Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IV, Issue 208, 19 July 1894, Page 6

Turf Topics.

By

Reviewer.

Jeweller is said to have greatly improved since his spell. The jumper Sonambulist has been fired, and will be treated to a long spell. It is proposed to turn Sydney Bowes’ Tattersail’s into a limited liability company. Southern tipsters are very partial to the New Zealand Cup chances of Au Revoir and Pompom. Napier tipsters say that if the New Zealand Cup is to go to Hawke’s Bay it will be by the aid of Needlegun or Marino. ’ It is rumoured around Sydney that theN.S.W. bookmakers intend testing the A.J.C.’s right to charge them tor betting at Randwick. Hippomenes is taking a rest, but it must not be thought from this that there is anything wrong with him. Mr Henry may be congratulated upon making very just handicaps for the New Zealand Grand National Meeting. St. Hippo’s connections have decided not to send him to Australia but to keep him at Sylvia Park, where he will be at the service of breeders. After putting in the season at the stud, St. Hippo will be taken in hand again for racing. When the colours are up on him, he will be seen on Australian, not on New Zealand, courses. According to the Canterbury 1 imes there are many New Zealand trotters who could lower the record recently established in Canterbury by Specification, who recently lowered the world’s four-mile record. The Two Year Old Plate ot 6oosovs, five furlongs, was won at the Kempton Park Meeting on the 7th inst., by the Galopin — Agave filly,. Galetha. Mr W. R. Wilson’s gelding Steadfast had an easy win in the Winter Handicap at the V. R.C. Grand National Meeting. He led all the way and won by half-a-dozen lengths from Straightfire, with Strahan third. Steadfast took 2min n|sec to cover the mile and a quarter. On this he should have a look in at the Caulfield Cup. Mr T. T. Watt, the owner of the horse that ran third in the Maiden Steeplechase at the Hawke’s Bay Winter meeting, has protested against the stakes being paid to Austral on the ground that the horse’s and the owner’s names appear in the unpaid forfeit list in the Official Calendar. The committee of the H.B.J.C. have referred the matter to their solicitor, Mr H. A. Cornsford, for his opinion. Mr Walters, of Papakura, has placed the Dainty Ariel stallion Hippocampus and the Somnus— Fishwoman horse, Glaucus, in the market for sale. Hippocampus sired Hippodamia, who won over as a three-year-old, and amongst others he sired Shillelagh, Theorem, The Baron, Unity, Lord John, and Tiritea, all cross country winners. Glaucus, who has been a good winner in the past, will be sold cheap for stud purposes.

Adam Byers has charge of Her Ladyship. Percy Martin is booked for a visit to New Zealand. G. Robson has been granted a jockey’s license by the V.R.C. . - . The racing Marquis of Hartington is talking of selling off his horses and giving up racing. Mr Dan O’Brien has named his Tasman—Rose and Black colt, Globetrotter. Royal Rose is said to have thickened out a good deal since the Ellerslie Autumn meeting. Brigand has been taken in hand by Mr F. Collins. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club come out of the past racing season with a very satisfactory result. New Zealanders in the Metropolitan Stakes are Florrie, Launceston, and Loyalty.

Criminal, who met his death at Gisborne Park, was by Foul Play out of Renga. He was ten years of age. The Trier is out of the Melbourne Cup, and Linburn, Malachite and Hova have gone out of the Caulfield Cup. The Canterbury Jockey Club have arranged their programme for next season. There will be an increase in stakes of £SS°The second lowest horse on the weight list won both the V.R.C. Grand National Hurdles and As I expected, St. Kilda and Crazy Kate have been scratched for their Christchurch National engagements. . At the drawing of 4 ‘Stars” last Brisbane consultation Mr A. L. Smith, dentist, of Hobson Street, was present, and acted as a scrutineer. What price the Auckland Winter jumping double for the Christchurch National Meeting, Bombardier and Melinite ? They both stand a big chance, and must be included in the best three for the two races. A further advertisment for Trenton. The Trenton—Gondola horse Trentola is credited with winning a six furlong race at Bay District, America, in the fine time of 1.14 J, and that was on a heavy track. The pure-bred Clydesdale Stallion Laird O’ Largo is in the market. He is by Glengary out of Lochlevin, who was by Lothian Lad. Mr Caulton, of the Central Hotel, wifi supply particulars. Morag’s connections have backed him for the Christchurch Grand National double. This being so, his injured leg must be showing great improvement. His chance in the hurdles, however, cannot be a very bright one. Kempenfeldt, who was recently passed in at a blood stock sale at Hastings for 6sgns, has, I hear, changed hands at that figure. His new owner, Mr G. Willan, of Redcliffe, will use him for stud purposes. St. George was sold last year for Yet he heads the list of winning sires for the past season with only nine or ten horses to represent him ! “ Give a dog a bad name and ” &c. That was the case with St. George. The telegram received in Victoria respecting the decision re Sir Robert Stout’s Gaming Bill has led Victorians to the belief that the reduction of totalisator permits to 75 days in the year has really been passed, and that it dates from the present. This is of course wrong. Speaking in the Victorian Parliament Mr Murray, the mover of the Bill for legalising the totalisator, remarked, “If the totalisator were established it would put an end to one ailment, which defied the skill of the best veterinary surgeons, and was known to the initiated as ‘ metallic fever.’ ” Writing re the New Zealand Parliamentary attack on the totalisator, ‘‘ Terlinga,” of the Australasian, has the following:—“While men like Mr Stead, who can speak of racing from a practical point of view and are not frightened to buy horses good enough to win in first-class company, are to be found championing its cause, the totalisator will continue to assist the cause of racing in New Zealand.” When the Totalisator Bill was before the Victorian Parliament Mr Frank Madden, who is a member of the V.R.C., was vigorous in his opposition to the measure. Parliament took his attack as an indication that the V.R.C. are opposed to the machine. This may have been incorrect, and was so, I think, for when they were last consulted'n? the totalisator the members of the V.R.C. were in favour of it. The imported thoroughbred horse Kalo is advertised elsewhere for sale. Kalo, who was bred by Mr J. Lee, of N.S.W., was got by the king of sires, Yattendon, out of Gipsy Girl, by Kingstone out of Black Bess, by Little John. We all know what Yattendon is and what he has got, so Kalo requires no further recommendation. Particulars respecting him can be obtained from Mr S. C. Caulton. Kalo is in the pink of condition, having been stable fed ever since he has been in Gisborne. One of the legislative opponents to the introduction of the totalisator into Victoria stated in parkament that “ good horses were bought in New Zealand and South Australia to run in Victoria, while cast - off horses were purchased here (Victoria) to run in those colonies where the totalisator was in vogue on the ground that anything was good enough to race under the totalisator ! ” Which statement speaks volumes for the stupendous ignorance of the gentleman quoted. “ Woomera,” of the Australasian, writes: — “ The annual examination of bookmakers was in progress—not for the degree of B.A. you will understand, for there is nothing of the B.A. about the Ring—but merely the answering of a few questions put by the V.R.C. as to the health of their bank balances. ‘ What’s your bank balance ?’ asked the chairman of one candidate. ‘Ain’t got none,’ he said; ‘not me. I don’t trust no bank with my stuff.’ ‘ Have you anyone who will be guarantee?’ ‘Not as I knows of,’ was the reply; ‘ I know I wouldn’t go guarantee not for no man.’ ‘ What assurance can you give us, then,’ asked a member, ‘as to your ability to pay if you lose ?’ ‘ I’ll show you some o’ my ability, gents,’ he said, as with his knife he ripped up the seams of his clothes and dragged out some notes. The committee were satisfied, and as the candidate left with his degree he said, ‘ You should see ’em [pickpockets, I presume] a trying to go through me at race meetin’s, an’ me just holdin’ on to me ticker an’ smilin’. Why, the other day one of ’em ’eld up me arms, while his mate went through me pockets.’ ”

Ronda is “ Terlinga’s” fancy for the Melbourne Cup. The Musket horse Retrenchment is advertised for sale in another column. Rotrenchment was out of Hatred. Jack Chaafe will train Forme and Forma in the absence of George Wright. He has a scorcher in the latter.

Au Revoir, Lottie, and Impulse have been supported this week for the New Zealand Cup at 100 to 7, 100 to 5, and 100 to 2. Impulse will, I believe, be trained for his engagements by Cutts. He was backed this week to win the New Zealand Cup at 100 to 2. Nilreb, the Southern trotter, has changed hands, Mr A. G. Holmes having sold him to J. McKewan, of Dunedin. Kai Iwi Lady will be spelled until Christmas time, when she will be taken in hand for the Autumn. To punters wanting to back a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double my advice is Steadfast and Havoc, or Steadfast and Ronda. Macmanemin is putting rare polish on the Tasman —Rubina and Tasman—Hazel youngsters he has in his stable. The former is a colt and the latter a filly. From what I have seen on the Ellerslie track, the Hotchkiss —Formo rising two-year-old Forma is a terribly fast filly. She will race early, and should be on level terms with the best two-year-old of the coming season. Orestes, by Nordenfeldt—Clytemnestra (a Blair Athol mare) is running loose in one of Williamson’s paddocks. If he were put in training this horse would get the Blair Athol blaze on his face into the home turn before a good many of them. The stallion, Flinders, by Tasman —Waterwitch, and, consequently, a half-brother to Natator, has changed hands for /hoo. His new owner is Mr Keiller, of Rangitikei. Tim Swiveller’s withdrawal from the V.R.C. Grand National meeting was not due to the horse showing anything faulty. His owner is keeping him for something else—Caulfield Cup, I suppose. . The Marton Jockey Club have framed their programme for the Spring Meeting. The races will be on November 9th, and the two principal events will be the York Farm Handicap of 75 sovs, and the Flying Handicap of 50 sovs. Nominations are due on October 20th. Skirmisher’s owner, Mr J. B. Reid, returned to the South last week. During his stay here he visited Wellington Park, and was greatly-im-pressed with the young stock Mr Morrin will have to offer at his next sale. It is very unlikely that Fishmonger will journey to Christchurch. The little horse has a rooted aversion to sod banks, and the fact that he would have eight jumps of that kind 'to negotiate at Christchurch will unfavorably influence his chance of going South. J. B. Williamson has a grand-looking colt by Howitzer—Pastime. The colt, who has been christened Aughadoweiy, should turn out a beauty. By the way, if “ J. 8.” goes in for such nomenclature as Aughadowery he will be able to rank with the man who recently christened his horse The Bloke that Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo. , . the following are Mr E. F. Ytule’s quotations for the New Zealand Cup :—lOO to 9Au Revoir, 100 to 8 Skirmisher, 100 to 7 Hippomenes, 100 to 6 Prime Warden, 100 to 5 Merganser, Saracen, Vogengang, Beadonwell, Ich Dien, Pinrose, Goosander and Pompom; 100 to 4 Liberator, Lottie, Rosefeldt, Clanranald, Rangipuhi, Lady Zetland, Magazine, Artilleur, Grenadier, Casket, Golden Fleece and Needlegun ; 100 to 3 Impulse, Royal Rose, Rangiatea, Three Star, Outpost, Westmere, Purepo, Maiino, Loveshot, Salvo, Colbeck and Mahaki; 100 to 2to I the others. Melbourne and New Zealand Cup double : From 1000 to 1 to 7. Victorian Judge AJ°le swort h i s against the totalisator, and his principal argument against, it is the setting up of a nice, respectable machine which tempts women and children. Which draws from the Bulletin the following: “As for children on the course the totalisator can easily set Judge Molesworth’s fears at rest by refusing to serve them under the Act, just as respectable pubkeepers refuse to supply them with drinks at the bar. Seeing then that a bookmaker can never bring himself to decline anybody's contribution to his bloated bag, Judge Molesworth has unwittingly struck another reason for recommending the more moral tote. In the name of lovely women and her innocent child the Bulletin calls for the disestablishment of Ikey Mo 1” Writing of the death of Lone Hand “ Terlinga” has the following in the Australasian “Whether the roguish old grey was the best ’chaser ever seen in Australia is a moot point There is no doubt his superior had not been seen prior to his going to New Zealand, and I fancy Mr Loughlin and Corrigan would both give the grey the preference over any of the cracks which passed through their hands. ‘He very seldom lost a race when we backed him,’ I have heard the former say; ‘but,’ he added, ‘it was never safe to back him in heavy going. He didn’t like it.’ Corrigan was the only man who could ride Lone Hand. He was a very determined baulker at times, and at one time ran down his fences badly. But when he was well, and the ground to his liking, 13.6 was not enough to stop him over Flemington. He was a tremendous horse when you got astride of him, and had a great turn of speed.” A sensible pa lagraph from the New Zealand Mail “ The abolition of gambling is a dream which will never be realised. So we hope is the abolition of the totalisator. It is undoubtedly illogical to permit the machine while putting dowfi other kinds of gambling. But the illogical part of the Gaming and Lotteries Act is its strength. Had it aimed at complete abolition of every kind of gambling, the Act would have been weak of the \ order of weakness which grasping at too much catches nothing. By legalising the totalisator the Act struck a blow at the bookmakers, and thus greatly reduced gambling. The abolition of the instrument would reverse that policy, and gambling would increase enormously with increased evil effects. Sir Robert Stout’s Bill, op the other hand, is aimed at further reducing gambling by lessening the use of the totalisator. The instrument, it is universally admitted, is now used too freely, to the encouragement of race meetings which are simply occasions for gambling, not for sport. The passing of Sir Robert’s measure will reduce gambling by pruning those excrescences from the lawful plant of sport.