SPORTING AND SPORTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13786, 27 December 1906, Page 5

SPORTING AND SPORTS.

THE TURF. liy Sentinel. RACING CALENDAR. '.206. December 27—Cromwell J.C. Annual. December 27—D.J.C. Summer Meeting. December 27—Roefton J.C. Summer. December 117—Titranaki J.C. Summer. December 27, 28—Manawatu Summer. December 29, January I, 2—A.Ii.C. Summer, December 27—'laranaki J.C. Meeting. December 23—Peninsula. Trotting Club's Meeting December 31, January I—Clreymoutli J.C. Summer. January I—Wyndham R.C. Meeting. January I—Wuikouuiti It.C. Heeling. finiury 1, 2—Vincent J.C. Annual. January 2—Palmerston Trotting Meeting. January 1, 2—Hawks's Bay J.C. Meeting January 2, 3—Southland R.C. Heeling. January 8, 4—Westland R,C. Meeting January !)—Wairoa Annual Meeting. January 15, 16—Nelson J.C. Anmiti!. January 22, 2-1, 2ti—Wellington Summer. February 7, B—Jlaniototo J.C. Annual Mectin*;. DOMINATIONS. December 31—Vincent J.C. Annual. HANDICAPS. December 08—Vincent J.C. Annual. January 3—Wairio Annual Meeting. ACCEPTANCES. December 27—l'almerston Trotting Meeting. December 27—Southland li.C. Meeting. December 27—Wymlliam K.C. Meeting. December 111—Vincent J.C. Annual. January s—Wairio Annual Meeting.

Tho Gore liaeing Club is out with a. programme of its summer mooting, which is dated to take place ou January 10 and 17. A slight increase has been made to tho valuo of some of the stakes, and tho (lore Cup has it prize of 70sovs, and is to bo run over 10 furlongs: whilst, the principal event, on the second lay has. a 65sov prize, und is to be decided over a mile and a. distance. Tim principal sprint event, on the first day's card will consist of tho Summer Handicap, of 50sovs, six furlongs. On tlio seronil day thorn is a four-fnrknig dash, with a lOsov stake attached. Oilier events on Ihe prolamine are as follows: — Croydon Handicap, of 45sovs, seven furlongs ; Longford llack Handicap, of 30sovs, six furlongs: New Year Trof, of 55sovs, two miles (5.30 class); Welcome. Hack, of 35sovs, seven furlongs: Jileclrio Trot (saddle), of 35sovs, one mile; Ot-araia Hack "Welter Handicap, of 35sovs, fivo furlongs; Grand Stand Hack Handicap, of 35sovs, six furlongs; Hokonui liable Handicap, of 30sovs, six furlongs; Progressive Trot. Handicap, of 40-sovs. one mile and a-lialf; Suburban Hack Welter Handicap, of 35sovs, five furlongs; Telegraph Trot, of 35sovs, one mile; and Borough Handicap, of 40sovs, seven furlongs, Nominations clow on Saturday, January 5, at 8 o'clock, with Mr J. Latham, the club's secret nry. The Maniototo Jockcy Club's annual nieetinrr docs not take place until February 7 and 8, but Ihe programmo for the gathering lias already been keued, and consequently owners will have plenty of time to select the races they are desirous of capturing. This season the Naseby Cup, one mile and a-quarter, is increased to 60sovs; and on tho second day tho principal race on the card has also been lifted ssovs, and is to bo worth 50sovs. Tho balance of the programmo is made up as follows:—Trial Handicap, of 25sovs, seven furlongs; District Trot, of 30sovs, two miles; Selling Stakes, of 25sov«, six furlongs; Welter Han(iicap, of 30sovs, seven furlongs; District Trot, of 20sovs, one mile; Handicap Hack, of 20sovs, six furlongs; District Handicap, of 2550v3, six furlongs; Flying Handicap, of 30sove, five furlongs; Publicans' Welter Hack Handicap, of 25sovs, five furlongs; District Handicap Trot, of 2560v5, one mile and a-lialf; Novel Handicap, of 25sovs, seven furlongs; District Trot, of 15sovs, ono mile; Handicap Hack, of 25sovs, seven furlongs; and Farewell Handicap, of 25sove, eix furlongs. Nominations are duo on Tuesday, JanuaTy 15, at. 8 p.m. for the principal events, and nominations for tho minor events closo on February 6.^

— Cuneiform and liquiform aro doing 'useful work at Caullield. —ltoscbloom incurs a 101b penalty for tho Federal Handicap as a result of her win at Alexandra.

— Acccptances for the Wyndham Racing Club's meeting close ou Thursday, December 27, at 8 p.m. — A complimentary ticket for the Clifden hack meeting is to hand, andi acknowledged with thanks.

— Whakawatea, who is now 17 years old, was a starter nt a recent up-country meeting in South Wales.

— Tho New Zealand-bred 'chaser Up-to-date has resumed work at lTlemingtou, after being tieated to a spell. — The Tapanm Racing Club's annual meeting is set down for January 24 and 23. dominations close on January 17.

— A con.plimoitayy tickct for tho Greymonth Jockey Club's summer meeting is to hand, and acknowledged with thanks.

— Catalogues of the yearlings to be sold from tho Glcnora Park stud and Cambria l'arlc stud aro to hand, Mid acknowledged with thanks.

— Excellent efttries havj been received for the Southland Racing Club's summer meeting. and the gathering promises to bo the best e.vov held by (ho club.

— Tho Wyndham Bacing Club liavo receivc<l good nominations for their annual meeting, and the class of borses engaged ia distinctly sibovo tlio average.

— A French mission has arrival in AnsHrnli.i the head: being (Jiptain Pipiere, loii jjc purpose of purchasing Australian Minroughbred mares from four to eight years oki.

— dominations for tho Gore Racing Club's summer meeting, which is to take place on January 10 and 17, aro duo on Saturday, January 5, on or beforo 8 o'clock, with Mr J. Latham.

— Golden Vein, wlio was doing atlractivo work, and apparently had a good chance of scoring at the A.J.C. Summer meeting, has broken down badly, and is nob likely to raco for fomo time.

— Tlio late Mr S. CI. Cook died a poor man, and a complimentary raco meeting is being got up at Moonee Valley to assist his daughter. A subscription list has also been started in Melbourne.

— Mr O. O. Stead lias been selected as olio of tho committee in the London Sportsman Mating Competition. The mare selected this year is Keystone 11, tlio daughter of Persimmon anil the laonomy mare Lock and Key.

— Amongst the winners in France lleauquemarc, a son of the Australian-bicd horsu Patron. I'cauqueuixre won a steeplechiii'o at the Anteuit aulunm meeting, and vent out al a to 4 on favourite in a lieM of

— It is to be a. standing order of the English Jockey Club in future -that tlio board containing the number of the runners, and tho names of the jockeys at raco meetings is to remain exposed until the winner has passed the post. —At the Villiaiustowu meeting, held on December 8, Menrchikoft went out at 10' a lo ] in a mile, and was beaten by a neck in Iniin •Usee. Tho son of Stepniakcurried!).S, and was icnceeding 'J.u to the horso which beat, him Mclawaic started in tho same race, and was in the ruck all the way.

—It was in 1748 that the legislature oJ Xew Jersey enacted iv law to restrain tlui abuse, of liorso racing in that colony. In this law all horso racing, pacmg, or tvoMmg, of horses, lor "lucre or yain." wore to 1® prosecuted as nuisance. l -. The pacing horso was Ihereforo known at that period.

-It will ho learnt with pleasure that, after his recent operation, the lion. Gee. M'l.ean is making splendid progress towards recovery. His genial presence will be greatly missed this week, but it is to be hoped that the father of. our local turf ivcrhj will see his colours carried lor many a day to come.

—On tin concluding day of (lie LeopaulsU.wn meeting, which was held on November :t, two Australian sires in l'alron ami Al.vrc.Tii had winning representatives. (lerard, a three-year-o'd 1-v the fnst-named. won n mile ami s-lwlf plate, and a two-year-old by the latter von a selling race, and was botignt in at 203gs. --In Japan horses are barked info their Blalls, then a door is closed at the head, which lias a and hay rack conveniently constructed, to which the nag is secured. When needed Iho door is swung back, and (he horse led forth. Xo one gets kicked, and it seems to be a sensible way to construct a place for any horse.

,— At a special meeting oi the Tahuua Park Committee, held on Wednesday evening, it was decided lo have a race at the February meeting for horses that can do 4.55 or better, two miles, iu harness, with loOsovs added money, and a Sweep of SOsovs each, provided sufficient, entries are received. Strong support has already been promised from Christehnreh owners.

— Sccrct, who is engaged at the D.J.C. summer meeting, is a daughter of England, ar.d last, season won twice out of five starts. Her wins were achieved at Nelson, where she won the Trial Hack Handicap of ilUsovs ((> furlongs), and beat eight others iu ]min Hlsec. Oil tiic second day of the same meeting she won over four furlongs with S.I;S up in Msec.

— The following paragraph appears in the programme of the Gore Racing Club's summer meeting, which is to be held on January 1(1 and I?:—"Notice- is hereby given that bookmakers. tote bettors their clerks or agents, or diqualificd or undesirable persons, will not be admitted to the Gvrc Racecourse. Should any such persons gain admission, even though owners of horses engaged at tho leveling, they will be warned off und proicefitcd fo rtwpii:."

— "Any attempt in punnh self-made crime.? by excessive puni?hment. by its unnecessary severity, obstructed its own operation, becaus® justices of tlic pe;iee and magistrates nMnrally shrank from imposing these heavy penalties. It was not only the monetary penalties that were increased, but also terms of imprisonment. He could not &ce the rhyme or leason of attempting to racecourses. Surely it was better to let those who ran Ihem regulate them in their own way?"—Mr Uarwood, AI.L.C.

— Tntuga»ehu, who is among.tf the horses engaged at Waikouaiti, is an .son ot Musketry. He was not scon out Wt season, but during tl«3 previous year lie Marled nine times, aiut scored twice. His wins included the County Stakes (one and a-quarter mile.-) at the Vairoa Country K.C. annual meeting, when he cuiiied 7.8, and won' in Smin 21 2*ssec; and on tho same d«y he won over 0 furlongs with 8.0 in Imiu 10f.ee. At I'nveriy "l3ay in th'j same ve.iv he ran second to Locat Option 7St over 7 furlongs with 8.11, and was beat by -three parts of a length in lmin Msec.

— The Anieiiean horseman J. 11. -Martin lias accepted a two-year 'engagement at C2OOO a year to ride first jockey to liaron A. dc Rothschild, and take up bis residence in Austria within half an lnmr's train journey from liuda Pesth. Bernard Dillon was also offered £20(10 a year, through Messrs Wealherby, to go to Austria, but Dillon decided to remain in F.nglaiul. .lie has b.-'on associated with Mr W. 15. I'urcfoy's stable ever since lie left Ireland as a tiny bcv.

—It in estimated that a few m'onths ago Micro ivero about 1115 pak-n-pno shops, 17 ia>itan shops, 25 betting shops awl clubs, and four Iwo-up schools within Ihe metropolitan area, ot Sydney, but consequent on the operations of the ('laming and Betting Act they have nil closed, and probably recommenced business at new addresses.

— O'Connor, the American jockey, who lias had phenomenal success in Germany tins year, is also a crack cyclist, and recently, at Berlin, lowered tlio amateur track record of from 20 to 50 kilometres, nr.tl covered nearly 20 miles in half an hour. This was done in training for his great match with the professional liobl, which cams off ou Sunday, October 25, amid much enthusiasm on tho part of the racing crowd, who all went to sec their crack jockey. O'Connor lost the match, however, and gave up after going 15 miles. It appears his two bicycles were tampered with before the start, and while tho raco was on all O'Coimot's money anil valuables were stolen out. of the dressing room, Ho als./ lost about jE.'bO in bets.

— The London Sportsman, in commenting on tho proposed Gaming and Betting Bill recently, aaid that indirectly the sweeping away of faddists and Socialist cranks at the borough elections must Tie* > any cause tha motiv.o of which is a desire to maintain individual freedom ; and that molivo really is at tho bottom o£ tho opposition to I.ord Davey's bill. No ono wishes to promote or maintain street hookmaking, but if street bookmaking cannot bo suppressed wifhout subjecting, the wholo community to arrest without warrant by any and every policeman—why, then, let street bookmaking continue unsupprcsscil, and let peoplo who lose money by reason of it gain wisdom in the best of all schools, experience. We' are far too much given to 'legislating for the protection of fools, and such legislation, while it never does really protect the fool, does, in effect, make liiiu more foolish, for ho fondly imagines that bo need not look after himself, thanks to tho grandmotherly law, and so ho remains a fool for all time, whereas, had lie been left to himself in a iougli-and-tmnblo struggle with adversity, he would probably liavo soon touiul foothold and emerged from the ordeal a shrewd, sensible man.

—An English exchange (ells tho following yarn of an Knsom bookmaker who gnvo up laying them because lie got sick of it; "it ruined people's character so":—"One day/' quoth the retired merchant, "a joker 'comes to me and says. 'Give me a thick nn.' 'AVJip.t for?' says I. 'Wily,' ho says, 'you've took a lot of coin off me, and I've never hacked a winner with yon yet, and I'm in trouble. The missus is' ill, and I'm broke.' Well, like a. juggins, I gave it him, and took his word to be paid back. This was about 7 in the eveniiig that ho done me lor the 'one.' Blest if I wasn't woko up a'. 2 tho next morning just as if the houao was on fire. 'Wind's the matter?' says I, putting ray head out of the window. There, if you please, was my gentleman. 'Conic down, quick,' he sj.ys., '1 want von particular.' When I gets down he says: 'l'vo altered my mind; I've snout the rest of your quid enjoying myself, but here's fourteen boh. 1 wants it put on George Frederick, S.l'.,' ho savs,' 'and the old woman must take her chance. I takes his fourteen bob, lays him in the end 12 to 1 to the money, and next day he won eight pounds eight on the bet. Betting docs ruin people's characters." — Tlicro is a diversity of opinion in Knglmul as to which is the be.it two-year-old of tho year. Early in '.ho season Tiaquair was considered the crack youngster; then Slievo Ciallion put up a couplo of excellent races, and lie was accorded tho honour. However, Ualvini defeated Slievo Uallion in the Middle Park Plate, and in turn Polar Star has beaten Galvini. After Polar Star's success in the Criterion Stakes the Special Commissioner in tho London Spoilsman wrote:—'To-day has brought about the apotheosis of Polnry Star, and in the face of his brilliant victoVy it would be absurd to deny his right to bo considered the best two-voar-old ill Kng'.afl. lie is, indeed, r.u extraordinaiy colt, lor he has grown 110 less than Gin in IS months, aim, notwithstanding it bad attack ot fever this season, ho has won 12 races oft the reel. In Alny last he measured only 14.2, and was a somewhat weakly yearling at that. To decide a, bet he has recently been measured by Jtr Coleman. Jt.It.C.V.S.. and he now stands 10 bunds. If he'has been able to show such great form whiie he lias |iecn growing in this fashion, what will he do when 1113 growth is finished and his muscles sot? Polar Star is not engaged in any o[ fhe classic races next season."

— Writing of breakdowns (says an English writer) brings to mind a, iemarkablo occurrence of a season or two ego. During tho progress of a certain, race at lveniiworth—the picturesquely situated Capetown suburban racocourse— a horse with tho suggestive name of Cordon liouge stepped into a hole, stumbled, and came down heavily, having to bo dragged out of tho course. It was a toss up whether the animal should be destroyed, as its back was badly strained, and goodness knows what other damage had not been sustained. Anyway tlio annuo! was taken oil on a cart, and he would have been deemed a rash man indeed who ottered a "fiver" for it. However, bo was gradually pulled round and sent up country, and Capetown sportsmen smiled when a few months later be appeared in the belting for -the Johannesburg Christmas Handicap. Tlioir smiles, however, were turned to expressions of blnnk amazement when the best prize of tho year fell to a horse which had only escaped sudden death by the luck which bad guided the spinning of a. coin. Such are tlio glorious uncertainties of the turf, ft is not always a case oi "all blanks anij no prizes."

— I'eferring to the death of Mr George Itcrring, an English paper says:—Few men havo had a moro remarkable life than Mr Herring. Ho started his career as a turf commission agent, and among those for whom lie acted v.",is the late Karl of Westmoreland. The present Karl was one of his many friends. At one time he was a well-known owner of horses, and among the many commissions he executed were those for Sir Joseph Hawlev, and those "in the know" about the Derliy prospects of (iladiateur and Blue Gown in 1865 and ISIiS. In his turf life .it was estimated that ilr Herring made a fortune of between i'fil),0(111 and £00.000, and with this ho went into the city to augment it by engaging in various commercial" undertakings. Ho began to give awav money for charitable purposes very early in his career, ami as he prospered the extent of his benevoknee increased proportionately. As an instance of the magnitude of his help to the hospitals, ill June oi this year, following a plan which lie frequently adopted, he olfered to add one-fourth to the amount collected in aid oi the Hospital Sunday Fund up to a gift oi JH3,OiK). The collection of the present, year was £100.000. Ho founded the/Twentieth Century Cluti-a homo for ladies of small means engaged in ill-paid occupations: he founded a soup kitchen and several Salvation Army .shelters. He also founded a home of rest at Maidenhead for distressed gentlefolk. Mr Herring last year handed over to (General Booth a sum of J.'lOtl.OOl), to be employed in sending unemployed, to the colonies, which sum is to be repaid in yearly amounts of A'IOJO each to the King's Hospital Fund.

— Tho American correspondent oi an English paper lias the following:—.Some lime since I spoke of the fearful lack of judgment shown by three oi otir prominent trainers, they not having the rno-i remote idea of the value of horses under their charge, one actually letting the now crack two-year-old oi the year he sold for a mere song of JCT.IO at public auction, when, by a word of commendation to a. private buyer, lie might have had i'IOOO. Ho told him it was a plater, nothing more, and let it go to auction. Vet (his was one of on: mast pi'omin^' l . men. As :i companion picture comes an equally prominent man, who trained Gold Heels and cmtnllesa other goad horse.-. One of his lull" dosen horses—the stable being a small, highclass one—was UoUcher, by Lamplighter— Princess Lorraine, by Iroquois, the sire, Lamplighter, being by Spendthrift—imp. Torchlight. This three-year-old was repeatedly "touted" as u goal thing, but never made good, and, finally, the Canadian trainer, Willie Shields, offered .HO.) for the colt, tried him. ami then came* bm-k lo rhe seller to obtain the rights to start in the Brighton Cup, worth XiXK) cash and a big cup, al two miles and a-i|Uarter. This co-'. him anotiie.v i'K) and a broad smile from the owner and trainer. The race had four starters, with Ilolscher, the outsider, at til) to 1. Shields telling all his friends he hud an excellent chance to win. I'roper. Ihe favourite, was inn into the "round in a mile and a-qitarler. and then the" three-year-old Flip Flap. 105 pounds, took tin the rmining to the linal half mile, when liolschcr, under HI pounds, came like a wild horse, led by a length at the stretch ■luin, (iud finally- won, .wider a desperate

drive, by a neck, in the extraordinarily good time of o.o\) 1-5 on r. tr.'ck deep in mud. Ilolficher now lias at least three valuable 'longdistance events at his mercy, with apparently nothing to make him extend himsylf. STI'D XISWS AND XOTKS. The Australasian reports the death from heart disea.se ot Zali»?ki. Zidiiiski was u veiy fine colt by Xordenfcltlt. from the famous mare Kraiitv. At .Mr itorriu's sale in 1600 Mr \Y. It. Wilson gave for Strathmore and flaOga for Za-iiukxi. Mr Wil?ou made a good many purchases in Xew Zealand that year. and. in addition to the two mentioned, lie .secured Steadfast. Ladv' Carbine. Cooyu, and -Coin. Strathmore und Zaiinski stood out, however, //alinpki was a good coil, but as u three-year-old Strathmore was considered a «;ood 7lb in front ol him. Zalinski was unfortunate. Shortly alter winning the Toorak Handicap. a spike from the boxthorn hedge at St. Albans poisoned his foot-, and he could not run at ihe V.lj.C. spring Meeting. In the autumn he easily beat Stromboli, Highborn. and others in the Es.sendun Stakes, ran second to Slnithmorc in ihe Champion Stakes, aiul won the Loch Plate, lie did not go to .Sydney, but was kept for th<? Melbourne Cup, in which he was weighted at 0.0. The stable commission was no sooner elicited for this raeo tluiu Zaliuaki'.s leg filled, and ihe money was lost. Mr Chimside bought Za!in?ki for stud, and a more promisinglooking stullioii ii would lie hard to imagine; but the only real racehorse got by him was Clean Sweep. He was tho best colt of his year. Colonel Shilinski wac one <>( the best jumpers we have seen, and maybe Zulimski has sired some good ones at Merino Downs, where he had been since Mr Chimside sold off ft few years ago.

A private letter was lately received in Sydney from a gentleman interested in the Irish stud where the Australian horse The Victory, winner of the Melbourne Cup of 1902, is now located. The letter states: —"I am glad to bo able to give you an excellent account of Tho Victory and his slock. I. hope that The Fisherman blood will do a lot tor tho hardihood and stamina of our' horses, which are becoming more and more inbred to 15hickloek. or Galopiu, as it is now more commonly called, and are far too excitable and too little 'cut and come again.' The Victory is the only tail male representative of the mighty Fisherman this side of Australia. But he has not had a fair chance eo far. Australian stallions, even since Spearmint, are still rather at a discount here. Carbine alone lias in any form succecdod. Tho Victory's loals, the few that- there are of them, are nice, and look like racing, and raco I am sure they will." From other sources it is gathered that bleeders in England are bejginuing to find thr.tr constant stocking of any place with horses makes tho land burse-sick. At Wclbcck, where Carbine now is, the paddocks are said to be fairly horse-sick; and the case is the same with Cobham. The Duke of Portland at Welbcck, and Mr Alison at Cobham. rarely breed a winner now. As the best of the Australian sires now in England are at these studs, it is not to be wondered at that their stock arc not doing wonders. Spearmint was foaled and reared at Sledniore. and so got a chance to develop strength and stamina.