SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page 26

SPORTING NOTES.

By Gipsy Kino. Wateibury is in work again afc Handwick. I understand George Hope -will g<o over to Sydney at the latter end of the autumn and take charge of Mc Douglas' Jiox.se.

Owners are reniiaded that nominations for the Sandon (Rangitikei) Hack Kac© Meeting on March 18th close with the secretary, MtR. G. Edwards, at the June* tion Hotels Sandon, on Saturday, 23rd mst.

Sir 3£odred's progeny won 115,800 dollars on tb*a American turf last season.

Mr Chitham, of Palmerston North, has named the yearling colt by Foulshot —Voltarina, Sceelshot.

I am afraid the Wairarapa sport who lhas the Gipsy King gelding Wanderer in work, will not win more than a " thousand" with the horse. I had a look at Wanderer's dam the other day, and having made enquiries about her, I found that she has not a, trickle of thoroughbred blood in her veins.

The Th&wves Advertiser says :—" We acknowledge with deep regret that our sporting prophet in Auckland did not spot a single winner in his ' tips ' for the Takajmua races. We don't think we'll trouble our readers with any more ' tips' after his signal break-down in our first venture. In the present state of racing the best horse rarely wins. We recommend our sporting friends to draw the horses from a hat in future. They'll be just as likely to strike the winners this way as by listening to all the "tipsters' in the country." I have always held the opinion that it should not be the duty of a sporting writer to try and ■select winners of races. If the sporting press supplies its readers with all available news in connection with horseKacing, surely they should be able to judge for themselves as, to the merits of the horses placed before them, and not xely on sporting pressmen to divine the winners for them. Personally, I do not think that many people are guided in their investments by newspaper selections.

-At Feilding on Monday, 11th instant, Dr Bennetts's racing stud was disposed of as follows: —Beasant (by St. Leger), ,£lO, to Messrs Stevens and Gorton; Prig cilia (by Premier—Matilda, stinted to Haere), .£l4 10s, to Messrs Hammond Bros.; Eve (by Premier —Evergreen), ,£ls 15s, to Mr E. Shqrtall; Eevoke (by The Premier —Gosfoal at foot by Flintlock), 15s, to Mr A. E. N. Hayne; Provoke, 3rs (by Puriii—Eevoke), .£2l, to Mr J. Hathaway. Fihesse (by Torpedo—Eevoke) was passed in at £3O. ,

Wellington . claims the distinction of being the oldest racing district in the Colony, the first races being decided near Wellington on October 20th, 1842.

Wonderfully successful as were the careers of such celebrities of the softer sex as Beeswing and Caller Ou, neither could boast of such a brilliant'record as the celebrated Hungarian mare, Kincsem, who won, 54 races over all distances, and in all sorts of weather, never on any occasion shrinking from her work or being beaten. As a two-year-old she was ten times successful ; as a three-year-old she was 17 times victorious; as a four-year-old 15 times she caught the judge's eye; and as a five-year-old she repeated the performance successfully no less than 12 times, making an aggregate of 54 wins. Surely this is without parallel in the annals of horseracing.

I am pleased to hear that the steeplechaser The Elk (by Tamatea) has been placed in W. Davis' care at the Hutt, to be trained for the winter campaign.

The Melbourne correspondent of the Otago Witness writes : —"There is likely to be a bit of a ' bow-wow' (or ' talkee-talkee') about, Carbine being sold privately after being advertised all over the world to be submitted by public auction in March. Of course, the chances are that had not His Grace of Portland put in an appearance on the scene he might not have realised such a price, albeit I know of two syndicates who were prepared to give .£IO,OOO for him to take to England; but, under the circumstances, the private sale savours strongly of breach of faith to the sportsmen of the world, some of the emissaries of whom are no doubt on their way to Victoria with the idea of joining in the competition."

Breeders and owners are reminded that the second acceptance (10s) for the Egmont Sires Hack Produce Stakes for 189(3, the first acceptance (10s) for the 1897 race, and the nomination of colts and fillies now foals (1 sov) for the 1898, are duo with the secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, Hawera, on Monday, 25th inst.

The American three-year-old Boy El Santa Anita is said to have carried 9st lib and registered lmin 40|sec for a mile.

Wellington punters were fairly staggered when they learnt that the Miramax- Park trained mare Nea had won the Electric Saddle Trot of one mile, at the Plumpton Park meeting last Saturday, paying the false dividend of £~>2 Bs. Gilbert; Mouatt's mare was voted a good thing by local trotting men, but" as they thought Christchurch trotting men knew what sort of mure she was for this distance they considered the dividend they would get would not be worth wiring- money for. On the morning of the race a -friend and myself agreed that the race appeared a fair thing for Nea, afnd after he left me another trotting man asked mo what would win this particular race. 1 pretended not to have any opinion, to see what he would say, and on the wall of a

"Well-known in Lambton quay he wrote in XM»f6 letters "Nea." He remarked k£ he thought she would pay over O-Veft money he would back her; but unfortunately for him he came to the same conclusion as myself—that the mare would not pay anything. I presume we shall never know how Nea ©a»»e fcd pay that dividend.

George •Johnston, who was injured at the Manawatu races at the Boxing Day Meeting, has so far recovered that ho was able to leave the Palmerston North Hospital on Thursday last.

? Traducer was foaled in 1857, imported to New Zealand in 1862, and died June 25th, 1880.

Musket was foaled in 1867, imported to New Zealand in 1878, and died in 1885.

The following advertisement speaks for itself: —" At the bear garden at Hockley-in-the-Hole, near Clerkenwell Green. These are to give notice to all gentlemen, gamesters and others, that on this present Monday, being April 27, 1702, a great match is to be fought by a bald-faced dog of Middlesex against a fallow dog of Cowcross for a guinea each dog. Five let goes out of hand. Which goes fairest and furthest in wins all. Being a general day of sport by all the old gamesters, and a great mad bull to be turned loose in the same place, with fireworks all over him and two or three cats tied to his tail, and dogs after them. Also other variety of bull-baiting and bear-baiting. Beginning at two of the clock."

Eoscius was nominated by cable for the V.R.C. Steeplechase, but the entry arrived one hour and thirty minutes late, and was not accepted.

A Press Association wire from Christchurch on Friday last says :—"The Christchurch Prohibition League has telegraphed to the Anglican General Synod at Nelson, the Presbyterian General Assembly ab Auckland, and the Congregational Union at Dunedin, respectfully asking each of those bodies to rule that liquor sellers and men who as members of jockey clubs promote gambling ought not to hold offices in Christian churches." I hardly know what the Prohibition League has to do with gambling, but I trust before they put members of jockey clubs " under the ban," that they will enquire why church bazaars are held during race time, and why '■' raffles " are permitted. On each night of the Egmont Eaces a church bazaar was in full swing, the hall being thronged with the racing fraternity, who contributed largely to the funds of the church by investing in fancy goods and contributing their share to the " little games " that were got up for the purpose of enticing the nimble shilling from the public pocket. I trust the members of jockey clubs, many of whom I know are churchgoers, will silently pass the collection plate on Sundays, and if the clergyman of the parish should ask the reason why the usual subscription is not forthcoming, he should be referred to the resolution of the Prohibition League. For true Christian charity commend me to the sporting public. At the Egmont Eaces on the second day close on £3O was collected for young Crocker, who was injured by a fall in the Hurdle Eace. How long would it have taken to collect the same amount among the so-called Christains ?

" Rata/' the Canterbury correspondent of the Otago Witness, bears out my remarks about travelling jockeys, when he writes : —"There are several jockeys at Riccarton unattached to stables, and there is no doubt that some of them make a mistake in severing their connections with good stables. Owners appear to have a tendency to favour lads in continual employ."

Mr Evett appears to have been unduly severe in handicapping Irish Twist at Bst 71b for the Wanganui Cup. In the light of Eosefeldt and Princess May's running since the Palmerston North races on Boxing Day, Lady Zetland, Bst 31b, and North Atlantic, Bst, appear to have been much mors leniently treated. If form goes for anything, these two, Skirmisher, Bst 21b, and Lottie, Bst 81b, should beat the Wanganui horse. I don't think Irish Twist could carry 9st and win the C.J.C. Midsummer Handicap in the " commonest of canters" (vide report of the race) in 2min good horse though he may be. Yet Lady Zetland can register such a performance and then be handicapped at Bst 31b. Irish Twist may be able to win with Bst 71b for aught I know, but he is not fairly entitled to the weight on performances.

Mr Gollan's horse The Possible (Nordenfeldt Realisation) pulled up lame after a scallop recently, and at the time the mail left Melbourne had not boon on the training track for a couple of days.

Polo players please make a note of the following:—" Bill Nye remarks in lm humorous and philosophical way: The tcnderest portion of a horse's body is that quarter easily defended by a long tail, but entirely out of reach of a docked horse. I cannot bear to look at a cx*azed animal beating the air wildly with his pathetic stump while the flies are stinging him. I cannot be patient with those who follow this wicked custom in order that they may bo considered fashionable. The man who does this, knowing- the facts regarding it, is the man who pulled flies to pieces when a boy, and if his wife really endorses it, her family ought to be coffee-analysed every morning. And how can a docked horse be regarded as beautiful ? How would Gfeorge Washington look in marble riding a mutilated horse ? Does any great sculptor ever put a hero on a bobtailed steed ?" The man that docks a horse's tail should

have his hands tied behind him Oil ft hot summer's day, and see how he Would like to be bobbing his head all day long for the purpose of keeping the flies from him.

At the Heretaunga Cavalry Sports, held at the Hutt Racecourse on Saturday, King's Own (a full brother to Princess Cole) won the horse race, of six furlongs, Eoger second, Langar third. The Steeplechase, about one mile and a half, was won by Roger, and the Half-mile Race by the grey Natator gelding Nimrod, and the Pony Race by Kinchen. As this was virtually an unregistered meeting, I suppose the Wellington Metropolitan Glub will bo called upon to do the " whitewash " trick again.

The Wellington Trotting Club will hold a winter meeting on May 2nd, the off day between the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting dates.

Vanitas and Malolo are favourites for the Newmarket Handioap> and The Harvester and Quiver for the Australian Cup. ~,„.; ■»■"

The bookmakers present at the Egmont Races were charged a fee of .£5 for the privilege of booking " straight out" wagers, and notwithstanding this the Club put through the totalisator the largest sum yet investod at ; Egmont.

Forward (by Gang Forward —Josephine), who was recently engaged in the stallion fight with Selim, at Caulfield, has been sold to go to Africa.

Several trainers and jockeys desire me to record their thanks to the Egmont Racing Club for allowing them admission to the course on presentation of their licenses.

Charlie Crocker had his thigh dislocated when Conscript fell with him in the Second Hurdle Race at Egmont. The leg was not broken.

I hear that it is the " Camera " that is to be the " Judging Machine" so much written about lately. We don't want any more Tim Swiveller (Caulfield Cup) negatives. That little photograph robbed the Hon Mr Davis, the owner of Tim S .viveller, out of a few thousand pounds. I recently had a look at some instantaneous photographs of close fii ishes on the English turf, and in each instance the horse next the rail appears to be interfered with, according to the photograph. We want something more reliable than an instantaneous photogiaph when deciding a close finish in a horse race.

Prime Warden's brother, Murat, was sold to a Wanganui horse-dealer last week for .£3 15s ! The horse is sound, but is a terrible rogue,

According to the conditions of the Wanganui Cup race, Monte Carlo, winner of the Egmont Cup, and Ben Godfrey, winner of the Atkinson Memorial Stakes at the same meeting, may be re-handicapped, and also the winner of the Taranaki Handicap if the winner should happen to be amongst the Wanganui Cup nominations. The rehandicaps are due on or about 2nd March.

Eoyal Tar (by Grand D uke—Dromedary's dam) is being schooled over hurdles.

I suppose as with racing " form ** can be followed in the pugilistic world. If such is correct, then the Wanganui Coast can lay claim to having brought out a worthy successor to the late Harry Laing. A certain owner on the coast has frequently boasted or perhaps he dreamt it, that he stood up before Harry Laing for four rounds, and as he was recently "knocked out," so it is reported, in less than one round by a light-weight jockey, the latter should certainly stand a show against some of the men that Harry Laing defeated !

Negotiations were in progress after the Egmont Meeting for the purchase by various owners of some of the young stock that are to be picked up cheap in the Hawera district. Mr Dennehy, of Danevirke, bought a useful looking Cocksure gelding, but the particulars of the other sales, if they have taken place, are not yet to hand.

The compilers of the English Stud Book statu that, their experience tells them that about eight inarea in a thousand breed twins.

P.ush Boy was so badly jammed on the rails at the back of the coarse in the First Hack Raci at Egmont that he was unable to leave his box the next dav, the injury being in the shoulder.

Last week's Sporting Review contains two capital pictures, one o>: Ltifra (Flintlock — Magnesia), the Avondale Handicap winner, and one of Kildare (by Isaac Walton), winner of the Avondale Steeplechase.

At the time that Carbine realised 3900 guii;o is Tradition was sold for 3050 guineas. Carbine has won £29,500, and has been sold for £13,000. Tradition has won nothing, and probably would not realise L2OO if put up for siile.

The Foxton Racing Club intend holding their Autumn Meeting on April 21th.

The Hawera Star, in its report of the Egmont Meeting, says :—" the met ting was an interesting one to many, for it saw the inauguration of a new race in the Sires Hack Produce Makes, an-1 the first trial of the starting machine. The machine was used in three races—the Cup, Welter, an.d First Hack Flat. It was worked by the patentee, Mr Crawford, of Wellington. The strong wind blowing down the straight interfered slightly with the speed with which the web should go up, but in all cases good starts were'raade, and the general opinion was that

it wa§ a Most successful and important invention."

I might mention, in connection with the above, that Mr Martin Baird, the Bgmont Club's starter, worked the starting lever.

The Manawatu Racing Club contemplate working the totalisator themselves at their race meetings after the expiration of the present racing season.

Lochiel and Abercorn are the only horses that ever gave Carbine weight and beat bim. Marvel and Melos met him on even terms once each and defeated him. Abercorn gave Carbine 101 b in one mile and a half, and 31b in one mile and a quarter, and defeated the champion.

The Dunedin Jockey Club's committee has appointed Mr H. Piper as starter for the Autumn meeting,