SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1186, 23 November 1894, Page 22

SPORTING NOTES.

By “ Gipsy King.”

Some stewards are not readily convinced about “ jostling ” in a race. At the Auckland Spring Meeting, when Ben Godfrey, Forme and First Nelson were running off their dead heat in the City Handicap, Ben Godfrey was bumped on to the rails, and with such force that one of the rails was knocked out of its place. A protest was lodged against the winner (First Nelson), but it was dismissed. I suppose the stewards did not consider it a fair jostle, seeing that the jockey’s and the horse s necks were not broken.

# • « • The idea that the progeny of St. Leger, with the exception of St. Hippo, were nonstayers is now exploded. Prestige, Ben Godfrey, Impulse and St. Kilda have proved that they can get a journey.

The following is a list of the principal winning owners at the Canterbury Spring Meeting:—Mr S. Bradley, <£1157; Mr G. G Stead, .£960; Mr M. Hobbs, .£829; Sir Geo. Clifford, .£637 ; Mr J. Paul, .£340 ; Mr J. McKowan, <£32B ; Mrs E. Fraser, <£296 ; Mr G. W. Mcßae, <£24l; Mr J. Kean, .£190; Mr G. Hope, ,£171; Mr H. Goodman, .£143; Mr H. A. Knight, <£l33; Mr D. Rutherford, <£l2B; Mr McMiniman, <£los.

A local billiard-marker was fortunate enough to havo a ticket ou Loveshot in the Juvenile Stakes at the Canterbury Spring Meeting, and although his pound was invested on the <£Bl 16s dividend, it was a satisfactory amount to receive after asking for a ticket on Bloodshot, and getting one in mistake on Loveshot.

A London cablegram of 16th inst. announces the death of the Dowager Duchess of Montrose, who raced horses on the English turf under the name of “ Mr Manton.”

Bowshot (Maxim —Rainbow) was bought by the Hawera gentleman who owns Rewa and Rex, and who races under the name of Mr “ Orchard.” Bowshot won’t win much on the Wanganui coast.

There is a bay colt by Cuirassier, from Aida, the dam of the Cup winner, Impulse, at Wellington Park Stud, Auckland.

The Dunedin Jockey Club, says a Press Association wire, are going to use the starting machine at its Spring Meeting. Wonders will never cease !

“Jim” Hickey, the ex-Napier cross-

country jockey, had two ribs broken when Pumau fell in the Hurdle Race at Mentone. When Pumau was taken over to Australia with Mr Gollan’s team, I remarked, “ What is Pumau going to do over there, anyhow ? ” But I did not expect the horse to meet with so untimely an end.

Mr “ Jos.” Prosser, of Porirua, recently sold an up-standing Somnus gelding, out of Pumau 5 s dam, for a few pounds, having found that he had hardly sufficient pace to drag a cart about. Very few sires seem to nick with Sator mares, and they are generally voted worthless for breeding racehorses.

The Field says that for a stable floor nothing can equal a cement foundation, over which is laid slabs of indiarubber. To prevent any secretions settling in the joinings, they should be filled np with liquid rubber. The surface will then be quite smooth, soft, non-absorbent, nonslippery, and perfectly noiseless. Such a floor is easily cleaned by the use of the water hose, and can be dried with equal rapidity. 'The slabs have only one fault—viz., that of expense.

At the Woodville Show, Forerunner was placed first, Puritan second, and Wanderer third, in the thoroughbred class.

Bailey’s Magazine of Sports and Pastimes or September and October is to hand, and, as usual, contain interesting items for all sportsmen. The September number has a lengthy and sensible article on “ The Totalisator in New Zealand/ 5 by W. Cunningham Macgregor.

As the name of the.lgomar-Steppe horse is sometimes spelt “ Mahaki, 55 and then “ Mahoki,” I asked Mr K. Pere how the name should be spelt, and he informed me “Mahaki 55 was the correct way. The horse was named after an ancestor, and the name means “ calm and gentle. 55

The news has been received in Sydney of the death of Mr Bruce Lowe, who went to America with Stromboli and Clieveden about eighteen months ago, and went from there to England. Mr Lowe was an enthusiastic breeding student, and his letters to The Australasian , advocating his red and blue theory, are familiar to all breeders. Mr Lowe, was a man who made friends and kept them. The news of his death will be received with regret by his numerous friends in New South Wales and .Victoria. It was Mr Lowe who said that Carbine's pedigree was that of a non-stayer.

Mention of Carbine’s name reminds me that, at the time of his Melbourne Cup win, particular prominence was given to the fact that he had the valuable strain of Knowsley (by Stockwell) blood running through his pedigree. There is another horse in New Zealand—located somewhere in Otago, I think—who is similarly bred, on the dam’s side, to Carbine, and that is Digby Grand, by Traducer —Aglaia, by Knowsley. I can remember this horse being dragged round the Ashburton and Methven districts, in Canterbury, serving mares for about £2 l. Mersey, the dam of Carbine, was got by Knowsley.

It was a toss-up, at the difference in price asked for the two horses, whether Mr Martin Baird brought Digby Grand instead of Gipsy King to Hawera. Up to the present, no mistake has been made in purchasing the latter for the Hawera district, but Digby Grand may have turned out all right with similar opportunities. Next racing season will prove Gipsy King to be the Natator of the Wanganui coast. It is any odds, I think, that one of his progeny will win the First Egmont Sires’ Hack Produce Stakes, which will be decided at the Hawera races in February next, although a Manaia owner offered some time ago to take 100 to 10 that one of Strenuous’ progeny would land'the stake.

Acceptances for the Taranaki Hack Derby, run for on Boxing Day, close on December Ist. I will thus early tip The Friar as the winner.

Throstle, who recently defeated Ladas, when foaled, had a film over her eyes which made her totally blind. She was bred by Lord Alington, who gave instructions that she should be destroyed. When he learnt that these instructions had not been carried out, he said the filly was to be given away. She was actually offered as a gift, but the man to whom she was given never went for her, and so she remained to become a trained racer.

Already I hear of one of the Wanganui jockeys being retained to ride a son of Gipsy King in the Egmont Sires’ Produce Stakes.

The Ashurst-Pohangina Racing Club and the Rangitikei Hunt Club Steeplechase Meetings are, I hear, to be “disbanded” in August next. The Sandon Club had a n6ar shave, but this would hardly have been fair seeing that one day has been taken away from the neighbouring club—the Rangitikei Raciner Club. The Ashurst Club will now, no doubt, form itself into a Trotting Club, and if it does, it will be one of the best appointed trotting clubs in the North Island.

In addition to Bowshot, already mentioned, Mr Orchard, of Hawera, also purchased the two-year-old filly by Maxim, dam Bundoora mare.

Turning over some old papers the other day, I came across the pedigree of Voltigeur, Messrs Hume Bros.’ well-known stallion. The similarity of Voltigeur’s pedigree and that of the famous English sire St. Simon may not have struck many but in blood lines they are very much related. I mention this more as a coincidence than anything else, and, personally, I am not an admirer of the King Coles# St.

Simon’s pedigree, briefly stated, is as follows on the male side: He is by Galopin, who is by Vedette, by Voltigeur —Mrs Eidgway, out of Flying Duchess, who is by Flying Dutchman—Merope. St. Simon’s dam (St. Angelo) is by King Tom, who is by Harkaway—Pocahontas (dam of Stockwell) out of Adeline, who is by lon—Little Fairy.

Voltigeur’s sire (King Cole) is by King Tom —Qui Vive, Voltigeur—Vedette’s dam, Birdcatcher —Van Darrell. King Tom was by Harkaway Pocahontas (dam of Stockwell). Fenella, the dam of Voltigeur, is by Fisherman—Eose de Florence, by Flying Dutchman—Boarding-school Miss, by Plenipotentiary—Marpessa, grand-dam of Stockwell.

The many friends of W. Edwards, private trainer to Captain Russell, will be pleased to hear that he was fortunate enough to back Impulse for the New Zealand Cup, having accepted <£loo to £5 about the St. Leger gelding, whom he backed on the strength of his running at the Wanganui Cup, when St. Katherine just defeated him. More power to you, William !

The local trotting case W. Hawkins v. H. Woods, in connection with the rightful ownership of the trotting horse Invictus, has been postponed, pending the arrival of Mr T. Waddington (who disposed of the horse to one of the parties to the suit) ffom Australia.

Cmeo, winner of the two Pony Galloping Races at the Wanganui Trotting Club’s meeting, is by St. Leger, and, if I mistake not, is out of a half-sister to Olga, formerly a successful hack hurdle mare. If this surmise is correct Omeo comes from the old Loch Lomond family.

The local bookmakers have opened books on the Wellington Cup, which will be the means of infusing additional interest in the big mile-and-a-half handicap, to be decided at the Hutt in January next*. ";V~

The Wairarapa Trotting Club have received good nominations for their Trotting Meeting on the 29 th inst.

At the Doncaster (England) yearlihg sales last month a colt by Ayrshire from Cartridge was sold for 350 guineas. Cartridge was bred in New Zealand, and is by Musket from Rosalie, by Patriarch from Flying Doe, by The Premier from Wilhelmina, by Borneo from Miss Eose, by Rous Emigrant. Some of the names in this pedigree will recall recollections of good performances. Flying Doe was a great mare on the turf in the old days, and was half-sister to Flying Buck and Jeanette, the latter being the dam of Barwon and Banker, the Melbourne Cup winner. Flying Doe was the dam of D.0.D., who paid the <£B36 totalisator dividend when he won the first Goodwood Handicap in Adelaide. I think Cartridge was bought for <£2so guineas in New Zealand.—Australasian.

The above particulars should be interesting to the Wairarapa breeders who have been sending mares to Derringer, who is full-brother to Cartridge, the first mare to be imported from Australia to England.

The poor account of the New Zealand Cup sent through by the Press Association, and also the report in the southern sporting papers on the big handicap, has been generally commented upon by racing men, especially those who had not the opportunity of attending the meeting. Returned visitors, men who have seen a lot of racing in England, Australia and New Zealand, assure me that this year’s New Zealand Cup is the finest long-distance race they have witnessed for years. Yet, according to the newspaper reports, one is led to the conclusion there were only three horses in the race during the first six furlongs, and three in it at the finish. I notice that Christchurch Truth is about the only southern paper ■ that extends any praise to the handicapper (Mr Henry) for bringing the Cup horses so well together, and for so carefully concealing the winners in the other events throughout the meeting.

Seddon, who competed in the Hurdle Race at Marton, was in the forfeit list for a small amount (17s 6d), due by a former owner, at the time the race was run, so had he won there would again have been trouble for poor punters. . . . / A few equine “ strangers ” took part at the Elthani Hack Meeting. Clayton is a bay gelding by The Dauphin ; Cloudshot, Foulshot —Kelpie ; Crimson Streak, Nordenfeldt —Rosina ; Fairshot 11., Foulshot —Adrift; Fair Rose,Diomedes —Chamines; Glorie de Dijon, bay filly by Perkin Warbeck—Marchioness Neil; Kaitoa, by Australian ; Kangaroo, by Australian ; Kumi Kumi, by Australian ; Leander, by Natator ; Miss May, late Darkey (?), by Natator; Prophet, Grip—Lalla Rookh ; Rosemary, by Huntsman ; Tell Tale, by Tim Whiffler— Papapa mare ; The Unknown, by Tim Whiffler —Governor mare ; Conscript, by Volunteer.

“ Terlinga,” of the Australasian, says : “ Abercorn was the best horse Chester ever sired, and it looks as though this grand chestnut is going to take his father’s place as the chief male representative of the Yattendon line.” This opinion should carry weight with those who have stock by Ascot, and who intend patronising him in the Wairarapa district. Abercorn’s pedigree runs : By Chester, by Yattendon, son of Sir Hercules —Cinnamon, by Goldsborough, by Fireworks, by Kelpie—Brown Duchess. Ascot’s family lines touch closely on those of Abercorn, as the sire of Norton is by Kelpie—The Thorn, by The Bai b, son of Sir Hercules—Brown Duchess.

The Corrigan fund amounts to .£2160. It is to be invested for the benefit of the

widow and family. How about securities and shaky banks over there ? I daresay there was not one owner at the Canterbury Spring Meeting who would have taken advantage of the first eight words in Rule 94, where the starting machines were used, as they were so satisfied with the usefulness of the “ Barrier.” The days of the flag are certainly numbered, as everyone I have asked for an opinion about the starting machines express themselves as delighted, and that in the near future owners will want to be satisfied if the starting machines are used on the different race tracks before nominating, and the clubs that provide the machines will, of course, be more largely patronised.

I notice at the up-coast hack meetings on Prince of Wales’ Birthday that two or three horses were dragged out and started in three events during the afternoon. This is the easiest way I know of for knocking a horse out or breaking him down. A horse must have very inferior company to meet if he can score the third time of asking.

“ Billy ” Hatfield, who now has charge of Mr Mcßae’s horses at Manaia, has started off by scoring a win for his new employer. One of the stable representatives, Conscript, a son of the defunct Volunteer, landed the Farmers’ Plate at Eltham, while Booties ran second to Roscius in the Curragh Steeplechase at Eiccarton. Conscript is now nominated for the Hack Hurdle events at Feilding, and with his trainer handling the ribbons he should give a good account of himself. The others in the stable are lolanthe, a two-year-old filly by Quilt —Wood Nymph, therefore liaif-sister to Orion, winner of the Flying Handicap at the Eangitikei Spring Meeting. Another of the string is the three-year-old colt by Strenuous —Whalebone’s dam. He is a boomer, and I don’t expect will be raced before the Egmont Sires Hack Produce States, in February next.

I ran the tape over the steeplechaser Roscius the other day, and the following are correct measurements of the big fellow :—Height, 18 hands ; cannon bone, 9£ inches; forearm, 23 inches ; top of wither to point of shoulder, 28 J inches; girth, 6 feet 5* inches, fiat of hoof across widest part, 6$ inches.

The following “ strangers ” were nominated for the Marton Hack Meeting:—Aim (Torpedo—Clymenes), Langar (St. Clair— Southern Chief mare),, Maggie (by Cap-a-pie), Provoke (Puriri —Revoke), Mountain Eose (Ascot —Mountain Maid).

The Prince’ of Wales Birthday Hack Meetings were rather enjoyed by local punters. They got home on three or four good things, but went down on two alleged “dead birds” at Taratahi-Carterton. Brooklet, in the Maiden and Clareville Hack Handicap, couldn’t lose, and a few pounds having been left for investment in town at “ straight-out starting prices,” it lent an air of mystery to her chance, but, although defeated, the filly was not disgraced. However, punters scored heavily off Irish Twist twice at Waverley, and twice at Marton on Ascot Vale. The defeat of the former at Eltham, and the poor display of the latter at Wanganui, didn’t dismay them in the least ; in fact, they liked it, as they felt safe for a good dividend, and several were quite upset because the lanky grey had not paid a ten-pound dividend. Owners who think they can “ leave” Wellington punters are woefully mistaken, and the more “ unhealthy ” a horse is run, the more they plank the dollars down when they get the “ word.” Gunboat, who finished third to Ascot Vale at Marton, cost one or two backers a trifle, as it was sent down as a good thing. What puzzles me is, where these hardy old punters get their information from. Kahurangi, in the Hurdle Race at Marton, had friends in town, and his <£s odd dividend was well received.

Jockey (to punter friend who wants the straight tip)—Well, No. 3 is dead lame, and I ain’t on the job, so No. 12 is bound to win if he’s a goer. If he ain’t a goer I can't say what the ’ell is goin’ to ’appen I — Bulletin..

At the Wellington Show in the Thoroughbred class, Somnus was again awarded first and champion prize.

When a well-known trainer, who is said to be a canny Scot, played the little game of “ bluff ” at Riccarton, and offered to take any reasonable wager that Three Star would win the New Zealand Cup, wishing all the time that his remarks would be noted, and the wager not booked, he tumbled against someone more astute than himself. One of the brothers of a well-known local firm of metallicians, who was within earshot promptly offered the northern man, £240 to £l2O that Three Star would not even be placed in the New Zealand Cup. The wager was tardily accepted, and as a sequel to the bluffing of the wily Scot, who had been nicely trapped at his own game, he offered £25 the next day to cry off the wager. This was refused, and since the race £7O has been offered as a compromise and in full payment of the wager, but the amount has been indignantly refused!

The totalieator arrangements at Riccarton still continue to call forth the condemnation of backers, as the “ grand total ” of the investments cn the machines is not known until after the conclusion of the race. If a bonus were offered by the club to anyone who would connect the “ grand total” with the other machines, T think there are men of an inventive turn of mind in the colony who would give their attention to the solution of the Riccarton totalisator puzzle.

G. Smith, who rode Impulse in the New Zealand Cup, was presented by the Kennedy Dramatic Company (who were in Christchurch) with a handsome whip.

Visitors to the Canterbury Spring Meeting say Saracen is a “cocktail”.

Leo Mathews, a light weight in W. Davis’ training stable at the Hutt, had two wins on Swordfish at Taratahi-Carterton, and is the makings of a good horseman. For a “ little 'un ”he handles a horse in great style. He is a quiet, unassuming, attentive lad, and if he continues to keep steady, will make progress in his profession.

I had a peep at the Australian-bred twoyear brown colt, by Stockdale—Dowager, which Messrs Patterson Bros, of Wellington imported from Australia, and have just sold to Mr Rathbone, of Waipawa. He is a handsome, powerfully built, well-grown youngster, and in conformation is not unlike Pinvose, but shows more quality than the latter did at the same age. Mr Rathbone has got a good colt.

Havoc (Nordenfeldt Frailty) has always been sore in the forefeet, but at the recent Flemington Meeting, to deaden the concussion caused by striking the ground when galloping, he was fitted with Cusdin’s patent bar shoes, which are very light (about 2oz), and consist of fine steel plates, with indiarubber between them and the hoof. Boulanger was raced in a set of plates obtained from MrCusdin, and they evidently had the desired effect.

A southern contemporary gives a tabulated pedigree of the C.J.C. Welcome Stakes winner, Caribou, and gives the grand dam as Petroleuse. Legera, the dam of Caribou, is by St. Leger, dam Leonessa, by Leolinus— Petroleuse.

Mr S. Gr. Cook did not nominate The Harvester (the winner of the V.R.C. Derby) for the Melbourne Cup because he considered he had another horse a great deal better— The Sailor Prince. The latter broke down in the Melbourne Stakes.

Visitors from Wanganui to the Wellington races say that the chief topic of conversation in sporting circles there is the “ Mystery of a five-pound note lost on Irish Twist in the Eltham Cup.”

G. Smith’s cheque for winning the New Zealand Cup on Impulse was £SO. For winning the Welcome 'Stakes. on Caribou, Mr Paul, of Wanganui, gave “ Dad ” Kingan a cheque for £4O.

“ Ilori Poene,” the Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Witness, sends the following across in connection with the Melbourne Cup: —“After the event, of course, the coincidence-mongers got in their good work. Paris (the winner of the Caulfield Cup) was No. 1 on the card; Preston (winner of the Moonee Valley Cup) was No. 8 ; Tridentate (winner of the Maribyrnong Cup) was No. 9 ; and as 1,8, 9 only wanted the figure 4to complete the 1894 mystery, Patron (No. 4 on the card) was the dead snip for the Melbourne Cup. [Mem.: This tip was published the night before the event was decided.] Then a Mr E. W. O’Sullivan (member for the Queanbeyan district of New South Wales) had set the spirits rapping on various occasions, and they always rapped out Patron to win the Melbourne Cup—doubtless because Mr O’Sullivan and his friends patronised them. [Mem.: This tip was not published until after the Cup had been decided.! For my own part, I dreamt No. 16 won it ; but I had evidently misinterpreted the dream, as Mrs Hori Poene discovered when she went ‘through me ’ on my return from the course and found I had only saved 16s from the general wreck.” ■»-

Mr T. Waddington, the well-known owner of trotting horses, who is at present on a visit to Melbourne, is bringing two or three trotting horses back with him.

Nominations for the Wairarapa Eacing Club’s Summer Meeting close on Thursday, 29th inst.

Several sports have been trying to trace in what year Horace Dawes’ (who won this year’s Melbourne Cup on Patron) father won the Melbourne Cup. It was in 1863 Banker’s year. In the early days Dawes senior used to race under the name of “Chifney, ” and at one time was successful as a cross-country horseman.

The handicaps for the Wellington Cup are due on December 3rd.

Hinau (by Natator), the Wanganui hack racer, has been turned out for a spell.

The American three-year-old colts Domino and Henry of Navarre recently ran a match at even weights for £IOOO, distance one mile and a quarter The result was a dead heat, and, singularly enough, Domino’s other great match—against Dobbins—had a similar result.

A southern contemporary says that the Irish Twist party dropped £IOO when the horse ran third at Eltham. But it doesn’t mention what horse they dropped it on.

This year's total, £39,068, put through the totalisator at the C.J. C. Spring Meeting is the largest amount yet put through at their Spring Meetings. In nine years the club have handled £314,236, at the Spring Meeting.

Devon (by Musk Eose) and Nada (by Trenton), second and third respectively in the Melbourne Cup, and Eottie (by Muskapeer) and Aldershot (by Foul Shot), second and third in the New Zealand Cup respectively, are by sons of Musket. Antenna, the dam of Aldershot, is one of the commonest looking mares I have looked at.

The following letter appeared in the London Sportsman on October 2nd over the signature of Marcus Beresford As unfortunately La Fleche cannot run in the Cesarewitch, I challenge Captain McCal* mont to bring out Isinglass in the Champion Stakes, to decide how mirch supeiior his horse is to La Fleche and Matchbox, We feel rather like Pavid when he challenged

Goliath, with this difference, that whereas David went out to fight with a stone in hand, we are in exactly the opposite position.

Advices hand show that La Fleche won the Champion Race (mentioned in the preceding par.), Ravensbury second. It is not stated whether Isinglass started.

It was Popgun, by Maxim—Burlesque, that Mr G. Ellis purchased from Mr Stead, not Bowshot, as previously reported by southern visitors. I saw Popgun at Yaldhurst, as a yearling, and he was then a slashing big colt.

Preston (Robinson Crusoe—Blue Eyes), winner of the Moonee Valley Cup and Spring Stakes (600 sovs) at the V.R.C. Meeting was bought for 40 guineas.

The following is a list of the principal winners in Tattersall’s consultations:— 100,000, which closed with 50,000 subscribers : Patron (first horse), C. Roylott, Berryl street, Broken Hill, £13,500 ; Devon (second horse), Boldie and Lees, Cunuamulla, Queensland, £4500; Nada (third horse), F. L. Wall, Regent street, Camperdown, Sydney, £2150. No. 1 of the 100,000 at 5s resulted as follows: —D. Milne, Hughenden, Queensland, £6750 (first horse) ; S. N. Newtown, Tattersall’s Club, Sydney, £2256 (second horse) ; W. H. Ayre, stationmaster, Otaki, near Wellington, New Zealand, £1125 (third horse). No. 2 of the 100,000 at ss: J. F. Sabine, leeworks, Broken Hill, New South Wales, £6750; Wirden and Selby, care of Mandelson, Turnut, New South Wales, £2250; Miss Pegus, Carlisle street, Leichhardt, Sydney, £1125. No. 3of the 100,000 at ss, which closed with 50,000 subscribers F. Swennson, No. 167, Pyrmont street, Pyrmont, Sydney, £3375 ; C. Clark, Tauranga, Auckland, New Zealand, £1125; Rumney and Stilbard, Post Office, Dundee (New South Wales), £562.

At the settling-up meeting of the Upper Hutt Trotting Club, the Club had a balance in hand of over £2O, which will go towards giving larger stakes at the next meeting held by the Club. The following-,» were the highest prize-takers:—G. Cave, £3B 19s; R. Butler, £l6 17s; R. Mabey, £l3 6s; G. Bryant, £9 10s.

The Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club intend holding a summer meeting* Carterton correspondent, and it will come ' off about the end of January. The chief event is to be a prize of £l5O, the major portion of which has been guaranteed. There will be other good stakes, to encourage large entries.

A a meeting of the committee of the Wanganui Jockey Club, it was decided to remove the disqualifications from all horses, owners, trainers and jockeys taking part in the pony gallops at the Wanganui Trotting Races on Thursday.