Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 211, 9 August 1894, Page 7

Turf Topics.

By

Reviewer.

Rebellion goes to the stud this coming season. Pulvil was found to be beyond recovery, and was shot in New South Wales last week. Tn future the steeplechase fences at Moonee Valley will be of a uniform height of 4ft. Wellington backers are nibbling at Royal Rose’s chance at 100 to 4. St. Patrick is becoming a vastly improved horse, and will have to be watched during the coming season. If the report about Portsea having developed a bowed tendon be true the little champion’s career will be a short one. , The Victoria Racing Club made a profit of about £lOOO on the V.R.C. Grand National Meeting. A Sydney advice states that Whakawatea runs consistently forward and should be a good one to follow. ' I have to acknowledge receipt of a useful “ Centaur,” compiled and published by Mr R. P. Hurren, of Melbourne. - Au Revoir is in capital health just now, and performing the tasks allotted, him in the most promising fashion. The Marlborough Club is to. amalgamate with the Upper Wairau Club. The former institution has not been a success. The Wairarapa Racing Clqp’s annual report to be laid before members on the 23rd inst. shows the Club to be in a healthy position. Couianto and Waterbury have been placed in the hands of Messrs Yuille and Co., the Melbourne auctioneers, for private sale. The starting machine has been permanently adopted at the Moonee Valley and Maribyrong (Victoria) racecourses. The New Zealand Cup candidtae Westmere is reported to be doing splendidly in his work, and is worth punters attention from all I can gather. Handicapper Henry may rank as a prophet. Early last week he prophesied there would be 50 N.Z. Cup acceptors. St. Kilda and Crazy Kate got out of their paddock a few days ago and went for an unattended stroll out Panmure way. Neither of the wanderers hurt themselves. The Associated Pony Clubs of N.S.W. have determined to remeasure ponies, raising the standard of galloways to 15 hands. The new rule comes into force on September Ist. The cable brings news of the death of the Duke of Westminister’s colt Bullingdon. The breeding was by Melton from Shotover. Both his sire and dam were Derby winners. A motion prohibiting stewards to invest any ' money on the totalisator at races held under the ■auspices of the club was moved at the annual meeting of the Egmont Racing Club, but after a short discussion the motion was lost. The Egmont Racing Club appear to be extremely well satisfied with the starting of Mr M. F. Baird. They have re-appointed him and increased his honorarium by I believe Mr Baird’s starting is exceptionally good. The following N.Z. Cup wagers were laid by Mr J. F. Cruickshank this week: —lOO to 4 Impulse, 200 to 7 Artilleur, 200 to 6 Grenadier, 100 to 8 Skirmisher, 200 to Vogengang, 100 to 4 Monte Carlo, 100 to 4 Rangiatea. It is said that the owners of Daimio, who won the V.R.C. Steeplechase, had no interest in the race save the stake and a friendly wager of a dinner for six that they would beat the favourite, Corangamite. W. Delaney, the jockey who rode Jeweller in the Melbourne Cup last year, says there would have been no Tarcoola’s name first could he have got him through' his horses. He says he only hopes he may get the mount this year, and even with 9.6, if the great horse be fit and well, he will

A Canterbury Times par. tells us Despised has shown a trace of lameness.

“ Castor ” writes that Reflector has developed into a confirmed rogue.

Mr S. H. Gollan is only afraid of Despised in the Christchurch National Steeplechase. Mr Donald McKinnon has returned to Auckland from his Australian visit.

Percy Johnston will ride Belle in the Christchurch National Steeplechase, and Hickey will have the mount on Booties in the same race.

The first of the Wellington Park matrons to foal this season was Sunrise, who foaled a colt this week to Cuirassier.

The Hawkes’ Bay people expect a reduction of seven totalisator permits when Sir R. Stout’s measure comes into force.

At the next Racing Conference the H.B.J.C. delegates will move that the minimum weights in any handicap race be raised to 7.0. The committee of the Fielding Jockey Club do not think it will be found necessary to reduce their stakes for the coming year.

Empire came up as a pronounced good thing yesterday for the Christchurch Grand National Hurdle Race. He will be ridden by Jim Cotton. The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club come out of the financial year with a surplus of £413. The receipts were £6983 —not quite up to last year’s figures—and the expenditure was £6569. The voting for membership of the A.R.C. Committee was as follows :—Messrs Motrin and Dickey 20, Messrs Philson, Gorrie and Russell 19, Mr Thompson 13, and Mr Kidd 11.

Nominations in connection with the North Canterbury Hunt Club Steeplechase Meeting to be held at the Amberly Racecourse Reserve on August 23rd are published elsewhere. A wire received from Christchurch yesterday states that the weather has cleared up, giving promise of fine weather overhead for the National Meeting. The course, however, is sloppy. Capt. Russell quotes the legislative desire to present racing suits being recoverable at law as a strong argument in favour of the establishment of a New Zealand Jockey Club.

The improvement of numbered saddlecloths has been introduced into America. “ Gentleman Bond ” was the man who gave this blessing to Australia.

The stallion Fabulous, who was advertised last week as being for sale, has been withdrawn from the market. I understand he has been leased to an owner up Dargaville way. I understand an old Auckland boy in the person of Mr T. Jackson will be a member of the Newbury-Spada Company, which is booked for a short Auckland season.

Late Australian files brings news of the death of Mr W. C. Yuille, a veteran Victorian sporting writer. As “ Peeping Tom ”he was well known to readers of the Australasian.

Sydney Bulletin comes out with a statement that a leading Victorian bookmaker asserts that the Hebrew books got nd of in placing delicate little parliamentary bribes. Is this true, or only one of the Bulletin’s characteristic pars ? The Hawkes’ Bay Jockey Club’s programme for the new season will show an increase in stakes of £l3O, which will bring the total to /4.015. The money will be allotted thus :—Spring Meeting Summer £525, Autumn Winter

A wire from Christchurch states that Mr S. H. Gollan fell while riding his hack through Christchurch, and as he got a severe shaking, in all pro bability he will not be able to ride Norton in the Grand National Steeplechase.

Dunedin people are apparently not enamoured of Three Star’s New Zealand Cup chance, for our Otago representative wires that there is plenty of money going begging at 100 to 8. The Dunedinites have shown a fair disposition to back Monte Carlo at too to 4. An Aucklander visiting Christchurch sends the following tips for to-day :—Steeplechase—Bombardier, Norton, Nanakia. Enfield Steeples— Roscius, Austral, Cajolery. Winter Handicap — Musket, Mariner, Warrington. Maiden Hurdles —Jacob Faithful or Bamardo.

The imported Irish hunting sire Paddy’s Land will stand this season at Cambridge, Waikato. Arrangements have been made to carry a few mares by truck from Auckland. The fee will be £6 per mare, and particulars can be obtained from the Sylvia Park groom or from -W. J. Hunter, Ohaupo, Waikato.

“ Awell-knownChristchurchsportsmanmade an offer of one hundred and fifty pounds on Tuesday for St. Patrick (wires our Christchurch representative), but the offer was retused. Visitors are arriving from all parts of the colony, and everything augurs well for a very successful meeting.” Respecting the statement re St. Patrick’s, I may say Frank Macmanemih, the owner and trainer of the horse, has heard of no 50 offer. Mr Morrin has been presented with a bay colt by his brood matron Sunrise, whose effort is the result of a mating with Cuirassier. Sunrise is by Ramarama out of Awatea, by imported Ravensworth, imported Skybird, by Teddington out of Skylark, by Peep-o’-Day-Boy. The progeny of such a mare, and sired by Cuirassier, would not make a bad stallion if Fate spares him. I take this from Sydney Truth :—“ The wellkept Tit was once more sprung on the public and handicapper on Wednesday at Moorefield, and backed by an astute party down to a very short price. When Tit’s talent take short odds its odds on they make no mistake, and this case was no exception. Waltzer is in the same stable as Tit. I wonder when his day will come ? / The Tote is a good schoolmaster.” The St. George horse Eros is advertised to stand this season at the Epsom Hotel, and on breeding he should receive favourable consideration from breeders. Eros is almost own brother to Loyalty, for while the latter is by St. George —-Fair Nell, Eros is by the same sire out of Idalia, the dam of Loyalty’s dam. There is not much to cavil at in St. George, and Idalia’s sons, Sir Modred and Cheviot, have shown by their deeds in America what sort of blood their dam has given them, 1

Albert W., the American trotting stallion, is considered so good by his owner that £6OOO was recently refused for him. One of his sons, Little Albert, put up last season a record of 2.19 for a mile in America.

I see Sir Patrick Buckley is introducing a Gambling and Lotteries Act amendment Bill into Parliament to prevent such matters as the recent O’Brien—Stead case going into court. It provides that no prize in any horse race, fight, game, sport or exercise shall be recoverable at law.

“ Terlinga ” has the following reference to Mutiny in the Australasian :—“ Mutiny is rather light for a ’chaser, but he is a very wiry bloodlike little horse, and after seeing him run I feel more than ever sorry that we were not given a chance of seeing Norton, who must be a diamond of the first water.”

At the annual meeting of the Egmont Racing Club Mr Major moved, “ That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for this club to add a Spring Meeting to its fixtures, and the incoming committee are hereby requested to, if possible, make arrangements for doing so.” The majority were, however, against the motion, which was lost.

The following notion of motion has been given for the annual meeting of the Wairarapa Club :— “ That a hack is a horse that has never won an advertised race at any time (hack and hunter races excepted), and is not and has not been nominated in any race other than hack or hunter races at the same meeting.

The annual report of the Rangitikei Racing Club, which is unavoidably held over until next week’s Review, shows the club did fair work last season, resulting in a profit of £l3O 13s 9d. During the year £1255 was given away in stakes, while the club’s revenue from all sources amounted to £1765 ss. The pool on the Cup amounted to £1265, in £1 tickets, which sounds like a New Zealand record for one machine.

At the annual meeting of the Egmont Racing Club Mr Sutton moved, “That it be a recommendation to the incoming committee to purchase the course or a course.” He said it was necessary if the resolution was carried, that the committee should be prepared to go guarantee for the money. By purchasing the course the club would have a good asset, and also would have the advantage of taking all gate money. Mr Riddiford seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The Hon. J. Macgregor, who is going to take charge of Sir Robert Stout’s Gaming Bill in the Legislative Council, intends to move an additional clause providing a £2 fine, ora month’s imprisonment, for the publication of any newspaper, pamphlet, book or circular of tips, betting odds, or any information or advertisement as to betting or wagering of any kind whatever. This old world of ours will become so strictly proper and virtuous presently that no one will be able to live in it.

The Caulfield Grand Nationals are now the objects of the near future (writes the Review’s Sydney correspondent), and the heroes of the Victorian events; Apsley and Daimio, are the chosen for the betting market. Apsley has the top weight to carry in the Hurdles, and it will anchor her. Bill looks to have the best of the weights at present, and with Goldreef should fight out the finish. Corangamite meets Daimio on better terms in the Steeplechase, and has only to stand up to win, and our representative Frantic from latest information will go very close. The following office bearers have baen elected in connection with the Egmont Racing Club:— President, Mr R. H. Nolan (re-elected); vicepresident, Mr A. W. Budge (re-elected); committee, Messrs W. Adamson, R. Hicks, R. E. Mcßae, F. Riddiford, H. Spratt, H. W. Sutton, A. S. Tonks, M. C. O’Connell, Jas. Davidson, R. Hirschberg, A. W. Blennerhassett; stewards, Messrs H. Good, J. Davidson, Wm. Adamson, John Heslop, W. C. Symes, R. Hirshberg, F. Riddiford, A. S. Tonks and Dr. Westenra. Mr A. Goodson was elected timekeeper, Mr Nairn hon. treasurer, Dr. Westenra hon. surgeon, and Messrs White and Parrington auditors. The Victorian Chief Justice in sentencing a Melbourne bookmaker of 19 for welshings : — “ The admirable sport of horseracing, of which everybody ought to be proud, was brought into disrepute by such conduct. Every week and oftener one could not but observe numbers of young men, like the prisoner, in and around racecourses under such circumstances as left no doubt that dishonesty was going on. It was sometimes said that it was as bad for rich men to bet as it was for poor men, but the man who was rich, if he liked to indulge in betting, had means to pay without bringing himself into dishonest repnte, while the poor man who engaged in it could not help bringing ruin on himself and his family. The offence was, however, the prisoner’s first, and that entitled him to consideration; and but for that a very severe sentence would have been passed, as the crime was a very dangerous one. The sentence was nine months’ imprisonment.”

A statement appeared in the Review’s Wellington Letter of J uly 6th, to the effect that Mr J. B. Reid “ considered his colt well treated in the Caulfield Cup, but very much better treated in the N.Z. Cup, in which he expected quite 8.9.” Mr Reid writes to say that this injustice to Mr Henry is quite unwarranted, and on behalf of the proprietor of the Review I have to express regret that our Wellington representative’s statement was so incorrect. As the acceptances for the New Zealand and Caulfield Cups show, Mr Reid is going to start the colt in the New Zealand race, but that does not mean that he considers Skirmisher has been leniently treated in the N.Z. Cup. The rumours re Mr Reid’s preference to running for the New Zealand instead of the Caulfield Cup has no greater foundation than a friendly remark on the owner’s part that he considered the colt had a chance in the mile and a half race with 8.1, but if Mr Henry gave him any show in the Christchurch handicap he would prefer not to send the colt to Australia. Possibly this remark was so distorted in its handling by the Southern Press that an incorrect impression was given to Northern writers. I have Mr Reid’s assurance that he has not, up to date, supported Skirmisher to the extent of a shilling*, so he cannot consider the colt so leniently handicapped. My own impression in the matter is that Mr Henry has very fairly, but not leniently, summed up Skirmisher’s capabilities,