SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1213, 31 May 1895, Page 23

SPORTING NOTES.

By "Gipsy King." Mr 8. H. Gollan rode his own horse Norton in the Wanganui Steeplechase. It is .stated that if St. Hippo fails to stand a preparation he will be sent to England. What for? • • That little ruse of George Wright's, nominating Coala for the Auckland Grand National Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase and then taking him to Sydney and await the handicaps there, was " picked" in Wellington. After living in the sporting world here for a little while it sharpens one's wits, and as the particulars of so many funny transactions have filtered through the Empire City, " the sports who seldom lose their tin" tumble to the slightest move. I think it must have been on the assumption that Coala would remain in Sydney that the handicapper to the Auckland Racing Club put list 111 b against this ex-Sydneyite's name in the Hurdle Race and list 51b in the Steeplechase. It is not generally known whether Coala is partial to big country, but the only horse that is likely to trouble him in the Hurdle Race is Liberator, and Mr Butler's "lepper," will want to be at his best to effect his downfall. Fright, in the same stable as Coala, is more than useful when well, and he may have a cut in at either of the races mentioned. Coala won the Hurdle Race at Warwick Farm (Sydney) on the 18th inst,, carrying 12st.

By the bye it does seem strange that the Auckland Club should give the name "Grand National " to their big hurdle race. There is practically only one '* Grand National *' Meeting recognised in New Zealand, and that js the Winter Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club. % « • • If the acceptable dividends and the liberal starting prices offered by the totalisator at the South Australian meetings recently do not make the Victorians " itoh " to hear the totalisator bells tingling at Flemington, I am much mistaken. * * • • The owner of the stallion Sou'-Wester claims the ei-steeplechaser Nanakia as one of the GOldsborough horse's stock. If this is correct, then one or two races won by Nanakia should go to the owners of the horses that ran second to him, as Nanakia baa been returned as by Natator. Kapua does not " savee" jumping big fences. A lot of gush was written about the horse before the Wanganui Steeplechase, and his owner, I daresay, would only be too pleased if it were true. The gentlemen who accept the position of judge at English race meetings must hare a busy time of it, or perhaps he has several deputies. I notice that the judge placed nine horses in- the Lincolnshire Handicap, decided on March 26th. Placing four horses should be sufficient. " Phaeton " of the Auckland Weekly News says:—"lnstances are not infrequent when parsimonious conduct on the part of clubs in the matter of advertising the date of closing of entries and acceptances costs them dearly. The latest in this direction has been brought

home to the Auckland Racing Club in connection with the Grand National Hurdle Race and Steeplechase. Shillelagh, Despised ajid Cingalee would, I understand, all have figured in the acceptance list had their respective owners been made aware of the day that acceptances were to close. When will clubs wake up to the fact that money spent in printer's ink always bears good fruit?" The racing clubs in the Wairarapa district suffer from the above complaint, the Wairarapa Jockey Club being the only one that recognises the value of advertising largely, and profits accordingly by so doing. But for the fact of the New Zealand Times having mentioned the date of closing of nominations for the Wairarapa Hunt Club Meeting only the horse owners and trainers in the immediate district would have been aware of the fact. Several owners I could mention would have been glad to have nominated for the meeting had a programme been published. The pony which George Wright took to Sydney is &aid to be Lady Whitford, by Nordenfeldt —Bianca. This does not tally with a previous statement that the pony was unnamed and belonged to a stable lad. I should be inclined to disbelieve the latter statement. Dr W. G. Grace, the famous cricketer, is godfather to Tom Cannon, junr., eldest son of the master of Danebury. The Sporting Review mentions as a coincidence that Deceiver beat Despised at Takapuna in 1893, as was the gcase on the 18th inst. W. H. Keith's team at Sydney have been inactive for some time. The only one that has started lately is Vagrant, and as the exhack racer has been misplaced, of course he has not earned a winning bracket. Two races in which he has competed the six furlongs have been galloped over in lmin 16sec, and Vagrant has as much show as I have of doing that time. However, all the members of the team, Dart, Bush B<iy, The Hero and Vagrant, were nominated for the Warwick Farm Race Meeting to bo decided on the 18th inst. Dart and The Hero were nominated for the Brush Hurdle Race, which Coala won.

I notice Mr John Cotter, of A shurst (Manawatu), has registered his colours—black jacket, yellow sleeves, and red cap—with the Wanganui Jockey Club. I trust the C.ilnia —Nectarine colt and the Somnus—Lady Artist filly will carry them successfully next season. I do not think they will lack condition under the care of our old friend " Billy" Kraft. Mr . Cotter's steeplechase candidate, Totorua (Voltigeur—Maori Girl), got round safely in the Hunters* Steeplechase at Wanganui, but apparently has not sufficient pace just now. I have an idea this horse will develop pace with age. His full brother, Chrystal, was successful in the Second Hurdle Race at Otaki last week. Totorua is a better looking horse than Chrystal. Claret, the winner of the Normanby Trotting Club Handicap, was sold after the race to Mr C. Tate, of New Plymouth, the former owner of the horse. Claret was bred on Mr Grigg's Estate, Canterbury, and is probably by Dexter. The amount to the credit of the Distressed Jockeys' Fund in the hands of the Canterbury Jockey Club is LtiiO. • • The gentleman rider at the Wellington Meeting who gave all and sundry the tip that he would win three cross-country events at Wanganui has left his punting friends here very much " high and dry." They mistrusted the " straight tip " he gave them for the Hutt, but were convinced after it came off that he was not such a fool as the}' were led to believe. They will now have none of him 1 ••. , • • The name of the steeplechase mare Belle ! appears in last week's unpaid forfeit list for an amount owing by a former owner. The Wanganui Metropolitan Club have confirmed the twelve months' disqualification passed on the jockey F. Price by the Motuiti-llimatangi (Foxton) Hack Racing Club for foul riding in the Hurdle Race at that meeting. An up-coa&t writer remarked at the time the country club imposed the disqualification :—" Of course it will not be endorsed by the W.J.C." The Himatangi Meeting, although principally under the control of natives, was properly registered with the Metropolitan Club of the district, and is entitled to as much respect and recognition as any other country club. Whether Price earned the disqualification or not I am not in a position to say. There is hardlv a crime in the calendar more heinous than foul riding. Apart from the injustice to the owner and backers of the blocked, or whip-impeded, horse, there is the danger to the life and limbs of other riders to which foul riding may give rise, and more of it goes on in the Australian colonies than in any country in the world. — Melbourne Sportsman.

The long-promised American Racing Bill, which has the approval of the Jockey Club and other great turf interests in the States, was introduced into the New York Assembly a few weeks ago. Briefly summarised, it provides that there shall be tests of speed and racing between Ist April and 31st October of each year. On the running turf there shall be no track less than one mile, and on the trotting turf no track less than half a mile. The Bill prohibits pool-selling and bookmaking on or off *my race track, and prohibits even the transferring of wagers by telegraph. Indeed, it fixes a heavier penalty than now, making it a fine of LIOOO and imprisonment. The Bill legalises racing for stakes, and provides that men may bet among themselves ; but there is a provision that the bet shall be binding, and either party may recover by a suit at law. But the point is that, while there is to be no public bookmaking, there can be no limit to the

iudividual betting. The Act provides that the provisions of the Bill shall be euforced at any race track by two special policemen. The State tax of 5 per cent, now paid in from receipts shall hereafter be based on the earnings. The Hawera-owned trotting stallion Jersey (by Childe Harold) arrived from Christchurch on Saturday and went on to Hawera on Monday. Mr F. Gibbons, of Hnnterville, sold his hunters' steeplechase candidate Seddon (by Premier) to Mr L. Shaw, of Napier, after the horse had finished second in the Hunters' Steeplechase at Wanganui. A Wellington sport purchased the trotting stallion Mambrino (by William Tell) at Christchurch last week. This horse was imported from Sydney by Messrs Buckle Bros, of Hawera, who brought Jersey over at the same time. A cablegram informs U 3 that Mr Kelso, the well-known Sydney owner and trainer, has purchased W. H. Keiths team of horses, Dart, Bush Boy, The Hero and Vagrant. I daresay Mr Kelso will make them pay more than their oat bill, as he is an adept at " placing " horses, whereas Mr Keith has not yet made a study of that " fine art. ' There is nothing shrewd in appearing at the "Town Hall" of racing with a second-class team. The horses comprising the team are a useful lot and if properly placed will pay their way. I noticed W. Arnott, the erstwhile crosscountry horseman, riding his recent purchase, Diplomatist, the other day. This horse is well enough bred to prove better than a hunter, as he claims Premier as sire and Candour as dam, therefore he is half-brother to the one time steeplechaser The Colonel (by Cap-a-pie) and the Natator gelding Result. " William" was one of a select party that were out with the United Hunt Club hounds last Saturday, and there is no mistake Diplomatist is a flier over fences. Millionaire Barney Barnoto, some years ago, landed in Africa direct from '■ the Lane" with the proverbial sixpence in his pocket, got into the diamond biz, made his millions, and is now "doing in" some of it in England raetng. He owns Stowemarket, tho second in the City and Suburban.

Mr W. R. Wilson has given the following names to his four yearling colts :—Pay colt by Trenton from Hypatia, " Cydnus " ; bay colt by Trenton from Umilta, " Resolute " ; bay colt by Trenton from Margaret, " Courage " ; brown colt by Strathmore from Melodious, " Bandmaster." Mr C. L. Macdonald's filly by Eiridspord from Solitude, has been named Solicitude. Mr H. A. Thompson has been appointed handicapper to the Australian Jockey Club. Mr Thompson is not known as a handicapper, but is an enthusiast on the subject of the thoroughbred. R. Phillips, who was over here about the time the hack (?, Dandy was racing, is now keeping a hotel near Adelaide. In another column will be found the pedigree of the colt Mr J. O. Hayward recently imported from Sydney. By placing Der ringer and Ascot at the service of breeders in the Wairarapa district, he has done much that will prove beneficial to the thoroughbred stock id th) district in a few years. When the colt recently brought over is placed at the service of breeders, they will have ah excellent chance of an out cross of valuable blood for the Derringer and Ascot fillies.

At the Otaki meeting there were high words in the saddling paddock between Mr Quinlivan, senr., and the jockey S. Lindsay. The former dhi not appear to be satisfied with Lindsay's handling of Streamlet in the Trial Handicap of six furlongs. To those who watched tho start of the race it was patent to them that Lindsay was not to blam°. There were thirteen starters, and for some reason, ten horses were placed in the front rank, and three others (including Streamlet) werejplaced behind these. When the barrier went up, the ten kept so close together that those behind them had no chance of getting through, so consequently Streamlet, who looked out; of condition, was unable to have a fair run. Her subsequent running in the Flying Stakes over the same distance and with a different horseman up, proved she had no chauce of winning the Trial Handicap, as in the Flying Stakes she did not run near as well as she did in the first race. I only mention this in justice to Lindsay, and I feel sure Mr Quinlivan must have overlooked the disadvantage at which Streamlet was placed at the start. No one champions the troubles of owners more than I do, but at the same time, I will always endeavour to do justice to jockeys when I think they are not receiving fair play.

The exportation to America of the wellknown stallion Foul Shot (by Musket— Slander), who has been at the service of breeders principally in the Hawera district during the last few years, will not be welcome news to breeders in that locality. Foul Shot has besn leaving such useful hackney stock, and during the last few seasons his progeny have been running so prominently on the race tracks, that he has become quite popular with breeders. Last season his stock earned L 786, and this season his hack racing stock have won in the Taranaki district alone, L 563, in fact, as far as winning sires are concerned in this pro vince alone, for hack races, Foulshot is at the head of the list. The Americans may take exception to a slight stain supposed to exist in Foul Shot's pedigree, but his performances as a racehorse, and his success at the stud, undeniably prove there is little wrong with his family lines. He is just the stamp of horse to take the eye of the critical Yankee, and I will be much surprised if Mr Lopez, the purchaser, does not realise a handsome profit on his purchase. Foul Shot will be taken to America by the first 'Frisco mail boat, and is now in Auckland awaiting shipment.

Foul Shot was sold through the agency of the well-known Hawera firm, Messrs Nolan, Tonks and Co., who had a lease of the horse last season.

The dividend of £73 paid by Sedgebrook in the Hack Eace at the Wanganui "Winter Meeting has prompted more than one enquiry as to his breeding. lie is a chestnut horse by Louis D'or—Victress, by Ingomar— Vivandiere (dam of The Dancer, etc., and full sister to the Rangitikei stallion Flintlock). Sedgebrook and Ascot Vale (who was favourite for the race) are owned by their breeder, a well-known commercial gentleman, residing in Wanganui, but they are raced in the name of Mr Tuck, a well-known sporting boniface of Wanganui. As many who supported Ascot Vale think that there is something significant in the fact that she should be favourite and lose, and Sedgebrook, a rank outsider running in the same nomination, should win, I may explain that Ascot Vale was the only one supported by the connections of both horses. During the time Sedgebrook has been in training, he has been ridden in his work by his owner, merely for pleasure and physical exercise, and he also supervised his training until quite recently, when the horse was taken in hand by H. Pell, who also trains Ascot Vale. But the "stable" did not support him for a shilling as far as I can learn, but put their pieces down on Ascot Vale, little thinking that they were " entertaining an angel unawares." This explanation, I trust, will dispel the idea that the stable connections put the double on the public.

Sedgebrook competed in the Wanganui Derby won by Noyade (1893), but ran last. At; that time, Irish Twist was in the hack class, but (oh! the irony of fate!) the Derby colt now wins the Hack Race. ar.d Irish Twist (the hack!) wins the Winter Oats Handicap! Rangitikei sports took the biggest share of the money paid out on Sedgebrook. Mr J. Mayo, mine host of the Club Hotel, Marton, had two tickets, lifting .£146 odd, and he had a further innings at Otaki, having invested £1 on Finesse, which returned him a dividend of £37—making a total for one day of £lB3. I would like someone to figure out the odds of picking the biggest dividends, such as these, at two meetings. Mr Mayo very kindly gave "Dub" Williams, who rode Finesse, £1 to invest for himself on the Torpedo filly, so that with his winning mount Williams had a good win for a youngster, and ± trust he will make good use of the money. Mr McLean, the popular secretary of the Rangitikei Club, was also one of the fortunate few who invested a pound on Sedgebrook. The most singular item in connection with this dividend is that Charlie Jenkins should have the winning mount. I know that his mount is frequently backed for no other reason than that he is in the saddle, and why he was so much neglected on this occasion puzzles me. I understand it was only the fact of Jenluas riding that prompted Mr McLean to invest a pound on Sedgebrook. I notice a Southern contemporary says that Derrett will be at the head of the list of winning jockeys this season. Writing from memory, I would like to have a wager of a cigar against that scribe that Jenkins is first. Messrs Nolan, Tonks and Co., of Hawera, have purchased the standard-bred trotting stallions Grand Moor, Junr. (2min 18i«ec) and Allan Dale, and they should be a valuable acquisition to the district.

The result of the Winter Oats in Wanganui I think pretty well settles the long standing arguments as to the merits of Irish Twist, The Artist and Waiuku, They have at last met, and the former has confirmed mv oft repeated statement that the Irishman is the best of the three. The handicaps were : Irish Twist, Bst, Waiuku, Bst 41b (including 71b penalty), and The Artist, 7st. Neither Irish Twist nor The Artist were thwoughly "pink," and Waiuku had the pull of them in this way, but the inexperience and want of strength of his youthful jockey counterbalanced this. With experienced horsemen on each, and all fit and well and equitably handicapped, the result of a race between, the three would be Irish Twist, 1 ; Waiuku, 2 j The Artist, 3. lam pleased the trio have met; it will save me many anxious moments such as I have experienced when dragged into an argument as to which is the best of the three. I have always plumped for Irish Twist, and feci proud that he has rewarded my confidence.

B. Kingan brought Auroa, and his brother's recent purchase, Esparto (Vasco-di-Gama—Toi) tip from Dunedin on Wednesday. Auroa is nearly all right again. Esparto will probably compete at the Auckland Winter Meeting. Mr J. Fitzgerald, of Palmerston North, has purchased the disqualified trotting horse Te Horo (alias Steadfast). The local trotting pony Bobby Burns and the young trotting stallion KingHarold have been shipped to Auckland. The decision of the Dunedin Jockey Club in taking the Stakes in the Consolation Race away from Mr Sberwin, the owner of Barmby, after they had disqualified W. Brown, the jockey (who had ridden Barmby in a previous race), for twelve months, is so unjust (after MrSher.vin asking for an enquiry, and stating before the Consolation, which Barinby won, that he was dissatisfied with Brown's riding of Barmby in the previous race), that I am of opinion that there must have been more in the case than the Press Association telegram would leed us to believe. Under the circumstances I will defer any further comment on the matter until full particulars are to hand. In the Magistrate's Court at Hawera on

Wednesday a case was heard in which Francis Williamson, of Normanby, sued A. J. Canning, secretary of the Eltham Racing Club, for the sum of £l2, being for 120 complimentary tickets at 2s each, issued at the last Eltham race meeting. Mr Williamson purchased the "gates." The plaintiff's case was that no mention was made at the sale as to the complimentary tickets, and that nearly all present had such tickets. The defence was that the gates were sold with usual privileges, and that this included complimentary tickets. His Worship said it had been proved by the defendant that only about 25 complimentary tickets had been taken advantage of, and if plaintiff was to recover anything he could only recover on the number actually used. It appeared to him that the gates were sold subject to the conditions which the evidence showed were usual. The plaintiff did not seem to have reckoned the number of complimentary tickets at the time, which it is supposed he would have done if he considered himself wronged. He did not think plaintiff had made out his case, and judgment would be for defendant, with costs, £6 2s.

" Sentinel" in the Hawera Star, commenting on the Normanby Trotting Club's Meeting, says:—"The handicapper had underestimated the trotting abilities of some of the starters, and overestimated the speed' of others." Just so. As only seven horses could win at the meeting it is strange some great thinker has not propounded similar logic. I can imagine that " Sentinel" would feel somewhat annoyed with the handicaps. He selected eleven. different horses to win six races at the meeting, and then did not succeed in naming a single winner ! There is every probability of a Trotting' Club being formed at Hawera. *"*