THE WORLD OF SPORT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4396, 29 June 1901, Page 7 (Supplement)

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

TURF TOPICS (By “Advance.”) STATE LOTTERIES, Mr Frank Lawry, member for Parnell, has announced Lis intention during the forthcoming session of Parliament, to again endeavour to introduce State lot. tcries in this colony. The time is most opportune, a.s “Tattersall,” with whom Now Zealanders “bank” thousands of pounds every year at Hobart, is threatened with exclusion from Tasmania. It has been stated in tho Federal Parliament that tho amount received by the Postal Department in revenue from Tattcrsall’s sweeps was i; to,ooo. If it is decided to “movo on” tho well known sweep promoter, this amount will bo lost bo far as Tasmania is concerned. A largo amount of tho money at present distributed from Hobart comes to this colony. Tho reason of this is that no doubt tho amount of money sent from this colony is as largo, if not larger, than any of the Australian States. Why should this money bo sent away when wo could derive revenue from it? Tho Government has legalised one gambling machine, the totalizator, why not State lotteries? A return of the amount of money regularly Sent to Tasmania proves that the people /want thorn. Tho return from tho totalisator—if you back a winner—is quicker, but on the other hand a prize from 'a. lottery of consultation sweep is more lasting. Representatives of racing clubs among our legislators may not bo generally in favour of Mr Lawry's proposal, because they may say, it would interfere with tho attendance at their meetings; also with tho investments on tin totalisator; while their revenue would consequently bo reduced. We take it, however, that legislation is not passed for the benefit of racing clubs, but for the people as a whole. During the dis_ mission on the matter in tho Federal Parliament one Senator Keating (Tasmania) said that if sweeps were driven out of that State they would probably go to New Zealand or elsewhere. Senator Dawson pointed out that Queensland, where “Tattersall” resided previous to going to Hobart, lost £30,000 revenue annually by prohibition of Tattersall’s sweeps- Senator McGregor (South Australia) expressed the opinion that it was impossible to get rid of gambling, there. Tore he advocated State Government lotteries. The Hon. Mr Lewis (Premier of Tasmania) emphatically protested against the clause in the Bill dealing With mail matter in reference to sweeps. tn conclusion, wo hope that Mr Lawny's Gaming Act Amendment Bill will receive at the hands of tho Government the consideration "it deserves.

PAID OFFICIALS. Amateur, or honorary judges, have bn various occasions been responsible for scenes on our racecourses. During the present season a steward and horseowner was suspended for expressing himself in terms other than complimentary to the judge of his own club. The own. er in question may have been correct in his opinion, but the matter having been reported to the stewards, they were bound to support their honorary official—the man in the box—and censure their brother steward. Had they nob done so no doubt the judge would have resigned, and this would have given the Club an opportunity of appointing a paid official for the position. For placing the horses at the finish of a race in the order in which nearly every person on the course believed they finished, another club has expelled a prominent member and fined him £lO. These are two cases that have come under our notice, and no doubt many others have occurred in the colony during the season just closing. At present we have only one paid judge whose services are . coming into general request. It rarely happens in this colony that a judge admits he has made a mistake in putting up the numbers, although at a metropolitan meeting this season a honorary judge corrected a mistake on it being pointed out to him by a newspaper reporter. Such a mistake ' was made and corrected recently at a meeting in Brisbane, which is thus referred to by a local paper:—“The finish for the Welter Handicap at TattersalTs Meeting was one of the closest and most exciting ever seen on the course. Prince Bismarck, who cut out the running, was only beaten in the very last stride by a nose by Prince Consort, while Testator was only a neck away third. An unfortunate mistake occurred in the posting of the numbers of the placed horses by the judge (Mr Alex. -Reid), who, in the unavoidable absence of the president (Mr C. A. Morris), filled that position. The members posted by him were Prince Bismarck, Egotist, and Testator, which were greeted with, a storm of hooting. These numbers, how. ever, were taken down, and those of Prince Consort, Egotist, and Testator hoisted in that order. Prince Consort certainly won, but Mr Held made a mistake iu placing Egotist second. That position was filled by Prince Bismarck, •while Egotist ran second last. It was purely a mistake, however, as Mr Reid could not see the number of the secern horse on the saddle cloth, and was evidently influenced by the colours, which in the case of the riders of these two Jiorses were exactly similar.” Clubs in the position to pay officials should not hesitate to do so. The day of amateur or honorary officials is gone. The principal officials of race meetings, the Secretary, handicapper and starter, are all paid, and we hope before long that the principal clubs of the colony at least will he assisted by paid judges and

CHATTER. Mr Alf Ellingham. has a first-class record in connection with cross-country jraces in New Zealand. He rode Denbigh to victory in the Hawke’s Bay and "Wellington Steeplechases in 1886. The following season was Mangaohane’s wear, but in 1888 Mr Ellingham had the mount on Chemist, when he scored in th o Hawke’s Bay and Napier Park Steeplechases. Prior to winning at Ricparton Chemist and Denbigh ran at the jHutt the same winter, but made no phow with old Kangaroo. Three of the field were Painters. Artist, who acted as runner-up to Mr “Leopold’s” gelding was a full-brother to Oeo, who deadheated with Whalebone, afterwards raced in Australia. Other members of the family at the meeting were •Oddfellow (who won the Trial Steeplechase), Germaine, Orlando (winner of Selling Hurdle Race), and The Gem. "Mr Ellingham rode Chemist to victory in the Grand National in 1889. He and Douglas Watt became associated with the training and riding of Mr A. Portland’s team, and won the Spring Handi. cap with Rnngiatea in 1893. When Denbigh’s stock were old enough to be put into work. Watt rode them, and won the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase two years hack on Ruby. This season he has scored with Moifa at Wanganui and Auckland.

Had all the money wired for Mo if a a

reached Ellerslie in. time, his dividend in the- G.N. would have been materially decreased.

Some trouble has arisen out of a protest lodged in th 0 Farewell Handi-, cap at- the Longreach races, which was awarded to Esquire. Tho rider of Sammy Brass, who entered the protest, al' leged that one of tho stewards had bets on Esquire, and that this influenced his decision. Tho steward has reported the matter to tho Brisbane Jockey Club, who will deal with it at an early date.

At a recent country meeting Mr S. H. Gollan was being discussed by owners and trainers in the sitting-room of file hotel in the evening. One trainerowner who had been in the Hawke’s Bay squire’s employ instanced cases of benevolence which made him refer to the anglo-colonial sportsman as the whitest man h e knew. This is_ what a London critic gays about the New Zealander : —lt is erroneous to style Mr Gollan a millionaire, albeit ho more deserves to bo one than some who arc — ho is such a good fellow and such a thorough-going sportsman. Ho represents a type of which Australia may well bo proud, and which commends itself specially to Englishmen. Hardly an athletic exercise can be mentioned at which he has not distinguished himself, but with his recent exploit on the river fresh in everybody’s remembrance, there is a danger of forgetting that he is equally good in as on the water, a fine boxer, a good wfalker, and, as we have seen on more than one occasion, a capable rider across country. Perhaps his favourite recreation is paddling on the river, and the Thames Rowing Club has no more enthusiastic supporter. Mr Gollan is thp reverse of a gambler, and in having £SOO on Australian Star he quite reached his maximum. This was invested at a longer rate than the 9 to 2 at which ho ended up, a remark which also applies to other inspired outlays, and the stable generally had a good race. At one moment during the morning they exoorienced a bad quarter of an hour, as marked and general hostility broke out against the horse. But as Hickey, who trains him, took the opportunity to lay out £SO at the increased rate, even this had its compensations.

Some alterations have been made in the steeplechase jumps at Riccarton, The small post-and rail fence opposite Cutt’s has been removed, and will be placed at the back of the course, somewhere in the vicinity of the mile harrier. The post-and-rail which used to be down the running has been removed and brought closer to the crossing, while another fence has been erected near the turn. This will make two obstacles in the straights, which will b e a decided improvement on having to take the fences on an awkward angle, which was the case before. Mr J. E. Henrys did not wait for the third day’s racing at Ellerslie, owing to the postponement. He was at Hastings this week. The fee charged for Melton’s (sire of Seaton DolarelJ. serricec, 400 guinea!, is owing to the'remarkable and uniform success of his first crop of two-year-olds since his reimportation that were running in 1900. Eight of them won no less in stakes than £12,857, and of these more than one was unlucky in being badly ridden in races they otherwise would have won. Two of these two-year-olds (Toddington and Princess Melton) were sold privately for £25,000, and later in the year thq remaining six, not thought to be as. good, were sold by auction for £12,852, making in all £37,752 for eight two-year-olds, after they had won £12,857 in stakes—equalling for sale price and stakes over £60,000 for eight Melton two-year-olds. This is believed to constitute a record in any part of the world.” The following nominations have been received for membership of the New Zealand Trotting Association for the ensuing year:—Messrs P. Selig, G. H. McHaffie, O. S. Howell, D. McLean, 6. King, W. G. Garrard, E. Clarkson, A. L. Myers, G. Bisset, J. F. Grierson, and the Hon. Hugh Gourley. The first nine are the present members, and Mr Grierson was formerly a member. The Hon. H. Gourley is vice-president and judge of the Tahuna Park Trotting Club. There is another disappointed punter, who styles himself a victim, through the failure of the Telegraph Department to deal-with the pressure on the wires G.N. day. Ho wired within a few minutes of each other a pound- for Nor’west and a pound for Moifaa. He was struck all of a heap to find his pound on Nor’west all right, whilst his -Moifaa- pound was shut out. The A.R.C. committee, when officially informed that no rolling stock would be forthcoming for the third days’ racing if held on the Saturday, were in a dilemma, and in vain appealed to the Hon. Ward, whp smilingly raised the excuse that the “loyalty of the Moaris wias the cause.”

For some time past it has been known that irregularities resulting in severe pecuniary losses were taking place in the office of the West Australian Turf Club, and, in consequence, a special audit of the bocks was ordered. At the annual meeting of the club a lengthy report was submitted by tho auditor, who stated that there had been a deficiency of £2,247 13s in the club’s accounts, of which sum £16(10 had been made good. The shortage was due to two causes, embezzlements and carelessness. The former is admitted, and the latter is due to the books and accounts not being kept * n accordance with the club’s by-laws. A lengthy discussion ensued, and tho chairm/.m. Mr Leak, asked that the committee be given all the censure it deserved.

A Napier scribe states; —“The name of a very old-timer, in Mr Dan O’Brien’s erstwhile hurdle-racer Peter Osbeck, crops up amongst the entrants for the Gisborno Racing Club’s Steeplechase meeting. Surely the sen of Perkin Warbeck—Ruby must ho the oldest horse at present on the colonial turf, ft seems quite a declade ago since he was reckoned one of our best little-stick horses, and he was an aged hors e then.” The grey son of Stella (cr Trixie) raced at the Hutt and won the Hurdles the day Sultan won the Cup. Ho was then owned by Mr Alf. Drake, and after competing at Dunedin went on to Melbourne, where he acted as runner-up to Eaglet in the Victorian Grand National Steeplechase, 1889. He was ridden in this colony by Sam Fergus, in whose name he ran in ' Australia. After running unplaced in a Selling Hurdle Race and third in a steeplechase at suburban metings, ho won at Caulfield. He started tm-onrite at Randwick in the autumn, but fell. He won at the winter meeting all the others coming to grief, including The Artist and Shillelagh. Peter won again at Randwick in the spring, but was disqualified for interference, and the Aucklander (Don) got the stake. He met with fatal injuries shortly afterwards at Flemingtou. The wiry grey was six years old in 1886-7, and would, if living, now b 0 rising 20 years. Remembering the two performances recorded by the Now Zealand gelding, Record Reign over hurdles last August at the New , Zealand Grand National meeting, when he won the Maiden Huddle Handicap and New Zealand Grand National Hurdle Handicap, putting up a time performance in the two mile race, under weight that has never been equalled in the*world on a grass track, and over the same number of

hurdles, ifc could not have been expected that the fine son of Castor and Winnie would have received less in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Handicap, run for on tho 6th July, than the 12.12 opposite his name. All tflie same I should doubfc whether our old favourite who I have no hesitation in saying is the best horse ever raced over hurdles in this colony, certainly the best I (“Whalebone”) ever saw in my life, can be landed at the post fit and well. He is a wonderful horse, however, and if he has built up since going to Sydney there is no telling what he may do. Racing him when hardly himself in th 0 autumn here had th o effect of making him far too light, but he is a good doer, and a good winded horse, and a natural fencer, and when you get a horse like that, master of weight, and nearly class enough to take his part with the best flat horses, there is no telling what big deeds he is capable of. It is always possible, but very improbable, that you will find another of the same class in at a much lighter weight, and Cavaliero has certjainly earned tho impost he has received, and that he is well just now admits of no doubt, and seeing that he is so seasoned I for one would like to see him taking part. Good one as he has proved himself, he would have no chance with Record Reign, ab their handicap weights, for the sirapl© reason that he cannot go quite fiast enough. Unless shipped straight away Cavaliero would have no chanc e of doing himself justice, and indeed would have to meet with a_ good passage over and have everything in his favour. It is unlikely that he will go. It is a great compliment to New Zealand as a horse producing colony, and to Auckland in particular, to see the two hurdle champions above everything else in the long list, and to know at the same time that they are there not through any caprice on the part of the weight adjuster, but because they Lave an undoubted right to be classed as they are. There are ether New Zealanders engaged at the meeeting, but they are not of a class to enthuso about. It would appear that the class of ’chasers in the island continent is not of the best, seeing how the New Zealanders Volcano and Crusade have been placed. Messrs Barnett and Grant report the following business: NEW ZEALAND CUP. 200 to 16 Advance. 150 to 8 Canteen. 100 to 7 San Reino. MELBOURNE AND NEW ZEALAND CUPS. 500 to 3 Maltster and Pampero. CAULFIELD, MELBOURNE, AND NEW ZEALAND CUPS. 1000 to 1 Wakeful, Advance, Pampero. 500 to i Wakeful, Maltster, Pampero.