Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 198, 10 May 1894, Page 6

Turf Topics.

By

Reviewer.

The Takapuna weights appear elsewhere. ’ “ Buff and Black ” hears that Rosefeldt is to be put over the sticks. General entries and acceptances with the Takapuna Jockey Club are due to morrow (Friday). According to the N.Z. Mail Pumau may not go to Australia after all. Clanranald is in work again. I trust Lunn will be able to make him stand a preparation for spring engagements. ” Mr J . Ellis has bestowed the following names on his yearlings, i.e., ch f by St. Clair—Lady Emma, Emmeline; br f by St. Clair—Hippona, Fortress. A letter re the Takapuna racecourse appears in the open column of the Review to which the attention of the Takapuna Jockey Club may well be invited. The weights for the Hurdles, Birthday and Tradesmens’ Handicap in connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club’s May Meeting appear in another column. The Rev. . Father Walter McDonald, a reverend gentleman who is always to the front in charity’s cause, donated is to the Garrett Fund through the Pakuranga Hunt Club. The secretary of the Canterbury Jockey Club has favoured me with a card containing the programme for the New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Meeting to be held on August 9th and 11 th. It is considered in the old country that in the event of the retirement from the Premiership of Lord Rosebery, the next Premier, who will more than probably be the Duke of Devonshire, will be just as enthusiastic a patron of the turf as the present Premier. The opinion of “ Rapier,” of the Sporting and Dramatic News, is that Cloister, who won last year’s Grand National Steeplechase and was •scratched for; the race this year, is the best ’chaser in the world.

The Witness says that the Nelson—Tres Deuce filly bought by Mr Mossman here is growing up well.

G-orge Wright left for Sydney on Tuesday last with a quartette of racers, viz., Quadrant, The Dancer, Acone, and Three Star. If purchasers can be found on the other side for The Dancer or Acone I don’t think they will come back here.

The anti-racing crusade started by the Victorian divine, the Rev. Marshall, has brought another parson, the Rev. Rofe, into the field. He says that “ it was well known that undue training spoilt horseflesh in England for dragoon or heavy cavalry service. The French prohibit betting, and since this has been effected the attendance has fallen away by tens or hundreds of thousands. So it could be seen how many attended for the sport. He had never been to a race meeting in his life, but during his residence in Melbourne he had experiences of the class of people who attended. He had never seen a more rascally, degraded, brutalised mob on God s earth than he had seen coming out of a second-class carriage at Caulfield. * * * People said racing improved the breed, of horses but it was noticed that those directly interested in the breeding of horses rarely attended race meetings.” As a Victorian who rarely visited a Victorian course without seeing such prominent breeders as Mr W. R. Wilson, Mr Donald Wallace, the Messrs Miller, Mr Wm. Long, Mr A. Yuille, Mr T. Clibborn and a host of others, I take the liberty of saying the Rev. Rofe talks what is commonly called “ bunkum.

The Duke of Westminster, with his usual luck, finds his best mare full of life at the advanced age of twenty-four years, with the result that he is now the possessor of a grand foal, own brother to the great Ormonde. The foal, an English paper is told, is even better than Ormonde was at the same age. Lily Agnes, who is the dam, has in truth had a great career, both on the racecourse and at the stud. The Duke is also the fortunate owner of a fine colt foal by Arklow, who is own brother to Ormonde, out of Angelica, who is own sister to St. Simon. It is difficult to say over which birth there was the more rejoicing, the own brother to Ormonde, or the nearly own brother to Orme. No wonder that with such blood as this the Duke of Westminister wins the Derby every now and again. It seems almost impossible for the public breeding establishments to compete against such opposition. No money would buy the mares, and the day seems to have gone by when a coming Derby winner might be picked up in a public sale for two or three hundred guineas. The nearest approach to it in the last twenty years was Sainfoin, who cost 55° guineas at the Queen’s sale.— Australasian.

Dan O’Brien has settled down at Randwick, and a Sydney writer, after visiting his place, writes :—“ He is building eight roomy loose boxes at ‘ Mount Vernon,’ with saddle, feed, and other rooms attached. The main building is surmounted by a large dome with moveable ‘ lights,’ so arranged as to draw off all foul airs and noxious vapours, so common to our climate in confined quarters in hot weather. The south-east wall (the weather side) has been built with an eye to the ‘ dirty sou’ easters.’ There is a nine-inch outer wall, four inches of space, and then another fourinch wall. This is calculated to totally arrest the damp. The yard and surroundings are fixed as only those who have seen the drawing-room-like training quarters of Maoriland can appreciate.”

The Rev. Marshall, a Victorian parson in crusading against gambling, advocates the introduction of the totalisator, concerning which Sydney Truth writes “It is peculiar to hear of a parson striving with the rulers and centurions in favour of such a huge gambling machine as the totalisator ! If this disciple of Calvin ever stood on a racecourse and watched the working of a bang-up tote, it is doubtful whether he would not recoil with horror from his erstwhile idol, and subsequently look upon the knights of the pencil as superior beings created for the protection of fallen humanity. A man can stroll through the paddock at its busiest without feeling absolutely impelled to have a wager. “ With the machine in full blast (writes the same journal) it is altogether different. The surging throng, struggling excitedly to get their money on, the temptation at sight of the board to back some friendless outsider for the sake of the enormous odds, the eager haste and glow of the punter-mob, the keen, constant clang of the register bell, all seem to combine to fever the watcher’s blood, and magnetise into life the slumbering (may be) but ever-present gambling spirit. Mr Marshall himself would find it hard not to dash into the thick of it and wrench and rip and tear with the rortiest - content if he could succeed in getting his thick ’un on the second favourite, to come struggling and perspiring out again with his clerical coat tom out at shoulder, and his clerical toes crushed agonisingly, but his clerical face beaming with triumphant self-satis-faction and his clerical fist clutching tight the mystic strip of cardboard, emblem of his pluck and choice. Racing may be, and too often is, rotten, but the interference of parsons and the introduction of the totalisator are not the means to cleanse it.”

Splendid weather, though a trifle warm (says the Marton Mercury) prevailed for the opening meet of the Rangitikei Hunt on Saturday, April 28th. The fixture was at Willowbank, Mr. Ingle’s property, and a moderate field, of between 20 and 30 assembled. Amongst those'present we noticed Messrs. D. G. Riddiford (Master), J. P. Lethbridge (Deputy Master), Foster - Pratt, J. G. Wilson, H. Wilson, R. H. Aidworth, and P. Wotton (whips), Keiller (2), Pryce - Jones, Sewell, Watson, G. Powles, R. Bryce, Schwabe, J. M. Johnson (hon. sec.), Mrs D. G. Riddiford, and the Misses Maunders (2), I. Cooper, and Keiller, A. H. Bill (huntsman), J. Hunt, J. Green, and J. Studholme. After drawing in vain for some time a hare was found in one of Mr Ingle’s paddocks, which gave a merry spin of about fifteen minutes, through Mr G. Death’s property, thence into Mr T. Death’s, and finally into Mr Coleman’s, where she was killed. The sun was too hot to allow a good scent. Several spills occurred, doubtless owing to the horses being a bit above themselves and not settled down to their work. Amongst those who got croppers was Miss I. Cooper, who received.a rather nasty shaking, but fortunately escaped serious injury.

Camoola is be treated to a year’s spell. Cadogan, who went to Australia from New Zealand in 1881, died recently in Queensland.

Chester and Catch’em were schooled over the hurdles on Saturday last, and shaped very well at the game. The stables which Dan O’Brien is building at Randwick are spoken very highly of by Sydney people. “ Mazeppa ” states that the subscription started on behalf of the widow of the late John Poole is being liberally subscribed to. A Sydney paper writes it is whispered that Mr S. H. Gollan will withdraw from the turf and devote himself to blood horse breeding. "Weights for the Grand National Hurdle Race and Great Northern Steeplechase appear elsewhere. Mr Evett has, I tkink, brought the horses very fairly together. Mr S. Hordern has named the two-year-old youngsters which he bought at Mr Morrin s last sale as follows B c Castor—Necklace, Cravat, and b c Castor —Frailty, Astronomer. Our Taianaki correspondent states that he has been informed that the jumper, Marquis of Tewkesbury, will probably be turned out for a couple of years on a farm near Waitara. The same correspondent writes that the local candidates for the Taranaki First Hack Derby, to be run next Boxing Day, are now being pushed along a bit m view of the now not far distant dates. The following officers have been elected for the Rangitikei Hunt Club President, Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R.; vice-presidents, Messrs W. Hammond and R. Aidworth ; master, Mr D. Ridditord; honorary secretary, Mr J. M. Johnston. The totalisator is, says the Rev. A. Marshall, a crusading Victorian divine, the only thing to stop excessive gambling. That’s why we don’t gamble in New Zealand, I suppose. Absurd. If anything encourages betting it’s the machine. Truth wants to know what fatted calf has the Bulletin roped to do its sporting stuff! Here’s a chunk out of last issue “ Quigley is open to box any I2st man in Australia. Laing and Dooley still cany on their paper warfare.” How in the name of boiled veal can Laing carry on a warfare when he is in his grave ! Why has the Auckland Racing Club removed the disqualification from Malabar ? This horse has been racing under unregistered rules and has consequently been disqualified. Now his name appears in connection with an Auckland Racing Club’s meeting. Why ? The animal has lately changed hands, but that should have nothing to do with the question. The stewards of the Wanganui Jockey Club have decided that the stakes in the First Hack Race run at the Autumn Meeting are to be paid over to the owner of Stray shot. Dandy and his nominator John Stevens are to be disqualified for life on the grounds of misrepresentation. The string taken to the Sydney side by George Wright are nominated as follows at the Sydney Turf Club races, to be held on May 24 and 26 : — Royal Stakes, 6 furlongs.—Quadrant, Acone, The Dancer; Nurserv Handicap, 5 furlongs.—Three Star ; Turf Club Handicap, i| mile.—The Dancer; Farewell Handicap, 6 furlongs.—Quadrant, Acone and The Dancer. The following are the winning payments in connection with the South Auckland Racing Club’s Autumn Meeting:—J. Muir ss, H. Windsor 15s, W. Stenning ss, R. W. Browne ss, J. ss, W. Roulston Zio, W. C. Ring po, C. Well 10s, D. McNicol /4 15s, R- C. Abbott 15s, G. W. Lawrence/4 15s. The entries for the Handicap Hurdles and Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase, to be run in connection with the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s winter meeting, will be found in another column. I notice there is not a single Auckland nomination for either event, which is not to be wondered at seeing that the particulars of the meeting were never advertised in Auckland. I know of two owners who intended nominating, but who were quite in the dark respecting dates, and so were taken by surprise at seeing the list of entries on Tuesday. The last issue of Sydney Truth to hand contains the following par“ Trainers Jimmy Kean —brother of clerk of the Randwick course, Joe Kean—and George Wright, have had a serious dispute over a money case. Kean alleges that he gave Wright some money to put on Royal Rose in the Autumn Handicap (Auckland), which she won in a rather sensational manner. Wright avers that Kean did not do so. Strange to say, their lawyers have induced them to settle privately.”

One of the most singular accidents met with by a horse that I ever heard of for some time (writes “ Rata ” in the Witness) was related by Cutts on the course a few mornings ago. He suspected one of his charges of being sore mouthed in some way, and upon examination he disccovered a triangular piece of gorse stick firmly fastened to the top of his mouth, nearly as far in as the throat. It did not prohibit the horse from eating, but it affected him somewhat when drinking. It must have been in his mouth for several days, too, as the wounded part was festering badly when the gorse was removed.

Writing of Mr D. O’Brien’s Randwick home and its surroundings Sydney Truth writes:— “ Perhaps the most interesting of all the collection, however, was a photograph of Mr O’Brien’s stable at Riccarton, Christchurch, with all the then occupants in front, conspicious amongst them being the mighty Carbine as a yearling. Anyone who knew this equine wonder as a king and conquerer on the turf would recognise the foal to be really young Carbine. The writer neverknew a man with any knowledge or admiration of horses who had seen the youngster in the field or in the ring who failed to recognise him as an invincible racehorse. There is also an oil painting of this wonderful horse. A most interesting collection, a bonny home, and a kindly host, make a call on Mr Dan O’Brien, once jockey, now trainer and owner of such as Loyalty and Launceston, a real pleasure, and one which we hope will be repeated ere long.,*

Crazy Kate will have the services of A. Williams in the saddle to-day for the Egmont Steeplechase.

The sale of privileges in connection with the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Autumn meeting will be held by Messrs Digby Tonks and Co. at the Brunswick Mart to-morrow.

“Borderer,” whois sufficiently recovered from his accident to resume work, gives his tips for the Egmont meeting, run to-day, in the “Anticipations ” column of the Review.

The Dunedin Jockey Club advertise the conditions of the Dunedin Stakes, to be run at their 1894 Spring meeting, and the Champagne Stakes to be decided at the 1895 Autumn meeting. The Dunedin Stakes will be five furlongs, and is endowed with 200 sovs, and the Champagne stakes is a six furlongs event worth 25c sovs. Nominations for these attractive events close on Monday, May, 28th, at 10 p.m.

The committee of the Waerenga-a-hika Jockey Club have arranged a very fair programme for their Queen’s Birthday meeting, to .be. held on the Makaraka racecourse on Thursday, May. 24. The leading event of the card will be the Birthday Handicap, the value of which has been fixed at 100 sovs, and the distance a mile and a quarter* The other items are : Flying Handicap of 6osovs, 6 furlongs; Hack Flying Race of 15 jsovs, 6 furlongs ; Handicap Hurdle Race of 00 sovs, if miles; Handicap Hack Race of 15 sovs, 1 mile ; Half-Mile Scurry of 10 sovs, 4 furlongs; and Forced Handicap of 40 sovs, 7 furlongs.