SPORTING.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13056, 26 April 1910, Page 6

SPORTING.

. RACING FIXTURES. April 27, 28.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club May 11, 12.—Egmont Racing Club. May 21, 24.—Takapuna Jockey Club. May 24, 26.—Wanganui Jockey Club. June 3, 4.—Dunedin Jockey Club. June 3, 4, B.—Auckland Racing Club. June 15, 16.—Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. June 22, 23.—Napier Park Racing Club. July 7, B.—Gisborne Racing Club. July 16, 20, 23.—Wellington Racing Club. D VTES OF COMING EVENTS. NEW ZEALAND. May 24.—Wanganui Steeplechase. May 24.—Century Hurdle Race. June 3.—Great Northern Hurdle Race. June 4.—Great Northern Steeplechase; AUSTRALIA. July 2.—V.R.C. Grand National Hurdle Race. July 9.—V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. ENGLAND. May 27.—Two Thousand Guineas. May 29.—One Thousand Guineas. Juno I.—The Derby. June 3.—The Oaks. Prehs Ansnriation.— I Telegraph.—Copyright. Received April 26, 9.30 a.m. SYDNEC, April 26. Sir George Clifford lias purchased the blood stallion Sau Francisco. The price is not stated. WANGANUI J.C. WINTER MEETING. The nominations received for the Wan.ganui Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting aro decidedly gratifying, and there is every reason to anticipate that the gathering, which will be held on the 24th and 26th May, will bo a big success. Not only aro the fields likely to be large, but the quality of those engaged is of the host, so that some splendid sport may bo looked forward to. The following table will show how the nominations received for the various events compare with those of last year:— , . _ 1909 • 1910 Borough Handicap 16 22 Wa nganni Steeplechase 25 22 Electric Hack Flat 30 28 Kaitokc Hack Hurdles 27 29 Century Hurdles 33 27 Connolly Handicap 31 31 Puma llack Flat 27 31 Winter Oats 19 22 Grandstand Steeplechase ... 27 22 Balgownie Hack Flat 24 27 Rata Hack Hurdles 27 SO May Hurdles 29 30 Empire Handicap 31 34 Farewell Handicap 30 39 376 394

FIRST OF THE CLASSICS

To-morrow the Two Thousand Guineas —the first of the great classic races of the English turf—will be run at Newmarket. It is probable that Neil Cow, Lemberg, and Admiral Hawke—the throe cracks of the two-year-old class of last season—will make their reappearance under silk, and the meeting of this trio will be awaited with great interest. Neil Gow was clearly in front of both his rivals at two years old; but some of the critics contend that Lemberg will probably reverse places with him this season. On several occasions last season Neil Gow was (says a writer in the Field) inclined to play up at the post; but lie has now quietened down. Of Neil Gow’s waywardness it must be said suck was shown at the start of his races, but that, when once Jre settled down to gallop, his performances were as smooth as could be desired. In the two first races the son of Marco ran he lost so much start that lie was never able to make np his ground, and, iu every other event in which he took part he was invariably the last horse in the field to begin, and yet he wore his opponents down in gallant style. That Lord Rosebery has again bred a brilliant cn't is an opinion widely expressed, and may the Scottish earl will this year be repaid for the disappointment he suffered when Ilia colt Ladas went within an ace of ranking as a winner of the triple crown.

BY “ACHILLES.” Weights for the principal events on the first day of the Wanganui J.C. Winter Meeting are due on or about Saturday, the 7th May. The Manaia Hack'meeting takes place on Wednesday. The Hawke’s Bay J.C. Meeting takes place on Wednesday and Thursday, the 27th and 28th iust. A. Jackson took John through to Hastings yesterday. The gelding is engaged in the Hawke’s Bay meeting to-morrow. He will have 7.10 to carry, a weight which should be a luxury after the heavy imposts he has recently carried in hack company. As he is very fit, he should put up a good performance. The Lark, who is now an inmate of A. Jackson’s stable, was given a schooling lesson over the little sticks on Sun-, dav. He jumped four hurdles very well. The sou of Nestor should prove a success at the jumping game if he keens sound. Mr. Gardner, the Yvaverloy trainer, took Koran through to Hastings last Thursday. The son of Pilgrim’s Progress is engaged in the H.B. Cup, to be decided to-morrow. Crucinella was not accepted -with on account, it is said, of an injury to one of her legs, which necessitates a slight spell. She has been nominated for the chief, events at the Wanganui J.C. Winter Meeting. Mr. F. Preston’s. Equitas is now being trained by Fred. Tilley, who will take, the; daughter of Advance, together with Milan and Master Laddo, over to Australia for the Spring mooting. Ambrosian takes Equitas’ place in T. Lloyd’s stables at ths 'Marton Junction. Mr. T. H. Lowry was fourth on the list of winning owners at the A.J.C. meeting with £1582 to his credit. -Polymorphus has proved a lucrative investment for “Mr. Highden.” He purchased the Multiform horse for 500 guineas as a yearling, and among the races he has won are the Manaawtu Sires Produce Stakes, of 1000 sovs., and the Mauawatu Stakes, of 500 sovs. Flitaway is reported to have developed unsQiindness while racing at the Mauawatu meeting, and she will have to be sent into retirement. . Moldavia, by Mooltan who cost the Java snortsman Mr' Newbury, 1500 guineas as a tlircc-year-old, was lately sold in Sydney for 70 guineas. The Gold Beef gelding El Dorado, who is looked upon to extend his winning record over country this season, is reported to be doing good work at Hastings. He is engaged at the Wanganui meeting. Major Eustace Loder lias bestowed the name of Coriander on his yearling hy the Carbine bouse Spearmint from Admiration. This youngster is a half-brother to the brilliant Pretty Polly, who some wellversed critics aver was one of the best mares that ever graced the English turf. When the announcement of Mr Spencer Gollan’s visit to New Zealand was made,

some hopes were entertained that he would again take up his residence in the, land ot his. birth. He lias/however,' again shaped a course for tho Old Country.

Mr E. J. Watt’s gelding- Bridge- is getting through some useful tasks on the Hastings track, and turf critics are picking him to have a say in the decision of the Hawke’s Bay Cup. Prospector is now being hacked about by bis owner, Mr H. M, Simmouds. of Palmerston North. He is said to he looking well, and he may be put into work again shortly. . Sines its New Year meeting the Eangitikei Racing. Club have been busy forming the slope in front of the grandstand into terraces, which- add .to the .beauty, of the ground, and are admirably adapted from .the spectators’, point of view. saddling paddock has also been graded on the slope,, the whole of the grounds a, decided improvement. “Terlinga” writes, concerning sales: — Sometimes it is hickv to miss what you want, and have to take something else.. In the spring, of 1888 Mr Donald, Wallace went out to Newmarket to buy Tradition. He found that his jockey. M. O’Brien, and P. T. Heywood were determined to have tradition, so he had to console himself with Carbine. Tradition never won a race. Carbine won twenty-six times for Mr. Wallace, and was' sold : for 13.000gns. ’ The field for the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase comprised twentyfive runners, and the winner Jenkinstown, who was ridden by Chadwick,, went out. at a good 1 price. The race was won by three lengths. At Adelaide on the 12th inst., Sydney Claude Clendinnen sued Detective Mitchell for £99 damages, for having, at Kamiiida races, assaulted and , beaten him, and taken him into custody upon a false charge .of having insufficient means of support. The defendant pleaded that Clendinnen at the time had insufficient lawful means of support, and the defendant, was justified in the action he had taken. Following a decision of the High Court, the Court held that Mitchell had full ■ power to arrest at the time lie did so, but it also found that he had no reasonable or probable grounds for arresting the plaintiff; and awarded the latter £3O damages. A fortnight’s stav of proceedings was granted. ■ It is claimed that Mr. Barney Schrieber, a prominent bookmaker, owns more pedigree horses than any other, man in America. Ho has 260 brood- marcs, seven stallions, and 250 horses in training. And tins has been brought about by sixteen years of bookmaking. The value of the Argentine Derby is to bo increased to £IO,OOO. For the next year or two_, at any rate, the Republic named is going to be hard to beat in the matter of prize-money. D. Maher, who has received the offer of £5,000 to ride Lord Rosebery’s colt Neil Gow in the next English Derby, is reputed to bo earning from £10,0.00 to £12,-000 a year as a jockey in England. The Neil Gow retainer is easily the record for a single race, and is sufficiently largo to make successful, Australian pigskin artists envious of their brethren hi England. Occasionally,big, amounts are paid to jockeys in Australia for a leading rrco. L. H. Hewitt received £SOO +o ride Solution at the Melbourne Cup meeting in 1906. In the same-,race.a year carl!' l ; - Frank Bullock was credited with getting £I,OOO from the, pjyjicr, ,P. A. Connolly, for his successful handling of Blue Spec, while N. D. (jjodbv p'ncn got £250 for winning a Trial Stakes for owner W. P. Crick. Discussing big riding fees, a few rather good stories are told of the keenness of some! successful owners. At least two jo’dltey§ 'who piloted' Melbourne Cup winners received nothing beyond the rider’s winning perveti tago deducted by the clubd In one case, the owner, a stolid individual, sent for the successful horseman, nvho made his appearance gleefully, expecting a big cheque, but the owner’s ■ appreciation consisted of a pat on thonshoulder-, and “Goo I boy,, yon , rode .the; colt splendidly.” In another case, the winning tt a big race meant a difference -of quite £10,01)0 to the owner, and , when the horseman received a two-figure cheque ho looked at the smallness of the amount and sarcastically remarked: ’“Used, to get more than this for winning the 13.3 at the ponies.”