TURF GOSSIP.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 25

TURF GOSSIP.

THE SALE OP CARBINE. By "Gipsy King."

When the history of the New Zealand Turf is compiled, the work will not be complete without a full and ample reference to the career of the most remarkable horse ever bred in New Zealand, and certainly the champion race-horse of the Australian colonies. Carbine first saw the light of day at the Sylvia Park Stud, Auckland, and as a yearling was purchased by Mr Dan O'Brien for 620 guineas and successfully carried the " Bose and Black " livery of the Christchurch sportsman, until after Carbine's unexplainable defeat in the V.R.C. Derby of 1888, when he became the property of the HonD. S. Wallace, the purchasing price being 3000 guineas, and dating from this period in his career, even up to the present time, he has been the idol of the Australian sporting public, in fact, it may be said that his name is an Australian household world, so illustrious has been his career. Many pictures have been published, sketches, water and oil paintings, but the honour of producing the most faithful likeness of the great horse, and by the lithographic process, is

honestly claimed by Mr A. D. Willis, of: Wanganui, who issued a splendid litho picture, from his Caxto'n printing establishment about two years ago. The work was transferred to the "stone" by Mr Potts, from an original oil painting by the well-known artist, Mr Fodor. So much has been written about Carbine that it is difficult to add anything new, but as a record, it may not bo out of place to here SIVG HIS PERFORMANCES AS A RACE-HORSE.

At Three Years (1888). Second in V.R.C. Derby. 1| miles, Bst 101 b, won by Ensign 8a t 51b. Third in Newmarket Handicap, 5 mile, Bst 121 b, won by Sedition, 7st 31b. Second in Australian Cup, 2| miles, Bst 61b, won by Loohiel, Bst 71b. Second in Autumn Stakes, lj miles, Bat 41b, won by Aberoorn, Dst. At Four Years (1889). Second in Caulfield Stakes, 1 mile 1 furlong, Oat 7lb, won by Droadnought, 7st 111 b. Third in Melbourne Stakes, 1\ miles, 9sfc, won by Aberoorn, 9st 31b. Second in Melbourne Cup, 2 miles, lOat, won by Bravo, Bst 71b. Third in Champion Stakes, 3 miles, ost, WOil by Melos, Oat. AT Five Years (1890) Second in All-aged Stakes, 1 mile (Randwick), won by Marvel, 9st. UNPLACED.

At Four Years (1889). Nowhere in Canterbury Plate, won by Abarcorn. Total—43 races ; 33 wins ; G seconds ; 3 thirds, and one unplaced. The amount won in stakes (including second and third, money) totals L 29,500. SOLD FOR L 13,000. It is not surprising then,, after proving superior to all other horses, and winning this large sum as a race-horse, that his career as a stud horse should be watched with interest, by his many admirers, and when his two-year-old son Wallace put up such a sterling performance at tho V.R.C. spring meeting last November, and his only other representative racing, Creel, proving herself a winner, the seal was set on Carbine's name as a stud horse. Then the unwelcome rumours floated about that the great horse, owing to his owner's financial troubles, would have to stand before the auctioneer's rostrum, but before this event has been allowed to take place, Messrs M. and J. Valentine, of Melbourne, completed the sale of the horse to the Duke of Portland for £13,000 on Friday, February Ist. Of course this intelligence came as a surprise, which was snared by English sporting capitalists, who wondered how the order of the Bankruptcy Court could be so twisted as to effect a private sale, when it was publicly announced that Carbine would be sold by auction in March next. No doubt there are commissioners now on their way out from England, America and France, who have been despatched for the purpose of bidding for the son of Musket and Mersoy, and it would appear that the Bankruptcy Court has not kept faith with those who'wished to become possessed of the horse. Li 13,000 is undoubtedly a large amount of money to give for a horse, but those who have been "pricking the card" were of opinion that with the syndicates that were likely to be formed, and probably were formed, this amount would be exceeded and L 20,000 touched. CARBINE'S NEW HOME. However, the deed is done, and the Duke of Portland's stud groom (Mr Day) jg now on his way out to Melbourne, to

take charge of Carbine on the voyage to England. It nlay be taken for granted that the Australian public will only be too pleased, now that they know that Carbine is to leave them, to hear that one of England's foremost sportsmen is now the proud possessor of " Old Jack," and that his new home will be at the famous Wfclbeck Abbey Stud, where he will be mated with some of the most fashionably bred mares in England. In addition to the Duke of Portland's young St. Simon in ares, the following stud gems are located at Welbeck i— Mowerina (dam of Donovan and Baeburn), by Scottish Chief from Stockings} Atlanta (dam of Ayrshire), by Galopul from Feronia j Satchel (dam of T*he Prize and Schoolbook), by Galopin from Quiver; 'fact (dam of Amiable)! by Wisdom from Enigma; Flying Footstep, by Doncastor from Atlanta; Rattlewings, by Galopin from Mavis; Wheel of Fortune, by Adventurer from Queen Bertha: Dorothea,- by Sterling from Cherry Duchess; Miss Middlewick (dam of Mrs Butterwick, winner of Mie Oaks), by Scottish Chief from Violet; Dodona, by Springfield from Wheel of Fortune ; Golden Eye, by General Peel from 'Pintail; Bemolina (winner of the One Thousand Guineas), by St. Simon from Moworina; and Memoir (winner of the Oaks and St Leger), by St. Simon frj'ra Quiver, dam of La Fleche. Carbine's union with any of the above mates it ia reasoneble to expect, should produce a racehorse worthy of a great sire and dam. CARBINE'S PEDIGREE. It Will bo recollected that when the retirement from the turf of the great English mare La Fleche 1 was mentioned, the London Spofisindn instituted a- com- i petition, and asked competitors to name the most suitable sire for Baron Hirch's mare. The result of the competition was that Carbine and Carnage were selected from all the horses in the world as the most suitable mate for La Fleche, and, no doubt, if Carbine arrives Home safely, this suggestion will be given a trial. The following, is the tabulated pedigree of Carbine i

It will be observed from tho above table, that the family lines in Carbine's pedigree, contain the stoutest of "racing" blood, although to students of the studbook who approve of " out" breeding, the frequency of Touchstone's name in the above table does not please them. First of all there is Touchstone at tho top of the list, then Musket's dam is a daughter of West Australian (who is a grandson on the dam's side of Touchstone) and Brown Bess, who is a daughter of Camel, the sire of Touchstone-. Again on the side of Carbine's dam, Knowsley (by Stockwell) is a grandson of Orlando (by Touchstone), and Brown Bess, whose name figures in the top lines of the pedigree, and Mersey's dam Clenience is by Newrninster, a son of Touchstone. Altogether Carbine has got six strains of Camel, the sire of Touchstone, so that he should nick well with Stockwell mares. CABBINE'S APPEABANCE AS A STUD HORSE. I had often heard Carbine described as a plain looking "race-horse," but whether ho changed remarkably after retiring to stud life I cannot say. I visited the champion in tho spring of 1892, and after a careful inspection of the exNew Zealander, I came to the conclusion that I had never seen a handsomer stud horse, and how Mentor and other horses came to beat him in the show ring is best known to the judges who were appointed. Carbine has been thus described by a well-known Victorian judge :—" This great horse has a beautiful head—a little small for so big a horse, kind and quietlooking, marked with a big star and a faint streak thence to nostrils ; a strong but not long neck, with a good crest, great shoulders running right into his back, and clothed with muscle, while his arms are very powerful, his forelegs standing back under him. He is very thick through the heart, and is very short in the back, which is immensely powerful, and he has a great barrel, is closely coupled, and is very high between the hips, where the croup standing up looks almost like a deformity, whilst the hips are square, the quarters are long and droop a Hfctte, aud, are wonderful in their

ditisctilaf developments, his width outside the stirfes feeing incredible. His thighs are perfection, arict he has rare hocks, while his hind leg is white nearly to the hock. Such a horse to follow I have never seen, being square from the hips to to the front of his outer thighs, and wider than most draught stallions." " Terlinga," who recently visited the Lerderdorg Stud at Bacchus? Marsh, near Melbourne, where Carbine is located, thus describes his pilgaimage which was made before the sale of the horse was made known : —" Come this way, and we will show yon Carbine," said the owner of Australia's champion racehorse, and those present wore speedily feasting their eyes on the horse which is to top the Australasian record price next month. The champion walked up and down in front of his box in tile same old unconcerned way which distinguished him on the racecourse. Among the company was "Walter I-lickenbotbam, who trained him for nearly all his great races, and ho was loud in his praise of his old pal. Carbine has now furnished out into stallion condition, and the way ho has filled out in the quarters and thighs is remarkable. Not j tint he shows more development when '• followed" than some other Muslset horses, but the amount of muscle that seems packed into the available space is so striking. The thickness of his thighs makes him look a little light in tha gastrins, but the quality is there, and I have no hesitation in saying that for power in proportion to his size ho is a marvel. Carbine is so evenly made that his height is lost, and no oi>e standing away from him would guess that ho stands just over 16. hands. Such is the case, however. H.e is as round as an'apple, and " the most evenly made horse I ever saw," was the comment oi Mr J. Redfearn, one of the judges of blood stock at the last big show. Despite his being ridden exercise every day Carbine looks very jolly, and this notwithstanding that his season is not long over. Such a contented horse naturally does well, but there is nothing gross about him, and if he has to travel to America or England the old follow will probably take the voyage philosophically, and walk off the boat as lit as when he went aboard. There is no striking of attitudes or posing for effect about Carbine, and he does not make the show stallions do ; but barring that the hypercritical might take exceptions to his canons being rather long, I dont see how the champion can be faulted. And for the rest we have the fact that he won the Melbourne Cup under lOst 51b, and in his first season at the stud begot "Wallace. Carbine is the soundest horse Musket ever got, and his imperturbable disposition should be all in his favour as a sire. The following are the measurements of Carbine and his sire, Musket: —

Carbine at 4yrs. Musket at 16 yrs. Height ... 16h iin Height ... I6h Hin Girth ... sft 7A4n Girth ... 6ft lin Forearm ... 17in Forearm ... 21|iil Bolow knee 7 J 2 in Belowkneo 83-in

The big price given for Carbine recalls to memory of other "high" prices given for some of the most celebrated horses sold during late years : Blair Athol, by Stock well ... 13,125 Doncaster, by Stockwell ... 14,000 Petrarch, by Lord Clifden ... 13,925 Ormonde, by Bend Or ... 30,000 Kendall 18,000 St. Gatien ... ... ••• 14,000 Kangaroo 12,000 Common, by Isonomy ... 15,000 St. Blaize, by Hermit ... 20,000 Melton, by Master Kildaro ... 12,000 Meddler, by St. Gatien ... 14,500 Matchbox, by St. Simon ... 18,000 Nordeufeldt, by Musket ... 5,600 Titan (gelding) ... ... 4600 Maxim, by Musket ... ... 4,000 The Australasian says:—"ln purchasing Carbine the Duke of Portland has secured a horse whose breeding is irreproachable, and whose performances were never equalled on the Australian turf, and never beaten, in the opinion of many good judges, in any part of the world. Whether lie wasas good as some of the English cracks of recent years is a question about which people in' different countries will always differ, and which could never, of course, be definitely settled. That he was a phenomenal horse will be admitted by everyone."

CONFLICTING RULES

It is not for us to say whether the rules of racing were jumbled up from the start or whether by being- added to in a patchy sort of way they have become contradictory, but the fact remains that it takes the proverbial Philadelphian laAvyer to unravel the tangled up state the rules of racing have drifted into, and it should cause no surprise when a racing club gives a decision which may appear inconsistent. At the recent Foxton Race Meeting it appears that the rider of a certain horse was suspected of not riding his horse out, and we may assume that his explanation was not satisfactory, as the club fined the said rider £l. No doubt the club invoked the provision of rule 106, which reads : " All jockeys, under all circumstances, shall ride their horses out to the end if they have a reasonable chance of winning," &c. The rule quoted does not provide for' punishment if a horse is not ridden out, but we may again assume that the club were of opinion that rule 27 gave them tho power to inflict the fine. This rule reads : —" If it be brought to the knowledge of the stewards that any owner, or jockey, or trainer, shall have been guilty of any malpractice or misconduct not herein provided for, it shall be competent for <lv stowardk to inflict a fine, disqualify, w l«.<o steps in the matter as the;: -vy d-.-oiu fit,"

It is clear that some " miscondact did take place, and the jockey was "fined," instead of being disqualified, From our knowledge of the rider we are prepared to admit that no fraud was intended : the rider in question, being off opinion he could not win, contented! himself with easing tip his mount and finished out of a place, i.e., second or third. Now hero is where the conflicting nature of the book of rules comes is. By imposing a fine of £1 the Foxfcon Club practically admits that the horse was not allowed to "go all he knew/' and those who backed the horse had a right to seek the protection, of rule 163, which read 3 :— " If it beprovent to the satisfaction of the stewards of any race meeting at which these rules are in force, that during any race a horse has been pulled, or that any improper practices have been pursued by either owner, trainer or jockey, it shall be in the power of the stewards to declare all bets on that horse off for that race." If the horse was pulled, i.e., " not ridden out," all money invested on the horse should have been returned, and if the money was not returned them the rider had no right to be fined. It is a nice point, and when the man comes along that can satisfactorily explain the bearing o£ some of the rules found in the rules of racing he will be welcomed.

THE EGMONT MEETING

The Egraont Club were favoured with fine weather for their Summer Meeting last -week r and there was a large attendance of the public both days. The lacing was excellent throughout the meeting, which was unanimously voted a very enjoyable fixture. During the two days the'totalisator registered L 7359, as against L7OOO put through at the corresponding meeting last jear, being an increase olc L 539. Many important improvement have been made to the racecourse since last meeting, which now makes the club's property nearly equal to any of the racing institutions on the Taranaki-Wellington Coast. The starting machine (Crawford's) was used in four ra:es at the meeting and met with general approval. The first race for the Egmont Hack Sires Produce Stakes was a complete success, and the race itself proved to he a most exciting contest amongst the back three-year olds. Owing to our going to press one day earlier than usual, we are reluctantly compolled to hold over •'Gipsy King's" lengthy report of the meeting until next week, when his budget will be found to contain some interesting items on what he saw at this pleasant re-union.

RULE 56.

A few weeks ago we had something to say about the practice of horses being nominated in trainers' names when.it was generally known that the horses they were nominating belonged to someone else, thus evadhag the above rule, which reads :—" Every entry shall state the name or assumed name of thrj owner, and the name and description of th<* horse, and (if the race be for horses of different ages) the age of the horse at time of entry.' At the time of mentioning this role, we wished it to be clearly understood that we were putting trainers on their guard against people who would be only too glad to take advantage of the rule when lodging a protest against a horse so nominated, it having come under our notice that the correspondent of a contemporary had been mentioning the real owners' names of certain horses which had been nominated in their trainer's name. However, the Warrengate Racing Club took the initiative, under the terms of this rule, at their late meeting and fined an offending trainer Lo. It appears' that the owner, in his own name, wired the secretary to hold over the stakes in a certain race, his horse having run second, and when the trainer, in whose name the animal had been nominated, appeared to suppoit the protest which had virtually been, lodged by the owner, he was asked who owned the animal, and he unhesitatingly answered that tha gentleman who had cent the telegram to withhold the stakes was the owner, but the animal had been entered in his name. As this appeared to the club to be a breach of rule 56, they imposed a fine of L 5, their authority for this action being rule 29. There is no question that the club were well within their rights in inflicting this fine, but as the trainer nominated the horse in, good faith, and with no intention of deceiving anyone, especially as the owner's name was generally known amongst the racing fraternity, he surely should have been allowed the benefit of rule 67, which reads : " Any person entering a horse for any race may" be called upon by the committee or stewards to declare the name of the bona fide owner, or, if more than one, of all the bona fide owners of the said horse, and of all persons in anywise interested directly or indirectly," &c. The trainer having given the name ef the owner, it would appear that the club were " splitting straws " in inflicting a fine of L 5.

It does not appear clear that the Warrengate Club in the face of rule 67, however conflicting it amy be when res>d in conjunction with rule 5C>, has dealt fairly with th,j trainer, who should bo given the benefit oE any doubt that maj exist, and by remitting the amount of the fine the club will be concurring with public opinion on the matter. WAIRAEAPA TROTTING CLUB. Masterton, February 16. A special general meeting of tho Wairarapa Trotting Club was held on Friday evening, when the balance-sheet was rear, showing a credit balance of o-GlO. It wan decided to hold a trotting meeting on thu Akura course on the day following thn Masterton-Opaki races in March. Mr lv. Koake resigned his position as secretary, and Mr 11. Do Lisle was appointed in hij stead. , : Mi

Tho Produce Hack Handicap at the Fgmont races was won by Tell Tale, who paid £9 14s. The dividend in tho Norjnanby Stakes, won by Variety, was .£4. 13a.

RACES WON. At Two Ymabs (1837). st lb Time Hopeful Stakes (Chrisfcchurch), 5 fur •• ... 8 10 1.5J Middle Park Stakes (Chridfr . dhitrdh), Gint ... 7 7 l.i si Champagne Stakes (Dunodin), 6 fur ... 9 3 1.19 Ckampagno Stakes (Christchurch), 6 fur ... 8 10 1.15£ Challenge Stakes (Christchurch), 6 fur ... 7 9 1.15 At Three Years (1888) Flying Stakes (Fiemington), 7 fur ... 8 0 1-38-1; Foal Stakes (Fiemington) l|m. 9 0 2.8± Champion Stakes (Flemington), 3m. 7 12 5.50 All-aged Stakes (Fiemington), _lm. ... 8 6 1.43 Loch Plate (Fiemington) 2m. 9 0 3 35 Syduey Cup (Randwick) 2m. 9 0 3.31 All-agod Stakes (Randwick), lm , ... 8 8 1.46 Camberlaild Plate (Randvvidk), d 2 5,3 2m. ... ... • >• A.J.C. Plate (Randwick), 3m. O 8 0 5.48^ At Four Years (1889). Flying Stakes (Fiemington), 7 fur ... 9 0 1.27$ Essondon Stakes (Fiemington), lm 2£fur 9 0 2.25-i All-aged Stakes (Fiemington), lm 9 0 1.42 Loch Plate (Fiemington). 2m 10 0 4.58* Autumn Stakes (Kandwick), Hm 9 0 2.42 Sydney Cup (Bandwick), 2m .,, All'ftged Stakes (Randwick), lm 9 9 3.37 9 0 1.414 Cumberland Stakes (Randwiok), 2m 9 0 3.4-5 A.J.C. Plate (Randwick), 3m 9 0 d.7 At Five Years (1890). Spring Stakes (Randwick), Urn , 9 5 2.44^ Craven Plate (Randwick), l^m 9 4 2.7 Melbourne Stakes (Fiemington) * Urn 9 3 2,104 Melbourne Gup (Fiemington), 2m 10 5 3;28i Champion Stakes (Fiemington) 3m Alleged Stakes (Flemiiigtdn), 1 9 5 fi.3"2j lm 9 1 1;4U Essendon Stakes (Fiemington), lm 2£fur 9 2 2.18' Autumn Stakes (Randwick), l|m 9 5 3.39 Cumberland Stakes (Bandwick > 2m ... ... ... 9 4 4.4 A.J.C. Plate (Randwick), 3m 9 5 6.27 PLACED.

CARBIDE lf?85 | S 1 iS i a H o 3 Longbow Leg rdcniaii West Australian' Ithurkl Miss Bowa Toucliscoue Verbena 'attoti T auby's dam Pmta'oon £)acay U strel IdftHa Cillio du PuUi f? nesaot Melbourne .vioweriua Humphrey 0 in cr H- rpefch's dam Tou6'l.st one Etmtta £ Brown Bes3 Camel Diughter of Wh.lib.ni Daughter of B.ntu.dorf Miss (.'rnickshank >> '7, s 5 ■Stockwell DaughUrof T;ie Btron L'oca'ioiitis Orland) Brown Boss '. Birdcaicher Echidna G'ence vi • rpiss * fi'Uchstono Vul lire 0 UJlL'l Daughter of Nowminstof Touch tone Beeswing 1 Cunol Banter Doctor Synt ix Daughter of 3; 6 E logy Euclid M-trtha Lynn IS mi I ins tl-uia Mu'atto Leda It will be o iserved fr om fcho above