TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 25

TURF TOPICS.

[By Silverspuk.]

A number of important matters, affecting the welfare of racing in this colony, were considered by the Racing Conference, but the principal were rejected as being inadvisable. It was not expected that the proposal of Mr Parsons, of Wanganui, for the appointment of a Jockey Club to control the sport throughout the colony, would be acceeded to by the delegates. As usual, strong opposition was shown by representatives of clubs located in both the north and south, and the question was once again shelved, only, in all probability, to be brought up again next year. Why clubs in the extreme ends of both islands should conceive that the establishment of a Jockey Club would restrict the authority of the Metropolitan clubs in their respective districts is hard to imagine, and such would not be the case. A head body of the character mentioned is required if only for the settlement of racing appeals. Delicate questions continually crop up during the year, and the decisions of even the Metropolitan clubs to whom they are referred are sometimes open to question. All metrox>olitan clubs are not constituted alike; some possess practical racing men on their committees, while others have not that advantage, members being often elected to control the sporting destinies of their district merely on account of their social standing. The conference, too, could not see through the proposal of Mr W. O. Williams having reference to the appointment of Metropolitan committees in each district; that is to say, representation by the country clubs on the central body. The question was only defeated by a few votes, and may be carried at next time of asking. There is certainly a lot to bo said in favour of the proposal, and if, as stated by Mr Stead, metropolitan clubs would control matters quite as much as they did now, there ought to be no objection to the application. The powers of the metropolitan body would not be materially curtailed, and the presence of country delegates at their deliberations, if anything, ought to materially assist them in arriving at a just and proper decision in regard to district matters about which they may not possess full information.

The efforts of the bookmakers to secure permission to bet on racecourses have not met with any measure of success. In my opinion their case, placed before the Conference, was not in any {degree strengthened by the citation of legal opinions as to the legality of betting within racing enclosures. Delegates were apparently not affected by outside expressions as to what could or could not be done. They knew well enough that the law permitted straight-out betting, and that it was merely a question of clubs being agreeable. What influenced them mostly in dealing with the matter was doubtless the probability of curtailment of their totalisator receipts, which they now so zealously guard. They also thought that even if bookmakers were licensed—the most reputable and financial of them —and did not

run tote shops, others would spring up in their places, and the present system would go on as usual. The only thing the bookmakers could say in reply to this would be that they would protect their own interests and see that ’these “ shops ” were stamped out. However, the Conference has declined the licensing application, and city tote wagering on local and far-off events will likely continue, and clubs are powerless to prevent it.

The unusually large totalisator speculation at Christchurch during Carnival week is a sign of increasing prosperity. And when the sporting public has more money than usual at it’s command for pleasure it means that club’s will benefit and be enabled to offer larger stakes for competition. Big stakes send the sport along, and tend to straigliter running. The C. J.C. tote figures will be a pleasant holiday remembrance to the club. Large sums were “ sent back ” by bookmakers all over the Colony, hundreds of pounds being put on in the Cup alone.

The popular venue this coming Saturday will be the Hutt, where the Wellington Racing Club commences its Exhibition Spring Meeting. The gatherings organised by this Club have always been a pleasure to attend, and, judging from indications early in the week, the present meeting, which will be continued on Wednesday, the 25th inst., will be even more successful from a sporting point of view than any ever held previously. One has only to glance at the formidable-looking list of handicaps which appear in another column, and analyse the quality of the thoroughbreds engaged, to judge what kind of sport will be provided. Every care lias, as usual, been exercised in the matter of arrangements, the comfort of patrons being studied in every possible way. The principal event will be the Exhibition Handicap, of 300sovs, one mile and a quarter, which contains some first-class competitors, and should furnish a good race. The November Handicap, one mile; First Hurdles, two miles; Flying, six furlongs ; Shorts, five furlongs ; First Welter, one mile and a furlong ; and the First Hack and Maiden events make up a programme which the public are not likely to miss. Comments and selections will appear in Saturday morning’s New Zealand Times.

The Muriwai (Poverty Bay) Meeting, held on Monday, was one of the good old time sort. The committee decided before the races that the public who rode to the meeting would have to tether their horses in an adjoining paddock, in order that they should not stray on to the course proper in search of a feed and knock the racers over as they came along at a gallop. The writer remembers a meeting in the Poverty Bay district in the seventies, at which a horse broke loose from a fence during a race and galloped up the straight in front of a field of hacks. The crowd yelled, and wanted to know who owned the blanky scrubber. It turned out that the judge did. It had been stolen from him a year previously by a Maori, whom he promptly had arrested and gaoled in due course.

Acceptances for the Wellington Trotting Club’s forthcoming meeting close this coming Saturday at the New Zealander Hotel.

The majority of backers were apparently not satisfied with the result of the N.Z. Cup, and backed Euroclydon heavily as against Lady Zetland in the Canterbury Cup. This, being a quarter mile longer, and weight for age, a fair test was guaranteed, and Forget-me-not’s daughter proved her quality by completely walking over last year’s champion. What excuse can be advanced for his defeat I don’t know; I have not heard any except that he met a better animal. The pace was sound throughout, and the mare had only to shoot out at the finish to win. I scarcely know how to compare her with the champion Merganser. The Hawke’s Bay mare was certainly a brilliant, but whether she could stay out a fast two mile or two and a quarter mile race was never demonstrated. I don’t think she could. When she raced in the Auckland Cup critics slated the handicapper for letting her in, but St. Hippo was about then and cantered home. Brigand finished in front of Merganser, but I don’t think she was well. She couldn’t have beaten St. Hippo anyhow. Of that I am pretty confident. Lady Zetland is a mare that has lasted, and during her career has proved herself an uncommonly good one. Weighing her and Merganser together I think, on the whole, that she is the better.

A great variety of sporting topics and descriptions of places visited in the course of travel is compressed into a 370 page volume by Martin Cobbett, “ The Man on the March,” sent me by Messrs Baillie Bros., Cuba Street, Wellington. The volume is a chatty one, written by a man who has followed sporting journalism for over a quarter of a century. Chapters given : “ Exercise and Health,” “ Boxing,” “Collecting—lndoors and out,” “Sharps” (who abound in every vocation of life), “ Mainly on Dogs,” On the Way to Goodwood,” “ Epsom and the Derby,” “ Cycling,” Refreshments and other things,” “ A game of Cricket,” “ Old Times and New,” “ The Time Test,” “ Sport in Business,” “ A Trip to Australia,” and a long article on “ Reporting.” Old-time journalistic sporting recollections are served up in interesting form. In one article an idea is given the reader of how past sporting writers worked as compared with those of the present day. Alluding to the great increase or multiplicity of all kinds of pastimes of late years the author remarks that if we go on as we are going the all-round sporting pressman will become extinct. The public is becoming more exacting in its requirements for reports and articles, critiques and forecasts,

analysis and prophecies. Most of onr games have grown almost in geometrical progression. There is always a lot of everything going on. Every branch boasts so big a connection of good class exponents that it is as much as one man can do to lreep an eye on the leaders and post himself fully so as to be abreast of the times. Considering the high pressure at which most of the work is done, its accuracy is marvellous. Thanks to modern ideas, diametrically difiering from the old style much difficulty is smoothed away because information is more easily obtainable, almost everyone nowadays being only too pleased to answer questions. In the old days secrecy was the rule even in regard to telling the exact positions in a horse race if the vision was obscured.

In this particular connection the author says: —“Note the difference between the relations of owners, trainers, jockeys and the public, whose agents the press are, as they were and are. Most mentioned of the old style, delighted in cuddling up any scrap of information. Now you have only to ask and have, supposing the interrogated is capable of doing- what is wanted. Some jockeys seem to forget all that happens before they reach the weighing-room. At; least, all but one thing. You may expect the truth to be told you, so far as good-will goes, if you do not ask too much. Asking a jockey to give any other rider as first away in a short race is asking too much. You may safely bet even money that if twenty started in a five furlong spin the first half-dozen you examined would unhesitatingly mention themselves, each for himself, as the one who jumped off when the flag fell. Certain jockeys carry reports of all their races in their heads, being blessed with the faculty of noting and remembering. Morny Cannon, White, Tom, Charles (Commonly called Ben), and Sam Loates generally can be trusted to remember who were well away, and how the placings were at any portion of a contest. Old George Eordliam was probably the very worst at the business of his or any other time.

Trotting enthusiasts and the public generally will be afforded an opportunity of witnessing first-class sport at Miramar Park on Tuesday, the 24th inst., when the Wellington Trotting Club will get off its Exhibition Spring Meeting. The handicaps appear in another column of this issue, but the acceptances are not duo as I write. The trotting sport is going ahead fast, not only in this district, but in overy part of the Colony, and so long as it is properly managed it will still further gain in popularity. The officials of the Wellington Club are fully alive to a sense of their responsibility insofar as endeavouring to ensure straight running is concerned, and an enjoyable gathering on Tuesday may be confidently looked forward to.

A n American trotter may meet the Australasian champion Fritz, after all. The owner of the champion issued a challenge to the world, none barred, and L. G. Tewksbury recently replied notifying his willingness to go to Australia with an animal (name not mentioned) and race for .£2OOO on certain conditions. One was that the money had to be put up on November 14th (Saturday last), half the amount to be forfeited on either side if either party failed to start on the specified date, unless his (Tewkbury’s) horse died or became disabled in the interim. Another condition was that <£lso be paid the American horse if defeated, his owner on the other hand paying cost of transportation and all costs connected with the trip to Australia. Further it was stipulated that tho race is to be in harness, at mile heats, best three in five—fair day and good track—on such registered course in Australia as the challenged party may select as being best suited for harness racing; the gate receipts to be equally divided between the contending parties, and the contest to take place within six weeks after his horse arrives in Australia, or at such earlier time as he or his representative may elect, upon giving four days’ notice, with the distinct understanding that the horses are to start provided his horse is in condition to race ; his condition to be determined by him or i his representative. Each party to the race to appoint one judge, the two judges j so appointed to select a third, and tho rules of the National Trotting Association of America to govern the race, so far as they do not conflict with the stipulation i above mentioned. Information respecting the intentions of the owner of Fritz, or whether he cabled to America on Saturday last, is not to hand, but it is quite possible | that he has agreed to tho terms laid down. !

It was generally thought in the North that Armilia would win the C.J.C. Oaks, but Southerners seemed to be of opinion that she could not quite get a distance, and they planked rather heavily on St. Ouida and Firefly. Armilia was favourite, but all the Southern animals received substantial support. Cravat’s full sister, however, showed fast finishing ability when asked. It was some recompense for Day Star's knock out. Why they started the colt in the Derby, seeing that he was so hoplessly bad, is beyond my comprehension. There was nothing sporting about it.

A large amount of Wellington money was invested on King's Bowman at C ristchurch, particularly on the last day in the Electric Handicap. He was second favourite in a field of smart ones, but his admirers fell by the wayside. Three two-year-olds filled the places, favourite Multiform being the smartest. Sir Launcelot was obliged to run in behind Blazer, as he had done earlier in the day in the Spring Nursery Handicap. Blazer is apparently something out of the common.

Is this correct ? A country paper says it hears that several of the “knowing

ones ” at the Taratahi races took advantage of there being no telegraph communication between the course and the Empire City, and sent the results of five races by the aid of carrier pigeons, thus enabling their friends there to do big business with the “ bookies.” Poor bookies !

The Masterton Pacing Club has decided to exclude bookmakers from it’s course at next meeting.

SHOELETS

Richway, full brother to Australian Cup winner, won a little Welter at Numurkah T.C. Meeting (Vic.) recently. At Mentone (Melb.) V. Fountain was severely censured for not riding The Hero out even when he saw pursuit of the winner was hopeless. A ’Frisco jiaper sails m against those turf abominations called selling races. Home papers think it is about time Charles Wood was allowed to emerge from obscurity w-itli a riding license. Hia banishment years ago was deserved, but; he has suffered enough for it. They are now wondering in Melbourna what weight they will give the flying New* haven when he trips to England.

In and out running and lightning reversals of form are killing the turf in America, the Racing Associations winking their eye at everything. A Sydney jockey was fined £2 the other day for entering a frivolous charge against another. When Newliaven was sold at Randwick last year J. Wilson was to get half the Champagne Stakes, for which the chestnut was going to start. That was the day the crowd hooted when Coil beat him. It was Gardner the trainer, not Gardner the jock, who drew the Cup winner ia Tatt’s.

A useful little New Zealand neddy is now said to be winning races in N.S.W. under another name.

Melbourne racing peoplo are now testimonialising C. B. Fisher, whose big failure came as a shock in boom time.

Musket, by Armament, won the Tradesman’s Handicap atWinton, and paid AT 14-s. The stallion Forerunner took first prize and championship at Woodville Show. North Atlantic is enjoying a weilearned spell in the Woodville district. A gentleman who saw him the other day informs mo he is looking very w-ell. Belinda and a full sister to her have thrown a colt and filly respectively to Forester.

Amounts won over the Taratahi-Carter-ton meeting :R. McKenzie, .£lO5 ; J. Macara, £G6 15s W. Donald, £4 5 5; ; W. Corlett, <£4o; J. Kelleher, .£4O; IV'. Davies, £35 ; T. Benton, .£3O; H. W. Clay, £3O 10s ; W. Strang, £3O; A. W. Cave, £2O; J. McCarty, £2O; W. Martin, £10; J. Orr, £5 ; P. F. Tancred, £5 ; W. E. Manning, £5; H. Nees, £5 ; Taite Tau, £5.

Greyleg won the Queensland Derby by a head from Sir Hugh. Eight others started.

Bernal won the Steeple at Band wick on the 9th ; his stable mate, Palmetto, killed.

On the same day the Jtosehill Handicap fell to Balance (Trenton —See Saw), who beat The Trier, Elton, Newman, Malachit and others. At the time of his recent accident the English jockey T. Loates led all others in the profession, his record of 146 wins in 563 rides between March 23 and September 25 being a slight improvement on M. Cannon’s average, which stood at 135 firsts for 53G mounts.

A gem from the Sportsman :—“ Lady Zetland, who won the New Zealand Cup yesterday with Bst 91b up, and who is nino years old, is by Perkin Warbeck 11. from Forget-me-not, has been a great performer, having run in 100 races and won 25. She was sent over to Victoria some four years since, but failed to gain a winning bracket/’