IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 50

IN A NUTSHELL.

— Soulb has his list full for the coming season at a fee of 30gs. — Savoury was amanget the starters' at a recent Wsurwick Farm mesting, and! finished last. — Tho South Canterbury Hunt Club hold a point-to-point steeplechase on Thursday of this week. — The New Brighton Trotting Club made a net pTofit of £38S 2s 7d over the season's operations. — Sea Lion, Blackstone, and Bayonet are advertised to be sold by auction in Melbourne on July 31. — The V.11.C. recently refused the entry of a horse which is noted for its fractiousness »t the starting post. &. Melbourne cablegram states that Powell h«a purchased the racehorse Boabdil, who will be sihipped to India. — The general entries for the V.R.C. National meeting totalled 409, as against 326 last year and 289 the year before. — Amongst the horses following the South Canterbury hounds in a run held! last week were Rowiock, Cra.gbinore, and Swagger. — The season just closing is the most successful one which the Dunedin Jockey Club has experienced for the past 15 years. A couple of copies of the Australian Jockey Clubs programme for the coming season are to hand and acknowledged with thanks. , Our Auckland correspondent reports that it is probable a strong syndicate will be formed to hold unregistered race meetings in the north during next season. — The sum of £99.306 was registered on the Kew Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club's totalisators during the year, and th» Government tax amounted to £1486 10a 6d.

— The New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club distributed £9890 in stakes this season, and the balance sheet shows a balance of £2180 3s 4cl in receipts over expenditure. A Melbourne cablegram states that the New Zealand mare Wind, carrying 7.7. won the Dir.gley Ha-c-dicap, Svo "furlongs, at the Melbourne Hunt Club roec-tia?, in lmin SJsec. — It is quite possible that Ails* wiil rejoin M'Donald's -team at Wingatui, and remain there until tho beginning of the season, but Cavatina is expected to leave tho post far ihe paddock at once. — During tha pa.3t season the trotting clubs of New Zealand distributed £25.500 4s in stakes, and handled £208,950 in totalisator money. This does not include trotting events included c« racing clubs' programmes.

— The advisability of holding a trotting meeting in connection -with the New Zealand Exhibition has been deferred until the matter has been considered by the New Zealand Trotting Conference, which, sits this week at Wellington. Aa interested spectator at Newmarket (England) of the finishing touches- of tho toilette of the Guineas winner, Gorgos, wag tho veteran sportsman Mir Henry Chaplin, whose Hermit won the Derby in the memorable snowstorm ye-ar of 1867. A New South Wales paper asserts that T Payten hn% purchased a stud farm, known rs Alfalfa, of 656 acres, freehold, at £6 per acre, situated on the banks of the Belubula Raver The flats in the neighbourhood: have reared many thoroughbreds. — A Melbourne cablegram states that Canto and Mai-den have been scratched for the Grand National Hurdle Race. The latest available betting quotations are:— 6 to 1 agst Shamrock and Rattlesnake, 7 to 1 Florin, 10 t) 1 Firepan, Realm, and Th« Sun. — A rising two-year-old brother to the Melbourne Cnp winner Blue Spec (True Blue - -Specula) has been named Blue Gum. Why Blue Gum, when Spec Blue, Blu-e True, Specablue, Trueaoluespec, or even plain Spectrum could have been selected? — Hewitt had a ride on Grafton Lad in a. 10-furloug race, at Canterbury Park just be>fore the laat mail to hand left Sydney, but although the horse was a strong favourite at evens in a field of eight, h« had to be content with a moderate second at the finish. —It is understood that the electricallyworked totahsa-tor which was installed at the Wellington Club's new course at Trentham is to be removed. The- machine did not give complete satisfaction in its preliminary trials, and hence it lias not been used at the cub's meetings. , . — The Cheviot Eacisg Club's receipts for the year ar» £212 18s lOd aHd the expenditure £186 14g lid, leaving a credit balanca of £26 3s lid. The club has not been successful in their efforts to procure a newcourse, and will hold their meeting on the old ground. , —An English exchange- is responsible for the statement that Tod Sloan is engaged aa a bi Maid-marker in America, but a South. Australian who recently returned from a trip aTound the world brings the news that the one-time crack jockey is sporting editor on a New York paper. —It is said that the V.R.C. Committee have practically completed their labours in connection with the reviskm. o£ the rulaa ol

lacing and the by-laws of the club. The proposed alterations in the rules — they are not vital it is understood — will be submitted to the members at the annual meeting in August.

At a meeting of the XwrtJi Canterbury Jockey Club, held at Rangiora last week, it was decided to hold an afternoon race meeting during the first week in A<ngust. A programme of Hues steeplechases, two flat races, pony race and * trot was arranged, with the stakes of 'about £60. -There will be no totaUsator. , , — The trotting gelding Thurlow, who is one of the best-gaited horses we have seen under saddle in this colony, and is a member of the Robertson Bros.' team, got amongst the winners at a recent Aspendale Park meeting. Thurlow went out second favourite at 3 to 1 against in a field of nine, «nd won over 12 furlongs in 3.38. At a meeting of the South Canterbury Jockey Club, held last week, it was decided to request the New Zealand ' Trotting Association to appoint a man to supervise the, trots at future Timaru meetings. Failing a favourable reply, it is probable that trotting events will be deleted from future programmes issued by the club. — The V.R.C. stipendiary stewards have lately been measuring the steeplechase jumps on the various registered courses about Melbourne. The V.R.C. Committee, it is said, recommend a new rule fixing a minimum height for all steeplechase fences. The stipendiary stewards have found some of the suburban fences ridiculously low.

— King Pin, -who was by His R«verence from- Skattlee, by Sononus, and was bred in New South Wales by Mr H. F. Foy, won the Winter Steeplechase on 23rd June at the Boulder (W.A.) Taoes. After winning the race the handsome- old grey gelding droppei dead. He a great many races during his career on the turf, both on the flat and over jumps. — According to an exchange L. H. Hewitt had a mount on Passion in the Shorts Handicap at the recent Newcastle Taces, and had a particularly Tough passage. The horses had not gone a furlong before Passion was SRen to Tie in trouble, and when they cams in it was seen that the girth had! shipped. Under the circumstances Hewitt did well to finish third. — The New Brighton Trotting Club held their annual meeting last week, when the balance sheet showed that the. receipts amounted to £3435 0s Id and the expenditure to JE2688 10s 2d, leaving a credit balance of £536 9s lid. Deducting the balance of £253 7s 4d brought forward from the previous year, there was a net profit for the season of £383 2s 7d. — There is obviously merit iv tracheotomy. Thi3 operation was performed some time ago by the well-known Caulfield "vet.," Mr E. Woods on Mnnus. Since the operation the son of BUI of Portland has run particularly well, and on 23rd- June won the Point Cook Handicap. This was oTer a mile, ana (says •n exchange) prior to the operation his best races were run over five or six fuilongs. — Tie Blackstone— Bed Siding Hood colt purchased by Mr Jas. MTtewen some few weeks ago broke both his front legs through falling whilst cantering at Forbury Park on Tuesday morning. It appears the colt crossed hi 3 legs and fell heavily, with the result mentioned, and a friendly bullet put him out of pain. The accident is a piece of bad luck for Mr if'Kewen, as the colt was developing into a very promising youngster. — The last of ihe Txentons arrived on tn* seen* the night before last {said the Special Commissioner in the London Sportsman on May . 22). It is an enormous bay colt-foal out of old Bosalind, by Nuneham out of Cherie. I do not think I ever saw such a big foal, and this the more remarkable because the mare is 23 years old, and Trenton, if alive, would he 25. It will be interesting to watch the career of this colt if he lives and grows up all right. — The weight allotted MenschikofE in the Caulfield Cup is 3lb higher than what has ever been carried to victory in the race. *?««» won with 9.4 in 189*. and since then the heaviest burden successfully carried is the 8.12 which Hymettus scored with in 1801. Paris, by the "way, is the only horse which has ever caxried 9.0 or over to victory in the race, and since its inauguration in 1879 a weight of 8.0 or ov«r ha-s been carried by the winner on seven occasions only. —It looks Tery much «s if Australasia is now within mensurable distance of taking its place against the world's best in breeding trotting- horses. America gets great prices for its trotting stock from Russia and Austria, and shortly (says a Sydney paper) Australian trotters should be as well known the world over as Australian "walers." What 13 required is a track on the latest American hne=. which would enable the cracks to show off their paces to the best advantage. —An Australian recently said that the sooner Ribbonwood's -2niin Bsec record is beaten the better, as then the great horse would probably make an attempt to regain his lost laurels. D. J. Price, who tiained and "drove Ribbonwood in the great match •when 'he made his record, says he won with consummate ease, and had he been pushed conld have knocked off a much faster mile. He *lfio Teckons Ribbonwood's 2min 9sec fully equal to 2min 4sec in America. — Speaking of F. Jones's first win in England, one writer in an exchange said the winner was ridden by F. Jones, a jockey from New. Zealand, who is now attached to the Wiltshire stable, presided -over by Major Edwards. His mount, a filly named Gazekette, was totally unfancied, but won in a canter, after giving great trouble at the gate, and eventually getting away behind all the others. Jones gave an excellent display in the saddle, andi looks like doing well. —At the N.Z. Trotting Conference Sir G. PaliDg was elected chairman for the ensuing year. Messrs Pannell, Myers, and Diincac •were appointed members of the executive. Totalisator permits for the -ensuing season were allocated p.s follows: — Auckland, 3; Ashburton, 2; Greymouth, 2; Gore, 1, Inangahua. 1; Masterton. 1; Nelson, 1; Xew Brighton, 2; New Zeal p ml Metropolitan. 4; Otahuhu, 2; Plumpton Park. 2, South Wairarapa, 1; Tahuua Park, 3; Wairau, 1, Westport, 1. — A New York exchange, in mentioning that the American Jockey Club voted £10,000 towards the relief of San Francisco sufferers. says: "Now let us hear from the reformer?, the gentleman from Spokane Oomsloek. De Lacy, and all the poolroom fraternity. Possibly they are siding with the Christian Science party at West Nmety-«ixtb street City, which on a recent Sunday declined publicly, from the- lectern, to gather a fund for the sufferers, believiusr it a visitation on the ■wickedness of that city." — The New Zealand" Metropolitan Trotting Club gaTe »wav-£9890 in prize-money this year, and handled £99,306 on their totaJisators. The receipts .°et down against the above-mentioned expenditure in stakes are as follows: — Nominations, £1667 17s 6d ; acceptances, £1197 17s Sd; totalisator, £9386 12s 6d; sates, £1912 19s 9d . privileges. £550; cards, £477 13s;— total. £15.191 8s 4d. The receipts over expenditure for the year total £2180 3s 4d. and represent a profit of £960 18s 7d over the year's woikiuj — Prior to tho last mail to hand leaving Melbourne odds of 100 to 4 were offered on th» field for the Caulfield Cup. with Little IToy tie nominal favoiuite. For the Mel-

bourne Cup Lord Ullin's Daughter is favourite at 100 to 7. but there was no straightout betting on either race to speak of. Doubles commencing with, Mamapoto, Little Toy, Noreen, Rosemead, Lest We Forget, and Wandin, and ending with Lady Wallace. Lord Ullin's Daughter, Gladsome, Coilant, Scot Free, Ebullition, Proceed, Czarovitch, and Antonious were supported at 1000 to 2.

— Realm, the winner of the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles, was got my Majestic, a son of Trenton, and the imported Barcaldine mare Bonnie Rosette. His dam, Lynette, is probably an Escutcheon mare of that name, but there is no Tecord of her service by the son of Trenton mentioned above. Prioi to his National win Realm scored handsomely in a mile hurdle race at Williamstown, and that victory paved the way for his recent ■win. Realm's time for -the race is only three-quarters of a second slower than the record of 5.48, made by Rawdon in 1902.

— A marked item in the sporting columns of the Coolgardie Miner, kindly sent by "Sir Darcy," who has charge of the sporting notes in that paper, states that Galant, the sixteaii-year-old halfbrother to Canteen, is still in the land of the living, and has been pensioned off after doing duty in one of Cobb and Co.'s coaches. "Sir Darcy" also forwards a picture of the Kalgoorlie ■grand stand (capable of accommodating 3500 people) for reproduction in the Witness, but the print, although giving a good idea of the building, is not suitable for reprinting.

— The annual meeting of the Plumpton Park Trotting Club was held last week. There was a fair attendance, and Mr J. L. Carl (president) occupied the chair. The balance sheet showed that the year was commenced, with a credit balance of £234 6s lOd. The receipts amounted to £4232 8s fid, the principal items being — totalisator, £2342 12s ; nominations and acceptances, JEB99 2s Gd ; gates. /;563 7s 6d : cards, £170 16s 6d ; and privileges, £158 15s. The expenditure amounted to f4036 10s Id, of which stakes accounted for £2360, Government tax £395 6s 7d, and furniture and improvements £526 3s 4d. the year closing with «. credit of £430 0s 3d. The assets -were set down at £4044 6s lOd and the liabilities at £700.

— The Australasian reports • —The publication of the weights for the two Cups did not lead to any straight-out betting to speak of, hut a fair amount of business vras done in doubles. There was no decided favourite for the Cardfield Cup, 100 to 4 being offered on the field, but Lord TJllin'3 Daughter, who was well backed before the weights came out, was a pronounced favourite for ifae Melbourne Cup at 100 to 7 offered. In doubles, Maniapoto, Little Toy, Nbreen, OzaTovitch, Rosemead, Lest We Forget, Antonious, Wandin, and Pendorwer were anxvngst those picked for the Camlfieid Cup, -while Lord Ullin'sF Daughter, Lady Wallace, Gladsome, Czarovitch, Proofed, Antonious, Col-larit, Ebullition, Cirouit, and Scot Free were included in those selected iot the Melbourne Cup.

—It is very -evident tha.t there will, within the next few months, be a most determined effort made, both in thiß State and Victoria, to nut a stop to the great amount of betting and gambling <3ia.t goes on outside the race tracks (says the Sydney Town «rd Country Journal). Fox years, both in Sydney and Melbourne, there have been numerous shops a"d places carried on in -which betting took uln.ce. Many of tlieni appeared to defy the lavv and those appointed to cony it out. Latterly a move has been made towards their •suppression. It is said, however, that we have a house in Sydney, as they have also one in the Southern State, that cannot be stopped until Parliament meets and passes fi, short bill giving the authorities greater pow«r *.htui they now posses-?.

— Spearmint was pleasing the touts greatly befora he- registered his win in the English Derby, and 1 , writing of one of his final °ollops. an English writer stated that "Spearmint's gallop at Newmarket was one of the best ever seen, and even Pretty Polly was on the stretch to hve ■with him. This, surely, makas the race as good as over, though it is trying a three-year-old temblv hard to gallop him again and again with such tackle as Hammerkop and Pretty Polly. One of our jnore delicate bieeds would never stand it. but Spearmint haa the courage and constitution of Carbine, and not a. drop 01 Galopin or Heriiit blood in his veins. Therefore he will stand the screwmg-up process without doubt, and, bar accidents, credit the Gleduiere stud with having bred another Derby winneT."

— That it is evident there is room in England for a good horseman or two can be gleaned from the following-— The ques-, tioii of riders is at present a rather anxious one for some who eTe left without a jockey, which reminds me (says Special Commissioner of the London Sportsman) that Carslake' the leading Australian jockey, is at present with us, having arrived here a few tiaya ago. I saw him yesterday xide Gala Wreath (in C. Archer's string) on the Limekilns when he certainly shaped in the style of a first-clxtss horseman, which I have not the least doubt he is. In speaking afterwards to P. W. Day. the trainer, about him, he confirmed my opinion. There is undoubtedly xilenty of room for a few good uders here at present. a<? some of the exhibitions of jockeyskap I have seen this year, and more particularly here last week, were too painful for words.

— The racing season iecent"y closed in Tasmania., and "Tam-o'-Shanter," of the Ta,sluanian Mail, lost no time in producing his annual statistics of the local turf, from which it is gleaned that a total of £'13.113 was the amount paid in stakes during the season 1905-6. Mr S. M "H'jWri heads the hst of •wirning owners, his Ehure coming to £1162 Watchful heads the list of winning horses with £530 to her credit, only £18 more than Battletree woh for Mr Southerwood. Of winning sires, Cheffterman heads the hst. his progeny having won 49 Taces of a total value of £1764. Of the jockeys J. P. Grattan was most successful, having ndd«n 17 winners. M. Dunn coming nex+ with 14. Of the riders over jumps S Viney heads the list with eight v. iiis, or one more than George Law. The TR C. disbursed in stakes £3163 for seven clays' racing; the T.T.C. £2615 fcr five days; KfKnham Racing Club £1119 10s for six days; and the Delcrame Turf Club £1015 for two days, the highest average per day of any club in the State

— Trotting men have been exercised in their minds (says a S>dney paper) as to the identity of a chestnut pacing filly which h.-s been jogging on the Rand wick road m a. style of pneumatic sulky new to Sydney The chestnut *s the celebrated Sal Tasker. who as a two-year-o!d la-%* veai in New Zealand won a race m 2mm 20sec. D. J. Price, who is now iv Sydney with a team of Xew Zealand gallopers brought the pacer over with him to wir ler in the rcore salubrious climate of New South Wak-s. but sho is not likely 'co be seen on our trotting tracks as she will probably be reserved for the big New Zealand fixture to come off m New Zealand at the end of the yeaT Sal Tasker. who is by the grcit New' Zealand sire Rothsrfnld, a. pon of Ohilde Harold, is a raking filly, standing about an inch short of 16 hands, of grea-t length and rein, and has the carripge peculiar to a pacer, which enables p. trotting man <to tell the gait a quarter of a male away. As a two-year-old her 2min 20seo wa^ a long way ahead of anything vet produced in Aub-

tralasia, and with a little age she may reasonably be expected to knock off a bit from Ribbonwood's record of 2min 9sec.

—At a meeting of the New Zealand Trotting Association, held last week, the Chairman (Mr P Selig) referred to the proposed trotting meeting to be held during the International Exhibition. The matter had been placed before all the clubs, and a favourable reply had been received in every case, with one exception. It seemed to him that such a meeting would prove a very great attraction, and if they were still of the same mind they should consider what steps to take. A meeting of the kind suggested would be of no use unless a totalisator permit could be obtained. There were no permits obtainable at present, but it was possible — although he had nothing official — that one club would not continue to carry on ; a permit would m that event become available. He had consulted with Mir G. S. Munro, Executive Commissioner, who recognised that it would be a very good thing if the meeting could be held in the Exhibition grounds. Mr Munro also acquiesced in the idea that the Exhibition authorities should give a trophy. Mr Selig added that th« question was as to whether it would be advisable to apply to the conference for a permit, or to leave the matter until the meeting of the conference to consider what steps should be taken. — The scarcity of good rideTs in England is a topic much discussed in Home sporting circles, and an exchange recently said that Argentine sportsmen have but a poor opinion of the English jockeys, who, in their opinion, move about far too much on their horses while race-riding, instead of sitting still as Sloeu used to do, and a* some of our best s'all do; but. then, the Argentine jockey has only ■about two courses on which he ridtes races, and, of coiuse, he gets to know eveirything possible about them. Different tracks every week would rather surprise 'him, and he like others would make plenty of mistakes. It seems strange to us flirt races can be ndden with a single rein on a long-cheeked curb bit, but that is the universal piactice out there, and we have seen Gomez and others do it in this country. Gomez, despite his feats on Epsom Lad, *s not accounted neai the first class in the Argentine; and it + uld really be interesting "to see some of their best jocteys riding here. A grea/t deal was learned from Sloan and other North Americaus. Why should W6 not leairn something also from South America 9 That there is nrach need for improvement among us Still is evidenced by thy fact that there is sxicb. difficulty in getting jockeys for some of the Derby horses. Aylin has to be sent for from the Continent to ride Malua, and Stern and Ranach are to come over from* Prance. — In the latest files of The Asian to hand is a short cabled account of the running in the English Derby last month. The full starting prices were: — 4 to 1 against La.lly, 6 to 1 Spearmint, 8 to 1 Malua and Sancy, 10 to 1 Gorgos. 100 to 7 Black Arrow, 18 to 1 Picton and Hi 3 Eminence, 25 to 1 Radium, Beppo, The White Knight, and Sareelle, 33 to 1 Troutbeck. .50 to 1 Nulli Sectmdus, 66 to 1 S.'orm, Buckminstex. and Fiusrvator, 100 to 1 Dingwall, Minos, Prince WilHuni. celt by Teufel— Slipaway, and Plumtree. Except for the faot that Prince William was badly served, the field got away to a, -good atait. Troutbeck made the running Jrom the Slipaway colt, Speairmint, and Pioton. with Black Airow lying next, and then Nnlli Secundus. Beppo., and La.lly. This oTder was maintained for ihe first half mile, when Pjctou passed Troutbeck, the pair being followed down the hill by Minos, Spearmint, and His Eminence. Thus they ran to Tattenhain Corner, where Troutbeck agßin assumed the lead, and Lally fell back well beaten. A quarter of a mile from he-ire Spearmint closed on the leaders and, soon having them in trouble, won easily by a length and ahalf; two lengths between second -and thkd, and a neck between Trcutbsck and Radium, who was fourth; Nulli Secumdu 1 ? was last. The winner was -ridden by D Mah«r, Picton by M. G. Thursbv. and Trovtbeck by J. H. Ala 1 tin. A Sydney papor "-tat©* that for some tims ■otst sporting folk have been puzzled to know what had become of the fillies by Gossoon from Fearnought and by Sir Tristram from Choir Girl, which were purchased a season or two ago by the Ra7idwick trainer, I B»rnshaw, for 125gs and 200gs respectively Thfy will be surprised to learn that they found their way by the steamer Fitzclarence to Valparaiso last November. Tliey were 35 days on the voyage, and during the long sea trip th« Fearnought filly now known as Primrose could not be' induced to he -down, and natuially was landed in a distressed state. Riviera, the namie given to the other filly, took matters much easier, but after landing both she and her companion became outlaws compared with the Chilian stock, which are. as a ni'e. tame. The Australians are said to have nearly killed several jockeys and stable boys in showing their resentment at being exiled, but patience and skill succeeded, and ultimately they submitted to being trained. Primrose and Riviera are now the property of Mr Alfred Jack'scn, and they were started in a rich two-year-old race — the Premio Gazelle — at Valparaiso in March last. There were five starters exclusive of the Australians, and the favourite was Medoc, by Gouni from OdiKe. but Primrose, ndden by the American jockey Gray, won cleverly by half p. length, with Medoc second, and ran the distance, five furlongs, in lmin 3sec. There was tremendous cheeTing at the finish, a.ud it is anticiDated that tlie ha.ppv result of taking Australian horses to Chili will cauip other proprietors of "tables there to follow Mr Jackson'? example, which will give a great impetus to horse-racing 111 that country, besides causing kefn competition be'ween the Australian and Argentine importations.