SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Witness, Issue 2520, 2 July 1902, Page 55

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA

By Ravenswohti.

MELBOURNE, June 18. H. UNDERWOOD'S DEATH.

Since the date of my last letter there has been a good deal of adverse comment in rs> > ing circles in connection with the action of the V.R.C. authorities and poor Harry Underwcod's accident. The V.R.C. ore blamed all rouiid for the insufficiency of their cns'iui'y arrangements It sterns <;'rp;i°;r that in IL2 fa.cc of the opinion expressed by Dr Flanagan, that if he v as mov-d ho wou'd piob-illv <he. Underwood was taken fioni th" course to tie Melbourne Uo'u.ti' — a distance of nearly fivp mile? B'eedi: g inwardly, it docs not uped a doctor to tell us Unit the poor fel'ow's chance of life iiui extinguished by this action. The strargr^t thing of all was tlie way tht inquest was co'ichictcd The coroner end the police each appeared to hold a brief for the V.R.C. Mr Willam Gaunson, a member of the club, tried to call attention to the position of the V.R C, but the coroner s.it upon him ut once Neither D: Flanagan ivaj called, nor any official of th» V.R.C. Mr (Jiunsoo was a'lo^ed to give evidence towaids the end of the inquest. He was piesent, ho stated, "as one of the public" in the interest of humanity. The statement vas made tha* when lying in the casualty room deceased asked for his medical adviser, Dr Flanagan, who was on the ground, and that the latter advised that he should not be removed. He was not quite certain whether Dr Mollison concurred an that opinion. Therefore, he desired that this matter should be fully investigated. He instanced a case of the jockey Allen, who met with an injury on the Caulfield course. That jockey's life was evidently saved by his being allowed to remain in, the casualty room, where he was attended by a, trained nurse. In his opinion, Flemington, as the headquarters of races, should r.ot be behind Caulfield in the treatment of injured jockeys. The Coronei expressed the opinion that the V.R.C. foil done everything ja reason* and a

verdict of accidental death was returned. Th» funeral was very largely attended.

The following extract from, the Age in ieferenoe to the accident gives an idea of tha public feeling over the matter- — In sporting circles very strorg criticism wa3 indulged ill regarding the arrangements existing at Flemington for the treatment of casualties of an. urgent nature. M-embers of the committee 1 , singularly enough, were in a state of ignoranca as to the extent of Underwood's injuries, and apparently some of them did not know that the accident was a serious one until after Underwood was dead. It seems inccnceivabta thpt members of the committee were not tho first people notified of the urgency of the case. They do not seem disposed to regard themselves as being to blame for the removal oE Uaderwood to the hospital. It is sought, rather, to thiow the responsibility on. to tha officials of the casualty room, who, it is contended, shouid have brought the case undai the notice of the committee. Despite protestations to tha contrary by the V.R.C. au« thonties, it can hardly be denied that tha casualty arrangements are not in keeping with the general efficiency of the appointments at Flenxingtan. There should hs on the course an hospital in miniature, as there is at Caulfield. The V.R.C. authorities claim that all the advantages of tho VA.T.C. system are embraced in the arrangements made in the Flemington casualty room, out the simple answer to this is that at Cauliield boys dangerously injured have been kept on the spot and nursed back to convalescence by trained nurses, while in two recent cases at Flemington — that of R. Manniug and H. Underwood — » the unfortunate jockeys were aent from the course to the Melbourne Hospital, and each died shortly after being- admitted, losing by the delay and the irritation necessarily caused by transport over a distance of five miles whatever chance of recoveiy they might have had in the first instance.

The Fleimngton trainer R. H. Frew has addressed a letter to the editor of the Argus, in which he condemns the ambulance arrangements at Flemington. One of the ambulances (he states) is too rough for a sound man, let alone an injured one. He makes the suggestion by way of minimising accidents m steeplechases that the fences on all courses should be of uniform height, say 4ft. He would also nbolish the stone wall near the abattoirs at Flemington. This he describes as a death* trap.

MARIBYRNONG RACES

Showery weather spoiled the success of tha Manbyrnong meeting last Wednesday. Fields were small, but still backers found it hard to pick winners, this probably because the going was heavy. Mat B.G, by Sunrise, won the Trial Handicap, and Linden 10.13 londed the> odds laid on him in the HurdleTiace. It was a lucky win, as Altairs had him beaten when lie fell at the last hurdle. Linden was purchased by J. J. Allan at the sale of Mr H. Hawkins's hoi=es recently. He was a decided bargain. Dundee 8.1, by the New Zealandbred Dunkeld, succc-eded in the Welter Plate; Pilot 9.1, by Skipper, in the Steeplechase; Hasty Locks 5.9, by Padlock, in the Welter Purse , and Scabbard 7.7, by Escutcheon (son of -Musket), in the Manbyrnong Handicap. Brio 7.10, who started an even-money favourite for tho last-earned event, finished Icat in » field of four. She seems to hare gone right off.

OAKLANDS HUNT CLUB RACES

This popular sporting institution brought off a race meeting on the Moonee Valley course on Saturday last, when there was fino weather and a splendid attendance. From tha fact that a few Grand National candidates' were engaged, most interest centred in tha Hurdle Race, which attracted 15 starters. Tha winner turned up in the Escutcheon gelding Coat of Arms 9.13, who was quite unbacked. He is in E. Davis's stable, a stable which usuaiJy backs heavily, and the crowd conn-ectetl with it did not look at all pleased over tha win. Coat of arms did not appear on the scene until 100 yds from home, when he came thiough like a shot out of a gun, and wort with a lot in hand. He is a good str.yer, and is bound to be dangerous in the Grand Na« tional. Another V.R.C. Grand National can« didate in Loch Fkd won the Corinthian Han< dicap, six furlongs and a-ha!f, carrying 11.6, He li-as plenty of pace, and can :arry weight, but is not a good stayer.

The stewards took action in connection with tho Dunhelen Handicap, run over five furlongs. The Pilgrim's Pi ogress two-year-old Last Choice 6.13 won from Cerise 6.7, by Firelock; but Cerise was palpably pulled, and th« stewards disqualified her for 12 months, ai well as the jockey, M. Dunn, and trainer, J, Cripps. A good deal of sympathy is felt fo« Cripps, who is one of our most respected trainers. He won the Caulfield Cup with 802 arid the Australian Cup with Ayrshire, and also trained the winners of other good laces. He only had Cerise for a weak, and knew no'hing about her. He has appealed to tin V.R.C. Committee. Eraser 11.9 won tha Hunters' Steeplechase, Pay Out 9.7 the Open Steeplechase, and Jerry 6.8, by Ascot Vale, tha Glenara Handicap, eight and a-half furlongs. The Corsican 6.7, Glen Albyn 8.12, and Marama 7.7 were- all heavily backed for the lattjr event but could not get a place. The heavy going suited Jerry, who won easily. He was a ranis outsider.

RACING IN SYDNEY.

The best finish st the "Warwick Farm meeting last Satuiday was in the Stewards' Mile, which ended m a dead-heat between the favourite Moma 5.5, by Metal, and the outsider Cmdermun 8.9, by Papua. Benedick 10.D, wlio has not appeared in puulic for some time, was made a. strong favourite for the Hurdle Race, and the snn of Lochiel -won pulling up. Miloy 9.5, by Mflos, accounted for the Faim Stakes, for' which he started at odds on. Fairy Prince 7 5, formerly carrying the colours of Sir Edea George, had an easy win in the Warv/ick Handicap 10A furlongs, going out at odds on in a <=mai! ii-'ld Antique 9.C had a runaway victory m the Pace Welter Handicap, winning with 10 lengths to sp^re.

V.Pv.C. GRAND NATIONAL MEETING

Weighli were declared on Monday for tho V.X.C. Grnr.d National Hurdle Race ami Steeplechase. The New Zcalanticr Battlcaxo is top weight in the Huidle Race, with 11.12 opposite his name. It is not a big weight, but no word lias been received of his coming over for the race. Another New Zealander -a. Regalia II has shown fair form on the fiat in Sydney, and is highly spoken of. If he does a Lit of public jumping in the meantime, I would hlrongly fancy Lowland Chief at 11.7. Ribdon 10.11, Coat of Arms 10.5, Holkar 10.4, Tib 10.4, Error 10.0, Lord Roberts 9.11, and Seaman 9.2 should also run well. Pcrhapi the race will result as under. — Holkar , , c .. „ 1 Seaman .. ,X „ „ 2 R-isdon or Tib 3 The New Zealander The Guard shares top position with Arcadia in the Grand National Steeplechase, each having 12.7. This is a different tale to 1893, when the tap-weight Redleap •was awarded 14.7. The horses that strike me as most likely to supply the winner are Brokerage 12.2, Mystery 11.12, Stndhia 10.7, and Royal Mail 10 0. My idea of the probable result is ss follow? — Mystery or Royal Mail "• Sind'uia - Brokers^ „ .. .. **•••• 3

SANDOWN PARK RACES.

Th« most boisterous day of the season was Tuesday of this week, when the Sandown Park races took place. It blew and rained hard Aietrly all the afternoon^ and the sport was ■fcairied out under very unpleasant conditions. T«o of the- events— ihe Welter Purse, six furlongs, and Sandown Park Handicap, one mile .—■went to horees sired, by the New Zealander {Escutcheon, Nombrie 9.0 taking the one and Scabbard 8.4 the other race. Lance 9.2, the sfci»l Handicap winner, is by Fusileer, the latter also, I fancy, New Zealand-bred. Victor 9.4, whi> is engaged in the Grand National Hurdle Race, started a 5 to 4 favourite, and Jvon the • Jumpers' Flat Race, while another pot favourite in Poster 9.9 won the Steeplechase. Estimator 7.12, who has been over Jfurclles, won the "Welter Plate, six furlongs.

ODDS AND ENDS

As there is some doubt as to the identity cf Ihe dog, the stewards of the Jloonee Valley Plumoton have withheld the stakes won by Harvester II in the St. Leger recently run there. An analysis of the pedigrees of the horses entered for the next Melbourne Cup shows jthat 13 sires possessing the Musket blood are represented— viz., Wallace (nine), 1/igb.t Artillery (four), Firelock (two), Carnage (two)) Havoc !(two), The Inquisitor (two), Zalinski (two), (two), Martini-Henry, Enfilade, True JBlue, Medallion, and Thunderbolt. Bill of is represented by no fewer than, 18 •horses, Pilgrim's Progress by 13, Grafton by 12, Gozo by nine, and The Admiral by «ight. While schooling the New Zealand jumper fVoicanic at Rosenlll last week J. Cameron got ft Jail which resulted in a dislocated shoulder. I Tha first report of the injuries sustained in 'Sydney by Suivre proves to have been greatly jexaggerated, for it is not only said now that )iothiiig was broken, but Suivre will renew her Acquaintance with the Randwick training grounds within the next few days. Messrs H. Cbisholm and Co. have sold to an Jndian buyer the brown filly Valento, threo rears, by Haut Brion (imp.) from Lady Helena. r The crack steeplechaser Aloha broke down l>adly in the Steeplechase at the V.R.C. Prince tot Wales's Birthday meeting, and is not likely ta. be seen racing again for come time. ' The well-known cross-country rider "W. S. Cos got another nasty fall off Springfield at the ©aklands Hunt Club meeting last Saturday. JBjs kidneys were bruised, and he will not be W>!e to ride for a little time. ; At the Port Adelaide races last Saturday Forttro« Teller carried 10.12 (minimum €.7) in the Coronation Handicap, five furlongs, and won easily. It takes a lot of weight to stop Jhim over" the distance. The Port Adelaide /Handicap, one mile, was won by the outsider ■Antilles 7.0, by Carlyon, the West Australian Giilt 9.7 being' beaten a head only. Shiela. 18.13, by the New Zealand horee Tranter, was successful in the Jumpers' Flat Race. The crack steeplechaser Bethnal has besn fired.