TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1965, 18 July 1889, Page 23

TALK OF THE DAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

*„,* Queensland's experience of the totalisafcor has not been uniformly pleasant. There is the benefit to clubs' revenues, but, on the other hand, the chief town is infested with private totalisator shops. It was so in Dunedin on.cc. Half a dozen machines were at work on every important race. This was at the time the totalisator was introduced to Dunedin. We found it necessary to restrict the use of the instrument to racing clubs. Queensland has jast arrived at that stage, and last week the Parliament passed a bill, based on the New Zealand Act of 1881, having for its object the limitation of the privilege to clubs standing in the position of trustees for the public. There is little doubt that the experience of South Australia and New Zealand will be of great valua not only to Queensland, but to Victoria and New South Wales, when those colonies license the totalisator. That they will license it someday is as sure as the succession of the seasons*. The only question is, When ? *** No one man has a monopoly of wisdom — there were wise men even before Solomon'stime—and it would be absurd to assume that my opinion as to the relative merits of Cuirassier and Chain Shot ought to be accepted as an, authoritative and pronouncement. I still adhere to the notion that Mr-Robinson's-colt should not be considered inferior to thewinner of the Auckland Derby and Leger, butit is only fair to mention that others equally and perhaps better qualified to judge — having seen both racing — are persuaded that Cuirassier is the more leniently handicapped of the two in* the New Zealand Cup. This is what is said on< the subject by " Spectator," who is a horsey man, and has had an opportunity of watching: Cuirassier's performances up North : — "Jimmy Kean,-the trainer, and Jack Eean, the rider of" Cuirassier, fancied their colt, and the latter told me that if there was a little more time the Auckland Derby would be a good thing for Cuirassier, and as it was Manton would have ite stretch himself. I took particular stock of thehorses before the race, and noticed that Cuirassier was somewhat excited and seating,. and he hardly left the paddock like s. Home in thorough' condition, and though Manton was made most: of, and|Cuirassier was ridden ajmost patient race?, and won, he was nndoubtedly the most distressed; of the three starters at the finish. I think a horseman like Clifford could have gob Manton home a winner in that event. Holmes, however, rode to orders and went to burst up Mb opponent. Now, if the handicappers imagine that Manton lost the Auckland Derby through being amiss they should have taken into consideration the condition that Cuirassier was in when he met Manton in Napier, at Riccarton, and at Ellerslie. The time in which the Auckland Derby was run was sufficient to show thai; Cuirassier at all events had improved on his Canterbury form, and the way he finished home should have led to a different estimate of hia merits. It is a matter of opinion, however, and mine is that Cuirassier is the better horse ; but apart from that I consider that Manton's bare victory in Napier and the reversal of Canterbury from at Auckland should have caused the handicappers to have placed the two horses on the same mark. For the reason that I think Cuirassier a better horse than Manton, I must, consider him a better treated horse than Chain, Shot, who has full allowance of weight, and who, can hardly be considered to have proved himself within 61b of Manton under this scale o£ weights." And some other writers give one tho idea that they hold eomewhat similar views, though they do not go so far as the one I have just quoted. I mention these matters not for the purpose of wriggling away from _my own opinion but because I am anxious that in regard to a moot point the public should have the benefit of all available information, and it, is of more importance in my esteem that .the Witness readers should be able to form an independent judgment than that they should be induced to swear by myself personally as a prophet. Ifcmay be of service to append the conclusions arrived at by different scribes after reviewing the handicap for the Cup : —

"Sir Launcelot": I consider the' handicap an excellent one. Though I have had to find fault with the handicappers about some of its minor details I approach the task of trying to pick it in 10 very diffidently, but I will hazard the selection tbafc tho winner will be found concealed in the following :— Manton, Sudu, Son-of-a-Gun, Hilda, British Lion, Lady Norah, Scots Grey, Lady Florin, Quilt, Wakatipu, and if I thought it likely that Springston and St. Glair would stand I would add their names to make up a dozen. - ' <-. '* Spectator " j To pick out 10 horses at thii ataga I like Ouihuaier, Dudu, Sultan, Hilda, Lady Norah, Jet d'Eaii, Scots Grey, Merrie England, Corunna, and Strephon, and I like them pretty much ia order. Canterbury Times i We shall w% W a bit aur

f— *■"> ■•"■ i . * prised to see the final contest lie between the younger horses.- ' At present we think the following dozen the best handicapped in the race s— Cuirassier, Sou-of-a-Gun, Exchange, Merrie England, Oorurma, Lorraine, Scots Grey, Engagement, Rose Argent, Cissy, Quilt, and Wakatipu. •• Phaton" : The following eight appear to me to nfcand out moot prominently as likely to suuply the winner:— Cuirassier, Dudu, Hilda, Oorunna, Jet d'Eau, Strephon, and Qailt. %* By the time the many thousand students of the New Zealand Cup weights have finished their task of analysing the chances of the respective horses we shall be expecting the appearance of the acceptances, which close on the 3rd of next month. Which of the candidates may be regarded as likely to drop out on or before that date ? Manton for one, I should say ,for there is nothing t& bring him back here even if he ba not aold. If quite at his best he might perhaps win even one of our richest handicaps, for he is undoubtedly a racehorse ; but he would have to give weight to everything, and hifl beat show would be in weight-for-age races, of which we have a poor display as com- ' pared with those on the other side-r'though 1 may be allowed to remark that in this respect the Australian programmes are not too heavily endowed. Chain Shot may possibly.be an absentee, for it is whispered that he is more than likely to be sent to Melbourne ; but it is probable that on the off chance of a burst- up in the meditated arrangements the Hon. W. Robinson may make the progress faymentfor both Chain Shot and Merrie England. It would not surprise me to see Recluse withdrawn as a - protest against what is generally considered an ! undeserved handicap,; but I do not speak with | authority. Sultan, too, may be numbered with the missing, for his. owner keeps on telling us that the son of Miss Kate is bound to go, though ! some may exclaim with the major-general, "Yes, but, you don't go." Silvermark willi I fancy, remain ;in for a while longer, but this is nob a certainty. Apropos is almost sure to secede. Exchange is said to be under suspicion of unsoundness, and may perhaps fall out of the ranks. Gipsy Prince has led the van among the deserters. I think we may expect Corunna to stop where heislinthe meantime. As to the light weights, one cannot even conjecture which of them will declina further liability ; but I do not apprehend wholesale slaughter in their ranks at this stage, nor, indeed, is it probable that there will be numerous or startling defections in any division of the handicap. The weights have, on the'Vhole, been well received, and the question oi what will come to the post hinges mainly on two considerations— firstly,' as to how the horses shape when put into fast work; and, secondly, what the owners intend to do in regard to making an Australian campaign —•in regard to neither, of which can a satisfactory conclusion bo arrived at for a month or two. *„* In this issue appears the second and final instalment of the performances of the New Zealand Cup horses. I commend it to careful perusal, for public form, though not the Alpha and Omega of consideration in searching for a winner, is certainly the basis of judgment in these matters ; it is indeed of the very utmost importance unless in the case of those horses that bo far count only as two-year-olds. Sapling form is, of course, not infallible. And I desire to draw attention to the fact that Steam, Renata, the Erycina gelding, and Lake Superior are the only horses in the list that are absolutely untried. I mention this because there seems to be some misconception on the point in certain quarters. * # * Mr Stead has addressed a long letter to the Canterbury Times in answer to that paper's criticisms of the Canterbury Jockey Club. Alluding to the statement that the D. J.C. had taken a decided lead of the older institution, Mr Stead Bubmits a series of tables showing that in 1886-87 the D.J.C. had seven days' racing, and that an owner starting a horse for each event would have had to pay £1 13s 8d per oent. of the added money, whereas in the same season, the C.J.O. for seven days' racing charged owners only Us 7d per cent.; that in 1888 r 89 Dunedin charged £1 19s 2d per cent, as against Canterbury's 11s lOd per cent.; and that for the Exhibition meeting Dunedin charges 17s 6d per cent., whereas, at the Canfcerbury^Spring meeting the charge is slightly under 10s per cent. It is undoubtedly true, Mr Stead goes on. to say, that the attendance is larger at Forbury than at Riccarton, but I presume that even you will not hold the committee of the C.J.C. responsible for the population of Christchurch being less than that of Dunedin. *♦* By "way °^ re Ply fcne Canterbury Times allows that it costs an owner less for nominations and acceptances at Riccarton than in does at Forbury ; but (I quote the text) if this is tan all round advantage — which we are not prepared to admit off-hand— the Dunedin Club may at least claim that it has made larger reductions than the Canterbury Club during the past few years. Mr Stead may be genuinely surprised to learn that it costs an owner twice . as much to run a horse at Riccarton as it does at Forbury. We have admitted that the charges are disguised — that J3 part of the disastrous policy of the club—but if our readers will take the November programmes of the'two clubs, which Mr Stead has compared so much to his own satisfaction, they will find that the payments required from owners in Dunedin amount to £1 lls lOd per cent., and in Canterbury to £3 3s lOd per cent. of the stakes. Of course we shall be told that the payments in Canterbury are chiefly sweepstakes, but as this only means that owners find the prizes instead of the club. Mr Stead and his colleagues should have discovered long before this that their servile imitation of English practices and fads is rapidly sapping the strength of one of the most favoured racing institutions in the colonies. The opinion of owners is very ■clearly shown by the fact that during the last two seasons the fields ai Forbury have been from 10 to 15 per cent, larger than those at ■ Riccarton. Mr Stead admits that the Dunedin Jockey Club secures the larger attendances, but thinks this is due to the population of Dunedin exceeding that of Christchurch, The difference in population is less than 5 per cent, in favour of the Southern city and its surrounding boroughs, but we fancy this should be far more ] than counterbalanced by the greater sporting ! proclivities of the Canterbury public. * # * Another stock racing "yarn" gone to the wall. It is not generally known (says an Australian exchange) by the pressmen of this generation that the veteran old Bendigo journalist, Mr C. H. Collier, who. died a few days ago, was the author of the oft-quoted Craig's dream and the jockey flying past the post for the Melbourne Cup with a band of crape on his arm. The story went that the proprietor of the caStlelike hotel at Ballarat, which still bears his name, dreamt that he saw a horse winning the Cup, but could not see which horae it was except that his jockey wore crape. As no racehorse owner had recently died, ie puzzled Mr Craig very greatly. But before the race came off he died. The dream (so, ran the legend) was fulfilled to • the letter, audit was the jockey of Craig's Nimblefoot who carried crape. The story was copied far and near, reaching the English and American papers, and ever since it has. been trotted oat about 10 times a year by the turf scribesat. Cap time, ' Now there is no ionger any necessity," to preserve the secret. The uncanny story, which' was gobbled tip opened-mouthed by the euperetitiously inclined gamblers of tiae turf,

was a " make-up." The veteran old journalist was very fond some 20 or 25 years ago of writing on sporting matters, and as he had a pretty vivid imagination and used to love to give his readers something to talk about, he gave them " Craig's Dream." No one was more surprised than himself at the public catching- on so, and as each year in succession it was reproduced, he used to relate the circumstances that caused him to manufacture it. They were very simple. Someone had Nimblefoot in the double. Craig was very ill, and died a few days before the race. Tha party with the double asked our old sportsman if, in the face of the owner's demise, would Nimblefoot start. He replied that he didn't think it would make the least difference, except that the jockey would wear a. piece of crape. The scribe himself rather fancied Nimblefoot'B chances, so instead of tipping him for the Cup in the bold othodos manner, he concocted a weird story of the dream and the crape on the rider's arm. Nimblefoot happened to win; the yarn, therefore, nicely fitted in with the event.

.%* Mr S. Mercer has purchased from the Hon. G. M'Lean a chestnut gelding, rising three years, by Gorton out of Dione, and this youngster is now located at his new owner's place at the Forbury. Perhaps now that the tide baa turned, and Mr Mercer is no longer dependent on the smiles of the fickle goddess, he may have a stroke of luck with the successors to Shifrial, The Baker, arid Co.— certainly one of the unluckiest |ever seen out the Forbury. A new trotter has also found a home in this establishment; but of his history and merits or demerits I must plead ignorance.

%* Mr E. M'Skimming, who was in to^sro last week, tells me that.a desire has been manifested by the Mataura people to obtain the services of Duntroon in that district for the ensuing covering season, several owners of mares having offered to patronise the son of Revoke if he is sent down that way. I understand that so far nothing definite has been settled. The Mataura people are not making much mistake in seeking to have in their district a sire that has proved his ability to put stout hearts, iron legs, and sound constitutions into his stock.

%* On Sunday I paid a Visit to the stable tenanted by J. Loughlin — the place that Stuart Waddell had before the new stable was built. The first horse stripped for my inspection was the five-year-old Ishmael. The blister applied to his off fore leg after the May meeting bas produced the desired effect, there being now no sign of swelling or indication of weakness in the limb affected — nor, indeed, in either of the others ; in fact, Ishmael has every appearance of being completely sound in every respect, and, though he is not a beauty, his fore part being emphatically of a plebeian type, I shall expect this half-brother to Gipsy King to win races if his owner carries out his present intention of taking him on a country tour. The horse is not so backward in condition as might be expected. No. 2 in the order of my visit was La Rose (by Apremont — Red Rose). I had heard that she was very well, but was certainly not prepared; to find her such a picture as she is at present. She looks big, but with half an eye one can see that; it is a development of muscle and not superfluous flesh that gives her that appearance. Evidently she does not fret in her new home, though Loughlin tells me that she always remembers the old establishment ; and to show me that this was so, he opened the upper half of the door, whereupon the mare walked to it and stood steadfastly gazing in the direction of Stuart Waddell's place. I understand that her destiny is the jumping business, to which she shows a partiality, for I am assured that she has never once turned her head at a jump, even when put to stiff hedges. Though she has been in almost constant work ever since she was a young two-year-old La Rose's legs are perfectly sound, and have never rjiven the least cause for anxiety. TL'<% by, the way, is a well-known characteristic of the Apremonts. The third member I interviewed was Le Temps (by Le Loup— Highland Maid), who was purchased by Loughlin one day at the end of last week at a price not stated, the seller reserving an interest in the horse's first winnings. It seemed to me as I saw the little chestnut careering round the paddock where years ago old Mata was running loose prior to his final splash, that I had never seen the game son of Le Loup looking so well. He has grown a bit since that day, 10 months ago,- when he worried the heart out of La Rose in the Kensington Handicap, and is a better horse in every respect than he was then, having out-grown that soreness that was so conspicuously^his bane at that stage in his career. Loughlin has, lam convinced, good property in this young gentleman, and if wisely placed he must prove a good investment. Last on the list was Warlock (by St. George — Folle Fariue), who has only just been brought in after a spell, and is therefore all in the rough. The most important thing I wished to know about this relation to Templeton (his dam was out of Belle of' the Isle) was how his cracked hoof was getting on, and I was pleased to see that the hoof had grown down whole for over half the distance. Loughlin says that seeing Nature is doing so well he is inclined to allow her to finish the job, and to that end he will not put the horse in work for the early spring. With the exception of this trouble, Warlock is very well. I may remark that this stable is particularly well looked after, and if its owner has any luck he should more than hold his own during the campaign that is before us.

*** The payments made on Saturday for the Grand National show that there is likely to be a good contest for this important event. Our Dunedin candidates, Waitangi and Secretary, go up on Monday, and as both will be fit and well ridden the better of the pair must undoubtedly have an outside show. My fancy is that the most likely candidates are Chemist, Orangeman, Daddy Longlegs, and the better of the Dunedin representatives, which will probably prove to be Waitangi. Of this quartett I prefer Chemist and Orangeman ; and as I shall be expected to pick it in one I shall go straight for Orangeman. The clever folks' straight tip is Gunpowder, and I shall reckon on this nag getting.a place, though I cannot pretend to say what his exact chance is, seeing that we have not seen him and that he has not performed of late.

*„* Ballarat, the two-year-old son of Sir Modred and La Favorita, is distinguishing himself in the States. After winning the Hudson Stakes at Brooklyn meeting he made a great fight for the Great American Sweepstakes of 20,000d01. In this event ho went out favourite ; but St. Carlo, by the English horse St. Blaise, winner of the English Derby in 1883, beat him in the run home, in Imin 2|sec. In some remarks on the race the New York Sporting World said 1 ,: — ",As was natural, directly the.Great American Stakes had been run, admirers of St. Carlo and Ballarat began comparing the respective merits of the Eastern and Western representatives. Senator Hearst and his trainer, Matt. Alien, think, and do not hesitate to say, tuat they have the master of, St. Carlo at any distance. Jimmy Rowe, who trained the victor of the day, is just as confident on the other side, and stated that he had in the son of St. Blaise a colt that could beat the crack of Mr Hearst's lot whenever they • met, either, in a race or 1 match.; There is no doubt that a match between these two fine two-year*olds was seriously

spoken of; and it is probable that if the two trainers had their way it would be brought off. What a match it would be ! The great son of the English Derby winner, St. Blaise, the Eastern-bred colt, and the son of the great New Zealander, Sir Modred, who was bred in the far west. If such a match came off, ifc would rival the great match of years ago between Voltigeur and the Flying Dutchman over the Doncaster course, and would be the sensation of the racing year. Unfortunately, though talked of, it is not likely , to come off, as both Seuator Hearst and Mr Belniont have other things iv view for their magnificent youngsters than match running." *** Late American papers also bring free reports of the Louisville meeting, where the Kentucky Derby was run. For this Proctor Knott, the two-year-old who last season won 70,000d0l in stakes, was a strong favourite. There were eight starters, and odds of 2 to. 1 were laid on Proctor Knott. His jockey, Barnes, made the running at a terrible pace, and halfway down the home stretch was Joined by Spokane, and Barnes pulling out his whip the favourite swerved, and finishing on opposite sides of the track, the two passed the box bo closely that the public did not know which had wob, until the judges had hoisted Spokane's number. The mile and a-half was run in 2min. 34Jsec, wonderful time, but everything was in favour of it< ■ Spokane is by Hyder Ali, a son of the great English horse Leamington, the grandsire of New minster, the sire of Newmaster, &o. Spokane's dam, Interpose, is by Intruder, a 6on of the Orlando horse Crater. After the Derby Proctor Knott went off, and in the Clark Stakes of one mile and a-quarter, Spokate beat him very easily. At the Baltimore meeting another two-year-old by Sir Modred ran. This was Fanny J., by Sir Modred from Rosa G., and she won the Patapsco Stakes.

*** The biggest bet ever made on the turf was £180,000 to £6000 that the Duke of Hamilton laid Captain Machell against Hermit for the Derby. It was off, however, almost as soon as it was made, and probably the biggest real bet was £106,000 to £15,000 against Holy Friar for the Derby. The horse was not worth a rap, and* Mr Chaplin was dead in luck when the nominator died a few weeks before the race, and rendered the transaction . void. In connection with Hermit's Derby there was some heavy wagering, and the late Sir Joseph Hawley laid Mr Chaplain £50,000 that The Palmer would beat Hermit. Sir Joseph, however, hedged half the bet, and lost actually £25,000". The late Mr James Merry laid Mr Chaplin £10,000 to £5000 that Marksman would beat Hermit, and this wager Mr Chaplin also won.

* + * Some. experiments in horse-breaking were recently made in the Scone district of New South Wales (reports the Town and Country Journal). An account of them may prove interesting to horse-breeders and others interested in the noble animal. A circular yard, about 30f fc in diameter, was erected, with a fence 6ft or 7ft high." Thi3 fence was enclosed with bags, or course calico, or other material, so as to prevent the horse from seeing through. The colt was run in; and the breaker ran the horse round, and touched him gently with the rag at the end of the pole, taking care, however, not ito hit the horse. After a few minutes lungeing the horse allowed himself to be touched all over with the rag, and at length got so used to it that he stood still. Then the breaker approached gently and touched him with his hand instead of the pole, and gradually put a bridle on. Then a surcingle was put on, and a strap from the mouth of the horse to a ring on the surcingle was buckled on, and drawn up hole by hole gradually until the horse's head was braced well up. A flat web or canvas strap, say 12ft long, was next buckled on the surcingle, and passed round the horse's hind leg, just above the hoof; and this was taken round the animal's chest, and gradually tightened until the leg was raised from the ground. The horse was so fixed up that he could not kick, buck, or do anything, and could be gently rubbed down, saddled, and mounted. In this way a horse very soon gets used to being handled, and may generally be ridden round the yard by an ordinary horseman in half an hour after being run in. Several horsebreeders have expressed mush satisfaction at this method of treating young horses.

*** The Wellington Steeplechase meeting held on Monday counts as last but two on the list of this season's fixtures, those remaining being the Grand National and the Christchurch Hunt Club's gatherings. The weather on Monday was fine and the sport interesting, and it is satisfactory to note that there were no serious accidents among the many spills. The sum of £3258 was passed through the machine during the day, the best dividend being £28 13s on Rossiter in the chief event. For this race every tip was Kangaroo or Louis. The latter was seat ,for the Hardle Race, but my other selection was the nearest at the finish to the hack, so that lam not disgraced. The following table showi the,

[Weight,

1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1880

Winners of Wellington Steeplechase. Yr. Str. Winner, : Riden Weight Bt lb 1884 8 Early Bird Herd 10 6 1885 8 Faugh-a-ballagh Chambers 10 4 1886 6 Denbigh Ellinghara 11 5 1887 10 Echo Hollo 910 1888 5 Kangaroo Pell 10 10 1889 12 Rossifcer Cameron 9 3 Rossiter is a gelding by Jzaak Walton, and has been running forward in hack races all the season. Nags of this class are frequently dangeroaa, for they do turn out some nipping hacks in the North Island, and I suppose we may now welcome this member to the ranks of the regular racers. Are there any more of the same sort yet to be dug up ? We badly want recruits in the iumbinc lino, < %* Mr Souness, who has for a long While been residing in the Gore district, has taken his departure for Woodville, a settlement in the North Island, between Wellington and Napier. He took with him the brood mares La Bohemienne and Water Nymph, and the latter's foal. The settlers in jsbpse parts will find in Mr Souness an enthusiastic lover of the thoroughbred, and one who has an intimate aud experimental knowledge of breeding questions. On behalf of a large number of Otago sportsmen, I wish him success in his new home.