TALK OF THE BAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 23

TALK OF THE BAY.

BY MAZEPPA.

*#* I am glad to learn that the Ashburton Olub had not this season to contend against bad weather for ids race meeting. No club in the oolony works harder to provide good sport. It will be observed that Little Arthur followed up bis bucoosb at Riccarton by winning both hurdle races. On the first day he was called on to meet Ixion. The latter had to pay dearly for his form at Ellesmere, being put up by „the handioapper to the weight of a first-class horse, which he probably is, or rather will be with a little more experience ; but if he is firstclass, Little Arthur .is good seooiid-class, and at a difference of 161b* the presumed first- classer was beaten rather easily. I regard this as a good performance on the part of Mr Markey's horse, who seems to be in a fair way of winning hiß Full value in stakes before the handicappers get his measure. On the second day Little Arthur had nothing to beat but Cathedral, who, in receipt of nearly a stone, could scarcely make the Jangler horse extend himself. I don't reckon Cathedral a wonder, at any rate in his present form, whioh is a stone below what he showed us when he beat Waitangi at the Forbury. Yarra won the chief event both days, making her own running in each event, and putting up the decent record of 2.39! * or a mile and a half, and 2.11 for a mile and aquarter. This mare is probably as well as she ever will be, but if always placed as judioioußly as of late she will win more races before she commences to go off. This judgment in placing is a matter that should be more generally studied by owneia. On her Ashburton form Yarra is evidently better than Helmsman, who gained a place in the Great Autumn Handicap, and, presuming that it was known beforehand what the mare could do, many ownera would have had a try for the big money at Riccarton, and most likely Yarra would have finished where Helmsman did. Instead of whioh Mr Henley sent her for the Epsom Welter, and when beaten in that event he was satisfied to pick up a £9 dividend in the Consolation. Following this up with a decent dividend and two stakes at Ashburton I conclude that Mr Henley made a bit more than he would have got by running into a plaoe in the Great Autumn Handicap, and his rnara is still not over enhanced in theestimation of handicappers, seeing that she has not been in orack company. Ahua's running in the Ashburton Handicap would seem to indicate that he had not such a great deal to spare after all at Timaru, and that if St, James had been quite himself the handicap would have been quite justified. Helmsman tried twice, and went down ignominiously each time, being clearly outpaced the whole way. He may show better form as a four- year-old. Ruby is now, I am afraid, one of the "has beens," for he could not get a show until pitted against a pair of mere hacks in the Consolation. Alcinous did a little better, but be only managed to score in a sixfurlong race. Red CroBS, Leinster, Road Metal, and Liberator were the other winners, but their performances call for no special comment. Old Quibble made a very poor display in the only race for which be started, and henceforth he will h?ve to seek even humbler company if he is to pay his way, Messrs Mason and Roberts passed £3462 through the totalisator during the two days.

* # * William Day, who of late years has addressed his energies to the advocacy of turf reform, has an interesting article in the Fortnightly, his subjeot being the desirability of introducing the totaliaator to English racecourses. He points out that the machine is worked in India, Gormany, France, Africa, America, and Austria [New Zealand he does not mention] with the greatest success, being patronised by most backers instead of .the old fashioned system of wagering with the bookmaker, who, it appears, in almost every country but England [he might have included the chief colonies of Australia] has become almost extinct; quotes authorities to show the good results from the new system in that it has entirely

suppressed welshers, the baser sort of bookmakers, who make their money by unfair means, betting houses, and professional tipI Bters ; winds up by saying : The gist of the whole matter is, either the ready-money bettor or raoing must go to the wall. Both cannot exist much longer, for their interests are wholly antagonistic. And if the country demands the extinction of the former, its behest must and will be obeyed ; for he is an unnecessary and intriguing intruder, a crying evil, the extent of whose mischievousnssß cannot be estimated. Racing, on the other hand, is a blesßing to thousands ; it is our national sport, and deserves the support of the Government. For any source of industry, honestly pursued, benefits the community, and is deserving of every encouragement. The immenae advantages that ariae from racing, in various ways, can be maintained only by. multiplying the number and increasing the value of our blood stock Lessen either of them, either directly or indireotly, and you shake the fabric to the foundation, on whioh the prosperity of racing has been so securely built. Therefore, I say, whosoever will in any way contribute to leßßen the number of these malignant impostors, or mitigate the growing evil of publiohouße betting, which is now throughout the kingdom demoralising the lower orders of the community, and rendering their homes for themselves and their families scenes of wretchedness and brutality, deßerves well of his country, and the thanks of his fellow men should be freely accorded to him. *** It should, however, be observed that Mr Day advocates the use of the totalisator at a charge of 5 per cent., instead of the 10 we in New Zealand are accustomed to pay. He would probably, if questioned on the point, say that the public here are charged too much. This is of course a mere matter of detail ; nevertheless it is a point that will have to be considered sooner or later. There is no doubt that 10 per cent, is too high a charge ; and we really pay more than that rate, for the fraotional_ money — the part that will not ''ivide into sixpences — is likewise retained by the machine. The general public do not feel thiß very much. A man who is content to put say £1 on each race would have so little to gain by a reduction of the charge that it is not worth his while to sing out. If he wins, he is quite satisfied to have made a profit, however small ; if he lobob ib does not matter to him what the fee is. That is the way be looks at the matter. But we have among us a small class of men, without whom we could not get along, who would very keenly appreciate a reduction in the percentage. I refer to professional owners, those who own one or more horses and have no means of subsist en or other than by betting with the totalisator. These men are accustomed to bet in tenners— they may perhaps put £50 in the totalisator if they have a good thing on— and it is to them a serious matter that every time their money is invested it should be shorn of what we may assume is somewhere about 11 per cent. I have in my mind's eye &b I write Beveral instances of men who to my certain knowledge have the greatest difficulty in making ends meet by this method of getting a living, and a concession would I am sure be very welcome. These are the men who have the least cause to be thankful for the introduction of the totalisator. Ten years ago they could back their horses, if they thought it worth while, and then, if so minded, tell friends that , it was good enough to have a bit on, even at short odds. Nowadays, they have to come in i with the public and take starting prices. There is nothing to compensate for keeping the horses. This is the weak point in the system of totalisator betting ; and I think it would tend to the relief of men who labour under this disadvantage if the percentage were reduced by a half. We shall. not have any change yet awhile, but it will oome about in due course. \* A day or two since I had the opportunity of inspecting the Hon. G. M'Lean'a | stable in company with the proprietor, and spent an hour or so very pleasantly while Charlie O'Connor, the present managing man, showed us round the establishment, First we had a look at St. James. I was rather inquisitive as to the Dunedin Cup winner, seeing that he had returned from his Northern trip rather the worse for wear. I understand that the first thing that troubled him at Timaru was the tenderness of his near forefoot, which was bruised some time ago and had to be pared pretty fine ; but the corn is growing fast, and what the horse is now suffering from is lameness in_ the pastern joint of the same leg. He was distinctly lame upon it when walked round the box. Mr M'Lean seems to think that O'Connor can set the trouble right with the assistance of a rest, and the intention is to keep the horse in the stable for a week or two to see how he gets on. If he should get no better he will be sent to Warrington for the winter. Wolverine was lame after the Autumn Handicap— a return, apparently, of the muscle soreness that afflicted him in the spring ; but he is not seriously amiss, and as a matter of fact goes out every day with the rest of the horses. The ooit by Le Loup out of Remnant is not growing so fast now, He waß in phyaio, and therefore did not show to advantage, but so far as I could learn he is doing fairly well. Pique, the two-year-old daughter of Gorton and Malice, is a well-furnished mare and all over a racer. If she does not gallop appearances are deceptive. The only point about her that anyone can take exception to is that her hooke are hardly so service-able-looking as could be wished, but so far no sign of weakness has been observed, and it is quite possible that this family failing will not be an obstacle to her success on the turf. Emmason is the most improved horse in the stable.^ He carries a lot of musole when forI ward in condition, as he is at present, and seems to me to be growing longer instead of , taller. Everybody calls him a little one, but he stands, I should Bay, about 15,1 ; and with his substantial quarters, excellent limbs, and ! sound constitution there is no reason why he should not train into a fairly good three-year-old. Next we were introduced to an upstanding yearling brother to Lady Mab, by Rubezahl out of Lady Gertrude. He has only just been brought in from the farm, and had the gear on him for the first time. He is going to be a big horse, being already quite the size of Lady Mab ; and whereas Mr Butler's filly takes after the dam, this colt iB indubitably stamped with the image of the sire. He ia as like Rubezahl when that horse waß first brought here as could possibly be. Let ub hope that he will be more profitable as a racer, though Rubezahl himself was anything but slow, and but for a series of misfortunes might have been on the turf yet. In the commodious paddock attached to this well-appointed stable waß to be seen another of the Warrington yearlings just taken up, this one being by Gorton out of Legerdemain, and therefore full brother to St. Malo, St. Ives, and Lady Bell. Though fresh in from the farm, and never handled by a jockey, the youngster made friends at once, walking up to its owner at call and playfully rubbing its nose on our arms. Most of the Warrington-bred stock are quiet and easy to train, but this one is a pattern of docility. He is a whole bay, and in appearance reminds one more of Lady Bell than the rest of his relations. Thus it will bo seen that there are oeven horseß in the Btable

at present. It iB a team that needs a lot of looking after, including aB it does a sick member and a couple of yearlings that have to be put through their facings, but with ordinary luck we may find the stable a strong one next spring. Any of the young Btook may turn out as good as old Lady Emma.

*** Having finished our inspection of the horses, I had a chat with Mr M'Lean about the otud farm at Warrington, and was pleased to learn that of the nine brood marea there eight are believed to be in foal. The exception is Lurline's sißter Malice, bred in 1867 ; she is supposed to have mieaed to St. Olair. The next oldest mare at the farm, Dione, the 1876 daughter of Traducer and Gilda, was also put to St. Clair, and is evidently in foal, Lady Emma (18?7), winner of Great Autumn Handicap, two Dunedin Cupß, and other races, was another of the mares put to St. Clair. Ledgordemain (1878), by Nelson's sire King Cole out of imported Skittlesharper, has thrown three gallopers in St. Malo, St. Ives (beaten only by a head, and that through a disparity in horsemanship, in the fastest seven furlongs ever run in New Zealand — a race that bo could have won), and Lady Bell ; and Mr M'Lean wisely determined not to interfere with so successful a nick, and had the mare put to Gorton again. Mountain Lily, the 1880 daughter of Totara and La Rose's dam, was also covered by Gorton. Lady Evelyn, the 1881 produce of Perkin Warbeok and St. Clair's dam Pulcbra, was one of the beat mares we ever had in Otago, both in appearance and judged by her doings while she lasted ; and in putting bor to Rubezahl the owner has commanded as promising a oross as any that could be thought of, the grandparents of the racehorse that is to be being such worthies as Perkin Warbeck and Pulchra (daughter of Formosa), Seesaw and Fairyland. Lady Gertrude, the 1882 half sister to Non sense, Oudeia, and Disowned, was put to St, Clair, and thus we shall have the direct cross of the Musket and Traducer blood which gave ua Manton. Indolonce, the Grand Flaneur — Scraps mare, bred in 1882, was mated with St. Clair ; and Lady Florence, the three-year- old daughter of Gorton and Malice, was covered by Rubezahl. %* I am pleased to hear that all the mares and stallions are well. St. Glair's feet have come into their natural shape, and the swelling on the side of his leg has so far gone down that unless one knew where to look he would probably find nothing wrong with the horse. Mr M'Lean seems to have an idea that the little fellow would stand training again, and perhaps the experiment may be tried next spring if ho is by that time thoroughly sound. He will only be seven years of age next foaling, and the seaBon'a stud duties nave probably not impaired his ability as a racer. This is, however, one of the things about which nothing is decided as yet. There is at the farm an exceptionally fine yearling colt by Rubezahfcoutof Lady Emm?, and it is intended to allow him to remain where he is until next spring, when he will most likely be taken up with the view of running as a two-year-old at the Dunedin February meeting. Lady Evelyn's colt by Gorton, whose life was despaired of some time ago, has now thoroughly recovered, and he will probably be the next member transferred from the farm to tho stable. *** It is said that a number of the mares served by Ormonde before he left England are barren, and some of the papers seem to think it was not Buoh a serious loaa to the nation, after all, that the great horse was sold away to South America. Speaking of Ormonde, naturally leads one to think of the high price, something like £16,000, said to have been paid for him ; and from thence to other high-priced horses is an easy step, which brings me to an interesting item in one of the Licensed Victuallers' Gazettes. It saya that next to the champion horse of the century Petrarch was most probably the highest-priced animal that ever changed hands. We do not forget that it is said that £20,000 has been offered for both Riviera and Signorina. With Petrarch having won the Middle Park Plate, beating all the best horses in training, and seeming to have stakes to the value of £25,000 — including the Guineas, Derby, Grand Prize, St. Lager, and Prince of Wales' Stakes— at his mercy, it is no wonder that he was worth a lot of money. The " cash down " paid by Lord Dupplin was the extremely moderate sum of £11,000, but, in addition to this, Mr Gosden, who bred and owned the horse, w \b to receive one-fourth of such races aB the horse might win in which, at the time of the sale, he was engaged, Mr Gosden, not forgetting his jockey, secured for Goater in the agreement £200 in case the horse won the Two Thousand, and £300 for the Derby. Goater did very well by this, as, though Luke rode him when he won the Two Thousand, the £200 was paid all the same, and Lord Dupplin, who was no niggard, gave him £500 when he won the St. Leger. The races Petrarch won under the agreement were : T-The Two Thousand Guineas, value £4,100 ; the Prince of Wales' Stakes, value £2750 ; and the St. Leger, value £4850. This gives a total of £11,700. One-fourth of the above amount represents £2925 ; which, added to the £11,000 paid in the first instance, gives a total of £13,925, or £75 less than the Duke of Westminster is reported to have paid for Doneaster. Taking into "consideration the £200, however, to which Goater became entitled under the conditions, the purchase money was increased to £14,125— the largest sum that has ever been paid, with the exception of the big sum that is said to have been given for Ormonde. *** The Lumsden correspondent of the Southland Times says that the local racing club held a meeting last week to reoaive the interim statement of receipts and expenditure. The total income so far was £133 10a ; expenditure to date, £116 16s Id, leaving an unexpended balance of £16 13s lid. This amount will be appropriated at a meeting to be held this week. The amount will be insufficient to carry out the proposed simplest method of improving the course, leaving the interest due on loan out of the question. A vote of thanks was accorded the secretary and treasurer for his energy in carrying matters through. The protest against Mr Smerdon and his horses Modeste and Maymorn in the District Handicap was finally dealt with aud dismissed, Mr Hamilton not seeing his way clear to go further into the matter on the score of trouble and expense. The amount deposited with the pro • test was forfeited and placed to the club's credit. A counter charge of a very grave nature made by Mr Smerdon against Mr Hamilton was ordered to be sent to the latter gentleman for his information and report thereon. %* I have before now remarked that when the totalisator comes to a country it comes to stop, and I believe this to be true ; at any rate it takes some pushing out. Its advent creates new necessities and new conditions which are on the whole so acceptable, and one may almost Bay agreeable, that all but professional owners — who are the chief sufferers by its introduction — desire that it should be retained. What I mean is very well illustrated by recent occurrences in Austria. The Lower House of the Reichsrath has adopted a reaolutioa in favour of increasing the tax_ on the parimutuel from 3 to 5 por cent., and the immediate effect of this is that the Vienna Jockey Club has determined to withdraw all the prizaß it has hitherto given

on the turf, and to drop all proposals foe Autumn meetings in Austria except four, foe which the entries have already been accepted. The withdrawal affeots no less than 82 meetings, with prizes amounting to a total of 171,000 florins. The announcement, sayß a correspondent who presumably has a bias against the machine, has cauaed a great eeneation in the Austrian sporting world, and is i generally condemned as an attempt to bring undue pressure to bear upon the Legislature. The scandals connected with the betting maohino,;and the corruption of the lower clashes connected therewith, have been too long tolerated in this country. The Jockey Club, which has amassed a reserve of over 300,000 florins out of the profitß it has mad© from the totalisator, was perfeotly well able to carry out the raoing programme that had been I arranged for 1890. Inßtead of that, it has resorted to extremes, even before the bill imposing the new tax has passed the Upper House. *** There is something to be said on behalf of pony and galloway racing, apart from the arbitrary reason that some people prefer it, and what there is to be said seems to be very concisely put in a paragraph in a paper to hand by last mail. To give an idea of the market value of some ponies and gallowayß nowadays, we will take Midnight, now in India, a 14hands pony, the selling price of which is £300. Pawney stands 14hdB 2in, and her selling price is £500. Last year we think Bhe won over £400 in stakes. Then there are Favonius, TJnderhill, Tempest, Rosina, Squint, Lady Clare, Master Harry, Trickuey, Baldoon, Brightness, Movement, Dorothy, &c, not one of which could, we fancy, be bought under £250. Still by some these are considered weedy brutes. They manage, however, to race under weights varying from 8,7 to 13 7. The legitimate horse kept Bolely for the purpose of racing would be rather astonished if asked to carry this crushing burden, which littles Dorothy (under 14 hands) has done, and won under on several occasions. Moreover, many of them hack (and where can we find more suitable and pleasant hack ?), harness, and hunt when not running or chasing. A our breeding of the thoroughbred animal ia supposed to produce animals of the highest class for courage, strength, speed, and stamina, should not the powers who have control of the legitimate sport endeavour to develop those properties by raising their averaee weights (about 7.0) and the distance of their races (about six furlongs) to, say, 7.0 lowest weight, and three quarters of a mile the shortest distance, thus doing away with the breeding of weeds for speed, and the nurturing of tiny stable boys for pigmy jockeys ? It is true we have horses in the present day that actually do oarry 10.0 for two miles ; but do they gallop the courße ? Those imposts and distances are very rare in this class, and still there are more break downs than amongst the ponies, *** Mr R. C. Hungerford sends me a chatty letter from Greymouth, in the course of which he mentions that he has been appointed secretary of a newly-formed Trotting Club whicfc will race under the rules of the Canterbury Association, A very nice track has been prepared in Victoria Park, whioh is in the middle of the town, and the first races will be held there on the Queen's Birthday. For this meeting a programme of five events has been issued the total prize money coming to 115sovs. Nominations close on the 3rd May. Another meeting is proposed to be held on the 9th Nov ember. Mr Hungerford also says that he has had a little luck with Mayboy (by York — Maori Girl), who out of 10 starts haß won six races, twice second, and twice thiid. It was intended to have nominated both Mayboy and Captain Cook for the Dunedin meeting, but unfortunately the nomination day was missed through Mr Hungerford being away from home at the Kumara meeting. %* The opening meet with the Otagc hounds — to be renamed, I understand, the Dunedin hounds — is to take place on Saturday of this week, the tryst being Woodeaton. The hounds are in capital condition, and everything promises a most successful season. The hunt servants will appear in new livery, red with green facings, and have a new rig out from top to toe. Jack Foole will be the huntsman, *** Titokowaru did not start in the Hurdle Race at the Hawkeßbury (N.S.W.) meeting on the 15th and 16th April. The race was won by Banjo, who started at even money in a field of five. The Claret Stakes, a five-furlong spin for 300aov8 by the two-year-olds, brought only three to the post, and the contest was really confined to Carbine's stable-mate Wilga, whe boat Titan at Rand wick, and Mr Johnston's Marco, bought at Mr White's sale. Wilga won easily. An even dozen saddled up for the Rowley Mile of 250aovs. No New Zealanders were among the field, and it is sufficient to mention that Golden Crown, the favourite, waa beaten by four lengths, Highborn, a son of Grandmaster and Her Ladyship, winning rather easily from Insignia. On the second day the chief event, the Autumn Handicap of 400aovs, one mile and a-half, was taken by Golden Crown, who with 6.12 up ran the distance in 2.39J, beating Insignia (7.8) and Mantilla (6.2). His party seem to have been full up about him after his defeat in the Rowley Mile, and he was allowed to go out unbacked. Another facer for backers was experienced in the Two-year-old Handicap, in which the outsider Argos, full brother to Blink Bonny (winner of the Oaulneld Cup), dashed away at tho start, and won with the greatest ease by eight lengths, beating among others Emmie, the filly recently bought and handed back by Mr D. O'Brien. In this event Dame Durden fell, throwing her rider, M'Nulty, clear ahead, and then rolling over on to him. The unfortunate jockey did not move until assistance came to hand, and it was found that he had been badly bruised, while the filly had received such injuries to the spine as to render her destruction necessary. There w.in another mishap in the Shorts Handicap. Eacott fell and brought down with him The Bonce and Naro. The jockey escaped, as by a miracle, with bruises. *** I have not, says "Augur," the slightest desire to underrate the wonderful excellence of Carbine, for he is, I think, one of the best racehorses that ever trod the turf of any country, and at the same timo ho is one of tho most consistent. You don't ace Carbine last one week and first the next as is too often the case with many of our racehoraeo. But I hold to tha opinion that First King was bettor, and that Abercorn was quite as good, and who knows but that The Barb and Fishhook would have had something to say at the finish if the whole of them could have been brought together fit and well on one day ? Another writer, "Ribbleden," who Haw the A. J. O. running, has a very high opinion of Carbine. He says : — "Prelude all but upset Carbine in the All-aged Stakes. Had the jockeyj ockey kept his eyes on the winning post instead of looking round at the most critical moment the long odda laid on Carbine would very likely neyor have been landed. It is a most ciifficul; thiug for even tha most experienced racing men to tell when Carbine is boaten. He possesses the knack somehow of doing exactly what: is wanted of him, irrospactive of dii-tance, weight, or tho quality of hii iidvorsaries. The <?xpnnditur of his forces h rogujatod by circumßtanoes If he were pitted against a hack he would

ry to bring disgrace upon his opponent by nmshing the length of a street in front. He wo *"d probably win by a head or bo ; and any out the moat practised eye might be deceived as to the horse's real capabilities. No matter under what disadvantages he runs a race, Oarbm« gets there all the same. What difficulties were presented in this race may be gauged i? m J i c ** qfc *k at men who have been racing all their lives betted hundreds and hundreds or pounds at evons that Carbine would not win when Prelude and Oorreze swept into the etraight wth four or five lengths the best of it • nufe the result shows that it is almost impossible for any one to determine when Oarbine is beaten. A more honest horse or a more courageous horse was never seen." *** Shotover, winner of the Adelaide Cup, is by Young Tregeagle (late Devilshoof) out of a mare by South Australian from Miss Cracknell. He carried 7.7, including 51b over, and was ridden by Hodgkins. Britannia was favourite at the fall of the flag, with St. George next in demand, and Sultan third favourite. The latter was ridden by Pearson. Shotover was first into the straight, but once in a fair line for home Sultan challenged him, and there was a capital race up to the press stand. Here Sultan faltered, and Shotover drew out a length, but in the last few strides Hodgkins eased off a bit, and Salt an was only beaten by a long neok. Viator struggled on and obtained third place a length behind Sultan. Then came Stanley and Adventurous together, with Ernani, St. George, Britannia, Harbinger, Aldivalloch, Ben Bolt, and Exton, at wide intervals. Time, 2min 53aec. Private watches made it a couple of seconds or so Blower. Sultan did not run any more at the meeting. He was not at his best, otherwise he would, it is said, have won the Cup. On the third day of the meeting, the Totalisator Handicap and the Jockey Club Handicap were both taken by St. George, a three-year-old son of Progress and Haidee of the Hills.

V Th e Hon. J. White's English cam"paign has commenced, Kirkham having run his first race on Tuesday in the Hastings Plate, for which he finished third in a field of 12. That is about as much as anyone in these parts expected of the New South Wales colt. Whether it was or was not a good performance we shall have to wait to find out, but it is not a good sign that Narellan is neglected for the Two Thousand Guineas, the result of which wo shall not get in time for this week, the race being run on Wednesday. It may be that either Narellan or Kirkham, the better of the pair, will shape better in the Derby than in these earlier races, for which they are not specially prepared ; but we must be prepared for disappointment. Heaume is engaged in the Derby, for which he has had supporters all the winter.