TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1651, 21 October 1903, Page 48

TURF TOPICS

• (By “Advance."} GTAIvI MAORI RACING CLUB. The spring meeting of the Otaki Maori Racing Club passed off successfully last week. On the holiday (Labour Day) the weather was beautiful, and a big contingent from W eiimgton hoipc.cl to swell the .crowd present. On the off day there was a fair number present, our a drizzling rain which prevadod tended somewhat to spoil the enjoyment oi uie outing. Notwithstanding that in several events the fields were poor, tiie tprnover for the meeting, £6799, was £248 more than last spring. Tue starting of the club’s native official on the first day was very poor. The executive of the club should seriously consider the advisability of appointing a stipendiary official far the position, otherwise they may find that at future meeuugs there will be a noticeable failing off in the number of entries received. .Proceedings opened with the Maiden Plate, six furlongs, for wh.eh eleven went to the post. IVLooi, who ia now trained by H. Fletcher, ao I/evm, got a flying start and McMorran, keeping her going, the Strenuous mare appeared! co have a winning chance at the bend. She failed to keep the advantage gamed, and was beaten a length by Furneaux. who returned his supporter the nice price of £ll 14s. Tne winner, a three-year-old chestnut gelding by Fanciers— Dolly, was well handled by his trainer, George Reid. Fumeaux is a tud brother to Aquinaldo. St. Winifred, by Sylvia Park —Leda, made her first appearance in the race. She got left at the post, and - therefore had no oppoinpnity of showing whether the couja g l op. Vvhite Ribbon, a half brother, by Merr.e England, to Grey Ribbon, was well backed, but did not show any form. On his form at 'Wanganui, and meeting a poor field, Tirole came in for most supp re for the Te Hiwi Memorial S.akts. -mir nnle. The Captain Webb gelding w • o. .-aw ore- ;

ably from Black Squall. The proceedings were delayed more than half an hour prior to the start of the hurdle race while the jumps were being altered, the jockeys having refused to start unless they were slanted. After the race the stewards held a meeting, and decided to fine each of the jockeys £5 for disobedience. Next morning a written apology was forthcoming, and the fines were remitted. What- would have happened had the penalty been enforced may only be conjectured. Romany Lad, with A. Hall in the saddle, was a big favourite. During the first part of the race he was lying last. He made a for-

ward move when the back of the course was beached, but never got closer chan fourth, and finished second last. He appeared to jump badly at some of the fences. This may have been caused by the dust raised by the horses galloping in front of him. The light-weight division made the pace very warm all tlie way. Hr Bill, who appeai-s to bo on the improve, was in front for a mile, where he had had enough, and Aroha took charge. Hutana looked like troubling lum at the turn, but the Napier horse held his own and won with something in hand.

The Porirua trained Position was better backed than bis: three opponents for the Demonstration Handicap, one mile and a distance. Position was in charge to the bend, where Hydrant went on and passed the post a length to the good comfortably. Clovelly was allowed a flying start in the six furlongs race, and it looked as if he woyid win all the way. He stopped in the straight, and Carmont, keeping Australasia going, won by a length. The winner was favourite, and paid the fair price of £2 2s. The eight acceptors for the Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, dwindled down to four runners. Tirofe and Australasia were stripped again, eacn carrying 51b penalty. Iniwa was fresh, for which reason, and because she had done some fair work at the. Hutt, sue was sent out favourite. The Petroleum mare was not in it at the right end. Tho other two made a good race of it. Tirole appeared to be winning comfcrt- : ably when Carmont came with a rush on Australasia, aud the top weight had to be shaken up to win by a neck. For the Stewards Handicap, a five furlongs sprint, Firelight, Sir Galahad and Delight were pretty evenly backed. The' latter managed to run second to Gold Dredge, by Gold Reef —Hippodamia, who made a runaway race of it, and could have won by any distance. Form of the first day’s winners scored on the second day, making five double* winners at the meeting. The Romney was sorted out at the best of tho ten runners for the Trial Handicap, seven furlongs. The Country Boy gelding, which is trained by F. Barry at tho Hutt, put up 81b overweight to secure ,Garment’s services. Mooi was again smartest away, and led for about halfway, where the Romney took charge and scored comfortably. Black Squall took command at the start of the Otaki Handicap, seven furlongs, and was-never headed. For tho Second Hurdle Handicap, one mile and a half, Killarney was made a slightly better favourite than Aroha. The latter finished ;up quite as well as on the previous day. Killarney and H*utana again ran consistently. Hydrant and Position were almost equally backed for the Ngatihuia Handicap, one mile. The first-named, who appears to be in great form, won easily from The Guesser. After an interval of aboort an hour, Hydrant put up a penalty in the Rangiuru Welter, one mile, and put down Eiibank, Iniwa and Grey Ribbon.

Apprentice was no use to Australasia in the Railway Handicap, six furlongs. Delight’s connections -were not satisfied with the first day’s running, and sent her out favourite for the Electric Handicap, five furlongs, in which she met Gold Dredge on a stone better terms. The additional weight did not stop Gold Dredge, who scored in good style from Notes. NAPIER PARK RACING CLUB. The spring meeting of the Napier Park Racing Ciub. held on the 13th and 14th in&c. (Labour Day), was run on temperance lines. The absence of a band, which would liave helped to break the dullness of the gathering, was commented on. The te It graph office on the course was cut off, and the department opened a temporary office close to the course. The tocalisator turnover for the two days amounted to £8984, a decrease of £1468 compared with last spring. A field of five contested the Maiden Hack Race. Spoil was best backed, and ran well, but suffered defeat by a neck at the hands of Trent (The Officer— Trenta-Lto), one of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s breed. The Hurdles, one mile and three-quarters, attracted half-a-dozen runners, of whom Comfort was favourite. He rau well, but Midia had a comfortable victory. The Handsome Jack pouy fell on the only occasion that she sported siLk at Hastings. She was ridden by W. Price, owing to F. Lind being incapacitated. Asteroid was made a big pot for the County Hack Handicap, one mile. She .could! only manage to get third to Oasis (Jet d’Eau—-Kie Kie), who was in with the minimum weight, and Defoe. The three runners, for the Napier Stakes, five furlongs,

were equally backed. Royal Fwsilier (Hotchkiss —Janet) lead all the way, and won by a length and a half from Meiodeon. The otner starter was the two-year-old Galahad (Sir Lancelot —-Auray), who finished three lengths away The Park Stakes Handicap, one mile and a quarter, produced good finish between the placed horses. Meirura won by a short half-length from Hmetnura, with Dexterity just clear of Float. Bandmaster (Menura’s half-brother) and Taura were most fancied for the Spring Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, and they finished first and second. Bandmaster led all the way and won easdy by eight lengtlis. Rose Madder (fe> tepman —iviadder) was quickest to move m the Ahuriri Hack Handicap, five furlongs. She was in charge all tine way, and. won by a clear length and a half from Contingent, who just beat W'et Reef for second place. i <Jn the second day of the meeting Idea (The Officer—Mount Icla) wou the Puketapu Hack Hand.cap, one mile, from end to end. Evening, with 01b less than she was handicapped at on the first day, aud the first day's winner Midia was raised llib, so that Evening was meet- ! ing Midia on 171 b better terms. The result was the same as on the first day, Midia winning by a couple of lengths from Comfort, with Evening thud. Electric Gun and Forest Ranger divided favouritism for the Two-year-old Handicap, four and a half furlongs. The former got well away, but failed to keep in front, and Forest Ranger (The Officer —Dryad) scored by three lengtlis from Cornelian. Four of the seven runners for the Racing Club Handicap, one mile and a distance, were well backed, Tradewind being actual first favourite. The latter carried top weight, and ran a good race, but was beaten a length and a half by Asteroid (Apremont—Planet). Repulse (Robinson Crusoe —Dryad) won the Caledonian Handicap, six furlongs, from The Rioter and Warwick. The Karamu stable also scored with Trent in the Telephone Hack Handicap, six furlongs, and Chant (The Officer—Lullaby) in the Scurry Hack Race, five furlongs. The Grandstand Handicap, six furlongs, produced a close finish between Gold Dust (Gold Reef —Pearl Powder) and Perfection., the former winning by half a length.

DANNEVIRKE JOCKEY CLUB. From Mr J. Spiers Freeman I have received a copy of the balance-sheet to be presented to the annual meeting of members to be held to-night. The statement of accounts is as follows: — Receipts, to cash in hand, 31st- July, 1902, £3 12s 3d; five unclaimed tickets “Euciiaris,” £4 10s; member’s subscriptions. £57 15s; nominations, £BS 15s; entries, £l3 10s; acceptances, £B3 ss; training fees, £2 12s 6d; privileges, £216 2s 3d; fines, £2; totaiisator revenue, £694 Os Id ; nomination and acceptance arrears received, £2; donations, £9; Master Model deposit refunded, £2O; cheques outstanding, 31st July, 1903, £8 6s 9d; total, £1202 14s lOd. Expenditure: By bank overdraft, 31st' July, 1902, £4B 7s 6d; outstanding cheques, £1 18s; stakes, £647 10is; advertising and printing, £67 10s sd; gatekeepers and outriders, £10; repairs and maintenance, £65 3s 6d; salaries, £ll3 9s; rates, insurance and interest, £ll 9s 8d; stationary, stamps, telegrams and petty cash, £lB 4s 8d; Government tax of per cent, on £7,252, £IOB 15s 7d; T. H. G. Lloyd, expenses to Wellington, £3 9s 4d; N.Z. Racing Conference, £2 7s 6d; luncheons, £ll 14s; carting, 355; detective, £8 16s; bellman, £4; letter-box, 24s 9d; band, £ls; bank charge keeping account, 10s; exchange on cheques, £1 19s 6d: sundries, £4 Is 3d; error in investment, £2 7s; bank balance, 31st July, 1903, £39 7is; cash in hand 31st July, 1903. £7 15s 2d ; total, £1202 14s lOd. Assets: Grandstand and other buildings, £325; nomination and acceptance arrears, £32 10s; training fees in, arrear, £2 2s; member's subs, in arrear, £2 life 6d: bank balance, 31st July, 1903, £39 7s; cash in hand, 31st July, 1903, £7 15s 2d: total, £409 6& Bd. Liabilities: Forty-one debentures 'at £5, £205; interest on debentures at 5 per cent., £lO ss; rent (impounded by certain natives), £2O; cheques outstanding, £8 6s 9d; petty cash, £1 0s lid; auditor, £1 is; balance of assets over liabilities, £163 13s; total, £409 6s Bd. The items nominations and acceptances in arrear has doubtless been considerably reduced since July 31st, in which case the club is in a hotter financial position than the above statement shows. MASTERTON TROTTING CLUB. The annual meeting of the Masterton ' Trotting Club passed off successfully on the 15th. The weather was most fa- ; vourable and the attendance, according to the gates receipts was larger than last year. For the seven events on the programme the club received 67 entries 1 and 57 acceptances!. The totaiisator turnover showed an increase of £398 compared with last year, when there were eight events on the card against ; seven at the recent fixture. Of the : Maidens, Rloughboy, a gelding by Era, was backed, down, to £1 6s. The gelding is fast, but spent most of the time in

the air and was beaten by Black Pearl, a pony pacer who was in saddle. She has a trotting pedigree, by Rothschild —Blackwood Abdallah mare, and should improve. Era aiso had a representative in the Pony Race in Miss Era, whose first appearance it was in this colony. Another Australian bred one, Verve (by Vanclere) made her first appearance m the race and won easily. She was ridden by W. Orange and had only to put up e ven time, but will do better later on. The scratch horse in the big race (Perewith) ran well and was apparently asked to do hist best, but had no chan no of conceding Euchre 30sec in two miles oil a good track much leas than on a rough one. The Vanclere gelding was driven by D. Nyhan. His usual pilot (Victor Samuels) was at the meeting with his arm in a sling caused by a fractured collarbone. Roekwood weut unsteadily and Timothy and Bostally had not the pace of their opponents. The only one to trouble Euchre at the finish Wins King of Munster, who was paying £64 to win, there being only tdree tickets on him in the totaiisator. King of Munster was ridden by h>s own- ‘ er (Mr Taite Tau) who appeared in a blue jacket with the Union Jack on the back and front and khaki breeches. The Vanderbilt gelding trotted about smin. 27sec in this race and put up that time in. the District Race later in the ajfteraoon. Co-mot and Rouey also trotted better in this race than in the Pony Race, which was unsatisfactory. The stewards had the owner and rider of Roney in but did not do anything. Had there been an opportunity during tho afternoon to make an example the stewards would not have been s'ow in taking action. The club is run. purely for sport, and the stewards do rot intend to let visiting or local competitors nuin its name by unfair and improper running. Euchre was penalised IQseo in the Stewards and he only had to show a 2min 40sec gait to win coni'ertably from Auctioneer, who at times went quite as fast as Euchre but was not so (steady. Perewiti again did h»i best but did not go so fast as in the first race. The scratch horse and Auctioneer were both better backed than the winner, who paid £3 os 6d. He is likely to get inside the 2min 30seo class during tho next- month or two. Unnamed, with W. Orange in the saddle, won the Borough Handicap, pulling up in smin 51sec. During the first part “of the race she was kept going at top for fear anything should get alongside her. Unnamed is a carty chestnut mare by Boccaccio, bred in Australia, aud was making her first- appearance in public. W. Orange also scored in the mile saddle with Mistlo, who won anyhow in 2min 55sec. This was Mistle’s first- appearance in public. Euchre and W. Orange’s team were in moat cases better conditioned than the local horses, who mostly broke and could not be got to trot- steadily, and thus lost their chances. The reduction of the programme from eight, to seven events appears to have been a success. At present the events are all two miles except the mil© harness race. The stewards when drawing up the programme for next season might consider the advisability of further reducing the number of events to six by eliminating the Maiden and Pony races and putting on in lieu thereof a mile saddle handicap.

CHATTER. The first favourite in the Caulfield Cup has only succeeded on two occar sions. C'alma, a 4 to 1 chance, got home iu 1883, and Sweet Nell on Saturday last. The Upper Hutt team which competed at the Greymouth Trotting Club's meeting last week had a successful trip. Brown Ribbon got three firsts and a second, Dan 11. won the principal event on the second day and Ledo came second in one event and third in another. The Caulfield Cup winner, Sweet Nell, is a full sister to Haulette,. winner of the A.J.C. Champagne Stakes, who was sold to a French buyer. The position of hanuicapper to the Westraltan Turf Club, vacated by the death of Mr W. E- Dakin,* has been filled. The successful applicant is thus referred to by the Sydney scribe “Milroy” :—The Western Australian Turf Club have appointed Mi* Alfred Geary, of this city, to the position, of handicapper, rendered vacant by the lamentably sudden death of Mr W. E. Dakin. The choice of the W.A.T.C. is a wise one, for Mr Geary has bad a large and varied racing experience to bring to bear on his work in the West-, which is a new country, and where he will have the advantage of starting among comparative strangers. Mr Geary is, I believe, a native of Sydney, and was for years, in the Civil Service. From, boyhood he took an immense interest in racing, and was the friend and confident of the late Mr J. A. Scarr. the “prince of handicappei-s," from whom the new weight-adjuster had opportunities of picking up points that have not fallen to the lot of many. For some time Mr Geary was associated with the lata Mr James Dobson in the bookmak-T-ng business, and the partners did exceedingly well in the palmy days of the late Hon. James White’s stable, which thev religiously followed. Some time back Mr Geary abandoned the book and pencil, and went into another business. but has always remained an active

member of Tat-tersall’s and an astute backer of horses. That he has more than held his own at this branch of the game is proof of his sound judgment. .As a commissioner Mr Geary was much sought after because of his unsurpassable quickness and knowledge of ring tactics. He knows every move on the board, and I fancy the Western Australian “crooks” will have some difficulty in hiding their “dead” from the new handicapper, for his nose is keen and his practised eye sharp. Mr Geary is rightly regarded among his friends as an expert judge of a handicap as well as racing, and is, in fact, a walking encyclopaedia of reference, and for these reasons I reckon him one of the best men in Australia the W.A.I'.C. could have selected for the position, which he won from GO opponents. Copies of the rules of racing and trotting, revised to date, have been received from Messrs W. H. E. Wanklyn and W. Rollitt, secretaries of the Racing and Trotting Conferences respectively. Panthea, the two-year-old sister to Achilles, competed in the Apprentices Stakes, four furlongs, at Warwick Farm on the oth inst. She was beaten a length and a half by Cathay (Ham Brion —Mirella) in 53sec. Both filhcs carried Bst. No less than six of the progeny of The Officer were successful at the Napier Park and Hastings meetings. Robinson Crusoe (son of The Officer) and another son (The Workman) were also represented by winners at the meetings named. J. Seohie has thirteen horses engaged at the V.R.C. meeting, viz.. Class, liauturier, F.J.A., Sweet Nell, Sinnarg, Emir, Free States, United States, Graftana. Pliable, Postscore, Silver Knight, and Demas. Mr S. Bradley, owner of Wairiki, journeyed South on Saturday last. It is intended to give the Cup candidate, who has been troubled with his teeth, a run at the North Otago meeting. Frank Higgott turned out six winners at the Otaki meeting. This performance was beaten by Stewart- Waddell, who led in eight winners at Napier Park. Mr Clias. Chcvannes left for Sydney on Saturday last- accompanied by Mr Graham, also a successful pigeon shot. Mr Clievalines will return about November 14th. At a special meeting of members of the Canterbury Jockey Club, Mr G. G. Stead referred to the work that had been done at tlie course since the last November meeting. As members were aware, a new grandstand, stewards’ stand and tea rooms had been erected, besides which important alterations had been made to the lawn and saddling paddock. The work lias now sufficiently advanced to warrant the committee in stating that everything would be ready for the Cup meeting, though it was possible that some minor details might not be completed by then. Unremitting attention had. been given to the work, and ho thought the result would meet with the approval of the members. He had some experience of these matters in other parts, and, without suggesting that they were the best in the world, he would say that, when everything was completed, there would be no club in New Zealand with stands and -enclosures approaching those of Eiccarton. The old grandstand and stewards’ stand would be available for the public at a cost of a shilling. For years past there had been a demand for a covered stand for the public, and he did not think that anywhere in the world would better accommodation be available to the public for the same money than would -be the case under the new conditions. : A members’ luncheon room was being fitted up above- the public luncheon room, where members could reserve tables, if they wished, to entertain their friends. It was also proposed to provide considerable stable accommodation for members horses and a- paddock for their vehicles. The new tea house had been erected on an island, and he thought that in course of time this would become an attractive feature of the meetings. The old tea house had been removed and erected close to the old grandstand, and it would he- available for the outside public. An alteration had also been made in the totalisator arrangements, and in future there would only be one building, with a single total for all investments. The Wellington Racing Club was well represented at the Otaki meeting. The members of the Metropolitan Club assisting thereat were Messrs W. H. S. Moorhouse and R. T. Turnbull, presidents, J. W. Abbott and tlie Hon. T. K. Macdonald, stewards. Mr Douglas Gordon was also present. Newliaven’is half-brother Ocean (by Eiridspoi'd) was badly staked _ at the Upper Hutt last week and died from the injuries received. Ocean was bred by the late Mr R . Wilson and one of the St. Albans lottery prizes. He was raced by Mr R. Bryant and managed to win three races in, five seasons, but was a distinct failure on the turf. Ocean was foaled in 1804. H. Carmont rode seven winners at the Otaki meeting. “Tiny” lias had to waste for the first time this season. Sweet Nell winner of the Caulfield Cup, was bred at Mr S. Hordern’s Wilton Park Stud. New South Wales, and was purchased by her present owner as a yearling for 1000 guineas. She is by

imported Haut Brion (St. Simon — Bonnie Lassie) from Strathmore’s sister, Novelette 11. (Nordenfeldt —Ouida), who was bred at the Wellington Park Stud. As a two-year-old Sweet Nell AA’on the Encourage Stakes (five furlongs), the Nursery Handicap (five furlongs) and the Flemington Stakes (five furlongs) at the V.R.C. spring meeting. At Caulfield in February she ran second in the Alma Stakes (five furlongs), carrying 9.1 to Seakale G. 13. At the V.R.C. autumn meeting she Avon the Sires’ Produce Stakes, six furlongs, beating F.J.A., Chercon and others in 1 min lGsec. At Adelaide in May she Avon the South Australian Stakes, seven furlongs, carrying 9.8 in lmin 31sec. She also ran second to Combat in the Pa-rkside Stakes, nine furlongs, at Aveiglit-for-age. She finished outside a place on t aa*o occasions-—in the' Debutant Stakes, and the Flm-s Handicap, seven furlongs, at Fleming ton in March. At RandAvick this spring she ran second to Belab in the A.J.C. Derby, one mile and a half; finished out of a place in the Metropolitan Handicap, one mile and a half; came second, carrying 8.7, to Duke of Grafton 8.12 in the Grantham Stakes, one mile, in lmin 41soc. On tho opening day 'of the Caulfield meeting Sweet Nell Avon the Guineas, one mile from her stable-mate Hauturicr in lmin 43sec. After tho race for the Guineas it Avas cabled that the stable had backed Sweet Nell for £12,000 for the Cup. She is engaged in tlie V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup. In the lastnamed she lias incurred 101 b penalty, AA'liich increases her impost to 7.10. The stable is also represented by the three-year-olds Emir 7.13, F.J.A. 7.3 and Hautuvier 0.12. Tlie last-named is a three-year-old colt by Haut Brion- — Trieste. He had no record last season. At Caulfield in September he Avon the Do on a Trial, five furlong?, carrying 6.7, in lmin otsec. At the V.R.C. October meeting on the 3rd Hauturier 7.11 ran second to Wakeful 9.6 in the October Stakes, one mile and a quarter, in 2min lOsec. In the Caulfield Guineas, Hauturier 8.8 Avas beaten a neck by Sweet Nell. Ho also ran second to Wakeful in tlie Eclipse Stakes, one mile and three furlongs, on the second day of tho meeting. This colt is avc-11 in the race, is evidently a stayer, and should bo thoroughly Avound up by tlie first Tuesday in November.