IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 63

IN A NUTSHELL.

Carbine's fee for the present season is 98gs — Nominations for the Maniototo meeting are due on Friday of tins week — Nominations for the Tapanui meeting are due on Thursday of this week. — Nominations are due for the Ihinedin Cup meeting on Friday, the 29th insu — Nominations for the Lurasden hsck meeting are due on Saturday. th« 23rd inst — Wellington Cup meeting takes place on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. — Nominations for ths Tahuna Park Trotting Club's autumn meeting are due on Saturday. February 6. —L. H. Hewitt hud 230 mounts in England la«t season. He steered 21 winners, was 20 times second, and 29 times third. — A Press Association telegram states that Mr C. O'Connor has been appointed starter to the Wanganui Joekoy Club Cup meetmg. — A Wellington telegram states that \ i ha« been scratched for all engagements at the Wellington Racing Club's summer meeting-. — Lady Bjiton. a sister to the crack pony Patrick G., recently won a couple of trotting races ai a New South Wales meeting. She stands 13.3. and won easily in 2.46. — The Tahuna Park Trotting Club are again hanging up a purs* of sovereigns and a medal for a track record. As usual, it is open to horses nominated at the meeting. —In order to pive more -encouragement to trotters the New South Wales Trotting Club 'has decided to grant the unhoppled horse five seconds concession from those that are hoppled. — The well-known cross-country horseman Hugh Carr hae returned from his trip to Auslraha, and hopes to be in the saddle again when the " between flags" epcrt gats going again. — The Duke of Portland has presented to the English Jockey Club a hoof of St. Simon, mounted as an inkstand, with a request thai it should be accepted as a memento of the celebrated horse. —B. Deeley. the Auckland lightweight, lias kMn engaged to ride one of tlie Messrs Stead's two-y«ar-olds in the Middle Parlc Plate, at the Canterbury Jockey Club's rummer meeting. — The stipendiary steward movement is gaining ground in the most unexpected qua-rters. The Calcutta Turf Club, one of the most exclusive racing institutions, has appointed a paid steward —It is reported that at Fleming-ton in future there will he seven sets of saddle cloths, go that a fresh cloth will be in use each race. All chances of any skin disease being caught will be done away with. — Simmerette. who won the Criterion Handicap at Flemington on New Year's Day., is by The Simmer — Etra weenie filly for vshom 500gs was paid at the last Randwick yearling galeE She is a half-sister to Merriwee. — If the first day's Tacing at the Tahuna Park Trotting Club's autumn meeting should unearth a horse who unexpectedly takes a good mark by winning or getting p^ced they can be nominated for a higher <:laes for the second day of the rceeling. — For winning at the Wairio meeting, Torohunga has been penalised 281b for the Welcome Hack Handicap on the first day of the Gore meeting under the rehandicapping clause existing on the G.K.C. programme. —At the Foxton meeting this week the exDeriment of the horses carrying numbeis ■affixed to their bridles will be tried, as it is considered that this will make the judge's task a nmch easier one in the case of a close fimVu. —At a meeting of the committee of tie Ashburton Trotting Club, held last week. Mr H. F. Nicoll in the <&air, it was decided to hold * two days' meeting in March The arrangement of the programme was held over lor a future meeting, when the date^ will be fixed. — New Zealand horses engaged in the Newmarket Handicap are: — Idyll, Soultline. Peterhof. IdeaJist. Pink 'Un. Motoa, Penatess. Chamade. G-oJden Slipper. Seddon ; and m the Australian Cup are Signor, De^were, Golden Slipper, Seddon. and Not us. The Champion Stakes list includes Signor, Seddon, and Nolus. — The South Canterbury Jockey Club intend gmng away 1320sovs in Btakes at their autumn meeting. This amount is an increase of 800sovs over last year's total. In addition to increasing the prize list the club intend erecting a new jockeys' board, a ladies' waiting -room, and other improvements, estimated to cost SOOpovb. — The English-bred colt by Hackensdrmdi irora Merry Nif. sold at the Glenora Park sale to Mr H. R M'Kenzie. did not Jong survive his change of ownership. While on the way from PapaJmra, to Ms M'Kenzie'e farm at 3langere the colt was attacked with inflammation of ihe bowele, to which ailmeni, he succumbed Mr M'Kenzie paid 60gs for the oo!t. I — Interesting figures concerning the amount I invested during 190S on the totalizator in South Australia have been published The total investments reached £353,726. as against

3 | £240,370 last year. This full amount is subject to a Government tax of 2| per cent , so ] that during the year the S.A Treasury bene- . fited to the extent of £8850 from the opexai tions of the machine. I —Mr Donald Fraser recently disposed of -, a yearling colt by Advance from Lady Spec . to a Queensland owner, but the price has I not transpired. The full brother to Advanf tage is black in colour, without a sign of a a -white mark on him, and (says the Dominion) * in consequence he has been called Nigger ' Johnson. The stallion Advance is under I offer to a Queensland breeder at IOOOgs. — The Gore- Racing Club have been f favoured -with excellent acceptances for the -• first day of their Eummei meeting, which i commences on Wednesday of this week, and s will be concluded on the following day The , G K.C. have lately struck a progressive - note, and it is .to be hoped the sinews of - war for a further advance will find their > way into the club's coffers this week — One of the bargains of the Yaldhurst E sale -was assuredly Royal Guard at lOOge This compactly-built dheeinut is coming . along in fine style at Trentham (says a. [ Wellington paper), and shows all the cliarj acteristics of the Wallace side of his family i j Culroy, his dam is by Wallace from Hor- ' | tense, by Gang Forward from Josephine, by } j The Palmer, and is a be«utifully-bred mare. — The fielders had a splendid innings at [ the Auckland E.C. summer meeting On ' each of the four days the}' were able to show ' a handsome profit. The club extracted from the odds-merchants the total :>f £3136 in ' fees, nearly a thousand m excess of last 1 year's record. The punters will not forget ; their gruelling in a hurry (says a Wellington ; | writer), as in 32 races only six absolute favourites managed to score. • — An echo of the past is furnished by the 1 appearance of +he Mußket horse Derringer's I name in the list of winning sires in England for the past season. Derringer sired one ■ winner of a race worth £20 10s. Cham Shot is another almost forgotten son of Muskc'» that went to England, and a member of a, famous tribe that did not generate much, steam from the waters of the Thames, let alone set fire to that historical stream. —Mr G. D. Greenwood is not apparently very hopeful of securing a return of the 200&gs which he expended in the purchase of Perle dOr, <ihe two-year-old sister to the sensational-priced Golden SUpper, as in the course of a conversation I (says the Dominion turf ecribe) had with the Canterbury sportsman during the ARC summer meeting he remarked that he was not quite sure that he would not now take 200gs for her —P. M'Grath. private trainer for Mr J F. Buchanan, arrived at Riccarton from Kmloch Station last week with the three-yeax-o'd . colt Bulletin, by Pilgrim's Progress— Gossip, and has taken uo 'us quarters at Gladsome Lodge. Buccleuch and the two-year-o^ filly FiTe Queen, by Royal fi& lleiy— Fireside, will arrive next week. The imported filly Lovelorn, by M-eK-on — Hebrew Maid, and Fire- j glow, by Martian — Fireside, will join the j striae next month. j — Writing prior to' the Burns-Johnson fight, the English correspondent of the Australasian said: The famous American boxer. Bob Fitzsimmona, is in England with his wife on a visit. a,nd, somewhat to the general surprise, he intimates that he has not retired from the ring, but is ready -to box any man m th* universe, of any weight, for any amount of money. As to the comingi Bums v. Johnson fight, he is inclined to thmk that the darkey will win easily. — Earl of Castles lost his rider in the course of the Steeplechase at a recent Flemmgton meeting. The horse was mounted by a, bystander, who rode him up the straight m great style, but approaching the judge's box it was seen that he was in difficulties. In a gallant endeavour to keep on. he clung round the horse's neck, but it was of no avail. He had too firm a grip, however, to let go easily, and in falling actually pulled the horse over. Neither rider nor horse was a penny tihe worse. — Horses of any pretensions at all in Australia, aTe priced far above the Indian buyer's ideas, and consequently he goes to the market in wliich he can buy cheapest and best. Australia if we fear, rapidly losing a very valuable customer, and the present legislation as to the repatriation of bloodstock — or any stock for that matter — is not tending to increase her popu'aruy vutn the Indian buyer. The English seller has seen hie opportunity, and is taking full advantage of it.— The Asian (Calcutta). —It was common talk here that one of the races at the Wairio meeting was fixed. It is, of course, quite possible that there was no trulh in the matter, but, nevertheless, the hard heads were particularly anxious to get their little bit on, and were absolutely breaking their backs to declare themselves in the alleged joke. One S.P. merchant -with malice aforethought saved his scalp by declaring himself "out of town," and so dodged the couldn't-be-Tefused crcwd who were regular customers. — The A J.C regulation wbiih compels the insertion of a race of a mile as well as one of a mile and a-quarter m each day's registered programme, is said to have given dissatisfaction in some quarters. But the committee of the A.J.C.. while not feeling surprised at it, may be quiie sure that the regulation has the support of everybody -who has the welfare of th* sport uppermost. «nd ■who -will welcome the day when the law is enforced generally against all the clubs under A.J.C. control. — Edwin Couch, the trainer, Whose "death under painful circ\unstances is reported from England, was a, native of Cornwall. (He trained horses in W.A.. lor Mr A. E. Coch18m. and subsequently returned to England | At the commencement of the late racing feason Couch was in charge of the team of 23 hoTses, mostly owned by Mr J. J. Byrne? at Newmarket. Included in the team was MJsrcutio, who was a starter in the English Derby, and wai riddsn in that Tace by W. Evans, who won the Melbourne Cup on Apologue — The Tahuua Park Trotting Club have issued a record programme for their autumn mia-ating The prize list includes two 150sovs slake, two lOOsovs Btakes, two 90sovs ptakes (for trotters only), two TSeovs stakes, two at Gosovs. and two at 60f0v.«, in addition to four other event* msde up by the amateur and pony events, in which the stakes are 50fovs and 35=ovs respectively The fu emmute class is the fastest jet identified with a two-mile race at the park, and it is to be hoped the Tohuna Clip and Teleohone Handicap wiil attract some of the Christchurch cracks to the meeting — The announcement that Merman is to ■ come into the market occasions mixed reflections. He has not been a failure at tLe stud (says an English wnter) but Jus siicces* has not been conivnenturEie with the repute- j tion he made for hiroielf a<- a j. r <eho]^» lx>fh ' ' in Australia ar.d m thip co-untr-v Without ! } a doubt he was ore of the Etotite&i. horse's ■ that ever trod the British -turf, m proof of > which assertion it i« cn'y recesssi} to cite ' his victories in the Ces. are witch, and the con- j tests for tLe A«cot and Gocdwood Cups At Af-c-oi he clefeiiied the French hor°e, Perth, ' who died only a few months wio It is co;i ' ceivftb'e thst even yet he «ill assert himself j * as a sue. 1 '

— Since the Waiiio meeting en Wednesday > theie has been a good deal of talk at street corners about the general crookedness of the meeting, and if one would listen to all the stories he would have to believe that all the E beaten horses at the meeting were non- : triers. That I do not believe for one nios ment. but I air quite sure (says the turf scribe Barry Lyndon) that there were races b readied-up. and. that m one case at least the i winner would not have been in front at the post had another horse been able to get there. The meeting was certainly one of the worst we have ever seen in Southland for some years foi arranged races, and the i wonder to m« is that the public don't get i tired of supplying pools for these owners to I divide > — Since corning across froni Xew Zealand ■ to ride Pilot in his cross-country engage- ; ments at the AJ C spring meeting, T Cahill has put up a wonderful record tie rode the winners of the whole four jumping events at the meeting referred to, when he successfully steered JEolus- in both hurdle races, and similarly handled Pilot in both steeplechases. He afterwards rode Pilot to victory in the Cup Steeplechase ai< the V.X C. spring meeting On returning to Sydney he was granted a license to ride and , train jumpers, and at Tattersall's meeting, he won the hurd'e race on each day on Minister and Mainspring. In addition to his achievements m t:ie saddle (says the Sydney Eeferee). Cahill deserves great credit for the manner in which he landed Mainspring- at the post, it being considered somewhat in the light of c joke when he first put him into work. "Do you fancy yours, Mr Stedall?" asked a youthful nobleman the other day of the great mantle-maker and owner (reports London Sport). "Well, my lord. I've backed him to win me a thousand." was the genial reply. "Thanks very much ' And the horse won. A few days later they met again, and this time it was the young nobleman who had a horse going in a selling race "Do you fancy yours, n>y lord 9" asked Mx Stedall "No earthly,' ivas the reply; "he has got a sore back." "Thank you, my lord." Hut the horse won. The nexi. meeting V.etween the two owners took place at the sale | ring, and Mr Stedall kept bidding for hiß I lordship's winner. 'Oh. I say, Mir Stedall, | you don't want my horse, do you ? I was going to buy him in.'' "Yes, my lord. I do. I haven't got a horse with a sore back in my stable, and I reckon I'd like to have one."' —C. Pratt, who had almost concluded a season's riding in Austria, recounts his «xperiences in an exchange. It was the desire of Baron Rothschild, for whom he had been riding in that country, that Pratt should reengage for next season ; but the Australian, who had a retainer of i-1000 in addition to an extra £7 a week besides pajTnents for mounts, refused to re-enga,ge on tie same terms, and there the matter ended. He reports the cost of living and general expenses as something enormous, and states that a big salary m addition to a fair share of success are required to show a credit b»lance. Pratt met with a fair share o-f «icce«s> in Austria, 'and whilst on a visit to Germany rode in one race for the Emperor. He was offered a substantial retainer to ride in that country nexi. season, but declined. He expects shortly to return to Australia, but lias no present intention of going abroad again. — The majority of those who attended the various holiday meetings on this coast (says! the Wang-anui correspondent of the Auckland Weekly) returned home more than ever convinced that something will h»ve to be done, and thai very shortly, in the direction of appointing stipendiary stewards, unless public interest in racing is to be killed altogether. At more than one recent gathering there were, it is freely alleged, some very glaring cases of crooked riding and racing. Ko doubt, some disappointed backers are always too prone to jump at conclusions as to a horse being a non-trier when they happen to lose their money, but it is questionable whether there was ever such a widespread feeling that the racing was not genuine as has been engendered by certain happenings in several of the events decided j during the Last week or two. The sooner the stipendiary stewards are introduced the I better. —On looking over the list of names (says the Special Commissioner of the London SporiemaTi) -wHicR ii.-a.ye been re^-istearecl foT horses that do not appear in the Stud Hook, I am struck by the minute particulars which are given of animals whose pedigrees are unknown. Thus "White blaze, white near fore and both hind stockings." .Now, why is this not done m the case of horses which do appear in the Stud Book' Why does not the Stud Book itself contain such details of every foal? A pedigree does not assist in identifying a hor.=e — at least, in many cases it may nov do so, and I am perfectly certain blood stock has again and again got mired up in transit and export certificates have been attached to the wrong animals Of course, in the case of wholecoloured foa!s nothing can be done to improve on the present arrangement, except that they would at least be distinguished from all the others; bat the great majority of foa^s are not whole-coloured, and their distinctive markings ought certainly to be registered in the Stud Book, and also stated in aoy export certificates issued in connection with them. — Tbe lioDple question is getting to be a, serious one (says the Breeder and Sportsman). The majority- of horeeinen who look to see the breed of light harness horses conhnue to improve, are of opinion that it is tim« to begin a movement that will eventually lead to the abolition of the Indiana leg adornments, and the sooner, it l"* inaugurated the better. Hopples were prohibited in trotting races se\ eral years ago, and could be tnkfTi off the legs of the pacers just as easily. The idea has been suggested that th-e associations giving colt „ stakes should provide , that no hoppled co!t could start in the race<= and it has al=o been suggested that in c'.a&s races pacers wearing hopples should be penalised by d-eductinp the portion of their winnings «nd giving it to the horses that \ do not wear the pyjamas. For instance, in \ a purse of £130, where first money i& £100 the winner, if wearing hopples, should only ' be awarded £75, and all the money deduced ; from the winnings of hoppled hordes should • go to those not wearing them. SucL a scheme as this would permit hoppled hordes to race but would discourage the use of the ( le» harness, a "consummation devoutly to be l wished " * ] — Sidney, one cf *hs grea+est =iies in the ] history of the trothrg horfe. died in America r in November laet aged 27 years Sidney was by Santa C.aus. by Strathmcre. by HambJe- j t-oniaii , dam Sweetness, by Volunteer. 05" Hambletonan When a twe-year-o'd Mdccv 7 was purchased by an exnatnate Ita lav j : count named Valpjisin, and "the horse made < f him wealtln, besides placing hi= name 111 tie i ' history of the trotting Lcu.=e The couni, v>ss j * a good busmees man and be leased the horse j * to W C F:?n-e for £1000 pet ai.nuin. and ' « z provisional £1030 per annum additional j t Tne death of Count Valensui made the con- J a tratt \oid, and when the hor=e was sold h\ j r aiu.t-oii lie biought £'5400 Sidney's first crcp « of ycungsteTp nuirbered 11. and 10 of them j 1 won xaces, aud the other showed an authen- ' 2

f ticated trial of 2min 2ie-ec. When less than a dozen years of age Sidaey's progeny held the -world's record, for ag-e, at both \he trotting and pacing gait As indicative of his early speed propensities, lie had at that time 2" standard performers, th-eir average age less than four years and their average time about 2.21. That of the yearlings was 2.24. of the two years old 2.26, .throe years old 2.22, four years old 2 21, and five "years old (the oldest) 2 17. And this was 16 years ago, in old-fashioned, high-wheeled sulkies. — The Australian lightweight rider T. "Wootton hsd his first ride in England in 1906, when he was up on 16 -winners, in 1907 he was responsible for 39, and last year he was second to D. MaheT with 10 less tt?n the latter* 189. Wootton was on the ground far one month, or -would in all probability have headed the list for the recently-defunct season The Sportsman in referring to the young Australian's position in the winning list said: — On his arrival here from South Africa in. 1906 Wootton was not long in attracting attention and in securing patrona-ge and the following- year his services were in marked requesi. Having corrected certain blemishes m his riding, he became the popular boy of 1908, and for one so young— he is only " 15 next montih— the skill he has shown is remarkable, and he can now hol-d his own against the best of his seniors. The practical turn taken by the reprimand pdministered by the stewards of the jockey club ought to have the effect of steadying him,- and inasmuch as his enforced "standing down" has, there is little doubt, lost him the premiership amorg the successful jockeys of the year, it should 6.pur him to a renewed effort to achieve it 12 months 'hence. He has secured a standing- to be envied by any lad, and, should circumspect conduct go hand in hand with his proved ability, not tb« besi el them will have better piospects than he — Some interesting statistics were recently published in England with regard to the stake earnings of the world's great brood mares. First place on the list is taken by the Duke of Portland's famous old mare, M'owenna, whose stock won £72.968 in stakes, Donovan contributing £45,154 ; Semolina, £12,685; Baeburn, £6374; Modwena £6265; Amoena. £250; and Sir Joshua. £237. Perdita II is second with £72.913. being the dam of Persimmon, £34,706; Diamond Jubilee. £29,185; Florizel 11. £7858; Barracouta, £1064; and Derelict, £100. The German mare Festa is next with £63,838. Fels earning £20,417; Festino, £15,112; Faust. £11,904Fahila, £10,376; Salute. £3271; and Fervour, £2758. Though now located in Germany, Festa wap bred in England, being by St. Simon — L'Abbesse de J-ouarre, so that she is a full si6ter to Desmond, whose stock har c been running so well in England. Another great brood mare is Deadjock, with £61,364 in stakes, made up by Isinglass, £57.455 (the record sum ever won by any horse in the world); Germas, £2929; and Islington, £980. Pradigm's stock won £60,427, Lord Lyon contributing £26,325; Achievement, £22442; Gardevisure, £4630; Blue Mantle, £2338; Man at Arms. £1718 ; King at Arms, £1510 ; Rouge Dragon, £515; Chevisaunce, £455; Hatchment, £384; and Paraffin, £210. Other ma.res in recent times whose successful progeny topped £50,000 are Morganatic (dam of Galtee More. Blairfinde, and Ard Patrick), £55 619, and Quiver (dam of L» Fleche and Memoir), £54,724. Still lower down are Viete, (dam -of Bona Vista and Sir Visto), £46.662, ' and Lily Agnes (dam, of Ormonde), £39,728. | —An extraordinary incident occurred at the Blandford annual races oiy Boxing Day. Three horses went to the post for the j Welter Handicap, the iioTPes Tunning six furlong 8 at top speed. The sfarteT declared it no start, stating that he did not drop his flag. The horses finished thus: Outcast (odds-on favourite) 1, Barrister 2, and Lobelia 3. After a few minutes' spell the trio again started off on another six furlong's run. the starter declaring that it was some of tie public, and not he who despatched the field. The result was exactly the same as the first time. There was some trouble when it came to a third run. Two of the owner* (Lobelia and Barrister) did not feel disposed to punish their horse? by giving them 2J mi!e9 straight off the reel, the latter also having to oarry 11.7; but they were informed that they could not scratch them, and must give the public a run for their money. However, after about an hour's delay, and aft-er the committee had held a meeting, the three horses again went to the poet. Barrister's jockey came out. carrying his "swagr" under his arm, to pull weight; but the committee would not allow this, and insisted on having it strapped on. Then the owner attempted to take the mount. After the owner had weighed out, and was ready to start, more argument ensued. Erentuaily the original jockey got mounted again, and, with a roll of bags in front, iron wed-ges and stones in his pocket, got to the post. This time the jockeys made sure of the starter making the start, and for the third time the race was run, the horses finishing m exactly the same order each time.