WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 220, 11 October 1894, Page 5

WELLINGTON.

October 5. It is stated that the Hon. J. D. Ormond profited to the extent of outside of stakes by North Atlantic’s victory in the Spring Handicap at Hastings representing an investment of a fiver on his horse. He, however, lost a good sum over the horse’s defeat in the October Handicap on the first day of the meeting. With a capable trainer like “ Con” Boyle in charge of his horses I think North Atlantic’s owner will make amends in the future for the severe reverses received by his string during the past few seasons. Mr Ormond certainly merits success, for straight-going sportsmen of the hon. gentleman’s stamp are few and far between now-a-days. George Hope arrived here from Sydney by the Wakatipu on Wednesday. Although Couranto and Waterbury went wrong, he succeeded in making the trip a financial success with the aid of Mutiny. He says that the little horse, which has improved beyond recognition, could have been disposed of for 500 guineas the day before he left, but Hope’s instructions were not to sell. George left Waterbury in Sydney, as the horse has an enlarged knee besides an injury to the stifle. It is probable that Mr Douglas will send another team of jumpers to Australia next winter, and Waterbury will be treated to a spell in the meantime. Hope assures me that the Australian jumpers are a long way behind the cattle raced over fences in this colony. The country is not so stiff either as compared with obstacles found on some of the New Zealand racecourses. In the course of our chat Mutiny’s rider ventured the opinion that Chesterman or Patron would take most beating in the Melbourne Cup. It is highly probable that one of our prominent pencillers will take up his residence in the land of the kangaroo after the New Zealand Cup is decided. The drastic provisions of the Gaming Bill is the reason assigned for the pencillerseeking fresh fields. Mr J. Paul, the Wanganui sportsman, is experiencing hard luck this spring with his horses. Four seconds at one meeting is very galling indeed. Some people, however, think that with a more experienced horseman in the saddle Mr Paul’s horses would have fared better. For those who believe in coincidences I may remind them that last season Rosefeldt, who afterwards won the New Zealand Cup, did exactly what Westmere has accomplished this spring—ran second in the Rangitikei and Hawke’s Bay Spring Handicap. Rosefeldt then won the Napier Park Handicap, but it remains to be seen whether Westmere will follow her example. [He did not. —Ed. S.R.] If he does many superstitious people will fancy they have got the winner of the Cup in Mr Paul’s horse. I mentioned in a previous letter that the hack Merryman would be placed in H. Fletcher’s hands to train, and he is now an inmate of the stable. The Hutt horses are doing serviceable work, Fletcher is getting Review and

Lord John ready for the Taratahi-Car-terton meeting on the Prince of Wales Birthday, and J.jHuxtable is also sending the hack Vain Glory along in view of the same meeting. The Escutcheon mare is doing excellent work, and should pay her way during the coming season. Essex (Ascot —Fairy Queen) has been taken in band by Huxtable. By all accounts the Hawke s Bay track was in a very soddened state for the recent two days’ meeting, which, of course, interfered greatly with many of the competing horses. I expect to see the form shown by some of the contestants reversed ere long. I believe the Hawke’s Bay people were loud in their praise of Mr Henry’s initial attempt as the handicapper to the local club. Large fields were brought to the post, and the racing was interesting, while only two favourites got home in the handicap events during the two day’s racing. Westmere was well supported in Napier to win the N.Z. Cup after his display at the meeting, and the best price obtainable about him now is 100 to io.

A pony stallion named Sailor arrived here by the Wakatipu from Sydney. He was sent on to Wanganui by train to his owner, Mr B. M’Caull. Chesterman is considered to be an out and out stayer, and his chances in the Victorian Derby and Melbourne Cup are reckoned to be excellent if they are solid run races. Loyalty was was not properly wound up at Randwick, and he will strip a far better horse at the Victorian Meeting. His owner did not fancy Loyalty’s chance in the weight-for-age races, but supported him in the mile race at the concluding day of the meeting, in which he ran second.

Three Star is classed by good judges as a non-stayer, but George Wright has a vastly-improved horse in Royal Rose to do battle for the stable in the N.Z. Cup. This horse’s ability to get the distance is readily conceded, and his chance is considered a rosy one. The attempt to re-open the Timothy case has fizzled out. . Owing to the finances of the Wellington Trotting Club being in low water, the stewards have decided not to include the two pony gallops in the November programme, but the innovation will probably be given a trial in January. The club at present could not afford to risk losing money in trying the experiment. Mr T. Bryant’s imported trotting horse J.H. scored his first victory in New Zealand at Hastings last Wednesday. Mr Bryant has had a lot of hard luck with his trotters, and I trust he will fare better in the future. His other representative, Vancliffe, ran three seconds at the meeting. A meeting of the stewards of the WelHngton Racing Club was held on Thursday, the principal business being to receive the report of the committee with reference to country race meetings. The committee reported that they had been interviewed by delegates from several clubs and after due consideration recommended that the following meetings should be abolished, viz., Wellington Racing Glub, one (the Winter Meeting, which was done away with last season); Porirua Jockey Club, one; United Hunt Club, one; Wairarapa Hunt Club, one; Akura Maori Racing Club, one; and the Pahiatua Jockey Club, one. I hear that Leontine appeared to be in splendid fettle at Hawke’s Bay, but was not fancied by his connections in the October Handicap in which event he occupied a conspicious position in the rear. I fancy he will improve on this before the season is over. [by wire.J October 9th. The North Island horses engaged in the New Zealand Cup are moving southward. Rangipuhi arrived in town on Saturday last, and went on to Riccarton on Monday. George Blanche has the Feve horse in splendid condition. Lottie came down from Hastings last night and proceeds South to-morrow. I hear that the mare is very well, in fact some people think she is too well at this period, and may probably go off before the day of the race. There is a rumour abroad locally that a . popular Southern pick for the New Zealand Cup has gone wrong, but the stable alluded to has another representative to fall back upon. It would appear from recent accounts that Pinrose will be an absentee from the Cup. I heard one local penciller offer to lay 100 to 1 about his chance. Liberator is also receding in price. A Wellingtonian enquired the price of Roscius this week with a view of pur-

chasing the horse. The figure asked, 300 guineas, effectually stopped negotiations. Some people who saw the big horse run at Hastings consider him equal to Norton, but that is saying a lot. The new training track at the Hutt is in rattling order, and the local nags are being sent along in view of November engagements. Davis has Kent, Swordfish and Overseer looking in splendid order, Kent especially, while Review and Lord John in Fletcher’s stable are also in nice condition. La Norde, formerly owned by Dr. Connolly of Wanganui and now the property of Mr W\ Pryde of Forty Mile Bush, has a fine yearling colt by Rama Rama, and is expected to foal shortly to Treason. She visits Ascot.

At a meeting of the stewards of the Wairarapa Racing Club held at Featherston on Saturday several tenders for work on the course were accepted. J. Ames’s tender for working the totalisators was accepted, subject to a slight alteration in terms. Mr Macfarlane was unanimously elected handicapper, although some of the stewards stated that he was unwilling to act in that capacity. The programme committee recommended the following card which was adopted by the meeting ; —First day—Hunters Hurdle Race of £3O, miles; Trial Hack Handicap of £25, Imile; Wairarapa Cup of £125, 1 mile and 7 furlongs; Hack Hurdles of £2O, miles ; Flying Handicap of £5O, f- mile; Wairarapa Hack Handicap of £35, 1£ miles ; Grandstand Welter Handicap of £4O, 1 mile and a furlong; Tauherenikau Hack Welter of £2O, 1 mile. Second day—Open Hunters Hurdles of £3O, If miles; Telegraph Hack Handicap of £25, f mile ; Racing Club Handicap of £Bo,l| miles ; Second Hack Hurdle Race of £25, miles; Presisidents Handicap of £5O, 7 furlongs; Valley Hack Handicap of £25, If miles; New Year Handicap of £4O, 1 mile and a distance; Final Hack Handicap of £2O, 7 furlongs. Winners of races to be penalised if necessary up to a stone. It was resolved to board off the grandstand publican’s booth from the lawn next the saddling paddock, and an improvement is to 'be made in connection with the ladies’ room. The membership roll now numbers 250.

New Zealand Cup betting is a dead letter here, the only horse backed during the week being Three Star, one bookmaker laying £3OO to £lO against the Castor colt. There was very little wagering over Napier Park to-day, but what little was done resulted in favour of backers.