Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 335, 24 December 1896, Page 6

Sporting Topics.

A jockey in Victoria bears the appropriate name of G. Onn. Amateurs are capable of pulling horses just as well as professionals. In Central Queensland an amateur named George Rowe has been disqualified for three years for pulling a horse named Foundling. After beating Sabretache in the Rosehill Summer Cup Fort was made favourite for the A.J.C. Summer Cup and Tattersall’s Cup. Fort is owned by Mr H. C. AVhite, and is by Gibraltar out of Formosa. Many New Zealanders were interested in the Rosehill Handicap, not only because there were New Zealand bred horses in the race, but also because a lot of N.Z. money intended originally for investment in the Melbourne Cup sweep had been transferred to the Rosehill Handicap. The race was won by Parthenopseus, by Splendor —Atalanta, Mr Dan O’Brien’s Cartridge being second, and Moorefield third. Akarini, who was drawn in the sweep by an Auckland resident, did not start. A few days after the Melbourne Cup settling (states “ Javelin ” in the Leader) a well-known member of the ring took a trip down the Bay, •just to blow the cobwebs off, “ after the hard work of the spring meeting,” and was dozing on the deck of the Hygeia when a nurse called out to one of her juvenile charges, who would persist in running to the steamer’s side, “ Come here, you little mischief.” “ Six to one Mischief, ’ow much ? ” exclaimed the bookie, starting up with a snort as he heard the last word only of the sentence, and momentarily thought that he. was betting on the Hotham Handicap. The nurse, who was a very proper young person, scowled severely at the bewildered metallician, and confided to her mistress her opinion that the stout man, with the red nose and big diamond ring, A\as “a rude thing, who would be familiar if he were not kept at a distance.” There is not much doubt that Sabretache is a much better horse than some people in Auckland profess to think, but the same bad luck which the owners evperienced with Oscillator seems to follow them with Sabretache. In the Summer Cup he was just beaten a head by that good horse Fort at a difference of only a stone. On this subject “Martindale” writes “A splendid . finish was witnessed for the Summer Handicap between Fort, Sabretache, and Ballance, the trio finishing in that order; but it was only after a most desperate battle that Fort scored the win. Mr Dangar was not present to see Gibraltar’s son win. Had he been there he would have felt delighted, as the victory was full of merit. The way Sabretache shaped in this race must have satisfied many that no great mistake was made by those who thought that Sabretache had a look in for some of the events at the late V.R.C. Spring Meeting. Had he kept well he would have shaped in a very different manner to what he did.” Concerning the race for the Rosehill Handicap “ Martindale ” in the Sydney 'Evening News writes :—“ Expectations were hardly fulfilled in connection with the Rosehill Handicap. With an entry' of eighty and an acceptance of sixtyfour, many thought, and they were justified in so thinking, that the starters would beat any previous record in point of numbers for a race in Australia. The last twenty minutes, however, was fatal to this, as the scratching pen was very busy, no less than thirty going out, amongst them being the much-fancied Bouvardia, also The Chief, who was thought to have a good chance, Semiramis, Brockleigh, Response, Pharamqnd, and Thespian. The starters’ list thus showed thirty-three names. 'For some time Bay Sal held the position of favourite, but the amount of money behind Woodford'put him in front as favourite at the finish. The usefulness of the starting machine was never seen to greater advantage than in this race. Thinking to anticipate the starter, a couple broke through the tapes. They, however, were put right in less than a minute, and the thirty-three horses sent away to a beautiful start in less than five minutes. Under the old flag system they would have been lucky to have got away in half an hour. The race was a good one right up to the post, the winner turning up in the much-improved Parthenopseus, by Splendor from Atalanta. He scored cleverly from the Carbine—St. Odille colt Cartridge, who just beat Moorefield. It was a real solid finish, and gave the handicappers a distinct line that Moorefield is not the horse he was, and that age is telling its tale on the good-looking son of Bengal Light. Whakawatea is another one of the down-grade lot.”

Pressure on our space compels us, to hold over late notes from “ Gipsy King.” The programme of the Wellington Racing ■Club’s Summer Meeting is advertised in this issue. t The times at which the special trains will leave for Ellerslie on Saturday next are advertised in this issue. x jJThe race mare, Jenny, as well as are advertised for sale by Alfred Buckland and Sons on Tuesday next. The public luncheon in connection with the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting has been entrusted to that capable caterer, Mr Thos. ' McEwen. Mr Dan McLeod, the well-known bookmaker, has returned from New South Wales. The same boat brought back the steeplechasers, Marechai Neil and Ballyhooley. White, who steered Lady Zetland to victory in the New Zealand Cup, will have the mount on Day Star in the Auckland Cup. The sale of the Wapiti yearlings will be held on Wednesday next, and on the . following day thej.Sylvia Park youngsters will be sold. Among our illustrations this week will be 'found pictures of several of the Motu-Korea yearlings, also photographs of the Victorian wheelmen, Kellow and K. Lewis. Sam Matthews, the well-known Yankee, has been matched to wrestle (Catch-as-catch-can) John Sullivan for the championship of New Zealand and £5O aside. The match will take place on Tuesday afternoon next in the City Hall, and should prove an exciting set to. Fabulist, another horse that was supposed to be something like a wreck, has come into notice again. He is credited with having done a really good gallop, and to have quite got over the influenza, from which he was suffering when he arrived from the South. His friends have backed him to win about £9OO. Day Star, who has been taken to Kohimarama to be prepared for the Cup, is said to have got rid of all his soreness, and to have done a good gallop over the Cup distance. The consequence is that he has again come into the betting market, and is second favourite. Armilia, who, like Day Star, has of late been under a cloud, is also reported to have been doing well at Kohimarama, and one friend of the stable on Wednesday took £5OO to £2O that she would win the Derby. “ Delaware” is shockingly plain in his denunciation of Australian turf corruption. Writing to Sydney Truth he remarks: —“ Somebody said, at Goulburn, * We want a few more James Whites on the turf to give it tone.’ Yes, we want them, but where are we to find them, and, when found, would it be any certainty their rubbing shoulders with the thieves, loafers, and blackguards that virtually run this (racing) community? Would a decent man entrust his horse with a jockey whose success (financially) means the number of ‘ punters’ he had got on his books. The ‘ punter’ comes first, the jockey next, and the owner a bad last. The owner and trainer of a certain horse backed their animal for a certain race the other day,-but the jockey and his punters had backed the horse for another race, and it he had won the first event he would have- had to carry a big penalty in the second. The horse was pulled in ■ the first race and won the second. The owner and trainer didn’t know he was pulled in the first, and consequently didn’t back him for the second. That story is true, but it will do to apply to a dozen cases that have happened within the last six months. Now-a-days it’s not a question of horses’ breeding, form, or condition, that weighs with intending backers, but it’s the movements of ascertain gang, who have half the riders, and not - a few poor owners, under their thumb, and may stop or liven 50 per cent, of the runners at any suburban meeting. They have no fear of disqualification, because they have provided against any such unpleasantness by putting powerful race rulers in this business ; yet the public sit and suffer. I

Trenton, who is now one of the Cobham Stud, in Surrey, England, is standing at 100 guineas per mare. Carnage’s fee is 50 guineas. Newhaven has' a deal to answer for, The idol of the hour has turned many heads, and the Newhaven craze in Victoria has even affected jockeys, many of whom think they are up on a Newhaven, and in consequence endeavour to make every post a winning one. But Newhavens are not found every day, and the crazy jockeys find themselves at the wrong end of the field when the proper post is reached. Carbonado (by Hotchkiss —Onyx), who cost as a yearling 420 guineas, has been sold in England for 40 guineas. The Queensland Cup, run on December 10 at Eagle Farm, was won by Tridentate (by Trident —Airlie), carrying Bst. Avenue (8.4) and Black Harry (8.7) were second and third. According to the Queensland Sportsman, the race"' was slowly run, and Tridentate led nearly the whole way. The time was 3min 41|sec. Tridentate paid a dividend of £l7 14s. The Woodville District Jockey Club will hold a meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2nd and 3rd, and an attractive programme has been framed for the occasion. On the first day the leading item will be the Woodville Cup Handicap of 150 sovs, one mile and a quarter; and on the second day the Midsummer Handicap of 100 sovs. one mile and a distance, will be disposed of. The total prize money for the various events amounts to the very respectable figure of £9OO, and the liberality of the club should attract good fields. Nominations close with the secretary at 8 o’clock on Thursday, January 14, while the weights for all races on the first day are promised for Saturday, January 23. The full programme is advertised elsewhere.