Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 407, 12 May 1898, Page 8

Sporting Topics.

The racehorse Judge Denny is credited with' having lowered the world’s record for two miles in February last at San Francisco. The record - held jointly by Ten Broeck and Newton (3min 27|sec) was reduced to 3min 26Jsec. / The death of the brood mare Sanda is reported in latest English files. Sanda was tha dam of Sainfoin, a winner’ of the Derby. Sanda was by Wenlock from Sandal, by Stockwell; therefore she was a half-sister to the Fulham Park mare Instep, the dam of Sainfoin, Lord Wilton, Footstep, and Aura. Aura is the dam of Aurum and Auraria, and Footstep is the dam of Royal Admiral, The Admiral, Port Admiral, and Fleet Admiral. The stock of the defunct Maxim (by Musket from Realisation) appear to be upholding the prestige of their sire on the Californian (U.S.A.) tracks. In February last the four-year-old bay mare Fleur-de-lis, by Maxim from Fleurette, who is handicapped at 7.5 in the two great Spring handicaps of the East—the Brooklyn Handicap and the Suburban Handicap—equalled the coast record over a mile and one-sixteenth. She was~ ridden by “ Tod” Sloan, the other contestants being Traverser with Clawson up, Ostler Joe with Turbiville in the saddle, and Libertine in Conley’s hands. Traverser cut out the pace at a terrific clip, the first six and a half furlongs being run in Imin 20sec. Fleur-de-lis began to close up the gap of three lengths round the far turn, and when they turned into the stretch was only a length behind. She soon had Traverser’s measure, and won easily in Imin 46|sec, which could have been reduced a good half-second. / The official time for the first mile was given as Imin 39sec. Fleur-de-lis is by imported Maxim * out of Fleurette, sister to the immortal mare Firenzij and the dam of Flurry and Silver 11. As a two-year-old Fleur-de-lis started 13 times,, winning five races and running second on four occasions. Ailing in the early part of 1897 she did not run till late in the year, winning three out of six races, and running second once. This year she has started six times, winning four times, second once, and once unplaced. >At the same meeting Napamax, another Maxim filly, won the Flirtation Stakes, six and a half furlongs, in Imin 2 Isec. ' Writing of Australian racehorses in England the Special Commissioner of the Sportsman says: —“ On my way to the scene of action I noticed F. W. Day’s string, all looking sig and well, Bicorniger and Airs and Graces supplementing the Australian-bred division. Of these latter, Acmena has evidently thriven throughout the winter, but handicappers are far too hard on her, being as she is such a small, light mare, and her owner, from what I know of him, is likely to send her to the stud.” The winnings last season of a leading North country (English) bookmaker are computed by an. ■■ English writer at £90,000. '

It will be remember that when La Fleche was knocked down to Sir Tatton Sykes for 12,600 guineas at the sale of Baron Hirsch’s stud, he repudiated the bid and left for the Continent. It now transpires, according to a London paper, that it was Lady Sykes who instructed Lord Beresford to make the purchase, and Sir Tatton ./afterwards took the mare for the sake of peace. The same paper, commenting on the Sykes affair, which was so well aired in the English courts, winds up with a few remarks about female gamblers“ It mast not be supposed that the Tranby Croft disclosures killed this class of scandal, for they did not. The curious part of this business with some of these ladies is. that they have their own private Card tables, which accompany them in their travels as their bonnet-boxes do. The betting and gambling woman is, of course, by no means a modern creation. It was the late Sir Joseph Hawley who used to speak with such scorn of those “betting duchesses. The women make the finest touts in the world, as they ask questions a man would 'not dream of asking, and their pertinacity is something wonderful. I recollect some time ago the very beautiful wife of a noble lord, who was a large owner of racehorses, whom it was found absolutely necessary to mislead, as she gave the whole stable away. I have, too, in my Ynind, another countess who betted very heavily. 'My lord ’ one day with great secrecy gave his commissioner certain instructions about backing a horse for him. The commissioner smiled at the mystery that was being observed, and said,. ‘ My lord, my lady’s commission has been in the ' . market for the last two hours.’ This is most ■ certainly not as it should be.” Dr Earle, of Wanganui, Mr G. Hunter, M.H.R., of Hawke’s Bay, and Mr R. H. Nolan, of Hawera, have been appointed a Court of Appeal to deal with the appeal of Mr J. R. Sewell against the disqualification by the Dunedin Jockey Club of himself, his horse Lobo, together with the 'riderand trainer. In a letter to the Dunedin Jockey Club on the subject, the chairman of the Racing Conference states that “he feels compelled to dissent from the resolution of the clubs committee to the effect that no appeal lies to it or to the Racing Conference under Rule 117 on the question of Mr Sewell’s disqualification. He rules, and will continue to do so, until a vote of the conference rules otherwise, that an appeal lies with regard to all penalties and disqualifications, even when arising from a decision as to a question of fact. It will be in such cases for the Court of Appeal to review the evidence and decision previously given, and to determine whether substantial justice has been done, which was the - chief purchase for which Rule 117 was framed.’

Our Canterbury correspondent wires: —At a - meeting of the North Canterbury Jockey Club committee held last night, it was decided t hat " the evidence was not sufficient to warrant the Seabrook case being reopened - The club made a profit of £44 over the last meeting. It was resolved that a circular be sent to all clubs under the control of the Canterbury Jockey Club ask-

ing them if they will favour'the following proposition : “That the commmittee of the Canterbury Jockey Club be asked to act as stipendiary steward when present at meetings held under any programme approved of by them. Racegoers will regret to hear that last week that fine ups'anding horse. St. Simon, broke down at Ellerslie, and was so lame after an exercise gallop that it is extremely improbable that he will be raced again. Mr Skipwith is to be sympathised with on his severe loss for such per- - feet hurdlers as the big son of St. Leger are very rare. '

The enquiry into the running of Crescent at the recent Ashburton meeting, which our Canterbury correspondent refers to, has terminated ’in the disqualification of Crescent, the owner, Victor Harris, the trainer, Free Holmes, and the iockev, Jackson, for two years for inconsistent running.

To-morrow (Friday) Messrs Churton and Co wsll sell by auction the privileges for the gates, booths, cards, and refreshment stalls for the forthcoming Winter Meeting of the Takapnna Jockey Club'. The North Shore gatherings are always popular with racing folk, so that good attendances are assured for the meeting to be held on May 21 and 24, and it is safe to say that the sale of the privileges will bring good prices.

The severe sentence imposed upon Martin Taylor, John Higgins, and James Randall formed /'the subject of conversation in the city yesterday, . and it is no exaggeration to say that sympathy for the accused bookmakers was general and pro - nounced. Our courts rule that the keeping of a shop for the purpose of making bets is a violation of the Gaining Act, the interpretation of -T. ’ which has been a source of much profit to the lawyers. However, Mr Taylor and his companions have, no doubt, broken the law, but all excepting the anti-gambling humbugs will refuse to look upon them as criminals deserving of being " \ sent to gaol to consort with the burglar, and it may be the assassin. The sympathies of the . » Christchurch Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr Beetbam . /are evidently entirely with the fanatics, who "have been raking up ancient law to carry on their crusade entirely against the bookmakers, whom he has consigned to gaol for, having done 1 that which has been tolerated for years. The ,/■ Sydney magistrates, it may be pointed out, in dealing with cases that have occurred there, have meted out fines, not imprisonment. A pastor in one of the South-Eastern suburbs, on his way to the evening service recently (writes “Javelin’’ in the Melbourne Leader) , and when near his little church overtook three local trainers •" and . five jockeys sauntering slowly along. Al--4 though the. good man had never seen "any of them amongst his congregation, he knew them ’ all, and as he drew up level, determining if possible to improve the occasion, he said, “ Well, now, we have plenty of room you cannot do • better than all come to church.” To his intense surnrise and satisfaction, one of the horsey men

informed him that was their “ dart.” Being naturally curious to discover the peculiar influence which had induced eight of them simultaneously to become devotionally disposed, he sought enlightenment on the subject, when the man who had previously spoken said, “ Well, Jimmy ’ere, read out o’ the paper that you wus goin’ ter preach about ther Unjust Stooard, so we thought we’d come an’ see who you wus goin’ ter rub it into.”

Training operation's at Ellerslie are livening up considerably, and during the next week we may expect to see the candidates for Takapuna coin and glory brushed along in business-like style Jumpers have been schooled a lot, and among others that an attempt has been made to educate in the art of getting over the sticks is Antares. He certainly never turns his head at anything, but the manner in which he rattles into the obstacles makes his trainer, Franks, scratch his head. On Tuesday he showed marked improvement. A horse that is improving in Frank McManin an’s hands is the grey gelding Voltigeur 11, while Miss Nelson and Magpie are reported to be well. The rain which fell during the week was very welcome, and the tracks are now in excellent condition.

Throughout the week Rowley’s Waxworks, at the Agricultural Hall, have been well patronised, and right away from 2 o’clock to 10 the people have steadily crowded the hall to gaze upon, the numerous life-size figures on view. In addition to the wax effigies of living and dead celebrities, there are many attractions and novelties, such as the Grand Cosmoramic Views and Professor Antonio’s Royal Punch and Judy Show. A variety entertainment is also provided for the amusement of visitors, some of the principal “turns” being the Japanese wire-walkers, the marvellous juvenile contortionist, the lightning sketch artist, and the various conjurers, jugglers, and dancers. The Waxworks Exhibition will only be with us for a short season, so advantage should be taken to see a real good show at a very moderate tariff.