TURF TOPICS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5312, 25 June 1904, Page 15

TURF TOPICS

(Bv "Advance.") THREE NOTED PERFORMERS. Referring to the deaths of Bendigo, Ormonde, and Foxhall, following i f ' quick succession, ‘'Rangor” writes: — :; Jt was with really genuine regret that I heard of the death of poor old Bendigo; only a horse it may be, but still In- hud a personality of his own; to all the tasks set before him ho brought a courage that could not be broken, and a single-hearted honesty of purpose, combined with the sweetest and kindliest nature that ever horse hud. How well I remember the old champion, and his curious habit of locking round him. when ho got on to the racecourse, as if hr were sizing up the situation which I really boliovo ho did. No effort of memory is required to recall the Carabiidgeshiro of 1883, there were twentyfive starters, amongst them Fulmen. Medicus, the flying Thobais, Hackncss, and Tenons—names that will linger long in our memory are these —but Bendigo won, and I can see the race before mo, the threc-yoar-old swerving- from distress, but fighting it out with characteristic determination, to win by a neck from Tonans.

“In 1835 Bendigo won tho Lincoln Handicap, and tho following year saw the inauguration of the first of tho £IO,OOO races, the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park, which was won by Bondigo, amid rounds of cheering for horse, ownei and trainer alike, 1887 wits, of course, the Jubilee year of the reign of Queen Victoria, and tho Kemp ton Park authorities hit upon the happy idea of founding tho Jubilee Stakes, which Bendigo carried oil amidst tho most enthusiastic surroundings, carrying 9st 71b and winning by three parts of a length. He had indeed deserved a reward, and so thought his trainer’s wife, for she gave him a fine, big. rosy-cheeked apple, which he took and munched with tho utmost satisfaction.

“I doubt if wo shall ever again seo throo such giants in tho land as Ormondo, Minting, and Bondigo go forth to do battle for tho Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot. Each of them had his own circle of admirers, and well they deserved it. What a race it was! but class told, and in spito of his already noticeable infirmity Ormonde won by a nock from Minting, with Bendigo still fighting on some two lengths behind. Well 1 now there is an end, and tho Irishbred son of Ben Battle and Hasty Girl lies buried near Gaddesby, in tho heart of the shires.

“It never rains but it pours; and I have just hoard of tho death of Foxhall who has loft an ineffaceable mark on tho racing history of his times; he was an American-bred horso. by King Alfonso out of Jamajca, and won many races, both in Britain and Franco. I happened to be in Bari's for the Grand Brix of 1880, and I do not think I ever saw such a terrific finish to a race; Fordham rodo Foxhall and Archer was on Tristan; tho judge’s verdict was a short head in favour of Foxhall. who, that same year, not only won many memorable races, but performed the feat of winning both the Cesarewitch and the Cambridgeshire, carrying 9st (as a three-year-old) in the latter race, which ho won again by a short hoad from Lucy Glitters, carrying Cst 71b. Ho made no mark at the stud, which is in some sort of way a corroboration of tho correctness of the Bruce Lowe theory, for his family number (15) has nothing to recommend it from the sire point of view.”

THE HAWKE’S BAY STEEPLECHASE

The old-time Hawke's Bay Steeplechase has lost tho important position it once held among cross-country events. When Clarence won his second race in 188-1 the Hawke’s Bay event was worth double tho value of the Grand National Steeplechase. When Mangaohane won in 1887 the Hastings race was worth £soo—a century more than the Grand National. The Great Northern Steeplechase was worth 300 sovs, the Wanganui Club added 200 sovs to its big jumping race, and the principal obstacle event at the Hutt was worth 150 sovs. The Hawke’s Bay meetings have gradually gone back, and this season .the winner's end of the steeplechase is only 150 sovs. In consequence tho , competitors who will take part in to-morrow’s race ars only second raters, the money not being sufficiently attractive to fetch good horses from a distance. Hawke’s Bay was never worse off for jumping horses than at present. The first contest for the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase took place in 1879, when the late Mr William Douglas. tho best patron of the steeplechase game tho colony ever had, won the race, which was then known as tho Grand National Steeplechase, with Baron, hie also won the Welter Steeplechase. Baron « as successful at Ellorslie in tho autumn and was placed behind Tho Agent in the Grand National. The following season the Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase meeting was held on November 9, tho programme consisting of three events. Mr W Douglas won two of these with Venture, an aged mare by Diomedes he purchased from Alf Keith. Tho big event was run over three miles and tho Napier Steeplechase Cup (for gentlemen riders) two miles and a-half. Venture was taken over to Wanganui and won the big handicap, run over three miles, and tho Grandstand Steeplechase, three miles. In this race tho grey Lonohand baulked and Eclipse fell. Venture winning as she liked. Mr Douglas also won tho Maiden Steeplechase with' Dira fdam of Kapo and Kapua). Alf Keith rode both winners and was also placed in the Hack and Consolation Steeplechases, both of which events were run over a mile and a half. During tho afternoon Keith rode in all five events on the

programme and rode about twelve miles over fences—a good day’s work. Baron was by Ravonsv.orth, which sire oi .)urunin l: horses was successfully repro.-ented by New Year in ISS2. Clarenr*Ravensworth) won the race two rears in succession. The late Mr James Pilbrow's old rime champion was broiUN 1 in the Marlborough district, where ho was owned and ridden bv tho late "Walter Clifford. The first steeplechase he look part in was a maiden nt the «'-r - National meeting in l ww o. He won his first race at Wuima-to the same season. In both races at Hastings he was ridden bv Mr H. Lunn. Ho carried‘list 1.21 b and 13st 31b. The following season Mr W. Proffitt started two, Scrutineer, who the previous season ran third to Clarence ami .Macaroni. The creamy started at 2 to 1 against in a field of fifteen anJ won from Romeo with Denbigh third. Tho writer witnessed Denbigh’s success in 1886. Tho Painter mare came down to the Hutt and scored in the Wellington Steeplechase. Mr G. P. Donnelly ran first and second in 1887 with Man* gaohano and Owhaoko. Mr Alf JCllingham .scored his second victory in the race in 1888, which was a good contest considering that only half a dozen started. Chemist carried 12st 01b and boat Mangaoluiuo a length, Denbigh being * good third. Oddfellow, who was second

'* the Maiden and Consolation races, scored the following season for Mr Teddy McElvvain, the Wanganui owner. Oddfellow gave The Painter his third success in tho race. Previous winners sired by him were Denbigh and Chemist. The Taranaki coating:nt scored tho following season with tho Punri maro Jenny, who had P. Johnston in the saddle. The Tcrcnga gelding Tauraekaitai beat a moderate lot in 1891. Whalebone’s victory was one of the softest ever recorded. The Volunteer gelding won by about half a mile, and scored a somewhat easy win at Napier Park a few days later. It was a real good field that Gondolier settled. including Norton. Tiritea, Couranto and Waterbary. Norton and Tiritoa followed Morag homo in 1894. Norton \viu» conceding the winner 3st 3lb and might have boon second, Norton made his third appearance in tho race in Mr Gollan’s interest and was ridden by his owner. Fourteen started and only four finished, Norton won by two lengths from Bombardier, Booties third. It was a good field that Norton finished in front of including Liberator, Roscius, Tiritea and Mutiny, Kaika, a pony by The Admiral, brought the race to the Wairarapa in 1896. He put down Mutiny, Tiritea, Booties and Morag. The latter scored his second success in tho contest a year later. Tho Ping, who ran third to Kaika. acted as runner up, Mi* Douglas started Mutiny, who came third, and Tiritoa. Morag was unplaced in tho poor field that finished behind Rhino. Morag was again seen out in 1899—five years after he had won his first race—but did not show up prominently. The Auckland pair, Kanaka and NoF-wost, were best backed, but Ruby (Denbigh’s daughter), who was tho least fancied, -cored a comfortable victory. The Hon. J. D. Ormond owned Roller, who scored three years back. Mr Ellingham scored bis fourth win with Moifaa (Denb : gh } s son) who was successful in a mission in which Levanter and Norton had failed, the Liverpool Grand National.

THE SIEVIEB, CASE,

The Sievier slander action was reported fully in the English sporting papers. Counsel for the plaintiff in his .address made somewhat of a review of the situation, from which I clip the following extracts: —Sir James Duke posed as the custodian of the honour of tho Raleigh Club, and one of tho rules of the club was that in case the conduct of any member, either in or out of it, should be injurious to the character and interests of the club, tho member should bo summoned before the committee for the consideration of his case. A by-law provided that the club should be open from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning, and that cards could not be played on credit for more than £2OO at a time. He did not mention this to discredit the club, but because his case was that, amongst other things, tho plaintiff was a man who had lived a life in which he had betted a great deal, raced a great deal, and played cards a great deal, and whether they approved of that or not they wore not entitled to gibbet a man so long as ho lived that life fairly. That was the character of the club and the rules, and another rule was that if a member introduced an undesirable person, that member could be called to account by the committee. On the occasion in October the plaintiff, returning from Newmarket, went to tho Raleigh Club with a friend, and went into speak to a member. He remained talking to this member and others for the best part of an hour, and was seen .there by tho defendant, who asked Major Sellar, a member of tho club, if he had introduced plaintiff. The Major said he had not. and then the defendant made the statements complained of. But the defendant had another and an ungenerous line, viz., that he would try and save his pocket by trying to satisfy the jury that tho plaintiff was a man of general bad character who ought not to be allowed to bring an action for slander at all. It was because of that line taken that he wished to say a few words about the plaintiff’s history, because apparently no expense or pains had been spared in raking up evidence, not only here but in Australia, against the plaintiff. Shortly, the plaintiff’s history was this. He was born in tho year 1860 in London, his father and grandfather holding good positions. He was educated at Cheltenham, and on leaving school went to South Africa, serving with distinction in- one of tho Kaffir wars. After that for several years plaintiff earned Ms living bn the stage, both in England and India. In the year 1882, when 22 years of age, plaintiff went to Australia, where he earned his living as a bookmaker, carrying on the business in the name of Robert Sutton. There, after a few weeks’ acquaintance, he married a lady, jwas divorced, and that divorce was made the subject of comment and introduced into the particulars. He would not go into that, however, but leave it for his learned friends if they thought it advisable. The only incident of any aocount that happened in Australia was that plaintiff, at a pigeon shooting match in Melbourne, was foolish enough to say that one of the shooters deliberately missed his bird. A rumpus took place, and plaintiff was taken before the police court and had to pay the costs. In March, 1886, the plaintiff returned to England, and was elected a member of Boodle’s Club, being proposed by a great friend of plaintiff’s father and seconded by a person of high position. He remained a member of that club until Ms subscription lapsed, upon his return to Australia. There was a certain noble lord at Melbourne at this time, and ho occupied a high social position, being aide-de-camp to tho Governor. He ( owed Mr Sievier some money, and, as ho did not pay, Mr Sievier informed him that unless’ he paid ho would post him at the Victoria Club, which was a racing club at Melbourne. The young gentleman wrote to Mr Sievier a letter, in which he said: ‘T hope to be able to pay you the £287 by Friday week. Meanwhile, post mo iii tho club, and ba d d.”

Mr Siovior determined to have the measure of t iiis youiiL; gem lonian, and ho toid him ho apologise. The young gentleman did not apologise, and when Mr Sievier mot him in one of the rooms of the club he spoko to him about his insulting letter. Obtaining no satisfaction. -Mr Sievier bundled him out of the room of the club. The case camo before the committee of the club, and Mr Sievier was expelled. Mr Siovior thought tliat he would have a public vindication of the matter, and took out a summons against the noble lord, who also issued a summons against Mr Sievier. The two summonses were hoard before a largo Bench, and by a majority cf one the Bench convicted Mr Sievier and he got fourteen days, On appeal that conviction was quashed* and the noble lord bad to pay the costs of both hearings. CHATTER. Improvements arc still going on in a quiet way on tho Lower V'alley Jockey Club’s property at Martinborough. A drain is being dug round the of tho training track, witli outlets. This will keep the water off the truck and enable trainers to train longer into the winter. Horses are now training on the course which is usually closed at this time of the year. Tho club submitted to the conference. Boxing Bay and the day following for their annual raco-mccl-ing, which, arc the original dates. Narcotic is now being trained by Mr J. Russell. It is understood lie has had the promise of training Rebel King early in the spring. J. McGrath, who lias been training Narcotic, has loft the district. The ex-Ncw Zealander Westerley is in Messrs W. C, Yuille’s private sale list. A Melbourne scribe states that ho has ’ been transferred to Fiemington, and is under the care of J, Morrison. Wcsterley, who ran second to Marmont in the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race, has defied all attempts to train him since. He is now a hopeless case. M. Carmody, who recently had him, gave him up as such. A two-year-old half-brother to Capulet, by Bonnie-Scotland, was passed in | at 90 guineas at Mastcrton last week. Mr E. Hoppel!. tho well-known Now ; South Wales bookmaker, lias returned from New Zealand, and, despite the‘‘Tote,” reckons it is a good placo for “ringmen” to ply their vocation, more especially if they run a shop. On those courses where bookmakers arc permitted to do business, they receive plenty of patronage, and the Sydney man is not surprised that they stick to New Zealand in view cf the prices that ' backers take. Hr Heppell also says it is a mistaken idea that credit is not given in connection with the totalisafcor. Mr J. Cotter's hurdle horse Great Scot has again gone lame. Ho was en- ; gaged at tho Hawke’s Bay winter meetin'* where it was expected he would acquit himself creditably. The twe yearlings sold on account of Mr T. Payten, the Sydney trainer, at Christchurch recently, brought 2-15 sows more than when sold in Sydney in April last. They brought slightly more than double the amount when sold in Sydney. Otairi. who had boon entered for the H.B. Jockey Club’s races, met with an accident on Wednesday morning that will incapacitate him probably from any future racing. Tho Kempenfeldt gelding was exercising on the flat with Matador and livening, when he slipped and broke a ligament of tho near fore leg. Messrs Barnett and Grant report the following business on the NEW ZEALAND CUP. 1400 to 56 Melodeon. 1300 to 13 Inglewood. 1100 to 39 Romeo. 600 to 2-1 Lady Lilian. 500 to 10 Ouidaform. 400 to 28 Achilles. 300 to 10 Secret. Society. 250 to 14 Eosoal. GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLES AND HURDLES. 1500 to 12-;- Hayden and Waiwera. 1300 to 15 Slow Tom and Roseshoot. 1000 to 9 Otairi and Ostiak. 1000 to 10 Slow Tom and Waiwera. 1000 to 10 Victory and Waiwera. 900 to 9 Comfort and Roseshoot. 800 to 8 Haydn and Roseshoot. 500 to 5 Pipi and Spalpeen.