OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 207, 12 July 1894, Page 3

OUR SYDNEY LETTER.

[By

Cardoness.]

s Wednesday, July 4. Matters have come to a climax, and the toteman, double man, and shop bettor have come down with a thud. Only yesterday three tote and double shops were raided, printing machines (which have been part and parcel of the biz) were confiscated.

The beginning of the end has come. The bookie will live we know-, but the filching toteman and the short odds double man —their days are numbered. The billiard heat between Lyons and Grimwood caused a great deal of interest. The former showed splendid form, but the latter never seemed to get a mastery over the roll of the balls.

Country horses are showing splendid form in Sydney, and further consignments are expected shortly. Two or three from Tam worth way. Eighty-six horses started in four races at Warwick Farm on Saturday. Only one favourite won. Swagman and his owner was called up to explain the horse’s running a fortnight ago. The starting machine was used .for all the races, giving a satisfaction seldom witnessed when the man dropped the flag. Twenty horses faced the starter for the Flying, and although Punchestown was heavily supported, Acone eventually displaced him in the betting. The race was a slow one, but the finish up the straight was worth witnessing. Punchestown received the verdict, although Thespian was generally thought to have won—under the judge’s box; in any case few had doubts but what he should have been placed before Blue Blood.

The Welter Mile attracted seventeen horses ridden chiefly by amateurs. Mr Wells had an easy ride on lowoona/ the sister to Jeweller, and without bustling her, she won“easilyi from Rostellan and Mirror. Amateur : riders again filled all three places, and they have much to thank Mr Rowe for in consistently bringing these races before the public. The Selling Race as usual was an unsatisfactory event from the sportsman’s point of view, the . even money favourite Plain Bill winning easily from Insignia Rex and three others.

The chief event drew out twenty horses, Pilot Boy being again considered the dandy. King Orry, well backed at 6’s, shot away immediately the gate lifted, and keepingjiis lead he won easily by two lengths from Elk, with Pilot Boy running as game as a pebble under her welter into third place. Two to one in a field of 27 is a short price to accept about a country horse, but the connection around Swagman when they backed him down to that figure for the welter, made a hack show of his Jield

from end to end, and was followed home by a clinker in Ebony, and Punchestoun was third. After their performance Flying, Common and Mat Harris were disqualified for six months, much to the surprise of nearly everyone. Worse luck the private hearings before stewards gave little chance to argue pro or con for jockeys. In any case good ju Iges considered Common looked too tucked up and out of sorts to have a possible chance on Saturday. The horse hails from Queensland, where his owner is at the present time. . . ■ „ Inquiries into the running of horses is like the elections, a lottery The biggest roper may get left in and the straight runner wiped out. Such, in fact, is life, in “ F.S.W.” up to date. It would prove instructive to many if it were possible to find out whether a certain owner, although he had a certain amount of faith in his own horse, had made sure the one which eventually won was trying, and a nice coup was managed, and the public on the wrong scent. Punters generally are not doing well at racing lately, but the connections of certain stables have made large holes in the bookies’ banking account. The raid on the double shops is still simmering, and some men go on with their old customers as if nothing had happened. One -or two men have closed the shutters, and one or two who have been at the game a long time, have decided not. to risk a wintry month or two at Darlinghurst, now that they have nice little feathered nests of their own.

The Two Mile Bicycle Race at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday attracted twenty-three starters. Stuckleberg won, with Fowles and Freeman second and Ihird.

Football appears to be more popular than ever, and the enthusiasm displayed both by ladies and young fellows is wonderful. Very exciting .matches were played before large crowds on Saturday, notably Wallaroo and- University, which the former won after a severe tussle by 9 to 5. Rand wick beat Paddington by sto nil, and Pirates had an easy victory over Patramatta by 42 to 3.