CHATTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 5008, 4 July 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHATTER.

Tho Woodvillo District Jockey Club last week decided to purchase 37 acres of land adjoining the courso at a cast of £IOSO. Tills will enable tho course to bo enlarged to a mile. It is intended to make additions to tho grandstand, which will bo shifted back two chains, erect now secretary's office, dining-room and press room. The saddling paddock a.nd loose-boxes wilt bo shifted to tho scjatli side of the stand. Tho estimated cost of tho work is £llO3.

Mr E. White, owner of Taura, was present at the Hastings meeting last week. Ho informed me that Taura has been turned out for a spell. He- has a promising youngster by St. Hippo, out of Georgina, who will require time. Mr White is secretary of the I’orangaliau Racing Club.

Tho committee of the Newcastle Jockey Club, Limited, concluded an investigation on the 'lth instant regarding the recent tampering with the scales on the racecourse. After an exhaustive examination of witnesses extending oVer two evenings, the committee adjudged James Kingsley and Herbert James Moran guilty of suspicious practices in connection with tho circumstances attending tho running of the racehorse Gentleman Jim in the Pace V, oiler Handicap at the races hold by the club on April 20, and disqualified them -and the horse for .life. The committee further disqualified for life George Lucas, and a man known as Bowen, alias White, alias Brennan alias “Old Hoes.” Kingsley and Moran gave notice of appeal.

Mr J. Chadwick, the Wellington Racing Club's, handlcappcr. was presejit at. the Hawkes’ Bay meeting taking notes on tbo form of the homes engaged at the Hutt. Mr Chadwick also attended the Napier Bark meeting this week.

Wairiki has got into the New Zealand Cup with 71b less than Non-otto received at tlio same age last year. At the present juncture the performances of tho two Auckland 00lt 8 at three years of age should be interesting. They are as follows: Nonette. Wairiki.

Avondale Cup— Won. Rid not start Avondale Guineas— Won. _ Won, King Edward Handicap— , Second. Hid not start, H. B. Guineas— Second. Did not start. Auckland Guineas. Won. w oni Birthday Handicap— Did not start. Won (7st 121 b). Auckland Cup— Second (Bst).' Hid not stare. Summer Cup— Won (9st). Won (Sst 51b), A.R.C. Handicap— Won (9st 41b), ' Hid not start. Grand Stand Handicap— Second (9st 101 b) Hid not start. Railway Handicap— Did not sta-ro. Unplaced (Sst 61b), Derby— Did not start. Won. Royal Stakes—

D\d not start. Second. Wanganui Cup— Won (Sst 111 b). Did not start. Easter Handicap— Won (9st 111 b). Unplaced (9st 71b). Century Stakes ■ \7ou (Sst 121 b). Did not stare. Autumn HandicapUnplaced (lOst Gib). Won (9st 61b). St. George’s Handicap— Did not start. Second (9st 21b),

An owner remarked across the breakfast table on the morning of the second day of the Hastings meeting within hearing of the writer, “I suppose I will go up as high as Baldwin if I win today.” Tho horse ran no better tlian on the first day and consequently the balloon ascent did not take place. As a five-year-old Lady Lillian got in the New Zealand Cup with 6st llib, but did not make the first payment. She has improved a couple of stone in the meantime. Appended will be found a list of Lady Zetland's handicaps for tlio principal events at Riccarton in tbo Easter and Autumn. It will bo seen that she won the double in the autumn -as a six-year-old. She was not at her best until nine years of age, when she won the New Zealand Cup, beating Euroclydon at a difference of 101 b, and gave the Gorton horse weight and a beating over two miles and a quarter in the Canterbury Cup. The following is Lady Zetland’s record in tho above-mentioned events:— NEW ZEALAND CUP]— syrs, 7st —Did not start. 6yrs, Gst 121b—Did not start. 7yrs, 7st 121b-£-Did not start. Byrs, Sst 51b—Unplaced. 9yrs—Sst 9ib—Won. GREAT AUTUMN HANDICAP, syrs, 7st 21b —Unplaced. 6yrs, 7st 101b—Won. 7yrs, 9st 31b—Unplaced. Syrs, 9st Hb —Unplaced. GREAT EASTER HANDICAP—6yrs, 7st 121b—Won. 7yrs, 9st 41b—Unplaced. Tho many friends of Mr Albert Levy, the well-known commercial traveller, will regret, to bear that he is in the Palmerston Hospital seriously ill. Until recently Mr Levy raced' Kowbete and Kobim-a nndcr the nom de course of Mr A. Fairfax.

The Seaton Delavel gelding Northumberland, reported to bo sold for India, is being trained by M. MoAulifFe at Flemington. * A few competitors* at the Hawkes’ Bay meeting appeared short of work and likely to race better during the next few weeks.

Kohupapa, tho only' New Zealand Cup candidate that competed at Hastings, scored a win. He is a big five-year-old gelding by Wonderland—Lady Leger (by St. Leger), dam of Philanthropist. Umslopogaas, who -won the Grand National Hurdle Race in 1897 lias been entered for the big Steeplechase next month. .

Previous winners of the Grand National Steeplechase engaged next month are Gobo and Haydn. Previous winners of the Handle Race who appear in the lists are Treshana, Haydn and Social Pest. Ostiak is the only previous winner of the Winter Cup* engaged. Hinewai, who won a hurdle race and Steeplechase at the Hawke’s Bay meeting, is a fonr-year-old bav mare by Waterfall—Maori Belle, by" Piscatorioua—Black Belle, by Mute—Heather

Belle, a thorough To Mahunga pedigree, Mauri Beils produced two fillies lo Quilt, three fillies ami two colts to Waterfall and a fii;y to Torpedo.

A eights for the Wellington Racing Chibs winter meeting will appear on Monday next. Tin Canterbury Jockey Club has received an excellent re--poiiso from owners for the principal events at the Winter meeting. Twenty-eight horses have been engaged in the Grand National Steeplechase, thirty-four in the Hurdle Race and fifty in tho Winter Cup. It is said that an offer of £4500 has been unsuccessfully made by an English breeder fur tho well-known sire Lancaster, by Hotchkiss, from Frailty, by Goldsbrough, and was bred by Mr T. Morriii, New Zealand. Lancaster is tlio property of Major Smith, of Nandollyu Heights, Molong, Now South Wales, who purchased him about three years ago for £SOO. Her© is an opportunity for tho owner of Siege Gnu to make a good deal. Alf Lonaha.il, who used to train Angler and Miss Barnuin at Island Bay, is still at tho game on tho other side. At the Wallsend Jockey Club’s mc-ding on Juno 13th he won the principal event, with Muldoon, a gelding by 'dotal—Lady D. E. S. B. Bell, who acted as secretary of tho Island Bay Park Racing Club and raced Forward and other horses hero, is now training at Flem>ngton. Ho scores occasionally at Melbourne Suburban meetings with a useful gelding named Brio.

The 30-montlis-old stallion Belmont M., winner of the One Milo Handicap Trot at Richmond (Victoria) last month, vas bought at tho clearing sale of trotters in the estate of the late Mr Mace. *af New Brighton. His performance reduces tho Victorian two-year-old milo record by about 13soc. Piiella. the dam of Belmont M.. is a full sister to" Frauleia, dam of Fritz.

George Rutherford and Percy Mason, of Canterbury, who visited Hastings for tho Gun Club meeting, were present at tlio races. Mr, C. Chevaimes cam© across from Wanganui and divided the snoot prize, but did not wait for the race meeting. Mr W. H. Hartgill ,'tho well-known judge, witnessed the Steeplechase on the second clay. At the Rosohill meeting on the 13th Juno Graft (Grafton—La Vivandiere), a two-year-old sister to Exmoor, carried Dst 51b and won the Nursery Handicap easily in Imin disco. Graft was bred by Messrs J. and W. Thompson, at Widden; her dam, La Viviandiero (syrs), ■s by Marvellous from Daughter ,of the Regiment, a daughter of The Drummer (imp.), and a descendant of Mirror (imp.) by Sir Hercules. A Southern correspondent informs mo tlxat Catherine Gordon is shaping woll over hurdles at Riccarton, also, that Social Pest and Sultana have been jumping tho Steeplechase obstacles in good stylo.

The Hawkes’ Bay Steeplechase winner, Jaok-o’-Lantern, scored three times out of five starts last season. At Wanganui ha ran second to flu ram a and burned the tables on the Voltigeur gelding on tho second day. At Hawkes Bay he won the Hunt Club Steeplechase and ran third to The Phantom and Chance on the second day. His other engagement was at Napier Park, where ho scored in a Hunters’ Steeplechase event. Of the 169 horses entered for the Melbourne Cup no fewer than 16 were sired by Pilgrim’s Progress, who is now in New Zealand. Soane good ones are included in the number, seeing that Abundance, Sojourner, Vanity Fair, Lieutenant Bill, Felicitous, Bright Beauty, Progrcdior, and Rapid Pilgrim all claim tho sou of Isonomy as sire. Bill of Portland, now in England is represented on the list by 13. Grafton by 11, and Gozo and Wallace nine each. There is a solitary representative of Carbine in tho race, this being Mr F. Foy’s filly Playaway, who was foaled in England, her dam, Concertina, being by St. Simon from Condo Song, by Petrarch from Frivolity,' by Macaroni. Comfort made a satisfactory debut in a Hurdlo Race at Hastings. He jumped like a green one, but got round all right and finished fourth. Had he been allowed to go to the front ho would probably bavo troubled the winner. The son of Quilt-Vista, who is only fouryears old, has been entered for tue Grand National Hurdlo Raco.

The success of Evening, Kohupapa and Jack-o’-Lantem at tne Hawkes 1 Bay meeting was very pleasing- to Mr George Hunter, who owns tho son of Musket and Fairyland and bred meat of the stock sired by him. Hitherto Wondorland’k beat advertisements have been Evening Wonder and Mystical (sire of Will-o’-the-Wisp, who won the Thompson Handicap on two occasions). Other progeny tho Javelin maro Mystery (siro of Mystical) had to Wonderland were Mystic (who has some progeny by Chainlink) Magic. Mysterious (who produced Shackle to Chainlink), Hinepara and a colt foal which died. Frank Lind, who liad a collar-bone broken at tho Egmont meeting, made his reappearance or. Hardwork on tne second day of the Hawkes Bay meeting. The Nordenfeldt horse Sternchaser, who used to carry Mr S. H. Gollan’s colours in Australia and was taken to England by that gentleman, is doing stud duty ait The Paddocks, in Surrey (England). Among the mares mated with him last season were Meta M'Carthy, Bessie M'Carthy, and Ciack-na-cuddin, all of whom were bred in New Zealand by Mr Gollan.

H. Carr, who rodo Evening Wonder for Mr John Tennant in this colony, but did riot accompany the gelding to Australia, was up on Pxpi .in the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase. The Nabator gelding appeared to be tiring before ho reached the. fence that stopped him.

To give some idea of the- trouble secretaries of racing clubs have tc put up with occasionally, it may fao mentioned that Mr W. Robinson entered a horse at the Hutt named Geordy. On it being pointed out that there was a horse named Geordie racing the name was altered to Scotch Geordy. It has since been found out that tho horse is Spendthrift, by Flintlock—Legacy. Geordy was entered as by St. Andrew. Messrs Barnett and Grant report tho following are the current prices in tUe New Zealand Cup:—12 to 1 Wairiki and Lady Lillian 14 to 1 Shrapnel

16 to 1 Orloff, Kelbfirno and Canteen 20 to 1 Achilles, Halberdier, Hinetaura. Heroism and Sea Lion 25 to 1 Pallas, Pampero, Scylla, Mars, Strathavon, Benzoin, General Symons, Great Gun, Royal Fusilier, Rose Shield, Cure, Sirius and Black Reynard 33 to 1 Melwood, GlenaJadale, Ringmau, Motor. Lavalette, Bandmaster, Auratus. Kohupapa and Provost Marshal 40 to 1 Bulawayo and Pearl Diver 50 to 1 Golden Rose, Sans Peur. Gold Crown, Sychom, Rose Seal and Count Kolmar 100 to 1 Lolah. Volley, Bombardo, Secret Society, Nell Gwyn. Leonore, Seagull and Tigrisona 200 to 1 Cruosot and Lady Roslyn ,