TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1917, 17 August 1888, Page 23

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

*** In most seasons two or three firstdass jumping horses come to the front, and by their doughty deeds frighten owners from nominating where therefe reason to supposethat these first-classers will compete. This season, however, there need be no fear on that account, so far as the Otago Hunt Club meeting is concerned. There is " much of a muchness " about the animals likely to enter, and this being so I should imagine that any owner who has a decent jamper will enter him for one or more of the varied stakes on the Hunt Club programme. Nominations are due to-morrow (Saturday) evening; they must be in Mr Sydney James' hands by 9 p.m. Particulars will be found in the advertisement in this issue. %* While the flat racers are taking a spell the leapers give us what generally proves to be au agreeable interlude. That interlude is now on ; and an important part of it was reached on Thursday week, for on that date the «ew seasoD, that of 1888-89 was ushered in by the Ashburton Hunt Club Steeplechases. It was so last season, this club being the first then to begin operations ; but the financial outcome this year will hardly be so satisfactory, I should imagine, as the amount put through the totalisator is less by £291 than on the previous occasion. The racing, however, seems to have been pretty good, the favourites being put down in five out of the six events. I observe that Foul Play's half brother, Leodogran, managed to win the Hack Race. Had Squib faltered at the finish of the Hunters' Handicap there would have been paid a dividend of £83 16s, for there was only one investor on Lord Burleigh. *#* The proposition "to form a jockey club" in Oamaru seems to have fallen to the ground. I hear no more of it ; and, on the other hand, I observe that the new committee of the old club is prepared to continue that body with its present liabilities. That much.is to bss gleaned from a remark made by Mr Barton at the adjourned annual meeting of the club held last week. At that meeting it was decided to reduce the number of committeemen to eight, the following being elected: — Messrs Schluter, Waters, Watt, Barton, Johnston, Belcher, Chase, and Bruce. Mr Lintott was elected president. The chairman (Mr Shalders) thought that if the committee just elected and the Tradesmen's Club could come to some arrangement as to the management of the ground it would be a good thing. The suggestion was 'thought to be a very good one, and it was decided that the Tradesmen's Club be asked to appoint a deputation to act in conjunction with the Oamaru Club in interviewing the trustees. Let us hope that this fresh understanding will be the signal for a truce in regard to all personal squabbles, and that all will now unite in premoting the interests of racing. *** It may not be wholly unprofitable, ■with a view to selecting likely horses for forthcoming events, to cast a glance back at the past season for the purpose of discovering what horses have made the best time at the respective distances. As it is a subject that interests everybody, I make no apology for using up a little of this week's space with the necessary figures. To commence with four furlongs : the fastest time in which this distance has been covered is 50 seconds. This record has been achieved by no less than three horses— viz. : Adulation, iv the C.J.C. Spring Nursery Handicap, in which she as a two-year-old carried 7.6 and won easily; Cinderella, in the D.J.C. Railway Plate, carrying 8.11 ; and Aunie Laurie, in the Post Stakes at Ashburto:), catch weights up, in April. Sommeil's 52 seconds in the Welcome Stakes cornea next in point of speed. Considering that he had 8.5 on his back and won easily, I should reckon this as good a performance as either of the others just referred to ; but Mr Goodman's colt will not in history claim the record. %* At five furlongs an Otago colt, and a two-year-old, has the pull over all others. I refer to Wolverine's lmin 2|sec in the C.J.C. Nursery Handicap. This performance was no flake, either, for the colt was once blocked in. On the other hand, however, it should be remembered that Wolverine was carrying but 7.4§ with hi 6 overweight. The next on the list is Forester, who at C J.C. Spring meeting cast the five furlongs behind in lmin 2|sec, winning in a canter with 8.3 up. It was in this very race the previous season that Forester made the champion record of the colony, lmin lsec, but he was then carrying only 7.3, or 131b less than weight for age. Comparing this season's performances of Wolverine and Forester by the standard of the weight-forage scale, it will be found that Wolverine was carrying his allowance, while Forester had 111b less. So that the two-year-old did much better than the four-year-old. Apres Moi occupies an honourable position in being third on tho list wifch lmin 3Jsec in the Russley Stakes, for, though carrying 91b less than weight for age, she was far from fit at the time. Pearl Shell and Fickle are a tie wifch lmin 4sec; Ravenswing did the distance in the D.J.C. City Stakes (151b over w.f.a.) in lmin 4|sec ; Paddy has a record of lmin 4|sec in the Epsom Plate ; and Carbine showed us a particularly meritorious performance when he ran home an easy winner of the Tattersall's Hopeful Stakes in lmin ssec, seeing that he had 291b over weight for age and was unlucky iv getting a bad start. _ *** We have beaten last season's record at six furlongs by a quarter of a second. Russley's lmin 14|sec in the Anniversary Handicap at Tattersall's meeting in December, being a sterling performance. Mr Stsad's horse was, it must be mentioned, carrying 41b over weight for age. Carbine's lmin 15sec in the Challenge Stakes is another record of great merit, as the colt had a 51b penalty and was the last of the field to get underway. Carbsne also did well when he won the C.J.C. Champagne in lmin 15|sec. Nexb to these we have Rumour's lmin 16sec in the Railway Handicap at the Wellington Spring meeting (201b under w -f.a.) aDd the same time by Formo in the Flying Stakes at the Auckland Plumpton meeting (191b under w.f.a ). *** Coming to the next distance, seven furlongs, wo are met with, the best record ever made in the colony, and that is Ruby's lmin 27Jsec in the C.J.C. Craven Stakes— the very race in which two years previously Maligner secured what was at that time considered almost phenomenal time. To show how good Ruby's time really is, I may mention that so far as we know it is a quarter of a second faster than the best Yankee record, and unless the Americans have lately been doing something extraordinary, Ruby can crow over them. He was carrying 151b less than weight for ago. Second place is claimed by Tennyson, who with 6.7 up ran the seven furlongs in the Auckland Criterion Stakes in lmin 3O.sec (321b under w.f a.) ; bub Silvermark's lmin 30|sec in the DJ.C. Publicans' Handicap was a Better performance, seeing that •«r Goodman's colt wasf carrying 'only 121b less than the seals allowance. Antelope has a record of lmin 31sec. ' • „*** Honours for the 'mile are Apparently divided between Balisfca and Marlborougb, who, 1 nud on carefully searching the records, have Doth covered the eight furlongs in lmin 43sec.

I was not previously aware that Marlborough had earned this distinction, but looking through my book I find it set down that his mile in the C.J.C. Midsummer Consolation was done in that time. He was carrying 101b less than weight for age. Balista's record was in the Stewards' Handicap at the A.R.C. Autumn meeting; she had 7.0 up, or 20lb less than weight for age. This lmin 43sec has never teen beatoa in New Zealand. The next on the list for the past season is a tie at lmin 44§sec, by Apropos in the C.J.C. Easter Handicap, in which the mare had lib over weight for age — a rattling performance — and BaHsta (91b under weight for age) in the A.R C. Trial Stakes. Sultan's lmin 44§sec in the Templeton Stakes is not to be despised, though we should think more of it if he had been carrying more weight. Aa it was, he had 311b under weight for age. Antelope and Miss Dargon divide honours at lmin 44 4-ssec; St. Ives and Normnnby have each a record of lmin 45sec ; Rewi and Apropos are on the same mark at lmin 45|sec ; and lmin 46sec has been done by Tongariro and Little Scrub. *** At a mile and a distance we have Tetford's lmin 58Jsec in the Victoria Handicap as the top of the tree for the season. It is not, however, the best record for the colony, that honour being due to Administrator, who in 1885-86 scored lmjn 58sec. Tetford was carrying within 71b of his weight for age. Whisper, with 171b less than weight for age, won the Island Bay Anniversary Handicap in 2tnin OJsec ; and the next best is Cinderella's 2min 2sec in the A.R.C. Tradesmen's Plate (51b less than weight for age). *** There is a tie at a mile and a-quarter, with 2min 9sec, scored by Dudu in the Maiden Plate at the Wanganui Spring meeting and by Marlborough in the Centenary Handicap afc Island Bay (121b under weight for age). This record is half a second slower than the best made during the previous season. La Rose and Russley are a match with 2min llsec. The mare made her record in the S.C. J.C. Handicap (181b under weight for age) and Russley in Tattersail's Club Cup (121b less). College Boy ran the distance in the South Canterbury District Plate in 2min 12sec. Antelope, Tongariro, and Marlborough have made records of 2tnin 12|sec, while Chantilly is credited with 2min 13|sec. %* I can find only one authentic record of less than 2min 40sec for a mile and a-half, and that is Springston's 2min 38|sec in the C.J.C Midsummer Handicap. He was carrying 251b less |than weight for age, which to some- extent takes the gilt off the gingerbread. Escapade's official time in the Island Bay Racing Club Handicap was 2tniu 37a s ec, but it is remarked that private watches made it 2min 41sec. If Escapade really did do what the official timekeeper gave him ' credit for, he has the second best record for the colony ; but I hesitate about accepting the performance. Even time, 2min 40sec, was scored by Maxim when he beat Gipsy King in the C J.C. Derby. This is a splendid record, and one that will take a lot of rubbing out. St. Clair, with 351b less than weight for age, won the Burke Memorial Stakes in the same time, 2min 40sec, but of course there is no comparison between the two performances. Victoria, with 171b under weight for age, made 2min 40|sec in the Prince of Wales' Handicap ; Hermitage won the Tiraaru Cup (151b under) in 2min 40f sec ; Gipsy King, Quibble, and Beresford are a tie ■with 2min 41sec, the first-named of the trio doing his performance in the D.J.C. Handicap (with 151b over weight for age; ; Laurel, Antelope, and Clogs are each credited with 2min 42se c; while Strenuous and Silvercnark have made reicords of 2min 43sec. *** Cruchfield has shaved a fraction off ,fche New Zealand record for a mile and threequarters, his Hawke's Bay Cup having been won in 3min 6sec. He won easily, too, but per contra was carrying 131b less than weight for age. Dudu has second honours with 3min B£sec in the Wanganui Cup (201b less than weight for age) ; and the next best is Lady.Norah's 3min lOaec in the Wellington R.C. Handicap (131b less) ; while Friendship gave us 3min 10§sec in the Auckland Easter Handicap. *** There is nothing to brag about at the next distance, two miles, the best being Beresford's 3min 38sec in the Wellington Cup, in which he carried 241b less than weight for age. Pearl ran the 16 furlongs in the Hastings Hauoicap in 3min 39sf c, with an impost of 111b under weight for age. I take no notice of the N.Z. Cup, for the reason that there was a question raised as to whether the full distance was covered. *** Gipsy King's 3min 51sec in the Dunedin Cup (6Jb over weight for age) is a best ,on record in the colony for two miles and a distance. The fact, too, should not escape observation, that on the Dunedin course horses really cover a little over a mile in each circuit. *** At two miles and a-quarter we have Maxim's 4min ljsecin the Canterbury Cup and Nelson's 4min 6sec in the Auckland Cup. These were the only races in New Zealand run over that distance. Nelson was carrying 61b over weight for age. * M * In the above computations it will be noticed that I have confined my attention to the doiugs on town racecourses. When we once bef?in to take notice of the time made in the country one never knows where fco draw the line. I say this without wishing to convey the impres- ! sion that in my opinion all country time is unreliable ; but it; is impossible to know when we are safe in travelling along an unknown road, and I have avoided the possibility of error by keeping to the main meetings. The following table shows at a glance the best records for New Zealand for the past four years, and these include the champion records for the colony, with the'exception of Tasman's record for the mile I and a-half, which was made in the 1883-4 ! season: — I _

*** Poole will have Trapper in work again by the end of the week. This game and unwearoutable son of Duntroon has already performed almost incessantly through five racing seasons, and still gives no trouble on the score of uusoundness. When his time comes and he loses his pace — and this must come about before long — he should be taken care of for the rest of his natural term, for he has been one of the best poor man's horses in the country. It is intended, I understand, that Trapper shall reappear at the Hunt Club meeting if the weights suit. V Lord Stanley, the fourteenth Earl of Derby, and grandson of the founder of that classic race and the Oaks, was born in 1799, and became an owner on his own account in 1842. John Scott was his trainer, and continued in that capacity for 21 years. At first his stud was only a small one, and his luck anything but good ; but during the 11 years between 1847 and

1858 thenumberof his horses was pretty considerable. One of the best, and one of the first who gained him a success, was the celebrated Ithuriel, who was so beautiful an animal that he served as a model for the Goodwood Cup of 1845, which was won by one of Lord Stanley's horses. It is a curious fact (says an English writer) that the identical earl who founded the stakes won only one Derby, and that was with Sir Peter Teazle, 1787, though he took two Oaks; while his grandson never succeeded in obtaining the Blue Riband, and was only once successful in the ladies' race, and that was with Iris, in the year of the Great Exhibition. Most notable among his horses was Canezou, but she could not add a St. Leger to his account ; as, after winning the One Thousand 'Guineas, she was only second to Surplice in 1848. She took the Goodwood Cup, however, in two successive years — 1849 and 1850 v Her value may be estimated when we state that Bhe and her three offspring— Fazzoletto, a Two Thousand winner, Captain Flyaway, and Paletot— brought in their owner pearly £25,000 between them. Although not brilliantly successful, his lordship was no loser by his turf transactions, and perhaps, taking one year with another, the debit and credit account were pretty evenly balanced, which may certainly be pronounced a very satisfactory state of things. He backed his horses, but never for large sums.

*#* Several circumstances combine to make the racing season of 1887-88 a remarkable one in history, and I venture to think that the most conspicuous of these circumstances is to be found in the fact that the racing was right through of a particularly straightforward character. It is many years since I first began to take an interest in turf matters, and I cannot recall a season in which fewer swindles were worked. There w.ere one or two minor cases of pulling, and one in which, in an important race, it was said, that the winner was allowed to win on sufferance ; but this was never proved,- and if it had been it would have been merely the exception that proved the rule. What is the reason for this improved state of affairs? Simply this, as I take it, that it now pays to be honest. That is putting the cause on a very low level, but I am afraid we should seek for it in vain if we were to search a higher sphere. We musb, however, be thankful that the result has been brought about, and not need scrutinise too closely the motive. I have been led in fco these remarks by hearing from several quarters the remark that a certain horse is stiff for the New Zealand Cup. The notion is absurd. Stiff he may be physically, but I dou'fc believe that any horse in the race is " stiff "in the sense of being not wanted. In the first place, it is rather early to make arrangements as to what will be wanted, for the reason that not even the trainers know how their charges will come on during the end of the winter ; and further, what can be made by "giving away" ahorse? Absolutely nothing. There is no public money to go for. No; backers may select the wrong horse — nine out of 10 infallibly must bark up the wrong treebut they may rest assured that whatever they back is on the job in dead earnest, and there is little doubt that the best horse on the day will win.

* # * It was not always so in New Zealand ; and yet this country would at any period of its history have proved a poor hunting ground for those japkals of the turf that infest the great cities of the world. Speaking of some memorable rascally transactions in the Old Country, an English scribe says : — «• It has often been remarked that if the pluck, daring, and ingenuity that have been exercised by the black sheep of the turf in compassing their villainies had been applied to a reputable calling, they would have sufficed to raise the possessor to a foremost place in the social scale. The daring villainy which has been practised at times in making the favourite • safe ' is almost incredible. The day before Marcus ran for the St. Leger in 1831 he and some other horses were standing atHhe Doncaster Arms. During the afternoon a slouching-looking fellow entered the kitchen of the inn, and taking out his pipe seated himself beside a huge boiler, from which the lads were drawing water for the horses. There was no one in the kitchen except a girl, and the fellow sent her to get him some beer. The lads were , still in and out drawing the water, and as soon as she had executed the customer's order the maid-servant brought her kettle and set it under the tap. ' I wouldn't take my tea water from that,' he said ; •it looks yellow and greasy.' •So it does,' she answered ; ' well, I'll get it "outside. When she returned the man had. drunk up his beer and disappeared. The next morning two of the horses were found dead in their stables, and Marcus, whom everybody had fancied, did not even get a place, and died immediately after the race. Upon the bodies being opened traces of arsenic were found in all. Then, and not till then, did the girl remember the yellow and greasy water and the loafer's remark. There was no doubt that he had put arsenic into the copper, and had she been as obstinate and care* less as some of her tribe human as well as equine life would have been sacrificed. The poisoner was never found, nor was it ever known who was the instigator of the diabolical outrage. The owner of Chorister, the winner, had backed him for a very large amount, winning £7000 by the victory."

*** Last week I made some reference to the amount of monej' won in stakes by Malua, but we were not then able to know how much the V.R.C. Grand National was worth. The last mail brings us news that this came to £1087, so that Majua's grand total is swelled to £8522, and Mr Inglis' horse has the record for the colonies, having beaten Trident's total by £207.

%* Immense interest was excited by the Grand Pck this year, and the receipts at Longchamps were £14,360, the largest amount ever known. The twenty-franc stand was occupied by 9485 men and 3977 women, and there were 5509 persons in the five-franc stand, while 77,15 1 paid one franc each to enter the course, and there were 1871 carriages which had stations for the afternoon. The pari mutuel took £73,000.

*** There is a. certain amount of mystery always surrounding that well-known racehorse Johnny Sam (says a Queensland paper), and a smart sporting story in connection with him comes from the direction of Adavale. It was intended by his owner to take him to Brisbane to run, but some of the bookmakers nominated the horse for the Welford races, further west from Adavale, so as to work him in their books. The two Johnny Sams were then freely offered at 100 to 4, and local publican took the bet up in three places. In the meantime Johnny Sam was travelling in the direction of Charleville, but the publican sent a man after the owner, and bought the horse for the sum of £250. To the consternation of the books the horse returned to Adavale, and has started for Welford, where the new owner has 300 to 12 that he cannot win the double, which, to judge by Johnny Sam's performances, should be a very soft thing.

*#* In view of the near approach of the covering season I reproduce the following pertinent remarks from the pen of the correspondent to an English paper :— " We know there are certain diseases to which horses are subject that are pretty well sure to come out and make themselves manifest either in their immediate descendants or in the second or third genera-

tion. Such, things should, to my tnindj bear some weight ; aye, and a great deal more weight than unsoundness, honourably earned, for so 16 is in hard work, on the racecourse, between the flags, or in the hunting field. That is not likely to be transmitted to a great number of descendants ; the other is, worse luck. I can give a case in point. I bought some few years ago a young horse of a farmer ; he was said to be nearly, or quite thoroughbred— an assertion I had no reason to doubt, from his appearance, but how he was bred the man who .owned him could not remember, as he had bought him as a cheap lot at a bankrupt's sale, and neither knew nor cared anything about pedigrees, nor did he know where the breeder was gone to. Well, matters went on fair and square for three or I four years, when I found that my horse, who was everything else that could be desired, did not move so freely as I had a right to expect he would do, and, to make a long story short, just at the time that he should have been at bis best and really was so in every other rsspect, he developed such an aptitude for rolling head over heels on the slightest provocation, or, indeed, with none at all, in all his paces, that I was fain to let him go for what I could get, to save broken knees, or, what would have been worse, a broken neck ; in fact, it was not safe to ride him a. mile from the stable. Just about the time I found him go short I was lucky enough to find a man who knew where he was bred and all about him, who, moreover, very kindly gave me his pedigree — a pedigree I shall not give, because several hunter sires of note are mixed up with it. I saw at once where the mischief arose. His sire was, as far as I knew, sound enough, and a successful sire, but his grandsire had been lame in the feet all, or nearly all, his life ; and although the sire of successful racehorses, winners, and runners up for classic races, could never be trained himself, and whenever I saw him (which was frequently) he could scarcely hobble round his yard. In the grandson, however, the defect came out, as I have very little doubt it has done in other instances save the one under consideration. *** Speaking of a recent visit to Kirkham, ' Martindale " says : — Old Chester looks remarkably well ; and, as the " boss " of the place, he was shown first. Martini-Henry followed. He is every inch a thoroughbred stallion, and one you would never tire looking over. Last came the English-bred Phil Athol. I was never more surprised in my life. My last acquaintance with the son of Blair Athol and Phillina (imp.) was on the Eandwick training tracks. I must confess that there I never liked him ; and I always foretold that he would never race. Since then he has grown into one of the truest shaped horses it would be possible to see. As the horse came out of his box and stood in the paddock ha made a perfect picture: and a gentleman present, with artistic tastes, could hardly be got to leave, despite the fact that he was promised a look at a future English Derby winner. %* During the hearing of the great libel case of Wood v. Cox, the Duke of Portland was put in the box to give rebutting evidence in favour of Wood, but directly he had been examined theopposing counsel confronted him with the followiog letter to Lord Durham, which the owner of Ayrshire admitted he had written : — " Sunday. — My dear Jack — I must write to you a line of congratulate you on the most excellent speech you made at the Gimcrack Club at York. I do like a fellow to speak out straight, and I don't envy Chetwynd and C.'s feelings. If they say anything, and you want a pal, you can rely on me to do anything I can. Jockeys, no doubfc, are d thieves — (laughter) —but in my opinion gentleman who aid and abet them and make money through their misdeeds are a great deal worser. — (Laughter.) I should like to know the result of the Success inquiry." *#* The cross-examination in this case of a jockey called Weldon was very funny. He gave his views on pulling as follows : — I have beard that Wood pulled horses, but that is said of every jockey. It has been said of me.— (Laughter.) — Howis pulling done ? — (Laughter.) — I suppose a man sitting back on his horse and pulling it up. — That is a very coarse and inartistic way of doing it, is it not?— That is not the way I should pull a horse up. — Can a jockey also pull a horse so as to prevent its winning by delaying the start ? — I suppose so. — And by dropping his hands when he gets near the post?— Then everybody would see him.— (Loud laughter.) — Then it is better done a little way from home?— Yes, — (Renewed laughter.)" *** Mr M'Calmont, who gave either £5000 or £6000 for the Ascot Cup winner Timotby, with Castlenock thrown in, is an officer in the Scots Guards, and when he fancies a horse very much he has £2 on " ready," and if it does not win he reduces his stake to £1. From this it will be gathered that he is not likely to geb broke rapidly, and he is sure to outsay Mr Benzon. When his grand uncle died a short time ago he left him the trifle of £3,000,000 sterling, which, however, he will not como into for five years. He is a man sternly devoted to his profession, and on the night of his great victory he was not to be lured into staying in London, and midnight saw him at* the Guards depot at Oaterham, where he is adjutant. * # * The appearance of the acceptances for the New Zealand Cup has not caused much betting, as public fancies all accepted, and backers seem satisfied with original selections. The following business has been done since our last :— NEW ZEALAND CUP. 100 to 16 Lochiel 100 — 10 Beresford 100 — 8 Lorraine 100 — 6 Sommeil 100 — 4 Strenuous. DOUBLES— CUP AND DKBBY. 50 to 2 Lorraine and Carbine 100 — 3 Lorraine and Sommeil 100 — 3 Escutcheon and Carbine ICO — 2 St. Clair and Wolverine. MELBOUBJTE CUP. Oarlyon, Tranter, Australian Peer, Recall, Malua, Matador, and Niagara have all been backed at prices ranging from 100 to 4 to 100 to 2. *** Waddell has blistered the L'Orient colt, who had shown signs of soreness. The Fallacy filly is also on the sick list, having not quite recovered from the injury her foot sustained some time back. The working members of this team — Chic, Captain Cook, The ' Don, La Rose, Titania fiilly, and Occident, are doing well, especially The Don, who is growing into a nice colt. . *** There are only five acceptors for the chief event at the North Canterbury meeting, tlje Great Northern Steeplechase, and I think that Isaac should prove good enough to win, for he has shown himself to be a reliable jumper and not altogether destitute of pace. Presto i may be close up.

-uisuftuue. Four furlongs Five „ Six Seven „ One mile Mile and a-distance M ile and a-quarfcer Mile and a-half Mile and three-quarters ... Two miles Two and a-distance Two and a-quarter m. s. 0 52 1 3£ 1 16 1 35 1 43 2 1 2 10 2 38i 3 8 m. s. 0 50i 1 3 1 1 14| 1 28 1 43£ 1 58 2 11 2 38* 3 6^ 3 36* 3 54i 4 0 i m. s. 0 473 I,* l 1 15 1 30£ 7 43 1 58J 2 8* 2 38 3 16$ 3 32 ' 3 54| 1 4 3j m. s. 0 SO 1 24 1 14f 1 27j 1 43 1 58| 2 9 2 38* 3 6 3 35 3 53 4 15£ 3 38 3 51 4 If