SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3085, 30 April 1913, Page 51

SPORTING NOTES FROM AUSTRALIA.

MELBOURNE, April 21. RACING IN MELBOURNE. A meeting held at Aspendale Park last Wednesday was well attended, but the racing was of the “sick ” kind. There were only 41 starters for the six events. The well-backed horses were successful, but prices in most cases were very short. The Caulfield trainer, D. J. Price, won the Second Division Handicap with Gipsy Witch 6.12, by Stepniak, and the Jumpers’ Flat Race with Maui 8.5, by Mahaki—both New Zealand-bred-. Gipsy Witch, who was favourably handicapped, easily beat the small field opposed to her. Maui only won his race by a neck, but it was, all the same, an easy win. For nearly half the distance Maui was last, but ho readily made up his ground over the last half-mile. The principal event, the Aspend'alo Park Handicap, one mile, wont to the imported horse Salvator Rosa 7.2, by Foundling (son of Trenton). He'easily beat tho favourite, Bonnie George 8.1. The winner is owned by Mr S. A. “ Rawdon.’’ The other winners during the day were Atticer (by Straightfire), Marylebonc (by Erroneous), and Quecnio Knight (by Persian Knight, imp.). The race meeting held at Epsom on Saturday was highly successful. There was a splendid attendance, good fields in the majority of the events, and interesting racing. The chief event, the Epsom Handicap, one mile and a-quarter, wont to the New Zealand-bred Lord Kelvin 7.13. He is trained by J. O’Brien at Montone, and is in the same stable as Jolly Beggar. .At Geelong and Sun bury Lord Kelvin won his races by going to the front at tho start and staying there. Ho was ridden the same way at Mentone, but missed a place. He was favourite for that race, but over the same distance and with the same weight up on Saturday was allowed to gc out at a long price. His trainer instructed Mintc-r to wait with Lord Kelvin on til’s occasion, and Lerdordorg was allowed to make tho pace until about half a mile or so from home. Then Lord Kelvin went to the front, and that was the end of the others. Ho came into the straight full of running, and, never being afterwards troubled won bv a couple of lengths from Nari 7.2. Radiator 6.10 went out favourite, only to run another bad race. He was always an unreliable horse. Ho is still a maiden. The Steeplechase was a great success. There were 15 starters (including tho V.R.C. Grand National winner Gunwad and the Onkaparinga Steeplechase winner Vanguard), and they all got round without mistake. It is tho first time a steeplechase has been run on the course since the passing of the now rules of racing, and all the fences had to bo 3ft 9in or over in height. In the majority of cases the old fences have been build up. Thev are well hairpnded on top. and some brush placed on the take-off side. They are all of post and rail, but tho openings have been closed up, and the may account for tho excellent jumping, the horses not being, bothered owing to their being able to look through. That the field should have got round without accident provides an excellent argument in favour of the higher fences making for safety. The horses did not travel at the break-nock pace that wo have so long boon accustomed to on tho mild suburban courses. The time for the two miles and 24 chains (4min 37scc) was llsec slower than tho record for the »a.iDC distance on tins course. That was put up by on November 25. 1911, when ho beat "Vanguard’ by half a length in 4min 26«0c. The winner ol Batueciay’s race, Artillery Bill. iq. l 2, was a rank outsider. He had previously won bundle races in the country. " ■ only bent Mvn-s 11.5 by a neck, with Kornang and Vanguard close up. The other winners were Jcnilah (by Ibex), Carcassonne (bv imp. Challenger), Black Pan (by Brakpan), and Strathdoon (by StrathA meeting was hold i.n fine* weather at Moonec Valiev on Monday. It was Eight Hours’ Dav, and there was a great attendance. The management distributed £1259 in stakes, and this induced good fields. The principal ovont, tho Kight Hours’ Handicap, of 350*)vs. one mile, brought out 15 runners, and Sof ratio 8.9, a big Flavus gelding trained by J. Hayward at Caulfield, v\as favourite. He is a big strider, and was not suited by the course. The race fell to tho Traquair thrce-yoar-old, Yencda 7.4, ridden by K. Bracken. North Woodleigh 8.3, in J. Fielder’s stable, was only beaten by a short nock; and Earl s Court 7.6, mho tried and lead ah the way, was next. Mala 9.3 and Mountain Princess 9.0 were in the field, but neither made any show, and the Now Zealand-bred Blakoney 8.3 was last. Ho was fancied, too, but ho was always a beaten quantity. Another Traquair to win was Count Traquair, who led all tho way in the Recreation Handicap, five furlongs, for which Widgiowa, a Maltster col in J. Sepbio’s stable, was favourite. J. Killorn, who rode Count Traquair, was also successful in the previous race, the Two-ycar-old Handicap, on tho top weight, Malt Guard 9.0, by Maltster. This co’t, who is trained by C. T. Godby, recently won a third division handicap at Mentone. It was only by a short head that Malt Guard boat Bui Blair 8.7, who was ridden by G. Lambert. Killorn most of the spectators thought, outrode Lambert. Bill Taft, who is also by Uncle Sam’s sire. United States, was successful in the Hurdle Race, while tho Steeplechase went te Acute Anglo 9.9. by Anglo. Langtou.n 7.10. br St. Alxignno (imp.), took the April Plate, and the American-bred mare Mazy 7.12. was successful in the April Purse. Mazy, like Yeneda. is trained by the ex-New Zealander, M. T M'Grath. RACING IN SYDNEY.

The Moorefkld Club hold a mooting on Saturday. The chief event, the Moorefiold Handicap, ono mile and a-quartcr, was won by Harley 7.0, who ie by the New Zeala.ndbrod Hova (winner of the Newmarket Handicap). En Hunt 8.7 started favourite, •■•'d missed a place. Harley only beat Rubecula by a neck. The New Zealander, Merrie Hid 10.12. by Merriwoo, started favourite, and easily won the Hurdle Race fi-nm the second favourite. Eclat 9.7. Several smart eprinstors started in the Flying Handicap, six furlc/igs. the winner turning up in the rank outsider Diplomatist 6.7. by Din'omat (imp.). The favourite. Debutante 8.4, missed a place. The other

winners were Zeus (by Haut Boy), Tofua (by imp. Featherstitch), and Gunilla (by Machine Gun). A SINGULAR COURT CASE. Judge and counsel in the Banco Court, Melbourne, looked on with astonishment last Thursday while the defendant of a suit just called on, having admitted his liability, proceeded in satisfaction to count out a collection of £IOO notes, with some of smaller denomination, on to counsel’s table, for the other side to pick up. The case was one of dispute with respect to bookmaking transactions. The litigants were both formerly registered as bookmakers by the V R.C., and the plaintiff, Edward Kelly, claimed from Frederick O’Neill £5lB, paid to bookmakers in respect of bets on different .races, line defendant had made a counter-claim for £509 ss, which he assorted as made up of balances due to him under arrangements- which he made that Kelly would lay the betting odds against different horses. He claimed that in the case of The Sun, in the Sandringham Steeplechase, Kelly won £500; in the case of Twa Brigs, in the Yeringbcrg Handicap, at Moonee Valley, his winnings were £600; and in the case of Koko, in the Cave Hill Steeplechase, on the same course, £6OO. Of these amounts ho claimed Kelly, under the arrangement, should have paid him onc-half; but in fact only paid him sums of £IOB 15s, £125, and £IOB, leaving the balance due. Kelly denied the agreement set up, and declined to account for his transactions. When the case was called on O’Neill said: “I appear in person, your Honor, to say I wish to pay this money to these people now. and to ask you to fix tho costs. I think it is £5lB, is it not?” Having been assured on this point, O’Neill put his hand in his pocket, and, taking out a roll of notes, proceeded to count them out. Mr M'Arthur (for Kelly): “This is rather a novel experience in court to mo. V our Honor may notice what is going on at £hc table.” The Chief Justice: “I do. It is the quickest monetary transaction I have seen this year.”-—(Laughter.) “I might suggest, Mr M'Arthur, that it is always bad business to refuse money when it is offered to you.” Mr M'Arthur: “Your Honor is quite right; it is. Ido not refuse the offer. But this is a peculiar case. It is a dispute between two turf commission agents, and O’Neill has made a counter-claim against Kelly, which Kelly says, and is prepared to swear, is quite untrue He ;s not willing to have it said that he was not prepared to fa'oe the music.” The Chief Justice; “Is the counter-claim persisted in?” O’Neill: “No. I wish to withdraw that, too.” His Honor fixed costs at £IOO.

S? Ravknswoeth.