TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1321, 24 June 1897, Page 24

TURF TOPICS.

[By Silveespxjb.l

The Canterbury Jockey Club has secured an entry of thirty-nine for its Grand National Hurdle Race, including a great many new to the game, who are now undergoing the rudiments of their jumping education. Noticeable amongst these is Hipponienes, who should prove a very serviceable animal if he takes kindly to the new order of things, and there is ho reason why he should not. The Aucklanders hold a strong hand with such good animals as St. Simon, Levanter, and Annabelle, who are pretty certain to be pretty well looked after by the handicapper. Hawkes Bay is represented by no less than ten, Donald McKinnon being Mr Douglas's only entrant. Mr Ormond has eEtered St. Anthony, Mr Connop that good mare Tally-ho; then there is Prince Charlie, Prairie Grass (who does not appear to be any wonder), Melinite (whose deeds in the past over the small sticks won't be readily forgotten), Golden Plover, Prury Lane, and Penrose. Fireworks, the coastal horse, is one of the promising sort, who can foot it on the flat. Tlex is a horse that will have a great many admirers, all going well. Rangipai is not slow, and Muscatel is said to be a hummer who is susceptible of a great improvement. Jewel, the Southern animal, is fast, and is said to be the makings of a fine and Ulster, winner of a double at the last Dunedin meeting, is one of the sort likely to prove troublesome. On present appearances the race will take a lot of picking.

There are twenty-seven entered for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, including the most notable 'chasers now racing. _ Mutiny, who has previously prevailed in this race, is once again nominated, and old Booties, who was not himself at Wanganui after his return from Sydney, will likely again essay the journey. Muscatel is entered for both this event and the Beaufort Steeplechase, as also is stable mate Dummy, and this pair will have to be reckoned with in anything they start for. Bradshaw, The Friar, Tally Levanter, St. Simon, Perform, Rhino and Rangipai are others in a good list whose claims will need consideration at a later stage if their owners are satisfied with the imposts allotted them. ,

" English advices state that Lord Carnarvon and Lord Ilchester are going to race in France, their animals being trained at Chantilly. The late Duke of Hamilton was the last British sportsman whose colours were prominent in France. Lord Carnarvon is new to the turf, while Lord Ilchester, who is a member of the English Jockey Club, has been racing for many years, but without much success.

A number of improvements are to be effected on the Waitara. course, the committee of the Jockey Club having decided to make it one of the best on the coast. The next gathering there will be'.held the first week in November.

Chelandry, who was expected to win Lord Rosebery his first One Thousand Guineas race, and did so, is described as a meanlooking, wiry mare, who has tha appearance of being a stayer. Alluding to the original list of 85 entrants, a London writer stated before the race was run that among the most conspicuous failures of those engaged were Lord Allington's filly by St. Serf out of the famous Jannette; the late Mr Barnato's 500 gs filly, by Bend Or out of lerne; Mr Bass's 900 gs own sister to Meddler; Mr Brassey's 700 gs Happy Returns, by Hampton ; Lord Crewe's 520 gs Kilmeny, by Kilwarlin; and his 800 gs Impatiens, by Friar's Balsam ; the Duke of Devonshire's half sister by Friar's Balsam to Morion ; Loi'd Durham's Fetish, by St. Simon out of Primrose Day; Mr A. James's 3800 gs. Catherine Luther, by St. Simon; "Mr Jersey's" 1550g5, Witch Hazel, by Hazlehatch; Mr W. Johnstone's 2000 gs, La Petite Duchesse, by Endurance,-. Mr J. A. Miller's 4100 gs St. lima, by St." Simon; and his 1550 gs Common Talk, by Common; Sir J. Miller's 1600 gs Dogma, by Wisdom; and his 700 gs, Bric-a-Brac, by St. Serf ; Mr Rose's St. Pelagia, half-sister by St. Simon, to Ravensbxxry; Lord Stanley's Arc-en-Ciel, half-sister, by Blue Green, to Shaddock; and the Duke of Westminster's Simoon, by St. Simon out of Shotover. A costly, but apparently useless lot * '

On Saturday next, the 26th inst., handicaps will be declared for the first day's racing of the Wellington .Racing Club, and also for the Wellington Stc'eplechase. Acceptances close on Friday, Julv 2nd, when cut i ies for the Maiden li.-.cL i.'ace are also due.

It was printed recently that the Duke of Westminster's stallion, Orme (by Ormonde), had gone mad. It is now announced, on behalf of the Duke, that the animal seems to have recovered from his sensational illness, and that he will probably be fit to commence stud duties next season.

It is related of a well known owner of trotters who was called before certain stewards to explain the running- of an animal of his a while back that on entering the room he hung up his hat, coolly helped himself to a nip of whisky, lit a cigar, sat down, threw his feet on to a vacant chair and said, " Now, gentlemen, what is it you want to know ?" And yet he wondered why he was disqualified.

Three racecourse cases were determined at Christchxxrch last week. They were brought at the instance of the secretary of the Canterbxxry Trotting Club for trespass at Addington, whore the club held a rneoting last month. The Magistrate dismissed the first case owing to the defendant not having been definitely ordered off the course. In che second case, brought against another man, it was sfcateel

th&fc d&feiidaht went oh the Bourse" although warned hot to go prior to the iheeiihjv. The private detective, however; 'djd not see hjni. betting. This case was al§o dismissed with costs against the club, in a third case it w&s" sh'6wzi that defendant had been written to statitig that he would not be-allowed oh the Course, aid that oh beirig seen there he was ordered off. A. fine of 20s and costs was entered iip against hiih. ,

The late Mr Barney Barnato had a string of horses in training in England—animals he gave big prices for when he first visited the Old Country after having made his fortune in South Africa. A few of them raced fairly well, but no big plums fell to his lot. Coming Day, who was to have started in this year's Two Thousand Guineas, cost him 2200 gs as a yearling.

The formation of a trotting club in the Wairarapa will make the third club of the kind in the Wellington district.. The new organisation will doubtless recjuire a permit for its first meeting and if a sufficiently attractive programme is drafted there is no doubt but that the club will have claims for consideration when the Colonial Secretary makes his allocation next season. There is no reason why the Club should not have a successful career if it, i§ properly' managed at..the outset. I wish it success. r?

A rather novel suggestion was made at the last meeting of the South Island Trotting Association by one of the delegates, Who thought that it would not be a bad idea to pardon all disqualified owners and their horses in. commemoration, of the Eecord Reign. The proposal did not meet vfith favour. It is a very good thing indeed that it was not seriously entertained.

The victory of the Prince of Wales in the Ascot Gold Cup must have been a very popular one. Persimmon is an undoubted great horse —a worthy son of St. Simon. To have beaten an animal like Winkfield's Pride by eight lengths was a great performance. Winkfield's Pride is reckoned ore of the best handicap horses now racing at Home, and his easy defeat by the Prince's four year old makes out the latter about the best ahiinal in England. The Prince's horses scored two seconds shortly before this last mail left England} d-lehtilt being runner tip to Solimah in the Great Metropolitan Stakes at the Epsom Spring meeting; Mousme experiencing similar bad luck in the Hyde Park Plate, at the same meeting on City and Suburban day, Perthshire getting home by a length.

The betting question was referred to in the House of Commons recently, when Mr Duncome asked the Home Secretary whether he would introduce a Bill defining a "place" in intelligible' and unmistakeable words. Mr Duncombe further asked whether the Home Secretary's attention had been called to the fact that, under the recent judgment in the case of Hawke v. Dunn, any defined or undefined area may be converted into a place withing the meaning of the Betting Houses Acts, should- one man make, or offer to make, bets there as a matter of business ; and whether, having regard io the impossibility of insuring that among a large assembly of spectators no one would bet or endeavour to bet as a matter of business, the Government would take steps to so amend the law as to enable Her Majesty's subjects to witness sports and games without the risk of finding themselves arrested, searched and locked up. Sir Matthew Ridley said he was not prepared to suggest l«gislation in the direction stated. The Law officers had advised him that the judgment of the court applied to all kinds of betting, betting on credit as well as betting for ready money, and the metropolitan police, the only police under his control, had instructions to take proceedings against all who infringed the provisions of the Act. Mr Duncombe asked, amid daughter, , whether the House of Commons would be ] considered a "place," and Sir M. Eidley | caused amusement by replying that that i wa a matter for the officers of the Crown. 1

W. Kyan and Co. report as follows: Wellington Hurdles and Steeple double 100 to. 2£ Pyrites and Pyrites, 100 to 4 Donald McKinnon and Tally-ho, 100 to 3 Napoleon and Plug, 100 to 2 Bedberry and Bradshaw. The same firm have also laid J the following:—Grand National Steeple and Hurdles—3oo to 6 Kingswood and Ilex, 200 to 3 Levanter and Annabelle, 200 to 4 Levanter and Dummy, and smaller lines.

Commenting upon the bre<-ding business in England and in America a New York paper makus the following obcorviitions : " Look at the stud fees paid, ior instance. How many of the American stallions could do a really large season at a fee of 2000dol ? Or how many of them could command GO mares at a fee of SOOdol per mare ? Desperately few, and most of them find it hard slediog to get a full book at lOOdol, though there are some that are doing well enough at that figure. What is the matter, auy way ? Is it because we have not money enough to win, or is it because there are too few rich men connected with the American turf ? Whatever the'reason, certain it is that the fees commanded by our best thoroughbred stallions standing for public service are not nearly high enough, considering that there is a whole lot of money tied up in each of these great sires. Of course, it is out of the question to ask a man to pay a very high service fee when the prices of yearlings is as low as it has been for the past few seasons with us. Even the rarely well-bred ones from the Bancho del Paso did not bring adequate prices, and so the situation may be said to be rather mixed. It is safe to say that the average price of all the thoroughbred yearlings sold last year on account of the various breeders of the

country did hot exceed ioOdoi,* if it reached that figure."

Some time ago Mr Jas. Tomkins, of Benalla (N.S.W.), wagered that he could tell while blindfolded, the age of a given number of horses to be furnished by a Mr Sanderson (says' Sydney Referee). The conditions stipulated that the number of horses was not to exceed twenty, and the ages were to range from one to eight years. They were not, however, rigidly kept, as the horses submitted ranged from four years up to thirteen years; but, all the same, they were not able to puzzle Mr Tomkins. In one instance a mare with a bridle tooth was submitted, and the age was told correctly. ..Several of the horses were between seven and eight years of age, and would be the latter age in August next. They were, therefore, rather difficult to tell, but in each instance the judge declared that Mr Tomkins was correct. When ten horses were examined no more could be got, and Mr Sanderson declared that he had lost his wager.

Mr E. F.. Yuile reports, the'.following business: —New Zealand Cup—3oo to 12 Culverin, 200 to 10 Searchlight, 500 to IS Antares, 200 to 10 Dauntless, 300 to 10' Strathbraan, 300 to 10 Cannonshot, and smaller lines. Wellington Hurdles and Steeplechase (double) —100 to 3 Levanter and Much Ado, 100 to 3 St. Anthony and The Plug. 100 to 3 Dummy and The Friar, 100 to 3 Napoleon and Dummy, 100 to 3 Donald McKinnon and Tiritea.

A special ' telegram from Christclmrch states that Messrs Barnott and Grant have dOne the following: business for the week on the Now Zealand Grand National Steeplechaso and Hurdle Race- —500 to 6 Mutiny and Jewel, 500 to' 5 Mutiny and Quiltiri, 500 to 7 Levanter and Ulster, 200 to 4 Mutiny and Donald McKinnon, 200 to 4 Mutiny e.nd Muscatel, 200 to' 3 Mutiny and Sc. Simon, to 3 Mutiny and Dummy, 200, to 3 Mutiny and Hex, 200 to 3 Lpvanter and Hex, and smaller lines. The ruling prices of the Grand National doubles are now 500 to 7J-.

The same firm also reports the following business on the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups :—IOOO to 5 Coil and Culverin, 1000 to 5 Fleet Admiral and Daystar, 500 to 4 Anrum and Euroclydon, 500 to 3 Aurum and Fabulist, 500 to 2 Aurum and Antare9, 500 to 3 Aurum and St. Cyr, 500 to 2 Aurum and Tire, 500 to 1J Aurum and Picklock, 250 to 1 Euroclydon and Oroa, 200 to 1 Wallace and Daystar, 200 to 1 Coil and St. Cannon, and smaller lines.

SHOELETS. W. Elliott, the coastal owner, has in work a six-year-old gelding called The Rake, by Puriri. Jubilee, winner of the Maiden Plate at the Stratford Tradesmen's meeting the other day is half-brother to Denbigh, by Brigadier.

It is said at Home that the decline of interest in the classic Two Thousand Guineas race now-a-days is due to the establishment of the Newmarket Stakes, there being no room for two iurportant races within a month of the Derby. The death is reported in England of a fine filly foal, own sister to St. Frusquin.

The Auckland mare Doris is now located in the stable of J. J. Russell.

Launceston (Tasman —Rubina) is now to be put to the stud in Tasmania. The Coolgardie Cup, run next month, will be worth .£SOO. Good prizos secures good horses. Coolgardie is getting on. J. Hickey got a nasty shaking through Ebor falling in the Criterion Steeplechase run at Sandown in the beginning of last month.

The Auckland Racing Club expect to make £SOO profit over their National meeting. Hegel, the Auckland horse, will not race again ; he goes back to the stud. Pinrose, the Hastings horse, has broken down.

Ofoldspur is not going to Australia after all—not at present at all events. Fulmen has been backed in Dunedin for the New Zealand Cup. As a. yearling Levanter cost He got his name through the man in charge of him levanting from his employer. It will all depend upon the nature of his Melbourne Cup impost whether Eurocyldon will go across to Victoria in the Spring. Weights are due on the 2Sth i'nst. Day Star and St. Paul are said to be doing serviceable work at Auckland. Kaika, winner of the Hawke's B*y Steeplechase last year, has not been seen since the floods in that district and it is surmised that he has been drowned.

A two-year-old colt by The Dauphin— Bombshell (by Armament) has been taken in hand by Mr W. Elliott, of Waitara.

Tne Auckland Racing Club has no recommendations to umko in reference to the proposed alterations in the Rules of Racing. Pyroxyln has gone into T. Hodson's stable, Auckland.

Mr W. Cox has been appointed secretary to the Town and Suburban Kacing Club.

A horse named Alvarado was recently debarred from starting at San Francisuo on account of his bad behaviour at the post.

This decision was arrived at immediately after the horse had won a race.