SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2404, 9 January 1895, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent. CHILD AVICK’S~CESAEE WITCH. London, October 25. “Everything comes to the wise man who waits," says the proverb. When Sir John Blundell Maple gave GOOO guineas for the famous Plaisanterie’s first yearling, many shook their heals and predicted that he would never see it back again. At two years of ago this appeared only too likely to prove true. Child wick was more or less a cripple all the season. Last summer the colt made its first appearance on a racecourse at Ascot in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes arid was unplaced. In the autumn, however, he defeated - Orme in the Limekiln Stakes at a difference of 331 b, and accounted for Canning, Glengall, and one or two others in the Doveridge Plate at Derby. This summer Childwick debuted nowhere in the Gold Vase at Ascot, but his obvious staying powers attracted attention to his chance for the Cesarewitoh, and when it was seen he was given 7st 91bs, many at once backed him. Unfortunately Sir J. B. Maple had nothino to try him with over 2 miles and a-quarter, so he and the stable supported him but moderately, and up to the last 100 to 5 could be had. Childwick nevertheless won them quite -C20,000. The “ cer*. tainty " of this year’s Cesarewitoh; was Filepa, a filly trained in a stable notorious for its successes in the great long distance handicap. She had won such a trial that Goater pooh-poohed defeat and money was simply piled on “ the Findon filly." Though the weather on Oesarewitch day was depressing, cold, rainy', and foggy, the rings were crowded and speculation brisk, there being most money for the highly tried Findon certainty Filepa (4yrs, 7st). Twenty-three runners went to the post, including three previous winners, Eagimund, Burnaby, and Cypria. Goater’s Filepa was favourite at 4 to 1; then came the French Callistrate'(4yrs, Bst 131 b), the Oaks victress, Amiable (3yrs, 7st 111 b), M. Lebaudy’s Great Ebor winner Quinlon (4yrs, 7st 21b), and Mr Ellis’ Opera Glass (3yrs, 6st 31b), each of whom were well backed at 10 to 1. Comedy (fiyrs, 7st 111 b) and-Farh-dale (3yrs, fist 31b) found friends at 100 to 6, and Sir J. B. Maple’s Childwick (4yrs, 7st 91b) and Mr Manton’s Shrine' (aged, 7at 111 b) were on the 20 to 1 mark. Of the outsiders, Newcourt (fiyrs, Bst 81b) and Cypria (4yrs, 7st 111 b) at 33 to 1 hal most friends. ■.

Through the mist and rain nothing could be seen of tho,enrly part of the race and the field was half down the Rowley mile before the shout “ They’re coming," was raised. “ The favourite is there " was Ihe next cry, and Sir Benjamin, Amiable, Calliatrate and Childwick each in turn had their names echoed by eager friends. Pilbpa’s backers were soon out of their misery, for both she and Amiable died away descending the hill. Childwick was, then left in the van with only Shrine and Callestrate near. • The latter tried hard to overhaul Plaisamerie’s son, but ho drew away up the incline and won by four lengths, Callestrate being the same distance in front of Shrine. Luten was fourth and there the plaoings ended. Both the favourite and Amiable ran well for two miles, but the extra furlongs in heavy ground finished them. Childwick’s victory _ was extremely popular, the mounts of little Bradford, by whom he was ridden, being always well backed. ,

f On Thursday the Middle Park Plate fell to Mr Pairie’s Speedwell, by. Springfield—Lady Munoaster, who won by a neck from Lord Zetland’s Keelson, after Mr McCalmont’s Eaoonteur (by St, Simon —Plaisanterie) had seemed to have, the race in hand. The latter is of course own brother to Childwick, and started second favourite at 4 to 1. Opposite Tattersall’s odds were betted on his winning, but a : hundred yards from home he suddenly threw up his head and let both the 'Australian owned Speedwell and Keelson pass, finally finishing a poor third, i Despite Lord Marcus Beresford’s taunting' epistle to the papers, Mr MoCalmont declined to challenge La Eleche with Isinglass' for the Champion Stakes, He was wise in his generation for the game little mare was at her best, and simply ost Bavensbury, whom Captain Maohell had tried to be in excellent form. The • manner in which La Fleche pricked her, ears and ran up the hill was; according to those who saw the finish (I didn't); one of • the prettiest sights ever witnessed racing, ■ and loud cheers greeted her as for,the last time she swept past the winning post. La Fleche now goes to the stud and her. progeny will be watched for as eagerly as Busybody’s, Plaisanterie’s, or Marie , Stuart’s. The first two celebrities are doing well at the stud, but Mr Merry’s magnificent Leger winner, though'mated for long years with the most successful 1 sires of her day, never threw a race-horse worth sixpence, ; , SIB J. D. ASTLEY. . To those who want to know the Mate as he was and to enjoy one of the best .books of sporting reminiscences, ever , written, I commend the cheap edition of “ Fifty Years of My Life," published- on the day the author died. Sir _ Johh Astley had Bright’s disease and those-who saw him recently recognised that his days were . numbered. He had lost 4st in 4 months, add at Doncaster, sitting apart,, felt too ill to care much what was going on.; Latterly “ jolly Sir John" looked a bit better,, and after a stay in Scotland he was coming South to shoot with the Duke of Cambridge when he caught cold at Kemptori. That was Saturday, and the following Wednesday he lay dead. ■ To make a living on the turf and yet keep name and fame unsmirched is as great a feat as to touch pitch and yet not be defiled. Sir John'Astley achieved this. For 20 years ho had an income of LISOO 1 and made about LIO.OOO a year) Of course the luck came by fits and’ starts, i and in the end the run of ill-fortune prevailed.’ But never once was Sir John’s name associated with a questionable ■ transaction or an ugly story. On the turf as. elsewhere he was sans pair, et sans reproche.. _ London, October 27.’ r The large fields which mark the end of every fiat racing season have already commenced. At Sandown last Thursday over 100 animals ran in seven races. The most important was -the Great Sapling Plate of 1000 sovs for two-year-olds, which attracted nineteen competitors and fell to a rank outsider unbacked for six- - pence. This was Lord Londonderry’s Saintfield, by St. Simon out of! Daisy i Chain, which had been badly beaten in a home trial and started at 20 to 1. ...It won however in a canter, drawing out at the distance and landing by two lengths from Mr Deacon’s Mote, Mr L. Brassey’s Pardalo, three-quarters of a length off, being third. The Temple Handicap of 000 sovs, over a mile and three-quarters, tempted several Cesarewitcll failures out. Eight alto-; gether went to the post, and Mr Ellis’s Opera Glass, 3yrs, 7st 91b, and Mr Gosling’s Gleamaway, 4yrs, 7st 121 b, started equal favourites at 5 to 2. The former ran badly, but Gleamaway (by Child of the Mist—Martyr) won a fine race by a head from Mr Barclay’s Miss Patty, 4yrs, 6st 81b, with Mr Menton’s Contract, 3yrs, Bst 31b, a bad third. Mention of Mr “ Manton " reminds me that the volcanic old Duchess who races under that-name is dangerously ill, and as her age considerably exceeds the allotted four, score years, we scarcely expect her to recover. Still there is no knowing. Her Grace's vitality has till recently been remarkable, but she was never quite the same after her quarrel with her young husband Mr Milner. The Duchess was one of the few people with whom the . lamented “Mate" quarrelled. Ho had nicknames for everybody, and his designation for Her Grace of Montrose , was particularly expressive. Sir John called his three great friends, the Dukes of Port, land, Hamilton and Eichmond, “ the Black Duck," the “ Bed Duck and the “ Old Duck," , ! [Since the above was written, an English cablegram has announced the death of the Duchess of Montrose.] KEWMABKET. The last' of the race meetings at headquarters commenced on Tuesday, when the Criterion Stakes for two-year-olds fell to the Duke of Westminster’s Cayenne, Bst 81b, a chestnut brother to Grey Leg by Pepper and Salt—Quetta, who came with a rush in the last 100 yards and beat Prince Soltykoffs Spur Eoyalj Bat 81b, and Duke of Portland's The Qwl, 9st llb, by half-a-length, the judge being unable to divide the pair. • ; In the Limekiln .’Stakes of 100 Q sovs, over the Eowley Mile, Baron Hirsoh’s Matchbox, 3yrs, 9st 71b, had only Lord Bradford’s Beighterton, 3yrs, 7st 91b, and Prince Soltykoffs Speed, 3yrs, Bst 61b, to beat, and 9 to 4 was freely laid on him. The colt however wasbeaten at the; Bushes and finished last, Speed (against whom 10 to 1 was offered) winning in a canter. ■ THE CAMBBIDGESHIBB. - Directly the Cesarewitch was ■ over, i punters declared on Callistrate,.4yrs, Bst i 111 b, who ran second for that event for i the Cambridgeshire, and M, Abeille’s colt ’

remained a good favourite up to the last, being especially well backed for a place. Others heavily supported were Colonel North’s El Diablo, syrs, 7st 131 b. Mr ‘ Alexander’s Son of a Gun, 4yrs, 7st 111 b, 1 and Mr Rothschild's Modiois, 4yrs, 7st > 101 b, whilst the sharps to a man declared ’ on Sir J. B. Maple’s Gangway, 4yrs, Sst 91b, and Mr Manton’s None the Wiser, J Syrs, Sst lib. Towards the last there was ! a disposition to take the long prices offered against the Prince of Wales' Florizel, Syrs, 7st 11b, and in view of the heavy 1 going not a few punters saved on the ' bottom weight Indian Queen, 3yrs,6st 21b. , The weather was as wet and stormy as the Cesarewitch' day till just before the big race, when 'the clouds cleared off and the sun came out. Twenty runners only were telegraphed, the field being the smallest since Veracity won in 1888. The Casiekidqeshiee .Stakes of 23 sots each, 10 ft., with 500 added, and 100 sots for the second j winners extra; third to save his stake; entrance 5 sots, the only forfeit it declared. New Cambridgeshire Course (last mile and a distance of A.F.) One hundred and two entries, 36 cf whom declared. Mr E. Hobson’s Indian Queen, by Melton —Oriental Girl, 3yrs, Cst 21b (Croft) , 1 Sir J. Blundell Maple’s Gangway, 4yrs, Sst 91b (Bradford) 2 M. A. Abeille’s Callistrate, 4yrs, Sst 111 b... ...* ... (M. Cannon) 3 Sir E. Jardine’s Llanthony, syrs, 7st 51b ... 4 Betting: 9 to 2 against Callistrate, 11 to 2 El Diablo, 8 to 1 Medieis, 100 to II Son of a Gun, 100 to 8 Gangway, 100 to 7 Xury, 100 to 6 Athel, 20 to 1 None the Wiser, 25 to 1 Indian Queen, Encounter and Sir Jacob, 40 to 1 to 100 to 1 others. Place betting; 6to 1 Indian Queen, 3to 1 Gangway and evens Callistrate. THE RACE. The twenty runners were an orderly lot, and Mr Coventry soon set them going, Earndalo and Indian Queen being first to break the line, with Worcester, El Diablo and Athel close up. There were not many changes until coming to the T.Y.C. post, when Farndale and two or three more were done with, and Indian Queen was left with a clear lead. It looked here as though Callistrate "was commanding his 1 field as Cannon had not moved on him, : and Bradford on Gangway seemed to be E far more interested in the Frenchman than in Indian Queen. Descending the hill onlookers fully expected to see the ; latter come back to her horses, and when Sir J. B. Maple’s colt successfully challenged Callistrate and started in pursuit i of her, loud cries of “ Gangway wins ” • rent the air. These however were socn drowned in the jubilations of the ring, fi r i “ Teddy" Hobson’s outsider held her own , with ease. In vain Bradford tried to obey i the despairing cries of “go on Braddy," . the son of Saraband could make no im- ’ pression on Melton’s daughter, and ulti--1 matbly Indian Queen won by three i lengths, a similar distance separating 1 Gangway from Callistrate. Llanthony > was fourth, Athel fifth, Medieis sixth and Xury last. Time 2min ssee. Stakes ■ L 1350. The hero of the race was Gangi way, who in heating Callistrate at 21b i showed himself a really good horse. The winner Indian Queen, a three-year-old by i Melton out of Oriental Girl, by Argyle, by ' Adventurer, had no form whatever to recommend her for a race of this calibre, ’ and very few of the public not “in the ’ know" backed: her. Mr Hobson had I however tried his filly highly and wins a big stake, as does Mr Joe Thompson, i erstwhile of Melbourne. El Diablo ran • wretchedly, and neither Medieis nor Son i of a Gun were ever in the van. The great ’ sharps’ tip, Xury, finished absolute last, im and the Prince of Wales’ Florizel likewise i j figured very ignominiously. DEWHURST PLATE. . i! The scratching of Sir Visto deprived . the last of the big two-year-old races of much of its interest. Five runners went to the post, the Australian-owned Kirki . connel and Mr McCalmont’a Raconteur fighting their Middle Park Plate battle • over again. On this occasion however , the magnificently bred son of St, Simon and Plaisanterie, carrying Sst 131 b, made a i hack of Kirkconnel, 9st 21b, and sailing away from him in the Abingdon Dip won in a canter, with Mr Rothschild’s Utica, Sst lllb, third. ' Raconteur or Sir Visto i will win the 1895 Derby. , CLOSE OF FLAT RACING. ; London, November 16. ( The beginning of the end of flat racing. ■ which commences with Newark Houghton, used to reach its apogee at Liverpool, where the Autumn Cup was for many years the last really heavy betting handicap of the season. Captain Maohell for 1 over 20 years paid this race particular 1 attention, and from 1872, when Vander- [ deoken won it for him, down to last year, when his stable just missed it with Pri- ■ goner, the animal he went foratAintree was generally worth following. Latterly, however, the Manchester November Handicap has snuffed out the Liverpool Cup. In 1876, when Footstep won, upwards of 30 i horses started. On Friday, alas, there were ; only seven runners, and they nearly all • commoners. Yet in the recent past the E Cup has been won by many good animals, i notably Thobais, Melton, St, Mum and La , Fleohe. Sir W. Throckmorton’s Avington, , 4yrs, 9st 71b, alone represented class on Friday, and with the exception of Mr Buchanan’s Street-Singer, 3yrs, 6st 121 b, I he.started favourite. The latter had won a high trial, and so had Mr Platt’s Port- ’ land, Syrs, 7stlllb./ Both, however, sue- ■ cumbed to the descendant of Musket, which 1 carried off the Summer Cup over the same 1 course. This oolt (Mr Alexander’s Sont of-a-Gun, by Petronel ■ July only 7st 31b on his hack, whereas now he earned a stone and a pound. t more. Nevertheless, he would have been’ i strongly fancied hut for recent ignomini- ; oua displays at Newmarket. Even, as things were, many, remembering the adage J" anent “ certain horses for certain courses,’’ [ backed the Badminton bred ’unj in fact, for a place ho had as many friends as 1 anything. Portland and Egerton made the running till reaching the distance, where ’ ; the former compounded, and the latter,after ! a short struggle, was collared by Avington. [ The top weight had, however, only hold i command for a moment when Son-of-a-Gun came with a wet sheet, and, shooting ahead with ridiculous ease, won in a'canter by five lengths, Avinglon being almost as far E in front; of Portland; who finished third. > Time, 2min 30seb; Stakes, i£XO2S. < - A far more interesting event than the > Autumn Cup at Liverpool was the Grand , Sefton Steeplechase, over three miles and a ‘ half of the Grand National course. ,In this j Cloister showed how wise the brutes who settled him for the Cross Country Derby in the spring had been. With 13at 71bbn 1 his hack, the old horse simply left his famous rival, the Midshipmite, and a good, ’ field standing still, and won by five lengths, l . fencing to perfection. How ho can be ‘ handicapped out of the Grand National i. next spring no one can imagine, i The Great Lancashire Produce Stakes, , of'3ooo sovs, for two-year-olds, wasbooked a good thing for the Duke of Wostminster’s ■ Tarporley, but he was easily beaten by the [ little-fancied Newsmonger. Colonel North’s horses, as usual, carried i off several races at Aintrco, the uncertain El Diablo; for one, crediting him with the Great Lancashire Stakes. On the whole, however, the ring had much the best of the . 'business at the meeting, outsiders being frequent. ,

WILD WILL DAYEELL. ■ Writing about tho late Robert Sherwood, “Milo" in the London Evening News and Post, Buys: He travelled in the wine trade between tho periods when ho rode Wild Dayrell to victory in the Derby and the time of his starting as a public trainer. Few legends, by the ' way, are- more sensational than that of Wild Will Dayrell, after whom the Derby winner of 1855 was named. A well-bred man of property ho was a “deep" of the first water., and lived a life of the most ruffianly and debauched character. Upon a dark night a carriage dashed up to tho door of a midwife's residence, and the driver asked her to accompany him to a lady who urgently required her services. A promise of a splendid fee was given upon condition that the midwife told nobody of what she saw, and allowed herself to be blindfolded both on going to and leaving the-place where the lady expected to become a mother. Introduced to the patient the midwife, when her eyes were uubandaged, found herself in a splendidly furnished room with an iipmense fire burning in the grate. She exercised her functions, but no sooner was the child born than a dark, forbidding - looking man, splendidly dressed, seized and threw the babe on the fire, despite the efforts of the midwife arid lamentations of this mother. The former then received her fee, was again blindfo'ded and driven home, but not before she had cut a piece from the bed-curtain by which to identify the place of the murder. Mentioning the fact to her neighbours Wild Dayrell was suspected, and subsequent inquiry proved the suspicion to be well founded. Arraigned for the crimes of incest with his sister and the murder of her child. Wild Dayrell managed to escape the halter by bribing Judge Popham, before whom the case was tried, with the reversion of- her estate, Littleoote Hall, which is now in the hands of tho Popham family. Mr Dayrell, whose relationships became so mixed, was-eventually thrown from a horse that he was ill-treating, and his neck broken, so that the halter’s work was carried through after all.