TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4704, 12 July 1902, Page 6 (Supplement)

TURF TOPICS

(By “Advance.") Tit 10 WELLINGTON .A 11KTIN G. The acceptances far Ihe Hurt on Wednesday next are good, particularly for ihe I nick and limiters’ events. The smallest Held is the Parliamentary Handicap, for which seven out. of .sixteen weighted held their ground. Of the thirl y-l'enr handicapped for the Winter .Hurdles, no less than twentyone dropped out. The most notable defalcations are The Guard, Aioifa, Ideal, Ostiak and Dinidas. Had the weight allotted the latter been sulfide fitly inducing he would probably have been accompanied by Bill Perkins. Aiile-de-Cnnip met with an injury to bis shoulder, and be will not be seen out at the meeting. Gnat Scott lias been scratched for all engagements, and the Knroclydon—.Santa Katerina, lilly has been withdrawn ITcm lim Maiden Hack Race, Tim on the second day. Six of the nine engaged in this race are two-year-olds. C'loveily is an Ausiralianbred youngster, by RuxViry —Spice, and has yet to matte Ins appi araace with the colours np. Geordie. by Seaton l>elavel —Cuirassier mare, has earned place money in the Auckland district this season Them am nine left in the maiden Ilnrdle., out of iweniy-t.vo entered. The local repr; scnlatives are lluamolianga and Osborne. If the latter is beaten it may be by IVarl.hot or A orthem Star. St. Olga will probably be a strong fancy for llie Stewards’ Handicap, ami Fh-ka is likely. In receive plenty of support. The belter of this pair and Hokio and Platypus may fill the places. The field for the Wellington Steeplechase includes two previous winners in Go ho ami plain Bill. The first-named won last year, but has lately been running badly. The Guard having been withdrawn in favour of Hebe, he is wire to be greatly fancied. Plain Bill in his form of two years ago could win at any part of the journey. At Hawke’s Bay he could not hgat Lochade, who is a good jumper, but not fast. Wlmngaroa has not been seen out fur nearly two years. Lochade and Stray-bird have boon over the country before, but Kohtiuui is a beginner. The winner may come from one of the top weights and Lochade. Of the bottom weights, Shylock will take the field along, and has an outside chance. There are also two previous winners (Crusoe and Will-o’-tiic-Wisp) engaged in the Parliamentary Handicap. The best of those on form (Will-o’-bhci-Tv'isp) will have a big say. Kelpy or Loch Eron will bo second. Ten of the seventeen limiters paid up for the Steeplechase. The three top weights—The Phantom, The Swimmer and Hntana.—are a cut above the others, and will probably finish in that order. Eighteen out of the twenty-six horses handicapped for the Hack Handicap remain in, which is very pleasing to the club and the hanclieapper. For a L'-"> stake the club received £44 in nomination and acceptance fees. The three I like best are Laureate, Waitoa and Eacma. AN ADVERTISING MONOPOLY. At the Racing - Conference hold hero twelve months ago a matter that did not appear on the order paper that was touched on was the objectionable advertising monopoly olovorly acquired for the. solo benefit of a Christchurch paper a few years ago. Delegates of the Taranaki Jockey Club, Auckland Country Clubs, and Otago Country Clubs were among thoso who took part in the discussion, which was of an informal nature, and was allowed to drop as there was jio notice of motion before the ConfercWbe. The Taranaki delegates, if wo remember correctly, expressed the opinion that clubs should not bo forced by the rules of racing to advertise in any paper, but should he free to please themselves in That matter. The Otago country' clubs’ representative spoke of the compulsory and exorbitant charge made for advertising in the Christchurch paper ns being a tax imposed upon, or a donation extracted from, the clubs in his district. A northern delegate stated that the paper generally' reached his district a week oiMnn davs after it was published, and was therefore useless so far ns the official notices were concerned. The notice of motion to burst np the monopoly will bo moved by the delegates of the Otago country clubs on behalf of tho Waitonalti Racing Club and Tnapeka Comity- Jockey Club, it is as folio-,vs:—Ride 2. —That the words “tho Official Calendar,” in tho second line, bo deleted, and tho following words inserted in lieu thereof:—“One or other of tho following weekly newspapers published in Now Zealand, viz.:—“The Weekly News,’ Auckland; ‘The New Zealand Mail,’ Wellington; Tho Press,’ Christchriroh: Tho Canterbury Times.’ Christchurch; ‘The Otago Witness,’ Dunedin. That in the last lino the words “tho Official Calendar of ” be deleted, and the following words inserted in Hon thereof: — “The newspaper of date ” Although the proposed amendment will bo moved by delegates to country clubs it is one which equally affects metropolitan clubs ontsido of tho Canterbury Jockey Chib. Tho Dunedin Jockey Club has passed a resolution instructing its delegates to strike out tho rule objected to. THE GRAND NATIONALS. Tho C.J.C. has received satisfactory entries for tho principal events at tho Grand National Meeting, to bo decided next month. In the Steeplechase are engaged two previous winners. The Guard and Goho, both of whom are at preset.}- *n active commission. Class is represerf.ed by Cavalicro, Cannongato, Moifaa and Plain Bill. Tho best-known r-erxormers are engaged in tho Hurdle Race, the cnt.rio.si for which nearly constitute a record. There are also a great many promising beginnets. The following table will show tho entries received for these three races siaoo

CHATTER. Artilleryman (high t Artillery—Alethe) a full brother to Military, won a race at the Charters Towers meeting reoont-

The committee nc Hie Dnnnevirko Jockey Club met, on Wednesday last, when c.'ii-re.-.poMdeiic ■ v.i- received from the Hawke's Bay Joekey Club ruling that the club should pixy the full amount (£11) to i). Roe, tho owner of, Master Model. A motion that -Mr Roe should he paid • the full amount was lost, and it was decided to pay him £22 lbs. half the stains, as paid ia the case i f a walk-over. It was decided to n-fer iliis mutter to the Racing Conference for a final d- e;-ion. 'The secretary was List met <-;| to write to the Racing Conference, and ad; that the proposed dates of the next annual nice meeting of this club be changed from .March Rh and .Ith to .March ,n-d and 4th. Accounts amounting to £l3 were pa.-.sed for payment. During the week Nonette ha,s been back I'd t,r> win tin- New Zealand ( up locally for about £2OOO, and it is understood’ that about £IOOO was obtained in the South. The average price was about It)0 to 7, though some were taken at a point shorter. Mr J.-T. Ryan, the owner of the colt (“Whalebone” states) is his hacker. Mr Geo. Renner, president of the Kaikonra Racing Club, was on a visit to Wellington rids week. A meeting of the stewards of tho Ma.st.erton Racing Club was held on Saturday. After discussing tho point regarding giving three months’ notice to -Mr Henrvs, the club’s hamlicapper, it was decided to settle the matter at the annual meeting. Three resignations ns members wore received. Mr A. Shearsby wrote declining to pay th" sum of £2 nomination fee for tho horse Fashion, ami stating that the owner was F. Walcott. It was decided to place Mr Shearsby on f lic forfeit list. The balance-sheet for the year showed receipts at £2031 I.ls ;Id, and expenditure ££l7o 11s 3d. debii balance £l9; assets £3722 10s 3d. Audit balance, £1398 4s od. It was decided to bold the annua! meeting on July 31st, nominations for cilices to be in tbo hands cf the secretary by July 10th. Messrs Barnett and Grant report the following business on the NIOW ZEALAND CUP. LT,r, to 100 Nonet to 1200 to 14 Sarchcdon 1000 to 10 Waipawa 700 to 20 Kelpy IiOO to 37 Mehvcod (iOO to 20 Sirius ;100 to 32 Cruciform 100 to 12 St. Michael 400 to 12 Motor 400 to 20 Welbeck 400 to 10 Ohoorka GRAND NATIONAL STTEEPLE AND HURDLES. 100 to 7 The Guard and Strathnairn 500 to 5 Lochade and Tresham 500 to 5 Cannongato and Cannongato 400 to 4 Evening Wonder and Smithy 200 to 3 Gobo and Dundas 200 to 2 Gobo and Kahuwai 200 to 2 Tbo Guard and Reliance 200 to 2 Canongate and Mars 200 to 2 Cannongato and Mars 200 to 3 Gobo and Skobcloft WINTER CUP AND STEEPLE. 300 to 7.) Muscovite and Gobo 200 to 2 Siege Gun and -Tbo Guard w. Naylor, who was formerly associated .with tho Porirua stable, and rode The Guard in some of his victories, is now associated with Mr G. P. Donnelly’s Hawke’s Bay team. Ho rode Kahuwai and Dingo at Hastings, and won on Pearlshot and Awahuri at Napier Park. At Hastings Rufus gave Reliance 18 lb> and, a good beating in a two-m le hurdle race. Although tho pair have not met since, Mr J-.vitt asks Reliance to give Rufus lib over tho same distance at the Hurt. Dunkeld (Aprcmont-Athole) claimed a winner at the Alhury_ Citizens’ Race meeting on tho 2nd inst. Dunedin (Dn nkckl-Ophelia) ca.rricd 9st 31b to victory in tho Welter Handicap, seven furlongs. Thomas Clark, who was for some time training Ruamahanga, Waitoa and other horses at tho Hurt, died at Christchurch on Wednesday last. • Hidahm who won a hurdle racp at tho Mooney Valley (Vic.) mooting this month, is bv Glennlliii, son of Lochiel and Musk * Deer, by Musket—Sweet Cicely. Musk Deer and Cypriote, served by Lochiel, were sent to Melbourne by the late Mr H. Horsford and disposed of there. For some time past a number of gentlemen who take an active interest in racing, and who arc welt and favourably known in tho sporting world, have been discussing the ways and means of establishing a club with the object of holding meetings on tho Forbury Park Racecourse. A number of meetings have been bold, and tho outcome of these was that the Forbury Park Land Company were approached as to terms. Tho result of these negotiations has led to the establishment of a club which is to bo called tho Forbury Park Racing Club. Tho moving spirits in the newly forpiod club are several influential gentlemen both in the racing and commercial world, and the Hon. 11. Gourlay has occupied tho chair at the preliminary meetings. It is highly probable that this gentleman will be found occupying tbo position of president of tho club. All tho preliminaries for the registration of the club by the Racing Conference have been put in motion, and at a special meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club, which is to be hold at an early date, it is understood that tho application for registration will be favourably considered. .Tlio application for registration has been signed by men whose names are a sufficient guarantee that tho club will not perish for want of enterprise, and tho acting secretaryship of the club is in the hands of Mr E. L. Macassoy, who has been conducting the negotiations with tho Land Company and otherwise acting on behalf of the club. The membership subscription has boon fixed at two guineas. Tho committee of the Dunedin Jockey Club has received an application for registration from the committee of tlio newly formed Fortuny Park Racing Club. It was resolved to forward the application to tho Racing Conference without opposition.

E. Moran, the West Coast jockey, who rides Will-o’-the-Wisp in his races, rodo Reliance and Nansen to victory for tho Hon. J. D. Ormond at Napier Park. It is stated that at a recent meeting tho totalisator people forgot to put on £2 sent for investment away from tho course. Tho mistake cost the proprietor £240. It makes you careful! Mr Harry Piper went South on Saturday, after assisting at the Hawke’s Bay* and Napier Park meetings. He returns hero next week for the Wellington steeplechase meeting. Battleaxo, who is at present performing in Victoria, has boon engaged in the Grand National Hurdles at Riccarlon next month.

The English Jockey Club recently decided to exclude geldings from tho Two Thousand Guineas, the Derby and Ascot Cup, and make the conditions of those races much on the samp lines as those for the Grand Prix, which admits only entire colts and fillies. It was also reported that the St. Leger would

bo governed in future by similar cfvadilions. The action was taken on the motion cf Sir Wuldio Griffith, who said “he thought it was an anomalous state of affairs that in a club like the Jockey Club, having as one of its-aims tho endeavour to improve the breed of horses, t hey should allow geldings in the great ciusMc races.” Subsequently it was pointed out in the sporting press that very few geioings have nm in tbo Derby, and in the first sixty years of tho history of the race only one gelding entered an appearance. Statistics show that, all told, only twelve geldings, viz.—lßl2 Dorns, 18-11 Palaeinon. 1314 British Tar, 18-19 Tho Old Fox, 1851 Gliolah Singh, 1857 Special License, ISG7 Roquefort and Tara ban. 180.1 Curzon, 18J!) Ballylcck, 1900 Democrat, _ 1901 Claqner—started in the Lnghsh Derby; but in no instance was one. of the unsexed crowd placed. Some sporting writers were not altogether in favour of the geldings being excluded from tbo classic events, and another said it appeared to him “that one unfortunate result of the passing of this rule will bo that the practice of cutting thoroughbred horses, which is increasing very rapidly, will receive a severe check.’’ However, a horse that is. incapable of reproducing its kind should not ho given the opportunity of winning races like the Derby ■ and St. Lcgcr. ■ From tho Hawera district the death is announced of the brood maro Hagar (by The Painter—Escape), who was foaled in ISSG, and the property of Mr J. Davidson. Hagar was a half-sister to Escapade (by Ptiriri), a smart gelding who won races for Bill Keith in this island when that' trainer had Dndn. The late Fred Paneti purchased Escapade at Christchurch, and won races with him on tho West Coast and also in Victoria, wdiere tho gelding and his connections received twelve months’ spell. Escapade was then sold, and went" to India. Hagar won hack races for tho late Fred Harrison in tho Mauawatn and Wanganui districts. Hagar lost some of her foals, and on several occasions missed. She had produce by The Dauphine, Puriri. Gipsy King and Lochnagar (sou of The Painter), but I have no recollection of any cf them being famous, on tlio turf. Tho 21-ycar-old brood maro Duenna is reported to have died recently at her owner’s stud. Bylong, leaving behind her a colt foal by Grafton. She wag by Signora (imp., dam of Cardigan and Mantilla), by Newcastle from Actress, by Stockwoll, and tho dam, of Arahoritc, Flintlock, Pelissier, Acetino, Watchfiro, etc. There are only five events on each day's programme of the C.J.C. Grand National Meeting, On this side seven and eight events are generally put on. Art a meeting cf stewards of the South Wairarapa Charitable Trotting Club, the secretary reported a credit balance cf £47 Gs, after payment of all accounts. Tho sum of £2 2s was voted to the Greytown Brass Band. Tho secretary (Mr W. Armstrong) was appointed the club’s delegate ro attend the Conference to bo held in Wellington this month. The amount passed through the totalisator at the Napier Park meeting last week (£9127) showed a falling off of £9G3 compared with last year.

The Grand National Hurdle Race winner, Rawdon, is owned by Mr Albert Miller, brother to the chairman of the Victoria Racing Club. This horse never previously won a hurdle race. Ho was bred in Smith Australia, in which State he was only a moderate performer on tho flat. Rawdon was trained privately, and was one of the least fancied candidates for the race. Ho is by Rival (son of Richmond and Britannia) from Lady Consort, by Prince Consort (son of Countryman). From the report of the race appearing on this page, it will be scon that the Taranaki representative, Battleaxe, started second favourite at 8 to 1. He took the field along at such a pace for nearly two miles that a time record for the race was registered. Battleaxe and Regalia 11. are engaged in the Keilor Hurdle Race, two miles, and Pukana’ in the Steeplechasers’ Flat Race, two miles, to bo run on Wednesday. The first-named pair are entered for the Doutta Galla Hurdle Race, two miles and a quarter,- and Pukana claims an engagement _in the Footscray Steeplechase, two miles, t(. bo run on Saturday next.

The Myross Handicap winner, Grafin, wao bred in New South Wales, by the successful imported sire Grafton from Hole (by imported Marvellous). The Now Zealand Cup candidate, Exmoor, is similarly bred to Grafin, who is trained by James Scobie at Ballarat. Billali is full brother to no less a celebrity than Bohadil. He was bred by tho late Mr W. R. Wilson at St. Albans, and cost 750 guineas as a yearling. Madagascar is by the Aucklandbred Hova (Ingomar—Happy Land), who was a great performer in Victoria. Will-o’-the-Wisp, who won the Stewards’ Stakes at Napier Park last week, is now trained by Geo. Hope, but is still owned by Messrs Baxter Bros., of Greymouth. The Mystical gelding lias won eight races this seasoif, value £SBO. Mr Joseph Petrie,- delegate of the Greymouth Jockey Club to the Racing Conference, has arrived, in Wellington. Tho Napier Steeplechase winner, Scallywag, ran third last year to The Guard and Roller. He also won tho Park Steeplechase on the second day. This year Scallywag has won eight races, value £BOS. L. H. Hewitt rode work at Randwick one morning last week. Ho had the mount on Abbofcsfield in the Welter Handicap at the A. J.C. Coronation meeting on June 26th. He was not mentioned in tho betting, and was one of tho last to finish.

Taking the New Zealand and Melbourne Cup handicaps as a guide, Nonetto must be* regarded as the best of his, ago in the colonies. The four-year-olds Mr Dakin has placed in the Victorian event as follows:—Nonotte. 9st 51b: Sir Leonard, 9st 21b ; Haymaker, Bst 121 b; The Victory, Bst 121 b; United States. Bst 71b. Although Nonet to is at tho top of the New Zealand Cup handicap, there aro four horses above him in the Victorian event, from two of which (San Fran and Wakeful) ho is receiving a stone each. Nonotte has lib lass than Maltster received last year, and the same weight that Advance received as a fonr-ycar-old. Ballistite (Quilt—Basilisk), who paid the. sensational dividend of £122 in -a hack race at Napier Park last week, was purchased by her present owner at auction last Saturday for £l7. Ballistite won the first race she. started in (at Rissington) this season), but had shaped indifferently since.

Rufus contested both the Hurdle Race and Steeplechase on the first day of the Napier Park mooting, but ran off in tho last-named event. Somewhat similar performances have taken place at the Hutt. At one meeting Shillelagh started in the Trial Steeplechase (the old course), but did not ge< round, and won tho Hurdle Handicap, which was the next race on the card. On another occasion Panic ran second in tho Hurdle Race and third in. the Steeplechase tho same afternoon. Two Melbourne Cup candidates have

been showing fair form recently. At the V.R.C. Coronation nit-cling. Footbolt (.Thunderbolt —1 001.-tepi carried list 51h and won the King's Handicap, one mile and a quarter, in 2miii 13.’,.sec. At the Queensland Turf Club's Coronation Meeting. Nareile (Gone —.SingSong), bst 131 b, won His Majesty's Cup, one mile and a half, in I'min 39sec. Tbo Vie.uriau weight.-adjuster is not afraid to give a good two-year-old a decent weight in the following spring. This year Brukpau (brother to Gras-s----pan) has received 7st lllh iu the Melbourne Ctip. Maltster ran second with tho same weight ; Ncwhaven won with 7st 13ib ; and Aurum ran third with Bst Gib. Brakpau’s stable mate (Great Scott) is considered tho equal of the Loyalty colt (Loya!) and Abundance, this trio receiving 7sfc 51b. Regalia 11. (7st 131 b) won the June Handicap, one mile and three furlongs, at Rosebill on June 2L.t. heating a field of seven in 2min 24Js.cc, At Flemington on tho 2Gth he was hacked for tlio Crown Hurdle Race. A.fter running prominently for the greater part of tho distance (two miles and a quarter), ho finished close up to tlio placed horses. Regulation, full sister to Regalia 11., who won four races out of five starts on the West Coast of the South Island this season, is now trained at Riccarton. Mr Fred Hill has been appointed delegate of tho Mastcrtou Trotting Club to tho Conference. L. H. HEWITT. In the last issue of tlio Sydney -‘Referee” to hand appears a photograph of L. H. Hewitt, tho New Zealand Tod Sloan, concerning whom tlio journal quoted remarks: — Tlio subject of our sketch, L. Hewitt, who is New Zealand’s most prominent exponent of tho American stylo of horsemanship, is at present on a visit to Sydney, and goes on to Melbourne in a day or two. It is not the first timo Hewitt has been in Australia, as ho was iu Melbourne a couple of years ago, and won the Tooruk Handicap on Alva, who started at an outside price.

However, ho soon tired of the southern capital, and on returning to New Zealand, quickly brought himself into notice by winning on long-priced hor.-vos. one of these being Motto, who, at Dunedin,, returned a dividend of £BO. Subsequently he rode for Mr D. O’Brien/ but without any luck, and later on his principal employers wore Air G. G. Stead, the Hon. G. McLean, and Mr E. J. Watt.

During the present season, Mr G. G. Stead has had first call on ids services, and tlio connection lias been a most pleasant and profitable' one for Hewitt, who, for the gentleman named, has scored 24 wins out of thirty mounts. Naturally Hewitt holds a very high opinion of Royal Artillery and Cruciform, and reckons tho latter was unlucky when she was beaten. Ho attributes her defeat on one occasion to Ids too exact observance of orders, while when Porirua downed her, she was badly interfered with by another competitor. Although not at tho top of the winning jockey list in New Zealand this season, Hewitt has an excellent record. From August 12th to Jtmc 7th ho rode in 155 races, winning SG, finishing second in 26, third iu 20, and unplaced in 53. A winning average of slightly better than one in three for such a number of mounts is an exceedingly good one, and leaves no doubt as to- the ability of tho rider. Among the big events to his credit mar bo mentioned the Auckland Derby, the Christchurch Derby, Canterbury J.C. Cup, Exhibition, Wellington Cup, Auckland Cup and Dunedin Cup. Tho most winning mounts to his credit at ono meeting is nine, scared at a Canterbury J.C. fixture.

His stay in Australia will be short, but Hewitt intends combining business with pleasure. Immediately on his arrival. hero ho - applied for a riding license, and no doubt will do the same in Melbourne. Without' wasting he can go to s-calo at 7st 121 h. and as he is able to get down to 7st 51b, no doubt some of our owners will, avail themselves of his services. Now Zealand files show that ho has boon successful on all sorts of horses in that colony, more particularly rogues.

Ho returns to New Zealaii.fi in timo for tho Grand National Meeting in August, and, by tlio way, denies that there is anything in the rumour going the round cf the New- Zealand papers to the effect that he has severed his connection with Mr Stead. .

1899 : 1899 1900 1901 1902 G.N. Steeple 29 20 29 G.N. Hurdles ... 28 29 30 45 Beaufort Steeple ... 28 S2 29 28 81 90 79 103 Weig hts arc duo on Monday, July 21st.