TALK OF THE DAY

Otago Witness, Issue 2028, 5 January 1893, Page 27

TALK OF THE DAY

*%* It will be observed that the chief races on the Maniototo Jockey Club's programme are hedged about with such conditions as to plainly suggest that they are simply bogus — made up so as to comply with the letter of the regulations while breaking the principle thereof. I shall be very glad if after events prove that this assumption is incorrect. Meanwhile, on the f^cts before us, the D.J.C. has, I think, made a mistake in passiDg such a programme. It should have been as promptly rejected as the other one that proposed an evasion of the rules. *** They tell me that the Southland Club's new course was just a swamp at race time, so deep and holding that every horse that started was dead beat after going about a quarter of a mile, the contest from that stage in every race being a question of bottom and condition rather than speed. One horse, Papakura, absolutely stopped through finding a particularly soft tpot with one of his feet, and he went off afresh from a standing start. Mr Goodman took Wauganui and Paramu down, but declined to run them, his judgment being that it was better to forfeit what on fair going would have been an excellent chance with bath horses rather than take the risk of breaking them down. I can quite understand that a hard puller like Wanganui would have racked himself to pieces on such a course. His withdrawal made an opening for Don Pedro in the President's, and the grandson of Musket also appropriated a couple of race 3 next day, so that the trip paid Loughlin very wtll. His satisfaction must, however, have been somewhat alloyed by reason of what happened in and after the Cup. There was a protest against Pedro receiving second money on the ground that he went inside a post, and this being upheld the second money went to Milord. We are also told that the stewards were dissatisfied with the performance of Pedro in this race, and his owner was called on for an explanation, after which he was severely cautioned. It would, I would respectfully submit, be better if when these cautions are administered they were put in writing and published, so that tbe public and other owners and trainers may know what they are about. In the present case we are left to suppose that the stewards suspected Loughlin of giving orders to lose the race by running the horse inside a post, but there may bo some other reapon for aught I know. Mr J. Btepheusou's stable was al&o iv luck, securing

two events with Forbury, one with Derby, and the Cup with Tempest. She could not, however, have had much to spare. Mr Dowse when making his handicaps for the second day, allowed Don Pedro only 21b for the Cup result, and the latter won. This makes one think that the horse might have got home in the Cup but for going off the course. That uncertain mare Pique likewise captured a race— the only one she ran for, and in cue way and another the Dunedin stables bad a good innings. On the second day T. Buddicombe, the rider of Finetta in the Waihopai Handicap, was reprimanded for interfering with Rondinella, and the stakes were given to the latter. That there was an interference is beyond doubt;. and the only question is whether it wag wilful. Some who saw the race tell me that both mares were reeling about, quite exhausted, as they went up the straight, and that when Finetta was hit with the whip she swerved suddenly towards Rondinella. Both were on the outside, where the going was firmer than the inside of the track. As il was not present I can of course offer no opinion as to the rights and wrongs of the case.

* # * The Hampden race meeting, held last week in one of the N.Z. and A L. Company's paddocks near Waianakarou railway station, was engineered by local people without the assistance of the totalisator — indeed there was little or no betting of any 6ort as the game is professionally carried on, but nevertheless the gathering was an enjoyable one, though the weather proved showery. For the degree of success achieved thanks are in a large measure due to the secretary, Mr Archie M' William, who was here, there, and everywhere putting things to rights. It will be seen by the report that Count d'Orsay, who has not often ruu without stated odds on or against him, won the Cup, and in this task he had only feeble opposition, none of the others beiDg able to extend the gelding at the finish. Maniototo Lass, another known performer, was also racing at the meeting, but she wa3 decidedly off colour, and* was beaten the three times she ran. Among the trotters seen out were such go;rs as Yankee Notion, Joe Barnett, and Eileen, and the two last mentioned once each, Yankee Notion being a disappointment both times. In the Pony Trot, the three starters were all sent away together — perhaps the wisest thing to do with a race of this sort.

*s(* One of the noticeable facts of the Reefton Meeting was the poor luck of Mr Hungerford's team. He had two good horses running for him in British Lion and the Dreamer, but neither scored a win, and the only' stake captured by the stable was the Second Hurdles, in which the cocky chestnut Mayboy defeated Clarice by half a length. Possibly this was not form either, for Iroquois came to grief at the first fence. With only 10.7 on his back he would have had a say in the finish if he had stood up. The Inangahua Cup was a good betting race. Harkaway with 8.6 was made favourite with £258 on him, but British Lion 9.4 carried only £1 less in the machine, and then followed Daisy Clipper 7.6 with £144, Flywheel 7.4- with £138, and Maid of the Valley 6.7 with £67. Flywheel was smartest away, and led till about half a mile from home, when Daisy Clipper, a daughter of Sou-wester recently promoted from the hack division, went to the front and won from Flywheel by a length and a-half. The race was at a mile and three-quarters. Next day, in the Midsummer Handicap, a mile and a-half, Harkaway had 4-Jb off his back and Flywheel 81b more to carry, and in the absence of Daisy Clipper the difference enabled Harkaway to win, and he did so with such ease that he was able to come out again after an interval of one race and beat his opponents in the Boatman's Handicap. The nearest approach to a win that British Lion had was in the Consolation. He tried to give Maid of the Valley 171b at a mile, and the mare beat him by a neck. Poor form this for a New Zealand Cup winaer. The old chap is going down the hill now, and will, I suppose, soon be withdrawn from the turf, or he will before long reach the level of the hacks. La Rose got hurt and could not race at the meeting. During the two days the machine money came to £4815, or £584 less than last year.

*#* Once more the Dunedin Jockey Club has stated with pointed directness that it will have nothing to do with the formation of a New Zealand Jockey Club. The declaration is made in a resolution of committee expounding the club's policy in reply to Captain Russell's circular, and those who read the text of the minute reproduced elsewhere will find therein the additional intimation that if such a, body is formed the D. J.C. will not recognise it. That is plain English," and the club means it as such, members desiring, I understand, that there should be no ribk of a misconception as to their intentions. lam not authorised to explain the position taken up, .but from all that I hear there are several grounds for the hostility to the proposal. One on which some stress is laid is that a sufficiently good case bas not been made.out by the supporters of the proposition. Power is asked to create an expensive organisation, to maintain which would involve a tax on clubs, and commensurate results could hardly be expected. The N.Z J.C. could do very little more than what the metropolitans are now doing ; nothing more than they could \ do it' made more representative of the country as well as the town clubs. The N.Z. J.C.s value as a court of appeal would not be very high, and it might be less than nothing— it might be mischievous, in conferring authority from local tribunals who have the best means of knowing the ins and outs of a dispute to a body of men who could not so fully understand all the circumstances of each case. The D.J.C. believes that Auckland understands Auckland matters best, and that Canterbury is the most competent authority on Canterbury troubles, and it is quite certain that Ofcago can get along most comfortably under a 6ystem which does not exslude the principle of self-government. Herein, I think, lies the kernel of the present resistance. Obago is not willing" to surrender one iota of its independence, and dread is felt that under the new system the clubs at the extremes of the colony would ultimately become what, say, the Hawkesbury Club is to the A.J.C. Nominally, of course, the N.Z.J.C. would be a kind of Turf Parliament, but in practice it would be found that the government would be left to a few men with time and money to spare, or, woree still, to those who happened to be on the spot ab WelliDgton or Christchurch, wherever the headquarters were fixed. There is at any rate a dacger of this etate of affairs coming about, and united Otago, as voiced by the D.J.C , will not lend itself to any experiments which might entail such an unsatisfactory result. There are probably other reasons operating to account for the resolution of the D.J.C. Those that I have stated, though never formally put forward, are well understood, and, so far as Otago is concerned, thoroughly endorsed. The tone of the November conference in Dunedin was not uncertain in respect to this matter. How it will all ran out I can't pretend to guess, but I do kuow that the

D.J.C. is nearly if not quite unanimous on the subject, and it seems to me that they have the best of the argument.

*** The Huron case, a racing dispute which arose in America last season, was referred to in these columns several months ago. The colt Huron, when sold as a yearling, was engaged in the Futurity Stakes. The vendor afterwards 6truck him out, but the buyer claimed to have bought the colt with this engagement, and applied to the Coney Island Club to allow Huron to run. This permission was refused, the executive holding that Huron had not been sold with his engagements. Mr B. Corrigan obtained a mandatory in junction from the court compelling the club to allow his colt to start. Huron did start, and finished second, but the offiicals refused to consider him as a participant in the race, and paid second money to the animal which ran third. Corrigan then sued the club for second money, and pending the decision of this suit the Coney Island Club appealed from the order which granted the injunction. The court decided that Huron was not entitled to start in the Futurity Stakes, and consequently the action against the club for second money fell to the ground. This decision pointedly reaffirms the declaration of the courts overhand over again#hat the decisions Oi racing tribunals will not be over-ridden by the courts without the compulsion of very strong reasons. As Judge Williams once said in Dunedin, when a racing dispute was brought before him : " You have your racing rules. Why not go by them instead of bringing disputes to a court which does not know so much of the matter as the racing tribunals." These were not his Honor's exact words, but the effect of them. It is well that responsibility is thus cast on the governing turf bodies, and the lessons of which this Huron case is a prominent one should be remembered by litigious owners.

*** Stormy weather prevailed at St. Bathans on Boxing Day, and the races had to be put off till the Tuesday, when thiDgs were not much better, clouds of dust being raised by a gale that lasted all day. The attendance was, however, pretty good considering. Mr Bxcell worked the totalisator, and put through over £400. Playfair was the first to make the running in the Maiden, but Verepic came when asked and easily disposed of all but Iris, the latter running a good race, and being beaten by only half a lengbb. Mr Dillon's Morgan had no trouble in beating Knickerbocker Sam all the way in the St. Bathau's Handicap. How easy his task was is seen from the fact that when raised 2.0 in the Cambrian Handicap the result was the same, though the ancient K.S. made a better fight of it, getting to Morgan's shoulders at the finish. Honesty won the Three-mile Trot from scratch, making the fair average. time of 9min. In the other Trot the winner lost the stakes on protest, the grounds of the objection being apparently similar to those in which Dexterina was disqualified at the Forbury a short time ago. I thought that that was a wrong decision, believing that the stewards might have very properly exercised their discretion and refused to entertain an objection based purely on a technicality. Ido not know whether the circumstances were similar at St. Bathans, but if there was nothing more in the case than that the rider shook hands with a friend before weighing in, a caution would surely have been sufficient. Stewards should, I think, make it a practice not to upset bonafide results unless for grave reason.

* # * Racing men showed their faith in Mr Paulin's prediction as to the weather by turning out in force to the Kaik meeting, held on Monday in Mr North's paddock, just below Portobello. The course was firm and sound, though a little rough. Prior to the first race it was reßolved by the stewards that Garnita was not eligible for the Maiden Plate, she having won the Hack Race at this meeting a year ago. Of those that started, Reprieve fell and Loup Garoualso came to grief. The latter was unhurt, but Reprieve was a little lame afterwards, and his rider was a bit knocked about. In the Plate Mariner did nob run kindly, the unevenness of the ground being apparently not to his liking, and, notwithstanding Allan's vigorous riding, the horse was beaten all the way. Prince was so little put about by his effort in the Three-mile Trot that he was able to annex the other trotting event in faster time per mile than he made in his first race, and he was 'never in trouble, though it was very plain that some of those behind him in both races were not trying a yard. Mountain Maid was ridden with judgment in the Flying, and she ran with marked gameness, but Sweetbriar would have been troublesome but for being blocked. The latter was in some respects the heroine of the meeting, for in her third race she carried a fair weight and beat a decent field easily. Messrs Mason and Roberts worked the totalisato-, and passed through £699 for the six races. This was much less than was expected, the cash fielders doing a thriving business without interference^ Mr Dowse was handicapper, Mr Grindley starter, Mr Fleming judge, and Mr J. Macandrew secretary. To the latter gentleman and his brother officers the public are indebted for a very pleasant day's sport, the management being quite up to the mark, and personally I must acknowledge a hearty welcome from this very genial committee.

*** The dispute which has arisen in the Auckland district seems to be of a serious character. The Northern Wairoa Club has held its meeting in defiance of the metropolitan, and the threat by the latter to disqualify all persons and. all horses that took part thereat has no doubt been carried into effect. By way of reply a counter authority is being set up, a preliminary meeting having been held to form a North Auckland Racing Association. Six clubs were represented at this meeting, four others sent expressions of approval and readiness to co-operate, and it is proposed to ask the Colonial Secretary to recognise the now body to the same extent as he now recognises the metropolitans Thus we have the makings of a prolonged quarrel. I hope otherwise, but that is the prospect. The facts are a little difficult to ascertain, but so far as I can make out there was in the first place a request by the A.R.C. that the Wairoa Club should change its date from the 26th and 27th December. The latter body replied that it had a defensible right in this respect, and the upshot was an independent application to the Colonial Secretary for a tote permit. This was at first refused, but the A.R.C. gave way on the question of date, and based its refusal to pass the programme on the ground that the added money did nob amount to £150 per diem as required by the rules. The Wairoa Club made answer that when the programme was originally submitted the new rule as to added money was not in force, pointing out also that the objection taken at first by the A.R.C. was on the question of date. Further application was then made by the Wairoa Club for a license, and this was granted. Being nob quite sure of the facts, I refrain from expressing an opinion as to the rights and wrongs of the matter as between the metropolitan and the Wairoa Club, though on the above statement it would seem that the exercise of a little consideration on both sides

would have prevented all the bother ; but Ido think that the Colonial Secretary has acted without sufficient thought in issuiDg the license. The metropolitan seems to have been to blame in raising the objection as to date, but it afterwards gave way on that point, and having thus paved the way to some cx 1 ent to a compromise, it is a thousand pities that the representative of the Government should have given a slap in the eye to the body whose express duty it is to carry out rules which were p-ac ically forced on it by the Legislature of which the Government is the head. It looks very much as if the Colonial Secretary had been talked over by someone who does not appear in the matter. If this sort of thing is to be the rule we shall have chaos- very shortly.

*** Tinwald races, held on Monday, were well attended, and £1597 passed through the totalisator. Mr Piper's starting was the subject of favourable comment. The Hurdles resulted in a walk-over for Lady Grey. Gillie weighed out, but blundered over the preliminary hurdle and was scratched, being reserved for the Cup. In the Maiden the favourite was Liverpool's son Rosehill, who won by less than a lengbh from the second favourite, Sir Robert, three other* finishing behind this pair. Rosehill, who belongs to Mr Alexander, paid £2 83. For the Cap, a mile and a-balf, the starters were Aquarius 8,4-, Quibble ß.3, Warriugton 8.3, Beau Nash] 7.12, Lord Zetland 7.6, and Gillie 7.1. These were the weights actually carried. Lord Zetland was most in demand, but for some distance he lay absolutely last, the running being made by Beau Nash, Gillie, and Quibble. Coming to the home turn Lord Zetland went through, and eventually won by a length from Warrington, with Beau Nash third The time was 2min 42§sec, and the dividend £2 9a. For the Trot the supposed-to-be good thing was S.P.D. 65sec, but the race was a match between Sarah 55sec and Taipo 68aec, and the first-named got home by 50yds, paying £6 15s. Mr Alexander got another turn in the Welter, one mile, his colt Frivolity 9.0 winning cleverly by a neck from Maria Martin 8.4, and returning a dividend of £1 11s. Portadown got home in the Novel (dividend, £13 10s), and was bought by Mr V. Harris at £19. Kate Graenaway 8.5 was made an odds on chance for the Flying, and won in a canter by four lengths from Rosebill 7,0, Carronade 9.7 being third. Digby Grand's son Invader annexed the Hurry Scurry, paying £5 93.

*»* In speaking of the recent purchase of the^famous Ormonde by Mr M'Donough, and of this gentleman's purpose to establish an extensive breeding farm with this peerless son of Bend Or and Lilly Agnes at its head, the San Franc'sco Examiner proceeds to show that at the high price of 150,000d0l which Mr M'Donough paid for the horse the investment is a good one from a commercial point of view, in support of which statement it very truly says : Though 150,000d0l as the price of ahorse will be a matter of world-wide wonder, it is easy to see that the purchase of a great sire like Ormonde, regarded as a business proposition, is likely to yield very handsome profits to an owner of sufficient capital. Twenty-five brood mares of the highest grade could be secured for an average price of 3000dol apiece. This would add 75,000d0l to the cost of Ormonde, makiDg a total outlay of 225,000d01, which, together with the cost of the breeding grounds and other expon&es, may be put ab 275,000d01. From this callection an annual return of 20 yearlings would be a reasonable expectation, and the sale of yearlings from a horse of far lesser fame than Ormonde's— namely, from St. Blaize, has averaged 6000dol apiece. This would yield an annual return of 120,000d01, which, allowing for the current expenses of the ranch, would mean a return of at leasb 35 per cent, on the capital invested. Moreover, should the owner of such a ranch decide to race the produce of his stock, ab the present day he might be reasonably expected to make by stakes and sales 150,000d0l additional a year, with the opportunity to retain for his own ranch the most select of the sons and daughters of his sire, and thus be able, long before the demise of such a horse, to nominate more than one able successor to him in the stud.

* # * St. Hippo has added to his laurels the Auckland Derby and the Plate. It was no great achievement to secure the first-named of these events, since Stepniak, the only candidate that had a show with him, declined the encounter, and the lob left in were so weak that Brown Alice, who is said to be but a galloway, was able to dish them. Some present had a hope that First Nelson would make-a bit of a struggle even against the champion, but it was not to be. St. Hippo chose his own pace, and won as he liked- Oa the next day he defeated Crack-hot over the same distance in the Plate, though carrying within 111b of the big horse. If they were to meet on level weights at any distance, St. Hippo would be favourite. Yet Crackshot is still to be reckoned with. His winning performance in the A.R C. Handicap was by no means a bad one. Of: the other horses at the meeting that earned their oats, Eve seems to be a really good one for her size, her defeat of Pegasus and Reflector proving her to be reliable and fast, while Brown Alice, The Workman, and the jumper Mangere deserve to be treated with more respect than formerly. Morion was a dead frost, so was Coalscuttle, and Brigand's race in the Cup is somewhat discounted by the inglorious display he made in the A.R.C. Handicap. I don'fc, however, place implicit trust ou the form displayed on the second and third days, the course being so heavy. Is it not strauge, by the way, that they get so much bad -weather for racing in sunny Auckland ?

*** Splendid weather was enjoyed for the V.A.T.C's. Boxing Day meeting. The Argus reports that 11 horses turned out to do battle for the Juvenile Stakes, and ultimately Miraculeux was installed favourite at 7 to 2, and at half a point longer odds Naughty Lass received strong support. Somniloquist and Gloria had followers at 6 to 1, and a select few backed Nada at 7to 1. Naughty Lass looked all over a winner on entering the straight, but at the distance Nada, who had been lying in the rear, came through, and won very easily by a length and a-half from Patron and Naughty Lass. The winner, who is by Trenton from Tuberose, was bred by Mr J. H. Aldridge in South Australia, and was purchased as a yearling by Mr W. R. Wilson for 200gs. A field of a dozen turned out for the Handicap Hurdle Race, which was regarded as very open, 5 to 1 being offered on the field afc the close, Indolence and Paieena beiDg most in demand at that figure ; but the winner turned up in Knight of the Garter, who was in a prominent place all the way, and won easily from Sundowner and Tayforth. At the first hurdle Chapman cleared right over the rails into the midd'e of the course, and Indolence and Solomon, who were immediately in his wake, fell, Tilley, the rider oi Indolence, being seriously hurt. Twenty-two runners were announce d for the Hopetoun Cup, and at the close Comedian was made favourite at 4 to 1, Marco and Airlic coming next at 7 to 1 each. Couifcdiisu aud Dramatist were iv good places

up to the home turn, where Comedian dropped back, and Norbert, disposing of Dramatist, who swerved across the course, won easily, Taurus and Tarcoola filling second and third places respectively. The winner was not backed by the connections of the stable, and left the paddock at 12 to 1. With the exception of the Gaelong Cup, this is the only race that Norbert has won since he passed into the hands of the Messrs Miller tor 400gs. Norberb is by Goldsbrough from Lady Laura, and was bred by Mr F. Reynolds, at Tocal, New South Wales. Beau Brummel, who had the services of Corrigan, was backed down to 5 to 2 for the Steeplechase, but he could get no nearer than third, a pretty race resulting in the victory of Egyptian, who carried a penalty for winning at Williamstown. The wiDner was ridden by F. Wise, who also rode Knight of the Garter in the Hurdle Race. Noorr o fell opposite the stand, and his rider, Mr W. S. Cox, had his noee broken. At the last fence Elton came to grief, breaking his neck, but the jockey fortunately escaped unhurt. The scratching pen was busily ab work in the Malvexn Handicap, and when the weighing bell rang only 10 of the 39 coloured on the card responded'to the call. Berrigan was at first favourite, but before the "go" gong sounded Lord Hopetoun was most in demand, and they ran first and second, Lord Hopetoun winning very easily, with Beverley third.