SPORTING.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3262, 20 October 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

SPORTING.

NOTES. By Silvebspue. An American writer on stud matters is very ranch struck by the fact of a mare named Princess Charley, by Prince Charlie, being tho possessor of seven strains of Blacklock, in six removes of her pedigree. There is nothing very extraordinary in this when comparoed with the Kirkham (N.S, W.) mare ICilmorey, who was got seven strains of Touchstone, in sis removes, and Touchstone, it must be remembered, was racing When Blacklock’s Ibng strid career was closed. Blacklock has been dead about 62 year?, and Touchstone was foaled 63 years ago. Kibnorej’s wealth of Touchstone is even beaten by the New Zealand mare Forme, who holds seven strains of Touchstone and one of Touchstone's brother Launcelot. Had Carbine and Eteusis been mated in 1891 and tho result been a colt, it would have been possible for Kilmorey to have had a foal by the Carbine—i-Jlnusis colt. That foal would have been the proud possessor of no lets than 15 strain's of ’louchstono and I? strains of Cahiol in six removes. Such a thing was possible, and, had it been brought about, the combination (would have badly beaten the American mare and her seven strains of Blacklock, who was a great-great-grandfather before j Touchstone was born. Even now tho manager of Kirkham could get a foal out of Kilmorey with 12 strains of Touchstone by mating her with True Blue.

Evidence during some proceedings in the Court of Appeal showed that the annual income of Sir 'Litton Sykes, the English breeder, is J!23,000.

An English journal remarks that the Ebor Handicap acceptances, like those for many other long-distance events lately, was very disappointing. Fourteen names only have been left in, and in consequence of the 'eliminations it ha's been necessary to raise the weights 61b all round. The fact is, tho number of stayers in training is gradually getting less. The rich prizes offered tor the short scurries are no doubt Answerable for this.

’l'he contract made with the Bhode Island State Fair by the owner of tho American paqer John B. Gentry should result in a very fast mile, if the champion can be got in shape after his long series of exhibition miles and his elongated experience as a railroad traveller. Mr Tewksbury has entered into a contract with the directors of Narragansett Park by which Gentry must pace a mile below 2min in order to win a bonus of 5000dol. The owner of the famous stallion guarantees that he will break the track record of 2min 3jSCO and his own record of 2m;n Ofseo for a stated amount of money, and if the mile is'done below tho 2min mark an extra SOOOdol will be earned by the horse.

Mr A. E. Fletcher, in the Temple Magazine, states that the cost of maintaining tour racehorses and training and breeding establishments is nob less than A 8,066,000 a year. This is exclusive of Over .£300,000 a year which is paid in stakes for winning horses.

A 33 to 1 chance is seldom met with nowadays at Horae, backers as a rule being able to find the winner in twice or thrice. At Alexandra Park on August 14, however, proceedings opened with practically a “ skinner ” for the bookmakers, as the Alleged Eegulation Plate was confidently regarded as a match between Bentworth and Mooanna, so that those who refused to lay 9 to 4 on the former were content to accept 5 to 2, or a trifle less, about Mocanna Both of these Ilsley-trained horses found their match in Castle Or, about whom a few wagers at 100 to 3 were booked, a nice price considering that the runners numbered no more than five.

According to latest reports, Mr. P. W. Day has Paris in hand. The speedy gelding’s off fore leg has been fired. There is little doubt but what he will be got well under such an experienced man.

Dr E. F. M'Lean, one o£ the most prominent of 'Western turfmen, and one of the official timers at Oakley, died suddenly in the timers’ stand on August 5 (says the Spirit of the Times), about the time the horses had reached the post for the last race. The race was declared off, and the remainder of the meeting as well. Heart disease was the cause of the dntimely taking off,' in connection with the victory of M'Lean’s filly, Taluca, in the stake race, a selling event, the boosting of the filly, 1300dol. above her entered .price, and the subsequent claiming of Remember Me in the M'Lean interest. The doctor was in the timers’ stand all this time, but the excitement attending the boosting add claiming proceedings was too much for a man affected with chronic heart trouble, and he fainted away, and in a few minutes was a corpse. It was a sad ending to the Oakley Meeting, for the doctor was extremely popular, both on and off the Turf. While the Turf is not without its excitements, the doctor measurably avoided the strain incident to witnessing some races, and in more oases than one he purposely refrained from seeing races in which his horses were participants.

The American sportsman, Mr J. E. Keene, is having inscribed on the slab covering the grave of Domino the foliovving.inscription: “ Here lies the fleetest runner and as game and generous a horse as the American Turf has ever seen."

One would have thought that the last class to be believers in luck, or at all superstitious, are racing men. As a rule they are thorough men of the world, and should not in the least bo influenced by such ideas. Experience, however, tells a different tale. As a rule, luck, good, bad, or indifferent, enters to a-very great extent into their affairs. Not only the "talent," as the noble army of backers are somewhat curiously styled, but owners, trainers, jockeys and stable boys are all believers in both sides of fortune. Certainly there is a great deal in luck on the race track. Many oases may be instanced of the ill-fortune of horses as well as men. A writer in the Horseman alludes to the horse Yellow Jack who was unfortunate enough to run second in about twelve important races without winning in the meantime. With men it is particularly noticeable. The late Lord Exeter was singularly unfortunate in all his attempts to.win the English Dsrby, which was the height of his ambition. How far ought Stookwell to have won the blue ribbon of the turf ? He won tho Two Thousand and Leger in a canter, but the heavy ground and the interference he met with were against him in the Derby. Old Ned Smith, who raced as “Mr Mellish,” may be said to have been very unlucky in this race, as it is said that though in 1857 Blink Bonny won, his horse (Adamns) actually finished first, but was only placed third. Again, in 1880 Charles Beaver was very unlucky in connection with this race. But for the dilatory riding of J.'ossiter, and the determination of Archer, his horse, Robert tho Devil, and not Bend Or, would have landed the great race. Broderick Cloete, too, was very unfortunate, when once again the fine riding of Archer got Melton Homo in front of Paradox. Still, he took bis defeat like a man. Ho remarked after the race:

“ Only fancy being beaten by a nose. I ] don’t suppose I shall be ever so near winning the Derby again" Quite right there —you won’t,” was the inward thought of those who heard him. It takes a lifetime to understand and master racing, and to few men does there come the opportunity of winning the Derby twice. j