MELBOURNE NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 197, 3 May 1894, Page 8

MELBOURNE NOTES.

(from our correspondent.) Melbourne, April 18. As far as regards Victoria it is quite evident the death knell of fashionable stakes has been sounded. However reluctant the executive of the Victoria Racing Club may have been to strip the Melbourne Cup of a great deal of its financial glory, yet the reduced resources of the club rendered it impossible to maintain themonetary status of their big race. Profits from the Spring meeting, have materially fallen away during the last four years, and for some time past the, cutting down of the ;£i 0,000 stake has been under consideration. By lowering it toooo the committee have done, a wise thing and one that has met with; public commendation. Looking at the race as a national event, I do not think that it will lose much of its prestige under the altered circumstances, seeing that it will still rank as one of the most valuable ■ stakes in the racing world. The winner of the big handicap next spring will receive while the second horse wills take £ 1000 and j£soo will go to the third. The nomination fee still remains at 5; sovs, but final acceptorswill only have to, pay 30 sovs instead of 50 sovs as formerly * required. There is a feeling abroad that unless the position of Victoria, improves, the big stake will have to be further reduced another thousand. Originally the ; Cup when instituted in 1861 was worth only £9lO, and it gradually grew in value until 1890 when the committee, puffed up with boom ideas, raised it to £lO,OOO, notwithstanding the fact that the previous year the profits on the 1 Spring meeting had, in comparison with the surplus of £25,355 realised in 1888,. decreased to £17,85k The pruning knife has also been used upon the other events set down for decision at the next Spring Meeting, which has been reduced by £7,250. In 1893 the gross value of the stakes run for during the four days meeting amounted to £20,600, as against £13,200 allotted for this year. The six events to be run on New Year’s Day have had £1,400 pruned off them. Of the Autumn Meeting the committee have as yet only dealt with the Champion and Ascot Oak Stakes, the former being reduced from £1,500 to £lOOO, and the latter from £lOOO to £6OO. - The work of selecting an eight-oared crew to represent Victoria in the intercolonial race, to be rowed on the Yarra early next month, has been entered upon* The constitution of the team as at present decided upon includes Maher, bow (Wendouree), Begg (Melbourne), C. Horsburgh (Yarra Yarra), Donald (Wendouree), Lindgren (Mercar.ile), Power (Albert Park), A. Chomley (Yarra Yarra), and Donald, stroke (Wendouree). The crew is not a heavy one, but possesses

power. Mr A. E. Stoddart,'who is selecting the • English team to visit Australia next season, announces that the following players have accepted :—F. G. J. Ford, Middlesex ; Albert Ward, J. Briggs, Lancashire ; Peel, Yorkshire; H. Phillipson, Northumberland; Attewell, Nottingham. He is endeavouring to induce L. H. Gay, the Cambridge wicket keeper, and the best in England, bar McGregor; to come. F. S. Jackson, the Yorkshire fast bowler, is regarded as a certainty. Another fast bowler and first-class batsman have to be procured. The combination promises to be a very strong one. We are on the eve of closing the cricket season. At present East Melbourne and North Melbourne are batting for the pennant championship, for which Melbourne and the other leading clubs have been hopelessly beaten. Last Saturday North Melbourne, who started their first innings on the previous Saturday, had lost five wickets for 396. Of that total H. Stuckey had contributed 14.1 when he was stumped, and J. E. Bean not out, had In connection with boxing matters I may mention that Tut Ryan, in view of Dan Oreedon’s early return to Australia from America, has already commenced to ‘ talk fight.’ He states that he is ready to make a match with the clever middle weight directly he lands. j At Mick Nathan’s gymnasium on Saturday evening last Harry Mace, weighing 10st 121 b, won on a foul his fight with the Sydney light weight Mick McCarthy, 9st 41b The latter in the eighth round inadvertently upper-cut his man when separating from a clinch McCarthy now wants to have another ‘ go ’ at Mace. The world’s record for a ten mile walk has been lowered by 3} minutes at Ab bony.

and a strapping athlete named Clark, m a match with Thomas, completed the distance in ihr 11 min 30sec. Clark stands 6ft 2in in height, and can cover five feet in a stride.

April 24. The gross indifference —or does it amount to criminal negligence ?—with which honorary stewards perform the duties imposed upon them was strikingly illustrated in the Hayes— Australasian libel ca«e Three V.A.T.C. stewards, Messrs Herbert Power, Norman Wilson and Sydney Smith distinctly concurred in the opinion that Hayes when riding Gladstone in the Oakleigh Handicap at Caulfield in February 1893, made room for Davies on Premier to get up to his mount. Directly Premier got near his girths Gladstone suddenly swerved and jammed him upon the rails, that move of course spoiling Premiers chance of winning. The three stewards considered that Hayes had deliberately attempted to foul Premier; but singular as it may seem those personages did not deem it advisable to hold an inquiry into the matter ! Counsel for the plaintiff committed a blunder in not seeking to know their reason for permitting the incident to go by without comment, as it was a most important' point. By the way, in one respect I may mention that this case was most unfairly reported by the four metropolitan papers. While every detail of Hayes’ fast life was promptly chronicled no mention was made of the unsavoury evidence elicted from Mr Fraser, the V.R.C. stependiary steward, as to some ‘ notable’ incidents in his earlier career. That evidence, so extremely spicy, was suppressed in the interests of the moral status of the Victoria Racing Club. According to a rough calculation Hayes’ cost in this case amounted to while the defendants disbursed about Fdr his ten days services Mr Purves, council for the defence pocketed a cheque for 300 gns. A singular accident befel the gelding Quickshot, a well-known provincial per- , former at Donald last week. For the purpose of giving the animal a ball, his tongue was grasped by his trainer. Suddenly rearing Quickshot sent his teeth through his tongue, completely severing aboilt six inches of it. The hdrse is now feeding satisfactorily. Athree-year-old brown colt by Trenton out of Henbone, was sold in Sydney on Monday to Mr W. R. Delander for 85 gns. “ If at sometime these suburban meetings were abolished by legislation or otherwise, it would, I think, make a great improvement in the industry and • mortality of the people. One cannot fail to notice the character of the people who attend these races. They appear to be a respectable class of young men, who, instead of attending closely to their work go to try and win a few halfcrowns by backing horses. If they begin "that way they will sooner or later end in prison.” Chief Justice Madden on the class of people who attend suburban .meetings.. 11l luck seems to stick to ‘ Ike ’ Foulsham’s stable. His first principal loss was'Meli, runner-up to Camoola in the Victorian Derby, who died through breaking a blood vessel. Then followed -Poteena, and the other day Garcon, a particularly brilliant colt who beat Portsea, Sainfoin, Tarcoola, Patron and others at Flemington at the opening of the season, slipped up while exercising at Caulfield. He fell over and ricked his back, and paralysis ensuing he soon succumbed. As a St. Albans yearling Garcon went to Mr W. Sayer for 1400 • gns., but subsequently in company with Wild Rose was purchased by a Mr ‘ South,’ at present in England. In every respect a fine handicap horse, and Foulsham anticipated scoring a surprise with Garcon next season, and his loss therefore was severely felt by his trainer. It is said that the gelding Titan cost gold-diggerßrodribb during his ephemeral career as his owner some Of . course Mr Donald Wallace has been the subject of much sympathy over his reverse which calls to mind the fact that ten years ago he also lost a fine animal in Le Grand, who faltered while doing a slow canter on the sand at Flemington. He was quickly pulled up, but died the same day. Megaphone, too, never recovered from the injuries he received when he stumbled in the Melbourne Cup. Quite a lull in suburban races, and as a consequence the Epsom meeting last* week drew an unusually good attendance, a result attributed to the fact that an interval of a week had elapsed between it and the previous fixture. Seven E events were set down for hearing, inJfet finding a Time Handicap Trot of two For thia race'there waa a large

field of starters. The winner turned up in Whistler 11, a remarkable pony for his inches —13.2. He, with 25 seconds behind, covered the distance in 5 min 58 secs, easily beating off Tom King (32 secs behind), ridden by Will Whitburn, of the Alhambra. Donald (30sees) finished third. The two last horses were most fancied.- Teddy Power’s Warpaint scored a win in the Mordialloc Handicap, beating The Friend, Devon, Lady Nelson, Linburn, and others, while Nobody, a 6 to 1 shot, disposed of that fast mare Outcast by a neck in the Epsom Handicap. May Day finished third. Duke of Kent won the Handicap Hurdle Race, Templestowe the Welter Handicap, Broker the Handicap Steeplechase, and Eucalyptus the Selling Race. A strong effort is being made to instal Dreamland as the winter favourite for the Derby. Last spring in the Maribyrnong Plate, his first and only appearance, he showed himself to be a galloper of rare capability, as in a easy manner he deposed of Moorite. Cobbitty, Forward, Dryden, and others who have since then performed so well. Dreamland is by Trenton out of Nightmare, dam of Mentor, a Melbourne Cup winner and also sister to Commotion. In breeding, therefore, he holds a slight advantage in the respect of stammina over Moorite, whose family connections are more suggestive of pace. Powerfully built and muscular, there is no doubt Moorite possesses an ability to stay, as witness the manner in which he beat over at level weights in the Oakleigh Plate in the fastest time on record. He was carrying a rolb penalty when he struck his colours to Dreamland in the Maribyrnong Plate, and I am confident that should he meet his victor at level weights in the tussle for the Blue Ribbon he will turn the tables. Forward will also have a good deal to say in this classic race, while Bonnie Scotland is m every respect one of the coming candidates. Destiny, Carlton, Cobbitty, and Dryden also deserve consideration. Despite what the critics have to say about Dreamland, I fancy Moorite, fit and well, should be returned the winner of the coming Derby. C. Etteridge, the well-known jockey, has, I believe, seceded from I. T. Carslake’s stable.

It is said that a syndicate, consisting of Messrs W. R. Wilson, W. Bailey, W. T. Jones and R. Orr, own a yearling colt by Trenton from Lady Disdain, an inmate of J. Scobie’s stables at Ddwling Forest.

Some contemporaries, it appears, were too previous with the announcement that the New South Wales branch of the Australian Bookmakers’ Association had collapsed. Mr James Coppard is now the president of the branch, and, just to show that it is still alive, arrangements have been made fdr the holding of the annual picnic. Mr Martin O’Loughlin, the well-known horse owner, whose ill-health I referred to some time ago, is reported to be improving.

The favourites for the Adelaide Cup, which is to be run next week, seem to be the victims of untoward circumstances this year. Titan led off with a sensational death, and now news has come to hand that Vakeel, who subsequently headed the betting quotations, has broken down so badly that it is. thought he will never race again. The chances of Port Admiral or Broken Hill appropriating the Cup have consequently improved. However, I think the winner is more likely to turn up in Sailor Prince or Quality. At the recent meeting of the West Australian Turf Club the running of the local horse Carbine was so suspicious that the stewards disqualified the horse, his trainer Towton, and Cohen the jockey for nine months.

Very satisfactory entries have been received for the V.R.C. Queen’s Birthday meeting. The Steeplechase has attracted 28 horses. Handicap Hurdle Race 27, Royal Handicap 41, Birthday Handicap 20, and the Two-year-old Handicap 19. Mr R. Hayslead, of Wagga Wagga (N.S.W.) recently applied to the Albury R.C. to hold an inquiry into the alleged irregular riding of the jockey Thomas Swann in the Flying Handicap when the Wagga mare Camilla sustained such injuries that she had to be destroyed. The local committee held that under the A.J.C. rules no protest could be entertained unless lodged when the jockeys were weighing in, a course which had not been followed in this case. In view of the importance of the question at issue the A.J,C., on being appealed to, decided that the committee could hold [an inquiry, and if the offence was proved

the offender could be punished without the race in any way being affected. For the purpose of catering for the Sydney pony and galloway fraternity a syndicate intend to reopen the old course at Liverpool, which is situated about 23 miles from the metropolis. Dan O’Brien’s recent arrivals from Maoriland—Response, the winner of the Dunedin Champion Stakes, and the two-year-old Philson —have made their appearance on the Kensington track, and their style of moving has met with the approval of the touts. The Canterbury Park meeting on Saturday was productive of several protests. The Tasmanian-owned horse Sterling won the Hurdle Race, but a protest was entered against the race being awarded to him on the ground that the horse has taken part in unregistered meetings in Victoria. Sterling has done so, but the disqualification was removed last year, and the objection was therefore dismissed. In the Park Stakes, when Gray’s starting machine was used, owing to the barrier rising too soon, the horses got away to a false start. Four horses covered the distance, Avonmore passing the post first. The start was not a proper one, and the race was run over again. This time Coronet won, but the owner of Avonmore protested against the former horse being declared the winner. The objection was dismissed, and the case is now to go before the A.J.C. On the ground of interference, the owner of Cadet protested against Queensborough, winner of the Canterbury Handicap, but it was dismissed. Duke of York, recently sold by Mr “J. B. Clarke” to Mr W. Kelso, appropriated the Flying Handicap. Edward Schaafe, the jockey, met with a singular, though not serious, accident while proceeding along Market-street, Sydney, the other evening. He was struck on the side of the head by a nearly spent bullet. As Schaafe heard no report, it was assumed the bullet had been fired from a pistol some distance off. Dooley, of Sydney, wants to “ box anyone in Australia, Tut Ryan preferred.” Tut Ryan is already on to him. At the Cumberland Athletic Club on Saturday evening Maher won the gst competition. of Ballarat, and Jim Qiugley are to box again. Mr Joe McKean, the well-known clerk of the course, has received permission from the A.J.C. to train horses at Randwick. When he was appointed to the position of clerk, McKean had to discontinue training. The value of the Grand National Steeplechase at Caulfield is, I believe, to be reduced from /’lOOO to This is very strong! At a recent meeting in New South Wales (writes *< Terlinga ”) the reversals of form were enough to make a man’s hair stand on end. At last, the stewards determined to do something. They held an inquiry, and arrived at the conclusion that the conclusion that the connections of a certain horse must be cautioned. The president of the club, a man of some backbone, had to convey this decision to the parties concerned, and he did so in these words, “ Look here, you blackguards, my stewards have told me to give you a caution, and let me tell you, that if I had my way, it would be a long time before you got another chance of pulling a horse.”

The result of the Viceroy’s Cup, India’s principal event, will be awaited with much interest in Australia. Captain J. Orr Ewing, of the 16th Lancers, who, after 12 months leave of absence in England, is returning to India, taking with him the fast mare Metallic, by Sweetbread —Bell Metal. With this mare he.hopes to win the Viceroy’s Cup, and as the Melbourne horse Lord Hopetoun is also in for that race it will be interesting to watch their relative performances when they meet on neutral ground. Over a short distance Lord Hopetoun, when in a good temper, is a brilliant performer, and he should about win the Cup, as the distance, a mile and three-quarters, is not too far for him. Metallic has won over a dozen races in England, including the old Cambridgeshire Handicap, Huntingdonshire Stakes (twice).

Sydney handicapping is causing a tremendous amount of discontent amongst the N.S.W. owners, concerning which Sydney Truth writes : “ Unless the existing tide of discontent is soon stemmed, our metropolitan racing will be sacrificed for the gain of country meetings or those'of other colonies, and as it is a losing game to own racehorses, it is quite probable that this dissatisfaction will result in a considerable augmentation of the rank of cab horses, for some of the animals now in training will never be able to find a sane buyer.”