Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 265, 22 August 1895, Page 6

Turf Topics.

CBv

Reviewer.]

Morag is in work again. Casket is still under a cloud. Portsea continues to do great work at Flemington.

The Maid of Killarney protest is to be decided by the A.T.C. to-day. Annual meeting of Wellington Racing Club next Monday (26th inst). Notes on the training at headquarters will be found in another column.

Sir James Agnew has been re-elected president of the Tasmanian Racing Club. Ruenalf is in work again, so it is evident thia “ broken-down ” horse is worth watching. Impulse is doing far and away the best work of local New Zealand Cup candidates. The Hotchkiss —Satanella four-year-old, Linstock, has become very musical. The Sporting Review has. been re-appointed the official calendar of the Auckland Racing Club.. I hear that Friendship (late Lady Whitford) won another Sydney pony race last Saturday week.

The jockeys Hickey and Fletcher have been awarded £6 each from the A.R.C. Distressed Jockeys’ Fund. Mr W. Percival reports the following scratching:—Sir Geo. Clifford’s Weathereye for Royal Stakes, 1895-96. , .

The Waipawa R.C. annual meeting will be held on the 28th inst. The Wairarap* meeting is being held to-day. Mr W. Douglas adheres to his resolve respecting giving up racing and intends devoting his attention to breediug. The owner of Artillery is inviting tenders from English and American buyers respecting the son of Musket and Ouida.

The balance sheet of the Wellington Racing Club shows a profit of £431 4s 6d, including last year’s balance of £239. It transpires that Donald McKinnon’s time for the Grand National Hurdle Race was 4min sseo —not 4min 51sec as telegraphed. M. Edward’s action re the Canterbury—Auckland Trotting Club dispute comes before a special meeting of the A.T.C. stewards to-morrow. Mr J. Wagner, who owned Welcome Jack, the Maribyrnong dead heater, will be a candidate for the seat on the V.A.T.C. Committee at the next election.

The measuring of ponies for the forthcoming Ellerslie racing season has been placed in the hands of Messrs J. Kirkwood, J. O. Evett, and W. Percival.

The reserve placed on Despised and Marechai Neil at the Christchurch National sale was a 100 guineas. In both instances the price was not nearly reached. The Tasman — Rubina three-year-old colt, Kingsman, has been awarded a spell consequent on a temporary lameness that befell him after a gallop last week. Mr Gollan’s string leaves Lyttelton by the Tainui to-day. James Hickey goes in charge of the team and has for assistants Dan. Page and James Webster who took Maxim to America.

Nominations for the South Canterbury J.C, Spring Meeting, to be held on Sept. 12 and 13» appear elsewhere. Handicaps are due next Saturday, and acceptances on the 31st inst. J. McHugh, the Auckland trainer who has been down Hawera way since the Autumn, returned by last Saturday’s boat, bringing with him a team of three horses. Included in the trio is an iron grey maiden jumper, about whom I have favourable advices. The horses are located at Kohimarama.

It has been said that the picture of Mutiny reproduced in the last issue of the Review had been “in stock” at this office for some time* This is not so. The Christchurch agent of the journal had Mr W. Douglas’s representative photographed immediately after the conclusion of the C.J.C. Grand National ’chase.

Several three-cup coupons have been left at our post-office box in unstamped envelopes. The Review does not mind offering a £5O prize, but it strongly objects to paying for the delivery of cqupons. So subscribers might take the hint and either stamp their envelopes or leave them at the office of this paptr.

A special meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club stewards has been called for to-morrow to consider the action of M. Edwards in connection with the trouble which has arisen between the local body and the Canterbury Metropolitan Trotting Association. The letter sent to Edwards last week by the A.T.C. secretary did not catch him in Christchurch as anticipated. A-copy has been forwarded to Edwards, who is now in Auckland, and his reply will no doubt be forthcoming in time for to-morrow’s meeting. The Greymouth Trotting Club have disqualified the mare Wanda, her nominator (R. Cbwan), and rider (A. J. Keith) for life. Wanda trotted at the Canterbury Show Grounds on Octooer 21st, 1893, and was entered and competed as a non-performer at the Greymouth Meeting, held on March 19th last. The stewards found that both the nominator and jockey were guilty of fraudulent and wilful misstatement of entry. Two declarations taken before a Justice of the Peace were produced at the inquiry, identifying Wanda. The sentence passed on Keith will be a serious blow to him, as his services as a rider and driver were very much in demand. If I,am not mistaken it was Keith who drove Specification when that horse put.up the 7.35 record for three miles at the Canterbury T.C. Meeting last year.

Ben Godfr^'49..being. : .wo^e^ < i)i. J at Ellerslie./ The ,St.''Leger—Welcome Katie horse is only given pottering work, but he is mending. Mr J. H. Gushing, who died at Melbourne on the 7th inst., owned G’Naroo (Caulfield Cup winner) and Meli (beaten by Gamoola in the V.R.G. Derby). The latter’s defeat |was a sore point with Mr Cushing, who always main l fained his colt should have won.

The A.R.C. committee have attached the name of Musket to the leading two-year-old race of the Second Spring Meeting, instead of to the Midsummer Handicap as was intended. The name, September Strikes, has been eliminated from the First Spring Meeting, and that race re-named the Welcome Stakes, which was run at the second meeting of last year. Major George’s Cup candidate was given a burst once round the Ellerslie track last Saturday. The Workman took Begasus right round the circuit, Anniversary joining in for the last six furlongs. The Cup colt was out of the fight from beginning.to end, but he should improve by Cup day. He will certainly have to advance many pounds on Saturday’s go if he is to make a race of it at Riccarton on November 4th.

The loss of Phantom’s foal to Regel at the Motu-Korea (Brown’s Island)-stud reminds me that if you search the Stud Book for the name of this daughter of Musket and Atlantis you will not find it. The 1884 foaling of Atlantis to Musket is registered in the book as “ br f Vivid.” This should read Phantom. While on the question of the Stud Bool* I desire to again ask, in a despairing tone, if we are ever to have another volume published.

The Auckland Trotting Club committee hold their first meeting of the season to-day. The election of Office-bearers for the year will be held, and - the protest lodged against Maid of Killarney in connection with the last Hamilton trotting meeting will be dealt with;

An English exchange tells of a “ play it up punter,” who started at the Hurst Park races last month with two sovereigns and a.little silver. He had his two big shekels oh the first winner, and constantlj'increasing his stakes did not back a loser during the whole afternoon. Luck such as this is like a needle in a haystack, very hard to find. The general order of the punter’s luck is to begin with £j6oo and end with £2— or a collar stud.

The ; condition of the track .at the.recent “ Royal Ascot ” have,been disgraceful. The last English mails to hand state that the course was in a state which would ensure the withdrawal of the license from a second-class meeting. “ Great patches of turfless clay stood out on the running track, which was, in addition holey, lumpy, and fissured with great sun cracks in all directions.” A nice course, truly, on which to run the great Isinglass, who it will be remembered ran first past'the post for the Gold Cup in front of Reminder and Kilsallaghan. The names of many great horses figure on the roll of Ascot Gold Cup winners, amongst them 'being such heroes as'Fisherman, Thormanby, Scottish Chief, Doncaster, Isonqmy, and St. Simon, all founders of mighty lines in the last half century. And the deeds of Isinglass stamp him as well worthy of a place on the roll. "Mr McCalmont’s retired hero will?always be remembered as a horse remarkable for, his unflinching gameness and dogged determination.

The digappointing-A.uStnjliaii'hurdler; who went out lev 01 favourite with Rosestem for the Caulfield National Hurdles and was beaten out of a place, has peen purchased by Mr R. H, Frew (trainer of Daimiq) for £l5O. A slab of English horse reporting from the description of the last Ascot meeting “ The Prince of "Wales wore a white hat, a thing he has not done for years, and his example was followed by Lord Cadogan.” What the colour of Albert Edward’s head-gear had to no with a report of the racing is not altogether clear to the contemptible colonial. Despised’s pilot, A. Williams, came back from Riccarton with “ his head in a sling.” When the Cap-a-pie horse fell in the Grand National Steeplechase I understand he trod on Williams’ left ear, and although the injury was nothing serious the frosty weather experienced down South at National time affected it rather painfully. “ A miss is as good as a mile,” but Despised’s attention,.to his fallen rider was a trifle close to be pleasant. The famous English jockey Mornington Cannon had a remarkable record at the Ascot meeting last June. He had in all twenty-six mounts during the four days and he was either first or second in twenty races. His actual figures were nine times first, eleven times second, three times third, arid out of a place on three occasions only. Of his nine winning mounts six horses started favourites, but two others were 100 to 12 chances, while another was 100 to 15. He was second on a 100 to 8 chance beaten a short head, and third on a similarly laid animal. One has to goback to the record of Archer in his palmiest days to fiud a ,parallel of such performances.

The plantation on the Ellerslie hill has been thinned, and the pines that in the past hid the steeplechase jumps on the crest of t|ie rise have been tqp-pruned. Racegoers will now be able to secure a much clearer view of cross-country runs at headquarters than has been obtainable in .the past. Ap interesting memento of Tom Hick’s Auckland Trotting Cup win has been made by T. Stewart, the blacksmith, and presented to E. G. Sandall, who trained and drove Tom Hicks in his big win. Using one of the shoes worn, by the horse during,the race as his “precious metal” Stewart has.turned out an extraordinarily neat horse-shoe scarf pin, which bears the name of the trotter in raised lettering. With the aid of gold wash the,pin.looks like the article obtained from a jeweller’s shop. The smashing defeat administered to the Totalisator Bill in the Victorian Legislative Assembly shows what the Council of Churches— Bookmaker Coalition can do when aided by eh uokle-headed Parliamentarians. The outlook for the machine on the other side looks as black as Erebus just at present, but the tote bell Will yetrring at Flemington. The supporters of the machine have only gathered strength since the last, election of Assemblymen so that the totrilisator converts have not had any opportunity of ramming their wishes intothe heads of their legislative representatives. The clergy and bookies don’t rule the roost in the matter of a general election and the candidates for next Victorian Parliament will find the Argus-eyed public on hand with the question Tote or no Tote. ’The mechanical bettor is favoured by the hornyhanded who generally get their way in the long run.

dlobiolis/'aire'of Rank 1 (Wfrihei' of the V.‘A ! .T/c£ Sapling Stakes on the 10th inst. at Caulfield), was sold for £25 some time back by the owner of Redleap. Raak, who is reckoned one of the coming Victorian two year olds, cantered home over 3£ furlongs in 46|sec.

The trottim mare Katie M. is said to have returned to Auckland. Mr M. Gleeson, who came back by Saturday’s boat from the south, sold the mare to a Brighton (Christchurch) trotting man. I suppose the Brighton man will ask Gleeson to race the mare up here for him in the event of the proposed trotting meeting next month being held.

Pencillers T. Tobias and J. Davidson returned from their Southern trip this week. The firstnamed reports having laid Euroclydon, Marino, and Skirmisher for the New Zealand Cup during National week at Christchurch. I understand one of the Southern books wrote Skirmisher £lOOO to £lO in one bet during the Riccarton week. ' Chaos was well backed at the same time, and steady inquiries were made for Prime Warden.

One of the oldest English steeplechase riders at present in the saddle is W. Daniels, who rode a dashing and successful ’chase last month in spite of his 45 years. That is a rather venerable age for a cross-country pilot. As a rule the Old World steeplechase’riders retire at about thirty, finding that their pluck has left them. The oldest men now riding in jumping races are to be found among amateurs, and the reason is not difficult to find. The gentleman jockey generally takes care of himself,, eschews drinking, the indulgence of too many long cigars, and other little pleasures.

At the annual meeting of the South Auckland Facing Club, which was held at Hamilton on Saturday last, it was resolved to hold a meeting in the autumn. As the Club is restricted to two days’ racing per annum it was left to the Committee to decide as to whether they should have a two-days’ meeting in the autumn, or one day in the autumn and one in the summer. The Committee decided in favour of the former proposition. The result of the year’s racing showed a small credit balance, but as some of the payments due by the Club were overdue it was decided to make a levy of £2 on the stewards and committeemen.

A new racing law is to be introduced in the Canadian Parliament, the chief provisions of which are as follows: —“ It shall not be lawful for horse-races to be held for any longer period than twenty-four days in any one year upon the grounds of any tnrf association, nor for more than six days in any one month, and at least one month shall intervene between any two racemeetings. It shall not be lawful for any turf association to permit any horse-races to be held upon their grounds, or grounds under their control, by or under the control, management or direction of any foreign person, syndicate, corporation or association. Any person offending against the provisions of this act shall be subject to a penalty of 1000 dollars and to imprisonment for any period less than one year, and where races take place in contravention of this act upon the grounds of an association of persons or a corporate body, all and every of the members of the association and officers and directors of such corporate body shall each be liable to the penalty and imprisonment provided for by this act.”

: The Muskbt—■Atlantis iftarb‘”Pi/a J nioifl had the tiad luck to lose her colt - foal to Regel. The daughter of Musket foaled to the. Motu Korea sire last Wednesday, but the newcomer died two days later. The Messrs Alison Brothers are to be sympathised with in the hard luck experienced in connection with Phantom’s stud efforts.

A leading Newmarket (Eng.) trainer, T. Jennings, never gallops his horses on the tan, no matter how bad the going Oh the turf It is said that he rarely or ever breaks a horse down, and that his objection to tan galloping ii the secret of his success. I take it that no practical authority would recommend fast winding-up gallops on the artificial track, but if Jennings rarely breaks a horse down he is the sort of pearl we want out here. However, I have no doubt this English training luminary, like other trainers of less distinction, can break prads down as well as patch them up.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club committee met last Friday, and awarded a special prize of £5 in connection with the Agricultural Society’s Show. The following conditions were attached to the Hunt Club Cup, Tally-ho St eaplechase, Members* Hurdle Race, and Ladies’ Bracelet, to be run at Ellerslie on September 21st: —Minimum weight in Hunt Club Cup to be reduced to 10.7 ; winner of the Cup to carry 141 b extra in the Tally-ho Steeples ; winner of Tally-ho to carry 71b extra in the Members’ Hurdles; Bracelet to be a handicap with a minimum weight/of 10.7. As the Hunt Club races will be held much earlier thi® year than in past seasons the committee decided to count the Wednesday runs on the qualification tickets, providing the horses also attend the Saturday meets from this date. _ . ' .

Breeders from a distance seem to have ap| eye on the Messrs Nathan Bros, latest importation, Seaton Delaval. Campbell, the well-known Hawke’s Bay trainer and right-hand man of the Hawke’s Bay stud master, Mr W. M. Broughton, of Omahu, arrived here by the Tasmania last Saturday, bringing with him two of Mr Broughton’s stud matrons, viz., Lady Leger and Princess Royal, on a visit to Seaton Delaval. They are both nearly foaling to Patriarch and Mystieal, as Lady Leger was served by the good old horse Patriarch shortly before be passed out, and Princess Royal is in foal to Mystical. They are two fine specimens of stud matrons, and ■ should help to make a name for the horse. Campbell speaks in high terms of the Tasmania as a boat for the conveyance of horses and also of the assistance rendered him by the officers and crew of the ship. I sometimes wonder (writes “ Ranger ” in the Sporting and Dramatic News) what would be the effect on society if the clock could be put back 25 years, and a really good descriptive reporter of the latter-day inquisitive kind turned on to do one of the old suburban race meetings thoroughly. Not only as seen from the outsider’s point of view, but with all the inner workings laid bare. The consultations behind that ramshackle wooden stand at Bromley as to who should and who should not try; the extraordinary market fluctuations of the various candidates—there was no starting price betting in those days—as the bootmakers got an inkling of how the card lay; and the wonderful capacity some riders had for going the wrong side Of a post at a critical and opportune moment; all these, and many other similar incidents, would have to be fully and carefully recorded.