TURF TOPICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3675, 27 February 1899, Page 3

TURF TOPICS.

The numerous friends of Mr W. Edwards, trainer to Captain Russell, wii. rogrot to hear that he is suffering from i typhoid fever at Flaxtnere. A I’okomoko, winner of the hurdles £u Palmerston North, will likely bo taken across to Australia shortly by lm owner A horse ot his stamp should do well in Sydney, where there is at present not a really good hurdler in training. Mr G P. Donnelly, of Hawke s Bay, made a tempting offer for I’okcmolM prior ti, the race he won, but it was declined. The Awahuri Racing Club is desiron. of securing the sanction of the wan a nui Metropolitan Club to a meeting t be held on March 17, and application ;s to be made in that direction. b Swordfish 11., who has previously wor tho Wanganui Cup, may not start tn.„ year, according to a Northern correspondent, who says the horse requires a SP i; Paul’s full sister St. Ursnli started three times at the Taurang./ meeting, winning the Cup and Stewards Handicap, and running second m the Publicans’ Purse. . . .. ~, . Tho Duke of Portland has sold, all Ins horses except Wantage (who ran seconc to 1 Disraeli in the Two Thousand Guineas) and a few two-year-olds. Nine to two is being freely acceptor against Flying Fox for the next English ' J. Blundell Maple has 20 two year-olds; .and 22 other horses in training at Newmarket. Last season this owner’s horses won 33 races of the value of £12,378. •’ I. . , Tho; Carbine—Moonga . mare, . ownec. by Mr J. Douglas, of To Mahanga, has been put into training again. It ,is stated that Multiform next appearance in public will be at tne Dune dm Jockey Club’s Meeting., . , Gentle Hermit, who won a race toi tho Hon W. A. Long at Warwick I anr: lately, was bom a few days before ttu month of August, 1896, and con seqnently ranks as a .three-year-old. The Auckland hurdler Tim cut a still; when racing on the coast, and will nsec, a spoil. _ , ... The Gisborne horses Open and Pan have arrived at Napier, where they ’.Vi! finish their preparation for the Hawke t Bay Meetings. - Paul Pry is top weight for the Onka- i paringa Oup, one mile and three fur longs, with 9afc 131 b; Le Var being next with 9st 91b; then follow Gnullo, 9s( 6lb, and . Trapper,, Bst 101 b. In uit Great Eastern Steeplechase Tremolo ha; post of honour with 13st 51b, the New Zealander Ditto being next with 12s 71b. . • W. Butler, disqualified by the Egmonl Club in connection with the Tangahoi affair, has appealed to tho Wanganu Metropolitan Club. Mr J. F. Reid, of Elderslie, baa pur chased the racing mare Belle Clair. Artilleur, by Artillery Luna, has been secured by a Blenheim resident, and will do stud duty in that district. The Auckland horse'-Nestor has beer blistered and turned out.

’ Sandhurst (Bendigo Engagement; will be trained for the hunters’ races :r, tho Eantorbury Grand National Meet ing. ■ / Sardonia, by the ’Now Zealand- brec Sir Modrcd from Sweotbriar, appear: among the entries for the English Derby' run on May 31. . j Now Zealanders will read with in terest an extract from “Bailey’s Magazine,” printed in 1877, concerning the mighty Musket who did so much, to wards building up the blood stock ol this colony:—“ So far, Musket has been a dead failure; like most of -*the Pata gonian Glasgow breed, and tho big horse fias received his conge from Bonohill, where Pero Gomez reigns alone in lip. glory. * . . . Musket has had-, hit tariff lowered, owing-to his very in different position on the roll of ‘winning stallions,’ and now presides at Enfielc, with General Peel, Toxopliolite, ant brother to Strafford as companions in arms.”

Straybird (Wanderer —Fleetwing) ha: been sent from Hastings to Auckland, and is now in D. Morrigan’s charge. A jockey named George Bonnor rode six winners and a second at the late Ba; of Plenty-races. " : Robert Macarthy (Robinson Crusoe— Florence’ Macarthy) has, been added to Percy Martin’s string at Hastings. Ruby, Twist yvill not be a starter at the Wanganui Cup Aloetmg. Fred Gentryj the well-known trainer, who has lived in Queensland during, past ‘ feyv years, intends returning to New Zealand in a few monthsi’ time.

Shooting Star broke down at Iticcar ton during the week.. . The three-year-old colt St. Anton (St. Legor—Coalscuttle) died at J. Ohaafo’s last week from lockjayv. -

The annual blood stock sale at Mi Douglas’ . station, ■ Hawke’s Bay, takes place next month. , Tho business of “ Tattersall ” Adams has groyvn to such dimensions that l:c has been obliged to build new offices at Hobart. Tbjd drawing of the ■ sweepsexcites great interest locally, and there ■is always a large attendance at tin rooms. In drawing the marbles from the big barrel; what is-called a “ yiggei ” is, used, an instrument which plays tin. part of tho human, hand. It is so constructed that it cannot bring out more than one marble, at a time, and the marble is not touched at : all until it reaches the hand of the Govommeu: supervisor, who announces the numoov, which .is written down by one of Mr Adams’s clerks, and checked by others. Tho drawing;is done in a way that cannot fail to satisfy the subscribers. The Hastings horse To Ngaoho has been turned out-for a spell.