SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12478, 23 January 1904, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. January 23—'Wellington Racing Club. January 27, Pahiatita Racing Club. January 28, 29—Tapanui Racing Club. January 29, 30. February 3—Takapnna Jockey Club. February 2, s—Wairoa County Racing Club. February 4, s—Maniototo Jockey Cltib. February 10, 11 —Taranaki Jockey Club. February 11, 12— Ijisborne Racing Club. February 11, 13—Canterbury Jockey Club. February Papakura Pacing Club. February 17, 13—Kgtnont Pacing Club. February 17, —Te Aroha Jockey Club. February 13, 19—Poverty Bay Turf Club. February 2*l— Hotorua Jockey Club. February 24. 26. 27—Dunedin Jock Club. February 20, 24, 27—Otahuhu Trotting Club. March 3, Wanganui Jockey Oil: March 4, s—Weatport Jockey Club. if arch 7 — I Thames Joclcev Ciub. March 17—llorowhenua Hack Racing Club. March 19— Northern Waires, Pacing Club. April 2. 4. s—Auckland Racing Club. April 14. 15—Masterton Racing Club. June 3. 8, 11—Auckland Pacing Club.

DATES OF COMING EVENTS. January Takapuna Cup. March s—Wanganui Cup. April 2— Great Northern Champagne Stakes. April 2—A.R.C. Faster Handicap. April 4—A.P.C. Century Stakes. April S—A.P.C. Autumn Handicap. Jane 3—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June B—Great Northern Steenlecliase.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W.F.P., Dannevirke.—The dividend paid on The Shannon when she won the Avondale Cup was £3 53. Waoee.—You are wrong. The horse in question was legitimately knocked down, but, the person concerned declined to take delivery. P., Thames.— The A.R.C. Easter Handicap was run over two miles in the year that The Administrator and Padames ran a dead heat tor that race. 2. Lone Hand won a race on the flat at Ellerslie.

M.R.M., Hamilton.—l. Guy Fawkes was, not, brought back from Australia, so far as we are aware. 2. Nor'-west. was taken to Australia. but Cannongate lias never been there. 3. Royal Artillery cost Mr. Stead 1400 guineas as a yearling. . NOTES BY PHAETON. TnR fino field that went to the post to contest the Auckland Steeplechase at Ellerslie on the 2nd insfc. was at t.he time made the subject of some little glorification, but there is a strong fear that, wo will be made to pay the penalty later on for taxing the steeplechase division in the height of summer, as most of the horses that contested the race have developed symptoms of unsoundness, and more than one is hors de combat. Some few years back an agitation sprang up for the cutting out of the steeplechase from the A.lt.C.'s summer programme, on the grounds that, it savours of cruelty to ask horses to gallop over three miles and a-lialf of country at such a season of the year. The committee to whom was delegated the task of drawing up the programmes on that occasion endorsed the views then expounded by ruling the race out.; but the General Committee reinstated it., and since that time there has been no combined effort or pointed comment towards bringing about the withdrawal of the race. No doubt the steeplechase is a bit of a draw, but the time has, I think, arrived when we should sot about educating ourselves up to a higher standard, and I shall always be ready to lend a helping hand to those who are prepared to take a stand against steeplochasing iu summer. Sooner or later the Racing Conference may, J think, bo expected to take up the question of a close season for steeplechasing, and the sooner that is done the better will it be for the sport.

'"The Possible," of the Canterbury Times, is inclined to splinter a lane© with those who throw a doubt upon Treadmill's courage, and the Canterbury writer, in referring to my remarks on the form displayed by the descendant of Bill of Portland at the Auckland meeting, in the course of which I questioned his strength of heart, says:—Though I did not see Treadmill running in Auckland 1 am inclined to disagree with " Phaeton's" summing up of the son of Catherine Wheel. As a two-year-old he won five times out of seven starts, and on no occasion could there be the least, suspicion about his gameness. It was, in fact, his game finishing on more than one occasion that first attracted attention to the colt. If, then, he showed signs of faintheartedness at Ellerslie the weakness is something new. I am, however, disposed to doubt it. From the time of his arrival in Auckland he did not do as well as could have been wished, and he was far from being at his best at any period of the Northern campaign. When well he is a very free goer, but I have the best of reasons for saying that in none of his races did he stride out as he is capable of doing, there being an absence of life in his efforts. This is the vien of those in a good position to gauge the colt's performances at Auckland. I am not, however, trying to detract from the victories of Wairiki and Gladsome. The latter proved her class, compared with Treadmill, last season. Three times they met as two-year-olds, and Gladsome twice finished in front, though each contest produced a keen struggle. On this form there was nothing surprising in Gladsome's victories. Treadmill's Auckland Cup performance will stand a good deaJ of inspection. With Wairiki out of the road he would have won easily, and ho would have been classed among the brilliant three-year-olds seen out for years, but. because he was beaten by a high-class animal nothing is too bad to say of him. The "great burst of- speed" is there all right, even though Aucklnnders did not have t.he pleasure of witnessing it. The colt that fairly and squarely heat. Machine Gun over six furlongs last autumn cannot be classed as anything but a fast one. My own opinion of Treadmill's failure at Auckland is that he has gone off from the effects of the heavy season's work, for it must, not be forgotten that he was strung right up for the Wangamti meeting, and that, he has not been idle since then. Some hor-es will stand this treatment all right, and thrive on it, but experience has shown that the Bill of Portlands do not. last under this treatment.

It. must be said that " The (Possible" has pleaded the case of Treadmill well, but it would have been more satisfactory, and certainly more convincing, had he been present at Kllersiio when Sir George Clifford's colt ran there.. "The Possible" extends as an excuse for Treadmill that " from the time of his arrival at Kllerslie he did not do well."' The Canterbury writer may, of course, be in possession of some, information on that head iiig that, is unknown to us in Auckland; but, 1 would ask, is it not a little remarkablo to find such an excuse offered for Treadmill's disappointing form, in the face of his being sent out to burst up his field in the Cup and Derby contests? Surely those are not the tactics that would commend themselves to men who arc abreast of racing the thoroughbred, if the horse in their possession had not done well. i will allow the colt's finish in the Cup race to go by (even though he never struggled a yard once he wus caught), for his collapse in the Derby was the race on which i took my stand in doubting his genuineness. Watching that race most closely the conclusion T. came to was that Treadmill actually beat his jockey, in that he was apparently winning his race one moment, and the next lie wis in pieces. Gold Medallist's collapse in the Derby of 1898, when St. Crispin boat h m, was bad; but it was good compared with Treadmill's, for the chestnut (though a onstayer) did make an effort to ward off defeat. Treadmill, however, never struggled a yard in his race once Gladsome got to him, and, in the opinion of many, there was clear evidence of the brown colt showing the white feather. As to the opinion) ventured by " The Possible" that Treadmill went off while at Ellerslie, all I can say is that there was r.o outward evidence of such being the case, and I can go further and say that he pulled up in all his races without showing marked distress. No one will be more pleased than myself should I have to take sides with "The Possible" later on, and to chronicle the fact that Treadmill is a. courageous oolt; but with the Ellerslie running before me I must have something- more solid to go upon than the Canterbury writer gives us in his kindly eulotfium above quoted.

By adding the Wellington Cup to her winning repertoire, the consistent Gladsome once more demonstrated what a really good filly Mr. J- B. Reid picked up at Sylvia Park in the summer of iwi, when he secured the chestnut daughtei of Seaton Delaval for 100 guineas. As was pretty generally anticipated, Gladsome started favourite for her race at the Hutt, and that the confidence reposed in her ability to win was well placed, she gave a pointed illustration, for we are told that sno won her race in fine style, and put a finishing touch to a highly meritorious performance _by galloping out the mile and a-half in such manner as to create a fre-h record for the twelve-furlong journey. Glnd?omo's victory yesterday marked the fourth successive occasion on which she ],os claimed the attention of the judge in first place, and her record to date comes out as follows: — 'nFirst. Second. Third, placed. At 2vr3 ... 5. 7 0 1 At syrs ... 5 1 0 2 10 3 0 6 The li=t of horses left in the Fifth Century Stakes after the first forfeit, number 14-. This must be regarded as quite satisfactory, but it would, 1 think, be perfectly correct to say that the great majority have been left in the race on the off chance. By fixing the scale of penalties to date from August 1 of this season, in which the race is run, is a step that I have always looked upon as a little dangerous, and the present aspect of matters in connection with this year's race tends to strengthen such a view. Wairiki is penalised 101b, and Treadmill 71b, while Achilles remains unpenalised. On paper, therefore, ths race looks to be perfectly at the mercy of Achilles, in the event of his being equal to playing his part in his old form. If Achilles is on hand to fulfil his engagement in April it: will not tend to create interest in the Century Stakes contest.

Taken all round the acceptances received in connection with the Takapuua Jockey Club's summer meeting must be accounted very satisfactory, and in the event of the weather proving propitious there should be a large gathering at the North Shore on Friday to assist at the raising of the curtain at the popular trvsting place. Ten horses have been paid up for in the Takapuna Cup, and the club should get a. decent race for the 350sovs, as the winner looks to be extremely well concealed. An acceptance of nine for the steeplechase causes matters in connection with the cross-country race to wear a much better appearance than it did a week ago, as most of the crowd engaged are soro.

When the chestnut colt by Phoebus Apollo front Arm ill a was knocked down to Mr. Stead at the recent sale of yearlings, held at Wellington Parle, it was immediately concluded that the Canterbury sportsman was quite satisfied with his two-year-old half-brother Ca.reanet, which he purchased at the sale held at the Panmure estate in tho preceding year for -700 guineas. Carcanet, it may be remarked, is inbred to Musket, his siro, Hotchkiss, being by the Toxopholite horse, while his grand-dam (Necklace), on the dam's side, is also by the famous sire. Can-anet was down at Riccarton recently for the first time, and from the eulogistic ojrnions passed on him it is fair to assume that ho will be heard of in the course of lime. Mr. Stead han Caroancv engaged in the forthcoming Y.R.C. Derby, and it will be no great surprise should the Canterbury sportsman make an effort to capture the blue riband at Flemington next November.

Intelligence comes from Suva that the stallion Favona, who was purchased in Auckland some two years back by Mr. A. Furness on behalf of a Suva breeder, recently met his death there. It appears that a mare let out with one of her heels, ami kicking Favona fair on the forehead the chestnut had a speedy death, as he is stated to have never moved after lie dropped. Favona, who was a son of Re gel and the Reprieve mare Friendship, proved himself a good horse over hurdles, and had his forelegs not given out when in training at Ellerslio he might have attained Grand National honours, for he -was a proficient jumper and could stay well.

For the first time since he took rank as a winner-producing parent, St. Simon lasf season occupied a place amongst the four-figure division, and it may be inferred from this that the famous Galopiu horse has seen his best day. St. Simon's career as a sire has been an extraordinary one, for from the very outset he jumped into a prominent place in the winning sires' list, and up to date Lis descendants have won no less a sum than £483,916 in stakes. Foaled in 1881, St. Simon is now in his 23rd year, and though he has attained an age well in advance of the ordinary run of equine life, he may live for several, seasons yet. but even if he were to die to-morrow his descendants would be running for several years to come, so that his total is pretty sure to reach £500,000 ere his name disappears altogether from the winning sires' list. St. Simon's best year, so far as the amount of money involved is concerned, was in the season of 1896, when, with Persimmon and St. Frusquin to represent . him, he was credited with close on £60,000; but in regard to: the number of races won he htm never done so well as in 1892, with 47 winners. The {following are the amounts won by the descendants of St. Simon since they first appeared on the turf: — In 1c39 £24.286 -111 12 XI 32,799 I" 1391 ... 25,391) 111 1892 56.139 1" 2SW 36.319 In 1H94 42.092 In 15"V 3o['i69 5 n 3W36 50,740 In-1897 22,541 I ii- 1898 ... ... . 15 210 111 1099 . l?;s« hi "-"JO !/6'J hi 1901 ... 28,671 J" ? — 36.fjiJ . In 190,1 , ... 5,954 Total £438,916 "A Judge" has something interesting to say about juoges and judging in the Badmi n.g ton Magazine:—"The deeeptiveness of angles is far greater than would l>e realised by anyone who has not specially studied the subject. Why is it, I have been asked, that the horses nearest to 111" spectator seem to be going so much faster than those beyond? i iley certainly do .so, anil that is doubtless on., reason why the interested observer often feels convinced that his horse litis come with a rush and yot. up. I will endeavour to illustrate what I mean by a diagram: —

A and B are horses, !X is the spectator. .As he looks to lib .right at the approaching animals A will teem to he in front of B: they come opposite to him and B appears to have drawn exactly level; they pass, and lift is convinced that ]!. 'going twice as fast.' is clearly leading. Very likely B will look to he a good length in front when in reality from my box I perceive that A has won by a neck; if they continue exactly level and pass me so inseparably that it is a dead-heat, cur friend (having perhaps backed B) will be positively certain that my verdict is utterly wrong. If anyone wishes to ascertain how hard it is for a person not in a line with the v,'inning post to say what has won, a test can readily be applied. Bun gently, or even walk, up the middle of the course, and try to put a stick in the ground exactly in a line with the two posts. Then go into the box and see where the stick has been placed, and it is tolerably certain that it will be an astonishing long way out. 1 have heard that it was George Ford ham, the jockey, who first made the suggestion that this should he < f' 113 - ~ . '''Hiiment had been made ou the dilh' in knowing just where the winning post, was when riding a race: some ignorant person expressed doubts about any such difficulty existing, and he was invited to try. It has been calculated that there is one deadheat m every 60 races. Who made the calculation, and oyer hr>w long a period the researches on which the figures are based extended. 1 do not know, but on the whole 1 am inclined to think that the conclusion i« fairly accurate."

" Leginald of the Melbourne Sportsman writ«s : —" You'll hear one of these days of something running six furlongs in 'twelve' over our way," said a Randvvick trainer to me in the spring, and this prediction is not r.o f.'iv from in;; fulfilled as one thought at the time it was made. They are getting pretty, close to it. In the matter of timemaking Raaidwick will soon reach even America, if it does not already do so. Threeqnartors in Im. 1335., with 9st on! This is what Pendant was credited with in the Cam tig; ton Stakes. It nearly takes the breath away. We have heard of n horse going so fast that he set tlu> grass afire. Even this story can, to some extent, be believd now. Is it any wonder Air Motor failed to get. up under her " ten five," considering that she was set to catch something that, according to the watch, greatly resembled a streak of' lightning? The Yankees will surely have to trim up their tracks if they want to retain those clock records. If thoy don't.. Hand wick will most certainly got ahead of them. Randwick, at its best, is probably as fast" as, say, Maribyrnong on a dry day with a north wind blowing 1 You know what means.

A trainer named Eugene Leigh went to Chantilly on January 17 last year'with four horses, and put up a remarkable record. Sinoe then, and up to the time our last files* left England, ho has won 66 race 3 on the flat and 103 over obstacles, of the total value of nearly £50,000. Amongst ilia former are the Omnium and the Prix de Seine at Marne. and among the jumping contests the Grand Course de Ilaies at Auteuil, the latter with Nivolet, a hor.-e leaded a few months back by one of his patrons and with whom lie has won every race (10 in number) for which he lias started him.

Mauku (by Cuirassier from Fi.Mifag).. who claims half-brothership 10 Cannongate, is in training at T»llerflie, but. lie is. I understand. likely to make his debut on the turf carrying colours other than those (if his breeder. While being exercised at liller-.iic recently Mauku swerved into cue of the trestles and cut one of his forelegs so severly that he is unlikely to start at iak.tpuna.

11l referring to Wairiki's success in the Auckland Cup, " Martindalo," of the Sydney Town and Country Journal, did not forget the rider (.T. Gainsford) of the Soult horse. The Sydney writer says:—lt is doubtful if we ever had at Randwick a rider who, as a boy and man, conducted himself better and held the respect and goodwill of all than John Gainsford, who steered Wairiki to victory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

In stating that too much racing has a deteriorating effect on the sport an American paper says:—"When there is too much racing true sport is pushed into the background, gentlemen of the type so necessary for the highest success of the sport are loth to take ail active interest, and racing drifts into the control of those who have nothing but a mercenary regard for what should be the greatest of all out-of-door amusements. Not only this but the public becomes surfeited and the actions of the regulars become Mich as to disgust the classes who would lend dignity to racing and make it. profitable. Those who have even a superficial knowledge of racing feel that there is too much of it and that the results of too much racing are anything but beneficial.

BREVITIES. Kingman is reported to have gone amis?. The Takapuna Cup is set down for decision on Friday next. Romeo has been allowed to drop out of the Takapuna Cup. Younsr and old horses in training at Ellerslie are showing symptoms of unsoundness. Sir John Maple received and declined two offers of 30.000 guineas for Common during recent years. Frontier, a six-year-old son of Cuirassier and Ganza, won a hurdle race in New South Wales recently. Rufus and Xor'-west have not been seen at Eilerslie siree they contested the Steeplechase 011 January 2. There are no less than 34- foals at. Wellington Park this year, the record showing 18 fillies and 16 colts. Gaul eon, the full brother to the Melbourne Cup winners Gaulus and The Grafter, has been sent to the stud. . . Advices to hand state that the stallion San Francisco had a capital passage to Sydney by the s.s. Mokoia. Counting in the slake attaching to her latest success, Gladsome has won in prizemoney this season £2115. Gold Spal is striding along nicely in his work at Ellerslie, and he may pay his way at the Takapuna meeting. Machine Gnu is stated to be suffering from a cracked heel, and he will not be a starter at. the Wellington meeting. The late Sir John Blundell Maple's winnings 011 the flat from 1883 to the time of his death totalled £185b,169 iSs 6d. Gladsome Has won four races in succession. The chestnut filly has well repaid Mr. J. B. Reid for his outlay of 100 guineas. At last advices, M. Leopold do Rothschild's colt St. Auiant (by St. Frusquin from Lady Loverule) was favourite for the English Derby. The three-year-old Do la Rev was freely telegraphed to Auckland as a likely .winner of the Wellington Cup, but lie never got up with the leaders. The Castor—Cissy colt, Uranus, purchased reoajU'.y by Mr. G. G. Stead, from Mr. Hugo Friedlander, was shipped South by the s.s. Te Anau on Saturday last.

Hinetaura is going on nicely at Ellerslie, and. she is now pretty well free from the soreness which came against her at the A.R.C. Summer Meeting.

That hard-worked old slave Maro is evidently booked for another trip to Auckland, as he figures amongst the acceptors for the Takapuna Cup.

Evidently the Hon. Mr. Mosman only purclittfwd St. Hippo as a spec., as the bay son of St.. Lege-r is in a private sale list of a firm doing business in Sydney.

It is stated that Sir G-eorgo Clifford had Gladsome bought at 250 guineas as a two-vear-old, but something cropped up to prevent- the change of ownership taking place.

An Aucklander recently endeavoured to have Machine Grin priced to him, but lie was informed that the handsome son of Hotchkiss and Rubina is under offer in another quarter.

StrathavoH must have made a good recovery from the accident that befell him at Ellerslie while'contesting the Auckland Cup, as it will ha noted the veteran chestnut has been accepted for the Takapuna Clip.

An English-bred horse came out at the head of lire list amongst the winning sires in America last season. The animal in question was Ben Strome, a son of Bend Or and the Scottish Chief mare Straithfeei.

London Truth believes that a Betting Bill will be introduced under Government auspices next year, and that its main provision will lie the bringing of street betting within the pains and penalties of the Vacrancy Act of 1824.

The Auckland-bred horses Fairy Bower (by Flintlock) and Goetzer (by Howitzer) distinguished themselves at the Suva meeting, the first-named winning the Governor's Cup, while the latter scored in the New Year's Handicap.

It is staled that Cannongate has been leased to Mr. T. O'Connor, so that the next, time the game old 'chaser makes his debut on the track he will probably be found carrying the colours of mine host of the Victoria Hotel.

The full brother to Multiform in training at Frank Macinanemin's establishment, is a daily attendant, on the tracks. lie is still carrying a big top, and I should Sjtiv, from his api-parance, that, it is still considered inadvisable to hurry him.

Tin? Wellington Cup run this year reached its 31st anniversary, and an interesting little incident is that the first Cup was won by a horse (Castaway) of the chestnut shade, while Gladsome, v.-ho scored in this year's race, is of the same colour.

Zulcika injured herself some little time back, and at the time her case was viewed in so serious a light, that it- was considered her racing days were over. The Seat-on Del.'ival mare must have made a good recovery, as she won a double at the Ohaupo races oil Wednesday last.

Carabine, a well-performed son of Carbine, who was purchased in England at, a good round figure and exported to India with a view to the Viceroy's Cup, was not destined to see the post, for that race, as he proved untrsinable and had to be scratched for ail engagements.

The Wellington Cup has been won on 10 occasions by a mare. The representatives of the weaker sex. that have scored in the Hut t race are:—Maritana, Hilda, Mischief, Dudu, Cynisca (throe times), Retina. Brooklet, and Gladsome. Gladsome is t.he first chestnut of Iter class thai has won the race.

The Auckland-bred pony Sonioa. who wou several good races in open company in Australia, was purchased there recently for transportation to India. In the event of .Soult's little daughter being in a position to register her correct form, she should be heard of in the Bast, as it is understood that she has bven bought with a view to galloway racing. Young Victor Cotton has been nutting up a good record in the saddle during the past few days. At the Nelson meeting lie steered Terctdet to victory in the Cup. and at the same meeting he annexed a double with White Ribbon. At the Wellington meeting yesterday he got home first on Tercelet in the Tongariro Handicap. The record (P.m. 315.) for a mile and ahalf, which General Symons put up last, November at Ricoarton in the running of "the Metropolitan Handicap did nor stand lon* as Gladsome further reduced the record yesterday in the running of the Wellington •. up, the chestnut filly compassing the distance in p.m. 53 3-ss.

The To Aroha Jockey Club have issued the programme of events drawn up in connection with their annual race meeting, which is fixed to take place on February 17 a-cd 13. The Te Arch a Jockey Club Handicap of 40sovs and the Te A roll a Cup ot oOsova are the leading events. From the club s advertisement, appearing in another column, it will bo seen thai nominations for all events close on Wednesday next at ei 'lit p.m. * °

Since its institution in 1873 the Wellington Cup has bwn won eight times by a chestnut horse, viz., Castaway (1873), Natator • iSSI). The Poet (1834), Nelson (1886), Vogengang (1894), Strath braan (1897), Daunt (1899) rieaovro (19QJ), find Gladsome {1904).