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New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 464, 15 June 1899, Page 11

The Christchurch Racing Club lost a fiver over their last meeting.

It is thought in Dunedin that Black and Red will be sent 1 o Sydney.

Shylock is not going to Napier to fulfil his Hawke’s Bay engagements.

Barbarossa who was injured at Wanganui is reported to be mending. Mr H. T. Gorrie was appointed, on Monday, to represent the Auckland Clnb at the Racing Conference to be held at Wellington.

T. J”. Roberts, who bred Archer, who won the two first Melbourne Cups, died a fortnight ago at Exeter Farm, Braidwood, Victoria.

. The filly, by Clanranld out of Safeguard, is thought to be the beet of the Stonyhurst youngsters.

The Egmont Hunt Club will hold a meeting in July, when only qualified hunters will be allowed to compete.

Melody, who paid a dividend of £Bl 18s in a dead heat with two others in Tasmania lately, would have paid £245 if she had managed to get the eye of the judge first. The Tasmanian Mail states : —Tired of Veno’s bleeding at the nostrils in almost every race, the owner of the ex-New Zealander has parted with the nag for a tenner.

When Nor’-west stepped on board the boat on Thursday he never looked better. Peter Chaafe has got him in great nick, and went down with him.

Nor’-west left for Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday. He is a better horse than many people think, and will run well. After the meetings at Hawke s Bay are over Nor’-west will be taken to Wellington.

The French horse Holocauste was ridden by Tod Sloan in the English Derby in that jockey’s characteristic style. The grey cut the running for a mile when he stumbled, and had to be destroyed owing to fracturing his off fore pastern. Mr Justice Cohen, of Sydney, has decided that boys under 14 years of age must not ride in races. This reversed the decision of the magistrates in the case against Mr Edward Keys, for having allowed Peter Callinan, 12£, to ride at Randwick.

“ I should like to ask them all to have some wine,” said the successful owner. “ Wine ! ” replied the official, “ If you had heard what some of them said about you and your horse’s win, it isn’t wine you would be buying for them.”

The New Zealand bred Thunderbolt has created a great name for himself as a sire in South Australia. Three of his progeny won in Adelaide on Queen’s Birthday, and on the same day two more of his progeny, First Bolt and Thunder, won in Western Australia.

At Brighton, Tasmania, on the Queen’s Birthday, in the Ladies’ Bracelet, Lena, Melody, and Fidelis ran a dead heat. In the run-off Fidelis pulled out, and Lena beat Melody by a length. This is the firct record of three horses running a dead heat in Tasmania. One of the trio, Melody, paid a dividend of £Bl 18s, Lena, £9 2s, and Fidelis 13s.

A pill for the Conservative racing men in the South to swallow. The nominations for the New Zealand Cup are made up as follows : — North Island 41; South Island 19. Majority for the North 22, or more than a 2 to 1 majority for the North; If the handicap is a good one it is 3 to 1 on the North annexing the Christchurch dollars.

It was announced a week or two that Mr John Crozier, one of Australia’s best and oldest sportsmen, intended to retire from the turf, and with that intention bis string of valuable horses recently put for sale, but none were sold, the bidding being below the reserves. Gungadin was passed in at 400 gs, Gnullo at 200 gs, Cicero at 16Ogs, Dumdum at 200 gs, Security at 15Ogs, Bloodstone at sOgs.

Australian horses appear to have a partiality for Lewes, as the cable brings us intelligence of another victory there of an Australian. This was at the Spring Meeting, when Mr H. 0. White’s oh g Form, by —La Mode won the Lewes Spring Handicap. Form was followed home by Mr Mr Merry’s colt by Deuce of Clubs Sweet Mart and M. de Paravicini’s Rockwood. The winner was bred at Havilah, in New South Wales.

“ Augur,” of the Sporting Life, in writing of the Derby winner, Flying Fox, owned by the Duke of Westminster, says: “ His Grace commenced his breed of horses, it may be said, when he liberally purchased Doncaster for 14,000sovs. The last-named got him Bend Or, the Derby winner of 1880, and in direct succession came Ormonde, reckoned, rightly, I think, the horse of the century. In a spirit of duty towards his country the Duke of Westminster sacrificed his famous animal, and lost certainly more than £lO,OOO on his sale by freely admitting that he “ made a noise ” towards the close of his racing career. Whether the hereditary view is a correct one is another question. I have always been opposed to it, as both Lord Falmouth and Matthew Dawson were, and when of late we have seen a dual Grand National winner in Manifesto produced from one of the rankest roarers ever seen, there is corroboration of the opinion. At the same time it was a noble action on the part of the Duke to get rid of his favourite for what he thought the public good, and equally fortunate was it that he bred from Ormonde for a season, and so got Orme, the sire of Flying Fox, as now the line is saved, and his Jnoble owner has the satisfaction of knowing that he has the greatest family from father to son that has yet been heard, of on the English turf. The pedigree of Fljing Fox will be a study for breeders, as no great winner can be found that is more in bred to Galopin and Vedette. I was told that it involved uncles and nieces; but let breeders work this out.”

The Wairarapa Racing Club has accepted a tender for the erection of a new grandstand, the amount being £1395 13s. Tenders are also to be invited for the erection of a totalisator house.

Man-of-War.(sire of the great English ’chasers Manifesto and Gentle Ida) was purchased as a five-year-old, by Mr H. M. Dyas, for 180 guineas. Since then Mr Dyas has received £9OOO for two of Man-of-War’s progeny.

An exchange states that Mr A. Williams had purchased Opou. It was Mr A. Phillips who purchased the horse, who won his first race for hie new owner at the recent National Meeting at Ellerslie, and not only paid his purchase money, but his cats bill for the winter.

In England occasionally very fast times are recorded, and the Great Surrey Handicap, at the Epsom meeting last month, is a case in point. The distance was five furlongs, and the winner (Sir Geoffrey, with 7st 101 b up) ran it in 58 2-5 sec. This, though remarkably fast, is a good deal behind the American record of 56jsec, made by Maid Marian ovei’ a straight course at Morris Park, New York

Queensland has lost its two-year-old crack, Sweetheart, and last week a Victorian sportsman wanted to purchase the crack three-year-old. Dundonald, offering the tidy price of IOOOgs for him, which, however, was refused. Dundonald s owner probably means to give him a trial in Sydney or Melbourne, otherwise it is reasonable to suppose such a good offer would have tempted him to part with the colt.

At the monthly meeting of the committee of the Canterbury Jockey Club, held last week, the transfer of the brown filly by Stepniak Fanna from J. B. Reid to G. Gould was approved. The disqualification imposed upon O. Stratford by the Christchurch Racing Club was endorsed. The Trotting Associating wrote on the question of reciprocity in cases of disqualification for corrupt practices. It was decided to submit a resolution for the consideration of the Racing Conference. It was also resolved to give notice of an amendment to the Rules of Racing to prevent the running off of dead heats. In the event of the proposed rule not being adopted, it was resolved to urge that some such condition should be made to apply to two-year-old horses.

News by the Sydney mail is to the effect that Billy Bheece, a well-known cross-country rider, met with serious injuries when riding at Randwick on June 3. In the Steeplechase he had the mount on The Moor, which fell at the first fence, and poor Billy, who has been most unfortunate of late years, sustained internal injuries as well as fracture of the skull. When the mail left Rheece was still alive in the St. Vincent’s Hospital, but he was in a very low condition. He was a fearless rider. Several years back he rode Last King for Mr W. Forrester in a Steeplechase at Randwick. It was the first time the horse had been over country, but his jockey drove him so resolutely that he was over a hundred yards in front of his field when the last fence was reached. This brought Last King to grief, but the plucky jockey was quicker on his feet than the horse, and he so accelerated the horse’s motions with a kick that he too was soon erect. Rheece remounted just as the others thundered over the jump, and was only beaten, after an exciting finish, by old Marmion by a head.

It appears that recently the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club carpeted Lindsay and Ellingham to investigate a private dispute that had occurred between the pair. The following pungent letter on the subject in the Hastings Standard on June 6 h “ Sir, I cannot help expressing my feelings, and those of a good many of my fellow colonists, at the action of the Committee of the H.B. Jockey Club in the case of E lingham and Lindsay. The dowmight audacity or impertinence of the commits e in entertaining such a complaint and sitting as judge and jury on a case which is an absolutely private dispute between the parties concerned, and on no account a breach or infringement of the rules of racing, is simply astounding. They have no jurisdiction whatever; but it will open the eyes of the public to the encroachment of the Racing Clubs on the rights and liberties of the people, and on the laws of the colony, which cannot be tolerated for an instance. It is common topic that one of the clubs will find itself in serious trouble shortly, and for its information I may state on legal author.ty that the rules of racing are not worth the paper they are printed on so soon as they encroach or override the common law of the country. Their old worn cry, *’ You are racing under our rules,” will avail them very little. More will be heard of this case shortly.—l am, etc., Liberty and Law.”

At a meeting of the stewards of the Wellington Racing Club, held on the sth inst., at which Mr T. G. Macarthy presided, a letter was received trem the Masterton Racing Club, asking that the Metropolitan Racing Club should refund the amount (£4O) incurred in connection with the Ethel inquiry case. It was decided to refer the matter to the Racing Conference for favorable consideration, thus dividing the expenses practically amongst all the racing institutions of the colony. In regard to the application for assistance from the Jockeys’ Relief Fund, made by & jockey who had been injured while training, it was decided to write to other metropolitan clubs for information in regard to the treatment of such cases. Several lists of outstanding entries were submitted by country clubs, and it was decided to publish them in the “Unpaid Forfeit List” in the official calendar. It was decided that several owners who are in arrears in their payment should be similarly dealt with. It was decided to give notive of motion for the next Racing Conference: “ That at meetings of the Conference the Wellington Racing Club be entitled to three votes instead of two votes as at present.” Instructions were given to the course committee to procure an up-to-date ambulance cart for use on the racecourse. Mp.rrts Scales and Harbroe were appointed to represent the club at the next Conference.

Sydney Truth states that the winter season’ from a racing point of view, gives promise of being flat, with no steeplechasing. Percy Johnson has ridden the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase three times, and, therefore, beats the veteran, Jack Rae, who has two wins to his credit.

We have received the first issue of The Stockwhip, a new paper published fortnightly in New Plymouth. The paper is distinctly Seddonite in tone.

Robin Hood, who caused the death of young Flannagan in the Caulfield Cup, has been sold by the deceased’s father, in the hope that he will win a race in the country districts. Mornington Cannon, the leading English heavy weight jockey, who rode Newhaven 11. in the City and Subutban, has won that race on Reve d’Or, Nunthorpe, Reminder, and Worcester.

The English Jockey Club is considering the suggestion that it should license bookmaker. The leading penciller, Mr R. H. Fry, is in favor of the idea.

The D.J.C. come out of their winter meeting about £3OO to the good, which will no doubt be expended in improving the entrance to their new grounds at Wingatui. It is announneed in Sydney that Mr George Gray intends to sell his stud, and to give up horse racing. This is not the first time we have heard that announcement, and if we hear it again without result we will feel inclined to think that Mr George Gray is not a George Washington.

Racecourse accidents have been rather numerous in Sydney of late, On May 23, when riding Quartz Crusher at Roseberry Park, a jockey named Peter M’Laughlin was fatally injured. The pony fell with him, and two other ponies following galloped over him, and so injured him that he died ten days afterwards. At an inquest on the body, a verdict of “ Accidental death ” was returned.

Kanaka and Tim left for Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday in charge of Frank Macmanemin. Both should have a show at the meetings in Hawke’s Bay. Kanaka is very well, but has a nasty wound in the stifle, which, however, does not appear to affect him much. His departure for Hawke’s Bay indicates that the statements recently made that the black horse was intended for Australia are incorrect. Macmanemin has Tim very well, and opponents will find him a particularly hard nut to crack.

’Tisn’t often that London Punch and its we 1 known artist, Phil May; are caught napping, but the betting question has furnished a case in point. Punch had a cartoon by Phil May, entitled “ Sanctuary.” It represented the reserved enclosure at a race meeting, and in the foreground is Lord Salisbury, who speaking to a bookmaker, is made to say, “ You’re safe enough here. Bet away, dear boy! We’re with you !” Unfortunately for the talented artist, he has depicted the bookmaker standing on a box, one of the very things which is a place within the meaning of the Act.

There is rivalry in all trades, and that rivalry frequently creates unfriendliness. Ellerslie trainers may probably deny the imputation, but it is a fact that a brotherly feeling does not exist between some of them. A boxing tournament — the fiery Scotch light-weight, who hits too hard, barred —on the green sward at Ellerslie has been suggested to settle grievances. The proprietary of the Sporting Review, we believe, would pay a liberal price for the gates, and no better referee could be suggested than Mr Joe Evett. The A.R.C. secretary would make an excellent timekeeper, and there would be no difficulty in getting bottle holders.

Mick M'Auliffe, a well-known and respected trainer and jockey in New South Wales, arrived from Sydney on Monday. It was announced in the daily papers that M'Auliffe had come over to train for the Hon. H. Mosman, and the paragraphs occasioned surprise, as it is well-known here that Harry Franks held the position of trainer for the Queensland sportsman. The announcement, however, turns out to be incorrect, although, through the eccentricity of some one, M’Auliffe was induced to leave Sydney under the impression that his services were required by the Hon. H. Mosman. However, now that he is here, M’Auliffe will remain for a time at least, and is willing to take charge of one or two horses. In New South Wales M’Auliffe was a successful jockey, and subsequently he made a name for himself as trainer for Mr Peter Moore, of Moorefield. The speedy Lieutenant was one of the horses prepared by M'Auliffe. Prior to leaving for Auckland a number of friends gave M‘Auliffe a flattering send off at the well-known rendezvous for sportsmen, Garrett’s Cambridge Club Hotel.

Jack Brewer has discovered, after a few weeks’ residence in the Old Country (writes “ Javelin ”) they haven’t got any proper food for horses in England, so he has cabled for ten tons of Australian hay ! It appears, that although such equine riffraff as Ormonde, Isonomy, St. Simon, Persimmon, La Fleche, Galtee More, and company flourished on English meadow hay, The Grafter and Battalion turn up their aristocratic antipodean noses at it, and insist upon eating Australian tucker or none. I have heard it rumored out Caulfield way that Jack himself is also sighing in the uncultivated north for the luscious delicacies of the south, and having been half poisoned with such coarse British fare as fried soles, turbot with shrimp sauce, and woodcock, is now arranging by cable for weekly consignments of frozen Murray cod, barracouta, and mutton birds. It’s astonishing how callous the palate is in cold climates. Those English seem to be able to eat anything, and apparently their horses are just as low in their tastes. Carbine, Trenton, and The Grafter must indeed feel ashamed of the uncouth surroundings amidst which their sires were born and bred.

The Wife of his Bosom. —“ John, dear, do back the Double. I’m sure that is the horse that will win, because I heard six men talking in the train, and they all said they had backed it.J’ It is not generally known that the totalisator, or pari-mutuel, was invented by a Spaniard named Oller, and during the Crimean war he took one of his machines to England. It is now in Scotland Yard. Admiral Rous nearly had a fit when he saw it on Newmarket heath. The question of its legality went to the Court of Appeal, and th® decision was hostile.

According to the quotations of Messrs Barnett and Grant, published last week, Battleaxe is favorite for the New Zealand Cup at 14 to 1. The price is ridiculously short, and it is to be presumed that some one must have backed him. His form does not justify his exalted position in the quotations, and those who are inclined to back Bluejacket, Explosion, Daunt, Douglas, Fulmen, Tauhei, Uhlan, Starshot, and Dundas, at 20 to 1, would do well to wait until at least the weights are out.

It is the practice to fine jockeys for being late at the post, although it must be known that it is not the jockeys’ fault. The stewards of the Williamstown Club, in Victoria, have grasped the idea that the sin of being late at the post should be visited upon the trainers and owners, and at a recent meeting they fined the trainers of Pope, Chorister, British Loch, Jeanette, and others for being late at the starting-post, each being mulcted to the extent of a couple of guineas.

A candidate for municipal honors, who owns a few horses (writes “ Javelin”), in addressing a meeting of ratepayers, said, proudly : “ I’ve been racing for years, as you all know, and I defy any man to say that an inquiry has ever been held concerning the running of any of my horses !” Amidst roars of laughter, which fairly broke up the candidate, a voice from the body of the hall exclaimed: “ No, ’cos you always put the stewards fly when you wasn’t jiggin, an’ giv’ ’em the office when you was ’avin’ a gut J” A singular instance of dead-heating occurred at the late meeting of the Bligh Amateur Turf Club at Mudgee, N.S.W. Mr E. M. Betts adjusted the weights for the Ladies’ Bracelet, in which Mr M’Master’s Lennox gelding Bulloinin and Mr J. Brown’s Russley mare Thrift were weighted at 13.2 and 11.12 respectively. Mr If; Blackman rode Bullomin and Mr W. Parkinson had the mount on Thrift, and the result was a dead heat. In the run off the riders were changed, Mr J. M’Masters steering Bullomin and Mr C. Brown piloting the mare, and again the judge was unable to separate the pair, whereupon the owners agreed to divide.

The Melbourne Leader publishes the following paragraph : —“ New Zealand has practically been unrepresented on the turf in Victoria and New South Wales for some years now. A New Zealand paper says: ‘ This is readily accounted for, in that the leading clubs in New Zealand have, thanks principally to the totalisator, been enabled to offer such rich stakes that there was no great inducement for owners|to go abroad seeking for honors.’ ” We may add another reason. The performances of the New Zealand-bred horses —Trenton, Oar bine, Nordenfeldt, Martini-Henry, Nelson, and others —have evidently filled the Australian handicappers with awe, and, therefore, anything with a New Zealand reputation receives severe treatment when it crosses the water, and there is not much encouragement for owners to incui’ the cost and risk of the voyage.

Mr Allison is loud in his praise of St. Simon, whom he recently inspected at Welbeck. This is what he says—“ Character, expressing the very highest degree of quality, St. Simon possesses, and withal he stands 16 hands, and is exquisitely balanced in every movement. With a lovely rein he is, if possible, better still over his back and quarters. His color is of the hardest brown, with just a star of white ; and as for limbs you don’t want anything better. I saw him in his box, where the names and winnings of his sons and daughters are blazoned all around, and make a goodly show; and I saw him pulled out and walked round the yard, when he himself made a better show than anything. All wire and whipcord, yet with power and size, he suggests also eel-like activity ; and, what is more, he does not show the remotest trace of age. He is a king among horses, and that is the long and short of it. In writing this I have been very careful not to say a word more than is due to the horse, and I could not, in my own judgment, say one word less.”

The English Jockey Club has recently issued a notice to the effect that persons who make complaints personally to the handicapper are liable to a fine, and a well known English turf authority, in commenting upon the action, says sagely : —“A question—often discussed and never satisfactorily settled—as to the propriety of owners making personal complaints to handicappers has again been raised in England in an official form. It is certainly one of considerable interest to all connected with the racing world. We may reasonably assume that so long as men are what they are—a little lower than the angels —they will continue to complain while their racehorses have too much weight to carry. Naturally, moreover, they like to lift up their voices in close proximity to the man who they consider has despitefully used them, so that he might get the full force of the blast; and some owners of an audacious spirit have gone so far as to tell the handicapper what they think of him—not much. Such candor is assuredly injudicious. It is impossible to ‘get weight off,’ as the the saying is, by vituperation or by reviling the handicapper—even with a certain discrimination—to his face, although it may be a relief sometimes to anathematise him severely behind his back. Good natured friends will probably convey your opinions to him, with additions of their own ; but, if trouble arises, it is easy enough to deny that they have spoken a word of truth, or are capable of doing so under favorable circumstances.”