SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14103, 3 July 1909, Page 7

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. 'July 8. »-Gisborne Racing Club. July 17. 21, 24-Wellington Racing Club. DATES OF COMING EVENTS. NT.Vf ZMTiAND July 17—Winter Hurdle Race (Wellington). July Wellington Steeplechase. AUSTRALIA. July 3-V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. July 10-V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. ENGLANDSeptember s—Doncaster St. Legcr. . ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. INQUIRER, Taumarunui.— following is a statement of the amounts won in stakes by the horses in question at three years olds— Nonette, £3960; Cruciform. £3765; Seahorse, £3208; Renown, £3185; Advance. £3251. MAJJA.— Tasman won the first New Zealand Cup decided, which was in the spring of 1883. 2. Moifaa, the winner of the Wanganui Steeplechase, Great Northern Steeplechase, and Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, was got by Natator (son of Traducer). W.T., Te Aroha.-St. Hippo raced, and was returned a winner, at the age of two years. Hippona. the dam of St. Hippo, was got by Robinson Crusoe. She formed one of the collection of mares bought by the defunct Zealand Stud Company at the dispersal of the Terrara Stud in New South Wales. MUSKETEER, Otahuhu.—l. Carbine was defeated in the V.R.C. Derby of 1888. Carbine has sired the following classic winners:— Charge and Amberite (A.J.C. Derby), Wallace and Amberite (V.R.C. Derby), Wallace and Amberite (A.J.C. St. Leger), Spearmint (English Derby and Grand Prix do Paris). 2. Trenton did not claim a winning descendant in the V.R.C. Derby, but his son Trenchant won the A.J.C. Derby of 1893.

NOTES BY PHAETON. KEEP UP THE DISTANCES. Undismayed by the fact that the motion for which they were responsible, to keep up the distances, has been twice thrown out by the Racing Conference, the committee of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club have decided on again championing that important question at the forthcoming session. The notice of motion standing in the name of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club is cast an exactly similar lines as in the preceding years, and is in the direction of altering the rule at present in existence by making it incumbent upon all chilis to place at least one flat race of a mile and a-quarter on their programme each day. It has been a subject, for remark that the New Zealand rules of racing aim at a high standard, but on this question of distances it must be said that there is room for a sharp thrust. For a programme to bo passed at present it simply requires one flat race of a mile figure thereon, and one. has not to seek far, in the club of high estate as well as in the ono of humble origin in tho tipcountry districts, for pointed illustration that there is a marked tendency to keep down distances on occasions to tho limit, as though it were expressly. incumbent so to do. Some will, no doubt, argue that in tho winter cvason, and the weights fixed on tho welter scale, a mil© provide.? a sufficiently severe test, but, however much may be made out of tho conditions that obtain at that particular season, it cannot bo considered otherwise than that New Zealand sets a low standard when a mile race is only necessary to secure the approval o£ the powers that be to a programme. Whatever exception may be made in the winter months, it is to be hoped that the proposed alterations will bo applied to all meetings held between September and April. In the event of the proposed alteration being agreed to, it may do much to raise the standard of our racing, and to cause those committees who appear to be so absorbed in money-making* through the channel of sprint racing to ;-, give some practical proof that the oft-quoted cry "improvement of the horse" is something more than mere talk.

THE DERBY— SUGGESTION. "Milroy," of the Sydney Mail, writes: — " As (fie Derby is the world's greatest race, and as Australian horses have not disgraced themselves in other English races, it lias been suggested to me by a well-known Sydney man, interested in thoroughbreds, and the breeding of them, that Australians should band together and endeavour to win this event, for two good reasons—national vanity, and the enhancement of Australian (horses. The late Hon. James White began the experiment' some years ago on his own. Ho set aside a few mares every year to breed to English time, and I believe intended to try the experiment for 10 years, but shortly after the second batch arrived in England Mr. "White died, and the scheme ended. The first batch, though they looked well to the eye, failed, in the training-stable, to develop that speed and stamina which their Australian relations were famous for. They were all, in fact, worthless, except Kirkham, a brother to Cranbrook, who, however, was very third rate. Tho second lot included Mons Meg, a sister to Singapore, who was acquired after the death of Mr. White by Mr. W. C., now Sir William, Cooper, and he won the Ascot Vase- of two miles with her. It, would not bo a small thing if a stud produced one Derby winner in 10 years, and supplied 40 youngsters a year for the purpose; therefore, had.Mr. White succeeded in his object, with three or four a year, it would have been a big thing, likewise lucky. As thore are only three or four first-class horses turned out of all our studs annually, tho odds are considerable against any particular stud producing a Derby winner here, or elsewhere, in a decade, therefore my friend suggests that the principal breeders of Australia should band together under an arrangement, to last 10 years, and endeavour to breed an English Derby winner. His proposal is that Mr. Frank Reynolds should head the business, and contribute two of his best mares. There are the Whites, of Belltrees, of Havilah, and of Merton, to follow, and join with the Thompsons, of Widden and Oakleigh, and tho three Osbornes, who own thoroughbreds. There are several others, of course. • He suggests that they each provide any two mares selected by tho corporation, and so forth. Say, if ten or a dozen studmasters allowed two of their best mares to bo used for this object, and to be put to whatever stallions tlho combine, as a body, agreed upon, there would be over 20 bred annually to English time. Mares bred to English time foal at the worst, period of the year in Australia—to wit, January or Februarybut the gentleman who makes the suggestion thinks the difficulty of green, natural feed for foaling mares in January or February could be got over by selecting a .paddock in the volcanic regions of Crookwell, or about Robertson, which is situated in cold, bracing parts, and where green, natural feed is generally available when tllie pastures are dried up in many other parts. The produce of the mares should be broken in in this country, and tho most promising sent to England. Mr. Francis Foy bred Tartan and Lord Ullin's Daughter to race in England, but changed his mind about, sending them, which was hard luck for Australia."

V.R.C. GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE RACE The Y.R.C. will inaugurate their Grand National Meeting at Flemington to-day. As New Zealand claims' a representative in tho Grand National Hurdle Race in the shape of Waipu, that will serve to infuse some Maoriland interest into the Flemington contest. The following is a list of the acceptances:—Enchanted States, list 101b; Concave, list 31b; Solano, list 31b; Aringa, list lib; Circulus, lOst 131b; Wollara, lOst 131b; Nightlight, lOst 91b; Kalnuck, lOst 71b; Waipu, lOst 51b; The Sun, lOst 31b; Knotter, lOst lib; Old Chappie, 9st 131b; Yarrabuhdie, 9st 111b; Vernier, 9st 91b; Coraki, 9st 91b; Woolloomooloo, 9st 71b; Old Nick, 9st 51b; Togo, 9st? Fossil, 9st; Kulcurna, 9st; Rogue's March, 9st 91b; The Ribble, 9st.

LEAVES FROM SIY NOTEBOOK. ' What; a marked change has come about in the attitude of those who follow turf pursuits towards events a long way ahead lias formed the subject of comment in quarters that may be said to embrace all points of the compass. In the '80's, and it can be said for a good portion of the '90's, the publication of the weights for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups- was wont to create quite a hum at the Auckland rendezvous where men assemble to discuss horseracing. The weights for the two great handicaps are, of course, still perused; but in a very languid spirit compared with that which ruled in the days of old. The days when people rushed in months before the decision to back doubles have gone, and with them that, keen interest which once was so marked a feature has also departed. The change that has come o'er the scene is quite a natural one, for the whole trend of betting speculation in the present day is to suspend operation till the events under review are close at hand. There are, of course, daring spirits still to be found who would endeavour to find the winner of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups even at this stage: but the well-versed student is found following that safe advice, "stand off until near the. day."

Taking the old saying, " No news is good news," as a guide in the case of the Australian jockey Frank Wootton, who was severely injured while riding at Ascot last meeting, it may bo assumed that the talented horseman is making a satisfactory recovery- In a recent, reference to young Wootton, Mr. Nat. Gould says: —"He is a quiet, unassuming boy, but has an old head on « his young shoulders. In his homo he is very much like other bright youngsters of the same age, full of fun, playing pranks on his sisters, and altogether like a lighthearted, smart boy ought to be. He is wellspoken and has good manners; and, with his father to watch over him on the racecourse and his mother at homo, he is not likely to get too great an opinion of himself. To all appearances there is a- great future in store for him. I do not think there was any intentional wrong-doing on his part over the race for which he had to ' stand down' for a month. Young jockeys are apt to take risks where older riders would not, because they do not see the danger, and have not the experience. In young Wootton's case the natural desire to win is bred in him; it is part of him. To hoar him talk is to recognise this at once. Ho speaks quietly, but there is an undercurrent of condensed .energy, which may be readily detected. His whole being is wrapped up in his profession, and his father has coached him well. Frank told me he has never done anything in a race, tojiis knowledge, to interfere with another jockey."

An Australian writer in referring to the death of the well-known rider James Barhour makes mention of a s-ad concidence. Poor Martin Burke and James Barbour, who respectively steered Daitnio to victory in the V.R.C., Grand National, each met with injuries causing their death while engaged in schooling a. horse at Flomington. Over tho signature " A Member of the V.R.C.," a correspondent writes to the Melbourne Ago as follows: "At Barbour's funeral in the* St. Kilda cemetery, among his admirers and friends and brother jockeys gathered round his grave, I noted several veteran cross-country riders wearing a sad, puzzled look, doubtless thinking, while gazing at the coffin which held their old chum, would they escape poor Jim's end? Will they? Perhaps a great club like the V.R.C, with its largo number of members and with a good balance, will think the matter over, and mako # , some provision for old crosscountry jockeys who have behaved decently. Surely to the three or four old jockeys an allowance of, say, £2 a week would not hurt the club, and would make the remaining years of these poor fellows, who have done so much to provide sport, a bit easy."

Commenting on the English Derby, a wellknown writer says:—"There is more on the Derby than any , other ' classic,' . but it is trifling compared to what was done in the sixties. Very largo stakes are supposed to have been won over tho Derby by Sir Joseph Hawley, Mr. James Merry, Count La Grange, Mr. Naylor, and Mr. ChaplinWo have seen Mr. Merry's winnings over Thormanby iii 1860 stated at, various sums up to £100,000. This was for one man, and, as- Thormanhy was ' a popular horse, he must have had hundreds of backers besides his owner. ■ The largest wager ever made in these plunging davs was £180,000 to £6000, which the Duke of Hamilton laid to Captain Machell, about Hermit, months before the Derby of 1867, but- Admiral Rous got to hear of it, and insisted on the bet being scratched. Assuming that the amount of Mr. Merry's winnings on Thormanhy approached £100,000, and tho public were provided for as well, the amount laid against the colt must have been enormous. Betting now is mild to what it was. Nearly all the owners were big bettors in the sixties. Now very few of the rich' titled racing men bet more than a trifle. Why should they? They do not want money, and in any case getting money out of a bookmaker is not an easy matter."

The severe character of the injuries suffered by' Ataahua when ho fell while performing a schooling gallop over hurdles recently was such that it was considered by no means certain that the friendly bul- ■ let would ■ not bo requisitioned. A Melbourne cablegram of yesterday's date states that the Mahaki gelding is making a good recovery; and that he is now considered! out of immediate danger of being numbered amongst the defunct. Under the most favourable circumstances, however, Ataahua is not expected to rejoin the active brigade for several months.

Linacre, who follows Mooltan in " the weights for the Melbourne Cup, with 9st 61b opposite his name, is an English-bred four-year-old horse by Wolf's Crag. When racing in England last year, Linacre started on 10 occasions, but he only won two of his engagements, viz., the Atlantic Stakes, of 1721sovs (nine furlongs), at Liverpool, and the Twenty-ninth Great Foal Stakes of 850sovs (one mile and a-quarter), at Newmarket. It can be said that Linacre has been rather harshly treated, as the company he beat in England was not of much account.

Verdun, who carried the colours of Baron Maurice do Rothschild to victory in the Grand Prix do Paris . last week, had previously distinguished himself on the same course. On May 16 he won the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (the French Two Thousand), in which he beat a field of seven. Verdun is not enraged in the Doncaster St. Leger, so that "there is no prospect of seeing ■• him measuring strides this season with the English crack, Minpm.

Le Beau continues to carry himself well, and it is quite evident that the Leolantis gelding has gone on the right way since ho led the field home in the Winter Steeplechase at Ellerslie on the 9th idt. Le Beau is engaged in the Winter Hurdle Race and Wellington Steeplechase, and his owner may lie expected to make a move towards Trentham during the next fortnight.

According to the opinions of good judges Tribulation, who claims full brothership to the brilliant Provocation, is likely to prove even better than his well-performed relative. Should Tribulation, however, proveas good as Provocation, Mr. Bidwill will have pood reason to bo well satisfied with (ho third mating of Birkenhead and Stepfeldfc.

" There ore six English-bred horses in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup (his year. They are:—Son of the Marsh, by Wildfowler—Loo's Pride ; Featherstitch, by Ayrshire—Thimble ; Petrilio, by Gallinule— Float; Red Knight, by William Rufus— Eloping Lady; Linacre, by Wolf's Crag— Lismaine; and Grey Plume, by Grey Leg— Thalestris. They are all trained in Sydney.

The death is announced, of Mr". A. H. Good, who for many years acted in the capacity of London sporting correspondent to the Australasian. Under the nom do plume of " Robin Hood" Mr. Good's writings were ever marked by breadth of view and masterly touch. Prior to going to England the deceased held a prominent nosition in the head office of the National Bank of Australia. .'','•',..■: ■ -

Tho London Sportsman states:—-" is almost unnecessary to deny the accuracy of the statement ascribed to a Melbourne paper that the famous Aintree racecourse- was used for the last time this year. It is added that the lease of the course has expired, end that the 'club' has acquired tho old Shrewsbury racecourse, where the Grand National will bo decided next year. ■ Instead of the above being correct in any particular, wo understand that the Messrs. Topham contemplate increasing the value of several of the more important handicaps decided at tAintree, notably the Grand Sefton Steeplechase, which may bo raised in value next November to £1000. It is pretty wellknown also that a new five-furlong track, which is perfectly straight, has only quite recently been completed, and it promises ;to be one of the best in the country."

The members of the Auckland Racing Club will shortly be again face to face with another series of elections. Nominations for the respective positions of president and vice-president, and for five seats on the committee close on Saturday next, at noon. The V.A.T.C. handicapper, Mr. Kerry Maitland, does not apparently hold Seddon, the full brother to Wairiki, in (high esteem, as in framing the handicap for the Caulfield Cup he considered the case met by awarding the son of Soult 7st 31b, or 291b under weight-for-ago. Those who have the management of race affair-, in Franco look well after the interest of breeders. There were 37 days' racing this season in what may be termed the Paris area and Chantilly, the added money to which was £160,000, and of this quite £40,000 will go to the breeders of winners. An English writer mentions that a noticeable feature about the horses of the American trainer Joyner is that, whether they win or lose, they are generally first away, and whatever he starts in a race* almost invariably makes the running for a considerable distance. . Messrs. 11. R. Mackenzie (chairman) and F. D. Yonge (secretary of the Otahuhu Trotting Club) have been appointed delegates to represent t!ie> club at the annual meeting of the Now Zealand Trotting Conference, to be held in Wellington on Tuesday, July 20. Judging from the character of the schooling displays over the battens, for which North Head has been responsible since his arrival at Ellorslie, there is no reason to sing his praises. North Head has a lot to I learn ere he can be classed a safe and reliable fencer. , Tho jockeys riding on some of the tracks ! in California are kept in-order with a financial whip, which has stung, according ; to reports from that part of the world, no i less than oOQsovs in fines from them during j the first portion of the present season. The Auckland-bred gelding Up-to-Date is reported to be training on-satisfactorily at Flemington, and the son of St." Hippo is expected to fulfil his engagement in the V.It.C. Grand National Steeplechase next Saturday. The ex-New Zealand jockey L. H. Hewitt has made a good start in Austria, having won five races out of his first 26 mcunte. He says that jockeys are paid very large salaries, but living is very expensive. • Vemicle, by —Pretoria, who was purchased some months ago in Auckland by an Australian sportsman for 700 guineas, and who raced without any success in New South Wales, is to be retired to the stud. English papers to hand show that Carbine's son Cargill (of whose success in tho Manchester Cup we heard a few weeks back by cable) previously distinguished himself by winning the Newmarket Handicap. Races in Ireland are (says a writer in the Sketch) in some ways much more cheerful than races in England, and numbers of people are ignoring Newmarket for the sake of the Irish week. Carbine's son Wallace claims a larger list of representatives than any other sire in the spring handicaps in Australia. He has 18 in the Caulfield Cup, and 20. in the Melbourne Cup.' The New Zealand-owned Kiatero is engaged in a. Jumpers' Flat Race (two miles), to be run on the second day of the V.R.C. Grand National meeting. Scotty continues to acquit himself satisfactorily in his schooling work % He was jumped yesterday in company with Stroller, and shaped well. . . . The stallion En Garde, purchased recently in England by, the New South Wales breeder, Mr. H. E. White, has arrived at Sydney. : ■ ■■■'■ '

The jockey W. D. McKinnen continues to progress satisfactorily towards recovery at the Auckland Hospital. , ' , Explosive is shaping promisingly in his jumping education, and he may be expected to lose his maidenhood at an early-date. , The Gisborne Racing Club will hold their winter meeting on Thursday and Friday next. ' .. ' It is stated that the brilliant Soultline has not taken kindly to the Indian, climate. The V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race is set down for decision to-day. Tho Pakuranga hounds meet ; to-day at noon at Ultimata. , * ■'■ • ■■ ' • - STUD NOTES. . .; ;.' ; ; After Spearmint's V brief but meteoric career closed Carbine struck a ' comparatively barren patch, and last year he dropped well down in the winning; sires' list with £8395, the greater part of which was won !by Glacis, Bushranger, Cargill, and Foresight. Descendants of tho " phenomenal bay" began this season badly; but several have acquitted themselves attractively during the past couple of months, and with Cargill and Bomba, two proved stayers, to represent, him, the old son of Musket will probably be found in a good place on the., sires' list when the season's totals come to be made up. .■ " ■'....'-■■/-* ?\>'S

An interesting fact; connected with the breeding of Bomba, who won '■■ the Ascot Gold Cup ,on -the 17th ult., is that once again happy results! have attended the mating of the Musket and St. ' Simon families. Bomba was got by Carbine (son of Musket) from Neophyte (daughter of- St. Simon. Cargill, another son "of Carbine that has won some marked distinction this season, it is interesting to note, is out of Galinne, a daughter of Galopin (sire of St. Simon). - !

In March 'last the Victorian breeder, Mr. J. E. Stanley, sent a draft of blood stock to auction,' and amongst the number was an English-bred mare named Carmine, a daughter of Carbine and St. Neophyte. Mr. Percy Reynolds secured Carmine cheaply at 130gns. Four months after Carmine was knocked down' at auction her full brother, Bomba, won the Ascot Gold Cup; and it may be inferred that Mr. Reynolds secured a great bargain. ' .

Comparison of the fees commanded by bygone English sires and those now in fashion supplies by no means an uninteresting study (writes " Augur " in the Sporting Life). It is not my intention to trace back to the days of Waxy, or even to Whalebone, most distinguished of his four Derby winners, and whom probably no living man. has seen run.' Enough to take as a standpoint the early sixties, when the three illustrious sons of Pocahontas—Stockwell,.' Rataplan, and King Tomreceived at 40 guineas each. I have in mind the season after Kettledrum had won the Derby, , when the two most costly in the whole sire list were Newminster (whose daughter, Nemesis, in the previous spring had taken the One Thousand Guineas) and Voltigeur, their fees being 50 guineas each. That even these classic winners 40 or 50 years ago were expected to make their reputations at the stud becomes evident from a glance over some advertisements of that epoch, evidently by no means an exhaustive list. Anyhow, sneaking of Derby winners other than the aforesaid renowned bearer of the Aske spots, I find Tcddington (14yrs), fee: 20 guineas;. Daniel O'Rourke (13yrs), fee 10 guineas; Beadsman (7yrs), fee 20 guineas; and Musi id (6yrs), fee _12 guineas. Again, I find the Guineas winners" Lord of ,' the Isles (lOyrs) and Vedette (Byrs) each at a score, and this despite the recent honours that had been showered over the son of Touchstone and Fair Helen through the Flying Dundee; also Promised Land (syrs) and Fitzroland (7yrs), fees 10 guineas each. Of' St. Leger winners, a trio one can quote, namely, St. Albans, in his first season (syrs). fee 20 guineas, and Warlock (9yrs), fee 10 guineas, together with the veteran Nutwith (22yrs), who received at Burfrhloy Paddocks, Stamford, his service charge being also a, modest tenner. Although the following spring saw other Derby winners, in the shape of Thorinanby and Kettledrum, available at 30 guineas a mare, and Buccaneer beginning at the low rate of 12 guineas, fees steadily increased through the sixties, Stock well taking a strong lead; but. even that ; giant among stallions was shunned at 200 guineas a mare, and when literally on stud duty a' terrible fall killed greatest sire this century has known, the Hooton, on May 5, 1870, his terms were 75sovs each, or three mares (one property) 200sovs. Could Stockwell be brought back to his life and prime it might not be too much to say breeders would pay 500 guineas a mare for his service.

'There are still places in Asia Minor where the genuine Arabian horse is bred. That is the case, for example, in the- vilayet (province) of Diarbekir. Such an animal of tlhe highest typo occasionally sells in that region for as much as £500 or £600; but ordinarily the average horse can he bought throughout the country for about £10 or a little iao*6. ;