Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 161, 24 August 1893, Page 6

Turf Topics.

LBy

“Sir Launcelot."]

In the Sporting Review of the 3rd inst. the Napier correspondent of this journal remarked :— “A private wire received here says: Back all New Zealanders this year —Cup, Sternchaser ; Derby, Carnage ; Oaks, Bessie Macarthy.” This paragraph has been copied by a lot of papers in New Zealand—a good many of which, by the way, distained to state their authority—and after its going round the South Island I was much amused to come across it in two local papers, one of which published it on Wednesday last, and the other on Thursday. That’s a quick way of getting news.

I mentioned in a previous issue that H. Goodman, the Dunedin trainer, has filed his declaration of insolvency. His first meeting of creditors was held on the 15th inst. The statement of assets and liabilities submitted showed the former to be £l2O, and the latter 3 s lod * The bankrupt gave in a written statement, in which he stated that during the past two years he had had in training continually six horses, and sometimes seven. The expense of this was at least a year. He had a wife and ten children to support, besides his mother. During the past year he only won in stakes and in the two previous years £2OO and while in years gone past he always won over 1000 a year. This was the cause of his bankruptcy, coupled with the fact that during the same time he had bought racehorses, which he subsequently had to sell at a much less price than be gave for them. The creditors agreed to offer no opposition to an application for immediate discharge, and resolved further, to return to the bankrupt the whole of his estates, except his book-debts.

I see by my English files that Mr. S. H. Gollan, who has always been an enthusiast in aquatics, rowed. No. 4 in the Thames Rowing Club crew which won the Thames Challenge Cup for eights at Henley on July 7th.

Betting on the New Zealand Cup was naturally brisk in Christchurch during the Grand National week. The Canterbury Times of Thursday last reports that Saracen has been supported to win a ■fair amount, and on Saturday night Response was backed to win about £2500, presumably on behalf of her owner. The following wagers have been laid by a well known Christchurch firm : — 100 to 10 agst St. Hippo, 200 to 16 Hippomenes, 200 to 14 Clanranald, 200 to 14 Merganser, 300 to 18 Skirmisher, 300 to 15 Response, 200 to 10 Outpost, 200 to 10 Captive, 400 to 20 Gitano, 200 to 8 Tempest, 300 to 12 Boulanger, 200 to 5 Blizzard.

I have to acknowledge the receipt from Mr. F. D Luckie, the secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, of a copy of that Club’s book programme for the season of 1893-94. £3700 is the total to be distributed in added money at the club’s four meetings, which is £3OO less than last year. The different bills of fare are fully dealt with in the leading columns of this issue.

An adjourned meeting of the committee of the Auckland Racing Club was held on Friday. The South Auckland Racing Club were granted December 30th, as the date for their Summer Meeting. Applications were received from the proprietors of both the N.Z. Herald and Star applying to be appointed the Club’s Official Calendar, but the committee decided to make no change from their present official organ, the Sporting Review.

Despised came back from his Southern trip on Sunday morning. Though he missed the Grand National Steeples and Hurdles, his victory in the Final Hurdle Handicap with the dividend of thirteen guineas that accompanied it, more than sufficed to pay ‘ exes,’ I fancy. Forty horses are left in the Australian Jockey Club’s Metropolitan Stakes Handicap after the declaration ot first lorfeit. The list appears in another column, and it will be seen that the New ZealandersStepniak 8. 10, Impulse 8.4, Launceston 8.2, Melinite 7.4, and Loyalty 7.2, remain in the race, which will be run on the 19th prox. At a meeting of the committee of the Auckland Trotting Club, held after the annual meeting, reported in another column, Mr J. D. Connolly was elected president. Mr E. D. Halstead was re-elected starter and handicapper, and Messrs S. C. Caulton, E. D. Halstead and W. Adams were again chosen as pony measurers. Mr W. Adams was re-elected chairman of committee, and Mr C. E. Abbott treasurer.

It is not often that a winner of hurdle races is penalised in flat races, but Liberator, by winning the Maiden Hurdles and the Grand National Hurdles, has incurred a 71b penalty in the New Zealand Cup, bringing his weight up to 7.10. The conditions attaching to penalties in the N.Z. Cup provide that “The winner of any race or races collectively of the value of ” etc., shall carry certain penalties. Meddler was shipped from England to America on July 7th. Governor Leland Stamford, the proprietor of the famous American Palo Alto stud farm, died at the end of June.

The programme of the Auckland Trotting Club’s Spring Meeting to be held on Saturday, September 30, appears in the advertising columns of this issue. is the amount to be distributed among seven races, the principal items being the Spring Handicap Trot of 100 sovs, 2| miles; Tramway Handicap of SO sovs, 7 furlongs ; and Harness Handicap of 50 sovs, 2 miles and a half. Nominations for all the events close on firiday, September 15, at 10 p m. The Auckland Racing Club invite tenders for working the totalisator for the ensuing season. Tenders close to-morrow week, September 1. The Wanganui Jockey Club will hold their Spring Meeting on Thursday and Friday, October 19 and 20. is the total to be given away in added money, as compared with is a very small reduction considering that the Club have now to pay the totalisator tax out of their own revenue. The retrenchment is effected by cutting down the Spring Handicap from 60 sovs to 50 sovs, the Trial Stakes from 50 sovs to 40 sovs, the Flying Handicap from 60 sovs to 50 sovs, the Owen Stakes Handicap from 60 sovs to 50 sovs, the Wanganui Stakes Handicap from 200 soys to 175 sovs, and the Marangai Stakes Handicap (formerly known as the Castlecliff Handicap) from 60 sovs to 50 sovs. The chief prizes are the Wanganui Derby of 200 sovs, one mile and a half; Wanganui Stakes Handicap of 175 sovs, one mile and a half; and First Handicap Hurdle Race of 100 sovs, about two miles and a distance. Nominations close on Tuesday, September 19, at 9 p.m. The programme appears in our advertising columns. Professor Theo. Litchwark, the well-known horse tamer, has arrived in town, and will give his first exhibition in the course of a few days. I have seen Mr Litchwark give expositions of his skill as a horse tamer in the South Island, so I can vouch for the fact that his work is good. Mr M. Jones, the proprietor of the Criterion Livery and Bait Stables, Devon St., New Plymouth, has a business announcement in this issue. Mr Jones makes special arrangements for the conveyance of tourists to Mount Egmont and round the mountain via Parihaka, Opunake and Hawera.

The first acceptance for the Caulfield Cup fell due on Tuesday. Nothing of much moment has gone out, and 80 are now left in. Those eliminated up to date are :—Cremorne, Fortanatus, Bungebah, Swordbearer, Culloden, Linburn, Azim, St. Albans 11., Splendide, Penance, Marco, Ronda, Antaeus, Ducrow, Redleap, Tranby, Aire, Gingham, Captain Webb. Despised, Pauline, Bel Giorno, Repudiation, Jack Robinson, Corinth, Little Maid, Killaloe, Ilium, The Possible, Pilatus, Lemnos, Duflot, Freedom, Blazes, Dickens and Gala.

Messrs M. Taylor and J. Forward came up from the South by Saturday night’s boat to assist at the Auckland Coursing Club’s Meeting. Messrs F. Hill and W. Profitt are also in town on the same mission. Doubtless all will avail themselves of the chance of putting a few pounds in their New Zealand Cup book before they return home.

Major George’s Sister Agnes (imp.) by Rosicrucian—Penance, has foaled a filly to Nelson. Another conference of delegates from country clubs in the South Island was held in Christchurch on the nth inst. Rules were adopted. It was resolved :— ‘ That this meeting requests the Metropolitan Clubs in the South Island to forthwith give effect to the resolution passed at the last Conference at Wellington regarding the election of delegates from country clubs on the Racing Conference ;’ and ‘ That the secretary be instructed to forward copies of the resolution to each of the Metropolitan Clubs.’

Conferences seem to be quite in fashion now, the Manawatu Racing Club having convened one of all the country clubs on the West Coast and in the Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay districts, to be held at Palmerston North on September 14.

A private telegram received in town states that the hearing of the case of Mr D O’Brien v. the Canterbury Jockey Club re the Challenge Stakes has been postponed till November. Sydney advices state that Projectile, it is feared, will not stand a severe preparation, and Pulvil, by Chester —Perfume, is therefore likely to represent the ‘J. B. Clark’ syndicate in the classic events.