SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 32

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Hoki Poene.

THE TURF.

Melbourne, June I.

We have been afforded object lessons galore of late as to the incomparable superiority of the totalisator as a means of investment as compared with the bookmaker. Horseracing is flout ishing in South Australia to such an extent that Victorian owners and trainers find it to their advantage to periodically visit the farinaceous colony. The Adelaide Racing Olub have just concluded their Birthday meeting (extending over two days^ during which ia two consecutive races the splendid dividends of £28 17s and £47 10s were re" turned. The last "little poultice" was provided by the Kensington Stakes, a five furlong flutter for two-year-olds, there being 10 starters, and Tarsus (Thunderbolt — Pantoulfe) 6.10 squeezing home" by a neck from Haurault 10.0, wnh Ranf urly 10.2 only a head away third ; the time being Imin 4jHec. Tb under Queen (Thunderbolt — Queen Consort) 7.2 returned the £1$ 17s " divvy " when she ran houae three-quarters of a length in advance of Princess of Wales 6 9, Eleusinian 7.3, Paul Pry 9.9, and 14'otb^rs iv the Birthday Cup, of one mile and a-half, traversed in 2min 41Jsec. Had a punter backed every hor&e tbat started on Monday "in the totalizator Tie would - have received .-£95 "35s in return for an expendituie of £87. I have made these calculations for some considerable time now with regard to South Austialian race meetings, and have almost invariably found that a "backer who " fielded " in every race (backed the whole blooming lot of the starters) in the totalisator would have come out on the light side of the ledger. Much, af tsr all, maybe snore attributable to the skill of the haudicapper than to the fairness of the betting of the " masheen " Mr J. E. Brewer-has been extremely lucky of late with his Sydney importations ovee Adelside way. Australian and liochaher each securing a fair share of Bpoil. Sir Rupert Ciaike has also had occasion to congratulate himself on not having acted on his once-formed resolve to expatriate Paul Pry to India owing to the " harshness " of Australian handicappers, the son of Lochiel having paid his way handsomely of late. Ranfurly, too. has brought some welcome grist to the Uuperrswood mill, and promises to bring more when a three-year-old

Mr J ames Wilson, sen., just missed securing a double with Alabaculia at Fltmington on the 24tb ult., the daughter of Marvellous and Tus-caio*-a getting weriged towards the conclusion of the Hoyal Handicap, six-furlong dash, and being defeated by Sirdar Jewan Singh's gelding Cherry (Locbiel — Peril) 9.2, though only by a head, the Don 7.6 and a <lozeD others oapstifcutiog the field, and the tine being Imin 20? sec, the going being extremely sodden. Aiabnculia only had 6.9 up, but in the concluding evdnt.— the Welter Handioap, of one mile— she carried 85, and st&rti-jg at 7 to 4, favourite, won, hard held, from 11 others, in linin 49jRec, James Wilson, jun.'s Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress — The Nun) 8.7 being second, with Nudity 9.7 (trained by James Wilson, sen.) third. The Wilson family piomise to be da-ngprous next season, Aralon 9.2 acquitting hiiaself verj r creditably ia the Two- Year-Old Handicap, of six furlouga, ia which lif fiuisheM third (in advance of seven others) to Ihe Bird 6.7 and Pretorious 8.5. The Bird (Splendor — Canary) belongs to Mr Septimus Miller, and was backed down from 6 to 1 to 6 to 4. The " Redleap stable " secured a double during the afternoon, Nilus (Glorious— Goolyrie) 12.0 annexing the Two-mile Sreeplecha^e from N.Z 9.3, Blue Petei 17.7, and five others (all of whotn fell) in 4mhi 29Jsec Mr Sam Griffiths wen the Hurdle Race with Deposed 10.3, who defeated Borderer 12.5 by five lengths, Riplet 10.7 being the nearest of three others, the two miles being traversed in 4mm lijsee. Deposed started at even money for the Hurdle Race, and Nilus (first favourite) at 4 to 1 for the Steeplechase. The eoft going did not pievent two horses getting "all smashed up," Kangaroo ll smashing hia jaiv and breaking his neck ia the hurdles, whilst T<ip2gd stave bis skull in opposite the ahattoirs in th& Steeplechase. Ths Cbevalier lLochiel— The Oaks) 7.6 was made a 2 to 1 favourite against 11 oppoeers in the Birthday Handicap, of a mile and a-half, and he fairly rompsd in at the finish in 2niin 43|seo, the erstwhile erratic Beau Brninmsl 6 10 finishing second two lengths and a-half asteru of Mr A A. Saauel's brown five-yeai-olc!, and a neck in advance of Peeress 6.7. Be&u Brummei has been put over hurdles, but shapes somewhat "green" at present. His forte is distance, and. if Josaph Crimps does not spring another Boa, Buivdion, or even Tarcoola surprise with the Niagard, — Conceit gelding I shall be most wofully out in my reckoning, I caa assure you. By the way, in couaectiou with The Chevalier's win, it may interest you to know that up to the end of May Locfaiel's stock had secured over £14,000 iv Rfcake* tfeis season. The tofcil amount given away by tho V.R C. on Queen's Birthday was £I£S5, and despite the inclemency of the weather there was a small margin of profit. The bookmakers were very much " out in the cold," however, actual first favourites winning five events out of the six. As one of the leading men of ihe metallic fraternity pathetically remarked, "It was bad enough to be compelled to etstid out in the rain ana cold, without the puntera cutting us to pieces." " Mo." Tmhan, Commotion's old pilot whea Joe MoiTison had the stalwart son of Panic and Evening Star, rode Cherry to "vietrn-y, and on Saturday took Ayrshire, Cherry, and Vedette to India by the steamship Argus. Trahan has been doing extremely well ia the land of the Rajahs (a remark which will equally apply to Dick Ai'Kenna, who is now about town dn splendid form), and from the calibre of the latest purchases secured by the young dealer in horteflesh for tha Indian market it is safe to ps edict a highly successful career in that trade for him. Which is no more than " Mo." Trahan deserves. * Last Thursday a letter appeared ia the Argus, over the signature of " Toprail," in which it was stated that two of the fences in the Steeplechase course at Flemington were not alone " daugerous/' but virtually "man t>ap3." In the first place the writer complained that at the "fence" (it was the stone wall) where Tapage was killed the grownd was some Sin lower on the landing than on the take-off side. In the second place, "Toprail" made a statement to the effect that the second last obstacle was "dumped down between two hillocks or banks," and altogether " a most deceptive jump." The Arsjus correspondent likewise asserted that " a fruitful cause of accident in huidle races is that the hurdles are not driven hard down, and that they will bend backward or forw&id fully a yard." At a meeting of the committee of the V. K.C. on Friday this effusion was referred to ; but Mr H. Byron Moore (the secretary) had previously personally inspected the two jumps specially complained of, aud likewise had the ground surveyed and plans prepared for the information of the committee. These plans certainly write " Toprail" down an unmitigated ass, seeing that at the inside of the " J'apage" 'obstacle <next the i ails) tbere is practically no difference in the level of the ground where" the horses take-off aud land ; in the centre of the jump tUese is only avari*tioti of Sin, and at (he out'ide a difference of lin only. Taking the outer end of the wall, for a distance of two chains on the take-off and landing side respectively there is only a difference of 3i« in the level. With reference to the fence "dumped down between two. hillocks or banks," taking a distance of two chains on the take-off tide and two chains on the landing tide, there is a "declivity" of sin in the level ! As regards the hurdles, Mr Moore unpb^tically slated that they are always d'iv»n in iiai^, are tied togorhei, and have »luf»f '>f (5 ii o itiv.iM-f from bottom \o top As a matter o1o 1 fact, some Engli-Ji vf-sitois h.ive complained that the hurdles at Fleiningtou aie "too rigid" Messrs Septimus Miller, W. Glasscock, and H. Hirrison have Eiuee ma i« a tour of inspection of tho various steeplechase fences and hurdles at Flomiugtou, aud have pronounced them faultless.

Some few weeks back the well-known jockey and trainer, Robert Batty, was (together with the last Caulfield Grand National Hurdle Race winner, His Grace) disqualified by the Epsom stewards for six months for susnicious nvao.t.ipna

.His Grace has certainly been a bit of an enigma on the convincing ground —at one time performing gracefully, and at others somewhat disgracefully. However, whether he was guilty, of doing " what he didn't oughter " on the occasion under notice or not, he was rubbed out for six months, and at this particular period of the year the infliction of such a penalty came with additional rigour. In consequence whereof Batty appealed to the comtnittoe of the V.R.C., aud — Hey, presto !— it was then discovered that the " course of procedure " on the part of the Epsom stewards "was not in accordance Avith that laid down by the immortal " Kilferbekeck" (or, horsey, Coke-upon-Littleion). It appears that there was ouly just a quorum of stewards present when the inquiry was instituted at Epsom, and that after heating the evidences one of the stewards left the sitting before a decision was arrived at. Upan becoming seized of this! fact ths V.R C. Committee referred the "whole matter back to the Epsom stewards, and last Friday the local stewards reopened tha case. The stewards who originally sat on the case ware Messrs A. W. Pearoon, John Buckle"y, D. J. Hani, R. J. Crawford, and the stipendiary steward, Mr C. 3T. Eraser. Mr Crawford was only an acting steward, and lie it was who, after hearing portion of the evidence, left the course, his place being takeu by Mr Geo. Mayger (secretary), who did <not have the evidence already taken Tead out to him, and who Tef rained from voting on the resolution to disqualify Batty and His Grace. At Friday's meeting the stewards present were Mesnis L. L. Smith, John Buckley, A. .W. Pearson, T. P. lower, F. R. How, A Anderson, andy Robert Crawford (the latter acting for Mr Ham, who was absent). After hearing the evidence from the start the stewaids decided that Batty's explanation should be accepted, and the original disqualification of Batty and Bis Graoe'thertfore falls to the ground. Tnte decision will, of course, have to be forwarded to the coimniv.tee of the V.R.C, and after such a <tispiay of the " no more backbone than an oyster " trait of character, it is hardly likely that body will intesfere further in the matter. Whether Batty and His Grace were guilty or innocent is totally beside the issue at stake— Mich issue being that -after a number of stewards arrive at a conclusion that a trainer and a horsp -should b? punished, they ought to be constant enough to keep them so. As "Goodwood" very pertinent!/ expresses himself in this connection, the case once again emphasises hpw unsatisfactory is the system of the appointment of honorary stewardp at suburban race meetings. There is frequently a difficulty i» getting a quorum, and often the procedure (as in the case under ; notice) is incorrect.. Racing inei: gsnerally would be pleased to see the V.lt.C Committee consider in a thorough manner the whole question of honorary stewai ds, and the state in which they at times carry out their duties.

Mentioning the V.R.C. Committee reminds me that £>ir Ttupert Clarke has allowed himßelf to be nominated for a seat oh that body at the annual election on the fir*t Jfonday in August, the rumour being generally credited that 'Mr E. Manifold is likely to reiign in the bsTonet's fuvour. It is devoutly to be wisbt-d, however, that Mt Manifold will reconsider i.be matter, for although the addition of Sir Rupert Clarke would undoubtedly strengthen the V.R C Committee, a man of the calibre of the Western district squatter cannot be spared from the Turf Senate even to obtain such a desirable end.

New Siuth Wales "ponies," wrapped up in the bide* of Djm-Bjin, Aluminium, Metallic, and sucsj liks, have- been enjoying a high oil time of it for spline months ab suburban gatherings, where they have ""got away" with quite a number of races, even when pitted against big " horses." The committee of the South Australian Jockey Club recently wiote to their brother stewards of the V.R.C. on the subject of whether these " unrejjlßtered " ponies should be allowed to compete at meetings uudc'r the rules of the V.R.C. andS.A. J.0.,b0!,h of which clubs areaffiliatedwHh the Australian Jockey Club. TheV.K.C. Committee referred tbr-in»t,ler to ft sub-conrmi(,Tfit (Frank Madden and W. H. Cosker), wiso rer.ommeis'lad that ponies or horses which have beconie.di&qnalified through competicg at unregiisiered meetings in New South Wales or South Australia should not be permitted to run under V.R C. rules. This recommendation has been adopted, and no doubt exists but what the SiA.J.C. Committee will follow suit with regar-l to the ostraci&ation of Sydney "unregistered" performers. The resolution p%s«ed by the committee of the Victoria Racing Club last JB'riday, and which will be advertised in the June number of the Victoria Racing Calender reads as follows :— " Every horse incurring disqualification under the rules of the Australian Jockey Club, or of the South Australian Jockey Club for all races or meetings to which such rules respectively apply, is consequently declaied to be disqualified by the committee of the Victoria Racing Club,. and not eligible to be entered or start for any race where the V.R.C. rules are in torce. Attention in directed to the fact that any person who wilfully enters or causes to be entei'ed, or starts for any race under V.R.C. rules a horte which he knows or believes to be disqualified, may be disqualified by the committee of fhe Victoria Racing Club." The passing of that resolution on Friday practically prohibited Aluminium, Actress, C&dow, and Djin Djin from fulfilling engagements entered into at Moonee Valley next day, and as Sir Rupert Clarke had recently given a big price for Metallic, Monday's Argus came out with a notification to the effect that 1 " it would beagraceful act on the part of the committee to favourably consider applications for the removal of the disqualification incurred by such Sydney horses or ponies as have been allowed to run on registered course* in Victoria." However, that suggestion was dovibtles* penned without thought having been bestowed on the fact that the disqualification was principally incurred under A.J.C. (and not V.R.C.) rules, and therefore the proper body to take action -is 'the A. J. C. Committee. No doubt a recommendation from the committee of the V. H.O. would have much weight with the A.J.C. Committee in such a couiitctiou, and Sic Rupert Clarke is said to be in communicAtion with the owners of ponies or horses in the same position as he is in with Metallic with a view of getting the V.R.C. Committee to^fovwarti such a recommendation to the A.J.C. folk.

The ac'.ion of the V.H.C on J?rHfty induced the owner of an animal named Kauri Gum (who ran second in the Trial Handicap at SaudownPark the previous day) to enter a protest against Martin, the winner, on the ground that he was ineligible to start thejefor. This put noi only the Sandown Park, but also the whole of the proprietary courses folk, into a terrible state of "flustration," as if thu protest were upheld all sorts of complications would arise with regardto i - aces won in Victoria by horses who, like Martin, have run at unregistered meeting* in Sydney. Prior to a meetiDg of the Sandown Park executive yesterday the protest was withdrawn, "but still the stewards determined to " improve the occasion," as it were, and, sitting in solemn conclave, proceeded to consider a document forwarded by Mr C. D. O'Halloran, in his prjfessional capacity, giving that gentleman's legal opinion as to the actiou of the V.R C. Committee in declaring that horses which had run at unregistered meetings in Syduey wero not eligible to run under V.R.C. rules, llr O'H&lloran takes the view that the order made by the V.R.C. last Friday ia in the nature of a, new rule of racing, and as the committee have no power to make new rales he considers that order i 3 of no effect whatever. Under the rule*) of racing Mr O'Halln-an conteuds that if a horse becoiafts disqualifiedby running at an unregistered meeting in Sydney, and is on the dmjualiffed lint at. the A. J.C." office, .the A J.O. authorities should give a certificate to that effect to the V.R.C., and theu— and net Tjefore— the V.R.O. may act under Unle 192 of their code, under which they may deal with the horse as they think fi", and need not neces- ; sarily disqualify him. ■ Mr O'Halloran is of j opinion that under V.R.O. Tides a howe dis- i qualifying himself iv New South Wales by , ruunirvg at an unregistered meeting, is not ipso . /■*Bf&~dNqualified in Victoria But tho y.R.O. j O'jmmitttre by tbeir action last Piiday de&nite.y ] d-ride.i that he is. So there you are— where are , ymi? . .. \ They aie serving Bobadil up very warm tor the i V-K.C Derby— even warmer than Aurum was j served up at the same time last year. t And 1 B idadil as a two-year-old was not quite in it \ with Aurum at the same age. There was .nothing ever caused Aurum to " shift ; whilst Bohadil unmistakably -"fchifted" on three ocsasions— twice from Cordite, and once when Merloolas tjinched Mm. Mind you. he is a "Dhenomenully

fast colt— faster than Aurum, perchance; but still, as John L. Sullivan remarks about Corbett, "1 fancy there*- a 'bit *of ' yellow ' about him." " Under any circumstances the V.R.O. Derby Ihia year (as I have previously advised you) is likelyio produce a splendid struggle aniGngst a goodly number of first-class three-year-olds. " M'Kmaon — Donald" (as I heard his custodian addrcsß him the other morticg) appears to be getting along all right at headquEi-ters ; but I have not been c'own on .the track for some few weeks, and can give no definite information with .regard to hi« Grand National prospects as yet. I will anon, though. OLLA PODRTDA. Strolling through +he Royal Pa'-k last -week 1 dropped across John McCarthy Blackhsim, the one> time prince of wic]re.tfke!*j>ers. He ip in magaificent trim -physically, lyith the exception That the bone of the -much-injured thumb has become bo diseased that he will never be able to act as "stootnper" again. In the course of conversation lie informed me that he was quite prepared to find the last combination of English cricketers completely routed by "the representative elevens of Australia, and gave the reasons for the faith "that had been in him thereauent. " You know Billy Murdoch," he remarked. " Well, then, I took there gauge through him. In his best day it took Billy all his time to scrape up 1000 runs during a season in first-class cricket in England. Xhat was when he first went Home to reside permanently. Nowadays he -can nrake his 10CO xuus in a season quite comfortably. It's xidieulous to suppose that Billy Murdoch is a better (or even as good a) batsman now as he was ilien, and -therefore X made up *uy niind that the English bowling nraat have very much deteriorated to allow him to score so heavily, and felt satisfied our fellows "would come out on top. I told "Hurry Kedley so when the Englishmen beat _us in the first test match iv Sydney 4 I told him" I looked -upon it. .as a fluke. The English bowling of .to-day, is not a patch, on what it was a few years back, and although our bowling has not. improved either (as witness the fact thairl made more rcras~my last season than ever "before, though of course I was playing the game much sounder), we hare a large number of "bowk-rs tc select from." There is ; ''Jack" Blackham's idea for you, aud he "ought' to know, you know."

Oaninely, Victoria is not "going to the dogs." I Victorians appear to be "off" of dogs— so far as coursing is considered. A most undesirable " crowd " appear to have set their big feet down | very solidly, and have for the nonce "scrooged" I out individuals whose presence might possibly ' level " the sport of the leash " upwards. There's certainly a Waterloo Cup to be orougM off at Moonee Valley on "July 12, 14, and 15 (Grand National weak), with a £25,000 Tattersall's " consultation" on ifr; but I am sore afraid there will be a "fiasco" iv connection with ifc, as some of the "doggy" talent of this Queen colony of the South are the lowest of the low. There are to be 64 nominations at .£lO 10s each, nominations closing with Mr Ar-chie Cos, 'at the office of the Moonee Valley .Racing Club, on June 20 There was a Derby and Oaks jcaaetixig -at the "Valley on May 19 and 20, when $h.e!)roi>rietaiy had matters in apple-pie order, &n& — under ths guidance of George Bignell as skipper and A. A. Woods as judge — everything passed off satisfactorily. But the attendance Wks-=well, "sparse" is foo huge an expression to use. Mr J. A. R. Flint's puppy First Light (Explorer— Ever Playful) carried- off the Derby from 14 opposers iv magnificent style, the runn«r-up being The Busy Tailor (Richmond — Lady Livingstone). The brothers Nicol secured the Oaks (18 rrmnsrs) witb Darebin Kit (Darebin King — Catherine Hayes), who was adjudged the winner of the deciding course, wherein the runnerup, Mr T. Tteilly's Marguerite (Socialist — Hermiom-), appeared to execute a lot of good work. Mr M. Hwdiman carrißd off the Essendon Stakes (of all ages) -with Henuie II (Markaway— Hennie),'who defeated Sago (Devon — Allegro) in the "final. Tiia jproudest man at the meeting would have been thai old grcybcujid identity, Mr James Swan(lfftt of CaxeTierwe'!, 'but bow of S*le), ijacL Blizzard downeci Hennie II in their course. Blizzard (from Hazewell) is by Mr Swan's old champion (in the fialdaswellesontheshow bench), Fauch-ji-Ballagli, and though his breeder was up in Sale, ami did .not intend to put in an appearance at the .Meeting, no sooner did he learn that Blizzard had provea liimeelf to be a veritable " chip oft the old block " by the way he put down a's to 1 on favourite in Tutor, poiotleiss, in Mb opening effort than he enhanced himself at once and came dewa to see him run. Uefortunately, though, Mr George F. Bowen's dog had been unlucky enough to wrench off half a toenail in a single-handed bye the afternoon before, and when it came to a "matter of turning (the injury being'- on the inside of the off hind leg) the pressure on the quick caused him to take a vary big " cuter circle." .Blizzard displaj'ed vastly superior pace to Hennie IL and — like First Sight— is almost certain to attain distinction before the courniag season closes. « Football is "beginning to show symptoms of reviving somewhat in public estimation. This is to be accounted for principally by the fact that Carlton have once more oome to the fore, and *n their new ground (in Prince's Park) have givfsn Essendon and "Geeloug all they knew to avert a defeat. At present Essendon stands unbeaten id the premiership competition, with fouir wins; Melbourne, Geel >Rg, and Fitzroy being a " tie " for second, with three wins and one defeat each.