DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume V, Issue 258, 4 July 1895, Page 6

DUNEDIN.

[by

WIRE.]

July 2. Owing to continued bad weather no work of importance is going on at the Forbury, all the horses being restricted to exercises on the roads and beach. Mariner, Rangiatea, and Maremma are being pushed forward as much as possible, in view of the welter events at the Christchurch Grand National Meeting. Smuggler is improving a lot in the hands of Flockton, a young trainer and hurdle rider, who has had good experience about South Canterbury. His last charge was Invader, with whom he did well by winning several jumping races. If Smuggler can ever be got back to his old form again he will effect a big coup one of these days. You will have heard by this that it has been decided not to send Hippomenes over to Sydney. The authority for the statement made by me in the first instance was Mcllroy himself and a son of one of the owners. There is, I think, no doubt the horse’s connections contemplated send"ing him. The Dunedin bookmakers have petitioned the local Jockey Club to license them at the Forbury, and have promised to contribute a considerable sum of money for the privilege of betting. The subject came under the consideration of the committee at their monthly meeting last Thursday, with the result that a resolution was passed' relegating the subject for the time being to a subcommittee, which will make enquiries as to the way such licensing works with the Auckland Racing club. The sub-committee is to report thereon at the next monthly meeting. I hope fliia will prove the beginning of the end of the squabbling that has existed for so long with the metallicians and the club. The more stringent measures adopted bv the latter in endeavouring to keep the books off the course, the greater has been the falling off in the totalisator revenue—an evident proof that the members of the public do not relish the stopping of their chance of making small investments with Ringmen. Our bookmakers did very well over the Hawkes Bay Steeplechase Meeting. One layer, Mr Abe Moss, had several pounds invested on Norton by n backer, with a proviso that if Mr Gollan rode him it was to be no wager. This prejudice against the owner saved the bookmakers about £7O, and may be taken as the cause of the big dividend paid on Norton’s win.

The public generally are very dissatisfied with the N.Z. Cup handicap. The grumblers allege that it is framed on altogether too low a scale. North Atlantic was at once established favourite at 100 to 8 (taken), and Skirmisher was quoted at a similar figure, and found some support. He had been backed for a good bit prior to the handicap. I was certainly surprised to see him range alongside North Atlantic in the quotations, seeing he had to meet the latter on several pounds worse terms than he did in the Great Autumn. Mahaki ranges next at 100 to 7 (taken). Saracen is being supported at 100 to 6, and several centuries have been taken about him. Magazine has been backed to the extent of a thousand, the wagers being laid against him at fours and fives. He is fairly thrown in if any good. Marino is being enquired after at fives, and Aidershot has been supported for £lOOO at 100 to 2 and 100 to three. This is all the wagering I have heard of. - - The Waterloo Cup has turned out a dead failure this season, only eight entries having been received. The Stakes dwarfs all the other gatherings of the season, and it is very questionable if it has improved coursing here.