Turf Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 297, 2 April 1896, Page 6

Turf Topics.

[By

Gipsy King.]

Barmby is doing good work at Riccarton

The Leolinus pony, Tit, is going well just now. Deleware (9.0, (Sydney Cup), has improved a lot lately.

The Distressed Jockeys’ Fund of the V.R.C. amounts to over* £7,000.

Mr M. Sherwin, owner of Barmby, is building stables at Riccarton.

The ex-Auckland horses Armour and Ladybird, is is rumoured have gone amiss at Randwick.

Deleware and The Trier have recently been associated in a couple of good gallops at Randwick.

Complimentarv tickets have been received with thanks for the Wairarapa and Patea Easter Meet, ings.

Toreador, Music, Chesterman, and Valiant are the principal horses asked for in the betting on Sydney Cup.

A horse nominated for the Wairarapa Racing Club’s Easter Meeting rejoices in the name, “ Premier’s Mistake.”

Simms, the American coloured jockey, recently refused £3,400, as a retainer for the coming season, from a Yankee owner.

The Maribyrnong Plate has been increased to 750 sovs, V.R.C. Derby to 1000 sovs, and the Ascot Vale Stakes to 500 sovs.

There is likely to be a race meeting, with.the totalisator, at Avondale during the early part of Mrv, so it is rumoured in Auckland. Owners are reminded to keep their “ eye ” on the Egmont Racing Club’s Winter programme. Nominations due Saturday, April 11th. Hazelmere (Tasman —Hazel) was shipped to Sydney on Tuesday. The little mare will be useful amongst the ponies about Sydney. Mr Thos. Morrin left for Sydney on Saturday for a fortnight’s holiday. Everyone will wish the Squire of Wellington Park a good time. The Duke of Portland has presented the V.R.C. with an oil painting of Carbine, from the brush of the ex-Australian artist, Mr Mark Gawen.

A two-year-old colt by The Dauphin, half’ brother to the hack-hurdle horse Egmont, arrived at Onehunga by the s.s. Gairlock on Saturday last.

Sea Song, a full brother to the Wanganu 1 stallion, Sou’-Wester, won the two-mile steeplechase at the Mentone (Melbourne) Races on 21st March.

The time for the A.R.C. Autumn Handicap, one mile and a quarter, has not varied much during the last six years, 2min being the average.

Owner : “ How did you come to lose that race, you could have won easily. Jockey : “ Oh, sir, I was ‘ hipnotised ’ and made to back the horse that won!”

Harry Underwood, the ex-Wanganui jockey, who has been very successful as a cross-country rider in Australia, is now a full-blown trainer at Flemington.

Impulse has won the A.R.C. Easter Handicap twice, in 1891 and 1893. Yatapa won in two consecutive years, 1879 and 1880 when the distance was two miles.

The different training tracks at Flemington are —One mile of tan, one mile of cinders, one mile and a half of sand, one mile of sand and tan, and two miles of grass.

Morag, the steeplechaser, started in the Redclyffe Stakes, one mile, at Napier Park Meeting, but ran, as might be expected, unplaced. Paddy O’Rourke won all the way.

Last year Folly, with 7.7 on her back, won the Easter Handicap at the A.R.C. meeting in 2min 41|sec. She is handicapped at 8.2 for the big handicap on Monday next. The Auckland-owned Sabretache made the running for about four furlongs in the Nursery Handicap at the Hawkesbury Autumn Meeting (Sydney), and finished fifth. Hilda’s performance in the Auckland Easter Handicap, carrying 9.6 and registering 2min 39sec, is undoubtedly the best, since the distance was altered to one mile and a half.

Mr Chitham, of Palmerston North, has transferred his lease of Steel Shot, the two-year-old colt by Foul Shot —Voltarina, to Mr John Handon, of Foxton, the owner of Flying Shot. James Laing, who is in the employ of Mr R. Frew, at Flemington, sustained a broken collarbone and a dislocated ankle through a fall while schooling Vardon over fences at Flemington recently. All horses, owners, trainers, and jockeys that toak part in the recent hack-race meeting at Ohingaiti (on the Central Trunk line) are disqualified, as the programme was not passed by the Wanganui Jockey Club. The Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase was established in 1839, when Lottery. 12.0 (J. Mason), defeated a field of 16. Time, 14min 53sec. Up to 1843 the race was a w.f.a.; since then it has been a handicap.

Since 1890 the A.R.C. Autumn Handicap distance has been one mile and a quarter. In this year Hilda carried the steadier of 10.0 and won in the good time of 2min 14sec. Impulse has won this handicap on two oecassions.

Wallace is favourite for the. Sydney Cup. v . Bangle, Hilda, Corunna, Aronoel, Tiraillerie, St. Hippo, Eve, Three Star, and Forma all are former winners of the A.R.C. Champagne Stakes. Tiraillerie has put np the fastest time (Irnin 17sec) for the six furlongs. During the years 1890, 1891, 1892,1893, the winner of the A.R.C. Easter Handicap was successful in winning the Autumn Handicap run on the second day. Hilda, Impulse, and Cynisca each won the double. Punters should not forget this item next week. Te Whetumaramara 11.7, Reform 11.7, Chandler 11.12, Macaroni 11.2, Guy Fawkes 9.7, Volcano 9.12, Huntsman 9.10, Orangeman 10.4, Recruit 10.12, Ingorangi 9.7, Hune 9.7, Bombardier 9.9, and Belle 10.0 are previous winners of the A.R.C. Autumn Steeplechase. Visitors to the Auckland Racing Club’s meeting, on the 6th, 7th, and 11th April, will be supplied with a first-class luncheon for Is 6d, under the Derby Stand. Mr Thos. McEwin will do the catering, so that those who become “ peckish ” can rely upon being well attended to. Frank Dodd, who has been training the steeplechase mare Cingalee, is reported missing. He left Paeroa, Thames district, on the night of the 17th ultimo, and has not benn heard of since. His friends are very anxious to hear of his whereabouts, as it is thought—owing to the “ indisposition” be has been suffering from lately—that some harm may have befallen him. Paddy O’Rourke, purchased by the Ellerslie trainer, George Wright, after the horse had won the Redclyffe Stakes at the Napier Park Meeting, is a four-year-old chestnut gelding, by Daniel O’Rourke — Nellie. Paddy is half brother to Van Dieman, who turned out such a lucky purchase for Acone’s trainer. It is said that the latter had three tickets on Paddy O’Rourke when he won. At £36 15s per ticket, Paddy would be all to nothing. At the Bell Block races a number of hack racers were submitted to auction. Mr Standish paid £l7 for Thunderbolt (by The Dauphin) ; Silver Sea (Tasman —Moonray) brought £2l, Mr 0. Tate, of New Plymouth, being the buyer ; Woodman (by Puriri—Hagar, by The Painter) went cheap enough (at £7), for hackney purposes, to Mr Caddy, of Opunake. Idolator, who caused much surprise by winning the Australian Cup, ran a very good trial for the race, but next day he got a piece of bone into one of his feet, and was so lame that he was not taken out of his box for four days. His owner, who did not intend to start the horse in the Newmarket Handicap, was advised to do so, owing to the mishap, instead of waiting for the Cup. The Flemington racecourse was granted for a term of twenty-one years to the Victoria Racing Club, under Act of Parliament, No. CCCXCVIII, 23rd November, 1871, which term was subsequently extended to ninety-nine years. The club has since added, by purchase, about 24 acres, and has expended on improvements and maintenance about a quarter of million of money, besides having given away in prize-money over threequarters of a million sterling. The Melbourne Sportsman reports a most remarkable accident: — “ Stranger was finishing second, fifty lengths behind Weaver, for the Kyneton Steeplechase on the 17th ult, when Darkie, who was riderless, came alongside. The rider of Stranger caught Darkie’s bridle and held on to it. After passing the winning post Stranger fell dead, against the picket fence, from exhaust ion, and his rider, it is reported, would have been crushed only for the fact that he still held to the bridle of the riderless horse, which pulled him clear. Dr Ryan, who subsequently made a post mortem examination of the carcase of the horse, found that its heart was much diseased, and that death was accelerated by a small vessel near the heart having burst, no doubt during the race.” The following are the results of the “race” events at the Polo Sports, at Palmerston North, held on the 25th ult. Hurdle Race, six furlongs : Mr A. E. G. Rhodes’ Frib, 12.2, Mr W. Chapman, 1 ; Mr H. Cameron’s Featherston, 12.2, Mr H. P. Harrison, 2 ; Mr E. D. O’Rorke’s Gisborne, 3. Time, Imin 35 l-ssec. Manawatu Cup, four furlongs : Mr R. S. Abraham’s Princess May, 11.7, Mr Toxward, 1 ; Mr W. Chapman’s The Goat, 11.4, owner, 2 ; Mr A. Clark’s Pearl, 11.10, owner, 3. Christmas, Leo, Magic, Ewi, Nimble, Qui Vive, Sweet Lavender, Kathleen, Stella, Gipsy, Ensign, Jennie, and Petronel also started. Time, 56sec. Steeplechase, about one mile : Mr K. D. Dalrymple’s Cocky, 12.2, owner, 1; Mr A. E. G. Rhodes’ Frib, 12.2, Mr W. Chapman, 2 ; Mr D. D. O’Rorke’s Gisborne, 12.2, Mr Gordon, 3. Time, 2min 10 2-ssec. Mr Matthew O’Shannassy, a member of the V.R.C. Committee, has recently made a very practical suggestion to the Club, for improving the running at the turn into the straight at Flemington, and for preventing horses .being shut in. His proposal is that the sweep of the curve at the turn shall be brought further out, by means of an extra or false fence, to a point 30 feet from the present rails and to within two surlongs of the judge’s box. This plan, Mr O’Shannassy believes, would not only prevent a rush for positions at the turn, but would enable a rider to keep his place, as, once the end of the additional fence was reached, the horses in front of him would spread out, as the-e would be two openings—the 30 feet space between the false fence and the present railings, and the remainder of the course proper on the other side. The chances of tiring horses interfering with others immediately behind them, and perchance going strongly, would also be obviated. Mr Shannassy’s plan has the further advantage that it would be comparatively inexpensive, and, in audition, the false railing could be easily removed when races down the straight were to be run.

Prince Albert of Monaco has renewed the concession for gaming in Monte Carlo for a period of fifty years, but the payment for this right has been increased from £50,000 to £BO,OOO,

“ I can see no reason,” said the S.P.C.A. boarder, “ whv it should be thought advisable to dock a horse’s tail.” “Probably,” suggested the Cheerful Tdiot, “ they are docked for being behind.”

A Southern Sporting contemporary states that. Free Holmes has purchased Three Star. His owner in Auckland knows nothing about the reported sale, and the roan gelding still occupies a loose box at G. Wright’s stables at Ellerslie.

Mr J. T. Moore, the owner of Dante, has christened two of his yearlings and a foal. The naming is as follows: —Brown colt by Cuirassier —Jessie, Chasseur; brown filly by Foul Shot, Shotover ; bay filly foal, by Recluse Julia (dam of Dante), The Abbess. The result of the Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase, in which Norton was engaged at list, is now a matter of history. There was a large acceptance for the race, and no doubt a big field started, but the cableman, since supply the result, informs us Norton was scratched two days before the race.

' Mr G. G!-. Stead has advertised all his racehorses, brood mares, and young sdock to sold, and R. J. Mason wants to sell Yaldhurst Estate. No mention of Mr Stead retiring though, so perhaps he is not being intimidated by the probable abolition of the totalisator, vide Wellington totalisator dispute.

For commenting on the inc. insistent running of a horse competing at one of the Brisbane Racing Club’s meetings, the club has asked the Queensland Sportsman to return the annual Press ticket granted to that outspoken journal. I guess that club will get “rats” if anything shady is permitted in future.

The privileges in connection with the A.R.C. Autumn meeting were offered by auction on Friday last, with the following result: —Grandstand bar, £66, P. F. Purcell; lean-to bar, £57, A. R. Dunn; No. 1 booth, £2B, J. Hawkins; No. 2 booth, £l5, S. Tooman; the cards, £122, W. Blomfield; refreshment stalls, £lO, Mrs Mclntosh. «.

Another winter programme, that for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Steeplechase Meeting, is published in another column, and is well worth perusal by owners and trainers. The Wanganui Steeplechase has been increased in value to 300 sovs, and as owers will have one steeplechase meeting less (the Wellington Club’s) this winter, they should not allow the date of nomination, Monday, 13th April, to escape their memory.

The Queensland Sportsman says :— “ The A.J.C. secretary refused the nomination of the New Zealand crack, Fabulist, because his owner had omitted to send, the fees with his nomination. Thja is very sharp practice indeed, and it would be interesting to know if Mr Clibborn is so particular with all the New South Wales owners. Considering the nomination was sent by cable, Mr Clibborn might very well have accepted the nomination and cabled back for the amount due.’’

Of the original 84 Doncaster Mile entrants but 31 remain, a great many good neddies falling out in addition to the customary trash. Albicore, Sadur, Dalmeny, Hindoo, Trentham, Laura, Patrona, and Ie Whiti take the eye at a casual glance. Valiant is first favourite after last Saturday’s display, but it doesn’t take much force a horse in the market nowadays. Patron’s sister, Patrona, should, if well, prove a hot order if there’s anything in the “ blood will tell ” theory. —Bulletin.