CAP and JACKETS.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1018, 2 July 1898, Page 20

CAP and JACKETS.

By 'Boz'. r ;

RAGING FIXTURES. 1898 July 14 & 16— Wellington B.C. Winter Aug. U & 13— N.Z. Grand National; Christchurch

Saracen is being hunted. Cceur de Lion is doing slow work at Napier. The Sinner ran disappointingly at Hawke's Bay. Swordfish is reported to be doing well at Papakura. The weights for the Wellington Steeplechase are due to appear to morrow (Friday), July Ist. The second day's racing of the Napier Park Winter Meeting takes place to-day (Thursday). The weights for the New Zealand Cnp have been anxiously waited for by turfites. These will appear to-morrow (Friday). July Ist. The Auckland horses, the Sinner and Castashore, were unfortunate at Hawke's' Bay, neither getting a victory. Castashore started in both welters, aud Sinner in the big steeplechase. The Tattersall's Billiard Tournament this year, was won by the Club's respected secretary, Mr C. C. McKinney ; Mr P. Macmanimin (the winner of a previous tournament) was ' runner-up ' ; and Mr R Duder's initial performance resulted in the very creditable capture of the third prize. Since I last wrote, the Waiuku deal has been confirmed and- all doabt set at rest. Australia gets a good horse, and New Zealand is the loser In regard to early backers, timely warniug was given of the possibility of his changing hands, and also of forfeiting his New Zealand Cap engagement. Great Britain should win a good race soon over country. The Son of Patriarch is evidently improving. His owner has had the ill luck to see his horse finishing second rather too consistently. But I think few Aucklanders were prepared to find him in that position in the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase. To - morrow (Friday), July Ist, turfites will have before them in more tangible form the New Zealand Oup problem, in the shape of Mr Henry's handicap for that race. A considerable amount of speculation has been going f orward since the nominations appeared ; bat the balk of speculators have of coarse been waiting for the weights. The ' boys ' at the Opera House the other night enthusiastically applauded the picture of the jumping as they would a real live performance over the water jump at Ellerslie. Cries of Miss Nelson and Opai, Levanter and Bombardier were frequent ; but when that stage was reached when one unfortunate animal plumps into the water, there was the single cry of 1 Balleyhooley.' Reubin continues to receive support for the New Zealand Cupl 500 to 20 was booked against him last week. Tirant d'Eau, Daystar and Dundas have also been backed at 100's to 5. St. Panl is still favourite at 10's offered. The Multiform market is limited on account of early, money laid against him. Swordfish is also being freely backed. Bookmaker Decry, who died in Sydney the other day, accumulated a fortune estimated by. his friends at at least £50,000. He made it an absolute rnlo to ' lay to his book,'' and he never gambled. Originally a compositor, he landed £500 over a double which he had backed, and that was the nucleus of his betting capital. Decry was a most charitable man, and very open-handed to his brethren of the ring. A big bookmaker once told the present writer that on one occasion when he had been terribly struck Decry lent him several thousands without the scratch of a pen, and more than one stranded metallician he haß helped into landlordship of a suburban pub. or some Bimiiar haven. And now the burly, offhanded Jack has laid round on his last book,— From Sydney bulletin.

- Quiltiri. is showing signs of unsoundness. Explosion is doing plenty of long, ! steady work at Ellerslie. Firearm, by Carbine, now in Frank McManimin's stable, and a candidate for the New Zealand, has been nibbled at 100' a to 3. Morrigan had the misfortune to sustain a broken collar-bone at the Hawke'a Bay meeting, as a result of his mount, Snltador, falling in the second hurdle race. The horse's neck was broken in the fall. Tall Melbourne story. Daring a hurdle race Whimboen lost his rider, but finished the course. When caught, the jockey's whip was found stuck behind the horse's ear in an exactly similar way in which clerks and others are in the habit of placing their pens. - - The press report of running for the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase gives few details. Of Toriki, who started favourite, and who was a strong 'tip 'in Auckland on the day, little mention is made. The ' boys ' had it, soon after the result came to hand, .that Toriki missed winning through baulking at the last jump. But the telegraphed description shows Bhino to have held the lead nearly all the way. The mystery usually attached to the sale of a horse is sometimes annoying, but as, apparently, this cannot be done without on such occasions we mast needs have patience and wait for results. The. real reason may be that racing men are, as a rule, so used to more . or less mystery in their pursuit of the game that it is unconsciously continued when there is no apparent reason, and also no intention. However, these little mysteries are after all harmless, or more would be made of them by some who would think themselves aggrieved by the tortuous methods of a horse-deal. Local bookmakers had small doubles on the Hawke's Bay events, but, I think, with one exception, they escaped laying the winning couple. Dante and Rhino was a ' far away ' sort of combination to hit on, and the stray punter or two who ' found ' them would have wandered around the card a bit ere they ' pricked ' the conple. It seems easy now. It is so with most races. They win, s,nd we wonder why we didn't back them. Only' the stale old ' after game ' comes to the aid of a disappointed spleen, with ' I told you so.' The man who backed every winner has met his match in the man who never hit one. He knew the name, breeding, quantities and qualities, owner and trainer of every horse running. Remembered the races each had run, their places, and who rode them. In his own district he had not misaed a meeting since he called c'rect card — but he never picked a winner. His known character for stern veracity made his hearers breathless at his statement ' What 1 never ?' ' No, never ! -because I never backed one.' Which final statement seemed stranger still. The Hawke's Bay meeting last week was interfered with by bad weather, the second day of the fixture being postponed a day in consequence. On account of the heavy going, presumably, Plain Bill's connections preferred to ' lie by ' a bit with their horse, for he did not compete in the Steeplechase. Rhino in winning has ,at last proved the correctness of the opinion early formed of him, that he would some day win a good steeplechase. Lack of staying power went against him last season ; bat this can scarcely be urged against him now. Dante was one of the few exceptions to the rule which has for a peason or two past been proved pretty regularly, that a horse,* through breaking a bloodvessel, doeß not thereby necessarily lose form. I suppose it depends upon the particular blood-vessel. However that may be, Dante lost his form for a considerable time after suffering his particular rapture. The Hawke's Bay meeting found him apparently quite recovered. My prediction in regard to his chances proved a true one, viz., ' that if at all in form he must nearly win with so reasonable a weight.' On a day when important races are run away from home, all sorts of canards go flying about, especially in connection with the result. Something of this sort happened on Saturday. Two friends met. ' Well, what's won the Welter ?' ' Oh ! didn't you hear ! Why, Torpina. I had a bit on him.' ' Did you ? You're lucky. I backed Bush Rose.' Just then a mutual acquaintance passes. ' Hullo, Fred ! How are you doing ?' ' Oh, bonny ! I just heard a horse I'd backed had won.' 'What horse?' 'Oh, Bush Rose won the Welter or something.' ' But Toipina won !' ' No, Bush Rose, I tell you, telegraph boy told me.' ' Well, that beats Banagher. Let's go and have a drink for a change.' The party adjourn to 1 Jimmy's ' Whilst there a young fellow casually remarks, ' Straybird won to-day, suppose he'll Day a div.' The trio depart in a state verging on insanity, and like fit subjects for the ' gold cure ' business.

The weights for the New Zealand Grand Steeplechase and Hurdle Bace are dne on Jnly 18th. The police recently raided a ' pool room ' in Chicago and captured eighteen female bettors, two of them- with babies in their arms. They were let go ; the remainder were ran in. — Canterbury Times. A Maoriland clergyman, struck .with the ' coincidence ' racing theory, gave a dis creet member of his flock a fiver to back a trotter bearing his name at a wayside country show. The neddy paid the ' limit,' but the bookie disappeared. The Saint and the sinner ! — Sydney Bulletin. Daystar has been sold, so that his next attempt at a New Zealand Cup will be made in new interests. He has already, vide recent reports, been backed for a largish amount to win that event. | In the meantime, not being locally owne d, interest in' his doings will not be so strong as heretofore. In racing, aa in. other matters, our sympathies are strongest in home concerns. A well-known steeple jockey, who some time ago jumped the Styx, was once parading a racehorse with a lady in I whom reposed (temporarily) his trust and affection, when a cast-off charmer confronted them, and poured a storm of abuse on her aupplanter. Her scorn was returned with more than interest, and language coloured the atmosphere and attracted an interested gathering, till finally a resounding slap proclaimed a duel a 1 Voutrance. Though unscientific, the battle waged furiously, for both combatants were ' willing. 1 The onlookers hesitated to interfere, for the cause of the straggle stood an interested spectator, and seemingly in meditative mood— not sure on which side to throw his aid. At last his visage brightened, and the anxious crowd felt sure he had found his true love, as, with a judicial air, his gaze sought an acquaintance. ' Blu' me,' he said, solemnly, ' they're both fair triers.'— From Sydney Bulletin