OUR SYDNEY LETTER

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 163, 7 September 1893, Page 6

OUR SYDNEY LETTER

(from our own correspondent.)

August 24. The consultation gazetting has happened at last, and the following are the names of those to whom letters, &c., will not be delivered : —Geo. Adams, Tattersall’s, Adam Bede, Gala, H. Alexander, Star, Confidence, M.Y. or Moloney, Manager c/o R. H. Atkinson, E. J. de Bomford, and H. T. Cosgrove of Tatts’ totalisator. That really means nine runners of sweeps and totes. But how about Robin Hood, Southern Cross, and Sir Joseph Banks ? Are they ‘ white-haired boys,’ or is their turn to come ? Already intimation has been published that one or two intend proceeding immediately to Queensland, and continue with their consultations, whereas others say ‘ business carried on as usual, apply personally—not by letter.’ As for the Queensland idea, that is likely soon to be quashed, as it is rumoured, and not without foundation, that the veto will soon be brought about by the sister colony. The ‘personally’ is now someone else’s duty to attend to, and unless the authorities either want to be thought worse of than they are, or get laughed at, then they must go to work at once. Try and imagine what a raid on a few of these places would mean if made on the closing eve of a big sweep. They confiscate everything belonging to the poor fan-tanners; where is the difference ? One is no more illegal than the other. The tote men on the streets have all the laugh on their side now, and one on being asked what he thought of the stop being put on, exclaimed, ‘ Better biz. for us, my boy.’ Newcastle had another meeting on Saturday, but although matters were interesting enough as far as racing was concerned, betting was a frost. No money about. Killetua, after running second to Miss Godiva in the Flying,

won the August Handicap, and two favourites in Brettaand Geebung credited their owners with the Boro and Welter Handicaps respectively. Notwithstanding the promise made by a sportsman living in the mining district to guarantee against any loss at these meetings, things will have to look more successful than they did on Saturday ere they will become permanent fixtures. Mining is very bad in the coal district —hence no money. For an owner to tell a sporting pressman that his horse (a favourite) is scratched for the next day’s racing, and then for the gee to go in and win either shows the owner is trying on a dodge or else he has little to do with the horse. It was tried on last week, but luckily the scribbler only takes his scratchings from headquarters, and did not ‘ fall in.’ A fast pony named Lubra has arrived in the Metropolis from the Narrandera district.

Cascade’s full pedigree is by Gainsborough out of mare by Lord of the Hills ; granddam out of Miss Vanguard, by Vanguard. The Lord of the Hills mare was given in exchange to Mr W. Curtis for a mare named Seagull.

Frank, the horse who was disqualified together with owner Duncan and jockey Golding for 12 months on Thursday last at Lismore for suspicious riding, must not be confounded with Mr E. Cousens’ Frank, which won the Show Handicap at Singleton on the same day. Every sportsman will hear with regret of the sudden death of Mr W. F. Cousens at the Royal Hotel on Monday last. He suffered from heart disease. Another raid was made on the totes last week, and the culprits appeared on Monday at the Central and Water Police Courts to go through the usual routine of paltry fining. A daily paper remarks, ‘ The proceedings were taken in connection with the attempt which is being made by the police to put down the betting by means of the totalisator at tobacconists’ shops in the city.’ So the idea of the police to get rid of the totes is always to run in the same names or from the same addresses, and let the ‘ gentlemanly totallers ’ disport themselves to their heart’s content. Twaddle! The public are not to be gulled like that. They know how the cat jumps, but what can they do ? I saw a policeman salute a ‘ toff’ tote runner the other morning. Doubles and totes must be a very profitable game, or else the ring men must not be doing as well as they wish. More than one ‘ Member of Tatts ’ is running cheap doubles, and one is not too proud even to take investments as low as a shilling. Camoola alone is worth going to Randwick to see as he does his pipe-openers. Donation is certainly wanted soon. He won the Spring Handicap last year at Tattersall’s Meeting from Vespasia, Gaytime, and 36 others in 2min carrying 6.10. Sunbeam was entered for the Canterbury Selling. Didn’t run. No one expected him to. Better than that. He only wants watching. The N.Z. horses in training at Randwick are doing satisfactory, and hope is springing up in the breasts of those in charge. They would be popular wins to see some of their names receive the judge’s fiat before they return to Maoriland.

Talking of jockey rings. Look on the hands of more than one of our crack jockeys and you would have a pain in the peepers if the sun were out. An uncomfortable drizzling day at Warwick Farm Pony Races on Tuesday. Darklight showed her usefulness by winning the Hurdles easily. Ivy getting well away never gave anything else a chance in the Flying, and won, pulling up from Queen of the Forest and Tresfeldt by Nordenfeldt —Tres Deuce. The latter was well backed down to evens. Vortex made another runaway race of the Farm Handicap, and Iloise eopied his example in annexing the ‘ Ponies.’ Mr J. Allen, the owner of Iloise, also owned Lethington, who beat Slygo, Ipi, and 11 other ‘ miniatures.’ He must have had a good day at good prices. Salt won the Warwick Farm Handicap from Signess, Gladys and 4 others, starting an even money chance. ‘ The public don’t keep my horse; why should I study the public by early scratchings ?’ said an owner the other day. Well, who does keep his horse, and where would he be if it were not for the public and their money ? Fancy betting is the order of the day. Those who have plenty of money bunch three or four horses together and bet at about evens. Those who have but little of 1 the ready’ take long shots, such as to a bob on the double. And still the bookies exist. Rather !

Gradually but surely trotting is being renovated, and it is with great interest the first Kensington Meeting next month is looked forward to. Mr E. de Lopez has landed a thoroughbred trotter in Sydney lately from America. Accidents to jockeys have been very and hardly a day passes now but one or more removes to the hospital are made. Gee, a jockey, received a severe wound on his leg at the last Botany races. Maimed jockeys might receive better assistance from their fund without injuring it much. The A.J.C.’s new rules come into operation at once, but the V.R.C.’s cannot take effect until the 13th prox. The entries for the A..J.C. Spring Meeting were only 113 less than last year. Not bad considering the state of affairs.

Albert is entered, and is evidently coming over to try his luck in the jumping line at the Spring Meeting. The entry of a horse by telegram received after time, but received at the G.P.O. before time of closing, ought to be accepted. More nice than wise, pe.haps, not accepting a telegraph entry at five minutes past four. A heavy fog interfered with training operations on Tuesday morning. Horses pushed along in their work include Elymas, Bodkin, Empire, Chatham, Oxide, Delaware, Antaeus, the New Zealand horses, ‘ Bungey,’ Paris, E.K.