Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 April 1894, Page 7

Turf Topics.

By Reviewer.

The Workman goes to the slud next season. Auckland Trotting Club’s races at Potter’s Paddock next Saturday. The Australian racer Repudiation has been sold tp go to India. Mr Evett’s weights for the South Auckland Meeting appear elsewhere. Two New Zealand horses, Dormeur and Alice, won the two chief events at the Portarlington (a Hobson’s Bay summer resort) meeting.

J - J. B. Williamson’s trio, Killaloe, Eve, and Gay Deceiver, have been scratched for all Avondale engagements. Mr Crozier, the owner of the South Australian pair, Vakeel and Fulham, has determined to retire from racing, and will shortly sell his stud.

There are two promising colts at the Wapiti breeding establishment in the shape of Admiral Hawk (by Nelson—Vendetta) and The Master (by Nelson—The Maid). “Terlinga” has came to the conclusion that Loyalty’s forte is sprinting. But lam satisfied for all that, that the St. George—Fair Nell colt will yet beat the "best of them in a big long distance handicap. . A Pony and Trotting Club has been formed at Hamilton, and the inaugural meeting will be held on May 24th at Colt’s farm, Hamilton East. The club will race under the jurisdiction of the Auckland Trotting Club. Mr Knight’s handicaps for the Avondale Jockey Club’s meeting will be found in another Column. The work will be found to have been carefully carried out, and in no instance can a charge of “ pitchforking ” be preferred against the weight adjuster. The owner of Belmont considers the Avondale handicapper treated his horse very harshly, and has withdrawn him from the meeting. Personally I fail to see where the severity of the handicap comes in. Patron’s full sister, Patroness, is expected by Freelance ” to blossom into as brilliant a flyer as her brother. Mr Purches has a pretty lively trio in Portsea, Patron and Patroness. .“ In accounting for the present prosperity of Maoriland it would be unfair to overlook the * tote.’ Through its agency the money spent on racing is returned to the people instead of keeping'bookmakers to parade their wealth and make the grand tour ’Ome.”— Bulletin. The reason'.why Hales, the premier Victorian jockey, was not riding at the A.T.C. meeting was because the leading N.S.W. Club bars jockeys who. own horses. They have a rule that “No licensed jockey shall own or have any interest or ■harv in atiy ' ■> 11 • -

The sum of was offered for Quadrant last week, but Mr Bobbett would not part with the son of Robinson Crusoe—Radiance for less than /■’So. Nominations close at the A.R.C. office tomorrow by 8 p.m. for the Northern Champagne Stakes (1895; of 200 sovs, 6 furlongs. Tom Taylor’s swollen foot and a scrape along Pegasus’ quarter explains the sudden stop made by Major. George’s colt in the A.R.C. Autumn Handicap. The colt was going very strongly when he was railed. The Autumn meeting of the South Auckland Racing Club will be brought off on the Claudelands racecourse Hamilton, on Monday, the 21st inst. The fixture being on St. George’s Day should induce a large attendance of the general public. The Avondale Jockey Club are to be congratulated on the excellent nominations received last Friday for their Autumn meeting, to be held on the 14th inst. The weights will be found in this week’s issue, and the acceptances will close tomorrow (Friday). Col. North has taken Russely, an establishment famous, writes the Spirit of the Times, in former days as the training grounds of such noted horses as Oxford, Thormanby, Dundee, and Doncaster, for a term of years. Sir Matthew, a five-year-old son of Sir Modred and Embroidery, died at Lexington (U.S.A.) last ironth. Sir Matthew’s best performance was a seven furlong win in imin in which he beat Merry Monarch, Jub’en, and others. “Jack ” Davidson, the well-known metallician, returned by the s. s. Gairloch on Saturday last after an absence of about two months, during which time he attended the Egmont, Taranaki, Wanganui, Napier Park, Tarakina, and other race meetings held on the coast. Johnny, besides looking blooming, has increased his banking account considerably. Donald Wallace must have made a pot of money over Titan lately. He won over the Chester gelding in two of the V.R.C. Autumn events, and he supported Titan to a very fair extent for the Cumberland Stakes. The race, by the way, completely explodes the idea that Titan is an indifferent one over a distance. That brilliant miler, Marvel, has also lengthened in his work, judging by the big second he ran to Titan. It is said that Sir John Astley, one of the best all round sportsman England has ever produced, is about to publish his memoirs under the title “ Fifty Years of My Life.’’ Sir John has been a member of the English Jockey Club since 1869. and having been behind the scenes in all the great sporting events of the past 50 years, his turf reminiscences should be of great interest. The results of trotting in America up to date show that twenty-three trotters have done the mile in 2.10 or less. The top-sawyers are, Nancy Hanks, 2.4, trotted at Terre Haute, Indiana, September 28th, 1892 ; Directum, 2.51; Stamboul, 2.71; Alex, KrembHn and Orion, 2.7 f each; Martha Wilks, 2.8. Writing’ of Maxim and Sir Modred in the Spirit of the Times “Observer ” thus compares them: ‘Both are of equal size in height, about 15.2 apiece. But Maxim shows more substance. He is a very short-legged, deep-boded, muscular horse with great length. In describing the difference in appearance between these two Australians and the American bred stallions it may be said the former show more bone, with great depth of shoulders and girth, tremendous knees and hocks, very close to the ground, with the best looking kind of feet, and neat heads, with good muscular necks well placed in their shoulders.” The Australian mare Candid was recently beaten by a head in a mile race at San Francisco, which took imin 44|sec to traverse. A ’Friscan writer commenting upon this mare remarks, “ The race shows how good a mare the Australian Candid is. She is a grand-looking specimen of the thoroughbred, and it must be remembered has given weight away every time she has started, as although credited with being a four-year-old, she is in reality but a month or two over three years, foaling time in Australia being in November. This is a matter that is worthy of and has received some discussion, whether because of the disparity of date of foaling time, Australian-bred horses racing in America should not receive seme allowance.”

Writing of the Australian Stromboli now in the States, “Hidalgo,” the American turf journalist has the following :—“ Imported Stromboli is the sensational horse of western America just at the present writing. In the last two races he ran he won in imin I3|sec for six furlongs, and imin for a mile, and both on a dead slow track, He gave weight to every horse in the race but Nomad, who carried 1151 b and shut up like a jack-knife at six furlongs, when the big brown fellow collared him I have been trying to get P. J. Dwyer to buy him. They only want io,ooodol. for him, and that is no money at all for him if he will stand up for two races more. So far the big fellow has shown no signs of lameness, and it is to be regretted that he is not in either the Brooklyn or Suburban Handicaps, each a ten furlongs. I really do not believe there is a horse in America that can bea t him two miles at weight-for-age, unless it be Clifford or Tammany.” The declaration of the weights for the Avondale Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting has not been received with unmixed satisfaction. I consider the weighting, with one or two exceptions, very fair indeed. There is certainly an absence of the very glaring errors noticeable in recent handicaps. Belmont’s owner has withdrawn his horse, although I fail to see why, and J. B. Williamson’s trio Eve, Killaloe and Gay Deceiver have also dropped out. The latter was certainiy unfairly treated. After a hurried glance through the weights the following horses strike me as possessing good chances of scoring :—Maiden Plate, Ladybird, St. Patrick and Dorothy ; Hurdle Race, Marquis of Tewkesbuiy, Fishmonger and Ika Vuka; Maiden Steeplechase, Tattler, Little Tom and Platch; Autumn Handicap, St. Clements, First Nelson and Master Pat ; Waitakerei Handicap, Quadrant, Ben Godfrey and Sunbeam ; Steeplechase, Fishmonger, Crazy Kate and Fright; Shorts Handicap, St. Clements, Tingara and Dorothy ; Pony Race, Little Tom, Reiland Carbuncle.

Helensville races next Saturday. First race starts at 12.30 p.m. Mr Garrett’s old hunter Defamer was sold at Jack Rae’s sale last Saturday for/lj ios. The handicaps in connection with the South Auckland Racing Club’s meeting appear in another column. The name of Fanny Fair was erroniously omitted from the weight list in connection with the Helensville Cup. Her weight is 7.8. Folly was in rare form at the Waipa Meeting. She won *he treb’e, the Cup, Flying Stakes, and Kibikihi Plate. Through an oversight on the part of the handicapper Omata has not been weighted for the Avondale Hurdle Race Mr Knight will kindly correct this erior as soon as possible. Mr Chirnside of Werribee Park, Victoria, announces that the Newminster Park sires for the coming season will be Newminster, Zalinski and Vengeance. Newminster’s price will besogns., Zaliniski’s services may be obtained for sogns., and Vengeance, the winner of the Caulfield and Australian Cups, will serve at Isgns. “ Borderer’s ” anticipations for the Potter’s Paddock Trotting Meeting are set out in another column. To try and name the winners in “ once ” I would put them thus :—Maiden Pony, Maxim; Steeplechase, Effie; Stewards’ Trot, Black Oats ; Class Trot, Yum Yum ; Novel Trot, Spreydon Lad; Harness Trot, Albert Victor; March Handicap, Gillie. I notice St. Clements’ name is starting to appear in mile races, which looks as though the St. Leger —Satanella horse is something more than a furlong runner. If he could get bis mile at the pace he can cut out five furlongs he would be a hummer. The five furlong go he did at Ellerslie, viz.— 1.2|, would be equal to a mile in 1.40. To account for Titan’s recovery and reversal of form there are (writes the Bulletin) several queer stories. One is that the gelding, as he got old, used to hang back on hearing other horses behind him. To cure this habit his ear drums were pierced, with the result that he again began to forge ahead. A more probable yarn is that the horse was “ got at ” soon after being purchased by Mr Brodribb, and did not recover for a long time from the dose administered. “ The Admiral” remarks that the Selling Race at Albury had a curious termination. A quartet started — Redwood (who was made a decided favourite), Bridal Wreath, Paddy, and The Gift. In the first round the rider of the Gift used his whip freely on the rider of Redwood, and the latter unfairly crossed The Gift in the straight in the run home. The stewards met and disqualified both horses, and ordered the riders to stand down for the meeting. Unfortunately, the third horse had not weighed in, and, as the only other starter was fonnd not to be a “ district ” horse, the stewards had perforce to declare the race void, and to return the money invested on the machine.

The Nelson—Tenambra colt, which was reserved from the last Wapiti blood stock sale owing to an injury which one of the youngster’s fetlocks was suffering from, has improved wonderfully since he was turned out, and the unsightly “ leg ” which disfigured him at Christmas is fast disappearing. The youngster is beautifully built and should his leg completely recover, this halfbrother to Raglan and full brother to Pegasus should more than repay the care and attention which is being bestowed upon him. Commenting upon Bluefire’s Challenge Stakes win “Mazeppa” writes Bluefire put up a great performance in the Challenge. She drew back in fright as the starter brought down his flag with a switch, and bored Teredina on to the rails, this pair thus losing six or seven lengths. How she got up I cannot make out. It was a phenomenal run. Mason is very proud of the win, not only because he trained the filly, but because he bought the dam Sapphire, by The Drummer, for Mr Stead. Bluefire was a very little foal, and unpromising altogether. Her legs were as crooked as possible, and for six weeks they were kept in bandages to get them straight.” The complaint in most of the Colonies is that we have too much racing, but Mr J. L. Purves, the sporting Queen’s Counsel of Victoria, holds quite the opposite view. In announcing his candidature for a seat on the Committee of the V.R.C., Mr Purves intimates that one of the principal planks of his platform will be the proposal that the two chief clubs, the V.R.C. and V.A.T.C., shall have much more racing than they do at present. He is prepared to advocate that meetings be held at Flemington and Caulfield on the Saturday of alternate fortnights, and that the amount of prize money on each day be not less than

There is a vast difference between The Workman of to-day and The Workman of a fortnight prior to last Auckland Summer meeting. Then he was a mass of muscle and trained to a hair ; now he roams a Wapiti paddock with all his condition gone and no ambition in life save rolling on the ground and exulting in the cessation of his work. Since the morning of his breaking down he has been turned out in one of Major George’s paddocks with the result that his leg is mending fast. He would be perfectly fit for the track before next season but his owner has decided to give him a turn at stud work before again putting the Wapiti colours on his back. The Woikman will, next season, be open to public sei vice, and a good many breeders will doub Jess make use of him.

The publication of the results in connection with the 1893 winning sires in the United States shows the Australian Sir Modred in glowing colours. The money earned by his get last year places him in the position of second sire of 1893. The most successful of his get was the two-year-old Sir Excess (dam Dixianne). who won 22,907 dollars n Ith four firsts, three seconds and three thirds out of eighteen starts. T„e three-year-old colt Comanche was next best with 14,335 dollars for seven firsts, nine seconds and seven thirds out of thirty-four starts ; and Dr. Hasbrouck takes third position with 13,970 dollars for twelve firsts, two seconds and three thirds for twentyone races. During the year Sir Modred had fifty-nine starters running for him, and out of 1119 races his get secured 215 firsts, 160 seconds, 180 thirds, and won in all 164,367 dollars.

A racing club is being formed at Eltham. . The fee for Iroquois, the American stallion, has been fixed for 1894 season at 2500 dollars. Capital acceptances and general entries have been received for the Bell Block meeting to be held on the 12 th inst. The secretary of the A.R.C. intimates that the disqualificatiion of the horse Arawa or Emmett, and the jockey James Malone, has been removed. “ Rapier,*’ of the Sporting and Dramatic News, is inclined to name Mr McCalmonl’s colt Racon*, teur (by St. Simon — Plaisanterie) as the best two-year-old in England. The Auckland Racing Club possesses the unenviable distinction of being the only Metropolitan Club in New Zealand that has not a telegraph line connecting its course with the city. In this respect the A.R.C. is miserably behind the times. Mr Robert Garrett, one of the most genial and most straightforward of Auckland sportsmen, joined the great majority yesterday. Mr Garrett was h’ghly esteemed by his friends, and it was with sincere pity and sorrow that they heard of his decease. The Wellington Racing Club have received splendid entries for their combined Autumn and Steeplechase meeting to be held on May 2nd and 3rd, and a most successful gathering should result. Northern, Southern and Coastal owners are all well represented. Nominations for the Egmont winter meeting will be found in the Weight column of the Review. Weights will be declared on or about the 24th inst. Acceptances and general entries in connection with the Bell Block meeting also appear in this issue. The sentence of three months impHsonment' passed upon “Gala” for sweep promoting at Sydney has been altered to a fine of and sureties for good behaviour. Concerning which the Bulletin writes—The difference which has been made by the law between the N.S.W..sweepmakers constitutes a gross scandal, and the public, as is usual where obvious favouritism is officially shown, are not slow to attribute definite motives and point their fingers at those apparently concerned in the job. The Ladies’ Bracelet and Hunter’s Welter Races have been withdrawn - from the Auckland Racing Club’s winter programme, and the committee have added the following races in their stead: — a Pony Handicap Hurdle Race each day of 50 sovs, second horse to receive 10 sovs ; from the stakes. Entrance 1 sov, and acceptance 1 sov each; for ponies 14.2 and under; over six flights of hurdles ; one mile and a half. ‘

The results of the Te Au Waikato races, were as follows : — Maiden Handicap, one mile. —- Richmond, 7.7, I; Volunteer, 8.0, 2; Sambo, 6.7,.3. Te Au Waikato Cup, two miles.—Bob, 9.0, 1; Richmond, 8.0, 2 ; May, 8.0, 3. Pony Race, one mile.—Lulu, 7.7, 1 ; Kirika, 7.10, 2 ; Little Harry, 7.7, 3. Kiwitahi Stakes, threequarters of a mile.—Manuka, 8.0, I ; Bob, 8.7, 2; Tinetia, 7.7, 3. Hurdles, two miles.—Papapa, 11.0, I; Kapai, 9.10, 2; Makanihi, 8.0, 3. The Consolation was won by Earnest. I have received the card of the Dunedin Plumpton Coursing Meetings, to be held at Forbury .... Park Racecourse under the management of the Dunedin Jockey Club in May, June, July and August of this year. On May 2nd, 3rd and 4th the Challenge and Consultation Stakes will be • decided; the Forbury Cup and St. Leger are fixed for June 6th, 7th and Bth ; the Waterloo ; , Cup and Bracelet Stakes will be run off on July 4th, sth and 6th ; and the Champion, Trial and Consolation Stakes will be decided on August Ist, 2nd and 3rd.. Sportsmen who intend visiting the Helensville race meeting on Saturday next may be reminded that a special train wifi leave Auckland for Helensville at 9.20 a.m., Newmarket at 9.30, Mount Eden at 9.40, Avondale at 9.55, and will reach Helensville at 11.50. The return journey will be commenced from the course at 6 p.m., and Auckland will be reached at 8.10. A special train will . also leave Helensville for the racecourse at 12,10,.-' p.m., .eturning at 5.20 p.m. Ordinary fares will” be charged. <

A letter appeared in the daily press a few"] days ago inveighing against the “unfairness” which the Auckland Trotting Club were guilty of - towards the Helensville Club in postponing' their meeting from last Saturday to next Saturday, , where the unfairness comes in I fail to see. It’s 1 a pretty large order to expect a Metropolitan Club to hold their meeting on a miserable rainy day, when they would in all probability make a. big loss, merely because a country club meeting was announced for the following Saturday. The trotting meeting will have no more effect upon 1 the Helensville meeting than the latter will have • upon the Potter’s Paddock gathering.

The travelling correspondent of the Review writes that the Nile case has been decided in favour of Mr Corrigan, the owner of the horse in question. Nile won the Consolation Handicap at Oeo, but was protested against by the owner of the second horse on the -ground that Eva, who rode Nile, was a disqualified jockey. The protest has been dismissed by the Taranaki Jockey Club on the grounds that Eva’s disqualification was never officially gazetted and that Nile’s owner was not aware of Eva’s disqualification. Nile’s backers therefore receive A3l 10s for their sovereigns.