Untitled

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 11, 15 September 1909, Page 12

(By

WHALEBONE.)

FIXTURES. Sept. 15 and 16—Ashburton County R.C. Spring Sept. 15 and 16—Rangltikei R.C. Spring Sept. 18, 22, and 25—Avondale J.C. Spring Sept. 23 and 25—Wanganui J.C. Spring Sept. 30 and Oct. I—Geraldine R.C. Spring October 2, 4. 6 and 9—A.J.C. Spring October 7—Ohoka and Eyreton J.C. Annual October 13 and 14—Dunedin J.C. Spring Nov. 17, 20 — Otahuhu Trotting Club Spring Lady Regel, by Regel — Idls, has foaled a filly to Soult. The Seaton Delaval mare La Cigale is to be mated with Monoform this season. The local coursing season was brought to a close a Middlemore Park, Otahuhu, on Saturday. At Glenora Park, Erry Roe, by St Hippo— Ellerslie, and St. Edith, by St. Leger—Priscilla, have both foaled fillies to Soult. Up-to-date is again In work at Flemington after a month’s spell, which seems to have done him a lot of good. Mr E. J. Watt has presented the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club with a cup as a trophy for the Hawke’s Bay Cup Handicap of 1910. The well-known light-weight. R. Hatch, has been retained to ride for Messrs Stead and Greenwood, and is to leave F. Higgot at once. W. H. Peaison, who was disqualified for life by the Waioeka Jockey Club, is now riding at the Wellington Pony and Galloway Meetings. The two-year-old filly by Soult—Roxana, purchased from Mrs. J. Leonard by Mr. Tommy Burns, is to be shipped to Australia on Monday next. The three-year-old colt St. Amans, by Soult — Lottie, has resumed work again at Ellerslie, and is back in his old quarters at F. Macmanemin’s. Capitol is to be treated to a spell, after his exertions during the winter, and he is enjoying an easy time of it at his owner’s place at the Thames. B. Deeley will ride the Soult —-VexaVon. filly in the Avondale Stakes, and M. Ryan will have the mount on the Gluten—Goldweb colt in the same race. At. Cambiia Park, Anadyomene, by Dreadnought—Aphrodite, has foaled a colt to Eton; and Guinevere, by Sir Lancelot— Orientate, a colt to Obligado. Trainers at Ellerslie are experiencing considerable difficulty in getting suitable boys to attend to horses, and one or two horses are out of work in consequence. Reports Ifrom Christchurch state that Heorthen, runner-up in the New Zealand Cup last year, is coming on nicely in her preparation for this year’s big handicap. Consequent on his victory In the Marton Handicap at the recent Marton meeting, Sandstream, by San Fran — Ua, has incurred a 51b penalty for the New Zealand Cup. Tyrannic’s record continues to read well, he having now won on five occasions out of six starts, thrice on the flat and twice over hurdles. His only failure so far has been in the Tutaenui Welter, at Marton. Mr M. McGrath, writing to a Sydney paper with reference to the alleged backing of Tumut for the Epsom Handicap, states that he has not supported his horse for that event. R. Hatch, the well known jockey, Is said to have been the victim of a robbery in a Hutt hotel, where he was staying recently. The sum abstracted from his room was of no inconsiderable amount. Two of Mr George Currie’s mares arrived from Wanganui during the week on a visit to Soult, another southerner in Replete being brought from Oamaru also to be mated with the Glenora Park champion. The two three-year-old geldings in D. Bannatyne’s stable have had the following names claimed for them: —Br g., by Soult— Brown Rose, “Monocle”; b g, by Soult—Apparition, “Spectre.” The annual report of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club states that the profits on the year’s working amounted to £3724. The stakes distributed during the season totalled £17,170. Mr 11. R. McKenzie has purchased from Mr HUI, of the Waikato, two brood mares,

one by Cyrenian—Paulina, and the other by Leolinus, out of the Cyrenian—Paulina mare. The former is to visit Stepniak and the latter Soult. The following names have been claimed for three of the two-year-olds in F. MacManemin’s charge:—Colt,by Obiigado—Tournament, “Ashby”; colt, by Gluten —Gold Web, “Doughboy”; colt, by Soult —Lady B, “His Highness.” The Leolantis gelding Le Beau is stated to have quite recovered from the accident which befel him while contesting the C.J.C. Grand National Steeplechase, and has been entered for the hurdle events at the Ashburton meeting. The Merriwee gelding Tumut was to have made his Australian racing debut at the Canterbury Park meeting on Saturday last. Seeing that he had not done a great deal of work, however, it is doubtful if he would be asked to go on with the engagement. A. Oliver, the well known Southern horseman, who is to ride Provocation and Artillerie at the Australian Jockey Club’s meeting, left for Sydney last week. He may return to the Dominion in time for the spring meeting at Trentham. While working at F. Tilley’s private track at Fordell on Friday last, Frisco broke down, and his turf career has closed. He won the New Zealand Cup two years ago, and made ris last appearance in a Cup race last November. He may take up stud duty in the Maitinborough district. The American horses have been racing with considerable success in England this season. At the Good wood meeting in July, the Stewards’ Cup fell to the American owner, Mr H. L. Duryea, through the aid of Mediant, a three-year-old filly by Meddler —Ballantrae. The Whangarei Racing Club Committee has decided to have a trotting race on each of the days of their annual race meeting, provided the consent of the New Zealand Trotting Association can be obtained. A stake of £l5 will be offered in each instance. H. Gray, who was recently reinstated by the Auckland Metropolitan meeting, was not long out of the saddle, and had the satisfaction of riding a winner at his first attempt, steering First Consul to victory in the Maiden Plate. He also had the mount on Dolce in her winning engagements, and altogther had a good meeting. The promising young horse Mandarene Is this season to be at the service of breeders of trotting horses. Mandarene, which st jowed great pace in his races last year, is a beautifully bred horse, with perfect action, and as he is to be limited to a dozen mares, owners would do well to make early application. Full particulars can be obtained from W. Orange, of Kohimarama. The well-known trainer, P. McLaughlin, had a narrow escape from a serious accident on Monday last. He was leading the mare Tarina into the paddock, when something startled her, and, rearing, she struck out with her front feet, just grazing the trainer’s head and shoulders, but catching his hand and lacerating it badly. Another few inches and the consequences would probably have been serious. The Auckland Trotting Club have drawn up their programmes for their spring and summer meetings, and from them I gather that the club have increased the stakes for the two gatherings just on £5OO. At the spring meeting there is an event for trotters only on each day, and at the summer meeting there are no less' than five events for this class of horse. Harness horses have also been well catered for, and altogether the club have .provided a most liberal bill of fare. On all of Mr. J. Wren’s courses in Melbourne there is a betting ring steward, whose business it is to report any changes in 'the price of the competitors to the stipendiaries. At a recent meeting at Richmond Anam receded in the market, and before the start the rider of the son of Mana got a hint from one of the officials as to how his riding of the gelding might be viewed. Anam won, but only by half-a-head, from the favourite, Maida. The Stead Memorial Gold Cup, which is raced for at the C.J.C. Metropolitan meeting next November, is a handsome and artistic trophy. It is of solid 18-carat gold, and, with the plinth, stands twelve inches high. The cup, which is of classical design, is goblet shape, having two small handles. The Ud is embossed with acanthus leaves, and the same design is repeated at the base of 'the cup. The plinth is perfectly plain with the exception that at the foot there Is a small replica of the acanthus design on the lid.

Last season the Auckland Trotting Club offered purses of £IOO for any horse capable of lowering the record. Thia year the club have gone one better, and are putting up a purse of £2sosovs for any stallion or mare capable of trotting a mile from a flying start In 2.14. Should no horse be capable of registering this time, a purse of £IOO will be given to the stallion or mare establishing a record in harness of 2.18 or under. Mr. D. Twohill has received advice from Mr. W. Lyons that the mishap to Don Hannibal was more serious than at flrat anticipated and the son of Explosion has been withdrawn from the whole of his spring engagements. This is bad luck for Mr. Lyons, who gave a long price for Don Hannibal, and considerable interest was evinced as to how the Explosion horse would shape when opposed to the Australian cracks. For the sake of his owner, it is to be hoped he makes a speedy recovery. At the annual meeting of the Stratford Racing Club, Dr. Paget, who has always been a staunch supporter of the stipendiary steward movement, moved that it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to appoint a stipendiary steward at its next race* meeting. The chairman, Mr. A. W. Budge, said he agreed with Dr. Paget’s motion, but thought it was hard that the onus of such action should be placed upon what he might term the junior clubs, because certain of the larger clubs, weighted with indebtedness, perhaps, were afraid of their souls to put a man up no matter what he did. Dr. Paget expressed pleasure at the chairman’s expression of support, but he contended that while it was, in the sense Mr. Budge had meant, hard on the smaller clubs to make the move, it was the right one, and it would pay. Therefore, taking it on the lowest possible ground, they would be acting wisely. If they determined on providing straight going they would attract the honest owner, and, strangely enough, they would find the other sort would not drop out, but would endeavour to conform to what the club insisted upon, while the public would regain confidence in the sport. The motion was carried unanimously. The Horowhenua Cup on Wednesday last attracted some attention by the fact that the top-weight for the New Zealand Cup, All Red, was one of the starters. In its account of the race, a Southeru paper says: The betting fluctuated a good deal in the Horowhenua Cup. First All Red was favourite, bu’t he soon receded and support came for Aberbrothock, Sir Frisco, and King Post. At the start King Post led, but was supplanted by Aberbrothock almost immediately, and, passing the six-furlong post, the order was Aberbrothock, Sir Frisco, King Post, and All Red. The leader was not afterwards headed, and no change took place in the positions, except All Red dropped back and finished Mr. John Rowe, president of the Auckland Trotting Club, at the annual meeting of the club, referred to the great loss sustained by the sport in the death of Mr. G. Payling, who, for a number of years, was president of the N.Z. Trotting Conference. The deceased gentleman, said Mr. Rowe, was for many years a member and steward of the Metropolitan Club in Christchurch, and earned the goodwill and confidence of all with whom he came in contact. His loss would be felt in trotting circles throughout the Dominion. Mr. Rowe then moved that the members convey their sympathy to the family of the late Mr. Payling, the motion being carried, with those present standing. There is not much satisfaction to be gained from lodging complaints against handicappers in England; at least, that is the opinion expressed by Mr. R. -Sievier in his paper, the “Winning Post.’’ He says that when any owner has officially brought to the notice of the authorities that his horse, in his opinion, has not been equitably handicapped, he has received some opposition from the stewards, who invariably hold a brief for anybody licensed under Jockey Club rules. He then adds:—“We remember lodging a complaint that two of our horses were unfairly handicapped, and it was heard at Newmarket. After the case was over, Lord Durham personally told us that he was of opinion that one of the horses had been too severely dealt with. We felt contented, until a notice appeared in the ‘Racing Calendar’ 'to the effect that the stewards did not consider that there was any reason for the objection we had taken. This is rather forcibly closing the mouth of the owner than encouraging him to poin't out an error, privately admitted, but publicly contradicted.” In reference to the Victorian trainer, Walter Hickenbotham, “Milroy,” of the “Sydney Mail,”- recites an old-time incident as follows: —It may not be generally known that Walter rode in the famous 100-mlle match between Ted Tarrant’s Barmaid and Gus Coulson’s Colonel (rjgden by Roger Davis), from D*ubbo to Orange, which by road is 100 miles. The match was won by Colonel, whose jockey took a few short cuts that were unknown to. Walter Hickenbotham and his backers. The owners and their friends had relays of hacks ready on the line of route, and they followed their respective champions over 'the 100 miles journey. Roger Davis slewed off the road to take a short cut somewhere east of Wellington, and Tarrant, coming along in the rear, noticed the move, and called upon Walter Hickenbotham to follow; they reached a gate a few seconds after Colonel had gone through, and found the backers of that horse carefully locking it; but Tarrant, who was always a desperate man when roused, was equal to the occasion, and, whipping out a six-shooter, scattered the followers of Colonel like rabbits. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Treating Club, Mr. John Rowe, the president, In dealing with the coming year, recommended the committee to increase the •takes at least £IOO per day, which would

be an increase of £BOO on the amount distributed last year. With regard to the offering of purses for records, the club would again place purses at the disposal of owners, and they would be still more attractive this season. He thought he was right hi saying that this was the best method to draw 'the highest class of horse to the club’s meetings. The committee would, no doubt, place shorter limits before owners, which he considered would greatly increase the interest in the sport and attract large attendances of the public at their gatherings. The Trotting Conference in 1908 recommended the placing of more harness races on programmes, and the club were giving effect to these suggestions, but it was advisable not to act too rapidly in the change from saddle to harness, as from previous experience it was found that sudden changes, if too drastic, were detrimental to the sport. While on the subject of programmes, he would suggest to the committee the placing of a three-mile race on the programme for the summer meeting, as recommended by the recent •Conference. In the past the Auckland Trotting Club had been always one of the most forward in adopting any suggestion of the Conference, either for the benefit of trotting on the course or in improving the class and .stamina of the horse.