OUR SYDNEY LETTER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 162, 31 August 1893, Page 5

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) August 17. Rosehill, next to Randwick, is always to be relied on for the thoroughness with which everything is arranged for the sporting public. The inaugurating meeting of 1893-94 on Saturday was most enjoyable from every point of view, combining a large and fashionable gathering with interesting racing and superb weather. His Excellency the Governor (a thorough sportsman) with his suite were in attendance, and ladies in the latest styles of enchanting dresses gave a charm to the scene only to be witnessed to be remembered. Ministers of the Crown, M.L.A.’s, and the pick of prominent persons were also to be seen enjoying the favourite sport of the day, and a little more perfected railway arrangements would have been appreciated, for there is nothing more desirous than getting home quickly as soon as the last race is run.

For the Flying Handicap 19 silks were sported, and our absent leviathan’s Utter was made a strong favourite. Taking the lead from the fall of the flag, Delaney never allowed his mount to be headed, and won by half a length from Blue Blood, and many good judges are of opinion that had the latter been better ridden he would have won. Torpedo was third. Waratah and Vanguard divided the honours of the ring for the Hurdles, and eleven went to the post. Sailor, unbefriended by punters, came as a boon to the books, for he made the whole of the running and won easily, Vesphane second, Waratah (who will win shortly) third. A large field of twenty-three turned out for the Welter, and on his previous running Torpedo was backed for a pile of money, and finished at two’s. Cornet, Peri and Opher made most of the running, but when fairly in the straight Torpedo showed great speed, and won from Killarney by half a length, Marshall Ney third. Brocade and Escort fell.

The first juvenile race of the year induced thirteen to start, and from the good account of what Hirondelle had done with ‘ Bungey,’ she was backed down to 6 to 4. Regina was also fancied, but not much faith was put in the two candidates running in the syndicate interest. Hirondelle looked for the most part of the time to be certain of getting her backers home, but she was done when the pinch came, and Mr Payten’s Mooroongie beat her by two lengths, Enid third. Eleven timber toppers faced the starter for the Steeple, but many belied their calling, and the race was a chapter of accidents. Castlebar lost his rider ; Bassanio turned turtle; Egyptian struck, cut himself, and lost his jockey; and Ensign 11. fell over the palings and out of the course. No serious harm was done to the jockeys. The August Handicap, connected with which was a consultation with between three and four thousand subscribers, brought out a strong field of seventeen, including such promising ones as Pulvil, Panoply, Delaware, Chatham and Climax. Climax was chosen * favourite at 3’s. Tommy, King Orry and Brightlight were

the chief pace makers until the distance was reached, when Climax came with a rattle and won with ease. Barnaby Rudge just beat Brightlight for second place, Chatham fourih. Selkirk fell. Randwick will have to look to its laurels, as Rosehill on Saturday gave a proof that the pretty course near the Parramatta River is becoming more popular every meeting. One of the advantages of having a real good ‘ boss of affairs.’ It would be doing the public a kindness, besides being generally acknowledged what ought to be done, if owners would bear in mind the names of sires and dams when naming their two-year-olds, and call them appropriately. Another thing, too — the sooner the youngsters are given their ‘ handles’ the better. Marshall Ney showed good form at Rosehill on Saturday. He is not only a racer, but handsome into the bargain.Mat Harris rode him for Mr T. Brown. Bad luck seems to follow a little too persistently in the track of some men. Regina, owned by Mr J. J. McManus, and greatly fancied by him for the Rosehill Juvenile Stakes, was left at the post. This makes the second race ‘ Little Mac’ ought to have won within the last week or two Mooroongie, winner of the first Juvenile Race of 93-4 in N.S.W., and Merrywing, a similar winner in Victoria, are both by Robinson Crusoe. Madras, another in the Syndicate stable, won the first two-year-old race at Rosehill last year, after a dead-heat with the greatly improved Pharamond. Hirondelle has a great reputation already for pace, and should win a race ere long. Some of the youngsters started last Saturday were very green. Egyptian was the first horse to pass the post for the Steeplechase, but being riderless Mr Kelso did not score a win. Ensign 11. jumped in great form, and Mr Terry had bad luck when the horse bounded sideways and fell with a great crash over the white palings on to the flat, as he would most likely have won. The riderless horses interfered greatly with those left with chances in the Steeple, and every jockey must have been glad when the race was over. One horse that was placed in the August Handicap was running without ‘a bit to nothing’ in the small consultation open on the race. The Climax connection, who must have gone down at Moorefield when he lost the Stewards’ Mile after having two tries, are said not to have backed the son of Trenton —Corday in the August Handicap, yet he started favourite at 3’s. Someone knew something evidently. One well known metallician did not have much trouble to carry his swag home. Climax, with 6.10 (he incurs no penalty for the Rosehill win) in the Melbourne Cup may be said to have a not-to-be-for-gotten chance. Utter incurs a lolb penalty for winning on Saturday, and this brings his weight up to 8.4 for the Epsom Handicap. Too much.

Two of the wounded were in evidence at Rosehill on Saturday. Death, who is progressing favourably, was on crutches. Garland has now gone over to the ponies with his arm in a sling, through the accident at Kensington. McGill, a lad in Lamond’s stable, had his leg broken by Oxide lashing out. The boy was exercising Australian Birdcatcher at the time.

Selkirk, who will be remembered as running good races at Randwick, Hawkesbury, Cootamundra and Bourke, broke his back when he fell in the August Handicap, and had to be destroyed. Consequently he is scratched for all engagements. A man named Hart was sent to prison for one month for running a 1 tote’ in Broadway, Glebe. On the way to the Central Station he was taken with a fit, and treated at the Hospital. He soon recovered, and is now doing his time. A few more ‘ monthly lessons’ dealt out carefully and consistently among Sydney ‘ tote’ runners are also absolutely necessary, and if one or two of the other magistrates would follow Mr Addison’s example instead of gliding through that business of ‘ Prisoner pleads guilty, fined five pounds, £ 1 6s 6d costs ; next case,’ they would be doing good to their fellow men, and not appear as they do now as allowing these illegal gambling dens whilst they have power to crush them. No double runners have been caught within the last week or so. Don’t think there is a diminution in the business. Oh, dear, no ! Suppose the boys in blue require a rest after their late King-street exertions in that direction ; or do the

football barrackers keep them too much occupied ? Now people have to look at a shilling with more care than they did a few years back, the question arises in many minds why our race books are so dear. The 6d. book is in vogue at some Victorian meetings, and it might easily be an accomplished fact in and around Sydney (except Randwick). The way our ponies are taught to stand when being measured, with their legs stretched out fore and aft, is absurdly apparent unfairness —equally as bad as if a recurit stood on the tips of his toes to get into the military. The ‘ Immovables,’ otherwise bookies. Whether they lose or win, the same spirits (not liquorally) flow just the same. There may be one or two who paint a deep red in language, but that is only natural. The majority of punters under a same stress of losing, put on faces only fit for following a funeral. Carnage, the more than half-brother to Carbine, is still highly thought of for the V.R.C. Derby, and is favourite both here and in Melbourne in the betting. Carnage has been taken with everything having a chance in the Melbourne Cup. Autonomy is relegated to Neotsfield harem for this season. He has been leased to the Hon. H. C. Dangar. By winning 26 races in 1892-93, Mr J. B. Clark, of syndicate fame, heads the list of successful owners with Glenloth assisted Mr M. Carmody so ably that although he only won three races, he stands second on the winning list with a little over There is a big drop to the next biggest winner Mr G. Davis, who won with 28 wins. Mr W. Kelso won 33 races and .£3,719, and Mr I T. Carslake heads the list for winning most races with 41. Album, another smart Queensland pony, is expected to take a trip to Sydney shortly. The much talked of and anxiously awaited meeting of the A.J.C. took place on Tuesday, and over 80 members attended. After the ballot, in which Messrs T. H. Want and H. Skinner were unsuccessful, the proposal for 6.7 as the minimum weight for handicaps was carried. The great pony question of Mr Macnamara’s proposing was lost on a test question, and the Government was beaten. Mr Mac then withdrew his other proposals. During the debate, strong evidence was adduced how scandalously ponies are measured in Sydney, and if the A.J.C. had gone diplomatically and systematically to work to endeavour to do away with this unfairness instead of rushing bull-at-a-gate style, good would have of come of it. As it is they have fallen ignominiously, and their present state is worse than if they had never mooted the subject. Proposal to reduce jockeys’ fees and to stop them from betting was withdrawn. A lot more important questions concerning the ‘ boys ’ could have occupied time better. The n.s. has been done away with, and if anyone wishes to race under any other name but his own, he has only to register (cost only £1 now) an assumed one. This rule will bring some interesting facts to light. A new rule compelling partnerships to be registered at the office of the club and dissolutions to be immediately notified to the secretary, was needed, and a deal more improvement would have been done had less mightiness been shown. Newcastle bookies have been getting into trouble again, and several were summoned this week for ‘loitering’ The ‘ move on ’ crusade has evidently taken a trip to the coal district. The Moorefield Pony Meeting (held in magnificent weather) gave a chance to the pony racing fraternity to congratulate one on the successful issue for them of the A.J.C. Meeting. The caterer for the club also benefitted. Kensington racecourse improves every meeting. It would have looked better under more auspicious weather last week. The accident in the Kensington Pony Handicap appeared very serious at first, but luckily the jockeys escaped little the worse. Ablard looked done for, and Ada 11. had to be shot. The latter was a good performer in Victoria, where she ran as Missile. Once more, could not a better source be found for jockey fines, etc., rather than their going lo swell the club revenues ? Matters are very lively on the training grounds, and the best of our N.S.W. horses are to be seen at regular work now. Horses that are going well, and appear being readied for events in the near future are Sunshine, Chatham, Alchemist (Gallagher riding), Luna, and

Birrumboo (Ellis up), Pharamond, Empire, Oxide, Paris, Donation, Bungebah, Ulric, and Ballater. These horses are all moving well. Moorefield Pony Meeting yesterday was in every way a success, and only led to one unpleasantness when the jockey Callaghan was suspended for the day for disobedience. The six events saw 105 competitors turn out, and the books had the worst of the deal, as at least four heavily backed ones received the judge’s fiat. Morpheus got back the money lately lost on him by winning the Welter, 14.2, from Guanaco, Mikado and twenty others. The Blakehurst Handicap was won by Volley, whose owner (a Goulburnite) has just blossomed out in Sydney as a racing man ; Little Wonder 2nd, Contempt 3rd. Eighteen others ran. The ‘Tiny,’ 13.2, was annexed by Little Elsie, Black Swan 2nd, Ena 3rd, and seventeen unplaced. A red-hot favourite in Lollypop was never in it. Darklight, whose name was an all right (with a wink) tip in town for the Galloway, won a good race by a neck from Economy (who should win the next time he starts) and Gladys. Nine unlucky ones. Mascotte 11. won the ‘ Ponies ’ from Lady Redfern, who is also running into form, and Nancv. Fourteen unsuccessfuls. The Tempe Handicap saw twelve starters, and Young Dudley won from Murilla and Tit-bit.

Three or four Melbourne ponies started at Moorefield yesterday, but none got placed. A fast pony named Lubra has arrived in the Metropolis from Narrandera. Doncaster (late of E. Keys’ stable), two Grandmaster fillies and a Waterloo filly leave to-day for Vancouver, B.C. Since the Echo put up the shutters, ‘ Quiz,' or Jack Jones, the well-known sporting writer, has started another ‘ pennyworth ’ in Sydney, wholly confined to his own department. We wanted another paper, but he might have found a more attractive and appropriate name than The Calendar. Still, good luck to him.

Evidently Alcides is going to try to repeat his last year’s County Purse win at the Hawkesbury Meeting.