Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, December 7, 1899. SPORTING TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 489, 7 December 1899, Page 12

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. Thursday, December 7, 1899. SPORTING TOPICS.

FBy Petronel. ] Three popular fancies for .the Railway Handicap—Oingo, Okoari, and Red’Lancer—are among the missing. Mr W. L. Lockhart will receive entries for the East Tamaki Hack Meeting till to-morrow (Friday). Explosion and Rosella were physicked on their return from Wellington. They will now be given steady work in view of the Xmas meeting. With Vai Rosa and the Fabulist—-Acacia colt the Mangere stable appears to hold a strong hand. The unnamed youngster is said to be very nearly on a par with the Heaton Delaval colt so far as galloping ability goes. . ’ ,

St. Clements and Bed Lancer were rather overweighted in the Railway Handicap, and their defection from the race was quite expected. The withdrawal of Miss Delaval from the Railway Handicap came ub a bit of a surprise. The filly was a strong fancy for the race, and had been backed straight out and in doubles with Seahorse and Explosion for a lot of money. Probably we have seen the last of Panoply. The Splendor gelding was sent north on Wednesday. He has been purchased by a country sportsman, and will make his future appearances at unregistered meetings. Dennis Morrigan has recovered from the accr dent he met with when Favona fell in the Handcap Hurdles at the A.R.C. Spring Meeting. On Friday he was in town, and looked fairly well. By Christmas he should be quite himself again. St. Simon and Evening Wonder left for Gisborne on Tuesday in charge of R. H. Skipworth. The latter did not have any luck with the Gisbore jumper, who was treated rather above his deserts.

The acceptors for the Auckland Cup only total nineteen. The only notable absentee is Seahorse. It was expected that Sant Ilario would be left in, and as Mr Stead has accepted for Skobeloff in the Bailway Handicap, we may expect to see the famous Yaldhurst uniform on the course at Christmas time.

The most valuable Melbourne Cup stake wa B Carbine’s, worth £10,230 to the first horse. Malvolio’s share the next year was £10,124; Glenloth’s, in 1892, £9967 ; Tarcoola’s, in 1893, £7150; Bravo’s, in 1889, £5767. In no other year has the first horse’s money reached £4OOO. Banker, in 1863, received only £490.

The champion two-year-old of the year in America, Mesmerist, carrying 9.4, the highest weight, won the Great Eastern Handicap at Sheepshead Bay on September 9, beating a large field over the Futurity course in Imin 10 2-ssec. Mesmerist is by Albert out of a Darebin mare. Albeit is a eon of Albert Victor and Hawthorn Bloom, the great-grandam of Scorn. After many disappointments Bluejacket has at last won a race for Peter Chaafe. He led nearly all the way in the St. Andrew’s Handicap on Saturday, and finally won with perhaps a little to spare after withstanding a desperate challenge by Coronet. The colt is undoubtedly a game one for he finished with any amount of dash after being vigorotrly ridden by Hall for fully threequarters of a mile. Mark Ryan had the mount on Coronet on Saturday. Asking “J. B.” why Julian was not in the saddle he told me that the stable jockey got badly kicked just over the heart by one of Mr Marshall’s brood mares the other day. Dr Sharman was in attendance upon the sufferer, who had a very bad time of it, particularly on last Wednesday. Julian is now, I am glad to say, progressing towards convalescence. There was spirited competition for the two-year-old colt by Fabulist out of Acacia at Messrs Buckland and Son’s yards on Friday. The youngster is a handsome specimen of the thoroughbred, well-grown, and racy - looking. Bidding did not stop until 300 guineas was reached. At that figure he became the property of George Absolum, the Mangere trainer. There was something very like consternation on Friday when it became known that Seahorse was a non-acceptor for the Auckland Cup. Last week I gave a note of warning, and stated that Major George might not start him for the twomile race. His withdrawal is a lesson for early punters to take to heart. The colt was backed all over the colony at ridiculously short prices, and the folly of rushing in so quickly is now apparent to those backers who have fallen in.

Referring to the death of Sensation, an English writer says : His get have made a better throwing in England than in America. In 1895 in America his get won 35,325d0l ; in 1896, ll,780dol; and in 1897, 10,922d01. This year his get have made a remarkable showing in England, as, up to September. 2, nine winners in thirteen races had won 68,210d01, which places him second on the list of winning sires, ranking next to Crme ard ahead of St Simon.

Bar the Door kept up the Takapuna record for big dividends. The Matador gelding gave young Abbott his first winning mount. 1 believe his father, the popular host of the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, shared in the £5O 15s. Others who participated who were Mr W. J. Ralph and “General” Booth. Young Abbott got a big break on his field, and though Bar the Door tired at the finish he lasted long enough to reach the winning post first.

Last week, in alluding to the victories of First Whisper on the first day of the Otahuhu Trotting Club’s Meeting, I attributed the riding to Dan Morrigan by a slip of the pen. First Whisper’s jockey was Tom Morrigan, who rode excellent finishes. I correct the error because, though wishful to recognise good riding, I am not desirous that a wrong impression should get about. The connection of Dan Morrigan’s name with Potter’s Paddock might do him injury, and therefore it is right to explain that Tom Morrigan was the rider of First Whisper., “ Milroy ” writes : —Carbine left the turf with 33 races to his credit, but how many of these would he have won but for an unlucky slip on the Flemington tan putting Abercorn out of court when in the zenith of his powers ? Only bis share, I guess, as Payten in the spring of ’B9 had discovered a weak point in Carbine’s armour, and Abercorn’s strongpoint, which was?staying. Carbine’s wonderful pace used to win him races, but when kept into the collar with a cracking pace he had little hope of beating Abercorn for a long run. However, a slip one fine morning sent the big chestnut home lame in the round bone, and Mr White would risk him no more, so Carbine had the field clear to build up a record that looks just lovely in print»

To-morrow (Friday) is general entry day for the Summer Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club.

The A.B.C. committee granted trainers licenses to the following on Monday:—S. Walker, W. Bagby, P. Jones, and J. Quinton. Messrs F. Tonge and A. S. McKinnon were granted gentlemen riders licenses on Monday at the monthly meeting of the A.R.C. committee.

Billy Clarke has arrived from the South’ He has been engaged to ride Dan McLeod’s horses at the summer meeting of the A.B.C.

Handicaps for events to be decided at the Thames Jockey Club’s Meeting will not be declared until Tuesday next. Nor’-East has been disposed of by Dan McLeod to a Coromandel sportsman, who took his purchase down to the goldfields on Monday. Shylock, the Great Northern Hurdles winner, has been sold to a Wellington racing man. On Tuesday J‘. Clarke journeyed south whh the Wapiti gelding.

“The following riders were granted jockeys licenses on Monday by the A.B.C.: —J. O’Brien, J. Pennell and H. Myers. The licenses to Pennell and Myers are probationary for three months. Dan McLeod’s filly Matamata arakiki was sired by St. Leger, not by St. Hippo as has been stated. She is a fairly smart youngster and on Saturday galloped with great vim. The finish with Zealous was a strong one, and both fillies exhibited plenty of gameness. Frank Macmanemin was so disgusted with the performance of Verdi in the Hurdle Race at Takapuna on Saturday that he has made a present of the Sou’-Wester gelding to “ Major” Katterns. It does not do to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I expect Katterns will not form a very strong attachment to Verdi.

Buchanan, the rider of Matamataarakiki in the Cambria Handicap, got a nasty cut on the face, and had some teeth loosened through being caught in the “ tapes ” when at the post. The youngsters were very eager, and there were several breaks away. In the regretable absence of Mr George Cutts, who is suffering from the prevailing epidemic, the starting at Takapana was entrusted to Mr W. Gray. On the whole this gentleman acquitted himself well; though the barrier did not seem to rise quickly enough when the horses were despatched. In the last race of the day, the Cheltenham Handicap, St. Peter carried the tape with him the whole of the journey.

The absence of outside entries is no doubt due to the fact of meetings being held in your town and Hawke’s Baj on the same dates, however we expect to have two good days racing as there are bound to be big fields. The Park Coys’ grounds are in perfect order, and the club’s popular secretary, Mr M. G. Nasmith, is leaving no stone unturned to make the 1899 summer meeting a record one. —[Gisborne At the monthly meeting of the committee of the A.B.C. on Monday, Mr Thomas Morrin presiding, the programmes of the following clubs were passed : —Te Kuiti, December 20; Waiuku Racing Club, December 21; Otorohanga, December 23 ; Kamo, January 1; Waitekaiiri Hack Racing Club, February 17; Rotorua Jockey Club, March 7; South Auckland Racing Club, March 10 ; Te Aroha Jockey Club, February 14.

The Waiuku Racing Club will hold its annnal meeting on the Waiuku Racecourse on Thursday, December 21. There are six races on the programme which appears in detail in another part of the paper. Entries for the first five races on the programme close with the secretary Mr A. Michie on Saturday next, December 9. The handicaps, which will be framed by Messrs T. Michie, W. Craig, and A. Michie, will appear on Saturday, December 16. Despite his heavy impost, Bst 101 b, St. Elmo was well backed for the Cheltenham Handicap on Saturday, and though the pretty little horse ran well he could only get third to Kettledrum and Dayntree, but through the successful protest he gained second money. During the whole of last season St. Elmo only won three races out of twenty-three starts. This season he has not yet succeeded in earning winning brackets for the handicappers treat him as if he were always getting first past the judge’s box.

Jack Gainsford’s bad luck still sticks to him. When he first arrived here he found his mounts hardly in racing trim, and on Saturday when it was thought he had a winning chance on The Afghan his mount tumbled over and laid him out. At first it was thought that Gainsford was seriously hurt as the horse appeared to tread on him. Happily this was not so, and though Gainsford received some nasty knocks he was able to smoke his pipe soon after the accident. The muscles of his right thigh are severely bruised, and it may be some little time before Gainsford is able to ride again However I hope a few days rest will set him quite right, and that he may be seen on the back of a winner before long. I may mention that Gainsford will ride Coronet in the Auckland Cup. The fetlock which troubled Wigelmar while racing in Melbourne is right again (says a Sydney scribe), but the filly’s trainer, J. Burton, being of opinion that it would be inadvisable to prepare her for the Christmas meetings, she is to be eased off until the beginning of the year. Needless to say, Burton has a very high opinion of Wigelmar, and believes, if all had gone well with her after Caulfield, she would have won the Maribyrnong Plate, despite her 101 b penalty. The withdrawal of Wigelmar from the A.J.C. December Stakes appears to leave that race at the mercy of Hautboy, who has escaped a penalty. Gonaro has fallen short of expectations by a very long way, and of the others we have seen racing here nothing looks like disposing of the Haut Brion colt, so it appears as if Tom Payten will have the pleasure of turning out the winner of at least one of the big events next month.

Not much hard work has been done during the week at Ellerslie. After the Takapuna Meeting is over things will liven up, and plenty of work will be got through preparatory to the A.R.C. Summer Meeting. All the local Cup horses are doing well. Explosion is still at the head of the betting, three’s to one having been taken freely about his chance. Record Reign, Coronet, and Bluejacket have also been well backed. -'ZZ

Martin Taylor leaves for Rotorua with Mrs Taylor on Monday. He will enjoy a holiday at Hot Springs and return to Auckland in time to operate on the Summer Meeting. M 8

Hi Though Lady Avon had the heavy load of 9st in the Cambria Handicap, the pretty little black filly succeeded in occupying third place. She was giving 2st to the first and second, quite an impossible task to set her.

At the sale of Mr Caulton’s horses on Thursday last the stallion Lord Dunluce was sold to Mr J. Martin for 20gs, while The Sharper was purchased by Mr Alec Phillips for 24gs. The two-year-old pony by Orackshot fell to the bid of Mr J. Curtis, the price being only 4gs. Porangi Potae and the other horses were passed in as the offers received for them were considered much to low.

Knight of Athol was not accepted for in the Welter Handicap to be run on Saturday at Takapuna as his owner thought he was harshly treated especially in comparison with Doctor. When these two horses last met in a welter race at Ellerslie Doctor had lOst and Knight of Athol 9st. Doctor got third place, while Knight of Athol was in the ruck. In the Welter on Saturday Knight of Athol was weighted at 9st 41 o and Doctor at Bst, a big difference in favour of the latter.

That consistent placegetter Auld Reekie again ran into a “shop” on Saturday. I fancy her frequent “places” are due to the fact that Mr John Marshall’s mare is always run right out, even though she has no possible chance against the winner. This policy is not always followed with other horses, and the consequence is that Auld Reekie is in the unfortunate position of always being handicapped beyond her abilities. The mare has not won a decent race yet, but as she is run out she gets treated as a very fair horse for a handicap race.

Though Dayntree certainly got a good start in the Cheltenham Handicap Kettledrum collared him and led for four furlongs. However the rider of the chestnut gelding interefered very considerably with Dayntree, and it was not suprising to find a protest lodged on the ground of a cross. Quinton, Kettledrum’s rider, admitted pulling in when he saw the grey coming up and as the stewards plainly saw the obstruction, their conclusion to take the race from Kettledrum and award the stakes and dividend to Dayntree met with the approval of the public.

The stewards of the Takapuna Jockey Club deserve a pat on the back for admitting the Press to hear the evidence given in the case of a protest or an enquiry. It is satisfactory to the public and the parties concerned to know that if it should be desirable the whole of the evidence adduced can be published. In the majority of cases it is unnecessary to repeat everything that transpires, but it is in the interest of the sport to know that when the publication of evidence is imperative the newspapers are able to give that evidence in full.

When Hohoro played up and threw Batman prior to the start for the Hack Handicap at Takapuna on Saturday his backers were not jubilant, and they were sadder still when the Tasman gelding was left behind at the start. At the home turnHohoro came with a great rattle, and he passed the field as if they were standing still and romped home an easy winner. Satman, who had the wind knocked out of him when he was thrown, met with a big reception from the public for his mount was widely fancied, and not one backer thought the horse had a chance when he got so badly away.

I had looked forward to Paul Seaton’s appearance at Takapuna on Saturday, but Mr Marshall did not accept for the Seaton Delaval youngster, tho’ he started Balbirnie. Though the latter has not won a race she had to give 91bs to Rosiphele whose performances are quite on a par with those of the chestnut filly. In regard to Paul Seaton be was given 7st 101 b in the Cambria Handicap giving 51b to another maiden in Takapuna. Paul Seaton is a gelding while Takapuna is a colt. Zealous who has enjoyed a good private reputation was very well treated with 7st, and as becoming a sister of Seahorse she won her race very gamely. The conditions of the Takapuna Cup, Takapuna Jockey Club Handicap, and First Handicap Steeplechase to be decided at the Summer Meeting of the North Shore Club appear in this issue. The Cup will be run over a mile and a half, and is worth 300 sovs. The T.J.C. Handicap, is worth IdO sovs; and the distance is a mile and a quarter. The Steeplechase, of three miles and a half, has stake money to the amount of 150 sovs. Nominations for the events close with the secretary, Mr R. H. Wynyard, on Friday, December 22. The full programme of the Summer Meeting will appear in the next issue of the b porting /nd Dramatic Review.

The protest against Bluejacket was a frivolous one, and savoured much of the “ win, tie, or wrangle ” business. If Hall had caught hold of Coronet’s reins, the fact would have been apparent to the stewards, for the place where the foul play was alleged to have occured was in their full view. Coronet was never in front of Bluejacket, and one of the witnesses against the latter must have seen through pink glasses when he said he saw Coronet’s head pulled right round on Bluejacket’s chest! Ido not think ‘ J. 8.” was very keen on the protest, but as his rider Ryan put in the claim, he had to go on with the case on behalf of Coronet’s owner.

The Annual Hack Meeting of the Stratford Racing Club {will take place on the {Stratford Race Course, on Thursday, January 25. Th® programme, which will be found in another column, comprises seven events, th«> chief rac® being the Stratford Cup, one mile, which i® worth 75 sovs. The Flying Handicap, six furlongs, is endowed with 50 sovs, while the Handicap Hurdles, one mile and a half, the Welter Handicap, seven furlongs, and the President’s Handicap, one mile and a distance, each have stake money of the value of 40 sovs. Eutries for all events but the Borough Handicap close with the secretary, Mr. J. H. Clayton, on Saturday, December 23. The weights will be published on January 8. Bluejacket has been sold for 400 gs. The St. Leger—Antelope colt has been purchased by Mr Scott, of Napier, who, it will be remembered, gave something like 300 gs for Antelope a short time ago. The colt is undoubtedly a good one, and if he keeps well he will be one of the first horses to pass the judge in the Auckland Cup. I do not think he is a dear horse at the price Mr Scott has given for him. Just now he is probably as fit as he has ever been, and there ia plenty of room yet for improvement. He was eased after the Avondale.. Spring Meeting, as there was a prospect of him going to England. With plenty of work between now and Christmas, he will strip very fit for the Cup, if his new owner elects to start him.

The stewards of the Takapuna Jockey Club held an enquiry into the running of Blue Paul in the Pony Race on Saturday. After deliberation they decided to suspend Mark Ryan for the remainder of the Meeting, as, in their opinion, he had not ridden the colt right out. I have been informed that Blue Paul was backed by the owner away from Auckland, as well as on the course, and that both Blue Paul and Kitty Flynn were running on their merits. The Seaton Delaval pony got badly away, and as Lena got a long way the best of the start, none of the others had any hope of catching her unless she met with an accident, for, once away, Lena requires a very great deal of catching. Ido not think Blue Paul could have possibly won if Ryan had ridden the most vigorous race of his fife, but undoubtedly he could have got much closer to the winner.

I have received the following letter, written under date of December 6 -. —“ To the Editor. Sib, —I would like to draw the attention of the public to the way horse-racing is conducted, or rather misconducted, in Auckland. The tactics adopted by some of those who are engaged in the ‘ pastime ’ are in the highest degree reprehensible. lam now referring particularly to the way my horse Coronet was interfered with in the running of the St. Andrew’s Handicap, at Devonport, on Saturday last. This was patent to all present, and what occurred there would have been deemed sufficient, if it had. happened under similar circumstances in England, to have disqualified the guilty party for life. At Avondale recently Record Reign was treated in the same shameful manner, and this sort of thing, besides being most annoying to men who, like myself, run their horses straight out for the love of racing, and who are not ‘on the make,’ brings discredit on the sport’and those who control it. Under these circumstances it little wonder that owners desirous of fair play are sending their horses out of the country. —Yours truly, Leonard Marshall.”