Page 23 Advertisements Column 3

Otago Witness, Issue 1950, 4 April 1889, Page 23

*v* A question having been asked as to the eligibility of horses that competed at Thornbury to run at the Riverton meeting, the D.J.C. has decided not to enforce the disqualification in this case. Until a month or so ago the custom" was for the metropolitan club to take no notice of those programmes in which there were athletic sports as well as horse races; and the Thornbury meetjng was held before it was announced that all programmes would have to be submitted. This being so, it would have been scarcely fair to have ordered a disqualifica.tion. The D.J.C. now give fair warning that every programme must be approved, on pain of disqualification without further warning. ♦ # * It was very slow sport at BluesMn on Saturday, and yet we all enjoyed ourselves, for the weather was deliciously fine, and it would have been a luxury to 101 l over^ the fences and , do a big skulk even if there had been no pretence of horse racing. I hope that by next year the committee will get a better course. Mr Ferguson's paddock is convenient of access, and a delightful specimen of rich meadow land, but it is absolutely unsuitable for racing purposes, being too small, too rough, and too much ion a slope. To get a half mile track the committee had to use all the ground, and make the turns as sharp as those of a billiard table. When a better course is procured there will be more|competing horses, and, in continuation, better racing. The results are reported at length in another column, and I may therefore briefly mention that Blueskin,_winner of two of the races, is a rather nice stamp of a hack ; that the Othello that carried off the two trots is the son of Bucephalus that once competed in the Cromwell Derby and a year or so ago made a sorry es3ay at galloping at the Forbury ; and that Stable Jacket is said to be a veritable son of old Traducer. I was rather particular in inquiring into this, and came across a man who a season or so ago bought the horse from a person at Hyde. This person had had Stable Jacket for 14 years, and he was an aged horse when he got him from the previous owner, who had brought him from Canterbury ; so that the horse is at least 22 years old. Messrs Mason and Roberts passed £766 through the machine during the afternoon.

* # * In last issue I quoted some remarks from a contemporary as to the presence of mind displayed by Stratford in pulling up a horse at Kowai Pass in time to prevent a collision. Something of the same sorb appears to have taken place at Palmereton, for I observe that at the squaring-up meeting a letter was received from Mr Cruickshanks requesting the committee to pass a vote of thanks to the rider of one of the horses in the Novel Race for his zealous efforts to prevent a more serious accident to his son, who was ridden over during the race. It is hardly necessary to add that Mr Cruickshanks' request was acceded to ; I understand that the jockey referred to is little Dick George, son of Mr T. George, of the Taieri. * # * All doubts as to Manton's mission at Eastertide were set at rest on Tuesday morning by the announcement in the public telegrams that the colt had sailed for Sydney by the Wakatipu. Up to the very last there was a suspicion in the minds of many persons that Mr Butler would alter his plans ; and that he has not done so may be taken to mean that Manton has freshened up and performed satisfactory work on the Wanganui course, where he has been located ever since the races there early last month. Mr Butler-has also gone over himself, and Bob Derrett is with him, so that the party is a complete one, and if the colt is really well, he will doubtless give a satisfactory account of himself, for he is a racehorse. But he will need to be quite at his best to vanquish the heroes of the V.R.C. meeting. We all hope that Mr Butler's enterprise may be rewarded, but I must confess that I am not over confident, having a suspicion that his preparation has been rather hurried. Up North, where the colt has been working, some of the sporting folk evidently have their misgivings, for " Gipsy King " makes the rather ominous remark that "a few more weeks' work such as he has been doing lately would undoubtedly bring him back to the form he showed in the spring." No one will be more pleased than myself if Manton gives us an agreeable surprise, but it will be a surprise should ha win one of the big races on his merits. Manton's engagements at Sydney are the Autumn Stakes, a mile and a-half at w.f a. ; the Doncaster Handicap ; the Sydney Cup (at 8.4) ; the All-aged Stakes, one mile at w.f .a. ; the Cumberland Stakes, two miles, w.f. a. ; and the A J.C. Plate, three miles, w.f .a. In the weight-f or-age races he will be opposed to Abercoru, Carbine, Locbiel, Cranbrook, Australian Peer, Volley, Carlyon, Lonsdale, and others of less repute. * # * I observe that Sultan also is nominated for all these weight-for-age races as well as the important handicaps, and there is no doubt that Mr Hammond intended to send the colt over to have a cut in among the best company either on his present owner's account or as representing whoever chose to give the price Mr Clibborn was instructed to ask for him ; but at the eleventh hour the black ! fellow was found to be unfit to make the journey, and it is now understood that he will for the present remain where he is. So much the worse for his owner, for a horse of Sultan's stamp would be sure to sell well. *#* The latest news from the Randwick training track is to the effect that Australian Peer is doingstrong workandmovingquite freely. Abercorn and Carlyon are well, and so is Pearl Shell, but Cranbrook occasionally shows symptoms of lameness. Of. the lesser lights the touts are specially pleased with Yabba, Soldier's Wind, Steel Arrow, Miss Alice, and Cheshunt. * # * A case of an unusual nature recently occupied the attention of the committee of the Victorian Club, the facts of which, according to "Asmodeus," are as follows :— A well known bookmaker laid Dr a bet of £1300 to £20 that he (the doctor) could not produce a l'd'2 pony capable of running three furlongs on the Blsternwick Park training track inside 41see. After the match was made and both parties attested to the conditions by attaching their signatures in the book of another bookmaker, Dr expressed no desire to adhere to the bet, and in fact suggested that the same should be cried off. The bookmaker, however, scouted the idea, taanted the doctor with being afraid to lose his money, and in fact is said to (have grossly abused and insulted Dr over the matter. The last-named thereupon determined to proceed with the match at all hazard, and gave the bookmaker due notice of the same, mentioning date and circumstances. On the day appointed the ground was officially measured by Mr J. W. Reiliy, the well known surveyor, and various other officials were in attendance, Mr Thomas Gaunt's assistants acting as timekeepers, and Mr R. S. Wakley as judge. Thus everything was conducted on thoroughly * genuine conditions, and the pony produced was Vicenza, whose height was also duly certified. The match was at catch weights, and Vicenza accomplished the task set her in 40 l-ssec, thus winning the wager. The starter, timekeeper, judge, and surveyor each gave their written testimony respecting the genuineness of the performance, and as the ring man refused to pay, Dr brought him before the committee of the Victorian Club, of which, association both are ttfem-