NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 282, 19 December 1895, Page 12

NOTES.

[By

Gipsy King.]

A Gisborne sport informs me that Mahaki is now doing good work at Gisborne. At Greytown North, Wairarapa, Steve Harris has Von Tempsky and The Dean (St. Leger— Jacob’s dam) in work. The latter shaped very well at the Taratahi —Carterton Meeting on Nov. 9th, and if not hurried, such as he was when in training at Wanganui, he should win a hack hurdle race amongst the company he is likely to meet in the Wairarapa. In the. same town Mr Harry Catt has a useful looking six-year-old grey gelding by Grand Duke from Mahara’s dam. He picked . him up for the proverbial song, and I think he has the best of the bargain. In his day Mihara could gallop with anything he had to meet in the Valley, and if this half-brother trains on and doos not win a race his looks belie him. A popular sport in Greytown North is Mr T. Wrighl, one of the few owners who care to race for sport. At present he has nothing in training, having stinted his mare Bangor (by Tim Whiffler) to Ascot last season, and 1 trust the old mare will throw something worthy of carrying Mr Wright’s colours. Bangor visits Merrie England this season. Mr A. Fabian, of the same town, lias the three-year-old Roseminster (Administrate! — Anterose) and Dissenter (Puritan—Achievement) in training. The former has not yet fulfilled her early promise, but Dissenter, who is half-brother to the defunct West Coaster Doubtful, ran sufficiently forward at Carterton to suggest that with time he will yet do some service for the stable, more especially if he were gelded. Tommy Montague is head man in the stable. Mr Fabian lias a nice-looking two-year-old brown filly, Soretna (by Remington—Anterose) that looks like being a slippery sort. She has any amount of size and substance, and I was not surprised ts learn that she had taken first prize anckgold medal in the two year-old class at the Cartn’ton Show. Mr Fabian may well feel proud of Anterose (Anteros— Sludge) as a brood mare, and if she were mated with a son of Traducer one may expect the same happy result as that attained by mating her full sister Fugitive (owned by Messrs. Baker and Co. of Manawatu) with sons of Traducer. Fugitive is the dam of Wanderer (by Natator), Rangitira, and Fair Play (by Somnus). Wander and Rangitira are now performing stud duties, and besides being fast, when racing they can hold their own for good looks. Fair Play is the colt that recently broke hie leg at Woodville, and had he lived, this season’s racing would have proved him to be very brilliant. The definition of a. hack competing at the Feilding Spring Meeting was as follows : —“ Hack means horse that has never won an advertised race (hack and hunter races excepted), or is not nominated at date of entry for any race (hack and hunter races excepted).” It will be recollected that the owner of Trickery protested against the stakes being awarded to Gold Cup in the mile hack race, for the reason that the latter was nominated for open events at the Greymouth Summer Meeting. Subsequently it was found that Gold Cup was not entered for the Greymouth Meeting at date of nomination for the Feilding Meeting. Further, that Mr Hill, owner of Gold Cup, stated that he had not nominated the mare for the Greymouth Meeting. But suppose that Gold Cup had been nominated For the Greymouth Meeting after the date of nomination for the Feilding Meeting, even by someone else, and not upon the authority of Mr Hill, I think the stewards at Feilding would have had a very knotty point, to decide. The conditions of the hack races were plain enough, and as far as their decision, in the matter is concerned they would have had no other course open to them but to award the stakes to the owner of Trickery although the owner of the latter, in view of the statement made by Mr Hill, signified that he would only ask for reasonable proof from the Greymouth Club that Mr Hill had not nominated Gold Cup. My opinion is that if Mr Hill had lost the stakes he would have been able to claim the equivalent amount in damages from the person who did nominate the mare at Greymouth. The Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1894 would not, I venture to say, apply to such a case as this, and even if it did the aid of the Greymouth Club could be invoked to apply Rule 143 to the person who. nominated the mare at Greymouth. It has been argued that the Feilding stewards could not have taken the stakes from the owner of Gold Cup in the face of his statement that the mare had been nominated for Greymouth without his authority, the contention bsing that should anyone wish to be dishonest enough they could prevent any hack racer from competing in hack races, with similar conditions to those in force at Feilding, simply by nominating them for open events. As I said before, it is a very knotty question, and no finality could be arrived at, because there is no Turf Council or representative Appeal Board to determine such a question—that is, assuming that the Law Courts ruled that the case did come within 'the scope of the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1894. The urgent necessity for a representative racing institution or appeal board, occurs again in connection with the refusal of the C.J.C. to allow Mrs Crammond the amount of her costs in the protest against The Artist in the Metropolitan Handicap. Mrs Crammond cannot appeal from the decision of the C.J.C., as that club is the metropolitan club for the district, and the same men could no* consistently uphold her appeal! Horse owners practically now have no appeal either to a racing tribunal or court of law against what they may consider to be an unjust decision. Mr Bryant has arrived at Bulls (Rangitikei) with the Eiridspord —Oceana colt which he won in the St. Albans Lottery. Mr Stead’s colt, Mauser, has been scratched for all engagements at the Manawatu meeting.

I mentioned last week that the three-year-old colt, The Baillie, had been transferred to Mr Jos. Prosser’s stable at Porirua, but I have to add that he has now purchased the colt. Evidently The Miser’s success at Wellington has caused Mr Prosser to think highly of Germaine’s progeny. Alick Hall is now engaged at Manakau, near Otaki, schooling Volta (by Voltigeur) for hurdle races. There is no question of Volta’s pace, and liis conformation suggests that he should Succeed at the illegitimate game. I met Alf. Shearsby at Palmerston North the other day, and was glad to see him looking so well after his recent illness at Riccarton. He speaks most highly of the kind treatment he received from the Riccarton folk during the time he resided there. He informs me that after a journey to the West Coast of the South Island, he will return after Christmas and will take up his residence in the North Island, most probably at Palmerston North, as being a central position for training horses. Shearsby is a careful and steady man, and I shall be glad to sec him get a few good horses together. The Ashurst Racing Club have effected several improvements recently on their racecourse. At the forthcoming race meeting, two totalisators will be used, and the approaches to the same enlarged, so that investors will have no ground for complaint this year on account of the crushing. A full-sister to Brooklet has been named “The Brook.” Mr M. C. O’Connell, formerly of the Commercial Hotel, Hawera, has taken the Club Hotel at Palmerston North, and if he identifies himself with all branches of sport in the same way that he did in Hawera he will soon make the Club Hotel as popular a resort as the old Commercial Hotel was. Already Mr O’Connell has joined the Manawatu Racing Club, and I would like to see him on the committee. Whenever any of the horses from W. Homes’ stable at Bulls win a, race it is quite a general remark, “ What a lucky young fellow Billy Homes is ! ” But the same people forget the period of exasperating bad luck that the same trainer had a season or two ago, when consistent old Lonely and the dec- iving Fortune (Monte Carlo’s sister) were running in the interest of the same trainer. Lonely’s consistency in securing second place, principally in hack hurdle events, became proverbial. During the season 1893-94 Lonely competed in 31 races, his record being 8 firsts, 12 seconds and 5 thirds. Fortune started 10 times and had only one win. Twelve times second with the one horse would break the heart of any ordinary man. Lonely was hardly class enough perhaps for some of the lightly-handicapped smart hack hurdle horses, but I know when he was running he was just as fit as any of the numerous winners the stable has sent out during last season and the present season so far as it has gone, but the difference is that what we term “ hie luck ” was dead out then, and no matter how fit he may have got a horse during that spell the fates would be “ agin ” him. They say it is a long lane that has no turning, and so it has proved with Homes. As the Yankees say, he goes right ahead now. I have been asked by several lately the meaning of the name “ Tutanekai,” which has been bestowed on the Chainshot —Hinemoa colt, winner of the First Hack Race at the Wellington Spring Meeting. The name occurs in the Maori legend about Hinemoa, and a maori scholar informs me Tutanekai was the “masher” who swam across a lake and rescued Hinemoa, whom he afterwards married.

Complaints are frequently made by those who attend North Island race-meetings and are fortunate enough to be able to present themselves at the “ pay out ” window of the totalisator building, that the payments are not made expeditiously enough so as to allow them to get their money in time to have a look round before the next race. The fact is the payment-windows are pokey little places, and lucky investors are huddled together like bees. At meetings where it is necessary, say to use two totalisators, there should also be two payment-windows. Self-lock-ing turn-stiles should be placed close by the pay-ment-windows, so that only one person at a time can approach the window, which will give more freedom to those wishing to count their dividend, while at the same time it will minimise the chance of people being robbed. Recently I acted as sponsor to the Torpedo — Bonny Blink filly, which has been named Basilisk, a species of cannon. Two others are Somnolent, by Somnus—-May King mare, and Clearlight, by St. Clair (by Deadshot) —First Light.

The Manawatu Racing Club have decided to allow local trainers the use of the outside of the course proper, until the plough gallop is fit to work on. This arrangement averted the threatened exodus of horses from Palmerston North to Foxton, all hough J. McTaggart, with Trickery, Hesitation, and Ruby Twist, had left before the compromise was arrived at. The Foxton course is in sp’eadid order, and no amount of rain has any serious effect on the track. The chief complaint of the Palmerston North trainers appears to be that they are not permitted to work on the training track, even though they are agreeable to accept-the responsibility and risk of working their horses when, in the* custodian’s opinion, the track may not be fit to work on. With the plough gallop, no matter how wet it may be, very little da nage can be done to it, and if any trainer wishes to relieve the club from responsibility, they should be allowed to train their horses upon it. This appears to be a very reasonable request. If there was a good sand track on the Manawatu course, I th : nk there would be more horses trained in this town than any part of the North Island, as it is so centrally situated and obviates the necessity for trainers having to pay unnecessary railage rates, such as others have to do, supposing they go from Napier to Wanganui. The Palmerston North trainer saves the passenger fare for himself and the railage on his horses for that part of the journey from Napier to Palmerston North and back.

The proposed Ashurst Hack Guineas race, to be run for in December, 1896, will be worth £5O to the winner. The ’.distance will be one mile, and the nomination will close about the 25th January. For the 1897 Guineas race, the stake will be increased to £lOO. J. Knight, of Palmerston North, now has charge of the ex-Wairarapa gelding, Brooklet. I don’t remember having seen Mr Macara’s cast off looking so well before. It mav not be generally known, but the Wellington Racing Club was the first club in New Zealand to adopt the numbered saddle-cloth. At. a North Island meeting recently a jockey was called before the stewards to explain the running of the horse and his own unsatisfactory way of handling the horse. Not in the least disturbed or agitated about the “ carpeting,” he entered the stewards’ room, and, in reply to the question concerning the horse, ingeniously ignoring the one referring to himself, he remarked—- “ Well, gentlemen, I knew you were all backing ’ini, and 1 done my best for you, but take my tip he aint the bloke he’s made out to be.” Then one of the stewards was hard-hearted enough to propose that owner, trainer, and jockey should be disqualified, but in the face of such a candid statement from the jockey, it. is surprising to learn that the disqualification nearly came off, a reprimand eventually being recorded against the jockey. Dante, who has been doing fairly well in hurdle-racing company this season, is out of an Elswick mare, named Julia, and the latter was used as a stock mare for many years on Messrs Moore and Currie’s station, before the firm dissolved partnership. The former manager for the firm informs me that it was almost impossible to knock the mare up, she was so hardy and game, and he is of opinion from her jumping ability and pace that, had she been trained, she would have been able to win a steeplechase in those days. Hesitation, the black mare by Gipsy King— Vacillation, who ran fairly well at Otaki, is to be schooled over hurdles shortly. Vacillation, the dam of this mare, is a half sister to Hippomenes and Sylvia Park. I am glad to see that Messrs Fergus and Montgomery, the owners of the consistent Sea Breeze, have taken the lit’le mare out of the hack class, where she has lately’ been carrying, for one of her build, pretty heavy burdens. To show in what good nick Fergus has kept the mare, I may mention that since they purchased her last autumn she has competed in nine races, has won on three occasions, and has five seconds to her credit, only once being unplaced. This is very creditable to the trainer, and her forward running is proof that that the public may have confidence in the stable. Like Dante, Sea Breeze comes from an Elswick mare, and it would appear that Sou’-Wester is the proper nick for these mares, in the same way that the Traducer —Painter blend has been so successful.

It is the general opinion of £ s. d. men that the Manawatu Racing Club made a mistake in not granting a license to bookmakers to lay “ straightout” wagers on their course, although the amount proposed, viz., £lO, was too much. The public encourage the bookmakers, and this alone will prevent the club coping with the difficulty, and it would have been better to license them in the same way as the Egmont Racing Club do. The latter club have not suffered any loss whatever through granting such licenses. On the other hand, they have the license fees, equivalent to another £BOO going through the totalisator, as a set off against any illicit betting the bookmakers may have done. The amount in license fees that the Manawatu Club would have received in connection with their Boxing Day meeting would have come in very handy for putting down a sand training track. This amount they will lose, and I doubt if they will be able to curb the betting, because the public are getting very cunning, as well as the metallicians, and they will have their “ little bit ” on, in spite of the rules of racing. It is not too late for the club to reconsider the matter —which I would urge them to do —before the meeting. Mr W. Tatham, formerly of Hastings, is now located at Palmerston North, and during an interesting conversation with him on Australian racing, a lot of which he has witnessed lately, I enquired if it were true that old Uranus had been killed for the purpose of feeding the lions at the Sydney Zoological Gardens. I was delighted to hear that the old horse had not met with such a cruel fate, and that he is now used for the purpose of leading racing ponies to the training tracks and to the pony meetings about Sydney. He has a good home and only sufficient exercise to keep him healthy. I was also surprised to hear that the little chestnut gelding Dingo (by Remington—Cornelia), who is well-known on the Wanganui and Napier coasts, is now in Sydney.. Mr Tatham endeavoured to get a certificate for the half brother to Ahua for the 15-hand “pony” hurdle races, but Dingo could not get under the standard. Mr Tatham then exchanged him for a four-year-old mare By Navigator—Hippomia. Dingo, like many of his relatives, was very clever over fences, but he is not over sound.

Mr Tatham is undecided whether he will remain permanently in Palmerston North, although like many others he recognises the convenient positipn of place if the training tracks were anything like decent to work on after a shower of rain. However, I am hopeful that after the Boxing Day meeting the club will settle this little difficulty. At present “ William ” has two “ foreigners ” in hand both bred in New South Wales. He very kindly permitted me to have a look at them, and the first that claimed attention was a six-year-old bay gelding named Tapeoeoa (pronounced “ Tapeo ”), by Glenelvan. “ Tapeo ” is a decidedly comical looking customer. He’ is all corners and has a hollow back, and I could mt help thinking that at last a mate had been found for the old Wairarapa battler, Makomako. But “ Tapeo ” shows more quality and has better hind-quarters. With a rug on this horse exhibits a strong resemblance to- old Uranus. “ Tapeo ” appears to bs deficient in racing condition,'but

now that the weather has taken up he will be slipped along. Hurdle-racing may be his forte. The other horse is a six-year-old black gelding named Ebony, by Clieveden (son of Chester) from a Panic mare. Ebony is a real good sort to look at. He stands fully 16.1, powerfully built with great oblique shoulders and a prominent’wither suggestive of jumping ability. He seems to have a rather long back, but being slightly “ roached ” this will counterbalance the length'. His hind-quarters are well put together, and strong enough, but they are not in proportion with his fore-end. It would be difficult to get a horse perfect. Ebony is a regular Daimio to look at, and although he may not have the pace of one I feel sure he could jump a house Mr Tatham has the four-year-old Navigator —Hippomia mare and a four-year-old gelding by Cynthus from the dam of Cynthia (the latter having been a good mare on the -‘other aide.”), running out in a paddock at Palmerston North. A cynical sort of individual writes me hoping that I will suggest that tomb-stones should be erected on the Feilding course, to the memory of all the “dead ’uns” that were found at the Spring Meeting ! He says he knows of six good horses that were “ dead,” and in the one race alone three horses, good performers, were “dead for another animal that failed to win, being beaten at the finish by another animal that the “ push ” did not think worth “ squaring.” He suggests that a number of the stewards should stand down at the turn, where all the “ reefing ” is done. This individual should retail his information "out to punters, and go nap next time he hears the alleged “ dead ’uns ” are having a go ! There’s millions in it! I was agreeably surprised when I reached Greytown to learn that Mr Walter Armstrong, the well-known Wairarapa sport, who was bedridden for nearly eighteen months, is now able to move about the house, and occasionally, when the weather permits, is able to go out for a drive. It will be recollected that just about the time of the last general election one side of Mr Armstrong’s body suddenly became paralysed, and since that time until a few. months ago he was not able to leave his bed. To one of a sporting turn of mind, especially when the annual district meetings came round, the imprisonment must have been nearly as bad as the illness. Sometime ago Mr Armstrong wrote me saying that he hoped to be able to pay another visit to the Foxton races, where he was so hospitably treated by the officers of the club three years ago, and although I doubted at the time if he would be able to make the journey, there is just a probability that he may be present at the club’s January 22nd meeting. Mr Armstrong has, I think, always had some interest in good old Dromedary since she started racipg. The Rangitikei people can hardly understand to this day how the old mare managed to defeat Rangipuhi and Dingo in the Sandon Handicap a few years ago, but she did, Young Skeet making every post a winning post from the fall of the flag, and under the circumstances it is surprising how she managed to hang- out the one and a half miles. The race often crops up when horsey matters are being discussed down Rangitikei way, but the correct solution of the problem is, I think, that the jockeys on Dingo and Rangipuhi, who were keeping a watchful eye on each other, thought that Dromedary would come back to them, but unlike the cat she didn’t. It was a great day for backers of the Grey town mare, and “Walter” was not the least excited man on the course. There has been many complaints this season about the indifferent manner in which the catering is carried out at some of the North Island race-meetings. The public do not mind a hashed up sort of luncheon, provided the tariff is arranged accordingly. Personally, I seldom have time to get lunch on a racecourse, so cannot say whether the complaints are genuine- or not, but from the incessant grumbling one hears I should say that some improvement is necessary. About three years ago I felt peckish when attending a meeting north of Wanganui, and adjourned to the lunch room, which was utterly devoid of nick-nacks or decorations to relieve the barn-like oppearance of the room. The fare was cold roast beef and bread, and cold blanc-mange. Ugh ! Not being a fastidious sort of individual I made no noise such as a number of others were doing, but when I was bailed up at the door for 3s. I meekly asked if I was supposed to be paying for anyone else ? Several others came up at the time, and hearing the “ tariff rate ” objected to pay, and a strike occurred, and nearly a row, as the man with the money-bag had locked us, in while he “collected.” However, “virtue was triumphant,” and we were let off with 2s. The Wellington Racing Club are making special arrangements for the catering for the luncheon at the Wellington Cup Meeting. The caterer who has been entrusted with this is one of the best in the North Island, and puts on a luncheon in tin-top style at a reasonable price. A* nomination for the Ladies’ Purse at the Manawatu Meeting reads : — “ Mrs Wolf’s Schnapps.” I have just had a glance at the Manawatu Racing Club handicaps.- At first blush, Leda (7.7) in Palmerston North Cup might be the “ Leda ” past the winning post at the end of the mile and a half. Strong exception is taken to the lenient handicap of 7.1 awarded to Lorelei, and many .think that some mistake has been made. If she fails to win the Cup what handicap will she receive for the President’s Handicap of one mile a quarter on the second day? Kent is nicely handicapped in the Telegraph and Grandstand Handicaps, and Sea Breeze in the Hack Flat. Gunboat, 10.0, has started twice in hurdle races and was beaten on both occasions, yet he has to give weight to Auroa, 9.8, in the hurdle race. The latter has accounted for several jumping events in the past. Rangipai, 10.8, only requires to be in form to win.. In the Hack Hurdles, Halcione, who showed good form at the Masterton Spring Meeting, is placed amongst the maiden (9.0) division ; ditto Raupp, who showed more than maiden form at Waverly last month. Tangaroa, 11.9, in this race will no doubt be

favourite at this weight, on the strength of his running in the First Handicap Hurdles at the Spring Meeting, when he should have won, but lost through Daute beeing allowed up on the inside. The progeny of Mr John Cotter s mare, Caller Herrin, has been doing very well this season so far. Banner (by Escutcheon), Gold Cup (by Ascot), and Ben Varrey (by Vanguard), each claim Caller Herrin as dam. The Baillie (by Flintlock), the three-year-old half-brother to The Miser, has been transferred from George Madison’s stable at Palmerston North to Jos. Prosser’s Porirua stable. The only reason that the owner of The Bailee has fo y removing the colt was that he was afraid that the heavy nature of the training track on the Manawatu course might crack the colt up. , It seems very hard luck for Madison. I know the owner of The Baillie would have waited untd the present wretched weather cleared up, but the colt has an engagement in the Egmont Sires’ Hack Produce Stakes in February, and it is necessary that he should have some solid work before Christmas.