Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 443, 19 January 1899, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

Mr Fred Lovelock, who has been with ub for our Christmas race meetings, left on Thursday for his home at New Plymouth. His 100 to 2 double on the Taranaki Cup and Flying Handicap met with much support in Auckland, and he should be well round in the book before convincing day. The story that has been going the round of the press that Mr 3. H. Gollan intended to give up racing in 1* ew Zealand is not correct. His lease of the stables at Hastings terminates in May, and Percy Martin’s engagement as trainer will end at the same time, but whatever horses remain in the string at that time will be handed over .to Martin as a public trainer. Judging from the following remarks in an exchange they are as badly off for good steeplechasers in England as we are here : —‘ ’lt looks bad for the future of steeplechasing when there is a dearth of four-year-olds who can jump the Aintree ‘country,’ and it was an unfavorable augury for the season just begun when only four numbers went up for the Abbeystead Steeplechase, of two miles and a quarter, for four-year-olds.”

The progeny of the expatriated Australian sire Sir Modred still keep his name before the American sporting community. At the November Meeting of the Queen’s County Jockey Club, New York State, Lady Lindsey, a two-year-old daughter of Sir Modred and Memento, won throe races —one a five furlong dash, with 7st 111 b up, in Imin 1 2-ssec, and two over five and a half furlongs, with 7st 41b and Bst up, in Imin 8 2-ssec and Imin 8 4-ssec respectively. On each occasion she beat a good field.

The Wairarapa Racing Club is to be congratulated on the fact that the late race meeting resulted in a profit of £550. At a meeting of the stewards the chairman, Mr W. E. Bedwell, expressed pleasure at having received a letter from the Press representatives present at the late meeting in which they had expressed tbeir appreciation of the conveniences supplied to them. He had replied expressing his thanks for the kindly feeling expressed in the letter. He handed in.a cheque for £23 to cover the architectural fees in connection with the tea pavilion and his donation to the club.

American phrases are often quaint and refreshing, says the London Sporting Times, Thus, when “ Plunger” Walton was threatened by Sir John Astley in the bird-cage at Newmarket, he ’gave as his reason for not retaliating that he did not like to create a disturbance during “ business hours.” In the same way, when S. Loates failed to keep Mandoria straight in the first October week, Tod Sloan, on returning to scale, without another word, said, “Say, where’s the objection room ? ” It was a bad day’s work for S. Loates when Sloan found the “objection room,” as otherwise he would have had the mount on Chaleureux in the Cesarewitch, for which Madden received £lOOO.

A Napier exchange remarks concerning last year’s sale of yearlings at Wellington Park : — “ It is a peculiar coincidence that the best priced one at last year’s sale was a St. Leger Hilda colt, fetching exactly the same price that his brother on Wednesday did, and being purchased by the Hon. H. Mosman.’ Our contemporary has somehow fallen into an error. The yearling progeny of Hilda sold last year happened to be a fillv, and was purchased by Mr Stead, of Christchurch, for 425g5, and not by Mr H. Mosman. The top price of the market last year was brought for the colt by Hotchkiss—Frailty, purchased by Mr 1. Fouleham, of Victoria, for IOOOgs. The top price paid last year by Hon. H. Mosman was 200 gs for the St. Leger—Yattaghan colt.

The unusual interest evinced in the summer meeting of the Takapuna Club is surely a substantial indication that the meeting will be a pronounced success, and therefore good prices should be realised for the privileges, which will be sold by auction by Messers Churton and Co. to-morrow at noon. In addition to the good entertainment vrovided at Takapuna, the course is so easy of access and the price for admission so reasonable that a large attendance is assured. This makes the booths valuable, and the booths, both on the hill and in the saddling paddock, are so well constructed that publicans have an easy task in shelving them and safely storing their stock. In addition to the booths, the gates, cards, and refreshment stalls will be disposed of.

Broken Hill t’other day saw the unusual eight of the court-house turned into a Tattersall’s club. A bookmaker doing business over the Melbourne Cup wasn’t on deck when settling day came round. He was in Adelaide, and, as his clients didn’t hear from him, a warrant was issued' and he was hauled hack to the Hill to account for some of the money invested with him. Judge Gibson, as soon as the case was entered into, wanted to know if any of the bettors who had started the prosecution had demanded their c money from him. None of them had, for the very simple reason that he was in Adelaide when the time came for “demanding,” and when he returned he was in custody. However, the point was deemed fatal; and on the book stating (through his solicitor) that he had only gone to Orowland to borrow money to pay his debts, he was released on condition that he paid-up. (It was also stated, rather irrelevantly, that the bookie’s father was ill in bed). His was the last case on the list, and, as soon as the Judge left the bench, all clients who demanded their “ oof ” were paid in the court-room. But only the money they had invested. One poor beggar who had backed Hymettus and The Grafter, £lOO to 2s 6d (and had spree’d a portion of his prospective winnings on the night of the Cup) looked cannibalistic on receiving back his half-dollar. Memo: The tote never has to go to Adelaide to borrow the money to settle with, and its father is never ill in bed. That automatic betting- > machine is fatherless.

Amongst the entries for the Goodwood Cup of 1900 appears the name of a colt by Carbine from Distant Shore. Mr C. H. Fitzgerald, who visited New Zealand recently for the purpose of trotting Kathleen, has returned to New South Wales after his unlucky visit to the Land of the Moa. Through the agency of Mr Harry Massey, those two good ponies, Bavaria (by Forerunner Star Water) and Fairy (by Lionel), changed hands during the week. They are both Auckland-owned, and will race in future in this district. The Whangarei Summer Meeting proved a very pleasant picnic to the visitors from Auckland, and so much was the trip enjoyed that it is safe to say that most of those who participated in it will not forget the fixture next year. The journey by the Wakatere was not the least enjoyable feature of the outing. Edison was a pretty strong fancy for the Handicap Pony Race at Whangarei on the second day of the meeting, but he ran off in the straight and finished last in a field of three. Immediately after the race he was put up for auction, and was sold to Mr F. W. Telfer for £75, not a bad price for a comparatively untried pony. The once famous New South Wales racehorse, Willeroo 1 died recently at Hyde, near Sydney. He was a great favorite with his trainer, W. Kelso, who, at the end of the horse’s racing career gave him to a friend to use as a hack. Willeroo has been used for that purpose for the last seven years. During his long racing career Willaroo won a number of good races, principally in New South Wales. In 1887 he won the Birthday Cup at Randwick, such good horses as Ringmaster (who afterwards went to England) and Fernandez filling the places. Numerons accidents increased the excitement of the racing at the Whangarei meeting. That I old veteran, Kia Ora, knocked out a couple of jockeys, and Donkey, the hero of the North Shore disputed wagers, injured himself so badly that the “friendly bullet” had to be brought into use. Some of Tattersall’s books were sorry that he had not taken it into his head to commit suicide by running foul of a fence a couple of years ago. There is no doubt that St. Lawrence can gallop. He showed that at Ellerslie during the late meeting, but he is not at all times to be relied on, and at Whangarei on Friday last when competing in the Cup he took it into his bead to gallop off the course, and this necessitated his jumping a stone wall with a wire on top. He cleared the object like a bird, and young Jellings

was so delighted with the performance that he made the colt leap the wall again on a return journey. Unsuspectingly Mr Grey may be harboring a “lepper.” Last week we credited Jack Rae with having steered the winner of the Steeplechase to victory five times, but his record is one better than that. In addition to winning on The Agent, Chandler, Alaric, Falcon, and Levanter, he won on Orange man. It is now more than twenty years since he won his first steeplechase, and he looks strong and young enough to go on for another twenty years. He has established very nice quarters at Alec. Caulton’s old home in Green Lane, and when the proper time comes we may expect to see the comfortable boxes occupied by “ leppers.” May Rae pick up another as good as Levanter, or even old Magpie, is our wish. The Melbourne Argus says : —“ Some time ago reference was made to a particular betting p'-int which had cropped up in connection with the first day of the V.R.C.' Spring Meeting. An upcountry client telegraphed to a leading member of the Ring at Flemington to lay him the starting price to £lO about Scorn for the Maribyrnong Plate, and if Scorn won to put the whole amount on Bobadil for the Derby. The bookmaker replied accepting, both parties to the wager overlooking the fact that the Derby was run before the Maribyrnong Plate. Scorn started at 6to 1, I and duly won, but Bobadil was beaten in his race. It was argued on behalf of the bookmaker that as the wager could not be completed under the conditions mutually agreed upon it was off, but the Victorian Club committee, to whom the question was submitted in a friendly way, have held otherwise. The committee met last week, and decided that the backer had won £6O, being the odds to £lO ahout Scorn for the Maribyrnong Plate. As the Derby was decided before the Plate, the money could not go on Bobadil unless there had been a mutual agreement on those ’ lines.”

There is no dcubt that Multiform is one of the greatest horses that New Zealand has produced. We are not going to say that he is better than Carbine, Trenton, and a number of others, but the more that is seen of him the more impressed is the observer that he has never yet, when well, been at his top when passing the post. Every good judge who sees him is impressed with him, and it is therefore not surprising to find the “ Special Commissioner” of the Sportsman, who saw Multiform at Ellerslie, speaking of him thus: — Multiform is one of the moat muscular horses I have ever had the pleasure of scanning. Muscle stands out in bosses all over the bay horse —forearms, neck, loins, quarters, and thighs, nearly down to the hocks, and he is very thick through the haunch. Such power and quality are seldom seen embodied in one animal. I can well believe Mason when he says the son of Hotchkiss is one of the best, if not the very best, horses he has trained, and the former mentor of Maxim has had some pretty good ones through his hands. “ I suppose, like most of our champions, Multiform will eventually find his way to England ? ” I queried, but Mason does not think Mr Stead will be tempted to part with Multiform, and I was pleased to hear it. A horse bred like Multiform, and with his conformation and deeds as further recommendation, should be worth any money as a sire.

According to accounts received, the Chinese jockey, Ah Sam, riding at meetings in the northem districts of Victoria, is a veritable Clod Sloan. During the holiday meetings at Tambo Valley and Omeo Ah Sam had three mounts at Tambo Valley—one on the flat and two over hurdles —and rode the winner in each case. Omeo proved an even more lucrative field foi Ah Sam, who, by the way, has blossomed into a horse owner despite the regulation of the V R.C., as out of seven rides he was first three times, second three times, and third once. The list of winning sires in England had just been compiled when the latest English files were posted. The premier position for 1898 is held by Galopin, with a score of £21,698. Galopin is now 26 years old. Nearly one-half of the above total was contributed by Goletta. Bona Vista, the sire next in order, has £17,810 to his credit, of which amount no less than £14,563 was won by Cyllene, and this notwithstanding the fact that his owner, Mr Rose, unfortunately for him, omitted to enter the colt for the classic events. Ayrshire, the sire of Mr W. T. Jones’s filly, Airs and Graces, the winner of the last Oaks stands third with £15,973. Fourth comes Gallinule, whose stock won £15,968, represented by twenty-six races—the largest number to the credit of any single sire for the past season —in eluding the St. Leger, won by Wildfowler. Mr Leopold de Rothschild, with £30,267 10s, heads the list of winning owners for the past English racing season, as a result of winning 53 races. The Duke of Westminster, with £16,295 10s, comes second, a coisiderable distmee from the first. Sir J. Blundell Maple occupies third position with £12,318 10s, nearly £4 000 below His Grace of Westminster. Had Nun Nicer turned the tables upon Airs and Graces in the Oaks Sir Blundell Maple would have stood much higher, and it was considered a very unfortunate miss, as on previous performances of the two fillies Nun Nicer appeared on paper to haye the race safe. Mr Larnach, with £11,527, is the only other owner to reach five figures, a result due in a large measure to the success of Jeddah and Victoria May. A cable from Sydney conveys the intelligence that Richard Craven is dead. The deceased gentleman was well known all over the Australian colonies, particularly in sporting circles, and was reputedly very wealthy. Like the Hon. Hugh Mosman* Mr Dick Craven was closely identified with the mining industry in Queensland, and made a lot of money out of the Kelly Queen’s Block and Brilliant "mines in that famously rich

district, Char!ers To vers. A tew years ago rue deceased left Queensland for New South Wales, and settled down at Richmond, on the Hawkesbury River, where he estab ished a well-appointed home for the thoroughbred. A large number of horses have raced in Mr Craven’s colors, but not with conspicuous success. At the time of his death Mr Craven was the owner of Oceanic, a half sister of Newhaven’e, and other horses that have carried his colors were the New Zealand bred Royal Rose, Gauleon (the full-brother to The Grafter and Gaulus), and Wooodlark, who ran into place in one of the important events at Randwick. The deceased was a liberal and genuine supporter of the sport. He has not been in the best of health for some time, but our late Sydney files reported that hie condition had recently very much improved. The news that George Durston, the well known lierht-weight jockey, had died at Sydney on Jan. B°from the effect of injuries sustained while riding in a race at Newcastle must have been read with deep regret by all who knew him in New Zealand. The Sydney Referee of Jan. 11 has the following: —At Newcastle last Thursday Bona Fide fell while taking part in the January Handicap, and his rider, the well-known lightweight, George Durston, was so severely injured that he died on Sunday evening. Durston, who came from New Zealand, 1 ad a rather hard time of it when he first arrived from that colony, but he had plenty of pluck, and gradually worked himself into favor as a capable horseman, and was one of the few Australian jockeys who could claim to have been paid a retaining fee for first call on his services. He won a large number of races, and vias popular with owners on account of his reliability. He was a hard worker, and on the training track bis services will be greatly missed by trainers, as he was always ready to ride, in which he differed greatly from many younger members of hie profession. Among racing men he was liked on account of his personal good qualities, and general regret is expressed at his death, as it is felt that many riders could have

been better spared than clean living, straightgoing “little George Durston.” He was 37 years of age at the time of his death, and leaves a widow and three children. The funeral took place yesterday, his being interred at Waverley Cemetery, and the large cortege testified to the respect in which he was held by the sporting community. Tirant d’Eau at Ellerslie certainly did not impress people with his qualifications as a racehorse, and the news that he had been sold to go to England created much surprise. One disgusted backer of Mr Gollan’s horse suggested that the hat be sent round to establish a fund to re-pur-chase the horse, and thus relieve the New Zealand thoroughbred from the mortification of being misrepresented in England. It is said that Mr G. G. Stead has been asked to put a price on Multiform, but it is not likely that Mr Stead will be tempted to part with his pet. If he did the price would be a bi' one, such as only a rich man could give, and a man who could afford to wait for the golden harvest when Multiform goes to the stud. Mr W. Percival leaves for Wellington tomorrow to represent the Auckland Club at the Racing Conference. There does not seem to be any burning question this year. The well-known Australian jockey, W. Delaney, left Melbourne for England by Jthe Orotava last week. The Sydney sports gave the crack jockey a good send-off from Garrett’s Hotel.

ggßona Fide, on whom poor George Durston met hie death, died soon after the accident. We have reason to believe that the rumors to the effect that Screw Gun had broken down badly are exaggerated. Mr M. O’Shannassy’s stud in Australia has to be broken up and sold. It is scarcely necessary to remind our readers that Mr John Lennard’s string of racehorses is advertised for sale on Saturday next at Mangere, at 3 o’clock. Every horse in the list is in good condition, and fit to race at once. Tod. Sloan had a tremendous reception on his return to America. Our cousins pretty frequently stretch their imagination, and Tod.’s winnings in England were magnified into £lOO,OOO. There has been no betting to speak of in connection with the Takapuna meeting Double books are open on the Cup and Steeplech ’fee, but the only lines of importance that we have heard of are wagers of £'oo to £7 against Djin-Djin and Kanaka, and £lOO to £4 Djm-Djin and The Trifler Both backers and layers are waiting for the acceptances, and when they are made known, Djin-Djin, Merry Maid, Acone, and Nestor, if they remain in the Cup, are sure to find supporters, while Kanaka, Magpie, Dingo, and Nor West will be supported in the Steeplechase. Work at Ellerslie has been of a steady nature since the late meeting, but during the week we may expect to see some winding up gallops done by Takapuna candidates. The full programme for the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting appears on page 14 this week. The races will be held on the Paeroa Racecourse on Friday Saturday and March 17 and 18th. £6OO will be'devoted to stake money for the two days’ sport. On the first day the Ohinemuri Cup, one mile and a half, will be the event of the day. On the second day the three-mile Steeplechase will have the richest stake, £6O. There will be a hurdle race each day and an event for ponies. Nominations close on February 22nd.