Cap and Jacket

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 35, 14 May 1881, Page 380

Cap and Jacket

MY NOTE BOOK,

By "Saul."

" Js Saul also amongst the prophets."

— Mr. Richard Orr, of Oamaru, has purchased the stud horse Sorcerer, by Traducer — Azucena. — The Papakura. Handicap) looks a good thing for Matau, and Harkaway should be a certainty for the Hurdle Race. — Mr. Branch won £5000, Mr. Long £4000, and Mr. Jacob £3000, in all £12,000, over Progress's victory in the Sydney Cup. — Handicaps are worth winning in England now-a-days. No less than £2000 is added to this year's Manchester Cup, which promises to become one of the most important events of the mid-summer season. — I see that one of Musket's progeny, Muscatoon, (a five-year-old out of Quail) won the Household Brigade Cup at the Grand Military Meeting at Sandown on March 3rd. — A. great discussion has been going on in our London contemporary the Sporting Life, as to the respective merits of Scotch and New Zealand oats for the feeding of racehorses. — The Brocklesly Stakes at Lincoln, the first of the rich two year olds races which make a smart youngster in England such a valuable property, was won by Sir George Chetwynd's Belle Lurette, a filly, by Pero Gomez, out of La Belle Helene. — Count Jaraczewski, a fast young man about town, who has been "going the pace " pretty stiffly this last year or two, was found dead in his bed in Bond-street, London on March 11. The night before he died the Count lost £30,000 at cards, but the previous evening he won £16,000. Last year he " spotted " a treble event, which brought him in £10,000, but if his winnings were gigantic his losses have been colossal. — To the Editor : Sir, — I hope yoxi will not think that I am troubled with the encorthesscrihendi, but I noticed in your issue of 23rd April, a letter signed with the 7io»i deplume of " Meek and Mild," commenting, and otherwise making a scurrilous and unwarrantable attack on Mr. John Smith re his language after Maid of Honour's defeat by Foul Play at our late races. It cannot but strike evex-yone that the writer was actuated by a feeling of personal animosity and jealousy, and that there is some ulterior object which, though not obvious to the unitiated, is transparent enough to those who understand the "ropes." Whether or not Mr. Smith did use the language imputed to him, and I have no doubt it was grossly exaggerated, the outburst might, and would be excusable to almost any man in a moment of disappointment and unexpected and pecuniary loss. I say, even if he did give vent to his feelings in too warm a manner, good taste and gentlemanly feeling should have prompted "Meek and Mild "—that is, if he is capable of any such sentiment— to leave all remembrances of the occurrence in the paddock, and not to have brought it up against Mr. Smith in the discourteous and malicious manner which he has done in the Observer.— l am, &c., A Loveu of Fair Plat. [This matter is referred to elsewhere. — Ed. Obs ] — "Mazeppa," writing in the Saturday Advertiser, says : — " Mr. McDonald seems to have been the lucky man of the Auckland meeting. With the aid of Paramena and Foul Play he won four out of the twelve events, which would bring him in about £200. He was made a bit of a hero on the second day by the crowd, who cheered him most heartily for sending Foul Play and Paramena on their merits for the Shorts Handicap, instead of making a declaration with one or the other. This action was doubtless prompted by the best motives, but I doubt whether it would have been applauded on the Forbury or any other course where much money was involved. A declaration is a guide to the public as to how to place their investments ; and neglecting to adopt this usual course not only plays into the hands of the ring, but may be distressing to the horses; as appears to have been the case in the present instance. No one doubts Mr. McDonald's integrity ; there was no need to advertise it so publicly." — At a recent sale in England, Mr. Smith, the gentleman who selected Mr. Stead's imported mare, and who is now in Christchurch, purchased the thoroughbred horse Cadogan for 400 guineas. The horse is now on his way out to Canterbury, and will, from, his aristocratic pedigree, form a most valuable addition to the sires of the Colony. Cadogan was sold as a yearling for 1000 guineas ; he is a bay horse, standing 15 hands 2 inches, and was considered one of the most, if not the most promising colt of his year. Cadogan started first favourite for the Derby, but owing to an accident in the race, ran nowhere, and was never again raced. The following are his performances : — As a two-year-old he won the Woodcote Stakes, beating Strathearn, Gunnersbury and six others, ran third to Strathearn and Landsdowne in the New Stakes, beating seven others ; ran third to Wheel of Fortune and Peter (giving them both 71bs.) in the Richmond Stakes, beating ten others ; ran third to The Palmer and Ismael in the Findon Stakes, beating- three others. As a three-year-old ran second to Charibert in the Two Thousand Guineas, beating Rayon dOr, Uncas, Zut, Ruperra, Strathoarn, Gunnersbury, and seven others ■ unplaced in the Derby Stakes won by St. Bevys. '