Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 348, 25 March 1897, Page 4

Sporting Topics.

The Hypnotist was suffering from a cold at Flemington, and was, therefore, not seen at his best. Keera shows none of his early promise, and quite disappointed his backers at the Autumn Meeting. Mr W. T. Hazlett, part owner of G-ipsy Grand, has been chosen to represent the Otago Huzzars at the Record Reign Celebration. It is the general opinion in Melbourne that Coil was not seen at his best during the Autumn Meeting. A bona fide offer of £6OO, with £4OO out of wins, was made for Waiuku after the Taranaki races, but no deal resulted. Stella, in the Flying Handicap at the Sandon races, very nearly annexed a big dividend. There was £309 on the machine and only £2 on Stella, who was beaten by a head. Mr W. T. Jones’ erratic chestnut, St. David, was “added to the list” last week by Mr W. Allen (states the Sportsman). Singularly enough the operation was performed on St. David’s day. The Queenslander, Battalion, by Battalious—■ Nancy Tell, has been performing well of late in Sydney. On March 6th, at Randwick, he carried top weight in a fairly good field and won the Rosmead Handicap, one mile and a quarter, in 2min 13|sec. An influenza epidemic is raging among the horses at Caulfield at the present time. One of the latest victims is Whakawatea, who is an inmate of the same stable which shelters Wild Olive. The last-named was so bad that her life was at one time despaired of, but she is now doing well.

In the All-aged Stakes, at Flemington, backers declined to lay the odds on Aurum, preferring to take even money and 5 to 4 about placing the three starters. When Aurum had won and Coil and The Officer had run a dead-heat, considerable discussion arose as to ho»v bets went. One bookmaker claimed that under English rules the backer lost his money. The matter was referred to Mr John Buckley, secretary of the Victorian Club, and, after careful consideration, he decided to advise that the fielders and backers money should be added together and equally divided, and on this decision settling over the race was conducted. Those who were lucky enough to get 5 to 4 of course win a little, while those who accepted level money simply get their own money back. — Sportsman. On Wednesday next nominations for the following events in connection with the Autumn meeting of the Wellington Racing Club, to be held on Thursday and Saturday, April 29 and May 1, close : —Waiwetu Handicap of 75 sovs, one mile; Thompson Handicap of 300 sovs, one mile; First Hurdle Handicap of 80 sovs, about one mile and three-quarters ; Welter Handicap of 75 sovs, one mile and a furlong ; First Hack Handicap of 70 sovs, one mile; Railway Handicap of 120 sovs, six furlongs ; Hutt Handicap of 75 sovs, one mile; Hack Welter Handicap of 60 sovs, one mile and a furlong ; Autumn Handicap of 200 sovs, one mile and a quarter; Second Hurdle Handicap of 70 sovs, about one mile and a half; Hack Flying Handicap of 60 sovs, six furlongs ; and Farewell Handicap of 70 sovs, five furlongs. The nomination fee for each event is one sovereign.

Referring to the scratching of Newhaven in the All-aged Stakes at Flemington, “ Martindale” writes : —“ Many an anxious inquiry was made when it was known that Aurum had won the All- - Stakes at Flemington as to whether Newhaven was a starter. He was not a starter, a fact hardly creditable to his owner or those responsible foi’ his management, as there would have been some honor in beating the crack two-year-old of the season, and there was none in beating Resolute and Warpaint over a mile and three-quarters. It would look as if they were afraid to meet the youngster, which is bad form on the part of a rich owner. Had a poor man owned Newhaven, to whom the paying of the oat bill was a matter of consideration, then it would be business, but the scratching of Newhaven for the All-aged Stakes was not the act of a sportsman. Aurum appears to have won easily from The Officer and Coil, who finished a dead-heat in slow time—lmin 44sec, which is half-a-second slower than Phillip put the mile behind him at Randwick, in the Stewards’ Plate, on the same day with the same weight. “ Delaware,” in Sydney Truth of Maich 14th, is very rough in hie comments upon cronk pony racing. He remarks:—“l feel certain that not ten per cent, of the committee or the members have any idea of the barefaced robberies that take place at many of the pony meetings that are held under the auspices of the ‘ clubs ’ registered by the A.J.C. If they did they would not play into the pony race promoters’ hands so often, but would endeavour to place obstacles in the way of the advancement of the evil, by making bye-laws that would affect these people and their supporters. The terrible tales that came from Canterbury Park on Wednesday need to be only half true to disgust the hottest ‘ gun ’ in the province. In one race, it is alleged, there was only one legitimate trier out of about a dozen runners, and in other races hot favourites went back to outside prices because the public got in first. I believe it was quite edifying to see a well-known ‘ manager ’ of pony meetings advising his friends ‘ not to touch so-and-so, as the stable wouldn’t take 2to I.’ This manager is also a steward, and there is a legend extant among pony owners that the cronkest of the cronk need have no fears of punishment if he puts ‘ the manager ’ in his secrets, and does not let him ‘ fall in ’ when stiff, and puts him in the know when trying. Some foolish people have neglected to consult this man, and on the first opportunity they have gone out into the cold world sadder but wiser men.”

The excellent photograph of Claude, published in the Review and showing the X Kays apparatus on his leg, was,wrongly credited to Mr Slack. The'"photograph, which was really an excellent one, was taken by Mr Mackie, of Queen Street. Mr F. Tilly, of Palmerston, had the misfortune to lose his racehorse, Rahui, at Otaki on March 12 (states “Arawa” in the Wairarapa Standard'). Mr Tilly took the horse to Otaki from Palmerston about a week ago to put him in training for the Otaki races in May, but unfortunately the animal broke his leg. Rahui won the Otaki Handicap on three occasions, and he was in splendid condition when he met with the accident.

Aurum promises to rule as the hottest winter favorite for the V.R.O. Derby ever knowm. On the night of the Australian Cup, after the sturdy son of Trenton had cantered away with the Ascot Vale Stakes, I (“ Special Commissioner” of the Melbourne Sportsman) saw in the Victorian Club a shrewd member of the ring take 100 to 4, to the extent of.about three thousand pounds, that Aurum won the double. V.R.C. Derby and Melbourne Cup, and he wanted to go on at the price. I don’t supposerfor a moment that the commission was worked on behalf of the stable ; the money was probably secured with a view to parcelling it out to the public at a reduced price. As a matter of .fact, the best price now on offer against the “ two Aurums” is 2J to 1. The people who took 10 to 1 the “two Newhavens” before the chestnut’s Guineas defeat were looked upon as scarcely sane, but what is to be said of the foolhardy investors who accept 20 to 1 about a colt three months before the nominations are due for the Melbourne Cup, and for which race he may not even be entered. If nominated for the Cup, Aurum is not likely to be “ thrown in” by the handicapper. Newhaven ran away with the race last November under 7st 131 b, and I fancy Aurum will be appraised even higher than the son of Oceana. The Derby may look a “ cert.” for Aurum —I picked him out as a likely winner when almost an unknown quantity—but the Cup is a totally different matter.

An old equine hero, Kingsborough, has gone to the happy hunting fields. From an exchange we learn that the once famous racehorse died last week at the residence of his owner, Mr James Readfore, of Cunningham’s Creek, Mudgee. The old equme had been ailing for some days previous to his death, but Mr Readford persevered in treatment till the day of his death, and it was fully expected the old fellow would live on for some time to come. Mr Readford was away from home, and Kingsborough was left as usual to roam from his box into the small yard adjacent. The horse was observed to rush from his box into the yard, and, lying down, gave one roll and turned over to die on the spot. Kingsborough will be well remembered by the older generation of sportsmen as the best horse that was owned in Australia by Sir Hercules Robinson (now Lord Rosmead), and he carried the popular Zetland spots to victory on the old Maitland course —now the park—some twenty odd years ago, when he beat Andrew Loder’s Novice, and others in the principal event’ Kingsborough, who was by Kingston from Sappho, w T on the Champion Stakes at Randwick in 1874, as did his grey brother Lecturer two years previous, and his grey half-sister Spinningdale seven years subsequently. The Governor’s colt also won the A.J.C. Derby in as did his half-sister Nellie in 1879, and the A.J.C. St. Leger also fell to Kingsborough during the following season, when he was very successful in weight-for-age races. However, his great rival, Goldsbrough, carried 9st 21b and beat him in the Metropolitan Stakes twenty-two years ago, whilst the light-weighted A.T. accounted foi’ the Kingston horse and his stable mate Meredith in 1876 for the Sydney Cup. Kingsborough was a brown horse of very commanding appearance, but he never sired anything of his own class, although some of his mares promise to be serviceable at the stud.

Volley, Strathmore,. Patron, and The Officer are the only horses that have won the double, Caulfield Guineas and V.R.C. Leger. The Officer is the only horse that has ever’’* annexed the Debutant Stakes, Caulfield and V.R.C. St. Leger. Of the forty-one Champions run, Newhaven makes the twenty-second three-year-old that annexed the honours. The Harvester, Wallace (dead-beat with Quiver), and Newhaven each captured the Derby and long distance race during the last three years.

The owner of Nestor is not satisfied with the weight imposed on him for the Sydnev Gold Cup, and the colt will remain at home. The handicap all through is not a good one, and Nestor’s 8.1 is one of its disfigurements. Nestor (including overweight) carried 7.0 in the Auckland Cup, and because he won that race and, in the opinion of many, fluked the Derby, he is put up 181 b in company representing the cream of the Australian turf, and is asked to give many better performers weight and in some cases age. The handicapper certainly flatters the New Zealander when he makes him out to be better than Resolute, Charge (winner’ of the A.J.C. Derby), Damien, Fadladeen (who, until he went off in his work, was thought to have a great chance in the Australian Cup), Sam, Rackaroek, Le Var (who is in at 71b less than Nestor), Kallatina, Fort, Tom, Reka, Sabretache, and a host of others. Surely Mr Daly must be a protectionist more rabid than the American McKinley, for be has certainly taken a most effective means of protecting New South Wales horses from an invasion of New Zealanders.

Messrs McLeod and Cleland notify by advertisement that in future starting-price commissions will be 'executed for cash only. Mr Barr, the clerk of the course at Avondale, has something to learn. There is no doubt that he is an excellent officer, with an exquisite seat and appearance in the saddle, but that is no reason why he should rem dn the observed of all observers in the straight just opposite the Grandstand. The straight is intended for the full use of the horses competing, and the way in which he maintained a position in the centre of the course was exasperating. This was particularly noticeable in the first race, when the voice of the public could be heard calling upon him to come out of the way. It is the duty of the clerk of the course to remain with the starter until the field is despatched, but he seemed to prefer the policeman’s patrol in front of the Grandstand. Since Mozel has been in the hands of Mr J. 0. Booth, who rules over the Ellerslie stable, he has wonderfully improved, and his performances at the Avondale nu eting stamps him as being as game as any one could wish. Tn the first steeplechase he cut his near fore fetlock very badly, and many judges expressed the opinion that he would not be able to race again for some time. However, “ Doctor ” Booth bandaged up the wounded limb, and the game animal won again on Saturday. His sheer gameness won him the race, and after he returned to the paddock it was found that he had struck the already lacerated leg, which he held up to his trainer as if seeking for sympathy.

Anticuta is advertised as a cure fur open wounds in horses and dogs. Owners are frequently quarrelled with because of their want of originality in naming young horses. Mr Budge cannot be blamed in that respect. As most Aucklanders know, Mr Budge was in his early days one of the Royal Navy, and when asked the other day why he had called the St. Leger—Antelope colt Blue Jacket, he replied : “ Because a blue jacket can beat any six foreigners, and t hat is what I want my horse to do.” A cable states that the London Divisional Court has upheld the contention of the Anti-Gambling l eague that ready-money betting by the members of Tattersail’s ring is illegal. As soon as that fact is satisfactorily established the Anti-Gam-bling League will probably find they have defeated themselves, for there will be a demand for the legalisation of betting on racecourses. When Newhaven went out of the All-Aged Stakes (states “Javelin” in the Leader') it was amusing to hear the genera] expressions of indignation wdiich were used to the detriment of those who had the management of the colt.-x I heard more than one man declare that he had “ only come out to see a jolly good set to between Aurum and Newhaven,” and on all sides Hickenbotham’s people were accused of funking a battle with Mr Wilson’s phenomenal two-year-old. Sentiment on the tuif is charming, and in this case the expression of it was as funny as it was charming. It is so very easy, you see, to be sentimental in dealing with other people’s property, which explains the glibness with which people whose studs may consist of a time-payment bicycle, deprecated the “want of pluck” which induced the Newhaven people not to throw away the certainty of the Loch Plate by courting an encounter with such a smasher as Aurum earlier in the afternoon. Furthermore, it would have been a calamity had Newhaven started and given Aurum such a gruelling as Carbine administered, to Penance, when the latter with bulldog tenacity stuck to the champion of champions, only to suffer defeat at the finish of a struggle which w r as no doubt magnificent, but which beyond question knocked clean out a two-year-old which but for that encounter might have proved a Carbine the Second.