TURF NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 2, 15 July 1905, Page 17

TURF NOTES.

ANSWERS TO correspondents. Wager. — No; Gold Reef lias not raced within the past five years. The owner of I’alrmius states that there Is no possibility of his horse being a starter in the N.Z. Cup. r. Conway has just put Into work at JSHersiiv a good looking sort of a gelding by < ’utrassier—Retaliation. The stallion Newhaven. who was purchased in England recently by a New South Wales breeder, has arrived safely. The crack N.Z. jockey. L. Hewitt, had a mount at Warwick Karin. Sydney, last week, and finished third on Master Thirza In the Two Year Old Handicap. Messrs Harris and Adams have ln*eu appointed delegates to r present the Auckland Trotting Chib at the annual Trotting Conference. to be held in Wellington. The colt by Hotchkiss—Lady Marion, which was purchased at the last Wellington • I’ark sale by Mr A. Hansen, has had the name of Inglis claimed for him. During the last week, • Gladstone was rSuppoitcd for the N.Z. Cup to win a collide of thousand pounds. It is stated the money was secured on behalf of the .Sta hie. D. Morragiiau gave Silieia ami Fiank Dodd a turn over the schooling hurdles at 'Ellerslie last Thursday- The pair both shafted well for -beginners, the former especially so. • Vivandel. which is still owned by Mr J. •Lynch, was recently bi ought from Coromandel. ami is now in work at Ellerslie, ■under the charge of her old mentor, K. Heaton. There was a lot of money invested in Auckland on Manawaru for the Winter Oats on the opining day of the Gisborne winter meeting.- Manawaru finished outside a place. Mr R. Absolum has been appointed as delegate to represent the Gtahuhu Trotting Chib at the annual mooting of the N.Z. Trotting Conference, which opened in Wellington on Monday. Luck\s All. which won the Maiden- Scurry on the opening day of the Gisborne winter ■ ooMiiig. was solidly supported in Auckland for that event, and his victory cost the peiiciliers a bit of money. Prisoner and Cure, who have both fist to carry, were telegraphed amongst the acceptors for the Miramar Hack Handicap. This is an error; they should appear in the Stewards’ Ha nd leap. D. Moraghau received an addition to his string lately, the griding Frank Dodd being laced in his hands to prepare for forthcoming engagements. Frank Dodd is to be put to inc jumping game. It. answer to a communication from the Avondale Jockey Club re the probable date of holding the appeal re Hie McCluskie case, Sir Geo. Clifford wired that the court wtuld sit al Wellington to hear the case next Thursday or Friday. W. Smith has given up his quarters at Eilers.le,’ and Is now located at W. A. Scott’s. Mangvre, where ho has the following horses under his charge:—Filly, by Sunil Gladys May; colt by Cardigan: and ti iiky by Cardigan. all rising two-year old; and Celerity, Marisa, and Luresome. Ludo was to have been taken to Gisborne, to fulfil his engag-menls there, but tin* horse struck himself badly while working at Ellerslie, and his owner was reluctantly compelled to abandon Hie trip. Ludo is to be sent back to Waihi for a Spell. The filly by SouH—Princess Alice, purchased at the last Glcnoia Park sale by Mr J. E. ’Thorpe. has grown into a nice shapely little lady. She was given a spurt over, three furlongs on the course proper lest Thursday morning, ami shaped in quite an attractive fashion. C. Pearson, who will b • remembered as a cross country rider in Auckland about aixieeu years ago, and who left New Zealand under engagement to the late Mr W. &. Wilson, is back again in Auckland.

Pearson has an Australian bred horse in his charge, and is working him at Ellerslie. The Wellington Racing Club intend holding a race ball in the Wellington Town Hail next Thursday, the 13th lust. His Excellency the Governor and Lady Plunkett have signified th; ir intention of being present. As this will he the first public ball held in the Town Hail, it is expected there will be a reconi attendance. D. Moraghau, who has not missed a Gisborne winter meeting for the past live years, was not present at the last gathering, which took place on Thursday ami Friday. Consequent on not having anything tit to travel with, D.*nis will winter at home this season, the first for eight seasons. Nor -West was shipped to Wellington on Thursday to fulfil his engagements at. the Wellington Racing Club’s winter meeting. The old son of Son-wester looked m sphmded buckle, and his connections are pretty confident that he will mn a good race in the Wellington Steeplechase. It Is understood that Morris, a rider with an English reputation, and who has been rilling him in his work, is to have the mount on Mr Selby’s horse at Wellington. The committee of the Avondale Jockey Club held a special meeting last Friday afternoon when a further communication‘from the Auckland Racing Club re the McCluskie disqualification case was considered. 'The committee, after some discussion, came to the conclusion that they could see no reason to depart from the stand originally taken, ard it was decided to let the matter go to appeal, r.nd the chairman (Mr M. Foley) and the secretary (Mr H. IL Hayri were appernfed to represent the club at the appeal court, which will bo held in Wellington next Thursday and Friday. It is reckoned that Vampire (dam of Flying Fox) has already brought in £l<i() - 000 to the Eaton Stud, and in addition the Duke of Westminster now owns a three year old sister to Flying Fox, ami three brothers (two year old. yearling, and foal) ta that horse. Although Vampire is sixteen years old. she shows no sign of age. Iler foal of this season is said to be as near perfection as possible, and some of the critics say that if he goes on all right he should turn out the best she has ever • thrown. The mime of a popular jockey is familiar to most people nowadays — sportsmen or otherwise—but few are aware of tile strict routine life which these important 'ittle men are compelled to adopt in order to keep themselves in the necessary condition for pursuing their avocation. “Morny ’ Cannon, for instance, is a line typo of the successful jockey. A complete account of his methods and career appears in the current issue of * ideas’*—an account that will bo read with much interest by ail admirers of the Sport of Kings ami its most prominenc exponents. Says a writer in the English “Sporting Times:’’—How many more horses arc to be ruined by the “exigencies” of the gate? Isn’t it about time that the Jockey Club came to the understanding that it is m*rc waste of time trying to start horses from a standstill? The rideous dangers and impossibilities of tin* instrument are patent to unprejudiced observers: and the latest victim says that th* "barrier” is ■Hiiything but a “pace-egegr.” Moreover the idea of punishing a refractory horse for disobedience by leaving him at the post is. as we have demarked before, too ridiculous for words. Says a writer in the English “Spoiling Times:” - Did you ever s e a horse wearing blue spectacles? An apparition of this character was to he seen every morning, which will explain the run there was on the roctors. A very valuable yearling in John Dawson’s stable met with an accident. and struck his head so severely as to cause concussion. It was feared that it would he necessary to destroy him. as he seemed to have lost his senses, and he could not stand the light. As a last resort, dinted spectacles, which are attached to a hood, were made for him. ami wearing these he realises fairly well where he is going. As he is a very tine and highly bred colt, it is still Imped that he will recover and make a racehorse. He was a stern parent and loved a bit of racing, but preferred that ills son should stick to the officer One day. on entering the enclosure of a racecourse, the first person lie saw was Ills son. “Hullo,’’ he said. “What are you doing here?” “Colonel Jones was not using his ticket to-day,, and gave it to me. ami 1 thought that it would be a pity to waste it,” was the reply. “If he had given you a ticket for a missionary meeting, yon would not have thought it a pity to waste it,” gravely replied the* old man. and the* young ’un thought there was a great deal of soundness In that remark.

The horses Tom Jennings trained aud did such great things with were mostiy of the rough and ready sort, says a writer in the “Sporting I’hrouirle,” and there were not nut'iy of the two and Jiree hundred guinea sire lot in his stable ’ ••lie’s yours.” said Mr Tattvrsall. win. then sold in the street at Nvwinarket. as he knocked down for llgs a ragged yearling. *’l made no bid,” said th;* astonished Jei.idims. “Never mind.” said Tattersail. “I have knocked him down to you.” “All right, 1 #ill have him.” was the reply. ’that yearling was Phitie*. a big winner that sired a still bigger one in FiageoTlie English Derby winiwr, Cicero, is another instance of how difficult it is for even good judges to go among a lot of yearlings ami pick the* one that is going to turn out best. When Lord Rosebery decided to divide* his eight yearlings between Blackwell ami Peck, those* I wo trainers went to The* Durdans. and. after looking over the youngsters, spun for first choice. Blackwell won. and selected a colt by Donovan out of Treasure*, wlm. last year, had to ho destroyed owing te» <le*velopiug a very bad temper. Anyhow. 5 yearlings wen* pickeel before* P<*ck declared for Cie*e*ro. who was thought to be* too small ami set to make* a raeelmrse. Cicero was not foaleel until May 7th. and a well known English writer describes him as now being one of the old fashioned sort of low. lengthy, medium sizeel horses, with ample substance and quality ceuubined. Word from the South give*s the information that the* Canterbury Jockey Club have* <le*ci<lctl not to open a double* totalisator at their National meeting. This, to my mind, is a sensible* step, and one that will at once commend itself to everyone who lias the interests of the* game at heart. With the agitation nt present going on against tin* machine*, the various racing clubs woiihl do well to consider every point before laying themselves <»pen to the charge* of abusing the totalisaleu. and giving greater facilities fen* gambling, which, with tin* paying out e>f two dividends nnel opening eloub-e* machines. th<*y twere* eertainly doing. Now that Hie (’hrlslchurch Jockey Club have derided to abolish the double* tolalisateer. it is l<> In* hored that, other clubs who have* used the machine* will folle»w suit. ’The next fe»rwarel step to In* taken will be Hie doing away with the one-two dividend scheme, and the club that first puts its foot down and reverts to the* phi system will, in my opinion, ele» more* towards assisting *u putting a check on gambling than a 10l of legislation will. Returning from a recent rare meeting at Duustall I’ark, England. a Millland bookmaker was set upon by a savage <*olli:*, dog, between the course and the railway station. Troubled a bit with rheumatism, the bookmake r <*arrn*s a good, stiff stick, and don n the* int<*rie>r runs a sword. I liable* to drive* tin* dog away with his feet, the p<‘ii<-iller.re*cognising that self preservation was the first law of nature, drew tin* sword and plunged it into the collit* The owner came on the* scene, kicked up a fuss, ami in du* course the betting man was summoned for slaughtering the* ani m*.»l. The* case* came on at Wolverhampton, and after hearing evidence on both sides the judge (e*vielrnt ly a lover of dogs) askeel the' biting man why he used tin* sword ’’With a heavy stick like that you ought to have* driven the dog away with the butt end.” Sharply the bookmaker replied. **r should have bee n ph*ascd to do that \ver ’oner.’ had the dog attacked ine with his ’buttend.’ He* used the sharpest thing he had h°v H nro? 0 ” 11 n,HI * si,nplv IIH l hi, “ on Judge: \ erdiet for eh*fendant, I’he* stand taken by the V.R.C. Committee* in regard to the identifn-atiem of I’p-to-Date* must have* conn* as a big surprise* t<» his owner. Mr W. Lyons. On Wednesday the horse was engaged in the St oepl *ch ise*rs’ Flat Race, in which he* was thought to have* an cxvellent cliam-e. but before the time* of the* race' Mr Lyons was evidently asked feu* his certificate. Au lit gent (-aide* was immediately despatched t<» Nr*.\ 7. alind for particulars, but the reply did not reach Flemington in time*, and the horse had to be* witlnirawn: hut it is questwhe Hicr even if it had been r«e* iveel the horse would have* been alloweil to start, as since then the* eommitter h ive held a special meeting, which last eel four hours, a ml oven then they were* unable* Io come* to a derision on the matter, and adjourn <1 the epiestion (ill to-day on the* course*. There* is no doubt that tin* V.R.(’. ('omnii!tt*c are well within their rights in their art ion. bur considering that the horse has raced and won in Sydney, a sister Stale, .and that In* has been hamllcappeel up to his very best form. <»in* wonhl have thought that the* receipt of a cablegram from tin* chairman of the Aurklaml Racing Club would have speedily put the matter right. I’rlvate eommnnicalioiis received from Mr Lyons stale that hr has supporle*el tin* horse to win a fair stake, ami it would be real hard lurk for the popular penclller were lie to be debarred from getting a run for his money. In tin* Royal Hind Cup in Isui. Admiral Rous made his maiden bow with the slart-

er’s flag, and a nice mess hr made of it. There hail been a lid of complaints just ls*for<* this Hun* as to t Im* way (he starting hail Im’<*u accomph<hr«l. ami the Admiral took the duty <m hinis If. it was scarcely wise tinder any cir« umstances to commence on a field of Xt runners, this being the num her hi lhicr.l liver’s year. But. boiling over with wrath and indignation, down strode the gallant old salt to the starting post, flag in hand, thinking his appearance alone in th<* position of starter would strike let or ami dismay into tin* hearts ami minds of the hitherto unruly jockeys. S«* far from this bring the case, he absolutely had not the slightest control over them, and such a seem* as ensued was probably never witnessed at a starting post. Jim Goater especially was <h*t<*riniiied not to get left, and at last, after an hour’s delay, and when, if possible, the aiihnals were in a worse position to be started than tiny had been at any tiim* pn vloiisty. Admiral Rons, win* was perfectly livid with rage. I.teratly threw down the flag, sitouting at tin* same Him* at the top of his naturally strong and rough voice. “Go. ami be <1 — d tn you!” Goater got a flying start, ami. bring on a very spvvtiy horse aud quick beginner, rapidly added to his lead, was never headed, and won in a canter with the then big weight of Kst 71b. This was Admiral Rous’s first and last attempt al starting. Years since (writes an Irish journalist, whose story we give for what II is worth) I witnessed a wry curious «>v<-iirr<*ne<* at Manchester. It happened in a selling steeplechase, for which there were only three runners—Rail lea way. tin* properly of Mr E. I’. Wilson, and ridden by him: Dubois, ami Anchorite, the property of the same owner, and ridden by two good jockeys. The first -named was a screaming hot favourite, and most certainly would have won had he not resolutely declined to jump tin* brook opposite the stand. Dubois soon held a strong lead of his stable companion, but going round the far side jumped the rails out of the course. At the next fence Anchoril e’s rider gracefully slipped oft' him. and sat on the grass holding the horse until a policeman came up. N<> persuasion on the part of the man in blue could iinlu<*<* the fallen jockey to rise, but he told the “bobby” he was very badly hurt, and could not get up, but If he would jump up on the horse and ride him over the rest of : he fences he would be sure (o win tin* race, and he was then to say to his master that he was to give him Tin- <•■•ut’nling representative of law and order consented, am! did ride Anchorite tin* rest of the course, but he missed a <-ou;;! <»f fences, and the race was declared void, despite the jocular insistence of Mr Garrett Moore that the gigantic policeman should gel into the scale to weigh in. Says an English writer: About half a century ago there* were few better known figures at tin* principal gatherings of the season in England than that of the stately Maria. Marchioness of Ailesbury. 11 was not merely as a disinterested spectator that her ladyship attend. <1 the* meetings, for she was <jult<* capable <»f passing an opinion on matters equine, am! when anything particularly took her fancy this somewhat haughty dnine was not afraid to support her judgment hi a substantial manner. Oft the Marchioness contrived 1o be on Hie many good things that were constantlv issuing from the Manton stable, but for the Derby of LS72 she declined to believe in Taylor’s horses, having a dash on Mr Saville's Cremorne. with a “saver” on Queen's Messenger and Weitlock. Xearing home it seemed that t’retnorm* would win casjy. but suddenly a horse shot out with the ra<*e apparently in hand, and rhe fair punter did not experience any ditiieulty in r<*< ..gnising the sage of Manton’s outsider. Pell Mell. After an exciting finish Cremorne got home a head, but her ladyship afterwards cou tided to a friend that during the wind - of hor turf experienee she had never felt such ! » PH'iy: of disappointment as when the horse Mr I ayne had advised her to take a thousand Io twenty about look, d like uptime her good thing. Although she li.ul left thsecond <mt of the leu la I ions. | H *r l.nlvsntp s selections certainly dhl < l( , i..... •in* ‘7 n, ‘ ens Messenger was third, and \V<*iiloek a good fourth, the latter <<*lt «*ventnally winning the Nt. l.egcr From an ex<lian K e < lip fh,. foll.,.vi„ g : - bor some weeks after tin. viotorv ~f 'J s 1 ,, .2L Me * I>; ilnn*ny. in the Stew arils’ Cup of ls«.», the gentleman who raced under the name of “Mr I'. Morton” used to snv that he could hardly recover from his sur prise, or realise that In- had .i. iii. His succeeded in winning one of tin* most popular handica|>K of tin* racing season. Dalineny was never mentioned in the antepost betting, which, it may be added, was in a most unsatisfactory slate owing t » the difficult h*s of th<- Abington p.irtv \vh<» had two horses in the race, and could not do business to their liking in Hie Ring. Dalmeny hail been beaten l»y the length of a street In his trial, and his ow in i- want to Goodwood with no intention of hack Ing him. and was-, indeed, very nn < rtain in his mind of running him al all in the Stewards* Cup. as he thought his horse would be more at home in a minor engagement. In cluincc conversation with « stranger, to whom he was quite unknown, “Mr Morton” was surprised at being naked what he thought of the rhanbr of Dnlmeny. and when he stated Unit he was the owner <»f that hopeless on(sid<r. he was further surpiiseil to hear that llu* inquirer was a man from Sheffield, who hutl come fro|n there with tin* express obj. ct of backing the horse. Still iti. i. dulons that t he volt had any chance of sm <*ess. but impressed with the ovcurrenee. his uwnec

Sntaq tuiq A«| )Jq ISV| aq) ‘sdopd dpjft •jno |U puvsnoqi At.*; u ii| \\ u| uiiq puq.irq £11)0 t«» £2. which was offered after the flag had fallen. Dnlmeny. as it turned out. was a much better animal than his owner supposed, for he won with comparative case hy a length and a half.

In the spring of IS7G a horse named The Mandarin was thought by his owner to be a g< od thing for the Lincolnshire Handicap. In due course Captain Jones, to whom The jMainlarln belonged, backed him to win xrto.ooo. Some time afterwards Sweet Note, .who was in the same stable, was tried with the Carholmo candidate at live furlongs, and lie won by the length of a street. There was md the slightest doubt entertained by th» party as to his staying powers—it was only feared that he lacked the necessary speed. When, therefore, he proved himself capable of beating this smart filly over the T.Y.C.. Captain Jones looked upon the race as al! over bar shouting. Ou the first day of th» Lincoln meeting. Sweet Note had an engagement in a T.Y.C. race, but as she hail a substantial impost tn carry, and the field .was likely to be a large one. the captain only had a llvtr on -for the sake of the jacket.” To his great surprise and delight she cleaned them all out. Knowing how The Mandarin had won his trial. Captain .1, lies was very sanguine about his chance. When speaking of the affair afterwards, he said. ‘I would not have taken fifteen shillings in the pound for my prospective winnings. cash down; and at that time the inomy would have been very useful. After I hail seen The Mandarin saddled 1 went to the bottom of the stand, and as I looked round i hough! to myself that in such a big field I should not be able to see mine, but when they got to a < eit:iin point he would jnoot out ahead and run in l>v himself. or four lengths in front.”’ Hut The Wandaiin failed in the very thing they supposed him best al. and the truth was forced ripen tliem that lie -was 211 b worse at a »ule than five furlongs. I lie ■■Badminton Magazine” has some ini"’ g '■•be riding from the -Arne lean rider. I>. Maher, in the course or which he says: One secret of success is to steady the horse you have to ride, when T.nat is possible, and adapt vour st vie as yon find ii necessary. Some horses must be driven, others won’t stand it. and it is always a good thing to be gentle with young ..m s. a young horse is like a baby - wants gentle handling, and is easily frightened. A lot of horses hate racing, rnd the reason of this most often and most likely is that they have been knocked about. One of the worst faults of the bad jockey is that he will drive a willing horse. That's wicked. A horse can't. d«> more than he can. and it’s absHUd and cruel to ask him. Of course, nothing spoils a horse’s temper like that. You must put in work at a finish sometimes, but tin longer you can sit still the better. It stands to reason, doesn't it? If yon have anything on your own shoulder, ami it is firmly fixed. you can run with it much better than if it is wobbling about. If a jockey shifts his position in his saddle the horse is likely to change his leg. and every time ho changes his leg he loses ground. ‘As for when to make your effort, that rcinos to you in a race. On a non-stayer you naturally keep the effort back as long Jis you can: on a horse that you know staj’s well you can take more liberties. And a jockey must l»c fond of it —most of them are fond of riding, and that is why they hunting in the winter. I have not hail mmh hunting, because I am away nearly pl! the season, but what 1 have had I have thoroughly enjoyed. It is a great sport 1 1 never rode races over jumps, but have <b nc a great deal of schooling. Says an English exchange: Possibly there is no more dramatic incident in roniicctjoii with the St. Leger than that of which Mr Gascoigne's Jerry was the hero 1X24. The horse gave his ‘trainer. Croft. ♦ very satisfaction, ami In* was quite a public favourite: yet. in spite of all this, the tilders were never weary of laying against him: ami when Croft hoard one man. who seldom made a mistake, offer £lO.OOO to against the horse, he was well-nigh b» «I<le himself. Going out for a walk the same evening, he found himself on the road from Yurk to Doncaster, ami he went ns far as the turnpike gate, about a mih- from Doncaster. As he neared it lie saw the lamps «>f a post-cliaise approaching ihc gate, and, perhaps half from curiosity. the trainer came to a halt. The lamp ••icr the toll keeper’s lodge threw a light into the chaise, and what was Croft's astonishment at beholding Bob Kidsdale. •'the Jesuit of the Turf." ami a well-known b- « kmaker. ami Henry Edwards, who was to i ide Jerry in the St. Leger. sitting side Ly side. There was no more mystery in Cr*«ft’s mind after that. lie was oft' at Ihe earlies! possible moment to Mr Gaf}-<-eigne. Jerry's owner, to whom hi* related what lie had seen. In due course Edwards stepped forth to mount Jerry in the paddock, when he found Croft's hand upon bis shoulder, ami heard the words. “Not today. Mr Edwards, thank you." and then B< n Smith was tossed into the saddle. Never was the ring so upset. in shorter time than a man could have written it down. Jerry jumped from IOOU t,, »m) (offered) to 7 and s to I: but it was too late for Gully and Kidsdale to get out. and both wire heavy losers by Jerry’s victory.