INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13006, 25 October 1905, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL GOSSIP.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—own correspondents.]

CANTERBURY.

Tuesday. Petrovna's form at Gamaru was not very attractive, and she is probably backward. She is expected at Riccarton 111 a day or two, when J. Pine will finish her preparation. The running of Harvest 011 the first day at Oamaru was viewed with great disfavour by the stewards. In the opening event, in which he had only a solitary backer, he finished out of a place. Later in the clay when he won lie was second favourite on 1 he machine, besides being well backed with 1 he bookmakers. After inquiry the stewards decided not.to disturb the judge's placing. A report was current to the effect that t:he leading bookmakers of the colony are organising their forces, and will make a combined effort at the general election to assist the returns of prohibition candidates. Most of these are opposed to the totalisator, and the latest move is due to the hostility of many leading supporters of the totalisator to the fielders. There is a feeling that the totalisator is in grave danger. At present it is rumoured that in deference to the wishes of the Racing Conference the North Otago Jockey Club will not license bookmakers at future meetings. The Phasthon gelding Prohibitory has joined M. Hobbs' team, and should win races if well placed.. De la Rey has been turned out for a spell. This horse must have cost his connections a lot of money.

Machine Gun has not done well since he returned from Sydney, which accounts for the fact that ho. has not been given much severe work. He is now 011 the improve, and lie should be pretty well by the time the Riccarton meeting commences. J. McGuinness has just taken in hand a three-year-old filly named Drift (by Castashore).

Sheenan's two-year-old filly by Ben Trovato—Greek Maid, is recovering from the attack of and will probably bo given .run at the coming C.J. C. meeting'. Visiting horses are beginning to put in an appearance. Paritutu, Douche, Romany I,}! . ant ' Scottish Minstrel have arrived. Within the next few days a largo number of other horses are expected, so that matters will be very lively at Riccarton. The prices on offer about the various Cup candidates have undergone some change during the last few days, the Yaldhurst trio. lghtfall. Noctuiform, and Sungod, being each at 6 to 1. Other prices are: 7 to 1 Achilles, 10 to 1 Ghoorka and Golden Knight, 11 to 1 Melodeon, 12 to 1 Mahutonga, 14- to 1 Quarryman and Paritutu, 20 to 1 Buluwavo, St. Joe, and Douche, 25 to 1 Mystification, Veneer, and Stepdancer. 33. to 1 B'.ythemaid, 50 to 1 Calibre and Ability. In the double betting all the Yaldhurst combinations are at 25 to 1. a similar price being on offer against Nightfall and Machine Gun cr Achilles and Chivalry. WELLINGTON.

, 7 ... Tuesday. V eener will not journey to Masterton, but goes on to Christchurch. Baxter Brothers had a good win over him on Saturday, when he captured the Pearce Handicap. On the first day one of his jockey's stirrup leathers broke, and the iron swinging about tlm horse's forelegs interfered with him. G. Price has been engaged to ride Veneer in" the Cup. Mahutonga, Mystification, Munjesta, Starshoot, Melodeon, Sir Tristram, Golden Gate, Zimmerman, Perdita, Lyrist, and Medallist are being shipped South to-night to fulfil engagements at the C.J.O. Spring Meeting. St. .Joe makes the journey South in a day or two in company with Solution and Handsome Rose.

Winners at the Hutt have incurred the following penalties in the New Zealand Cup: St. Joe, 101b; Veneer, 101b; Ghoorka, 71b.

Ballarat started favourite for the Waimai Handicap. Just before the race started some backers, who had supported the mare with bookmakers expressed anxiety to cry the bets off, as it was rumoured the going would not suit her. She ran well for threefurlongs, and then quickly died out of it.

Notwithstanding that the Yaldhurst stable should win all the principal handicaps and classic races at Riccarton, the North Island will be well represented.

Auratus may journey to Ellerslie for the Birthday Handicap. After the disappointing displays of Martello it was decided to send him home. Tho following horses niav run well at Masterton on Thursday: Hurdles: Bounce. Flying Hack: Red Cross. Cup: Hydrant. Ladies' Bracelet: Flannagan. October Hack: Operetta. Publicans' Handicap: Exinoor. Dash Hack: Contender. NAPIER. Tuesday. Veneer, who captured the Pearce Handicap at Wellington, though not owned here, claims Hawke's Bay as his birthplace, for he was bred at Te Mahanga . Stud. Veneer was bought as a yearling by his present owners, Messrs. Baxter Brothers, for 76 guineas in March, 1903. Benefactor is to be given another chance in the arena, as lie was shipped to Gisborne last night to assist at the" Poverty Bay Turf Club's Spring Meeting, which comes up for decision next week. Moata, one of Benefactor's stable-mates, is moving along satisfactorily in his tasks, and leaves for Masterton this week, where he has engagements to fulfil. Mr. T. H. Lowry has received a notification from the Lands for Settlement Department that they intend to acquire his Oik aw a Estate for close settlement purposes. Mr. Lowry has his private training track and breeding quarters at Okawa. WANGANUI. Tuesday. Inglewood, who is being schooled over sticks, is acquitting himself very well, and as the Sylvia Park gelding has a good bit of pace he should pay his way. * First Lesson lias been sold to a Wellington sportsman. If the Haere—Docility gelding stands up to his work he should prove a profitable speculation. Tautoru (by Lethe) is bowling along on the local tracks with a view of competing at Wavcrlcy. j W. Rayner has Amaryllis in first-class condition, and the daughter of Handsome Jack is acquitting herself very creditably at the schooling fences. Being fast on the flat she should be worth watching when she makes her debut at the illegitimate game. St. Lyra is improving in her work -every day, and I expect to see the St. Leger mare score a win over sticks in the near future. The Strephon gelding Hokio is making good progress in his work, and may effect a surprise in the near future.

Wanganui has not a single representative in the New Zealand Cup, but Solution will battle for this district in the Stewards' Handicap, in which event she should play a prominent part.

THE A.R.C. AND THE BOOKMAKERS. TO THK SPORTING EDITOR. Sir, do not think it at all, fair for the Hon. E. Mitcheleon to be blamed for all the trouble that has arisen over the retirement of the pencilled from Bll&rslie. I have some data by me that will »how the position ill the proper light. Piret of all we have the pointed reference to the matter in the address delivered by Sir George Clifford, the chairman of the Racing Conference, at the annual meeting held in Wellington in July, 1904, and the pledge given by the Auckland delegates, Mr. J. Marshall and Mr. ?Thit.aker; and also the fact that Mr. Samuels said : "X hare unfortunately to admit that the cluli I represent, the Taranaki Jockey dob, licenses bookmakers. Sometimes we are obliged to do things that are very inexpedient; we simply cannot help ourselves under existing circumstances." Again, Mr. G. G. Stead said: " I should not like to see the conference recognise the bookmakers in any shape or form." The Hon. Gei. McLean stated that he would like to see the prictice of licensing bookmakers absolutely discontinued." Two other delegates Mr. - Abrahams (Wr.nganui country clubs) and Mr. Petrie (Greymouth country clubs)— are also against the bookmakers. And then again, speaking to Mr. Campion's motion, both Mr. Marshall and Mr. Whitakei" reiterated the opinion that the incoming committee of the Auckland Racing Club would give this subject the most earnest consideration. The Referee of July 20, 1304, ends up an article thus:—"Taking this question of licensing bookmakers on its merits, it is perfectly plain that those clubs which are enabled to keep the layers off the course are doing a most rapidly increasing totalisator business. There are men in the ranks of bookmakers who are probably as good citizens iri all respects lis are men in other vocations', but the end is not arrived at by the estimate of character. We have a Totalisator Act. If some racing clubs, still using the totalinntor, choose to license bookmakers, is this not a contravention of the law? The turf of New Zealand has been granted a charter by the Government to use the totalisator as a recognised medium for racecoursc betting. Rasing clubs licensing bookmakers are certainly endangering that charter. Hence the straight-out hitting of the chairman of the conference, and the desire to come within the fold expressed by the Auckland delegates, Messrs. Marshall and Whitaker." The Hon. K. Mitchelson has undertaken a most disagreeable duty, that Messrs. Marshall and Whitaker pledged the A.R.C. to over twelve months ago, and vet we hear that the pencilled are being treated in an " unceremonious way," ami that "it was done without a moment's notice." The Taranaki Jockey Club discontinued to license bookmakers immediately after the meeting of the N.Z. Conference, 11104, and gave bookmakers no notice, and had the A.R.C. done so then it would have been well am, etc., A Supporter of tbb A.R.C. Auckland, October 21, 1005.