Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 452, 23 March 1899, Page 10

Sporting Topics.

The Australasian remarks that the New Zea-land-bred oolt, Lord Cureton, made a creditable first appearance in the V.B.C. Hopeful Stakes. The winner of the Newmarket Handicap, Forest, only cost 32| guineas as a yearling. Young Lillian, his dam, is not in the Stud Book, but that fact, it appears, does not prevent a horse from winning a big race.

Owing to soreness, Forest was doing only moderate work before the Newmarket. Bobadil’s record is now 11 victories out of 17 starts.

New South Wales bred the first six horses in the V.B.C. Newmarket Handicap. £lOOO to £lO was laid against Forest for the Newmarket Handicap a few nights before the race. • .

A steeplechaser named Bigo, the property of the English sportsman, Mr H. Bottomley, met his death in a singular manner on January 12.;• c . The horse won the Stoke Steeplechase at Windsor on the afternoon of that day, and on the return journey to his training quarters at Alfriston had reached Berwick station, while the stormwas at its height. So great was the force of the wind that the box in whieh he travelled, caught by it, was hurled into a siding, and completely smashed, with the result that Bigo was killed on the spot. The cross country jockey, D. Beid, who had ridden the horse at Windsor, and accompanied ’ him on his journey, escaped hurt beyond a severe ,> shaking. Rigo was an American-bred five-year-old by Longfellow out of Bena 8., and was the first horse to win for Mr Bottomley.

Mr William J. Miller—his large circle of friends prefer to call him Billy Miller, just to show that they enjoy the pleasure of his friendship—passed through Auckland on Monday en Sydney to America in the good ship Mariposa. Mr Miller is not unknown in New Zealand, as it was he who took away from Auckland Osculator as trainer for Mr Dan. McLeod, but he is better known in Australia, where we have seen him on the racecourses of Hughendin, Charters Towers, and Townsville, handling horses under the hot tropical sun of Northern Queensland, and then again at Eagle . Farm in Brisbane, and on the leading courses of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia. It is safe to say that no trainer has seen more of Australasia than Mr Miller, and yet he has not reached the prime of life. He called in at the Sporting Review office, and in the course of an interesting chat he remarked that he was not prepared to say that Bobadil was a better horse than Carbine, because Bobadil, in his opinion, had never met anything this season at any rate that might be called firstclass. Laughingly he remarked, “ I would have had just as small a chance of beating Peter. Jackson in his palmy days as the horses in Australia just now have of beating Bobadil. He usdd ; uo pull a bit, but nows he runs steadily behind his field, and beats them as he likes when asked ■ to go to the front, but at the same time he has not had anything very first class to beat. He was in rotten form when he met Cocos, or the Abercorn colt would never have had a show with him. Talking of racehorses in the past, Mr Miller remarked that Abercorn and Carbine were great horses. Carbine held the record, but at the same time he had seen Abercorn in such form that he thought he could have held his own with anything in the world. No doubt Carbine’s performance in winning the Melbourne Cup with lOst 51b in record time for that race was something wonderful, but he had seen the time when it would not have been 10 to 1 against Abercorn if he had had lOst 101 b to carry. But, added Mr Miller, there have been great horses in Australia whose true form has not been shown in " public through sheer bad luck. One of these was the New Zealand bred Osculator, who, had he not run against a post on the training track, would have proved himself as good as Abercorn. He arrived at that opinion from the form the colt had shown him. Truly Mr Dan. McLeod had experienced the worst of luck in Australia, for Sebretache was sure to have won at Flemington had he not contracted influenza just before the meeting, and it was a pity that at that juncture he had not been thrown out of work. For some time Mr Miller has been known in Australia as a successful horse dentist, and it is chiefly to prosecute his studies in this important profession that he goes to America. After visiting. San Francisco he proposes to spend same time in Chicago, New York, and England. 'He will then return to Australia by the Orient route armed.--, with the latest scientific instruments for equine dental surgery, and with his added knowledge in that department he intends to adopt it solely as his profession. ' We heartily wish him success in. his new sphere’ of action. There was quite a < host of Auckland sporting folks on. the wharf ? when the Mariposa steamed off to waive adieu to, the popular Australasian. , . ' \

Another wager which resulted in similar profit < to the backer was laid just after the St. Leger against Bobadil for the Australian Cup, but in this instance the £lOOO was laid to £5OO. t Although Knight of Athol has not yet proved himself good enough to win a better race than the Maiden Plate at Ellerslie, he has demonstrated that he is a good “ poor man’s” horse. We ’do not, of course, wish it to be supposed that his owner, Alick Phillips, is a poor man in the common acceptance of the term, but Alick is not a rich man, and he makes no secret of the fact that he does not race for sport alone. He would probably like to do so, but when the stern necessity of making his horses earn their oats presented itself to him he acted with that wisdom in placing his horses, iwhicb so few possess. To place a horse in his proper class is a virtue in a poor owner, but unfortunately there are owners who do not possess that. When Knight of Athol failed at Ellerslie Phillips took him to the country again in quest of the sweet little fish, and the consequence is that within a few weeks he has won the double with the grey son of Cuirassier at Waihi, repeating the performance at Katikati. Knight of Athol has now probably more victories to his credit than any other horse running on the New Zealand turf, and Harry Thompson, who is his faithful mentor, is proud of the condition he has the horse in. Harry has had a triumphant march with his grey charger through the Maori settlements, and has a funny story to tell concerning his advent into one dusky village. They were all out to meet him, including a native of the soil adorned with a bell-topper, but minus his boots. Kapai the grey,” was his welcome, and then he was invited to enter Knight of Athol for a future race meeting which the Maoris intended to hold. The proposition was met with a demur as to the expense of starting, but the Maori sportsmen were not to be .denied, and {made the alluring proposition, “ What weight you want ? Supposing you want Set you get him. You tell your boy to look out for the starter; he know what to do.” Notwithstanding the unbounded hospitality of the Maoris, Harry thought it was advisable to get the grey away as soon as possibly with promises to return, and he is now safe in Auckland again. In connection with the now notorious Ethel case we have to thank the secretary of the Masterton Racing Club for having sent the following v telegram on Monday:—lt will be remembered that at a meeting of the Masterton Racing Club’s stewards, held on March 8, in connection with ' the Ethel enquiry, the following resolution was passed —“ That the chairman of the Racing Conference be asked to advise the club as to whether — assuming that this club is of opinion that the mare. Ethel (really Cupid) was a ‘ring-in’ at Ashburton as Virgil and Ehau, and that Mr R. £(. Henry was connected with such fringing in — ought this club to deal with the matter, or ought it to be referred to the Ashburton Club to deal with, and all evidence forwarded to them, and that in the meantime, until the answer of the the chairman is obtained the club’s decision in the matter of the Ethel case and Henry’s connection win with it be suspended.” Sir George Clifford, chairman of the New Zealand Racing Conference, in reply forwarded the following telegram to Mr Duncan, secretary of the club “On the assumption given, I think your decision on the Ethel case should be pronounced, and, if warranted by the evidence, you may fittingly add opinion as to Lring in ’ at Ashburton, and anyone’s connection therewith.” A subsequent letter from Sir George Clifford states : — “ 1 have expressed this opinion because you have all available evidence before you, and because the delay of a.further reference to Ashburton would be inadvisable, and because the facts connected with the Ashbnrton case may be treated by you as a collateral matter, confirmatory or otherwise, of the accusations you are investigating.” A meeting of the stewards of the Masterton club washeld at the Club Hotel last night to further consider Henry’s connection with the Ethel case. '/. . Explosion has been a disappointment, and much better results were expected from the handsomelooking son of Cuirassier, more especially after his Guineas and Auckland Cup displays. In the Hawke’s Bay Cup he was last in a field of three. It is satisfactory to note that his owners, experienced better treatment in the hands of Seaton Delaval’s two - year ■ old daughter, Rosella, who won the Nursery Handicap in brilliant style; and there was some good youngsters behind him, notably Major George’s colt, Seahorse. He was conceding the filly only a pound, and her performance is therefore one that her owners and breeders have reason to be satisfied with. At any rate, it gives further satisfactory proof that Seaton Delaval can get racehorses. There are only a few of his stock running this season as two-year-olds, but the victories of Miss Delaval, Bosella, and Hastings give the imported horse a very promising start in New Zealand, On the second day Rosella won the ' Hawke’s Bay Stakes in capital time and style, and Explosion made a slight amend by beating ' his solitary opponent in the Bourke Memorial Stakes, but that opponent, Castashore, it should be remembered, is a good one. Seahorse left Napier by the Te Anau for Auckland on Tuesday night. Since his sojourn in Auckland, as the trainer for the Hon. H. Mosman, Mr Harry Franks has made a host of friends who participated in his sorrow when the news was flashed to Auckland that Franks’ sister together with an adopted sister, Mies Jones, had been killed in the dreadful Rakaia railway accident, while his mother, who is a wellknown and respected resident of Riccarton, together with his young wife, who was on a visit to Canterbury had been badly injured. Mr Franks, together with the youngest of his sisters, who was on a visit to Auckland, at once left for their, grief stricken home. His friends will be consoled to know that a wire has been received from Harry Stating that both his wife and mother wet© recovering from the injuries, and that hia parents were bearing their great sorrow with fortitude.

The Victorian Racing Calendar of March 1 is to hand. Such a production is badly wanted in New Zealand.

The commitree of the Tasmanian Turf Club has decided to make all totalisator tickets 10s in future, and to run “ place” machines also. America possesses a full share of precocious children. One of these, Johnnie Daly, started riding in races last season, though only nine years of age, and scaling no more than 3st 81b.” Surely this cannot be true. It is the presence of inexperienced lads in races that has been the direct cause of many fatal accidents, and the management of a race club should be held liable for the result of allowing children to ride. Young Flanagan, fourteen years of age, was killed in the Caulfield Cup disaster, and the question then presented itself, was it right to have let so young a boy ride in such a race to endanger his own life and the life of others.

The absence from Flemington during the late autumn meeting of such horses as Cocos, The Grafter, Gaulus, Battalion, Amberite, and Merloolas made a big gap in the weight-for-age division.

Oatspaw, whose prospects in the last Caulfield Cup were well spoken of, has been sold to go to Colombo.

A commissioner has been round the Sydney market and taken all the double money about Nevada and Clarion for the Doncaster and Cup. The price averaged 1000 to 5. All the double money in the market has also been laid about North British and Bobadil,

It appears that Altair was taken out of the Dunedin Cup because of the handicapping of Boreas. The latter was certainly well used, but I (“ Carbine” writing in the Dunedin Budget) reckon Altair held him quite cheap. The handicapper must give some little consideration to horses a long way off in order to induce them to come. It is frequently done by the 0. J.C. handicapper and excites |no comment, but the owner of Altair likes to have a slap at the Dunedin handicapper. Douglas has won the Hawke’s Bay Cup for the last two years. His time for the last Cup, 2min 37|sec, is a record for that particular race since the distance was reduced to one mile and a half.

In the opening event on the first day of the Te Aroha Jockey Club’s annual race meeting an accident occurred which was fortunately not attended with serious consequences. It was in the Maiden Plate, in which there were twelve runners, and when negotiating the back turn St. Edith fell, bringing Bar-the-Door down also. At first it was feared that Seeates and Pennell had been injured, but an examination showed that they were all right.

The smallness of the field for the Hawke’s Bay Cup must have been a big disappointment to the club. That a race worth 400 sovs should attract a field of only three shows that there is something wrong somewhere. The Hawke’s Bay clubs are conservative in the distribution of favors, notably in the matter of advertising, and possibly that may have something to do with it, or is it the handicapping ? Ruamahunga won the double, St. Patrick’s Handicap and March Handicap, at the Masterton races on Thursday.

The victory of Admiral Hawke in the Te Aroha Cup on Thursday last was a knock to several mem • bers of the Auckland ring. A substantial commission was worked in his favor, and it is quite evident that more money went on him in Auckland than on the course, otherwise he would not have paid odds of 5 to 1. The following is a specimen of American sporting literature: — “Mr Corrigan’s Won’t Dance died recently.” It is necessary to explain that Won’t Dance was the name of a horse, and we are inclined to think that our lady friends will agree that it was quite time that a horse with such a name did die.

Albert Samuel, a well-known Australian bookmaker* died recently. He was once prosperous and popular, but like many more pencillers in recent years, he discovered that the game is not what it is painted to be. Mr S. G. Cook, the Victorian trainer, has only had one win in a year, although his string is regarded as being composed of good ones who have been constantly out, and generally for keeps.

Carevie, who won the V.R.C. Brunswick Stakes, is said to be one of the smallest and narrowest fillies got by Carbine. She was sold without a pedigree for £lO. The Parisienne, also owned by Mr S. G. Cook, won the Brunswick Stakes last year, and his colors have not been seen in front since.

Mr W. R. Wilson has won three St. Legers, and, if Cabin Boy had not been allowed to steal a march on Wallace, he should have been credited with a fourth. The Australasian remarks that Mr T. Morrin made a slightly better average for his yearlings than did Mr W. R. Wilson, and yet Mr Morrin’s lot will have to make their living in a totalisator country. This is not quite correct, as lots of the horses bred by Mr Morrin have earned more than their oats in Australia,

The chestnut Dingo (Sou’-Wester — Betty) performed very well at Paeroa. He finished in front in the First Steeplechase, but unfortunately Munro was unable to keep him on the track and he missed the last hurdle, the consequence being that Mr Dave Stewart’s Woodcock scored a win. Dingo made some amends by winning the Second Steeplechase after a good race with those religiously named horses The Saint and The Monk.

Swordfish 11. was brought back from New Plymouth last week. He is not positively lame, but is suffering from what is described as sand cracks in the feet, and his owner is of opinion that he will not be seen out in the autumn.

Missfire and Meerschaum are feeling the result of their exertions at Hastings last week, and they are improbable starters at Napier Park this week. The Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club draws nigh, and in this issue Messrs John Churton and Co. advertise that the privileges in connection with the meeting will be disposed of by auction on Friday morning next. The Easter fixture of the Metropolitan Club is always a popular gathering, and competition for the various rights should be keen. The annual meetings held at South Auckland, Te Aroha, and Paeroa provide a very pleasant country trip, and this yeai’ the meetings have proved more than usually interesting, but an unusual number of fatalities to the horses engaged have to be recorded. Supplejack was killed at South Auckland, and in the Steeplechase at the Ohinemuri Club’s meeting the well-known jumpers Kelvin Grove and Robin Adair were so badly injured that they had to be destroyed on Saturday morning last. Four horses fell, but none of the riders were seriously injured. George Comer, the owner of Magpie, was riding Robin Adair, and Weston, Kelvin Grove. Robin Adair was a Muskapeer gelding, owned by a popular sportsman Mr J. M. Harrison, and Kelvin Grove was by Ingomar and owned by Mr J. Patterson. The joke is cracked in Melbourne that those who did not back Forest in the Newmarket Handicap were up a tree. A tote scandal has occurred at Hobart, and summonses have been issued by the police against five well-known residents charging them with conspiring to defraud. It is alleged that the accused, who were in charge of the outside totalisator, had a man placed to tell them the winning horse in the Longford Handicap as it came up the straight. The winner was Jenico, and the informer conveyed the information to the accused, whom, it is alleged, rung on 30 additional tickets on the number of this horse.

We regret to hear that Mr Alexander G. Brett, the popular secretary of the Egmont Racing Club, is ill, but we trust that we shall soon hear of his complete convalescence. During Mr Brett’s enforced retirement the secretarial work of the Club is being performed by Mr J. W. Hirsh. The appeal of Mr W. Ryan against the disqualification of Tangahoe, jockey and owner by the Egmont stewards proved successful. The evidence upon which the stewards framed their decision was presented to the Metropolitan Club, when the appeal was heard, and in justice to Mr Ryan and all concerned we publish it elsewhere. In connection with the inquiry held by the stewards it is alleged that Mr Ryan was not allowed to hear the evidence given against him, and consequently had no chance of cross examing the witnesses, and Mr Ryan, we understand, complains that when the inquiry was adjourned he was not apprised of the fact or otherwise he would have called rebutting evidence. This possibly was an oversight, but if not, and the allegations are true the treatment of Ryan was not fair. In any court the accused person has the opportunity of hearing the accusations against him, and of defending himself, and we are loth to think that the Egmont stewards purposely deprived Mr Ryan of that privilege. Under any circumstance the value of a court of appeal has been demonstrated.

When recording facts in connection with the late Takapuna meeting it will be remembered that we announced “ after the race for the Welter Handicap a smart sergeant of the * fooree ’ was so overcome by the visual evidence that Mark Ryan had reminded Merry Maid that the race was not an exercise gallop that he almost fainted. When he sufficiently recovered from the awful shock the sight of blood gave him, he promptly took the rider’s name and address, so we suppose proceedings are pending as the bobby says in Dandy Dick.” Our supposition turned out to be quite correct, and Mark Ryan, immediately after bis return from the south and Paeroa was brought before the beaks to answer a charge of cruelty to animals instituted by the kind and tender hearted officer of the- law. Mark is not accustomed to court scenes, and the majesty of the law appeared to fill him with awe, and when he heard himself accused of having used the spurs in a desperate finish he probably wished that he had never been a jockey, and for the time he forgot the glory of his finish on Megaphone when he was just snuffed out by the mighty Carbine. He had used whip and spurs then, but fortunately the Takapuna bobby was not at Rand wick and he escaped. Somehow the harrowing story of gore told by the tender hearted policeman failed to impress the bench, and so the case was dismissed without Mark being asked to take a mount in the witness box. ■ <

The reputation of Cuirassier as a sire has been considerably improved by the racing of his stock this season. The victory of Puhia and Cavalier at Ohinemuri placed three more victories to the credit of his progeny. The old Wellington Park champion, St Leger however, cannot be denied, and he again tops the winning sires at Ohinemuri, his stock scoring four times. Porangi Potae credited Castor with two wins, while the progeny of the following sires were credited with a race each : — Tetford, Freedom, Tim Whiffler, Captivator, Sou’-Wester, and Lord of the Isles.

Porangi Potae seems to like the Paeroa course. Last year she distinguished herself there, and on Saturday she appropriated the double, the Paeroa Handicap and the Waihi Handicap. She won easily in the first race, but she only got home by a neok from Miss Anna in the second. Pope on the latter did not time his final run on the mare too well. The daughter of Castor —Madcap is very well just now, and Alick Caulton deserved a win. If she does not break more blood vessels Porangi, if fairly treated, may win her winter’s oats.

It was rumoured recently that Boreas had changed hands, but it appears that the representatives of Mr Harris are not satisfied with the soundness of the horse, and the negotiations for his purchase have been declared off.

W bile running in the Amuri Cup Matlock burst a blood vessel, and died ten minutes after pulling up. . Last week we announced that the youngest brother of St. Paul had died, and we called the youngster, on the strength of information received, Pontius Pilate. We are not prepared to say that the breeder is a student of the Bible, but he has always observed a taste for Biblical names. He however, disclaims having bestowed the name of Pontius Pilate on the deceased youngster, because he had no wish to arouse the enmity of His.religious friends. The issue of the weights for the Easter Handi" cap and Hurdle Race did not create mnch interest’ and no desire has been evinced to speculate, and nothing will be done in that respect until after the acceptances to-morrow (Friday). The adjustment for the Easter Handicap wears a very open appearance, and it cannot be said that the top weights have not been left with a fair chance. Indeed Daunt with 9.5, on his Wellington form, reads remarkably well, and Douglas’ recent form looks good enough for anything. Among those below 8.0 Bluejacket, if his Derby form was not a flash in the pan, reads as well as anything, as Explosion, who he beat in the Derby, has now to give him lOlbs. Bluejacket’s form at Egmont was too bad to be true, and if Peter Chaafe brings him to the post as well as he was in the Derby he should have something to say in the finish. It is better, however, to wait for the acceptances before anticipating. D. Carr was to have taken Tirant d’Eau away from Hastings on Saturday morning, but the Papanui, by which he was going, could not accommodate him and his charge, and his trip home has been postponed till the 20th of next month. Mr R. Gooseman will for the future continue in charge of all Captain Russell’s horses in training. The thoroughbreds on the station will be under the supervision of Mr Harold Russell. Matters for the past few weeks at Ellerslie have been dull in consequence of the absence of so many of so many horses and trainers, who visited the meetings at Egmont, Taranaki, Masterton, Hawke’s Bay, South Auckland, Te Aroha, and Ohinemuri. A fair proprtion of these have returned to their Auckland home during the week, and operations at Ellerslie will assume a much more lively aspect during the next few weeks. Indeed, a great improvement was manifested on Tuesday morning. Among the. early birds was Red Lancer, who, with Tommy Taylor up, strode along nicely for a round on the tan, and it is very possible that we will see him to better advantage than he was seen on the West Coast, and the same may probably be said of Bluejacket, who, after having been eased a little in his work, is looking fresher. The Derby winner was let go with with Nor’-West and Lady Marion. The trio made the pace merry, but the cross country horse was not ridden out, and Lady Marion and the colt rattled over the last three furlongs, Bluejacket having the best of the go. Booth’s string were, out looking very well, Rex and Fabulist being quite gay. The pair worked steadily, _ coming home fast for half a mile. Tim and old Panoply were out for steady exercise. The hurdler appears to have quite recovered from his soreness. The Slave was in front of The Laborer at the end of a five furlong spin. Waiorongomai, as also Admiral Hawke, were treated to half-pace “■ work. Coronet finished in front of his stable companions, Eton and Dayntree, at the end of a smartly-run mile. Korowai and Mantle cast seven furlongs behind in good style. Chaafe’s horses worked on the plough. A little rain would not do the tracks any harm. Uniform has been scratched from the Lincolnshire Handicap, according to the cable. Rosella with 10.2 up won the Sapling Stakes with ease at Napier Park. While congratulating Mr L. D. Nathan upon the possession of such a. smart little filly, we confess to a feeling‘of regret that a two-year-old should be asked to "carry such a burden. Featherstone trainers had a big innings at Masterton. ■ / George Price was riding for Mr James Macara at Masterton, and was on Canet when she won the County Hack Handicap on the second day. Derringcotte got the race on account of crossing ~ in the straight. The latter was ridden by his trainer, James Reid, who thus secured three events with the son of Derringer —Mascotte at the meeting. The owner of Nayborn had £l2 on his horse in the Horowhenua Cup, and £3 in the Stewards’ when he paid £2O 2s. The protest for inconsistency was dismissed. A strong commission was worked throughout the colony from Wellington in favour of Mainboom, who paid £7 12s. Some of the horses at this meeting ran somewhat inconsistently. There was a scarcity of light weights at Horowhenua, and several owners scratched their horses rather than carry overweight. The Horowhenua Club should take off the corner of the course going out of the straight. This sharp turn very nearly caused accidents on Friday, otherwise the course is perfect. * The many friends of Mr Tom M’Ewin, who is now managing the Occidental Cafe in Vulcan, Lane, will be glad to hear that he has been again appointed caterer for the Auckland Racing Club. The recollections of the past when the good things of this life were dispensed by Mr M’Ewin at Ellerslie, are pleasant, and now that he is again in harness his patrons will entertain equally as pleasant anticipations. Improvements have been made in the dining room and kitchen at Ellerslie since Mr M’ Ewin reigned there before. Douglas was again to the fore at Napier Park. He carried 9.12 in the Napier Cup and made light of the weight over the mile and a half journey. The red and white hoops have had a successful time of it lately. Last year, when the Napier Cup was won by Woodstock, Douglas carried 9.0 into fourth place. '