SPORTING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2410, 16 January 1895, Page 4

SPORTING NOTES.

By “ Gipsy King ” in N.Z. Mail. ( I dure say there are very few people who will give Anns a chance in the Wellington Cop, even at Cst 7U>, but if the son of Master Allies —Med ora were brought to the Hutt ami galloped with other horses, 1 fancy a big improvement could be made in him, although be is a long way from being cherry' ripe. ' At TauhereniUau he was just beaten “ by a lip ’“ in the Wairarapa Cup of one mile and seven furlongs, carrying 7st 101 b, . and in the Wairarapa Racing Club Handicap, one mile and a half, the second day, he was just beaten again, this time with Sst 51b in the saddle, time registered 2min 42seo. With nearly two stone off his back, fit and well, be would make things interesting m the Wellington Cup. Much has been said about the breeding of Irish Twist, and that horses so well bred have no right to bo allowed in hack company, but ‘so far X have not seen any comment upon the breeding of Fish Hostile winner of the Taranaki Hack Derby. This filly is by Foulshot (by Musket) from Fish Lass, by Loonlinus, dam Fishwonian, by Yattendon, dam Fanny Fisher, by Fisherman. I think that combination beats Irish Twist’s family lines. It is the fashion to say that the public find the stakes, but this is not quite correct. Of the .£13,000 given in prizes at the last V.K.C. meeting, about .£SOOO was subscribed by owners in the way ot entrance and acceptance fees. —Australasian. ■ , Mr James Macara’s old horse Frolic had his leg broken the other day at Masterton, and had to be shot. _ . At the Opunake Races on New Year s Day, Egmont (by Armourer} won the Hack Hurdles and the Electric Stakes, but as he did not put up the penalty incurred by winning’ th© hurdles, th© .states in the Electric race were awarded to Goldeqlook, who finished second. A London paper says :—“ We hear that when the news was received of the restoration of C. Wood to the turf, the telegraph system at Hailsham altogether broke down owing to the press ot congratulatory messages. In the case of Wood v. Cox, Wood was the victor, though tho victory was a pyrrhio one. It was in connection with the case of Chetwynd v. Durham that he was warned oil the turf, tho fact.being elicited in cross-examination that he was part owner of a horse that ran in another person’s name. For this comparatively trifling offence he has, practically speaking, been fined quite £25,000. Wood will now probably become an owner in the way that Morbey is, and as ho will ~be able to ride in his own trials he will have a strong pull over the ordinary run of owners, as he will at least know of what his horses are capable.” Prime Warden’s defeat in the Auckland Cup is partly accounted for by reason ot one of his aluminium plates twisting. When Lord Rosebery was on a visit to Sheffield recently, a number of fine burly fellows said they wished a favour from the Prime Minister. The gentleman who had been approached asked: “ What is it you want ? A speech ?” The men looked astonished. “A speech be blowed. Noj we want a tip for the Liverpool Cup.” “ Reminiscences and unpublished poems of Adam Lindsay Gordon,” are now obtainable in Sydney. A wager has been booked locally that not more than 16 horses will go to the post r for the Wellington Cup. In connection with the fight between Selim and Forward at Caulfield last week

a specially plucky bit of work has escaped notice. While the horses were at their ■maddest Percy Kennedy, the coloured lad who rode Selim when ho won his first welter race, rode up to the fighters and at great risk seized Forward by the nostrils. The horse reared up suddenly, dragged Kennedy out of the saddle, and tried to trample on him. Put the lad hold on in the gamest possible manner, and succeeded in parting the fighters. The opinion of an eye-witness is that hut for Kennedy’s gameness Selim and Forward would have torn one another to pieces.— Melbourne. Sportsman.. ' The Indian Yiceroy Cup was won by the English mare Metallic, by Sweet BriarMetal. On November 10th the betting on the Cup was 7 to 4 against Highborn, 3 to 1 Metallic, 4 to 1 Sprig O’ Myrtle, 6 to 1 Lord Hopetoun. .. Pinal acceptance for the Wellington Cup on Friday, 18th inst. Our American cousins appear to be suffering from a severe attack of-* the Puritan fever that at present afflicts this country; says the London Sportsmah. On the heels of the stoppage of racing in New York comes the following ludicrous instance of the depth to which peddling busy-bodies can sink: “The Women’s Temperance Union has sent a request to President Cleveland asking him to refuse to allow the regulation bottle of champagne to be broken over the bow of the new American liner St. Louis when she is christened on Monday by Mrs Cleveland: The Union has at the same time forwarded a bottle of pure river water, which it hopes will be substituted for the wine.”

Kallara, winner of the Normanby Stakes of 300 sovs, at the recent Victoria Pacing

Club’s- Meeting, is full brother to Mr j, Gleeson’s mare Balm, who is now running on Mr Eobert Stevens’ property at Palmerston North. -

A London mother was recently hauled over the coals by the National Society for prevention of cruelty to children because 'she desired to bring her boy up in a path that would lead him to future jockoyship. She fed the youngster on boiled bread and pepper and salt in order that his limbs might bo properly attuned to the light weight’s dimensions, and when ho was growing in * the direction which - her ■matronly ideas desired, a London court stopped in at the wish of the Society and fined her. The mother claimed ho “ was growing beautifully,” but as the youngster was so thin that he failed to throw a shadow when placed in the sun, the court checked her horsey ambition by removing the boy from her charge. A future Derby jockey may thus have been spoiled. In connection with the proceedings which the Colonial Secretary ■is taking against Mr Frank Hill, of Wanganui, for working the totalisator at the Bltham Meeting without.a permit, I may mention that it is the duty of the secretary of a racing club to obtain the permit, but of course it is necessary that the totalisatorproprietor should assure himself that it has been duly received, but such an omission is of so rare occurrence that Mr Hill took it for granted that the permit had been received. This case reminds me that many years ago when the old Wanganui Trotting Club were holding a trotting meeting the permit had not arrived, and the police officer, whose duty it was to see that the necessary permit had been received, objected to the machine being used, and the meeting was gone on with without the aid of the totalisator. ■

As so much pilfering goes on from jockeys’ rooms, it would pay the' jockeys attending race meetings to club together arid subscribe one shilling each and get one of their number, or someone who knows the run of the ropes, to keep an eye on their belongings, especially while a race is being run. At the Wairarapa Meeting a man was in charge of tho jockeys room, so there was little chance ot anyone getting away with anything that did not belong to them. “Charlie” Jenkins, who is connected with W. Homes’ stable at Bulls, is this season following up the success he gained in tho saddle last season. Some of the' other jockeys wijl want to come with a rattle to deprive “Charlie” of premier position on the list of winning, jockeys. Already he has had about fifteen winning mounts this season. Ho tips’the beam nicely at seven stone, and for a young ’uu nas r. rare seat, good hands, and is a good judge of pace, and never needlessly knocks a horse about. To see him at a race meeting walking about .in “knickerbockers ” one would imagine that he was a schoolboy just down to have a look at the races, bnt although he is not yet out of his “ teens,” he has an old fashioned head and is “ more than six.” His success has not made him vain in any way, and he is not one of those “ know-alls” who after they win a hack race consider they are Archers, when they should only bo riding about in a cart with a net over them. . Jenkins is always glad to accept good advice on race riding from his brother horsemen who may be older than him, consequently , he has achieved marked success in his profession. He is a quiet, unassuming lad, and very respectful to those who employ him. " Jimmy ” Schaffer now has in hand at Hawera, Waimoako, a five-year-old gelding by Puriri; Miss Gerty, a four-year-old mare by Rupert, and “ Buckley’s Chance,” a three-year-old by Tim Win filer. The alleged bribery case between Mr Shannon and Mr Jorgenson is not settled yet, owing to the difficulty in getting the delegates together. Wellington Cup time should be a suitable opportunity. At a scratch race meeting up the coast on ChiistmasDay amongst the natives, the Consolation race was for all beaten horses. A well-known and popular cross-country horseman who enjoys a good joke, having his stables near at hand, sent for one of his horses that had not taken part in any of the races and started him, and his moke won handsomely. Of course there was the inevitable “process,” hut he bluffed them that as -his Carbine had run once (at another meeting) and had been beaten, be I 1 considered he was eligible to compete! y have no wish to exhibit a “depray/d taste.” but I must admit I enjoy Gfese scratch meetings as there is no end <pf fun, especially when our native friondp, are running the show. ' Hotspur, who won tho Manawatu Gorge Handicap and Pohangina Handicap at Ashurst, is a five-year-old brown horse by Sou’-wester from Grace Darling, by Le Loup. His dam hails from Dunedin way, and was brought to Wanganui-by a Mr Moore. The Wolf, by Le Loup, who is doing stud duty near Wanganui. I think is a naif-brother to Grace Darling, who has a dash of Barwoa blood. Hotspur is the makings of a tip-top hurdle horse, and is

one.of the strongest gallopers I have seen for a long time. George Powell, who rode old Liberator to victory in his first Grand National Hurdle Race, has Hotspur very well just now, and it is just on the cards ho may repeat that victory with the aid of Hotspur. I earned the temporary displeasure of poor Davy Lind (who is dead and gone now), when he had Hotspur in hand as a three-year-old, for writing that Hotspur led for over half a mile in a race at Turakina, and that the sou of Sou'- wester was the makings of a rfirst-class hack racer. Poor Dave considered my remarks would cause the hapdicappers to clap weight on to his horse, whom lie considered a good 'un. Fred. Seccombo is now training Caloola 11. Unfortunately this handsome son of York and Magnolia has a dicky dutch, and it is a thankless task training “ limpy ” ones.

“ Paddy ” M cGrath, I hear, has accepted a position in John Maher’s stables at Hastings. The next Palmerston North Cup will probably be worth LSOO, as efforts are going to be made to make this Ij mile Boxing Day Handicap worth that amount. This should, offer southern owners some inducement to patronise the Manawatu meeting in preference to the Auckland Cup meeting. Ihe Manawatu Club have refunded “Billy” Butler the L 5 they lined him for nominating Splitlink when that horse’s name was in the Unpaid Forfeit List, according to the official calendar. The club subsequently received satisfactory proof that the money due to the Unpaid Forfeit List was paid before the date of nomination. The totalisator was worked on the Masterton racecourse on Boxing Day without a permit. - The permit was applied for some weeks ago, and the police offered.no objection, but strange to say no notice of the granting of the permit was received. The negligence on the part of the authorities in Wellington—for the matter can be regarded as nothing less than negligence—is likely to put the Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club to considerable trouble. —Wairarapa Star.

THE LATE “MR MANTON.” From Our Special Correspondent. London, November 24. Caroline, Duchess ot Montrose, known to her intimates as “ Babs," and to; the turf world as “Mr Manton,” ' was a redoubtable dame, and will be talked of in sporting circles - for many a long day to come. Her Grace had reached the respectable ago of 76, but she did not look more than 56, and up to a comparatively recent date enjoyed magnificent health. In temperament she was a thorough Irishwoman, warm hearted, cheery, and genial, but afflicted with a hasty and ungovernable temper. Her Grace had little of the Duchess about her. She was a tall and buxom lady, with sandy hair, a high complexion, tine teeth, a horsey manner, and a jovial laugh. A more enthusiastic sportswoman never lived, but she was too in.pulsive, and too hot tempered to be fortunate racing. Jockey after jockey tried to enjure her gusty furies for the sake ot her big retaining fees, but either she dismissed them or they sent in their jackets, and finally she could get none of the celebrities to ride for her. The Duke of Montrose was the deceased’s first husband. - She then married Mr Stirling Crawfurd, who was one of the richest commoners in England, and when he‘died in 1883 he left her a magnificent racing stud, and a huge fortune. In 1882 Mr Crawford's Oorrie Roy won the Cosatowitoh, and there can be little doubt the splendid Thebais would have carried off the Cambridge shire also, but some professional backers having helped themselves to the cream of the market, .the Duchess persuaded Mr Crawfurd to scratch her.

This led to a great hullabaloo, and to the hissing of Mr Crawfurd’s odours when the bearer of the “ all scarlet ” won a small race on the Dewhurst Plate day of 1882. Fortunately the old gentleman, though sitting iiu his landau in the Jockey Club enclosure, was too deaf and senile to realise what bad happened. But Her Grace understood, and made a rare scene in the Birdcage, bursting into a tempest of furious tears before everybody, and consigning TaUersall’a Ring (from whence the hissing had chiefly come) to unmentionable shades and lurid latitudes. -When Mr Stirling Orawfurd died his inconsolable widow announced that she meant to give up racing. This resolve, however, did not last many months, and in the spring of ’94 “Mr Manton’s" name was registered, and carrying the “all scarlet” Thobais ran second so Quicklime for the City and Suburban. In the autumn of the same year the daughter of Hermit and Devotion won the Liverpool Cup under 9st 41b. “Mr Manton," de pite her splendid stud, was not lucky. In handicaps, with Keir, Gay Hermit, Oberon, Loved One, Energy, Maoheath, Timothy, and Shrine, Her Grace' did fairly' well, but her nearest approach to classic honours vas in 1886, when St-. Mirin had the bad luck to buck up against Ormonde and The Bard, and ran third for Derby and Leger. The Duchess, in a rage, sold the colt to Sir Fredrick Johnstone for whom, with Archer up (it was this race that killed him), he all butcanied off the Cambridgeshire of ’B6 and a huge stake. Next year (1887) St. Mirin did win the Liverpool Cup under Bst 121 b, just defeating Her Grace's Gay Hermit, who was second. “Mr Manton’s" most famous sale, however, occurred a little before this, when in 1886 Captain Machell purchased her entire stud of yearlings for Lord Oalthorp. The lot included the almost invincible Seabreeze (winner of Oaks and Leger) and Satiety, two animals of themselves, worth four times the sum Lord Calthorpe paid. A few years ago the Duchess dis covered she required a man to lean on, and advise her, and inado matrimonial proposals to Mr Henry. Milner, a young fellow who might have been her grand son. Mr Milner was not enraptured, but in consideration of liberal settlements consented to become Her Grace's third husband, and to manage her racing stud for her. Mr Milner’s name took the place of “Mr MantonV" bn out race-cards, and for a brief period the Duchess seemed happy. Naturally, however, such an ill-assorted union could not be permanently satisfactory. In time ructions broke out, and at last Mr Milner—after many warnings—walked out of Her Grace’s house never to return. She then tried to deprive him of the settlements made at the time of the wedding but was not successful. ; A few months ago the indomitable bid lady’s health gave way, and she became ill, but it was not anticipated she would die so soon. Her Grace is a great loss to the turf. She spent tens of, thousands annually on entries, trainorfi 1 bills, and what not, and subscribed a fairish suta towards the maintenance of the Ring.