IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2721, 9 May 1906, Page 50

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Something like £45,000 changed hands a* a. result of the bloodstock sales held in Sydney - recently. — The next C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase is to be endowed with a stake of lOOOaovs. — Tht-re -was an attendance of about 800 ' people on the opening day of the Randwick yearling sales. — Messrs "Wirth Bfos.' pony Playmate -won • the 14hds High Jump at tho Sydney show. He cleared sft Sin. — Assegai, one- of the winners" at Christchurch on Saturday, is out of Corselet, a eloso relation of Machine Gun. — Complimentary tickets for the Tahuna Park Trotting Club's meeting are to hand, and acknowledged with thanks. — Por size the youngsters by Maltster and Grafton took first place among the lots offered at the recent yearling Sydney sales. — Owners are reminded that nominations for "the Dunedin Jockey Club's -winter meeting must be declared on the 18th inst. — The A.J.C. gave away £15,555 in stakes at their recent autumn meeting, and of this aiaount Victorian horses only secured £1437. —By the death of the well-known breeder and sportsman Mr John R. Gubbins's several valuable nominations in the English classics beonio void — The two yearlings purchased on behalf of Mt L. C. Hazlett at the Randwick blood&tock sales landed here on Saturday "after a. safe journey. —Mr E. J. Watt has sold Melodeon to Mr Nettleford, of Melbourne, for £500. The horse, will go to Melbourne to contest the next Me 'bourne Cup. — There was a reserve of 2000gs on the "Wallace colt Charles Stuait when he was put under the hammer at the Randwick sales and passed at 800gs. — The Hotchkiss .gelding Tenakoe (Tupara) went wrong during the A.J.C. meeting, and, as a consequence, nad to be withdrawn from his engagements. —It is a remarkable fact that the great English stallion St. Simon has never yet sired a chestnut. Last season, however, his progeny included a grey. — Tatteraall's Club, in Sydney, is a very • rich institution. The club owes -£10,033 6s 8d on the mortgage over its promises, which are now valued at £44,574. — It is stated that Mr S. O. Wood, who is going to England, has been authorised to spend £3000 in the purchase of stallions for the Victorian Government. —Dr Spooner Hart, who has just arrived in Sydney from India., made an offer of £4000 for Tartan, but his owner, Mr Macken, would not part with the son of Lochiel. — Tho Peith sportsman Mr S. P. Mackay has decided to retire his Multiform mare Golden Lily to th? stud at the close of the present season, and she is to be mated with Le Var. — Ernie Huxley, who won the A.J.C. Second Nursery Handicap on Melodrama, rod* Kingfisher for the late Mr Andrew Towns in the Melbourne Cup won by Wollomai in 1875 — over 36 years ago. —Mr William Bailey, a prominent patron of James Scobie's stable, died at EaJlarat recently. Mr Bailey raced several good horses, among others the V.X.C. Derby winners Cocos and Hautvillers. — Amongst the winners at a recent Kempton Park meeting was a five-year-old horse named Macarthy More, a son of Kendal and the Now Zealand-bred mare Bessie Macarthy Macarthy More was bred by Mr S. H. Gollan, „ and sold for 260gs aftei winning a selling hurdle race. '

— The Melbourne Sporting Judge says that at a recent meeting at Williamstown no fewer than 12 "tick-tackers" were put cut of tb. paddock. During the afternoon a woman was observed signalling across from the grandstand enclosure, but desisted on being threatened with expulsion. — The Cyrenian — Parere filly Elgin, who has been showing winning form in Victoria, was recently sold under the hammer in Melbourne at 320gs. Elgin is out of the same mare as Pas Seul, and consequently the two fillies are closely related, as they are both granddaughters of St. Simon.

— Amongst the horses auctioned at th-e Randwick blooditock sales was the imported horso Condor, a ton of Gallinule and Tragedy, the dam of Birkenhead. Condor was knocked down to a West Australian buyer at 3Sogs, and suoh a fnshionabiy-bred horse should not prove clear at that figure. — A Christchurch telograni states that at ameeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockty Club the Programme Committee's report, which was adopted, recommended that no alteration be made to the JTew Zealand! Cup, but that the Grand National Steeplechase be increased to lOOOsovs.

— Three full sisters to the Melbourne Cup winners Gaulus and The Grafter were amongst the horse 9 sold by Messrs W. Inglis and Son at tho Randwick sales. Industrious realised 460gs, Energy 290gs, and Busy Bee 245g5. Industrious was purchased by the Rev. Father Campbell, who bred the smart colt Antonius 1 . — The well-known reinsman and trainer R-. M'Miuan pased through by this week's boaii to Melbourne, and is taking over Mauritius; Miss Vera, Capel, and Cariola. The two' latter are believed to be in foal, ana in the* event will be thrown out of work. M'Millanf intends returning to this colony in a few." weeks.

For the first day of the Ashburton meeting Assegai Teceives a. penalty of slb in tho Lougbeach Welter and a 10lb penalty in tiwi Fairfield Welter. Hilarity gains a 101b penalty in both her races, and' Alexis one of 1018. in the Grove Farm' Handicap, whilst Makaroff takes up a 101b penalty in the Ashburton Handicap. —By an old French, racing law, a horsa foaled Sn England could run in the Grand Prix, but it the foaling were in France. &neß '•be youngster left there before he was a cej-»

tain age, he wag debarred from doing so. This rule hasf very wisely been rescinded, and' a new clause substituted, which does not handicap French-bred animals. — A report states that Mr W. P. Crick has been approached by people anxious to buy Collarit. He was asked if he would consider «ra offer of 3000gs, but Mr Crick replied that it was useless to discuss price, aa Collarit was zot for sale. He appreciated ar good horse »s much as anyone else did, and, believing that he possessed one. intended to keep him. — The Asian believes it is right in saying that the first thoroughbred horse to reach Australia, came from India, an English horse named Hero, that was presented by the East India Company to the New South. Wales Government in the early years of last century. India may therefore, to » grea-t extent, claim to be the originator of- the Australian blood horse. — The Haut Brion colt Collarit, who is one of the Locket tribe, comes in for high praise from " Milroy," who wrote -that the son of Collarette galloped out his race at Randwick in a manner remindful of Titan, Bobadil, Aurum, or Newhaven. He is a big, upstanding brown colt, with plenty of" strength and icacl, a-r>A in *H respeete fills Ote l>ill sis a. Derby colt. — The English Studbook Supplement for 1305 was, issued Jasi month, and shows- that last y*ar 1461 -fillies were foaled as against 1312 colts. The- total of both sexes (2773) shows a considerable falling off, for in ISO 4 there were 31Q7; foals born, '3193 in 1903. and 3448 in 1302. HQwever, only 5109 mares are accounted for in l«st year's Teturn, as against. 5661 in 1904, and 6004 in 1902. ~-^-It is generally" predicted that Machine Gun would make a- good sire for any stud, but many breeders would discard the son of Rubina, and it is safe to say he would not gain admission to the English Stud Book, as his pedigree peters out through his dam, and this all-important iact, whilst it may not impair his merit as a sire of racehorses, appears to have bsen overlooked. —He was a bookmaker, broke, and in the workhouse; , but the old spirit was strong in him, and he opened a- book inside (says the "Pink 'Uu"). His first day out a friend met him and asked him, how he was going on. "The business i» too much for me, and I shall have to engage a clerk," answered he. "I can reckon 2 to 1 to a-n ounce of tobacco, or 5 to 1 to a quarter of tea, but 11 to 8 on to a suet dumpling — well, that beats me." — Machine Gun, the flying son of Hotchkise and Rubina, has deserted the post for the paddock, and a prince of sprinters will carry silk- no more. With such splendid conformation and racing credentials- to favour him, he should make a good sire, but one cannot help legretting that there is a stain on his genealogical tie* which debars him from being classed as one of the vere de veres eligible for admission to the English Stud Book. —Mr A. S. Chirnside, who paid 2000rs for a Sir Foote— Etra Weenie filly at the Randwick sale, has not been a. lucky buyer in the past, as soms horses for which he gave large cheques afterwards proved' failures. He gave •2300gs' for the Newminster colt afterwards known as Lord' Randolph, who proved a- failure «s a racehorse, and, in conjunction with another gentleman paid 1750gs at last year|s salesr for Sudßury, wfio up toi d«te has done nothing in- public. —At the recent meeting of the Leonora J.C. the spectacle- of a female jockey riding in the principal event was witnessed. Miss Hyland, who- is associated with the circus of that name, rode Hostage in the Leonora Handicap, and secured third place with that muchtravelled racer. An exchange reports that Miss Hyland piloted her mount with much judgment. This is probably the first occasion in Australia where & lady has ridden in ■n open handicap. — The New Zealand rider C. O'Neill made * journey last week of over 1000 miles for nothing. It is a pretty well-known fact (says • Sydney paper) that Tenakoe will not race for anyone Hka ho will for O'Neill. Knowing this, the rider, who was over in Adelaide, was wired for in time to reach Randwick on the Wednesday, so that he could have the irouut.tn Tonakoe in the Second Hurdle Race. O'Nei'l got over in time, but after bis race on Saturday, one of Tenakoe's legs filled, consequently tho horse had to be scratched. Hard luck for both owner and rider — The following new rule has been adopted by the Now South Wales Trotting Club: — "The stewards may have power at the time of holding their meetings to review and consider the running of any horse or horses which competed at the club's meeting then being held, and if' the stewards believe and are satisfied that the running of such horse or horses is unsatisfactory, the stewards shall have power to disqualify or suspend such horse or horse 3, owners, trainers, riders, and drivers as -they think fit, provided, however, the result of the race or bets shall in no way be affected."

— The Sports of the Times (Chicago) says that tho expulsion of a jockey from the City Park track (New Orleans) last month was unique- in some of its -features. In the jumping event Jockey Miller pulled Judge Nolan with such extraordinary vigour that a popular howl could be heard before the race was half over. After the finish the judges ruled Miller off: and ordered the police to eject him from the grounds. But here came the unique development, for a crowd of 200 or more made a dead set to mob the jockey, and the latter, although sturdily defended by. the police, came in for a couple of wallops. He finally succeeded in getting away without further injury.

— Mt W. Crossan, a well-known member of the sporting world, has become mine host of the Waterloo Hotel at Caversham. Mr CrosBan has raced horses all over New Zealand, and also in Australia. It was under his colours that the famous mare Wanderoo registered a mark of Bmin for three miles, and •was the first horse in the colony to do so. This happened in March. 1901, at the D.J.C. anniversary meeting. Wanderoo established ncr record comfortably, and, beating a big lot of horses from scratch paid dividends of £35 9s and £50 14s. Many other well-known performers carried Mr Crossan's colours, amongst them being Beaconsficld. Lugnaquilla, Ranger, informer, Susan, and George M. Patchen, ■whilst the best-known of his gallopers were St. Denis, Zither, Romanoff, Proposal, and others.

— York ran his opening rac» in England at Hooton Park on March 16. when he took part in the Great Cheshire Steeplechase, of lOOOsovs. two and a-half miles, with 11.2 He started at 100 to 8. Seisdon Prince at even money "being favourite. Four fences from home York, ■who was welt back, was pulled up. with two others. An English writer said of the race • "Eleven runners was ft fairly representative muster, and much interest was taken in the paddock inspection, York, the Australian lorse. being on view for the first time on an English racecourse, if a little peacocky and flash, he is not .altogether a bad sort, the chief fault about him being that he ie rather too good-looking 'for a steeplechaser, a.nd would in no wise disgrac* a field of high-class flatxncers. The other waler, Moilaa, showing a deeper quarter mask, also came in for attention."

— Although he has met with a good deal of success in England, the well-known trainer J. E. Brewer evidently longs for a return to sunny Australia, as he recently spoke is follows to aa A,ustjAliao friend t.— "l have a>

rice place and a small team, and expect to quite hold my own I get £1000 a year and 10 per cent, and found everything. My intention is to give up training- here in a year or two, and go on and race a few horses of my own in Victoria, where the stakes are good. I intend to buy half a dozen fillies here and send them out -when I go. A person can buy well here, and if no good aTe cheap to breed from cut there. Gingal, by Carbine, is a nice colt, but not quite up to Derby form. Still, he may be better than I expect- He runs for the Two Thousand. I fancy Lally will win the Derby." Gingal, by the, way, did not get a place in the Guineas.

— A prominent American trainer named C. E. Durnell has just been ruled off for life by the Pacific Jockey Club. It appears that Durnell, was suspended for a year by the Ascot Park Jockey Club consequent on the in-and-out running of his hordes. At the inquiry it transpired that Durnell used to run his horses in ordinary training shoes when they were ''not wanted," and as this was not noticed until the man who did his shoeing gave the authorities a hint, it would not appear as if Durrell had to cope with very smart stewaa-ds. Someone advised Durnell to appeal to the Pacific Jockey Club which is the controlling racing body on the Pacific Coast. He did co, but, so far from reversing the Ascot Park decision, the stewards of the Jockey Club increased hiff punishment to life disqualification. Durnell had a couple of big men behind him, and it is said that few American trainers had brighter prospects.

— The action by John Colman against the V.R.C. re lx>okmoker's fees led to an amusing cross-examination. Cross-examined by Mr Purves. Colman said — I paid a, £100 fee to join the Victorian Club. — Why can't you speak up like the "Johnny Colman" we all know on the course?— l am doing my best. — (Laughter.) Are you fighting this case for yourself as an individual?— Certainly. Anybody else in with you? — No. Are you paying all the costs? Mr Isaacs: How is that relevant? Mr Purves: We'll see directly. Do you (to witness) know Barney Allen ? — Of course I do. — (Laughter.) And a bookmaker named Bartlett?—Oh, yes, but Oh, all right. Didn't you say in an affidavit that there are 119 bookmakers practising on the hill and 86 on the flat? Mr Isaacs: No, in the paddock. Mr Purves: W«ll. they live on the "flat," snyhow.— (Laughter.) (To witness) . Have you any stock-in-trade? — My past character and experience. Your loot chara-oter, did you say? — No, my past character. — (Laughter.) Oh, I see. — (Laughter.) What do you complain about now? — I don't see why the V.R.C. should charge me an extra fee for carrying on my business. You think anyone should be allowed to bet on the course, just aa they like? — Yeo, of course, if they act properly. Now, tell ma, who is paying the costs of this action? — I decline to say anything about it. I suppcae it isn't the Young. Men's Christian Association? — (Laughter.) — Well, probably not. — (Laughter.) The people who bet are mostly fools, I suppose — of course, no reference ia intended to my learned friends on the other side. — (Laughter.) — You ought to know best. — 'Laughter.)

— An American exchange states that racing" on ike tracks of the Jockey Club in New York State will undergo some radical- reforms, from, a betting standpoint, this year, as the result of tho crusade at Albany and an. understanding between, the stewards of the Jockey Club and a- State conference o£ the regents' representative committee. The Jockey Club has virtually decided to begin a reform by striking a direct blow at the poolrooms, to be followed by a move against the betting rings. It has been conceded all along that without the necessary news of the results of races the poolrooms could not exist. With this in view, ie is said that the Jockey Club will practically bar the wire 3of telegraph companies from the tracks. Tho Jockey Club, it is said) will also attempt to keep racing information from the outside world by placing a ban of some sort on the admission of poreens to the track after a, certain hour. For example, after the second race ench day the gates may be closod to the public. In that way it woul/1 bo impossible for poolrooms to secure information, unless they chibbed together and cent a dozen men into the track enclosure before the first race at 3dol a head, with the idea, that they could come out at times during tho afternoon with reports of betting, jockeys, etc., to file with tho telegTaph company at a n&av-by office. Furthermore, it is taid the Pinkertons would receive orders to refuse admission to any persons detected in the act of delivering this sort of news to wires outsido. After having crippled the poolrooms, the Jockey Club will then, it is understood, completely revolutionise the business of the betting ring, following the lines of 'he war last eeason on the plungers and bookmakers. The Jockey Club will, it is declared, sdopt some plan that will make it impossible for a man who can't afford to lose sdol to Let at the track To do this the Jockey Club will make the betting ring a private enclosure and establish espionage, permitting only such men to bst as are known to be able financially to suffer the loss.