SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 48

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

By Ravensworth. MELBOURNE, May 21 DEATH OF THE ADMIRAL.

A few days a-.jo Mr S. G. Cook's stallion, The Admiral, died from an attack of colic. The Adrenal was when on the turf one of the "bifc little" horses that sometimes make their mark as racers. He was as round as a ball and as strong as a castle. There is no doubt that his c.ass was good. His two principal victories were in the V.R.C. Maribyrnong Plate and Derby, but he v.on two or three good weight-for-age events, also a handicap at Flemington with 10.8 up. Lan second in the Sydnej Cup, carrying 9.9, and fourth in the mud in Glenloth's Melbourne Cup, carrying 9.1. The Admiral was by the Austialian Cup winner Richmond (sire of a number of good horses), and came from a famous family on the dam's side, being from Footstep (dam of Port Admiral, Fleet Admiral, Fooibolt, etc.), by Countryman from Instep (imp.), by Lord Chfden. At the stud he got several fair winners, including Flagship, The Sailor, Man o' War, The Union, Jack. The Victory, Hard-a-Lee, .The Corsican, and The Pirate King.

DEATH OF MR GEORGE VOWLES

Mr George Vowle3, the late V.A.T.C. haiidicapper, died at his residence, St. Kilda, Melbourne, on Friday last. He had been in indifferent health for a long time, and the V.A.T.C. authorities, some months ago, gave him leave of absence to enable him to proceed to England, but the trip did him no good. A few weeks ago he resigned his position as handicapper at Caulfield. Ho was 66 years of age at the time of his death. He was an old colonist, coming out from England to Victoria in 1852. For manj years he was in business in the country as a butcher. He owned one or two racehorses, the best of which was Jack, who won, among other races, for him the Bnllarat Cup in 1868. The race was then woith 200sovs, the distance being two miles two furlongs and 42yds. There was big betting over the event, and Mr Vowles stood to win a good stake on the favouiite, while he did not give his own horse (who had no known pedigree) a, chance. Nimblefoot, who ran second to Jaok, won the Melbourne Cup a couple of years afterwards. On Mr Vowles coming to Melbourne he acted as handicapper to the Kensington Park Racing Club, and was subsequently judge and handicapper at the Elsternwick Park racecourse. Besides handicapping at Caulfield Mr Vowles acted for several country and submbim clubs. Mr Vowles was no doubt a good haiidicappei", but he made one fatal nr.3take when acting as judg" at Elsternwick Park. Tins was in the famous Gulpha-Childe Harold race, in which he placed the 'ast horse first, being confused in the colours. Any man might have made a mistake of this sort, but Mr Vowles stuck out that he was right, and would not altei his placmqs. They did not aflk him to judge again. His funeral en Sunday last was largely attended. # FINDON HARRIETS RACES.

Though hunting has, hardly yet commenced, the Findon Harriers Club brought off a race meeting on the popular Moonee Vallej course last Wednesday. Mr Albert Milhr, who is the ruling spirit in the club, won thiee out of the six races— two with Slatin and one with Mailboat. In the Bundoora Handicap there were 23 starters, and Slatin 9.0, who was favourite, won- Golden Queen took the field along at a Tare pace, but compounded at the home turn, and Slatin had no difficulty in beating the wellbucked Captain Towse. Slatin came out later on and carrying a 71b penalty (making 10.0), won tho Reynard Welter. This time the son of Deerswood went out at a nice price. Mailboat's race was the Fmdon, Amateur Steeplechase, for hunters. He carried 12.7. There w-ere 22 starters for the Jumpers' Flat Race, and the top weight, Bridegroom 10.6, by the New Zealand-bred Russley, went out at 2 to 1 and- won easily. Slatin, in the Bundoora Handicap, and Bridegroom, m this event, each afforded an illustration of the turf saying, "The larger the field the greater the certainty. ' The stable was very confident in each case. Rising Fund 10.5, by Sinking Fund, easily won tho Steeplechase, while Naelbundum 7.1, by Grafton, was landed the winner m the Janefield Handicap, eight and a-half furlongs, by P. King, who rode in his best form.

WILLIAMSTOWN RACES

The Williamstown Racing Club held a successful meeting on Saturday. This club's course was flooded a few weeks ago, and considerable damage done, but everything is in order again now. Backers did very well, every winner being solidly supported. Exchange 910 by tho Melbourne Cup winner Arsenal, won the Hurdle Race for G. P. Brewer's stable, but the field he beat was a poor one. It, however, included Petherton 10.3, who is a son of another Melbourne Cup winner in The Assyrian, and ran second, a performance which he is l'ikelv to improve on before long. Florist 8.4, by Harmonist, landed the Tiia' Handicap. Skipper 7.12, by Mainsail, who has done very little racing of late, opened favourite fa* the Bay View Handicap, of lOOsovs, one mile, but there was no stable money for him, and a. dead set was made against him in the ring. All the same he won, and won easily, with Glen Albyn 8.10 and Sweet Erina 8.6 in the places. The regular supporters of tho stable were not on Skipper, and the only people that looked pleased after the race wene the impetuous punters, who got in easily and took a short price about Skipper. A race is ceitainly never lost until it is won. Jadoo 7.8, by Yule Cake, won the Autumn Handicap, cix furlongs, for T. Dempsey's stable, and a hot favourite in Tib 8.5, by Birragajnbil, led all the way in the Jumpers' Flat Race. Yellow and Black 8.2, by Russley, was successful in the Welter Handicap, for which he went out favourite. This gelding, who is trained by J. Lynch, is under orders to leaTe foi South Africa with I Barney Allen's itsuxu