TALK OF THE DAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2714, 21 March 1906, Page 50

TALK OF THE DAY.

Br Sentinel

A. VISIT TO WINGATUL 'A gloriously fin© day tempted th# writer to make an afternoon call at Wingatui on {Saturday last, and a pleasant drive landed to. small party at the Hon. George M 'Lean's stables shortly before afternoon etable. W. tM'Donald kindly stripped hie charges, and allowed the visitors to inspect the team (under his charge, and right here it may

b© said that whatever the racing qualities of the horses composing the string may he, there is no doubt that aIJ of the-m are at present looking particularly bright and healthy. Since the Cup meeting the team has been reduced by Cavatina being sent to Wellington, and Afer, Hamattan, and Amefchyst have been sent out for & run in the Warrington paddecke. We first renewed acquaintance with Sonia, the chestnut daughter of Sfcepniak and Ventosa, the daughter of that fine producer Mistral, who threw Mist (dam o£ Vladimir), Frisa (dam of Aj«ollodori^, Pampero, Sychem, and Natus. Sonia has never run to beef, but she is developing ', into a fine- big mare, who looks likely to get amongst the winners of the future. • Erskine, a brother to Qro'wn Imperial, and got by Lord Rosslyn from, the St. LegerBangle mare Tiara, was ia the next box entered, and he appears to he going on the j righfc way. Erskine, who, has shown pro- j , raise- on the track, in time may prove a> better Zetland spots standard-bearer fchan ,his brother did before he was sold out of the stable. ApoUodoris, the diminutive '■ son of Phosbus Apollo and Brisa, was led out into the yard for inspection, and apparently these- is not a more placidly-feempered-youngster in training. He stands without requiring anyone to hang on to him, and if he- lacka^ height he makes up a bit for it in length. ApoE-odoria stands a shade under lA.Z-, and, for hia inches, is one hard to beat. Aby no means gaudy-lookdng colt, yet he grows into oner's favour on .longer acquaintance, and were he relegated: to the pony ranks, he* ought to- prove a. Triton amongst the minnows. .By way of contrast, the up-standing* and handsome colt -2vfotus wasr next led out. The son of . Mistral stood like a- graven image as, after : the manner of some horses, he poised himself, to watch something on the e«fge of the horizon, whilst the brilliant sunshine played on his rich chestnut coat to make it light up and shine like burnished gold, with • the effect of making, a picture which, caused the colfc to fill the eye> as. a splendid specimen of a- powerful thoroughbred that would make a beau ideal charger for the commander of a, crack cavalry regiment. Nbtus- : is too much on the big side to be seen, at his best as a> colt, but if time deals kindly with him he looks the sort that should land a good stake or two w<hen he is properly muscled up. Syehem,. the brother to Notus, forms a marked contrast to his younger relative, and whilst the latter favours the female side of the house in being a- chest- ' irutv tha other throws back to the sire's : side of his pedigree. Svchem has been a disappointing customer, a^ whilst there is no doubt that he can gallop fast when he is in &\e- humour, it ia but seldom he is , found 1 in a galloping humour sufficiently generous to get to the front in his races. ■ A couple of rising- two-year-old fillies were next led out and introduced to the visitors. The first was a smart-looking bay, showing a lot of quality and a fail amount of size. She wag got by Lord Rosslyn out of Escopeta, a daughter of Hotchkiss and the St. Leger mare Agnes, a member of the No. 1 family that was bred by the defunct New Zealand Stud Company. The other filly ;is also a bay. But is. bizilt on a bigger line than her companion. She is by Lord Rosslyn out of Tourmaline, a daughter of Hotchkiss and the Castor — Onyx max© Chrysolite. I So that both are a pair of attractively-bred young ladies who may be found carrying silk at some future date ,with honour to their breeder and trainer. We next wended our way over to J. Ruttledge's boxes, and he also kindly allowed us ■to inspect the team under his charge. Vladimir, the star of- the string, unfortunately again went sore after the Dunedin Cup meeting, and he is to be fired and treated to a lengthy spell. At present he is running in a small enclosure, and is in good heart and full of life as a result of his enforced idleness. Old Donna Rosa was found to be looking bright and well, although she is getting up in years. She was foaled as far Lack as 1895, so that she has already passed the age at which they desert the post .for the paddock. A marked improvement is noticeable about Astraian's appearance, and the Stepniak colt has apparently thrown off the intermittent lameness that troubled hin? almost from the time he arrived at Wingatui. At present he looks bright and healthy, albeit a shade on th-e bis; side, but he appears to be going on the right way and may reduce some of the large deficit which stands against him up to date. The angular Cuiros. settia has not been under a beauty doctor \ I smcp he last carried &ilk. but he is looking I in fine order. A Legerity filly is the only I other member of the team at present in ' commission, and it is very probable she will 1 not be persevered with much longer. Rio I Grande and The Rapparee have recently been, subjected to a surgical operation, and were running out in a paddock. The former is making a fine recovery, but the latter was comporting himself in a manner which puggested' that he was inclined to be sorry for himself. Ruttledg* has the smallest team in active commission that he has had for some time, as th-ere is generally a demand for his boxes, but what he has going look like sw?cess£ul business. Returning to our previous host, the narty was regaled with refreshments to fortify thpm for the return iourney, after having spent a very enjoyable afternoon. ? IMPROVEMENTS AT WIXGATUI. The Dun«din Joeseey Club arp- having plans prepared for a stand which they con-t-pmplate erecting for the benefit of their outside patrons, and when it is completed it should do much towards enhancing the-popularit-y of Wingaiui. In the past many of the club's meetings have been, partially spoilt from a financial point of view by bad weather, owing to the publio staying away in large numbers when, the climate was in a bad humour, or else threatening to do things in the way of marring the pleasure of the devotees of sport. Many a man who always carries a loaded gun r never has a fight, and when at last WingaE tui is securely sheltered, the club'si luck in the matter of weath-er may take a comer. sault as if Ifr J. Pluvius finds that hie efforts to spoil sport are nullified by some architectural structure or other, he may only be present when required, and absent when his presence and his watering rart announce the unwelcome guest. In addition to building a stand, the club are devoting attention to their tracks. The ' old plough gallop, which was sown down, in grass, is being top-dressed, and, if given a good ohstnoev should eventutlly make a \ splendid track. Unfortunately, wlien it was sown down before bad weather had the ; effect of making, it very solid, and the grass ■ did not get a proper chance to thrive, with the result that the surface became tufty and somewhat rough in. nlaces, U-

y put in proper shape it should make a fine ] trial gallop, which could be used for final gallops, and both the outside of the course proper and the track under notice could i be savedi a great deal if the inside grace gallop was put in good order. The care- | taker, however, has far more than he can do in looking after his routine work, and ! it would be advisable to get outside assistance in order to effect the track improve- j menta with reasonable expedition. Prior j to the last meeting the writer made several track inspections, said if the ehib grant the caretaker some assistance it is to be hoped the course proper will also be top-dressed, as it stands in need of some such attention, in more places than one. A FAMOUS SPRINTER. A photo, which has been kindly posted to ■ .the writer by the well-known trainer and 1 horseman, Harry Jackson, establishes the fact that the old St. Clair gelding- Blazer has had hie lot cast in pleasant ways, and instead of being asked to show his famous " burst of heals " on the turf he now canters along easy street under the pilotage of an, apparently charming (per photo) young lady j who adopts the rational riding; skirt. Blazer, who was pensicm-eel off «om« months | ago, will never carry silk again, unless it > is in the shape of a ladies' blouse, and with | aucb a palfrey to carry her the fair equestrienne should be able to show heels to anything" wanting to join in- a dash across the : gra.'S. Blazer, in his day, wa* about as j brilliant a customer as one could' wish to j see at work, and his famous defeat of Royal Artillery will always be one of hia best remembered duelsr ever fought at Rlccarton. Blazer has never been biographed off the turf, and the recalling of some- of his brilliant performances- may prove of interest. He was bred by the Hon. George M'Lean, .and; foaled in 1894-, was sold as a yearling at 41? guineas. Blazer joined S. J. Mercer's stable, and, carrying the once fairly wellknown "red and black," scored three times out of eight attempts as a two-year-old. As a three-year-old Blazer started in 10 races, and scored six. times. He began by finishing third with 7.12 tor Boreas 7.12 when, the latter won the Stewards' Handicap,, but after another non-i3ueeess came out and won his first Electric Plate, in which he met and defeated such smart performers as Gold Medallist (who finished second), Vedette, Daunt, and Conqueror, in the brilliant time of 46 3-ssec, which was two-fifths slower than the kist- mentioned horse's record, pnt up on the first day of the meeting in the Welcome Stakes. Blazer again defeated Gold Medallist when, they met in the Musselburgh Plate, but both the latter and Conqueror beat him over five furlongs in the Glasgow Plate. Blazer's next win was in the C.J.C. Flyine Handicap, which : he landed in Imin 1 2-ssec with 9.1 on his back, and after "beating St. Clements in the j Railway Plate and Altair in the Hopeful Stakes Handicap, he finished his season by j winning the Templeton Handicap with 9.7, after easily running the distance in Imin j 15 4-ssee. As a four-year-old Blazer ran in 11 races, and won four. His principal win that season was in the Champion Plate of OOOSOVS, in wllicb. lie d.e£ea.-fce<i X>urr<l»s, j Boreas, Diin-Djin, and Benzoin. Up to this time he had raced in the name of his trainer -and under the liom de course of " Mr J. Lloyd." but in the Champion Plateg he raced in the name of Mr S~. Solomon, , the vice-president of the Dunedin Jockey Club* Mr Solomon had up. to that time raced several horses in the nomination of his trainer, or under an assumed name, and it is noteworthy that the St Clair gelding should wan an important stake the first time he started in the name of the gentleman whom it was an open secret always owned him. Blazer brought plenty of grist to the mill dtiring- his five-year-old season, winning no less than nine races (including a, dead heat) out of 11 starts, gained £1017 in prize-money for his owner. Hia first important win that year was in the Electric Plate, which he won for the second time, and was again followed home by a representative of the Yaldhuret stable. With that race Blazer commenced a series of cix consecutive wins, and after registering; s miss he scored in two other races. His wins w-ere the Electric Plate, Salisbury Plate. Glaseow Plate. W.R.C. Telegraph Handicap, W.R.C. Electric Handicap (in ■which he carried 10.11 and won comfortably in Imin 1 4-ssecK Craven Plate Handicap, Railway Plate, and Wingatui Stakes. The race in which he broke his series of wins ■was the Champion Plate, in which Siege Gun beat him after a pood run in Imin 28 I-ssec. Blazer sported silk in six races in his npxt season, and scored four times, hia wins including «. double in Wellington and the C.J.C. Ashley ami Randolph Handicaps. He won three out of five races at seven years old. and registered his first win by defeating Royal Artillery in the Electric Plate after a battle royaL in order to mark his third success in the raca Blazer and Royal Artillery raced together all the way up the straight, and the pair of brilliant sprinters disputed every . inch of the ground. "Victory went to the Dunedin gelding by a "bare half head," and the scene which occurred when the horses returned to the weighing enclosure was one that will never be forgotten by anyone who witnessed it. The crowd, with the wildest enthusiasm, started cheering as soon as Blazer pulled up, and continued to make the welkin ring again ami again long after the riders had passed the scales and the horses had been led away by their attendants. The wildest enthusiasm prevailed, but whether it was because of Blazer's gallant victory, Royal Artillery's defeat, or the recognition of a soul-stirring battle is a question. Royal Artillery was a strong favourite, and that makes the uproar the more remarkable, as the public rarely, if ever, cheer when the favourite is beaten in a. race. As an eight-year-old Blazer "spoilt his. average" by taking part in 11 races without once attracting the judge's notice. He raced throe times at the New Zealand Cup meeting, and shortly afterwards was made a present to H. Jackson, who was identified as the rider and trainer of the gelding in the majority of his races. In the nomination, of H. Jackson old Blazer raced 18 times at nine years eld, and won six events. During this" season Blazer developed staying powers, and won over a mile and a distance at Invercargill, where he paid a dividend of £18 11s. At this stage of old Blazer's career he nearly passed into the possession) of the writer. Blazer ran badly on the first day of the meeting, which fell on a Saturday and Monday, and when chatting with Jackson on the Sunday evening, the latter expressed his willincrnesa to make the writer a present of the horse for use as a hack, providing that Mr Solomon raised no objections. However, a conversation took place as to the best method of riding a non-stayer in a long race, and the writer cited the op.iniona of Custa-nge and other^ wjjo. bfi*

lieved that going to the front and collaring the pace was the wisest plan. Most of our riders are very poor judges of pace, and generally go by the pace set by the leaders in a race. If the leader goes slow, the rest go slow, and so on. By accident or design, when Blazer took command in his next race nothing went at him, and he ran the race to suit himself. The old fejlow bowled along in front of his field, and when it came to the finish, he allowed nothing to get near him. Needless to say, the writer did not have the temerity to remind Jackson of his half-promise, and the chance of. owning one of the most brilliant horses that ever carried a saddle in New Zealand was lost. Blazer subsequently also won the Gore Cup, one mile and a-quarter, .and other races before Jackson shifted to the North Island. He was raced in all for eight seasons, during which he won (including a dead-heat) 34 races out of 89 starts, and the total value of his victories amounted to £4343 19s, which was not a bad return from a 41gs' yearling. A. photo of Blazer appears in this week's Witness. THE LICENSING- LAWS AND RACING. The result of the recent licensing- elections does not- make pleasant reading for lho«e- who have the financial welfare of our local racing; clubs at heart, as it is quite possible that. Tahuna Park will not receive ' a conditional license, and the same applies ! to the Fcrbury Park. It is a, more seri- ; ous matter with the Dunedin Jockey Club, who will lose a» .large source of revenue if they cannot- obtain a special license for the booths, on the'r course. The prohibitionists may flatter themselves- that the withholding- ' of the special licenses means a curtailment of drinking- on racecourses, but experience provas that the reverse result is. obtained,' as it is noticeable that on all the courses in > the South Island where there is no- public booth there is apparently more injudicious drinking than is the case where the liquor .ia sold in the open- light of day. At "pro. hibitkm" race meetings whisky of the cheap* 1 flask variety is drunk by all and sundry, principally because it is easy to carry (not in the stomach, but in the pocket), and ■ many persons- are found drinking fire-water who should only drink a mild ale, but which cannot be obtained because its bulk betrays its presence. However, as the Wingatui racecourse is principally fre- , quented by people who have nothing whatever to do with the Taieri. district beyond , visiting at race_ meetings, it is quite possible the committee may regard the matter in a common-sense manner, and allow things to continue as at present. THE FORBURY MEETING. On Saturday next the rendezvous for patrons of spoTt" will be the popular Farbury Park Racecourse, where the F.P.R.O. j will hold their initial gathering of the pre- j sent season. " The Forbury " has always been a pet resort of racegoers, and one is continually hearing that it is a pity the place had to be deserted by our metropolitan club. Still, it is not much use grieving over spilt money, and an- ounce (troy) of practical support is worth a pound (avoir, dupois) of sympathy, -wHicK is to say that those who are really anxious to keep open one of the charming racecourses in the colony are invited to attend the autumn " meeting of the Forbury Park Racing Club. There is a reasonable prospect of some interesting sport being witnessed if a fair percentage of the horses nominated are sent to the post for the races in which they have been engaged. The Forbury Park Handicap is the principal item on the programme-, and in allotting the handicap's the weight-adjuster has overlooked the fact that according to the rules of^ racing a handicap cannot be commenced with a lower weight than 9.0. At time of writing acceptances are not due, andjshe selection of probable winners is deferred until after they have made their appearance. THE LOCKET FAMILY. In commenting on Pendant's Newmarket victory the Australasian states that nothing very much is heard about the Locket family nowadays, but that is not altogether true, as when "it is taken into consideration 1 that the mare who founded the tribe was not a very prolific- matron, it must do granted that it appears to be keeping its end up fairly well. Locket had one foal in England, and it figures in the English Stud Book as Mizpah, who eventually found her way to Belgium. Olive is the firet of the Locket tnbo mentioned in the N.Z. Stud Books, and she oied ; but the next was Necklace, who is a well-known mare in turf history. Necklace was a good performer, and produced Swordbelt, Miss Letty (dam. of Beddington), Collarette, Cravat (a good winner), Armilla (a good performer, but her stock has been unlucky), Coronet "(a good winner), and Jewellery. After Necklace came Thunderbolt, who has been doing fairly well at the stud in South Australia, and was- responsible for the paternity of Step Out (who put up what wae probably a more brilliant performance than what his relation Pendant did when she won the Newmarket by winning the Bourke Handicap in 1.262 wi*"h 8.10 on his back). Thunderbolt also Rot Phaedra, the Autumn Handicap winner. Bangle was Locket's next contribution- to the Stud Book, and? she in turn threw, amongst others, Casket (a <roe-el performer and fairly successful tire), Ringman, Regiment, and Orion's Belt. Chainshot followed Bangle, and he sired Starshot, Bombshell, Miss Betty (dam of Ostiak), Chain Armour (sire of Pallad). and other winners, and was a horse that the best of was probably never- seen in public. Chainshot had but a- brief stud career in New Zealand, when he was shipped' to Eng land, where, although he has sired a winner or two, he now appears to be lost to view. Then came Necklet, the dam of Pendant ; and she was followed by Medallion, a good' performer, who won the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, C.J.C. Derby, Great Northern Derby, and sired Achilles, Regio, Gold Medallist, Conqueror, and one or two others' above the ordinary. A* previously mentioned Locket was not a- prolific mare, bufe everything she threw were either winners, 6ires or dams of winners, andt some brilliant goods are numbered amongst them, and it is safe to say that if the best of the tribe- are letained in the colonies there is not rnucli danger of them being buri«d in the oblivion of m«diocrity. SPORTING WAGERS. Purely sporting wagers are few and far between nowadays. In Eaily's Magazine for August. Mr F. G. Aflalo has an article dealing with contests in which men, have wagered money on their ow i performances in amateur "sports and horse riding. Matches betnreea runnem and horses over

short distances were not uncommon in tli« old days, but a long journey over hurdles is rare to discover. Still, in 184-1, one Cootes, a. famous pedestrian, backed himself against a hunter named Towit, ridden by a professional jockey, for a six-mile race over 100 hurdles, the whole journey not to occupy more than 50 minutes. Towit fell, and was remounted, but at iho seventeenth round his rider, to save the. horse, gave up the contest. Cootes jumped his hundredth hurdle "full of running," and finished his task in 42 ninutes. He was so fresh at the conclusion, that, as thehistorian records, "he threw a summerset." Gootes won a good sum of mon-ey by his success. In 1806 a blind man matched hiitselt to beat the coach running betwee.i Halifax and Bradford, over an eight-mile course, the man receiving five minutes* start. The wager was small, but the man, who won by 12 minutes, no doubt received substantial presents. Some distance runners use their arms more ihaa. others, but few would ca-ro to run with their hands tied in front of them, thumbs together. A blacksmith in 1818 wagered five guineas that he- would run a mile so bound. He won his. wager, and' as he completed the distance— a carefully-measured mite — n smin lasc, he must have been a pretty, useful performer. The feature of these feats of endurance was the small amount of th« wa#or. For; instance, one William , Giles, of Gedalmins, when. 50 years, of age, bet 2s that he could carry a sack of flour weighing. 2851b for a mile without resting. Be got through, his contract very comforfcSbryi indeed, he was so l ; ttle discomposed' that no one could be found to take up Lis "challenge to acoomplish a second similar performance within the hour. Eton College cnoe challenged Westminster School .to row from Maidenhead Bridge to Mon>key Island and back for a. "considerable wager." Oxford in 1832, however, refused, to row a. London crew for money. "The 1 match." says a writer in the N^w Sporting Magazine, "is off, the Oxonians not choosing to row for money; the- Londoners adopting-^the rule of 'doing nothing for nothing for nobody. "• Three men of 1 Indiana once walked barefoot three miles through 6now, the wager being that Le who suffered most should buy lib of tobacco for him who suffered least. AIL three had to have their toes amputated, so no one had the tobacco !" Another American backed himself to swim a river holding two small live fish in his teeth. Half-way across one fish got released, and. sticking: fast in the man's throat, choked him-, ana he drifted down stream as dead as the fish that choked him. In 1805, a curious wager was decided. AMr Reed, of West Dean, near Chiobester, bet £50 that he ' would determine the lamb belonging to •each of 200 ewe 3. "The lambs were, for the purpose, penned in a separate enolosure, but, aided in all probability by the ewes themselves, Mr Reed successfully assigned to each her own offspring. Other considerable bets," writes the chronicler, "were depending on the event of this curious undertaking. A FAMOUS MATCH. One of the heaviest betting matches ever ; run in tne- Old Country was that in 1816, at Newmarket, between Filho da Puta and Sir Joshua. In recounting the story of that famous match, that entertaining writer "The Druid" telle us that Lord George Cavendish, the great-grandfather of the present Marquis of Hartington, was 62 years of age when this great match was run. A man of the most aristocratic and dignified appearance, of unblemished honour and undaunted courage, he went among his con* temporaries by the name of ' 'Royal George." He was a great patron of Boyce's stable, id which his horses were trained, and it was his practice to put up at his trainer's house when he came to Newmarket for the races. On his arrival at Boyce's house on the eve of this great match Lord George was informed that both horses were well ; and that the North Country sportsmen, friends of Filho da Puta, had flocked in great numbers to Newmarket to back the favourite. "I am glad to hear it. I have brought my strong box with me," he quietly remarked. When dinner was over, Lord George entered the betting- rooms, in company with Mr Neville, the owner of Sir Joshua, and was received by the backers of Filho with loud shouts of " Three times three for "Royal George." The scene which followed was often described by the late Lord i-tradbroke aa the most exciting that he had ever witnessed at Newmarket. The first bet offered was 500 to 400 on Filbo, which was calmly booked by Lord George. Immediately cries of: "5 to 4- on Filho," in 50's, in 10's, in "monkeys," and in 1000's echoed round the room. "Softly, gentlemen," observed the unruffled nobleman. "I will try and accom-^ modate you all if you will give me time." The bets were slowly entered into that seemingly inexhanstible betting book, and brief silence succeeded. "As there seem to be no more gentlemen willing to lay odd* on Filho da Puta," a quiet voice was heard! to say, "I shall be haopy to lay them as much money as they like at evens that Sir Joshua beats him to-morrow." Again there was a, sharp rally among Filho's backers, and again their funds were exhausted at their price. Finally Lord George carried the war into the enemy's country, and, at odds 5 to 4 on Sir Joshua, tired out the supporters of the northern horse. As "Royal George" issued, from the room he turned round on the threshold, and shouted in a loud voice, "I'll Tay 500 to 400 once more on Sir Joshua!" to which no response was made. It was the belief of the late Lord Stanley Osborne— a great friend ot Mr Neville and of "Royal George —that the latter staked £50.000 that memorable night on the horse of his cho.ee. The issue of the match on the next day is weir known When the flag fell Filho da Puta with Chifney on his back, reared lugbin ***** and lost three or four lengths. S.r Joshua, admirably ridden by Arnull, made the best of a good start, and was never caught by Filho, who was defeated by a, neck. Soended one of the most famous matches bound up in the history of the turf. THE WAIMATE MEETING. The Waimate Racing Club hold tbenr annual gathering on Thursday of thi» week, and judging "by the ' numerical etr-eneth of the fields there should be some interesting sport provided by the card; A field of 12 has paid up for the WaimatS Cup, of on* mile ; and Martian, who is topf weight witß. 9.9, may be returned the winner. Next to him Zetland may prov« mesfr worthy of support. Zetland > and Count Gorton should orove a; formidabla pair in the Harvest Handicap. Lolah should be hard to beat in either the Studholme Stakes or Stewards' Welter; but as she, in. common with others, ia engaged .in mote events than one it savours of guesswork to surtiei»a-te an. owner'a intent

lions. Of the other events, Tho Norman -mgey win the District Wetter, and Bals*m ruay ecor-e in the Publicans' Handicap. THE TAIEBI MEEHN&. ' The Taieri Amateur "Turf Ckfo have leased iheir programme for their Easter meeting, and as usual ihe card consists of eigfrt -events, of whie'h the President's Handicap, of sGsovs, one mile, is die principal item. The Easter Handicap is endowed with 4Osovs, and is to be run over a ?even-fur!ong course; while t the Plying Handicap has a Zbsovs .stake and a six-fur-long journej attached to it. Other events are:— Trial -Stakes, of 25sovs, six furlongs; Handicap Trot, -of 35sovs, one mile .and a-half; Hnck Handicap, of 25sora, five furlongs; Handicap Trot, of 25sovs, one mile; and Ifcrewell Handicap, of 2550t6. four furlongs. Nominations are due on Monday, March 26. j