Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 395, 17 February 1898, Page 8

Sporting Topics.

California bred horses, sired by imported Australian stallions, have won about 550,000 dollars in the past three years on the American turf.

The Duke of Portland, writing recently from Welbeck to an Adelaide resident, said: —“ Many of Carbine’s foals (now approaching yearlings) are very good looking indeed. They are nearly all blest with the old horse’s wonderfully powerful quarters, and they take after him in temperament. They are generally very well liked, and I am glad to say Carbine has had a full season ever since we got him. Twenty-eight foals dropped to him last season, but unfortunately five are since dead. I hope the others will hold up his prestige. The only fault I find with his foals is that several of them are coarse in their hocks, but perhaps they may grow out of this. So far as the horse himself is concerned, he could not be going on better. Cunningham rides him out every day, and it is very curious to watch his apparently idle movements. He takes thing« with the greatest coolness, and is so. different to St. Simon and our other Galopin horses. .We had the Prince and Princess of Wales last week with a large party, and they were all immensely taken with Carbine.” Australia’s equine idol, “ Old Jack,” now has nothing left to desire. Introduced to the Prince of Wales, what more could he want ?

Mr W. Bright, bon. secretary of the South Auckland Racing Club, must feel pleased with the excellent response made by owners to his invitation to send in nominations for the various items provided for in the programme prepared for the annual meeting, to be held on March 5. Not only are these entries numerous, but the class of horses engaged is good, and no doubt when Mr Evett has finished his work the acceptances will be satisfactory. Indeed, it is safe to predict that the forthcoming meeting will be the most successful held in the district. The secretary and his committee are doing all that they can to bring about that result, and we notice that arrangements have been made for a special excursion train to leave Auckland on the morning of the races. Tattersall’s registered members will be licensed at a fee of £2 2s.

Dan Halliday and the Australian mare Trance have been ruled off the turf after an investigation (writes the Breeder and Sportsman). Halliday is the young man that came here with Stromboli, an ex-crack racer, but supposed to have been past redemption for racing purposes. He got the horse ready through careful working, and won some good races with him at Bay District track. Hallidaj has not had a world of experience as a trainer, however, and that might account, in a measure, for the mare’s erratic running. J. D. 1 ewis, owner of Trance, owned Tarcoola, winner of the Melbourne Cup, and lives in Australia. He made a trip to this country about three years ago, and expressed a determination to send some racers over at an early date. Trance and Disparity (who died) were his property. We understand Trance was also under the ban in the colonies, after which she was purchased by Mr Lewis.

The Australasian, as usual, has published a recurn of the winning owners and sires on the Australian turf for the half-year ended January 31, and the Sydney owners show up well. Mr W. Forrester tops the list with £4490, the result of five races; W. Duggan, for a similar number of races, won £4426; while Mr Kelso is third with nine firsts and prize-money amounting to £3309. Other principal winners are :. — Messrs W. R. Wilson, £3231; C. N. Kidman, £1770|; S. Hordern, £1751; S. Miller, £1702; J. G-. Arthur, £1615; and W. Bailey, £1545. The greatest number of races were won by the West Australian sportsmen, Messrs G-. A. Towton and' 0. N. Kidman, the former winning 18 (worth £1540), and the latter one less. Lochiel was the most successful sire represented during the term, for he had no fewer than 26 winners, who won 49 races and stakes to the value of £9IBO. Carbine comes next with £6586 in stakes. Gozo’s ■ stock won £5514, Trenton’s £3247, Neckersgat’s Abercorn’s £2533, Splendor’s £2OIB, Nordenfeldt’s £1829, King of the Ring’s £1668. Grand Flaneur’s £1628, Malua’s £1469, and Sunrise’s £1420. Lochiel produced most winners, then comes Malua (19), Sunrise (15), Carbine (14£), Thunderbolt (13), Trenton ? (12|), Neckersgat and Boolka (12 each), and Gozo and Mozart (10 each). z .

F" The date of acceptance for the Wanganui •Jubilee Cup has been altered to Tuesday next, the 22nd inst. This official intimation was received too late for us to alter the date in the advertisement.

St. Crispin was shipped for Taranaki on Thursday last by the Glairloch. He has a nice handy weight, and Swordfish should not have it all his own way this time. Our Dunedin correspondent wires that local sporting matters are dull. Mountebank and Red Dancer were taken to Christchurch on Monday ; the first named has wonderfully improved of late. On Wednesday the following horses left for Christchurch ; — Fulmen, Sequin, Marlin, Black and Red, and Blazer. Mr W. F. Inder, who has for some time practised his profession as solicitor in Auckland, left on Monday for Dunedin, where he will in future reside. Mr Inder made a lot of friends, particularly in sporting circles, and they regret the loss of his genial company. He was a thoroughly good sportsman, and, if we may be pardoned for using the expression, he ran in couples with that sterling sportsman, Mr Green, the owner of Antares, who has also gone South. Mr Inder bought Hermosa as a yearling, and as she has always been on the job and won a substantial percentage ■Of her races, Mr Inder must have made more than his expenses out of her, a reward which we would like to see fall to the lot of all straight goers.

Some time ago a sporting man in one of the Australian coloniel had a wife and a mare, the latter being named Emma after ths former. The mare had been sent to the stud, and during her owner's absence in another colony his better half managed to get into the clutches of the law. A relative who was not distinguished as a caligraphist —in fact, wrote a bad “ fist ” —wired to the husband, “ Emma in gaol,” and it was not until long after be had received the wire, “ Emma in foal,” that he realised that the true state of affairs was not so satisfactory as he had imagined on receipt of the telegram.—“ Javelin.” In the list of English foalings to hand, Carbine, Carnage, and Trenton are all well represented by the produce of good mares, Carbine, for example, having fillies out of the famous mares Semolina and Memoir; Carnage, fillies out of The Sabine (dam of Red Heart) and Mr Houldsworth’s Spray; and Trenton, colts out of Golden Agnes and Saintly. Carbine has this season been mated with the Oaks winners, Amiable and Memoir, as well as with such famous mares as Distant Shore and Semolina, though he has had bad luck in the death of twins from rare old Mowerina and a colt from V» heel of Fortune. Still he has twenty-three living foals, and there will be every opportunity of judging the beneficial effects cf the cross of the sober Australian blood with the fiery strain of St. Simon. Atn interesting marriage in sporting circles is reported by our Dunedin correspondent as follows ..—Mr W. Hazlett and Miss Kate Stephenson were married to-day (February 15). The parents of the bride and bridegroom are the well-known sports, Messrs. Stephenson and Hazlett, who have for the past twenty years been asso iated together in the ownership of the largest string of thoroughbreds at the Forbury. Thus a very happy result has been achieved. The bridegroom was one of the Dunedin Hussars that formed part of the contingent to England last June. All of the Auckland horses engaged in the Taranaki Meeting left last week. One of the last to move was St. Crispin, who is engaged in the Taranaki Cup at Bst 21b, and as he was very-well on leaving, his party had great hopes. His trainer, Frank Macmanemin, accompanied the Derby winner, who at New Plymouth joined his old stable-mate, Panoply. Mr Dave Stewart, St. Crispin’s owner, followed on Tuesday. The half-brothers, Canopus (Castor —Antelope) and Bluejacket (St. Leger —Antelope), have gone into Fred. Stenning’s hands at Ellerslie. Fred, is a capable and painstaking trainer, and it is to be hoped that there is more luck in store for the pair than they have had in the past. Bluejacket was full of promise in the spring, but he was growing too fast, and it is possible that he will be seen to better advantage as a three-year-old than be has been as a two-year-old. The following are the names of the drawers of the placed horses in Tattersall’s consultation on the Launceston Cup, run at Launceston, and which closed with 30,000 at 5 : —First (Sortie), Herin, care J. Grant, 54 Moles worth-street, Wellington (N.Z.), £2700; second (Eiridsdale), S. Gray, East street, Mount Morgan (Queensland), £810; third (Tamino), Cameron and Company, Ulmarra, Clarence River (N.S.W.), £540. These amounts are nett.

It was confidently predicted in Australia before -the race that Aurum would not be a starter in the Futurity Stakes, the fact of his being backed for the Australian Cup favoring that opinion. The prediction turned out correct, and we may therefore expect that Trenton’s son will be served up warm goods for the Cup. Amiable, the favorite for the Newmarket Handicap, has run in a couple of races lately, and has finished “ nowhere.” Notwithstanding these defeats she comes to a shorter price every week. Probably Fielder, her trainer, is giving her a public preparation, for in neither race was she backed as if she possessed a chance. Resolute, the winner of the Futurity Stakes, has been backed in earnest for the Newmarket Handicap. During last week the St. Albans people took the odds to win £lO,OOO. Evidently they think he possesses a good show, and wished to get the money on before Resolute accounted for the Futurity prize. Daimio has come down to 10.10 for the Liverpool Grand National. In England he has hitherto never been the horse he was on this side, but if ' he has recovered his form he will make things lively for the best of the English ’chasers in |the cross-country Blue Riband.

Good old Norton has lOst to carry in the same race, and as a plodder has always a “ hope ” at Liverpool, it will not do to leave Mr Gollan’s horse out of the reckoning. We know Norton will stand up, and, fit and well, shall expect to see him close up at the finish of the journey.

It is not anticipated that the forthcoming yearling sales in Australia will cause much sensation. There seems to be no doubt that Lochiel will be the most popular sire, and that if there are any big prices realised it will be for youngsters of his get. Zalinski will be represented at the sales by a few promising yearlings. The well known racing mare Retaliation, by St. Leger —Reproach, and therefore possessing a lot of the same blood as the game little St. Paul, will be submitted to auction by Mr A. Buckland to-morrow. The mare has a lot to recommend her, as she has proved herself a rare good performer on the turf, she having won three consecutive Papakura Cups, the Te Aroha Cup, and a number of other races at Avondale, the Thames, and Ellerslie. There is plenty of racing in her yet, and when her career on the turf is finished, she should prove a valuable brood mare.

The East Tamaki Hack Club has determined to indulge in a day’s sport on March 26th, when aback meeting will be held on Mr Harris’ farm. These gatherings always prove enjoyable, particularly in the autumn of the year, the drive being a very pleasant one. Mr John Crozier, the well-known South Australian sportsman, has been on a visit to Auckland. He had a very pleasant trip, and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the district and his visits to the training establishments round about. No doubt the exportation of Australian racehorses to England is due in a great measure to the wonderful success of American racehorses during the past English racing season. Australian owners see that there are some very valuable prizes to be picked up, and if the American horses are good enough to gather some of the plums there is no reason why Colonials should not have a finger in the pie. On this subject the Spirit of the Times say One of the features of the year has been the growing ambition of Americans to race in England. Several of our leading owners have started horses there, and many more have made nominations abroad. Thi? is rather a matter of regret. The success of American racehorses abroad may arouse our national pride, but we can ill spare our best horses. We need them here, as well as every dollar that goes to make stakes. Yet there are considerations for which we can hardly blame a man for wishing to race in England. In England racing is a sport; in America it is a turmoil. In England it brings pleasure and health ; in America it brings vexation, care, and trouble. In England an owner of racehorses is regarded as a public benefactor ; in America he is lucky if he is not held up as — something quite different. In England the racing authorities are supported; in America every effort is made to belittle and baffle them. The merits of horses are lost eight of in a zeal to parade the demerits of men. In short, the tendency to regard racing as a business makes us take our sport too seriously. It becomes too great a tension, a worry from the strain and sensationalism that follows it, and owners can hardly be blamed if they seek more congenial. surroundings.

In San Francisco the almost instantaneous display of the numbers of the first, second, and third horses coincident with the finish of the race, both on the board in front of the judge’s stand and also in the betting ring, is accomplished by an electric apparatus touched by the judge, and is another innovation which shows the progressive nature of the American track owners, and marks their superiority over the slow-going methods in vogue elsewhere. The weights for the Wanganui Meeting were duly published yesterday, and of course created a considerable amount of interest in Auckland, this portion of the Island being pretty strongly represented in the Jubilee Cup, to which is attached 800 sovs. The handicapper has started at 9st 131 b with Waiuku, who is estimated to be 11b better than Uniform and 21b better than St. Paul. All three have got theii* share, but their performances this seasou entitle them to respect. Uniform being under orders for England will not start. The first horse to strike the eye as having been well treated is Daystar, who surely must be well in it with 131 b less than St. Paul and 151 b less than Waiuku. Daystar was badly beaten at Ellerslie in the Auckland Cup, but no one can think that that was his true form. On that occasion he was in receipt of only 41b from St. Paul and 111 b from Waiuku. He beat the latter, and why should he not do so again. It is notorious that Castor’s son will not gallop on hard ground, but the going at Wanganui should suit him, and under the circumstances he should just be able to boss the top weights. .Other horses down the list that appear to have been well treated are Swordfish (Bst 91b), Antares (7st 121 b), Irish Twist (7st 121 b), Coeur de Lion (7st 101 b), and St. Crispin (7st 101 b). The weights in the other events bear evidence of careful adjustment, and will probably give more general satisfaction than the Cup handicap.

Work at Ellerslie lately has been of-the slow and monotonous order, blest or was rather badly injured by Anita’s kick at the last Ellerslie meeting and has been blistered. His owner is not satisfied with the weights that have been put on the big chestnut son of St. Leger and Tamora, and it is not improbable that he will be tried at the illegitimate game. Nestor looks as if he would like country. Daystar has not been doing much, but it would not take long to get him in buckle to race on soft going. St. Paul is as hearty as ever, and it really appears as if the little bounder is more eager for his morning’s spin than a parched toper is for a long sleever. St. Paul appears to have an extraordinary constitution, and it would be interesting to know how much work it would take to knock him out.

Vedette’s victory in the Taranaki Cup yesterday came as a bit of a surprise to Aucklanders. Nothing but Waiorongomai was the cry with certain punters the night before tbe race, and when they heard the “ good thing” was scratched words could not relieve their injured feelings.

Both St. Crispin and Swordfish were well backed for the Taranaki Cup, the former especially being strongly supported when it became known that Mr Dave Stewart had departed to New Plymouth to see the colt run. St. Crispin’s backers were evidently under the impression that the Derby winner must perform well with the “ boss” eye upon him. The stewards and secretary (Mr C. F. Mark) of the Auckland Trotting Club are leaving, no stone unturned in their efforts to make the forthcoming meeting in aid of the sufferers by the recent bush fires a grand success. The latest move in that direction Is that the Mayor and councillors of the city of Auckland have promised their patronage to the meeting. We may mention that nominations for both days’ races close on Friday, the 26th inst. There should be no lack of entries for the prize-money is liberal, and in the cause of Charity it behoves owners and trainers to come to the scratch with right good will.

We regret to hear that Mr Jack Rae, our well-known cross-country rider, horse owner, and trainer, has not been in good health during the past fortnight. After the Takapuna meeting he went to New Plymouth with Waiorongomai and others, but since he has been on the coast he has been laid up. However, the latest news is that the sturdy horseman is mending. Had he been well it is quite probable that Waiorongomai would not have been so often scratched as has been the case.

The Lake Takapuna Hack Racing Club will hold its autumn meeting on Saturday, February 26. Seven events are set down for decision, the principal race being the Cup, one mile and a quarter. The last meeting held by the club was a distinct success, and everything points to the forthcoming meeting being quite up to the mark. Entries close with the secretary, Mr S. R. Burningham, on Monday, February 21.

The unlucky Castashore has been turned out for a spell. It is to be hoped that there is no barbed wire or anything dangerous in Castashore’s neighborhood, otherwise he will come to grief, for meeting with accidents appears to be his fate. He will not be allowed to remain long out of work, as Mr Platt has a big opinion of Castor’s dashing son, and no doubt he expects to get a good race out of him before long.

The entry for the Napier Cup is not a good one, the total being only 17, but the club cannot be charged with being liberal advertisers, and hence probably the result. In the Taranaki province, where more liberality in advertising is evinced, the entries for similar races to the Napier Cup are more than doubled, Here a Napier Park programme is rarely seen, and that they get so many entries as they do is a surprise. Among the Auckland entrants for the Napier Cup are Daystar, St. Crispin, and St. Paul.

The old mare, Atalanta, dam of Sylvia Park, Hippomenes, Paddy, and others all noted fcr speed, died in a pad dock at North Shore last month.

The autumn fixture of the Taranaki Jockey Club, which commenced yesterday, created a fair amount of interest in Auckland. So far as is known at the time of going to press the following are the results. In the First Hurdles Napoleon at last managed to win a race, beating Sultador and Dummy, and paying a dividend of £2 18s. Adam was again in the winningvein,and accounted for the Hack Hurdles. He won easily from St. Hiko and Raupo 11., and paid £2 14s. The Cup fell to Vedette, who led from start to finish, and was followed home by Lorelei and Merry Maid. The dividend paid by Vedette (£4 4s) shows that he was fairly well supported on the course. The First Hack Flat Race fell to the top weight, Okoare (Waiuku’s full-sister), who paid £2 16s. Kanaka won the Henui Handicap, paying the nice dividend of £8 3s. Signal Shot won the Hack Scurry, and returned backers £6 3s.

Laddie, a hunter belonging to Mr Hartley, performed a jump on Tuesday of a more sensa tional nature than the most daring hunters care to take. The horse became frightened of a train in Mechanics’ Bay and got on to the railway at the bridge. The passing train very nearly ran over the horse, and the animal, not caring to face the bridge, sprang over the high embankment, which at this place is 41ft high. Mr Hartley expected that the horse would be killed, but it was comparatively unhurt, a little bit of skin off one leg and a cut mouth being the only injuries observable.

Satsuma ran a mile in Imin 40sec over Ingleside course recently, breaking the track record to the extent of three-quarters of a second.

At the annual sale of thoroughbreds at the Hawera Horse Bazaar last week poor prices were realised. Results —Br c by Vanguard—Sym phony, P. Murphy, 4gs. br cby Gipsy Grand— Yalta way, by Nordenfeldt, Dr Paget, 14gs. Br e by Reynard —Vivat, by Captivator —Vivandiere, E. Williams, s|gs. Blk c by Reynard— Pakurakura, Mr Ashe, 6gs. .13 c by Reynard— Vienne, G. Syme, jun., 6gs. Br fby Reynard — Nerissa, S. I-inn, jun., llgs. B f by Gipsy King —lrene, by Leonidas — Moilena (full-sister to the dam of Fabulist), Mr Nixon, Sgs. Bf by Gipsy King —Anterina (dam of Aidershot), Mr Butler, 7gs. B g, 2yrs, by Morpheus —Symphony,. Mr Hardley, 10gs. Ch f, 3yrs, by Gipsy King —-Steel All, being fullsister to Steel King, and half-sister to Levanter and St Patrick, Mr Hardley, 16s. Ch f, 3yrs, by Sou’-Wester—Vacillation, Mh Revell, 7gs. Ch g Telephone, Mr W. Y oung, 175 gs.

The committee of the South Auckland Racing Club is energetically preparing for the annual meeting. Arrangements have been made to have the track harrowed and rolled. A totalisatqr permit has been granted. Lucky Dog, the greatest mud horse in America, up to a mile, was the cheapest 500dol. horse sold in this country. Since Barney Schreiber bought him at that figure he has won ten or twelve races —one a stake —and Barney resold him to Sam Hildreth for 1250d015.

Salvado broke the Pacific Coast record for a mile and a sixteenth in December, when he took up 1071 b and ran the distance in Imin 46|sec. Tbe mile from wire to wire was run in Imin 39sec, the first five furlongs in Imin.

It having been proposed in Inglewood' (Taranaki) to start a racing club, a public meeting was called to protect against it, and a resolution was passed requesting the promoters not to proceed, on the ground that it would be injurious to the morals of the community. Bookmakers are proverbially generous in re" sponse to urgent demands in the cause of charityFrom English files it is' gathered that in connection with the Margate life-boat disaster, the exAustralian leviathan, Mr Joseph Thompson, interested himself in the collection of funds in aid, and up to the departure of the last mail he had been successful in obtaining nearly £5OO.

Resolute and Aurum have been bracketed for the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup at 100 to 1.

Newhaven has accepted for the City and Suburban Handicap. Merman has accepted for the Lincolnshire Handicap, City and Suburban Handicaps, Chester Cup, and the Great Jubilee Stakes.