THE TURF.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume I, Issue 2, 9 August 1890, Page 2

THE TURF.

[by old turfite.]

RACING CALENDAR. August 6....Ashburton Hunt Club Meeting. 9.. Lancaster Trotting Club. 26Amberly Steeplechase Meeting. Septembers, 10Geraldine Spring Meeting. 18, 19South Canterbury J. C. Meeting. October 6, 7Hawke’s Bay J. C. Spring Meeting. 20,21 Wellington R. C. Summer Meeting. November 4,5, 8 C. J. C. Spring Meeting. 19, 20 Ashburton R. C. Spring Meeting. AUSTRALIA. September 4, 6 Hawkesbury R. C. Spring Meeting. 13,16,18, 20A. J. C. Spring Meeting. ACCEPTANCES ANU FORFEITS. August 4First forfeit Melbourne Cup. 26Second payment Caulfield Cup.

The following are the names of the Clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Trotting Association: —

Southland Racing Club Cromwell Racing Club Lower Heathcote Racing Club New Brighton Racing Club Lancaster Park Trotting Club North Canterbury Racing Club Geraldine Racing Club Canterbury Trotting Club Timaru Trotting Club South Canterbury Jockey Club

Ohoku and Eyreton Jockey Club Tinwald Racing Club Hororatu Racing Club Waimate Racing Club Little River Racing Club Ellesmere Jockey Club Greymonth Trotting Club Nelson Trotting Club.

“ Mazeppa,” of the Otago Witness, informs his readers that Mr. Dowse’s counsel (Sir R. Stout) has sent to Mr. Stead, asking that he send down a formal withdrawal of the statements deemed libelous, or that a solicitor be named who would accept service of a writ. Should this case continue racing men may expect some lively things brought to light.

Of late, owing to Australian sires being taken to San Francisco, the public have had their attention called to races in America, and some wonderful times have been given by different writers, but I have not noticed a single one informing their readers that the custom in America is to time from a flying start. This makes a difference of losec. in the mile.

After carefully reading over the different accounts of the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase, I am of the opinion that Lunn made a mistake in the way that he rode Ahua. One other writer is of the same opinion. Ahua, though the top weight, went to the post a hot favorite. When the flag dropped, Lunn, like any good jockey, decided to make a waiting race. The pace at first was very bad, and he had to pull and haul his horse about to keep him back, thus taking more out of his mount than if he had let him stride along in front. The consequence was that Ahua got irritated, and when he came to a small fence he blundered through it and came down. Lunn is undoubtedly a fine horseman, but from what I have seen of his riding he gives me the impression of being self-taught. Lunn, like many others, think that to ride a waiting race he must be behind. This is a great mistake ; it is just as easy to wait in front as behind. When the flag drops, jump off in front, get a good position, letting your horse stride along, having a firm hold of his head until he settles down—then, if the pace is good, you-can.remain there; if the reverse, let the others race past and make the running for you. I was not present, therefore these remarks are made from what I can glean from others. However, the certain old jumper, Daddy Longlegs, won, though he is as slow as a top. It is stated in several of the Southern papers that he was trained by swimming. The description of the race greatly reminds me of the Liverpool Grand National when Little Charlie won, ridden by Bill Archer (father of the celebrated Fred), who just before the start took to a gin cocktail against his mount.

On looking through the lists of winning owner’s horses and sires published in the Southern papers, I find that none of them agree. The most reliable, I think, is the list compiled by “ Pentagraph,” in the New Zealand Referee, but even he has some errors. However, it is of little consequence, as it is very doubtful if any owner who has only raced in New Zealand has made the two ends meet, as it is impossible to back a horse for any amount in a country where the totalisator is paramount.

The Cornstalk has a rather amusing article headed “New Zealand Three-year-olds — A Chat about them,” written by Mr. A. J., one of the best informed of the New Zealand sporting scribes. The account of the different horses is really amusing. For the owners’ sake it is to be trusted that the Australian handicappers pay no attention to such articles. It is often a source of wonder how horses sent from here to Sydney get imposts that their performances do not warrant. If Messrs. Barnard and Scarr pay attention to such rigmarole it is readily accounted for.

From all accounts the Oaks was run in the fastest time on record, Semolina jumping off and forcing the pace in hopes of making Signorina’s lack of condition tell. The time given is zm. 40 4-ss. The fastest time given for the Derby, 2m. 435., was done by Kettledrum, Blair Athol, Merry Hampton, and Ayrshire. Now not a single writer, in making comments on the time the Derby and Oaks are run in mentions the fact that since Kettledrum and Blair Athol’s day the course has been altered. Formerly the horses started in a hollow, and the first quarter of mile was up a tremendous hill. They now start at the back of Sherwood’s, and have only slightly rising ground to contend with at the commencement.

All racing men in the Colonies will regret that, owing to the death of the Hon. James White, his horses engaged in the different races in England are disqualified. This is a great disappointment to many English racing men, as they wanted to see what Australian horses were like further on in the season, as no one for one moment thought that Mr. White would land the Derby at the first time of asking, especially as it happened to be a particularly good year for three-year-olds. They were expected to do something further on in the season. The rule, that has been in force for many years, that all nominations are void on the death of the nominator, falls very hard on racehorse owners, who may have given long prices for young stock. There are many of my readers-who-wiH'rememßer'that by the death of Mr. “ Launde,” the Marquis of Anglesey, Prince Bathyany, and others, how many good horses were rendered practically useless for racing purposes. Mr. Tattersail has often urged the necessity of having the rule repealed and substituting the following:—“ On the sale of any racehorse the purchaser shall have all nominations transferred to him, and, if necessary, be required to place security in Messrs. Weatherby’s hands for the amount of the forfeits.” This would do away with the difficulty. From what can be gleaned frojii Hdme papers some such rule will be adopted and the .old one repealed before long.

— A curious coincidence occurred in this year’s Derby. In 1853 Mr. James Merry’s Hobbie Noble, for which as a 2-year-old he gave a tremendous long figure, as prices went in those days —if my memory serves me right it was £6soo—he started a great favorite, and finished nowhere to the three outsiders, Daniel O’Rorke, Barbarian, and Chief Baron Nicholson. In 1870 McGregor started a screaming favorite, with odds on him, after having won the Two Thousand Guineas. His stilty fore legs prevented him coming down the hill from Tattenham corner. This year, his son, Mr. A. J. Merry, who has taken after his father, wins the Two Thousand with Surefoot, who, like McGregor, starts even a hotter favorite, and finishes nowhere.