IN A NUTSHELL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 49

IN A NUTSHELL.

A North Island supporter of Parky in the Wiuetr Cup lifted over £BOO off th® totalisator.

Gold Cup was unlucky in not putting the liedcliffs Handicap to his credit at the National meeting. - Nominations for the Ashburton County Racing Club’s meeting are due on Friday next, the 29th inst. . Paritutu has bid adieu to the tun. Ho retires full of honours, and hits well earned his retirement at 14 years old. The riding-out rule was apparently w bit dormant in connection with 0:10 or two horses seen in public last week. The Conqueror gelding Wuitoto waa sold during the National meeting at Mlsovuv and poos into J. Bridge’s stable. ■ Beacon, Whakaweira, Chief Marshal, and! The Rover are reported as a contingent to bo shipped by 11. Hickey to Australia. Scottish Star ran .in a rogue’s badge in her races last week, aVid was the only on® that appeared in the garb during the meeting. . , . . , , Nedra was carryinsr nor near .Lind Jog after her race in the Lincoln .Steeples, and is not likely to bo seen in action for some time. , , A prospective buyer was after 1 arky during the National meeting, but no business resulted in connection with tho Winter Cup winner. The sum of £213.788 went through th® totalisators at Addington and Kiccarton last week. Last year the grand total amounted to £176,713. Ooronetmd. went off considexaLly week, and after running a good race in th® Jumpers' Flat failed to make any show in the National Hurdles. The Gold Roof marc Eocene was put under the hammer on Monday, but failed to reach her owner’s reserve. She will probably find her way to Australia. Aberbrothock displayed signs of imsoununess when running at the National meeting, and liis racing career is not likely t-o Iks prolonged very much into the future. Hunters’ races are sometimes rather d.fucult to win at Riccarton. There is always the posibility of bumping into a racehorse, masquerading under the name of hunter. Captain Jack is a good fencer, but a. bit deficient in speed. It cost punters soma money to discover the fact, as in his t—roo races he carried about 2000so\s on >ii® totalisator. Xhe Cyllene horse Minoru, who won til® Derby in ‘the late King Edward's colours, ■has been purchased by the Russian Government. Cyllene had a full list at loOsova for the present season. Hautere injured his back when lie toll whilst schooling at Kiccarton. and was bare!;/ able to bobble about his box for a few t,ay3 after his accident, it will probably be s imo time before he races again. , . More than one horse that racec. at Riccarton last week looked as if they haa quitsenough of tiie game, and evidently reached the end of the cross-country season and their condition about the same time. More than one horse appeared to ba out for an airing at the Addington trotting meeting. The big stake to be given in November weilds an influence that does not always work towards honesty of purpose The cup which Mr J. Buckley has given as a trophy to be raced for in connection with the North Otago Cup cost £SO m London, so that its New Zealand value will rank: rather higher than the figure given above. Buff Gauntlet broke down when running in the Winter Cup, and in all probability lias terminated his racing career. He displayed a lot of pace in his race, and. sound! and well, would have been very hard to beat. , , . . Secretaries of racing clubs were strongly in evidence at the Grand National meeting. They were present from all x- ar ts of the Dominion, and each would no doubt like to have a Grand National on their pro-

gramme. . The Sylvia Park mare Morning, wild easily put up a fresh record in the National Hurdles, is bred on old-fashioned lines, and the fact suggests the old blood has a> value not always identified with that of recent im|>OTtatior.. The victory of The Spaniard and Morning would have taken over £7OOO out of somebody's pockets. Evidently the Ishmaelites of the racing world can still find market for their goods, and plenty of clients who are after the goods. Ayr Laddie (son of Ayrshire) fops the list of winning stallions in Australia for the past season with £26.140 to his cedit. Maltster wag neift with £22,361. and then came Positano with £17.410. Wallace with £16.783, and Pistol with £14,397. The well-known breeder and sportsman, Mr J. Buckley, will return from England some time in December next. It has beer! learnt that his health has considerably benefited by the trip, and that his colours will again he in evidence on his return. Marton ran two great races at the National meeting under hig weights. He is a beautiful fencer and a sound stayer. His oil foreleg has apparently been in the war.

but he moves soundly enough, and may one day be found scoring over the big fences. *— It is rumoured that the Southland Racing Club will attach a stake of 750sovs to the principal event on their summer programme. The club is making a bold bid to attract good horses to their meeting, and are making the right sort of bid to attract notice.

Beau Soult, the half-brother to Bronze, who was sent to Sydney, but failed to find a buyer in the ring, has since been purchased by a patron of P. Nolan’s stable. The colt was held under lease with a purchasing clause, -and the selling price is said to bo 1009 gs. The most popular win at the National meeting was that scored by Mr F. Armstrong in the National Hurdles with Morning. Mr Armstrong is recognised wherever known as a true sportsman—a term that is frequently applied to those who are merely owners.

—lt is understood that the Euroclydon gelding Buster, who won the Hunters’ Hurdles at Ricoarton, was presented by Mr J Buckley to his present owner, D. Moraghan, who converted Phaetontes and Dorando into ’chasers for the North Otago sportsman.

A reminder of the famous Carbine cropped up in connection with Aba’s win in the Hunters' Plate. His sire was got by Musket's great son; but there is not much to boast about in connection with Aha, as he bled both before and after winning his i’ace on Saturday.

—A. Goodwin and A. Julian, the trainer and rider of The Spaniard and Morning, would have split somethiim like a present of 7000sovs if the pair liad landed the big double at the National meeting. A boy got ft “ten pun note” from the owner for looking after Morning on National Hurdle day.

Borcola, who has won in the space of a few months the Wanganui Century Hurdles, the Great Northern Steeplechase, and the Grand National Steeples, was in the market prior to Wanganui at loOsovs, and could have been, purchased after that mooting at 250sovs. Evidently, his owner was entertaining an angel unawares. Parky, the winner of the Winter* Cup, was got by Sylvia Park from Ngaio (sister to Tortulla), by Torpedo from Honeysuckle, by Puriri from Rose d’Armour, by Trnducer. Parky is a member of the Sharky tribe, which includes such performers as Advance, Kosefelt, Tortulla, Fishhook, Diabolo, and other good winners in the family. Carbinier, the sir© of Ba-llista, the winner of the Australian Hurdles, and Leah Kleshna, winner of the V.K.C. National Steeples, is closely related to Royal Arms, who got among the winners at Riccarton last week. Royal Arms is by Royal Artillery from Barley Bree, by The Cardinal from Barley, the dam .of Carbinier. Barley is also the dam of Maltster. The Uannevirke Racing Club have a big scheme of alterations and improvements in hand that will Ire carried out on their racecourse. The club intend shifting all buildings from their present site to the opposite side of the track, and thus obtain a much pleasanter aspect for their lawn and stands. The scheme will cost about £3OOO, and when completed will do much to build up the' popularity of the meeting. This year’s Grand National Steeplechase provided one of the finest, if not the finest, cross-country races that has ever taken place between the flags. During the meeting the writer met a much-travelled gentleman who has seen racing on ail the principal tracks in the world—British, American, Continental, Australia, and India,—but the Riccarton National Steeples was the finest racing spectacle he has had the good fortune to witness. Gold Pin's win in the Lincoln Steeples was a well-deserved success and a tribute to his trainer’s ability. When W. ATDonald took him in charge Gold Pm was very moderate and a poor stayer even when carrying good racing condition. The right sort of treatment has made him a fair stayer, and a. 600sov stake is solo evidence of the fact. Gold Pin does not appear too sound in front at present, and his win arrived about the right time. Gold Pin and Dorando had a rare battle in the Lincoln Steeples. They ran stride for stride for the best part of the journey, but before reaching the final obstacle the weight and deep going told on Dorando. Gold Pin, however, did not appear to have an ounce to spare beyond his winning margin, as both he and the San Fran gelding were going up and clown in the same place over the last 100 yards. The pair were stone cold at (he finish.

The only drawback to the great success achieved by the Grand National programme was the nndosiraole length of each day's oard. Eight races per day is far too much for this time of tiro year, and the C.J.C. would earn the gratitude of the majority of their patrons if the card contained at least ono race less, than at present. One of the flat races could easily be dispensed with, and the club would suffer very little loss, if auv, by what would be an undoubted improvement in the programme. The Native is understood to have come on in a very pleasing manner after winning at Trentham, but his displays at Riccarton suggest that he must have gone off before carrying silk at the meeting. His display in the National Steeples was most disappointing after crossing the first three fences. It was noticed, however, that he did not drop clean out of eight as the race progressed, and his first experience of the Riccarton country should stand to him in the future.

Racing under welter weights across.the flat or over hurdles and big fences provides a severe test of stamina and speed, and in this connection theorists in breeding would note with interest that out of the 24 races on the Grand National programme only two went to horses by an imported sire. The horse in question was Lupin, who ha'd two winners in Black Lupin and Tree Lucerne. Lupin has been a much neglected Itorso, even though he displayed early evidence of ability to get speed when Lupulite arrived on the turf. Trainers who have juveniles in their stables are generally eager to give their charges a glimpse of the racecourse when the crowds are present, flags flying, band playing, and other life is in evidence, in order to teach them proper comportment before they are asked to undertake the more serious business of their career. Racegoers always tako y a big interest in their presence, but tho " Canterbury Jockey Club evidently do not approve of their presence, as it is understood that P. Mason was carpeted and fined for bringing some of the youngsters in his team to Riccarton during the progress of the racing. The element of luck was not entirely absent from Bercola’s win in the National Steeples. The Spaniard pulled his reins through Julian’s hands when landing over tho last fence, and this caused a slight loss of ground, and an unintentional interference with Nedra’s line of running, so that Iboth of the latter had a pinch of bad luck. Those down at the last fence thought that iTho Spaniard was sure to win. Bercola Rightly handicapped himself by not fencing 000 cleanly. As far as could be seen it was a cleanly-run race, although there was talk of interference in tho last part of the jouraey before the leaders entered the straight. Morning, the winner of this year’s

National Hurdlers, was got by Sylvia Park from Evening, by Wonderland (son of Musket and half-brother to Rubezhal) from Vesper, by Foul Play (son of Traducer) from Incense, the dam of Jack o’ Lantern. Evening is the dam of Evening Wonder, a horse that was at one time trained at Wingatai, and from there taken to South Australia. Evening woi the Wanganui Steeplechase of 1905. Sylvia Park was got by St. Leger from Atalanta, the dam of iiippomenes, Teddy Yuilie, Kegel, and Erycina, a mare that threw Mitrailleuse to Musket, and was thus one of the first brood mares to bring tins famous sire into prominence. A very notable feature of the Grand National meeting was the success which attended the stock of Sylvia Park, who sired Morning, Parky, and Goodwin Park. Sylvia Park was got by St. Leger, whose line through Clanranald was also greatly in evidence, as Scottish Star, Glenfinnan, Daylight Bill, and Gold Pin were among the winners. Brookby, the sire of Tim Doolan, is also a son of St. Leger. The name which, of course, is writ large over the meeting is that of Stockwell, the “ emperor of stallions,” as in addition to all of the above-mentioned winners his line was also kept to the fore by the two winners, Bercola and Buster, sired by Euroclydon, who is a direct descendant through Gorton and Thunderbolt in tail male from the famous son of The Baron.

The asociation of the well-known horseman B. Deeley with. Sir George Clifford's racing jacket lias been highly satisfactory so far as it has gone. Deeley made his debut as first horseman for the stable with the mount on Glenfinnan in the Winter Cup. He failed to get in the first six. but there is nothing astonishing in the fact that a. long-striding horse should suffer and fail to show form in a bustling field. A better opportunity to obtain a clear run occurred in the smaller field that went out for the Islington Handicap, and on this occasion Deeley and his mount arrived in time to score a narrow win. HLs success on such an arrant jade as Scottish Star and the erratically-ruining Winning Way required excellent horsemanship, and promises well for the future when he has the ride on better dispositioned horses under commission to carry the colours. All clubs make riders draw for their place at the starting post, and in doing so clearly show that position at the start is a matter of importance. Strange to say, clubs have not yet woke up to the fact that it is equally a matter of importance that the public should be made acquainted with the result of the draw for places. Position at the barrier in such a race as the V inter Cup has a very material effect on a horse a chance, and has a decided influence on the betting. It is rather exasperating to find one has backed a slow beginner which has further discounted its chance by receiving a bad position at tl*e start. Very frequently no knowledge of the draw is gathered until the horses are lining up, and by this time it is too late to cover a bet by backing something more favourably situated. It would be an easy matter to convey to the public the result of the draw, and not allow it to remain a partial secret until knowledge is gathered too late to be of service. On the concluding day of the Grand National meeting the Riccarton track was badly chopped about, and its condition towards the finish must have materially discounted the chances of some of the horses. Of course, a good horse is a good horse under any circumstances, but it is mildly astonishing that racing clubs do not consider it worth while to put a brush harrow over a track during the intervals between the races. If this were done when a track got into a bad condition the concluding portion of a card would be run on going which would be something like that in evidence earlier in the day instead of the deterioration becoming greater with each succeeding race. It might be practicable to cover the whole circumference of a track, but at least the going should be kept in as good order as possible ns far as the straight is concerned. There is no doubt, the necessity for improvement being at times evident, the remedy is merely a matter of small expense. —Bercola, the winner of the Grand National Steeples, is a typical Stockwell in appearance. Ho sports a generous blaze and white canons. He has plenty of size, and showed about as much quality as any of our best ’chasers. Despite this great performance in the big steeples, Bercola was not kept in cotton. wool and lavendar for the rest of meeting, but was pulled out for the National Hurdles (in which he was moving up at the finish), and also in the Lincoln Steeples, when he again ran an excellent race. Borcola was got by The Officer from Noon, by Medallion from Dunoon, by Bundoora. from Koseneath, by Leolimis from Laccnfeod, by Towton from Symphony, by Trumpet or Slender from Princess, by Eratis. Symphony was brought to Nelson in 1 fiol. The Officer was pot by Robinson Crusoe from Mario Louise, by Gang Forward. The Officer won the Caulfield Guineas. V.R.C. St. Leger. and ran second to Newhaven in both the A.J.C. St. Leger and V.R.C. Champion Slakes. The character of steeplechase fences in Victoria continues to form the subject of much writing. One critic puts the matter thus: —“Taken all round, the fences now are much higher than they ever have been. The idea that fences some 30 or more years ago were higher is not borne out by oldtime owners and riders. I have seen records nf Flemington, Wamambool. Bendigo, Caulfield. and find that few of the jumps were over 4ft—only one at Flemington was 4ft lin, the others were much lower. Our riders are just as good as they were formerly. It must be remembered that everything lias gone on with the times —pace seems to be the great object. Take the numl>er of Spruit races given. ‘Stop the pace,’ some say, ‘by putting up the fences.’ They certainly have stopped the breath of a good many of 'ate, since the raising of the stiff fences. One time football was a game in which all sorts of desperate work was allowed, such as pushing from behind, rabbiting, tripping etc. The clubs have done away with these dangerous practices. Has the game lost anything? If stceplechasing can be rid of some of the heartrending scenes we often witness, will it suffer in comparison? In conclusion, it is safe to say that steeplechasing on the new humanitarian principle will bo more palatable to everyone.” Since Leah Kleshna won the V.R.C. National Steeplechase a good deal has been written concerning the pedigree of her dam. Spieler, who was bred in Tasmania. The North-West Post states; —“It has been ascertained from an old resident of tbe North-West Coast that Spieler was by Blind Albert, who was by Panic, and a full-brother to the great Commotion. Spieler’s dam was a Snowden mare, imported from Victoria with a number of other horses by Mr John Bennett, of Sassafras. Spieler was bred by Mr J. Cameron, of Sulphur Creek, and she ran at the Latrobe races in bis name. She was afte.rwards purchased from Mr Cameron by the late Mr Alf. Addison, of Moriarty, for £25. and carried his colours at Green’s Creek, where a representative of the, Messrs Field, of Calstock. took a fancy to her, and Mr Addison disposed of her for £SO. She carried Messrs Field's colours to victory on various occasions in Tasmania, and. according to the old bands, she was the finest jumper that ever topped a fence in the State. Prior to being raced Spieler met with an

accident, and one of her forelegs was staked, and had to be sewn up. This did not prevent her from winning. It is also understood that tho dam of Maydo was from the same mare as Spieler, by Arsenal. There seems to be no doubt whatever that the above pedigree was Spieler's correct one.” —lf the spirit as well as the letter of racing law had to be observed every race that was run at the Grand-National meeting would be null and void. The Rules of Racing make it compulsory that every programme must carry at least one race over a mile and a-quarter on the flat. The intention of the framers of the law was, no doubt, that any such race should be for flat-racers, and was created as a compulsory balance against the preponderance of sprint races that figure on onr programmes. The Cantebury Jockey Club have no flat race over a mile and a-quartor for flat-racers at their National meeting, but have in its place a flat race for jumpers, and from which the ordinary racer is rigidly excluded by the conditions of the race. To qualify for the Junipers’ Plat horses must have competed in at least five steeplechases or hurdle races in New Zealand, and this clearly allows that the programme is not complying with the spirit of racing law. Perhaps such a mild exception is mqcle to prove the rule, but it is also mildly surprising that our turf legislators have not drawn attention to the fact, particularly as other clubs have been known to offend in the same manner. Many years ago the Winter Cup (then known a's th« Winter Handicap) was run over a mile and a-quarter, and continued to be so up to 1898. It was last run over 10 furlongs in 18J7, when St. Kilda won tinder 11.7.