Sporting and dramatic REVIEW . . AND . . LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, May 26, 1898. SPORTING TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 409, 26 May 1898, Page 8

Sporting and dramatic REVIEW . . AND . . LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, May 26, 1898. SPORTING TOPICS.

In the District Court at Hawera on May 11 and 12, Judge Kenny was occupied in hearing a case in which C. R. Bayley claimed £69 19s from A. G. Brett, secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, the claim arising out of an agreement under which plaintiff bought the gates for the Egmont Summer Meeting. The case arose on a claim for repayment by the club for the admittance of holders of complimentary tickets issued by the club, and as alleged made use of ; also for admittance of owners, jockeys, and trainers, for which plaintiff submitted defendant should have paid. As to the latter it was alleged by de fendant that there was a verbal agreement as part of the conditions of sale by which owners, trainers, &c., were to be admitted free and treated as free plaintiffs. This was denied by plaintiff, and constituted the chief cause of litigation. A ffer hearing evidence and argument of counsel, His Honor said he thought there was a strong case for plaintiff in regard to his claim for £2l4s (complimentary tickets and bookmakers’ admittance). He would suggest that the parties should agree to a verdict for that amount, and thus save further litigation. He would adjourn the case till next day to enable the parties to confer, when he wmld give his- decision on the non-suit points raised. On resuming next morning, Mr Barton said the parties had not been able to come to an agreement. His Honor then said he would non-suit the plaintiff on the ground that the evidence disclosed no contract between the plaintiff and defendant —if it disclosed a contract at all it disclosed a contract with the stewards of the Egmont Racing Club. It was unnecessary to decide on the other points raised, for the one mentioned went to the root of the whole matter. The action might have been made an alternative action in which the stewards could have been joined, but even then Mr Brett would have been entitled to the costs. If that course had been followed it would perhaps have obviated the necessity for a fresh action. Costs were assessed as follows: —Witnesses, £4 7s ; Court costs, 17s ; counsel’s fee, £3 10s. Execution was stayed for 28 days from date of .judgment, to permit of an appeal being lodged.— Hawera Star. A correspondent writes to the Waitara Daily News :—On the invitation of Mr J. J. Russell, a small party of gentlemen, including Mr E. Lawry, M.H.R.,, drove to Okato rececently, for the purpose of seeing the progeny of Waiuku. The two youngsters, a filly and a colt, are running on Mr J. 0. Montefmre’s farm, which is situated about a couple of miles beyond the Okato township. The youngsters were disporting themselves in a large paddock along with their mother, Lady Onslow (Governor —Mokamoka, by Don Juan), the pony mare who put so many flat and jumping events to her credit in 14.2 company some seasons back. The old mare, who had given herself a nasty knock on the near fore fetlock, was looking well, but was not able to move along so fast as her foals desired her to do on the approach of-stran-gers. The filly, rising two years, is a handsome chestnut, taking after her dam in color, with a large but well defined blaze on her forehead, and a white stocking on her near hind leg. She is a well-set, powerfully-built filly, combining strength with symmetry, and the way she moves round is sufficient guarantee that she will gallop when she is called on to sport silk. The colt, rising a yearling, takes after his champion sire in color, and also temperament, as he displays a more sedate and quieter style than his frisky sister. He, if anything, is a shade darker than Waiuku. He displays the substance and bone of his sire, with a pretty game looking head, and taking him all round he is, no doubt, a racehorse in embryo. The only white about him is a nice sized star on his forehead. Jay J. is a believer in letting young stock mature and gain muscle by roaming about large paddocks. The St. Alban’s stud is being materially strengthened. Mr W. R. Wilson recently purchased Tinstream, a Goodwood Handicap winner, for 200 guineas. She will at once be sent to the stud.

Such fast horses as Trappist,Lollypop, Lowlander, Ecossais, and Silvio all went down before Springfield the flying son of St. Albans. Silvio had won ths Derby and St. Leger, but Springfield beat him easily in the Champion Stakes. This race was a mile and a quarter, the longest distance, by the way, Springfield had been asked to race. Evi dently speed was thought to be his forte. Springfield was supposed by the bookmakers to be amiss when he ran in the Champion Stakes, consequently they took liberties with him, and lost a lot of money over the race. At the stud, Springfield was only a qualified success. Sainfoin, the Derby winner, was one of his sons, but, as a rule, his colts were soft and of little account. On the other hand, though, his daughters, notably Briarroot (winner of the One Thousand), Sunrise, Spring Morn, and Ponza, did well on the turf. The last-named is the dam of Positano. Springfield mares are invaluable for stud purposes Galtee More, the triple-crowned hero; who was the other day sold for £25,000, was foaled by a daughter of Springfield. Mr Henry Priston, who, by his removal from Rotorua was obliged to resign the secretaryship of the Rotorua Jockey Club, has been succeeded by Mr A. Warbrick, the well known and popular guide.

It is not often in these days that we hear of a racehorse standing eighteen hands. Oottus, a son of imported Eiridspord, has, however, that distinction. Cottus is expected to make his debut as a jumper shortly. - - In a four-horse flat race at the Westland meet-,.*.- / ing two horses fell and a third one was interfered - with. The fourth, which of course won, was. protested against for inconsistent running, and the protest was dismissed. At a meeting of the stewards of the Masterton Racing Club held recently, it was decided that, if necessary, a deputation should go to .Wellington and wait on the Minister for Railways to - *; urge concessions in fares being granted on the Club’s race days. It was decided to give notice of motion at the Racing Conference, to be held in Wellington on July 13th, that all secretaries, of racing clubs should decline nominations unless accorripanied by the necessary fees. The secretary announced that the club practically had the sum of £2lO 18s lid in hand. , It is quite evident that our business men anticipate that the Great Noithern Steeplechase Meeting will be a success, as the prices realised at the sale of privileges last Friday were in excess of those obtained last year. The Grandstand Booth was bought by Mr O’Connor for £BO, - and the Lean-to Bar fell to the same purchaser' ' for £55. Mr Donovan purchased the No. 1 Booth for £4O. The cards were knocked down to Mr Adams for £l4O, and the refreshment stall to Mrs Murphy for £3 The total sum realised by the sale was £3lB. < . *. A peculiar error occurred recently in England in connection with a couple of horses —Otello and Monos —the property of the same owner. A groom, it appears, had somehow managed to mix the two up, and Otello ran as Monos three times before the mistake was discovered. hit makes the incident more remarkable is that both horse* ? had, prior to the mix-up, raced under their proper names on several occasions. The full programme of the Wellington Racing Club’s Winter Steeplechase Meeting, to be held on July 14 and 16, is published in our advertising columns. Seven events on each day are provided for, and the added money amounts to £1245. • The principal events on the first day will be the Winter Handicap Hurdles of 150 sovs, two miles and the Parliamentary Handicap of 125 sovs, one mile and a furlong. On the second day the great, attraction should be the Wellington Steeplechase Handicap of 250 sovs, about three miles. Particulars as to the dates of nomination, etc., may-,--,' be gleaned from the advertisement.

“ For the enjoyment of the Sport of King’s.— and Other Thieves—in its most primitive and innocent form, commend me to a Maori racemeeting (writes a Sydney Bulletin correspondent). At Hamilton (Auckland), the other day, an impromptu gathering was got off; total stakes £B, cut up into many prizes. There were six competitors in all, and, as races were held every few minutes and all the nags started every time, •addles were not removed until the end of the day. As none of the prads had names, the mushroom books laid odds against owners, which answered satisfactorily. Plenty of fun ; no rows; no inconsistency. The most important official was the judge, who wore an oilskin coat a* emblem of office.” Surely this cannot refer to the recent meeting at Hamilton. If it does, the writer has been drawing on his imagination and pulling the Bulletin's leg, a fact which would cause the managing editor, Mr J. Archibald, never to trust his correspondent again.

With regard to the conviction recorded against Martin Taylor, the Spectator remarks: —“The Spectator regards the man who thinks gambling can be suppressed as a born idiot. You can no more suppress gambling than you can the taste for liquor, or any other craving strongly implanted in the British race as the result of hereditary and upbringing. This being so, the Spirit of Fairplay comes in, and the B.P. will insist on equal facilities being given to the poor and the rich if they wish to r gamble. If its wrong wipe it out altogether; if its not wrong, let all stand on the same footing, according to their means. This paper has repeatedly advocated a half-crown totalisator, and sees no reason to alter its opinion. Neither does it see any reason why those who wish to gamble on horse racing should be able to do so only on the course, and through the machine. At present Wanklyn (on behalf of the C.J.C) and Martin Taylor and Co. are the only means of gambling off the course. And it is monstrous to say that Taylor is a criminal and send him to gaol for booking bets at totalisator odds, whilst the C.J.C, through its Secretary, does exactly the same thing. But Law is Law, even though it may be the biggest ‘ hass ’ in creation, and if the Law as at present is to be operated in the way it has lately the totalisator is doomed. The Crowd will not submit to one law for the Upper Circles and another for the Lower Orders. The Crowd have, got Votes, and if they so decree the totalisator must go, and where will the big stakes come from which the C.J.C. now divide among themselves ? ”

The death is announced from Perth of Mr John Lang, a gentleman well known in sporting circles in the Western colony. Mr Lang, only a short while back, joined the ranks of metallicians in Perth. He was a native of New Zealand, followed racing here, and at one time figured in the pigskin, and gained numerous victories, principally on Toryboy, Venus, and Speculator. The deceased was noted for feats of daring in the saddle, being a celebrated rider of horses of a fiery disposition. The Australian thoroughbreds Athlone (Anteros —Hazeline), Lady Loch (Lochiel —Hope), and Bayonet (Carbine —Damsel) have been purchased by Si»<Rupert Clarke for India. The Melbourne Sportsman is evidently an authority on the subject of slang. It explains that the expression “blueing in” is the term employed when 'punters are induced to back a “ dead ’un.”

In our advertisement columns this week there appears a notification that the three-year-old , Coronet, by Castor —Necklace, is for private sale. Ab a two-year-old, Coronet performed with brilliancy, and high hopes were entertained of a successful three-year-old career. He won the Takapuna Cup this season, but hie subsequent ' efforts have not been rewarded with success. Coronet is a very taking-looking horse, and as he does possess pace and is perfectly sound he should very shortly find a new owner. Mr J. T. Armitage, N.Z. Insurance Buildings, or Mr J. B. Williamson, of Ellerslie, will supply further particulars. The annual meeting of the Gisborne Park Steeplechase Club will be held on the Poverty Bay Park Company’s course on Tuesday and Thursday, July 5 and 7. The added money for the two days’ races amounts to £390, the principal event of - the first day being the Handicap Hurdle Race of 60 sovs, while on the second day - the Gisborne Park Steeplechase is the big item on the card. A reference to our advertising columns will show the complete character W the programme issued by the executive committee. Entries for all events close with the secretary, Mr M. G. Nasmith, on Saturday, June 11. It appears that the cause of the accident in the Birthday Handicap at Takapuna was that Merry Maid slipped and fell just in front of Rex, who came a regular purler. Stewart, who rode Rex, . was practially unconscious for some time, but he recovered after being carried to the jockeys mom When Rex was removed from the course he was very stiff in the hind-quarters, and the apprehension of his trainer, Mr J. Booth, was so serious yesterday morning that he was frightened to go-into the horse’s box: However, .when he did enter he found Rev fretting because he had . let out as soon as his stable mates, and when taken to Ellerslie for exercise work he did not display any ill efiects from his fall. There was considerable consternation in the

weighing room at Takapuna on Tuesday, when Nor’-west’s jockey came to scale after winning ’ . the Hurdle Race. AVilliams at first could not draw the necessary weight,and the bridle had to be called into requisition, ere the clerk of the scales called that pleasant word “weight.” It was cutting matters rather fine, and few were surprised at the.feverish anxiety depicted upon the faces of both the trainer and his father. The double victory of Castashore at Takapuna on Tuesday has naturally brought the son of Castor and Zip into prominence for the Grand National Hurdle Race, at Ellerslie, on Saturday week, in which race Mr Platt’s horse has the nice burden of 9.6. Castasbore comes from a jumping i family on the dam’s side, as Zip was a good jumper and by Gladiator from Crinoline, by Sir Patrick. Most of the members of this family could jump, and as Castor’s son is just now in great buckle, be may prove a terrible thorn in the side of Opai, Nor’-west,’ Levanter and Co. in the . coming event. The Hon. H. Mosman’s Grand National Hurdle Race candidate, Antares, made his maidan jumping effort, at Takapuna, on Tuesday, and although the son of Castor —Hilda jumped wildly at firstand then sulked for a time, he came with a good run at the finish, and is evidently on improving lines. His trainer, Mr H: Franks, had ■ the Auckland Cup winner in fine buckle, and at the' finish of the race, he expressed himself as thoroughly pleased with his horse’s performance. In the matter of breeding Antares stands out prominently, as in addition to his being a son of imported Castor on the sires side, his dnn Hilda comes from a’great family, as she is by Musket from Ouida, by Yattendon from Gulnare bv Little John. Hilda’s dam was therefore the dam of Strathmore (winner of the V.R.C. Derby, Leger, Champion Race, etc.), and also oi Brown Alice, Moth, Novelette, and others. With such breeding, and good schooling Antares should become a champion at the illegitimate game. There were some who loudly . rumble 1 at Mr Halstead when he despatched the field for the Royal Handicap at. Takapuna on Tuesday. Needless to say, they were backers of Caslashore, and we noticed several who had punted heavily, growing rather white about the gills when the Birthday winner was seen at the rear of his field. But Mr Halstead did quite the right thing in putting Castashore behind his horses, he was letting out

pretty freely and there was a probability of a nasty accident. In reality Castashore got a good start, for he had a clear run - when the leaders had forgotten all about him. Once on terms with his field the son of Castor—Zip proved his brilliV ance by leaving the others as if they were standing still. The first public coursing event of the s ason took place in the stewards’ enclosure at the North Shore course on Queen’s Birthday. A loafing mongrel collie found its way into the sacred precincts, and was just sbout to be ignominiously turned out when a rabbit came through the rails from the course. The rabbit and the dog had about half a dozen turns up and down the turf, the dog running almost level with bunny, but seemingly a bit afraid of the—to him—unknown quantity. The rabbit was always the quicker at the “ turn,” and eventually, despite the frantic efforts of the dog, Mr J. 8.. Williamson, and a few other men of light and leading in the Turf world, he dodged through the “escapes,” and found a haven beneath the Press Room. Our old bookmaking friend, Mr John Cruickshank, was not in evidence at Takapuna, the fact being that he favoured the West Coast and Wanganui. He writes, however, to say that he has been doing good business since he has been away, and will be in town again long before the Ellerslie meeting. If Castashore happens to score in the \ Grand National Hurdles he will, so far as his : ' book at present is concerned, be a'skinner for the '■/vt genial metallician. There is evidently no mistake about the quality ' of the Australian horse Fri’z. On Tuesday, at the Canterbury Trotting Club’s Meeting, he won 7" the Free-for-All Trot, one mile, by the length of ' the straight, in 2min 28 4-ssec.