Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VII, Issue 354, 6 May 1897, Page 4

Sporting Topics.

Although the nominations for the principal events on the programme prepared for the North New Zealand Grand National meeting are not quite up to last year’s in point of numbers they are eminently satisfactory. For the Grand National Hurdles the total is twenty-nine, and for the Great Northern Steeplechase twentyeight. Nearly all the names of our best known “ leppers ” are in the list. Just as we were going to press last week we received an intimation by wire of the death of the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s Spindrift, by Nordenfelt —Spinnaker, who bad proved himself a very useful, consistent horse to the Squire of Karamu, and who bad just been taken up after having a lengthy spell. While doing an exercise gallop on Wednesday morning, April 28, he slipped and broke his leg, and consequently had to be destroyed. At the Epsom Spring Meeting on April 28 the City and Suburban Handicap of 2,000 sovs, one mile and a quarter, was won by the Duke of Devonshire’s Balsamo, 4yrs, by Friar’s Balsam —Snood. Balsamo carried 7.4. Mr Brassey’s Bay Roland, by Hamilton —Black Duchess, 7.2, was second, and Sir J. Miller’s La Sagesse was third. At the Autumn Meeting of the Northern Wairoa Racing Clnb on April 24 Dauntless won the leading event, the Autumn Handicap, carrying the top weight (9.12), and he would have added another race, the Forced Handicap, had he not fallen when leading his field by a chain. The following are the chief winners at the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Meeting:— Mr S. McGuinness, £247 ; Mr J. Chaafe, £190; Mr J. Loughlin, £156 15s ; Mr F. Tilley, £133 ; Mr J. Paul, £lO4 10s; Mr A. Ferguson, £lO4 10s ; Mr A. W. Cave, £B5 10s ■ Mr G. Cooper, £66 10s ; Mr R. Connop, £66 10s: Mr J. Goodwin, £47 10s; Mr P. F. Tancred, £42 15s; smaller amounts increase the total to £1,344 15s. Waiuku (writes “ Sentinel”) is said to have been given his title from the fact that his dam used to haul round the water-cart in the little town of the horse’s name. On Friday last Messrs. Hunter and Nolan held a sale of thoroughbred stock, but although the attendance was good the bidding was limited. The truth is that owners and trainers at the back end of the season do not care about increasing their liabilities, unless, of course, there happens to be a jumper in the ring. The speedy St. Clements, with his stable-mate, the two-year-old Volcano, were up for sale, and were knocked down to bids of 75 guineas and 40 guineas. We think, however, that they must have been bought in for the owner, because the prices stated above are ridiculously below the value of the pair. St. Clements’ leg has certainly filled, but a spell would do him no end of good, and there should be a race or two yet in St. Paul’s speedy brother. That useful mare, Lady Cuisine, found a purchaser in Mr J. Thorpe for 75 guineas. She is a very cheap mare at that price. Donovan and Wai-iti failed to find a purchaser. It is understood that the reserve on the good-looking Donovan was £2OO.

Idolatry is the most successful brood mare Mi Hordern has imported. Already she has produced The Hindoo, Maldon, and the Hawkesbury winner, Adoration. The V.R.C. committee is in doubt as to whether re-handicapping —which they gave a short trial, and then abandoned —should not be resorted to again. The matter was discussed recently, when a majority was in favour of leaving things remain as they are at present.

The Victorian steeplechaser, Tremolo, was recently measured, and he lifted the bar at 18hds. He is the tallest horse ever known to compete between the flags in that colony. Mernder, who was something of a giant, measured 17hds 2fin.

Pony racing appears to flourish in South Africa. The following is clipped from the Johannesburg Star: — “ The report of the Pony and Galloway Club presented lust night may well make other clubs in the country envious. The twelve race meetings held during the year showed a profit of over £B,OOO, the amount of stakes run for amounted to £3.729 17s (an increase over the previous year of £1,124 13s 6d), and the balance sheet s' owed a cash balance of £6,402 13s lid, which was materially increased since the date of the report. The gates account increased from £1.057 6s 6d to £2,082 16s 6d, while the receipts from the totalisator amounted to no less than £7,048, an increase over the previous year of £4,222.

The mare L’Abbesse de Jouarre, who won the Oaks in 1889, recently died in England in giving birth to a colt by Isinglass. The colt died in foaling and the mare succumbed. The mare’s win in the Oaks was a surprise to her owner, Lord Randolph Churchill, for so little did he think of her chances that he did not go to Epsom to see her run. The loss of the colt by Isinglass is a great one, for he wouln have been worth at least £2OOO had he lived. The mares unusual name had the effect of causing her to be nicknamed “ Abscess on the Jaw.” The first American foal by the New ZealandFred stallion Foul Shot, by Musket, made her appearance at Naglee Burk’s ranch, near San Jose, on March 3 (slates the Breeder}. The dam of the new-comer is Why Not, by Three Cheers — Nellie Collier Why Not is the dam of Bravura. Barney Schrieber now owns Foul Shot, and has him at his stock farm (“ Woodland”), just out of St. Louis. Mo. “ Javelin ” writes that al. Maribyrnong (Vie.) considerable interest was evinced in rhe Press box concerning the prospects of a well-backed starter for one of the handicaps who ‘‘ owed a bit ”to some of the recording angels. ‘’There’s a chap holding him at the post,” said one who had his glasses fixed on the hor.-es as they stood .at the barrier. *' Ibe last lime he started there was a chap holding him a bit later than that,” dolefully responded another with an evidently unpleasant recollection of the occasion referred 40.

“ Pakeha ” in The Yeomun writes thus :— “ The weights for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting have made their appearance, and are undergoing the usual amount of criticism — adverse and otherwise —at the hands of local followers of the turf. Personally I think that (although there are a few exceptions) Mr Evett has turned out a very good production, and I hope to see fair . acceptances result. In the Wanganui Steeplechase the hero of two Grand Nationals—Mutiny (12.5) —has pride of position, but The Mute gelding has not a pound too much, although at lhe same time I don’t think he will be a competitor. Tiritea (11.7), if he has regained his old form, would be dangerous, while Levanter (11.7) and Booties (11.0) —I believe the latter is to be brought back from Sydney in time to compete —are not overburdened. Of the remainder 1 like Tangaroa (10.2) best, for the Sou’-Wester gelding has proved himself a sure jumper over the small sticks, and his pace is undeniable. In the Flying Handicap Sedgebrook and Titoki on recent running stand out as exceptionally well treated with 8.0 and 7.9 respectively.”

Gold Spur has won the golden opinion of all scribes in the South, and if he ventures across the Schnapper Pond, as some papers state he will, the handicappers probably will take very good care of him, especially in the short events. After the Christchurch meeting, “ >ilver Spur” wrote as follows “ Now, as to Gold Spur, ‘ a commoner to look at, but a demon to gallop’—that is

my summary of him. Where he gets his galloping qualities from is a mystery when you look him over. A really good shoulder he has, but his hind-quarters are by no means suggestive of speed. In my hearing, Derrett stated that in all the races he has ridden he has never seen a quicker starter than Gold Spur, and it was really wonderful to see the way he left his field in the Easter at the start. He also demonstrated his ability to carry weight, in the Templeton Handicap, in which he had 9.5, and that he is a really good ’un there can be no doubt.” King’s Bowman has finished his racing for the season, and Mr Tancred will treat him to a spell till the spring fixtures come round. The following are the names and addresses of drawers of placed horses in “ Tattersail’s” consultation on the Doncaster Handicap, 25,000 at ss, run at Randwick on April 17 (fully subscribed), viz.: Ist, Superb, G. E. Spicer, 200 Bourke-street, Melbourne, Victoria, £l,BOO ; 2nd, dead-beat, Cremorne - Adoration, G. Pearce, Parliament House, Melbourne, Victoria, £562 10s; and J. W. Lunge, care of Baxter and Price, Mullewa, West Australia, £562 10s. On the Sydney Cup, 25,000 at ss, run at Randwick on April 19 (fully subscribed), viz. : Ist, Tricolour, F. Carter, Princes-street, Dunedin. New’ Zealand, £1,800; 2nd, Kallatina, “ Citizens,” care of A- H. Stapley, William-street, Broken Hill, New South Wales, £675; 3rd, Loch Leigh, R. F. Ryan, Corsa, Manly, New South Wales, £450. These amounts are net.

Writing of the Lingfield March Meeting the London Licensed Victuallers' Gazette remarks : —“ Business began with the Park Steeplechase, and the presence of Norton, I know, scared away several who otherwise would have put in an appearance ; as it was, only Scampanio and Bridesmaid accepted the challenge. Five to two was laid on Norton, and the friends of Scampanio were satisfied to accept those odds about him, but Bridesmaid was friendless with 25 to 1, and even longer odds offered. Scampanio was going very well, and jumping somewhat better than usual, when, unfortunately, he came to grief at the ditch below the stand, leaving Norton to win as far as he liked. He certainly fences faultlessly, and when he came in appeared as though he would nave relished another three miles ; but there was nothing about the peformance to enhance his Grand National chance, or to call for the extravagant laudations of some of bis friends on his return to the paddock, or, for the matter of that, to make him at once first favourite for the event.”

Zealot, sire of the Auckland stallion Castor, died in England in February. Foaled in 1877, he was by Hermit out of Zelle, and was bred by Lord Bradford, whose colours he carried as a two, three, and four year old. Though not standing in the front rank of thoroughbreds, says the Sportsman, he won a few good stakes while on the turf, the most important of them being the Prince of Wales’ Stakes at Ascot in 1780, when he beat The Abbot, Petronel, and other horses of

repute at the time. Later in the year he accounted for the Thirty-second Triennial Produce Stakes at Newmarket. Though he had many sons and daughters to represent him, Zealot did not achieve much fame as a stallion, and perhaps the best of his get was Castor, who did a lot of useful service for Mr W. I. Anson in 1885, ’B6, and ’B7. He was only beaten twice in eight essays as a two-year-old, and in his next season won ten races out of thirteen, though they only represented small values. At four years he was an easy winner of the Liverpool Summer Cup. Other winning progeny of Zealot at various times may be mentioned in Martinet, Zest, Sweet Alice, Assassin, Livingstone, Sir Dominic, Psalm Singer, Lady Eveline, Catacol, Deacon, Ranter, Guardian, Mock Orange, Zisca, Merry Shepherd, and Arctic. The whole of them, however, were exponents of little better than plating form. — Otago Witness. W e notice by our advertising columns that the good looking thoroughbred stallion Leolantis, by Leolinus out of Atlantis, is for sale or lease. This handsome stallion needs but. little commendation. He is half-brother to St. Leger, and besides being admittedly a splendid show horse, he was a good performer on the turf, and as lie was foaled in 1887 he is now in the prime of life and will yet sire many winners. Weights for the Hunters’ Steeplechase and the First Hack Flat to be run in connection with the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Steeplechase Meeting are due on Tuesday next.

The pony Arquebus, by Flintlock—Taupiri, has been purchased by Mr George Wright, on behalf of Mr Frank McGrath, of Sydney. The pony will soon leave for his new home and should do well there, as he is as stout as they are made and has a good turn of speed. His performances at Avondale are a big recommendation to him, and it is certain that he will not disgrace New Zealand at Kensington. We understand that an offer of £4OO, made on behalf of a Sydney gentlemen, for the purchase of St. Simon, was recently declined with an intimation that nothing less than £750 would induce his present owner to part with him. Mr Blaikie’s two-year-old colt, The Owl, by Hotchkiss—Weasel, and Mr Roache’s two-year-old, Blaircarrig, by Blairgowrie—Cobweb, have both been added to the list. The operations were successfully performed by Mr Thomas Halstead. Our Dunedin correspondent summarises the Otago news for the week by wire thus : —Racing matters are quiet. Hippomenes is doing good, work, and Lord Rosalyn, notwithstanding his split hoof, is being worked every morning. There is very little double betting over the Birthday and Tradesmen’s Handicaps, Goldspur with only 81b penalty being looked on as a moral for the latter event, and anything with him is quoted at from 100 to 10 to 100 to 7. Goldspur had a very narrow shave of being a tram horse instead of the champion sprinter of the colony.

Messrs Evett, Chaafe, and other sportsmen returned to Auckland by steamer from Wellington on Wednesday. St. Paul, looking none the worse for his trip and as lively as a kitten, was brought back by the same boat. The nature of the training operations at Ellerslie is an evidence of the approach of the winter months, when jumping events will be the attraction. A lot of horses are at present being schooled, among those new to the illegitimate game being The Sharper and Anniversary. The troubles of trainers was on one morning rather ludicrously illustrated. One animal, an old stager who has grown cunning in his old age, jumped on top of the stone wall, and evinced a disinclination to get down again, preferring rather a promenade in his elevated position. The trainer then turned his attention to a mare, who could only be persuaded to axproach the fence by means of a rope round the neck in front and a vigorously used stockwhip behind With this gentle persuasion she was induced to jump, but fell, and although the jockey was underneath he escaped injury. These lads are made of very tough material. Ed. Corrigan’s mares that survived the recent railroad wreck in Arizona have reached Sacramento (states lhe Breeder of March 13). Helter Skelter, a mare that won many good races and for which he paid $4,000, was killed outright. The others were more or less damaged. Mr Corrigan cannot say what his loss is, but it it is safe saying that $lO,OOO would not square accounts. Experts will estimate the damage this

week, and report to the railroad company, who will probably bear the burden. The accident was caused by the caboose jumping the track. The train was running fast, and when the last car bounded off the rails it jerked the horse car with it. One mare got loose from the wreck and ran away into the country. She ran off nearly fifty miles and was captured by an Indian, who brought her back to the station. He demanded something like $5O for his pains. The company pronounced this an exorbitant fee, but the rea face could not be moved, and held on to the mare. Finally the company caved in and took the mare and put her on a separate car and sent her on. The others had gone on in advance.

The following items of Wellington News are from our correspondent on May 3rd : Mr H. D. Bell has decided to fulfil his office of president of the Wellington Racing Club until the annual meeting in August next. The Wairarapa facing Club has donated £5 to the Hawke s Bay Relief Fund. At The Hutt on Saturday Mr Joseph Ames, totalisator proprietor, was presented by his employees with a dressing bag and travelling case inscribed “ From the boys of the tote, Ist May. Marino and Arquebus were not sent south, but continued their journey to Egmont.

Mr Knight will issue the weights to-morrow for the following events to be decided at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Winter Meeting: Maiden Hurdles, Maiden Plate, First Pony Handicap, Birthday Handicap, First. Handicap Hurdles, Handicap Maiden Steeplechase, Royal Handicap, and the Handicap Steeplechase. All the events except the last-named will be disposed of on the first day of the meeting. At the Takapuna Hack Race Meeting, held on Saturday last, it will be remembered that the last race of the day was won by a horse called New Boy. The owner of the second horse, Donkey, entered a protest on the ground that New Boy was not locally owned, but in a very short space of time an official of the elub informed the bookmakers that the protest had been dismssed, and they paid out on New Boy. On Monday, however, a meeting of the race committee was held, and they determined to disqualify New Boy and give the stakes to Donkey, dhe cause of this change of front the officers of the club have. not taken the trouble to explain. It certainly seems extraordinary that nearly everyone at the meeting was permitted to leave on Saturday evening under the impression that the protest had been dealt with. Under such circumstances the bookmakers paid out on New Boy, and it is a bit unfair to them that they should now be confronted by men who backed Donkey and seek to be paid. Truly this is a fitting ending to a rather extraordinary meeting. Perhaps the promoters of the meeting will now admit that management of racing is not so pleasant as it is imagined to be by the uninitiated. An exciting epi ode broke the monotony of training operations at Ellerslie yesterday morning. Black Douglas was out for a canter on the grass track, when he got away with his rider and tore along the track, and would, have attempted to rush through the small gate near the stewards’ stand had not the veteran Taylor blocked him, but immediately he crashed into the picket fence, stripping it of 52 palings, when he came into contact with a formidable post, which caused him to turn a somersault into the course proper, with the boy still on his back, or rather his neck. Perhaps it was fortunate the lad occupied this advanced position, otherwise he might have been seriously injured under the horse. The scene came as a bit of a shock to a number of the course habitues, who had a narrow escape, as they were standing within a foot or two of the damaged fence. Mr Williamson was momentarily paralysed by the scene, and dropped on the greensward, but Mr Bob Blaikie exhibited more nerve. It may be that the experience of the betting ring steels the nerve, but whether that is so or not the fact remains that Mr Blaikie was quickly at the lad’s side, but fortunately, beyond a slight injury to the foot, the jockey was uninjured. Donald Taylor secured the horse, and, strange to say, there was not a visible mark of injury on him.