Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 213, 23 August 1894, Page 5

Turf Topics.

By

Reviewer.

Robin has never been beaten over Riccarton country. He has only made two descents on that track, and a double was the result on each occasion. I understand that a three-quarter share in Bulldog (by Nordenfeldt—Cressina), was sold by auction at Greenlane on Saturday last for £26 odd. Percy Martin has returned to the Australian side. He came over to see the N.Z. National Meeting and can now devote himself to considering the probabilities of the A.J.C. Meeting in which Bonnie Scotland is engaged. An important foaling is reported from Wellington Park. The aristocratically bred Lady Walmsley (by Musket—Mersey, and consequently a full-sister to “ Old Jack,” as the great Carbine is called on the other side) produced an all brown colt foal the other day to Mr Morrin’s favourite, Castor. The result of such a union should be worth something if Fate be kind to him. Speaking to “Hotspur,” Mr J. E. Henry remarked, relative to Mariner’s win on the Second Day of the big jumping meeting, that he had weighted the horse on the assumption that he had 8.7 up when Captive 9.10 beat nim by a head at the Dunedin May Meeting. Bui Mar In or’a weight on that occasion was 9.7- , ■

“ Castor ” writes“ Surely Jacob Faithful is a cheap horse at £12.” I should say he was. It is said that Loyalty’s party are more hopeful of his Caulfield than his Melbourne Cup chance. W. Clark’s douceur in the Grand National Steeplechase was a hundred to nothing. Melinite’s fall in the G-.N. Hurdle Race resulted in her rider, Hickey, receiving a nasty cut on the back of his head. The Canterbury Times states that negotiations are in progress for the sale of St. George to a North Island breeder. Mr J. R. McMillan courteously forwards an invitation to the annual dinner of the Foxton Racing Club. „ , . The profit over the big Southern jumping meeting wifi be £6OO or £7OO. The Christchurch Hunt Club take one-third of the total. Word comes from Sydney that the steeplechaser Timon, who was found stuck in a bog recently, died from paralysis. The New Zealand-bred racer, Philson, started in a race at Moorefield, Sydney, but never gained a forward position during the run. Empire is surely worth more than the 80gns. paid for him at the sale at. Christchv”ch Tattersails’ ? ~ . With Dreamland hovering on the verge of withdrawal, if not already withdrawn, from the V.R.C. Derby, Bonnie Scotland should go up in public estimation. . Training has been abandoned m connection with Ich Dien—at all events for some considerable time—and St. George’s daughter is booked to visit Medallion. . , Cajolery’s refusal of the first fence in the Beaufort Steeplechase reminded the Aucklanders present at the National Meeting of a similar refusal of Chester’s in our Winter Selhng Steeple. Wanganui advices say that Westmere and ? OTn Pom are doing a great New Zealand Cup preparation. Westmere is the pick of local Committee have endorsed the fine of £25 inflicted on Tobias Tobias for totalisator betting at Papakura. A fine of £25 is pretty ■tiff for half-crown wagering, which was the charge brought against the penciller. Morrigan appears to have made some great recoveries on Bombardier in the Southern Steeplechase. Those Aucklanders who lost their dollars on the Shore horse may find some consolation in the fact thatjhe was well ridden. “ Castor ” writes that Melinite was too.fright•ned even to attempt to rise at the first fence in the Christchurch National. In our National Hurdle Race the only frightened-looking quadruped was the racer whose ugliness is indicated by his name. Melinite’s only (if any) fright up here was that she would be passed. The annual report of the VV aitara Jockey Club shows a credit balance of about £3O, and the outstanding accounts total up to about £l3. .Mr G. V. Tate has been elected judge for the ensuing season, Mr J. Finnerty has been entrusted with the starting, and Mr J. E. Henry has been reappointed handicapper. Tn the Warwick Farm Handicap, Launceston (Tasman —Rubina) could not show foot enough to have a chance. He had 8.3 and the benefit of Ettridge’s riding, but he was never prominent during the mile and a-quarter and hundred yards race, which was won by E.K. (Newminster— Rachel). The public had no fancy towards the New Zealander, for his name did not appear in the betting. The most marked feature of the betting market since the backing of Three Star for the Cup, has been the support which was accorded to Saracen, Loyalty’s full brother, at the end of last week. Something, I understand, in the vicinity of £2OO, was secured locally, and in Wellington, £lO5O was written at prices ranging from 100 to 4to 100 to 6. The commissioner evinced an inclination to go on penc’Uing at 100 to 6, but the windy city metallicians cried content. The annual race meeting of the Pakuranga Hunt Club will be held on the Ellerslie racecourse on Saturday, October 20th. The stake money shows a reduction all round, 5 sovs having been deducted from all the races with the exception of the Pony Handicap, and, of course, of the Ladies’ Bracelet, which still stands at the value of 10 sovs. That could not very well be reduced. The card will be as follows Open Handicap Hurdle Race of 45 sovs, If miles; Open Handicap of 40 sovs, 1 mile ; Pakuranga Hunt Club Cup Steeplechase Handicap of 40 sovs, about 3| miles ; Open Pony Handicap of 20 sovs, 6 furlongs ; Members' Handicap Hurdle Race of 30 sovs, 2 miles ; Open Flying Stakes Handicap of 35 sovs, 5 furlongs; Members’ Tally-ho Steeplechase Handicap of 30 sovs, about 3 miles ; Ladies’ Bracelet (Welter Handicap) 1 mile. Nominations close with the hon. ■ecretary at the office of the Spoeting Review on Friday, October sth, at 9 p.m. ; weights will appear on or about Tuesday, October 9th ; and acceptances close on Friday, October 12th, at 9 p.m. The libel case of J. B. Williamson v. Riall resulted in a verdict being returned for the plaintiff for £250 and costs. Williamson’s claim was for £5OO ; but I fancy the main object he had in view in going to law was to clear himself of the charge made against him by Riall. The evidence shows that the case was a decidedly “ warm ” one, and the Judge in summing up let the defendant and his friend Cunningham have the benefit of some remarkably direct English. Plaintiff was found to be quite unconnected with the swindle worked by the other party to the suit, and, to use an expression which I believe to be en- , t?”ely original on my part, “ lefttheCourtwithouta ■tain on his character.” He had, moreover, a prospective £250 rattling in his pocket. The evidence relating to the case, which may rank as a cause celebre, inasmuch as it gives away a remarkable instance of the shadiness which unfortunately clings to turf matters, is too voluminous to reprint in the Review, but the affidavit of Ria.il upon which plaint ff based his claim, and the summing up of His Honor Judge Kettle, are given in another column. I can recommend them as two pieces of highly interesting reading. The pity is that such quotations should come from a case with which the name of Sport is so directly connected. Mr Williamson is to be congratulated upon the clean fashion m which he emerges from the disreputable affair.

The A premont—Aurifera mare, Golden Crest, has foaled a filly to Stonyhurst.

The Press considers that Norton is the best horse ever seen over the Riccarton country.

Mr R. Roake has been appointed starter to the Taratahi-Carterton Racing Club. The next meeting of the 'Wanganui Trotting Club will be held on October nth.

The thoroughbred stallion Leolantis, has been leased to Mr S. Rawnsley, of Poroti. The number of horses left in the Melbourne Cup is 112. In the Caulfied Cup there are I2i. It transpires that Bessie Macarthy was erroneously included in the cabled acceptors for the A.J.C. Metropolitan Stakes. The N.Z. Referee writes that Melinite’s knees show marked evidence of the fall the sustained in the National. . Nominations in connection with the South canterbury Jockey Club’s and the Dunedin Hunt Club’s meetings will be found in another column. Waiter, the horse that led poor Tom Coirigan to his death, was bred in the Manawatu district by Mr Baker. It was Mr F. Bell who took Waiter to the other side. The trotting stallions brought by Mr de .Lopez should realise good prices, for the quality of the stock is undoubted. A glance at their pedigree and performances should satisfy the most captious Crl When all else fails (writes the Bulletin} the police try to “lumber” suspicious characters “under the Vag.” One ’cute Sydney spieler deposits a sov. in the Savings Bank every Saturday, and draws out a like amount on Monday morning. He thus shows •• lawful visible means.”

According to the Mail the disqualified hack, Dandy, is now racing in the vicinity of Melbourne. The journal quoted remarks that rumour states Dandy was once a placed horse in the Melbourne Cup Rumour may be true, but I’d like to lay odds that in this matter she lies, as she generally °The sporting editorship of the N.Z. Mail has been taken over by the writer whose nom deplume is “ Gipsy King.” If he follows up the successful writings of dead and gone Mr A. King (“ Vigilant”) he will need no good wishes to obtain success. “ Gipsy King” was at one time travelling correspondent of the Press. At a meeting of the Warrengate Jockey Club Mr J. E. Henry was elected handicapper, Mr E. T Chapman starter, and Mr G. Morse hon. secretary. The next gathering of the club will be held at Fordell, which is situated nine miles from Wanganui, on January io. The card will contain races of the value of X3°°- _ During the National carnival an offer of isOgs was refused for Robin. Aucklanders think a lot of Bombardier, and it must have come as a surprise to them to hear of the Vermacelli gelding defeating the North Shore horse at level weights over 2|miles. Personally I know nothing of Robin, but I heard an Auckland cross country rider give it as his opinion last week that Robin could meet Messrs Duder’s horse on level terms and beat him five times out of six. The Tasmanian Racing Club are decidedly sore about the action of the Crown Ministers in levying a tax of 5 per cent, on the gross sums passed through the totalisator, and deputations have been agitating for a reduction. The answer of the Treasurer was that the Government wanted money badly, and were compelled to get it in some way. His advice to the club was to take 15 P er cen t. out of the profit of the machine, retain 10 per cent and hand the Government the remaining 5 percent. Very nice for the club probably, but what about the racing public ? The new sub-section of clause 6 of the Gaming Bill, authorising the Colonial Secretary to delegate powLS relating to the issue of totalisator licenses to a New Zealand Jockey Club has aroused the ire of the Dunedin Jockey Club. The authorities of that body are, as we all know, bitterly opposed to the establishment of such an institution, and it is therefore not all surprising to hear of the club deciding to ask the co-operation of the Auckland Racing Club in combating this latest addition to Sir R. Stout’s little Bill. Auckland and Dunedin are “agin the Government ” in this matter, and I fancy the loss of perquisites which would fall to a certain Southern metropolitan affair in the event of a permanent racing government being established in the City of the Winds, will result in a third important racing centre joining the proposed Dunedin and Auckland combination. The first annual meeting of the Stratford TrotClub will be held on Thursday, October lith, at the Bushford Park Racecourse. The programme comprises half-a-dozen events, the principal item being the Stratford Trotting Club Handicap Saddle Trot of 30 sovs, three miles. The other items on the card are :—Maiden Handicap Saddle Trot of 15 sovs, i| miles ; Harness Trot Handicap of 20 sovs, 2 miles ; Pony Handicap Saddle Trot of Zl2 ios, 1J miles; Farmers’ Handicap Saddle Trot of /’I2 10s, 2 miles; and Selling Handicap Saddle Trot of 15 sovs, i| miles. Nomination close at 9 p.m. at the County Hotel, Stratford, on Saturday, Sepfember 15th; handicaps will be declared on or about Friday, September 28th ; and acceptances and general entries close on Saturday, October 6th, at 9 p.m. at the County Hotel, Stratford. “Hotspur’s” opinion of Despised and Bombardier : “ The good old one-eyed gunner, Despised, has, I’m afraid, almost finished his career. He broke down in the Grand National but struggled gamely to the end, standing up under the most trying circumstances. - The other Aucklander, Bombardier, found the country too big for him, and clouted the majority of the fences, and that light heavily. Dennis Morrigan made some wonderful recoveries on him, and his horsemanship was quite a feature in the race. There is hardly a doubt Bombardier would have made a better showing on the Saturday but for the amount that must necessarily have been taken out of him in the National, to say nothing of the ‘ go’ he expended by sti iking the fences when chasing Robin. If he learns to jump Bombardier should do well in the future.” We know that Bombardier runs very close to his jumps as a rule, but his party affirm that the bigger the obstacle the better is the take off and jump made by the Shore horse. That being so the Riccarton country should have suited him to aT; yet he appears to have rattled the fences pretty frequently.

Mr S. H. Gollan’s Grand National Meeting receipts amounted to /399Word comes from the South that Mr A. G. Holmes has bought the trotter Specification. Trouble is brewing locally over a well-known racer. More of this anon.

Brigand’s training is progressing satisfactorily, and no symptoms of lameness are appearing. Norton is enjoying a spell at Hastings prior to his departure for Australia and the old country. The Grand Flaneur—Egalite mare Corday, who has been purchased for Mr S. Hordern s stud, is in foal to Manton.

The trotter Ruadan has changed hands, and goes to Christchurch to assist at the big meeting to be held there.

The Town and Suburban Racing Club have had their programme recognised by the Hawke s Bay Jockey Club. A winter meeting will be included in the Napier Park Racing Club’s programme for the ensuing season. The bay colt Tireur, who formerly belonged to Mr S. H. Gollan, has been leased by his present owner for stud work. The Waipawa County Racing Club have a favourable balance-sheet to lay before members at the annual meeting to be held this week. A New Zealand-bred horse was handy at Adelaide Tattersalfs Meeting, in Torpedo, who won the July Handicap. Liberator’s Grand National Hurdles win makes him top weight for the N.Z. Cup. He now stands at 8.9, which is ilb higher than Prime Warden. The report that Mr S. H. Gollan had bought Robin and Gillie is incorrect. The Napier sportsman made an offer for Robin, but it was not accepted. The first Southeip foal of the season was a colt by Johnny Faulkner — Authentic. Mr Morrin’s matron Sunrise, was close on the Southron’s heels. A wire from the Napier representative of the Sporting Review states that Mr Henry has been appointed handicapper to the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. Morag’s wounded leg is pretty well healed, but the horse will be given a twelve months’ spell. The part owner of Morag, Mr Siddell, has sold his share in the animal to a Napier racing man. An advice from the South states that the Waimea Plains Jockey Club will have to realise on their assets to meet their liabilities. The club made a fair-sized loss on last meeting. It is said that Norton will next carry colours at Flemington. I wonder whether Mr Gollan will have a fly at the Liverpool Steeplechase when he takes his crack home 1 If Norton gets in with an easy weight he should make them gallop. During the week Hippomenes was written locally in connection with the N.Z. Cup on behalf of a Southern supporter at too to 6. Pegasus and Impulse have been backed at 100 to 6, and Lottie has been supported at 100 to 3 and 100 tO ßosefeldt, who is said to have thickened out a lot is reported to be doing a sound Cup preparation at Hastings. The mare shows a gluttonous desire for work. She and Maiino are expected to show something good in the Cup race. The six trotting horses that arrived from Yankeeland by the last mail boat are grandlybred animals, and are a decided cut above the trotters that locals are accustomed to. They will be placed on the market in about a month’s time.

A report is current down South that Marino has fallen lame. A wire from our Napier representative will show that rumour is once more wrong, for this Cup candidate is doing a great P The Summer programme of the Manawatu Racing Club shows stake money amounting to £llOO. The big item of the first day, the Manawatu Racing Club Handicap will be of the value of £3OO. Two hundred is the figure for the second day’s attraction. The Tasmanian Racing Club has altered Rule 94 to read as follows : —“ If a horse runs in a hood, clothing, muzzle, martingale or breastplate, it must be put into the scale with the saddle, and included in the jockey’s or rider’s weight.” The Pakuranga Hunt Club hounds will meet at the following places at 12 noon August 25, Peglar’s, Mangere ; September 1, Mount Albert; September 8, Monument, Otahuhu; September races; September 22, Ih.urna.tu; September 29, Sylvia Park. For punishing his horse unnecessarily after he had no chance of winning at the National Meeting, Dennett was fined £2. Hear ! Hear . Four riders were fined £ 1 by the starter, Redwood s owner was fined £2 for his horse being absent from the Bracelet, Mr Rutherford £2 for late scratching, and Mr D. McGregor £1 for being late at the post. Bidding was very slow at the horse sale held in Christchurch on the termination of the National Meeting. Kulnine was offered and passed in at i6ogs, Goodwood was withdrawn at lOSgs, Rags nogs, and Nanakia at loggs. The following were the sales Br g Jacob Faithful, T2gs, Mr J. Hall; b m Dinah (sister to Regalia) I2jgs, Mr Chadwick ; br g Empire, Bogs, Mr A. G. Holmes.

Had it not been for the representations of the C.J.C. starter, Higgins, Ray, Galbraith and Mitchell would have been disqualified at the Christchurch Meeting. The punishment for disobedience at thejpost—the offence the offending quartette were charged with —is disqualification m Canterbury, but a simple caution was administered, owing to the starter taking a merciful view of their insubordination.

The Canterbury Jockey Club has refused to pass the Ashburton Racing Club’s programme for its Spring Meeting, on account of the tactics pursued by that body last season. When its programme was passed at the beginning of last season the stake money just f ulfilledthe provisions of the Rules of Racing. The usual deduction, of course reduced the prize money to a sum less than the required amount. This has been accepted as a ruse to evade the Rules, and the C.J.C. now want evidence that s”r ar tactics •will not be again pursued.

The thoroughbred stallion Drury Lane hss been leased by Mr H. Limbrick to stand the season at Waipawa, Hawke’s Bay.

I see by the Nelson Colonist that Mrs E. F* Jones, mother of Mr F. N. Jones, the wellknown Nelson and West Coast sportsman, died recently at the ripe age of 76 years. The Wanganui correspondent of the REVIEW writes that in all probability Mr B. McCaul, who has gone to Sydney, will bring back with him Little Bernie, the aged son of Cheviot—Myrtle. The stallion Ascot, by Kelpie—The Thorn, has been bought by Mr J. O. Haywood, of Wairarapa, for £lOO. Ascot, who was the property of the late Mr Sam Powell, has many a good horse on the track to represent him. The hero of the recent National Meeting, Norton, was sired by him, and so was Monte Carlo (a good thing for the N.Z. Cup many people assert). Cretonne, Chester Lad, Entry, Fortune, Foxton, Poinsettia, and others were the result of Ascot’s service down Wanganui way. The jumper Dick is in the market at a reasonable figure. Dick is a six-year old gelding by St. Clair, and won last year the hurdles at Pungarehu, Waitara, Stratford and New Plymouth (beating Belle on the last two occasions), the Trial Steeplechase at Wellington, and the Open Steeplechase at the United Hunt Club Meeting. The gelding is thoroughly sound, and particulars respecting the conditions of sale may be obtained from Mr S. Hill, care of Mr R. G. Pardy, New Plymouth, or from Mr H. H. Hayr, at the office of the Review. Reduction in stakes would appear to be the rule just now, but the Manawatu people are pursuing an opposite policy. At the committee meeting of the club held last week it was decided, in drawing up the programme for the summer gathering, that the sum of £1 100 should be given in stakes as against £B7O last year. The programme is on the following lines First day i Telegraph Stakes, 7 furlongs, £80 ; Handicap Hurdles, ; Hack Hurdles, £4O; Palmerston Cup, i| miles, ; Hack Flat, i| miles, /40;, Grandstand Handicap, 1 mile, £75 > Ladies’ Bracelet, £35. Second day : Summer Handicap, 6 furlongs, Handicap Hurdles, > Hack Hurdle, /40 ; Flying Hack Handicap, ; President’s Handicap, a mile and a furlong, ; Christmas Hack Handicap, /30 ; Farewell Handicap,