Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 427, 29 September 1898, Page 10

Sporting Topics.

A colt by Pilgrim’s Progress, recently purchased for 240 gs in Victoria by the West Australian sportsman, Mr To'wton, had to be shot recently owing to its propelling muscles being paralysed. The owner had refused IOOOgs for the colt.

At the annual meeting of the Opunake Racing Club the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : —President , Mr R. H. Nolan; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Knowles, H. J. Newman, and W. W. Middleton; judge, Mr A. W. Budge; clerk of the scales, Mr W. D. Scott; auditor, Mr H. J. Newman; committee, Messrs J. M. Hickey, H. Wagstaff, M. Callander, J. Lambie, J- McKenzie, Brennan, A. Clarke, W. D. Scott, and E. Edmonds. They tell of a mule being exhibited in England which stands 19J hands high and weighs 1,830 pounds. It is remarked that this is said to be the tallest mule ever bred in the United States. He must have had his legs pulled by some one.. The following are the drawers of placed horses in Tattersall’s consultation for the Metropolitan Stakes (fully subscribed) ; —lst, Mrs Matthews, Greymouth, New Zealand, £4,500; 2nd, T. Chandler, E umaville, New South Wales, £1350; 3rd, F. Folkard, Hospital, Gladesville, New South Wales, £9OO.

The N.S.W. correspondent of an exchange writes:—-As usual, dreams were in evidence over some of the big events at Rand wick. One more successful than the rest was the dream of Gozo’s owner, that Feu de Joie won the Squatters’ Handicap. Apart from the dream, he had a fancy for this mare, and backed her for £3OO. Any theory or method of breeding racehorses is dangerous and damaging except where men have a solid foundation of experience and practical knowledge. That is a truth I have always tried to impress on my readers, and it is the more important because in the way of scientific mating we have all of us much to learn —it is only ttie shirkers who call it a lottery—but established experience, so far as it goes, is solid, and, therefore, the mere make and shape student has better prospects of success than the visionary who works out his alliances on paper, no matter how cleverly, without studying the individual animals. —“ Special Commissioner ” in the London Sportsman. The Melbourne Sportsman thus fosters the hopes of those who have planked down their dollars iu favor of Wayfarer for the Melbourne Cup : —Our Flemington correspondent writes that Wayfarer has been doing good work on the trainin g tracks. Assisted by Ashton, the Pilgrim’s Progress gelding on Thursday negotiated a mile in Imin 50sec. “ The Cup fancy moved in attractive style throughout, and, under pressure, he would assuredly have recorded something ‘ slick.’ Wayfarer is in rare form, clean and muscular, and free on his legs.” It will be observed that our own correspondent is not quite so confident as he was about Wayfarer. Mr R. Platt, who has finally settled down at Hastings, was in Auckland for a short visit last week, and found time to see the second day’s racing at Avondale. Mr Platt has taken very suitable quarters for a training establishment, and we have no doubt that he will soon get a string of horses. He had rather trying material to try his hand upon in Castashore and Seabreeze. The former for a long time was a most unlucky animal, but recompensed his owner and trainer by his dual win at the Takapuna Birthday Meeting. Lately he won the Timaru Cup. Seabreeze had a bad name before going into Mr Platt’s hands. She never would face the barrier, and time after time got left at the post on account of her dislike to turn her head the right way. Eventually she became docile, owing to Mr Platt’s treatment, and won a maiden hurdle race on the day •of Castashore’s victories at the North Shore. By the abil ty shown in training these two animals Mr Platt has given ample proof that he has prcficiency and skill and it should not be long before his experience is recognised in the Hawke’s Bay district. The victory of Hastings in the Nursery Handicap, at Avondale, on the last day of the meeting, was some solace for the disappointment he caused his trainer and connections on the first day of the gathering, when he was so easily beaten by Miss Deluval and Bacchus.' The filly did not compete on the second day, but Bacchus did. He, however, galloped in a disappointing manner, and was but an indifferent third. Hastings was in front all the way, and finished with more determination than he did at the first time ot asking. Khama, a good looking son of Castor and Valentinia, occupied the second place and should run better later on.