RACING- FIXTURES.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 337, 23 May 1885, Page 11

RACING- FIXTURES.

NEW ZEALAND. May 25. — Takapima J.C. Winter. May 25.- — TS.Z Grand National Steeplechases, May 25. — Dunedin J.C Winter Meeting. May 25. — Wanganui J.C. Steeplechases. June 6. — Auckland B.C. Steeplechases. June 25. — Hawke's Bay J.C. Steeplechases.

Monday next (the 25th) will be a busy ; day for racing men, as there are meetings all over the country. . It also virtually ends . the legitimate racing season, though there are a few steeplechase fixtures to follow. The first that calls for attention is the Takapuna J. C. This little club has held its own during the past season, and as the . committee intend to enlarge the course (greatly required) and make other improvements, it "will, if they are strict as regards racing rules, become a still more popular sesort. The programme for Monday consists of seven events, which have all filled well. The Hurdle Race has an acceptance of eight. I believe that New Year will be an absentee ; therefore, it looks a good thing for Nigger . (if he gets his head loose) or Mr Lennard's selected one. The Birthday Handicap has a large acceptance, and if only a moiety comes to the post, it will be a good race, Cinderella and Sir Bedevere reading about the best. The Steeplechase should fall to Julia Ann or Whalebone. The other races liad better be left alone for the present. "With a fine day there is sure to be a large attendance, and the committee would do ■well to assist the police in putting a stop to " thimble-rigging," of which there is a great deal too much at our local meetings. The Dunedin J.C. meeting takes place on 23rd and 2oth inst,, and is really the . the last of the season's important fixtures, "but at this distance away, and having received no intimation of what the horses are doing, it would be folly on my part to touch upon the different events, especially as no interest will be taken here in them. Wanganui still proves itself to be the Lome of jumping horses, and the people go into 'the sport with a will which, unfortunately, is not backed up by their means ; they therefore have this year been obliged to curtail the stakes. However, the acceptance for the big steeplechase is very good, twelve having declared content. Steeplechasing in this colony is always a dangerous thing to touch, but I think New Year (who is returning to his form) or Billy-go-by-em will re- . pay an investment. The Grand National Steeplechases that are to be held at Christchurch are grand only in name. Unless the Club does something to resuscitate their fixture, it will soon be xeckoned as one of those that have " fallen through," owing to mismanagement. In the first place, the handicappers issued the weights contrary to the rules, which distinctly say that the top weight shall be 12st 71b ; they commence at 12st 31b. This blunder is excusable when it occurs at such places as Otahuliu and Onehunga; but when the Grand National Hunt Club commits such a blunder, It becomes quite ludicrous. The acceptances are poor in the extreme, only six remaining in for the Grand National Steeplechase. Of these, Linwood, if on the journey, ought to . prove the winner. Only four have declared content for the Hurdles, and as one of them is not likely to see the post, it appears likely that things may be "arranged," so I will leave it alone. For a long time past I have persistently advocated the policy of having a thorough reform in the management of the Auckland Racing Club, and that the Secretary should be compelled to devote his whole time to the interests of the Club. is, I hear, likely to become an accomplished fact, as Mr Percival has received notice to give up all handicapping, also other lucrative \positions that he has heretofore held, and to confine his attention exclusively to the Auckland .Racing and Pakuranga Hunt Clubs. This is certainly a move in the right direction, and as the committee intend- to raise the Secretary's salary to £350, it should pay him, as it is, I believe, more than any other race secretary in New Zealand gets; Another improvement, I trust, will . soon be im fait accompli — i.e., the .. appointment of a paid handicapper, and for this position Mr Evitt would be the right man in. the right place. He acts for all the principal clubs in ■„ the North Island, and gives not only the . public but also owners every satisfaction. -, Why should he not do so here? Handicapping is not an easy thing ; you must have '- a natural aptitude for it in the first place, - 1 - and, secondly, a sound knowledge of racing, and last, but not least, you must attend all meetings, and, seeing the horses run, you can judge for yourself whether they are run--ruing: a bye, or are fit and well; and, also, . whether they are being-run out of their dis-.

-tance. . -Mr. JEvitt , .does all . this,. .and . X~f eel sure that his appointment would give satisfaction to all racing men.

The Australians are congratulating themselves that they have some of Musket's sons that are capable of winning the V.R.C. Derby, ignoring the fact that there are some nominations held in New Zealand. There is one colt that I only wish was mine, as there is a fortune in him, but unfortunately he belongs to a gentleman who has no experience on that dangerous ground — the turf. Auckland has been looked down upon as regards reeing, but as good horses are bred here as in any of the colonies ; what we do want are trainers and stable boys. Mr Marshall has in Thunderbolt a colt that I thoroughly believe would, under favourable conditions, far surpass . MartiniHenry ; but unfortunately I am afraid that his owner will not go to the necessary expense, and the consequence will be that he will be " muddled " away in Auckland. The Hon. W. Robinson has sent his four horses "over to uphold the honour of Maoriland. Thunderbolt is looked down upon because he belongs to Auckland, but I must say that during my racing career, which extends over forty years, I have never seen a colt that I like better ; he has an unbeaten certificate, and I believe no one knows how good he is. I have watched him in every race, and have i never seen him extended. AH I can tell MiMarshall is that if he wants his name to bo handed down to posterity, he should send Thunderbolt to Australia, and put him into the hands of a good man — Mr Dakin, for preference, as I have known him for. many ' years ; but if he stops here, he will waste \ his sweetness on the desert air, and be lost to the pages of the calendar. Dan O'Brien has gone to Sydney to spend ! a few weeks, and it is his intention, if he can, to bring "a really good Australian jockey " with him. This is rather rough on our New Zealand boys ; but it serves them right, as the majority of them are of a class that no English trainer would fancy, even to ride exercise. They think because they can stick on a horse they know all their business, leaving out judging, pace, etc. ; they imagine also that smoking and drinking occasionally are perfectly allowable, including even a "spree" now and then. A jockey should be a civil, obliging, steady fellow, bearing in mind that smoking, drinking, and late hours destroy the nerves — and without nerves a jockey is nowhere. Sheehan, while riding Eavensworth in the Geraldine Steeplechase, had a bad fall that is likely to keep him out of the pigskin for some time to come. The following nominations have been received for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase, of 400sovs., to be run on Juns 25 : — Mr O'Brien's Orphan, Mr Mundell's A.G., Mr Stock's Assagai, Mr Barron's Claude and Director, Mr Chadwick's New Year and Whalebone, Mr Piper's Eavenswood, Mr Keer's Linwood, Mr McColl's Orient, Mr O'Sullivan's St. Dunstan, Mr Peek's Ngata, Mr Shane's Quilp, Mr Paul's Gipsy, Mr Fitzherbert's Totara, Mr Lunn's King Arthur, Mr Twohill's Revenge, Mr Connolly's Sloper, ' Mr Ellingham's Denbigh, Mr Tatham's Romeo, Mr Alson's The Druid, Mr Parson's Pathfinder, Mr Marshall's King, Mr Gentry's Jim, Mr Proffit's Maccaroni and Scrutineer, Mr Douglas' Flemington, Mr Fulton's Erebus, Mr Steven's Diomedes, Mr Ward's Speculation, Mr Gilpin's Pastime. Lantern, the winner of the Goodwood Handicap at the S.A.J.C. meeting, is thus spoken of by "Vigilant" in the Melbourne Sportsman : — He had a " bad passage from Adelaide." He was " off his feed." He was down seven times during the trip. He got cast in his box when he got ashore, and a spike had run right through his off hind leg. I did determine once (1 think it was after Zulu won the Cup) to fossick around until I found a real good cronk cripple in a big handicap, and then plump for him unreservedly ; and the next time I hear of a horse hopelessly on the sick list, an animal who has been fed on bran mashes and turpentine for eight or ten days, I shall ruthlessly wipe out the favourite and go for the " dead 'un." Even Donald Nicholson, usually a shrewd judge, told all his friends and followers that he did not like Lantern's show, and he thought the favourite must win ; while the Flemington trainers and touts to a man spunged the name of Lantern off their tablets when they noted his condition and general appearance on landing. Within the last few years we have seen Zulu (supposed to have been "dead lame") run away with a Melbourne Cup ; Malua (blistered) walk home in the fastest time on record in the Newmarket Handicap; Sandal ("off her feed, and short of a couple of gallops") romp home in front of her Caulfield Guineas' field ; and now we have Lantern, said to be suffering from almost all the ills that equine flesh are heir to, throwing a light on some of the delusions of orthodox training, and spreadeagling his field in the Goodwood Handicap. Verily, in racing, as in politics, nothing happens as often as the unexpected. " Vigilant," who I look upon as the best writer in the colony, can be depended upon, if you want to give correct turf tips stick to the old saying, " Believe nothing that you hear and keep your eyes open." Unless you do that you will fail. • Lincoln Races, as usual, opened the season in England. The fields were of course large. v ln the B.athyany Stakes (Handicap) twelve | ran, Mr; Carington's Bedouin, by Childeric —

ixipsy,Girl,..\viti}iing,,Maraquita,second,.Lacfir r . man third. For the Grand. National Hunt Steeplechase held at Lincoln this year only seven started, Mr Saurin's Lady Tempest, by Ingomar (who is now in Canterbury province) — Sheet Lightning, ridden by W. Basley, won, Helmet second, Golden Fleece third. The Brocklesby Stakes, the first two-year-old race of the year, brought seventeen to the post, Mr K. Peck's Baird, by Patriarch— Magdaline. winning. Twenty-one horses started for the Lincolnshire Handicap, 1000 soys., resulting- in- an - easy- win --for Bendigo, Bird, of Freedom second, MacMahon third. St. Blaise finished nowhere. The winner started, at the short price of 11 to 4, and this is one of the few instances where the favourite won the Lincolnshire Handicap.