A MARQUIS ON GAMBLING.

NZ Truth, Issue 353, 30 March 1912, Page 2

A MARQUIS ON GAMBLING.

The extremely well-known Marquis of Queensbery ("father" of the rules of Boxing), who will be remembered as having once paid a visit to Melbourne, has lately been attached to the staff of the Chicago "Tribune," and the following from his pen on the subj-iot of betting will be read with some interest: — "It seems to be a popular impression that sport must necessarily be associated with gambling. This is not so. Gambling- is not by any means necessary to sport, and many sportsmen and prominent owners of racehorses never made a bet m their lives, and follow sport m all its branches for the pure love of the game. Of course, m racing it is practically impossible to eliminate gambling entirely, or rather the backing of horses to win. Racing is a business the same as any oth^r business, and owners m many casos must. make their stables pay. And for the life of me I cannot see the difference between your money on an animal that has cost you an enormous lot of money to rear and train, and buying a/ large amount of mining stock m someone else's mine; or, for that matter, of the insuring risks on livess and ships. After all, In plain English, an insurance company gambles on life, and risks on a business basis Just tha same as the owner of a Derby horse puts money on his horse m the hopo of its winning and recouping him for some of his outlay. I think France has ;rot betting down to Its proper level. The totalisator system there is absolutely perfect. No one can hurt himself, as every bet must be made m ready money, and you bet with the Government, so your money is safe. A certain percentage of the gross receipts is devoted to charitable institutions, and the balance given to the advancement of scientific horse-breeding. In England, there is a large amount of betting on football matches, but it is strictly illegal, and mostly conducted from agencies m Holland and Switzerland. I altogether disapprove of betting on football, and similarly on baseball. On the latter game, I under-

stand there is little betting. But the plain fact is that people will gamble m some form or another. If they ca.'i't bet on horses, they will bet on wheat, cr oats, or coal, or hogs; and where ia the difference? I think what a government ought to do is to legalise it m some form, as it is done m France, and then half the evils are swept away. In Italy, public gambling is conducted by the Government m every department, m the form of weekly lotteries, perfectly fair and perfectly managed, so that the poorer classes can have their little gamble of a sum as low as, I believe, even 10 cents, and yet have a chance of winning quite a large sum." NEWS AND NOTES. Racing at Ellerslie and Tauhernikau on Saturday. The Newmarket Handicap winner, Desire, was ' bred by two maiden ladies who are resident m Tasmania. Cadonia, one of the favorites for the Sydney Cup, is reported, to have had a very bad run. m the Australian Cup. The American stallion, St. Gavin, which was sold for 3000gns last week, is now owned by Mr E. J. Craven, who races Lady Medallist. The ex-Riccar.ton horseman, Tommy Cahtill, rode Simple Simon to ■ victory m the Gordon Steeplechase at Caulfield early this month. Devon, who won the Civil Service Cup at Lucknow, India, last month, is a New Zealand-bred mare by Soult, from Gaiety Girl. . Albert Gray, the Auckland crosscountry horseman, has accepted an engagement to ride m Western Australia for Paddy Bolger. If punters use their top pieces n-3xt week they should have a good tithe picking- winners. The way to win is to go for the "dry stuff" only. The Liverpool Grand National winner, Jenkinstown, was • sold recently m England for .'lOOOgns. , A great price for a steeplechaser. "Skipper" Ryan, who has been riding m Sydney and Melbourne since last August, returned to Wellington by Wednesday's boat, and was riding at Masterton on Thursday and Friday. The gelding Hoanga, who was taloen to the other side some time ago, is engaged m the Great Eastern Steeples, which event comes up for decision at Onkapaririga on Easter Monday. The dead-heat m the Australian Cup was not the first time that the judge failed to separate the first j two horses 7n the race. Away back m 1872, Saladin and Flying Dutchman ran two dead-heats before Saladin won- outright. ; At the latest advices, Idealism looks like starting a warm favorite m the .Brighton Hurdles at Ellerslie lon Saturda-y next. The K-afarnu gelding will be ridden by A. Julian, who is reported to have had the ride on any one of six horses. Returning from Richmond after the Nelson races the train was so packed that many ladies had to stand the < whole' way. One joker remarks:!, 1 "There's one thing a man could afford 1 to give cheek here, because ho ' one could get his hands up to give him a ( crack." j On the first day at Nelson Ladrohe ( jumped off on his wrong leg and did '■ not go smoothly for nearly four, furlongs. This enabled Dauriton to get a ( bulge on him and the Blenheim horsa ; . had Ladrone doing his very befit at sis .- ■ furlongs, though he won comfortably : at the finish. Women punters appear to be .soft : sanps for petty tale-tellers on raoe- j courses. A lydy recently complained , to this scribe that one of the sports ] (?) had demanded five bob from her | before he would disclose to her his : cert. It is bad enough to be nipped ' after backing a winner, but to spar i:p ' beforehand is the stretcher. , j Those capable of expressing an ] opinion say Byron should be seen at I his best m the Easter Handicap at Riccarton, as he will be at top speed, ■ or nearly so, the whole say; while m ' the Autumn Handicap it will be nece^- i ' sary to pull him about a bit to ksep | him m behind, and this causes him to '' throw up his head and climb badly. That great horse, Poseidon is said \■_ to be a remarkably good-tempered ] animal. lie is quartered at Mr A. : ; R. Denison's station, Enamarata, ■ near Mudgee, N.S.W., and out ol the season he is hacked about the place, after sheep and horses. It must be : something of a novelty for a classic ' winner to be used as a stock horse. '< From New South Wales the death J of the successful brood mare Etra- • ( weenie is reported. Etraweenie was i the dam of such good performers as | Diffidence,. Roycrof t, Posodas, Wigel- . ' mar, and Merriwee. Mr George Lse, ' of Bathurst, was the owner of Etrawcenie, and before he died he left instructions that the mare should be ' shot owing to old age. ' There was a lot of what looked very much like "ramming" going on i amongst the pencillers m connection i with the Masterton double, and a horse that did not run touched a ; very short price m doubles. Alleged- ' ly well-informed individuals were 1 making schlcnter bets, apparently with the idea of catching mugs, who, following the lead, were doing their ' cash m cold blood. ( It is hard to understand why a joe- l key, when appearing before a commit- i tee which has to consider a complaint, i is not allowed to have the benefit of : counsel. . Able lawyers are often opposed to the boy and can entrap him into saying almost anything. Consi- \ dering that when deemed to be guilty, a jockey's living is taken away from I him, it ds only right that he should ( have the benefit of counsel at inqu.lries before a Metropolitan Committee. } This matter will receive further attention at a later stage, as will some of the scribes on the dally press who i jumped on H. Gray when he was outud by the Dannevirke Club; irrespective i c:f the fact that he was appealing to j the Metropolitan body. 1 There was a growl going tho ' rounds against the hamlicapper of ' the trotting events at Nelson, and mysterious colloguing- and mutt«r- ! ings of petitions ■were as plentiful as 1 punters foolish enough to try and i pick winners. Unfortunately, tho 1 h and i capper who can please every- - body lias not yet been found, and 1 when ho is he will "be wanted as ( President oT the Racing Conference. ' Some trainers were born grumbling, and will bo grumbling to the end of ; their days, and probably m the next i LTe th^y will have something to say ; about the condition of the Harp and * Halo Stakes. In tho case m point., < the handicapper seemed to havo all J the best of the argument, for tho < race resulted m a grand finish. 1

Dover Straits and Simple Sam were dual winners at Opunake. The attendance at Nelson last week was a record. for the Richmond course. There is no need to remark that class was not well represented at the Nelson meeting. Glenspring is m regular work at Riverlands, and will be ready for action at the Marlborough Cup meeting next month. Taimanupo, who has been turned out at Panmure for nearly 12 months, is again to be taken up, and will ue tried over hurdles. The first of the progeny of Ghoorka to race is Ghoorkdale, who figures amongst the hacks down to compete at Tauhernikau next week. Amongst the sires with representatives racing at Nelson were Kings Own, Nuptial Rite and Iphetus. None o-f the trio claimed a winner. Beacon had three runs at Nelson and was twice placed second and once third. His winnings amounted to £20, which would just about pay expenses. Several of the horses competing at the Nelson meeting were saddled up twice each day. Needless to say, th*y were a bit leg. weary at the close of the meetii*?. . Old Tan San had four runs at the Nelson meeting, and" pulled up quite sound at the finish. 'The old fellow still retains his dash, but condition beat him at the finish. At the conclusion of the Nelson meeting a prominent official remarked lon the entire absence of any shady tactics during the racing. This was borne out by all present. Mediterranean was expected to sot on' the winning list at Nelson, but he made ho showing m any of his races. Constant racing may bring the San Fran gelding back to form. Sheep farmer W. H. McKay came out of his retirement last week and took on the Nelson meeting. "Scotty" i had a ride m each flat race, but was i unable to catch' the judge's eye. Surplus; the big horse that went mad on the second day of the South [Auckland meeting and succeeded m 1 giving A. McFlynn a nasty fall, is now being schooled over fences at Ellerslic. ! Waipunui seemed very free m his action last week and won the big handicap m good style on both days. His finishing run was too much for Beai con, who finished second to him on both days. Trent, the hero of many a hardfought battle on the West Coast, and at the Blenheim and Nelson meetings, ceptances, and also by the sale of the 'mail coach running between Blenheim and Nelson. The Bros. Griffiths, secretaries to the Marlborough Racing Club, wore ■ amongst the visitors to the Nelson : meeting on the look out for . owners likely to be represented at Riverlands when the Cup meeting comes on. Had it not been that Mf.- Victoria pulled him through, Mr I-I. Whitnoy would have spoilt his splendid record 1 at the Nelson meeting, which consists of winning a race at the last nine meetings at which his horses have competed. At future -meetings of the Nelson Club the committee would be well a.dUised to see that motor cars and cabs with hoods up are not allowed to :ako up their stands m the centre of the course and so block the public's view ci. the races. The riders at Nelson last week wore crepe bands on their arms out of respect to the memory of A. Whittaker, \vho was killed at Paeroa the week previous. Little acts of this description show that jocks ters, despite all that is said of them, are very human. Those who know say the Nelson Jockey Club was showing a profit over its recent meeting before the sport commenced. This was brought about by the excellent nominations and acceptances, and also by the sale of the booths, which m the past were missing from the meeting. Alofa was to be a ( runner at the Xolson meeting, but at the last moment it was found impossible to get accommodation on the boat for more than ihz horses, so Trainer "Bert" Crillet decided to leavo the filly behind. Probably she is a reserve for the Blenheim meeting on May 1 and 2. At the conclusion of the Nelson meeting Mr J. J. Corry purchased Waipunui, and the brown fcelclincr is now trained by .A lf. Rorc at Ri norlands. This does not mean that tho late owner oC Waipunui is now without a horse, as after this deal he puv-i-hosocl Portland Bill for 200gns. Amberstone. winner ol: the Trial Hack at Nelson, is a good looking sort by St. Ambrose. He hangs out badly, and C. Emerson had to continually hit him on the shoulder to keep him m. Ho won easily at the finish, and may have troubled Ml. Victoria on the second day had he not been interfered with soon after the start. The local trotting "head," Dan Nyhan, accompanied by his right hand man, A. McNao, look two hordes to tin: Nelson mooting, but a. second dividend With Ding Dong was all t lin t was scoured. Gnitton . Chimes, by Abbey , Bells, lookod to have a winning chance on the second day, but he broke up at the bottom of the straight.

Mr G. P. Donnelly, President of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, was a visitor to Wellington last week. Mr P. E. Baldwin, of Falmerston North, is retiring from the racing game. His horses m training are to be sold. The Takaka mare, Curious Rose, broke down just prior to the Nelson meeting, at which she had been, accepted for. Ladrorie seems to haye improved out of all knowledge of late. Has two wins at Nelson were achieved comfortably. The placed horses m the Nelson Jockey Club Handicap filled the same positions m the Hichmond Handicap the second day. W. Gillet, trainer of Long Tom, one of the most unruly customers at the barrier, has decided to return the hqrse to his owner. Liadrone seems to have got over the habit 6f hanging out, and m both his races at Nelson he finished as straight as a gun barrel. . At Awapimi, G. Caddy is hacking a Papakura colt, and has m work a good sort of colt by Kelburne, who is reported to be a smart sprinter. A. Rore has won the Nelson "Cup three times by the aid of. Hillstone, Hotu, and Hinekoa. His nomination this year was Beacon, who filled second berth. \. .. I In the North they are booming! Lloyds as a coming champion over i hurdles. The Monaco' gelding will be well tested m the Brighton Hurdles next Saturday. A very, large crowd of Blenheim people were present at Nelson last • week, and a goodly number also! made the journey from "Wellington and the West Coast. When being' shipped on her return journey on Saturday last, it was noticed tha.t Portland ; Lady had lightened up considerably with the couple of races she had at Nelson. Daunton never looked as well as he did last week, but a second and • third place was the best he could 1 do. It is a wonder that his owner, ,Mr C." de Vere Taschemaker-Shute, I does not buy a good horse. I 13. Deeley, who rode eight winners • at the Nelson meeting, was completely lionised by the fair sex, who were on him to the last. It was no common Deeley or Ben with them, j but nothing less than "Mr." Astonishment is a line big mare, | but wonld not appear to be much \ i good. She had only three pounds I above the minimum m the ?\'elson | Handicap, but could o.Jy 'Tin a poor third, a like position being occupied by her on the second day. A private letter received from Ellerslie states that Kakama is likely j to be Mr Donald McLeod's represen- ' tative m the Easter Handicap. She ( is reported to be looking a perfect i picture, while Miss Winsome also j looks well -but is still suffering from j season troubles. j R. Hatch put up a good perform- 1 ance at Nelson 'last week, where, out; of two rides, he rode two winners, j Owing to increasing avoirdupois, ; Hatch does not do much riding now, ! and next season may find him training horses. If looked into, his per- ; eentage of winning mounts would be found to be very high. Mr D. Buick, M.P., had the bad luck to lose a very promising- filly, by PaI pakura from Faulka last week. The ! filly, together with a filly from Elusion | i and a colt from Queen Mary, had been selected by Mr Buick as somtv thing above" the ordinary, and were put m a twenty-acre paddock by them- j selves. They were thought to be quite safe there, but one day during the past week the filly was found with a double break m the leg, just above the thigii, and was destroyed. ; At Nelson last week the writer ran across Charley Birkett, wellknown m the North and South Is- ; lands as a trainer and rider. As [ far back as 'is\i, Birkett rode Mast- j ' head to victory m the Nelson Cup, || and m the nineties he trained Johnny Fan., Epilogue, and several other useful stake earners. Probably • the best horse he had under his ' care was Halbadier, with whom he '< won the New Zealand Cup m 1902. ] Birkett is now engaged m the dairy- | in tv line, and is the father of three children, all of whom are boys. ' Portland Lady (Achilles — Portland - Lass) is bred well enough to win , anything, but she is a fretting beast 1 and when riding her she is like a , icily. There is no denying that she has pace, but she did not win as easily as most people imagined on . the first day at Nelson. She hung out badly m making (the straight entrance, but had enough pace to win from where she was. The second day Deeley insisted on a different 'bit being used, and the change caused her to come round the bend well, but when half way down the straight she hung out again, and Hatch, on Ladronu, taking advantage' of the opening, sent his 'mount through and won cleverly by a length- Had the winner boon compelled to go round Portland Lady and Daunton, the result might have been different. :

Mr S. McGreevy, junr., has sold Cork to Mrs J. Griffiths. F. D. Jones will ride Maori King, the favorite m the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie'. . In well-informed circles it is said that Bronze is a sure runner m the C.J.C. Easter Handicap. G. Price went South last night with Bronze and Ermengarde, which are to take part m the C.J.C. meeting. The price paid by Seraphic on the second day at Nelson was a stapgerei* to the starting price merchants. Tannhauser is evidently to be kepC to sprinting m future, as he is not m the Great Autumn Handicap. Bronze, Dearest, Masterpiece, Byron and Odessa have been paid up for m both' big handicaps at Hiccarton. ■ Ladrone showed plenty of resolution" m his finishes at Nelson, and is clearly better now than at any previous time. There were four fine winners at Nelson last week, viz.: Waipunui, Sinapis, Portland Bill, Stella Leigh, and Ladrone. Any number of good judges think Masterpiece will be the Chokebore representative m the Great Autumn Handicap. The ex-Auckland horseman, W. M. McKinnon, ds now riding m Victoria and had his first mount m the hurdlea at Moonee "Valley. Visitors to the Nelson meeting last week included Mr J. Gieseking, of Greymouth, who motored through, to I»ut it on Waipunui To win the Great Northern Handicap with 9.2 on her back, Bronze will liave to be the best three-year-old Jilly of the season. Perhaps she is. Good entries have been received for the Feilding meeting, and, given fine weather, Secretary E. Goodbehere is likely to bring off a record fixture. As Deeley will have to ride either Kakama or Miss Winsome m the Easter Handicap at Ellerslie, another rider will have to be found for Soultoria. The Australian Jockey Club's / Autumn meeting opens next Saturday when the Don caster Handicap will be run. The Sydney Cup is run on Easter Monday. His' good showing with Gipsy Belle at Waipawa and his win on the second day make Bootle out. to have a rare chance m the Tramway Handicap at Ellerslie next Saturday. 1 Mount Victoria looked a much better horse on the second day of the Nelson meeting, and several good judges who noticed this went for good wins .on Mr H. Whitney's horse. A more ordinary lot of maidens than those seen out at Nelson could hardly be found. Some of them appeared as if they had only finished their round m the milk cart a couple of hours before being called upon to race. Early backers got quite a shock when Heatherbrae dropped out of vhe I C.J.C. Easter Handicap. However, it ; punters will persist m taking the ab- | surd prices quoted by the bookmakers they have only themselves to blame. Tobias and Bow Bells, both of whom were sold to Auckland buyers at the close of the last Taranaki j meeting, were placed first and second m the Karangahake Handicap on the first day of the Ohinemuri meeting. Curator looked well at Nelson and was m a second position each day. In his first attempt he was unlucky enough to bump up against Sinapis, and, on the second day, Deeley againj brought about his downfall with th« aid of Seraphic. Sporting writer- starter SkipwortS was not present at the Napier ■ meeting, but he turned up at Nel6on. Perhaps lie thought he may be required to fill Starter Harley's position. However, the last-named official did remarkably well, and no changes were required. Sinapis was m a class by herself amongst the sprinters at Nelson, i and the little filly won comfortably on both days. It is not so long ago that her owner tried hard to drop her, but was unable to do so. No j doubt he is now very thankful that nobody wanted her. Portland Bill is a five-year-old halfbrother by Conqueror to Portland | L.ady, and one of the solid sort. He is a fine, big horse up to any weigrht, and if schooled should make a rare j fencer. At no stage of either of his ' races at Nelson was he doing his oest. , The wonder is that B. Gillet does not I have both him and Curator schooled. ! Lady Medallist's second to Malt j icing m the Rawson Stakes would ! show the St. Alwynne mare to be I pretty forward. She is top weight m | the Doncaster Handicap with 9.7, but I her chances cannot be highly estimated, as she is not a quick enough be- ! ginner to get a position early enough, and the big' field wall be sure to hara--1 per her. In .chasing Curator over the first bit m the Grandstand Handicap at Nelson, C. Emerson burst up Seraphic, who died without a kick at the finish. The second day Deeley rode the chestnut, and, keeping him m behind till well down the straight, he was euabled to run out the seven furlongs and win comfortably from the fast-tiring Curator and Beacon. The Select Committee appointed by parliament to inquire into and report upon the manners, methods, and control of the Australian Jockey Club aas held a preliminary sitting. The A.J.C. was represented by counsel learned m the law and by the A.J.C. secretary. As some doubt existed m the minds uf the committee as to the extent, scope, and powers of " the committee, it was decided to adjourn until the Premier of N.S.W. had been consulted. It is the present intention of -.ha Messrs Mitchell to allow Trafalgar to take his place m the All Aged Stakes at Randwick next month. It will be interesting to see how the old champion gets on, but most people will refuse to take him seriously. That pa.ir of crack milers, Malt King and Popinjay, not to mention one or two twe-vear-olds are likely to get such a break on him m the early part of the race that he will never catch them.