OUR SYDNEY LETTER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 157, 27 July 1893, Page 2

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

(from our own correspondent.) Sydney, July 19. The Rosehill July Meeting was not a whit behind, either in attendance or arrangements, to any preceding one. People take it as a matter of course that flaws will not appear, simply because they know G. B. Rowley holds the reins. Saturday was no exception. The weather might have been better, but then, G.B.R. has nothing to do with that, or else he might put a check on the rain and cold. Tom Watson was not in evidence, and Mr A. Farthing essayed the duties of the red flag. If his attempts had not been marred with a procession go-as-you-please in the Saxonia Handicap a success would have been scored equalling any Tom has managed for a good while past. It is a pity the starters of to-day will not try starting on foot instead of from the outside of a hack. We should see less processions, less delays, and it would be much more interesting for the public. The Saxonia six furlong handicap saw 21 at the post, and owing to the straggling start many chances were at once done with. The favourite, Brooklyn (wbo ran a first and a second the previous Saturday), was the chosen, but was beaten home by Kelso’s Insigna and Mr Sam Hordern’s Cannon in imin ibfsec. Insigna is a brother to Paris, but shows very little of the latter’s pace. Owing to his erratic ways the stable did not fancy him, and although Kelso scratched Elymas, whose name was on everybody’s tongue in town throughout the week, they trusted very little money to the six-year-old son of Grandmaster —Enone, Cannon, with a little more size, would be a perfect racehorse, and his breed is as good as one could wish. His jockey lost the race on Saturday, as he appeared to pump both himself and the horse making the pace and could not ride a finish. Sixteen hurdlers turned out next, and Hilma, who lost his jockey the previous week and won the Hurdles the week before that, was made favourite, but could only run third to Vespane, who has suddenly improved, and Barzan, one of the improving sort, third. The Granville Stakes, a race for non-winners of a 45SOVS prize, induced 24 to try conclusions. Hurricane—a Newcastleite—won by a neck from the favourite, Master Godiva, and Uabba, a two-year-old, third. The Steeplechase saw a series of falls, and an easy win for Egyptian, in a field of thirteen. Tatta was second, and Recruit, in his usual position, third. No bones were broken to mar the afternoon’s sport. Apura won the Selling Race from Freetrade. ' Lady Lovel, although favourite, ran out when called upon for an effort, and was unplaced. Some of the bookies ought to purchase this mare and run her at every meeting, for she pays them in almost every case, and no one else. Fourteen went under Mr Farthing’s orders for the July Handicap of 1 mile 540 yards. Aureus, the Dubbo horse, with Martin Gallagher up, was the good thing whispered about the paddock, and he started at 7to 4. He won cleverly by about half a length from Zelandia, thus turning the tables on the previous Saturday’s running. Barnaby Rudge was third. Magnus, one of the greatest N.S.W. frauds when he runs in a race, started second favourite, finished nowhere, and once more victimised his connection and the public who backed him. Orville Lodge Stable had a very good day, winning the Saxonia and Steeplechase, and running a second in the July Handicap. The totalisator runners were terribly worried and badgered about by the police on Saturday. Three ‘ boys in blue ’ were put on duty to walk abreast up and down King-street and move anyone on found loitering. Poor, unoffending individuals, who hardly know what a totalisator is, were peremptorily told to ‘ move on,’ or — ; whereas the real offenders were bobbing in and out of their dens like rabbits on a warren. An elderly and corpulent officer appeared on the scene in an excited state eveiy now and then, and although the affair is taken by many to be only another ‘ flash in the pan ’ to satisfy the religious : bodies, who are very sore about Barrister E. Field’s affair, wherein he was fined a pound for whilst holding a religious meeting, yet it is said, and loudly too, that it is the penhultimate proceeding before the downfall of the totalisators. That something will have to is certain, or Sydney will be betting shops.

One consolation the totemon had on Saturday was the double —Insigna and Aureus —was taken with hardly one of them. Nearly every double on the Grand National Hurdles and Steeplechase was struck, although the Trojan stable readied such artful pills which the press evidently swallowed, but it appears the public didn’t. Paddy Nolan and young Rayner made no secret of their opinion that Albert would win, and it nearly came off. So did Paddy, and accidents will happen in the best regulated steeplechase. The new cable tram construction is now nearing the positions opposite which the chief of the totalisators have taken shops in King-street. As the work, so far, has necessitated all but a complete blocking of traffic, the ‘ ticket ’ men will have a wide scope to carry on their business (?), and it would not be surprising to see a more venturesome than usual crowd occupy the big concrete board as a ‘ stand.’ This same board has answered many purposes already ; the impromptu platform of the pugilistic and itinerant musicians, the newsboys’ fighting stage, and even a political position of vantage. No wonder we have more wet racing days than usual. German bands have at last found their way into Sydney, and as a great theatrical man remarked the other day, ‘They’ve come to stop.’ Although the commencement of another racing year is near at hand, very little news has eked out at present about forward two-year-olds that will be.

The consultations are still flourishing as of yore, although some of the more nervous have altered their address to Brisbane. It seems a pity such a lot of time was cut to waste in the Assembly passing the consultation part of the Postal Bill if it was never meant to come into force. Tridentine’s win at the Clarence River Meeting, with 11.0 up (Mat Harris), once more shows what a great mare she is. The win was very popular. Fred Fielder rode three winners at the Clarence River Meeting. Not many signs of bad times in the racing world if the entries for the Epsom Handicap and the Metropolitan are any criterion. The former has 93 against 84 entries last year, and the latter 62 as against 66. A very heavy hail and rain storm in the early morning made the going heavy and trying for the ponies on Wednesday at Moorefield. From the first day of August we are to have three pony meetings a fortnight under the ‘ Associated’ Rules. In the first week Wednesday will be the day, and Tuesday and Thursday in the second week. This is through having to make room for the new Kensington Meetings. There was too much racing before, but it is getting worse, and more electric light meetings will have to be arranged for any further increase, unless a law is passed to take in the Frenchman’s race day—Sunday. The A.J.C. have caused consternation among trainers by a new rule they intend to pass :—“ If a trainer plays pony chanies, he can’t play horse chanies.” The clause is almost certain to pass, as Tom Clibbom’s connections object to ponies in any style. Eight law-breakers were fined the three sixes (£6 6s 6d) for laying the double in King, Pitt, Park and Castlereagh-streets shops on Tuesday last. One, a man well known, who is not in the best of health, was very frightened he would not be allowed the option of a fine, but would have to join the Balmainite who was sent up for a month last week. He was fined. Some of the same names appeared over again, and they are almost as consistent as the coroner’s jurymen. The Newcastle J.C. intend holding a race meeting every month. There is a meeting on Saturday. The street betting fraternity are strongly in evidence in the city of black diamonds, and the evil is growing, a local paper asserts. Latest bettingCaulfield Cup : 20 to 1 the field. Melbourne Cup: 100 to 6 the field. Derby : 6 to 1 Carnage, 100 to 50’s the others. Chief doubles taken are : Sundial, Berkeley, Oxide, Malolo, Paris, J 5. Ulric for the Caulfield Cup, with Cremome, Sternchaser, Camoola, Oxide, Jeweller, Vakeel and Harefield in the Melbourne Cup. Delaware has been well backed for the Derby, and Projectile and Havoc are enquired for.