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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 330, 19 November 1896, Page 7

The .English horse Selby has won ,a big handicap at Johannesburg. , Aurum, who won the Flemington Stakes, is spoken of as a likely horse for the next V.R.C. .Derby. >. At Pyne and Co.’s sale at Christchurch on Monday, Rangiatea was sold to Mr Gerken for twenty-three guineas. J Nada’s suspicious leg gave way in the Melbourne Cup, and it is doubtful whether Trenton’s unlucky daughter will ever be able to do any more racing. On Melbourne Cup Day £3OO more was taken at the gates than on the same day last year. The Spring Meeting is expected to result in a profit of £B,OOO. This does not look as if Melbourne had gone bung. There was a lot of welching on The Hill at Flemington after Newhaven’s victory. The small fry could not stand the facer, and even in Auckland we hear that one small layer of odds is among the missing. A Melbourne man’s wife, according to “Javelin,” dreamt that she saw a horse winning the Melbourne Cup on two legs. When the fond husband heard of the dream he backed Disfigured and thought that his fortune was made. It is thought that if Hopscotch and Newhaven had met in the Flying Stakes at Flemington, a record for the distance would have been put up that would have stood for years. One writer states that no one—not even his jockey—knows how fast Newhaven can go. Commenting on Australian stock, an English writer states :— “ It is a virgin field on which to work with importations of Galopin and St. Simon, and the colonial breeders may well be anxious to secure good stallions and mares of that blood. The dash and fire of the Galopin—St. Simon family should work wonders on so stout a foundation.”

Keera is the third winner of the Maribyrnong Plate bred by Sir Thomas Elder, the other two being Newstead and Hortense. According to Mr Heath, the official timekeeper, the first half mile of the V.R.C. Derby was run in the second in 52sec, and the last in 51sec.

The bookmakers thought that Thunder Queen; was dead in the V.R.C. Oaks, and took liberties with the South Australian filly, and paid the penalty. A well-known Sydney metallician was the biggest victim. Mr W. Cooper, one of Newhaven’s part owners, lost faith in the colt’s Cup chance after his defeat in the Guineas, and cabled to his representative in Sydney not to put on anything for him for that event, and only £2OO for the Derby. 2to 1 was obtained for this amount.

Two accidents happened in the hunters jumping contest at the Woodville show on November 11th. Mr Ernest Nelson, son of Mr W. Nelson, of Tomoana, struck a rail heavily at the last jump while riding S .tanella, and broke his right leg. Mr E. M. Lewis, owner and rider of The Monk, broke his collarbone, the horse stumbling over a hurdle.

Subscriptions that arrived too late for the Melbourne Cup sweeps'akes have been put in a consultation on the Rosehill Handicap, to be run on December 12th. Rosehill is one of the best courses in Australia, and the secretary, P. O’Mara, very popular with owners. The flowery course is always visited by New Zealanders when in New South Wales.

The official racing color list, published by the A.J.C., reads something like a chapter of ancient history. Amongst owners whose colours are registered are the names of W. Gannon, A. R. Inglis, M. Loughlin, W. Pearson, G. B. Rowley, A. Saqui, and A. F. Sullivan. All these were famous sportsmen of the olden time, but death has long since removed ’all of them from our midst.

W*-*-** - J- W— UO W AIVIC4 O. W ter’s Paddock on December 5. The programme is varied in its nature, and some of the events are very funny. Besides the Polo Cup and Hurdle Race there will be a Flag Race, a Rescue Race, a Slow ’Uns Handicap, a Grooms’ Race Handicap, and the Ladies’ Serpentine Competition on bikes. Nominations close to-morrow. Power, who rode Bloodshot in the Melbourne Cup. states that if he could have got up sooner the sturdy bay would have made the winner travel faster. Melbourne writers think that New Zealanders did not know how to train Bloodshot. He is said to have improved tons in Powers’ hands, and ran the last mile and a half in the C. B. Fisher Plate in 2min 37a-sec, which settles all doubts about his staying. Although Hopscotch can beat the New Zealander at weight for age in a short race, he is no match for him over a distance. It is argued in Melbourne that Newhaven’s time for the Derby is better than that of MartiniHenry, Trident, and Carnage. The Leader states : — “ Taking into consideration that the starting machine is at least a second in favour of the watch compared with the flag system formerly in vogue —when all races were timed from a flying start —Newhaven’s 2min 39|sec is equivalent to being half a second faster than the Derby record of 2min 39sec shared by Martini-Henry, Trident, and Carnage.” Newminster has not been a bad horse at the stud. Besides the distinction of having sired the wonder of the season (Newhaven), he has sired Tarcoola (a Melbourne Cup winner), Vengeance (an Australian Cup winner), Acolyte (an A.J.C. Metropolitan winner), and Churchill and Wild Rose (two Newmarket Handicap winners). A southern contemporary has described the Newminster stock as being non-stayers, although speedy, but when Tarcoola, Newhaven, and Acolyte are remembered that contention falls to the ground. The Napier correspondent of the Review furnishes the following stud news : — Outside mares served by Dreadnought this season are Hon. Capt. Russell’s Tigredia, Leonora, and St.

Regarding the racing on Oaks Day at the late V.R.O. Spring Meeting, the Leader remarks • Thursday brought with it a renewal of the glorious weather experienced on Cup Day, and the thirty-second anniversary of the “ ladies’ race,” the Oaks, was celebrated with becoming eclat. Great disappointment was expressed when it became known that Newhaven would not oppose Hopscotch in the Flying Stakes, and in the absence of the champion the way paved for a comparatively easy victory for Mr Long’s horse, with whom different tac’ics were adopted to those which brought about his discomfiture in the Melbourne Stakes. He was allowed to run in a way which he likes best, namely, a waiting race in front; and the pace at which he took his field along had the effect of settling his three opponents, with whom Hopscotch simply played during the last furlong. The big gelding put up what is, I fancy, a record for Flemington, by running the last five furlongs in Imin Isec, anjl the last half mile in 481 sec. “ Newhaven would not want to be off his feed to beat that, remarked someone ; yet on the Randwick running the little chestnut smasher would have held Hopscotch easily enough. I gathered that Newhaven had not done well in the stable since the Cup race, hence bis withdrawal from the Flying Stakes. Mr Dakin sprang two big surprises with Cravat and O’Trigger in the principal handicap events, both winners being quite overlooked by backers; while in the face of the extreme confidence reposed in Latriot nothing else was entrusted with much support for the Nursery Handicap. It seemed as if Huxley held his field much too cheaply, and apparently going to sleep he was caught by Syerla, who snatched the victory from the favourite by half a head. Another slashing finish wound up the day’s performance in the Veteran Stakes. Fifty yards from home it looked an open affair between at least five horses, all running wide of each other, the spreading out being caused principally by Canoona deviating from her proper course. Just as it appeared as if the finish rested with Disfigured and Pivot,

yuv j_ixm.iaoui.ico vi zAULUikittuu itiicl its large and prosperous districts, combined with a Grand Carnival and Fairy Fete. The promoters are confident that they will meet with the support and co-operation that so extensive an undertaking merits, for not only will the project be of a highly educating and interesting character, but will do much to enlighten the community in regard to the phenomenal strides of progress our industries have made during a period of over ten or fifteen years. What better time could be chosen for an Exhibition of this kind than at _a season when the city and its surrounding districts are enjoying the prosperity which has been brought about by the enterprising pluck and energy of its people, and the natural wealth of its mineral and other resources. LOCATION. The spacious Drill Hall has been secured and will be considerably enlarged by the building of several annexes. A large area of ground will also be enclosed for outside performances, exhibits, and as a promenade for visitors. Arrangements are being made for a perfect system of ventilation in the main hall. Portions of the roof will be raised and masked in by netting, thus allowing the hot air to escape, which will be forced by delightful cool draughts from twenty large windows on either side of the hall. AWARDS AND JUDGING. Gold and Silver Medals and Certificates will be awarded to successful exhibitors. The Judges will be appointed by the exhibitors themselves. COMPETITIONS. Valuable prizes will be given to the winners of a number of competitions, particulars of which will be duly announced in the daily papers. AMUSEMENTS. An Entertainment Committee will be appointed to select the best available instrumental, vocal, and specialty talent in Australasia. DECORATIONS. The decorations for the main hall, annexes, and promenade will be executed on a lavish scale, and to accomplish this, no expense will be spared. OPENING. The Exhibition will be opened on December 24, 1896 (CHRISTMAS EVE), and will be continued day and night during the Christmas and New Year holidays'. J CHARGE OF ADMISSION. Admission to the Main Hall, Annexes, and Promenade , will \be ONE SHILLING. CHARLES GREY, ■ < Hon. Secretary. v Eden Crescent, Auckland*

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