehkiss —Foimo), whom Mr. Stead sold to Mrs. litngtry three years back, and who managed to win one race in England, is to find a home, in South Africa. lie was purchased recently by a South African breeder with « view to being used as a stallion, and, i;s h". was to he shipped forthwith, he is no doubt ere- this located in his new home.

A rumour is revived that Mr. 1). O'Brien contemplates again taking up his residence in New South Wales. Some few months back Mr. O'Brien was desirous of securing a hotel in Auckland, but no suitable house offering — or, perhaps it would be more correct, to say, the prices for goodwill were considered much too high—he pulled off so far as Auckland was concerned. ,

It does not often happen that a horse is left at the post in two successive races. Crusoe had such a record in connection with the First and Second Welter Handicaps run respectively at Kllcr-die on Saturday mil Monday last. The son of Cruiser is carrying a very solid appearance, and it will !> • no great amount of surprise should he run well to-morrow.

Seringapatani, who my readers will bet j r. i ogtii-e by his former title of Screw dm, j made ids debut en the Kngh'h turf recently, but failed to gain a situation. The. chest- I nut son of Ho'.eiikUs and Hose of Wellington j is credited with li-.'.in furnished into a really j taking specimen $.: the thoroughbred, and, i all going we'll v.i.lb him in his training, ho will; it'is predicted, credit Sir Edgar Vincent with a good wist before long.

Mr. .1. Marshall is such n really good sportsman thai it was only to be expected that the victory of his colours in the l.adio,' Bracelet on Saturday last at hderslio should be received with no little enthusiasm ; and 1 feel Fine that the popular Auckland-':', although no' participating in a monetary way was quite as pleased as if a big Make had 1',;,,, landed. Miss McDonald, in whoso nomination Paul Scaton v. on his race on Saturday lust, is a niece of Mr. Marshall's, and as the yowls laxly had the pleasure of claiming a like valuable bracelet in 1f,39 with Mr. ' Marshall's Auld Rookie, it must be raid that Dame Fortune has smiled rather than frowned on the "all black" jacket and cap.

Oaimongate's display in the (Treat Northern Steeplechase was undoubtedly the disappointment of that race. 'The brown son of Cannon was in trouble a Ions; way from heme, and ii" really took no part in the finish. fn clearing the second fence of the double Ciiiiiiongaio struck the obstacle badly with his stifles, and that may have been the cause of Ids weak display in the closing stage of the crosscountry contest.

Mr. H. 0. Tonics, who steered Paul Heaton > if victory in the Ladies' Bracelet at Bllcrslio '• on Saturday last, handled his hoiAS-'u really | nice style. Mr. J'onks hud previously on- : countered rather bar i ruck in the e '"bracelet." I races, as, (hough the horses which he steered j were placed on no less than six occasion.?, hi.; first win was with Paul Seat-on. !

Kaimat.o was put up to auction yesterday at She New Zealand loan and Mercantile Agf-noy Company's yards, and at 215 guineas he was purchased by Mr. \Y. Lyons. ' 1. do ; not think the buyer has any the worst of the deal, and it. will be no surprise to me should the Australian gelding score a win at the ' first tiuio of asking for his now owner. j

BREVITIES. Blackberry has broken down. La Gloria is stated to be touched in her wind. Dingo has apparently lost his form for the nonce. Sir Rupert Clarke claims an entry of five for the Melbourne Cup. Moifa and Cceur de Lion wen» re-shipped to Napier by tho Zealandia on Tuesday last. In the Great Northern Steeplechase contest Moifa jumped two of tho obstacles slovenly. The A.E.G. will bring the Grand Nations! Meeting to a conclusion to-morrow at Eilerslic. Canterbury papers to hand quote Advance as favourite for the New Zealand Cup at 12 to 1. ' It would seem as though there will be a strong American flavour about English racing this season. Moifa, the winner of the Great Northern Fteeplechase, won his race in the nomination of a. lady, Mr.?. Kllingliam. Since he bought her in August, 1900, for 1200 guinea.", La Carabine ha.-> won Si.' Rupert Clarke £2875 in stakes. The cablegram announcing the result of the Oaks Stakes states that American jockeys steered the first tiirec horses. Record Reign's four-year-old half-sister. Winsome, lias been striding along in improved stylo in her work at Ellerslie. Dingo came to grief at the very first fence in the Great Northern Steeplechase contest owing to slipping, up when about to take orf. The follower-; of Cesar de Lion got a bad shock when the- Napier horse struck the last fence in the Grand National Hurdle contest. Cceur de Lion narrowly escaped a. fall in negotiating Uic first and last obstacles in the A.U.C. Grand National Hurdle Kaeo contest. Though Moifa was outside the placed division in the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdle content, the sou of Natator ran a good hone. Thar, Natation has still a race in him the son of Natator demonstrated on Monday last, when ha won the Selling Steeplechase in good style. Cffittr do Lion"? time (4m. s£s.) for the A.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Raco on Monday last was the slowest record since, Liberator won in 1397.

King Edward, who ran at Ellerslie on Saturday and Monday last, is, I find, .1 Papakura-bred horse He was got by Blairgowrie from Fishgirl. In addition to being engaged in the Melbourne Oup, Seahorse figures as an entrant for the Metropolitan Stakes, to be run at Randwick in September next. Out of a total of £2113 invested on the Second Welter Handicap at Kllcrslie on Monday last, only £35 was on Sundial, and a dividend of £5* 6s resulted. Record Reign's four-year-old half-sister, 'Winsome, continues to carry a nice healthy gloss on her coat, but site does not manage to tret her name on the winning list. Though the going was holding at Ellerslie on Saturday last, Moifa managed to knot?, oft a couple of seconds from the Great Northern .Steeplechase record. That- the North Island of New Zealand is

the home of the jumping horse in this colony was once again forcibly demonstrated at Ellerslie on Saturday and Monday last. Rolf, the little son of Richmond, was running well in the Maiden Hurdle Race at Ellersbo on Saturday last. Rolf was on the big side, and he may be heard of later on. A good percentage of those who were advantageously placed to view the finish of the First Welter Handicap at Ellerslie on Saturday last contend that St. Ursula won that event. It is held that Nor'-west was as good a horse on Saturday last, when he was saddled up to contest hit, third Great Northern Steeplechase as he had ever previously been. There is a horse engaged in the Melbourne Cup named Musket. They want a Sir George Clifford badly on the other side to put a stop to this annoying duplication of name...

The American sportsman, Mr. Foxhall Keene, furnished the winner of the Oaks Stakes with the filly Cap and Bells, who was bred in the land of the Stars and Stripes. blackberry jumped splendidly throughout the Great Northern Steeplechase contest, and though evidently in pain as the result of his breakdown, he negotiated the last

hurdle safely. Moifa's inability to train a situation in tho A.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race spoilt his good record. Up to his performance in that event Moifa's record was six wins end a third. Rosalia has won the First Welter Handicap at, the A.R.C. Grand National Meeting two years in succession, and it is interesting to relate that on each occasion the verdict was a head in her favour. Some of ll>e horses that put in an appearance 10 contest races at the North New Zealand Grand National Meeting, especially those engaged in the welter races, were carrying very rough coats. It is computed that the local ring were struck for about £3000 by the win of the Napier-owned pair, Moifa and Coeur de Lion, m * tin 1 Great Northern Steeplechase and Grar.d National Hurdle Race. The Now South Wales sportsman. Mr. W. H. Mate, proved firm to his expressed intention of not nominating Ibex for tho Melbourne Cup, but he has entered the son of Gossoon for the Caulfield Cup. It is stated that a gentleman connected with Can nougat bet an even hundred in. each case that the horse would gain a situation in the (Treat Northern Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race. He lost boclt wagers. Even after Cavaliero's masterly display in the Remuera Hurdle Race, the Moifa party were hopeful of defeating the son of Cuirassier in the Grand National. Moifa is, however, a better steeplechaser than a hurdle racer.

Pigeon-shooting is evidently a great sport in Belgium. It is announced that during the present season there will be £25,000 worth of prizes for shooters to compete for, th" richest stake being the Grand Prix, of 4000sov8. An interesting fact in connection with the Great Northern Steeplechase and Grand National Hurdle Race contents this year is that Moil i ami C;vur do Lion both hail from Napier, in whir.) district they were- bred by their respective owners. If the A.It.(J. committee are seriously in earnest with regard to the observance of the newly-passed rule bearing upon horses and riders after leaving the enclosure, they will require to ask an explanation of all when jockeys have been spoken to. I do not see how Mr. Evett could have awarded Cava'ieio a less weight, but Hst 211) is a terrible impost to deal out to a horse. That weight went down opposite the sou of Cuirassier's name for the Hurdle Race to be run on the third day of the A.B.C. meeting. Favona came home very lame in front, after ■his effort in the Remuera Hurdle Race, and it seemed safe to conclude that he world go off the scene i.hw'''o The sou of Kegel, however, figures amongst the entrants for the Hurdle Bate to be run on Wednesday ):• \t. I am afraid that i-'avona is done for as a racer.

The American sportsman Mr. Foxhall Keene is evidently one of those " ;.rood sorts" of which the turf can furnish so intinv sterlii'.* examples. The slake attaching to the Oak's wen by his filly Cap and Bells were donated between English and American charities. Sitnonsbath, who cost 3000 guineas as a yearling, and never won a race on the flat, won a selliii'.r rare from a weak field at Haydock Park, England. After the race he was sold for 125 guineas. Simonsbath is by Si. •Simon from 'Mimi—a winner of the Ono Thousand Guineas and Oak Though the Auckland Racing Club notified the postponement of the third day of the Grand National Meeting from the 12th to the 15th in.-!, some time back, and the same was telegraohed by the Press Association throughout the colony, a large number of the visiting division were ignorant of the fact. A great many people have had to acknowledge themstives beaten in unearthing the meaning of Moifa. lam told that it is a We'.Mi word denoting a swimmer. As the Great Northern .Steeplechase winner was- pot by Vaiator it he. latter is out of Waterwitch), it wiii be seen that the title is an appropriate

one. In the Maiden Welter Handicap run on the opening day of the A. PC. Grand National Meeting, Jemima and Stepina, who hail from the same stable. were started, the first-named being made favourite. Victory, however, rested with Stepina, who brought off a surprise \ictory, so far as the public were concerned.

Regalia 11. did not fulfil his Grand National engagement, the reason assigned for his withdrawal being thai he had fallen lame. It was, pcrhup-, just as well for the £50 which Ids owner wagered that he would not baulk nor fall in the National" contest that the Regol gelding was not pulled out. He. jumped very slovenly on the opening day when contesting the Remcra Hurdle Pace, and en one occasion he narrowly escaped a full,