Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCOBPOBATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1899.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 498, 8 February 1900, Page 10

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCOBPOBATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1899.

JUMPING IN THE SUMMER-

The fields for the * steeplechases run at the Auckland Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, and at the Takapuna Jockey

— - JClub’s Meeting just concluded, should cause racing clubs generally to gravely consider the question whether it is worth while continuing these events at future summer gatherings. The proper time for jumping—or the “ illegitimate game,” as it is termed in the Old Country—is in the winter. Hurdling and chasing with the ground as hard as cast-iron, are dangerous pastimes for horses and riders. There arejvery few horses that can stand the game long with the going in most favourable condition, and the surest way we know to knock a good sound animal out of time is to put him over fences and hurdles during a dry New Zealand summer. Though old Mozel was not above suspicion when he won the Summer Steeplechase in ’9B, he was put out of court for ever so far as racing is concerned, through his exertions in that event. The accident at Takapuna which has deprived Mr Alec Phillips of the services of a good sound horse, might have occurred in the winter, but the risk of a horse breaking his shoulder through a fall is at least trebled when racing on hard dry ground. We certainly have one animal who seems impervious to injury through the state of the ground. But the risk in running such an excellent ’chaser as Nor’-west under the prevailing conditions is far heavier than we should care to take. True he has legs of steel, and that he is a beautifully easy jumper, but the slightest mistake upon hard ground might place him hors de combat for ever. The average New Zealander dearly loves a spice of danger in his sport, and as a looker-on he does not object to a large proportion. That is hardly sufficient reason for continuing a policy which is detrimental to our horses and dangerous to our riders. There is another view of the case. The nominations received by the clubs for these

events are very unsatisfactory, and plainly show that owners and trainers are growing chary of entering for jumping races in the summer. The Wellington Racing Club had no hurdle races on their Summer programme this year, and the support given to the substituted events waS strong evidence that the move was a good one. Other clubs will doubtless follow their example, and it is almost certain that the result will be beneficial. We believe that if the Racing Conference barred jumping events from the end of October to the beginning of April, we should have better jumpers, many more of them, and far more interesting sport during the proper season of the year.

THE QUESTION OF THE HOUR.

There is no more absorbing topic of conversation just now than the Empire’s war with the Boers. In every quarter of. the p-1 ohe wherever

blit, gIUUU yyxiVAWv* the English language is spoken the most authentic details from the scene of operations are waited with a feverish anxiety. And nowhere is the desire for particulars so strong as in the Australasian colonies. The leading journals of these colonies have arranged with correspondents for letters from the seat of war, and their columns have been filled with copy, which though interesting enough from the narrow personal point of view, leaves the public unsatisfied. The wider view of affairs is what is required, and this week we are in the position of being able to put vividly before our readers the scene of the operations of General Lord Methuen’s force, which has for its first objects the relief of Kimberley and Mr Cecil Rhodes. This letter, from Mr Frederic Villiers, will no doubt be received with very great satisfaction, for nothing so picturesque, so graphic, or so accurately descriptive has yet appeared in the columns of the colonial Press. As the weeks pass by we shall chronicle the history of the advance of Lord Methuen’s column. We know from the latest cablegrams that Lord Methuen will be shortly reinforced by a large body of troops, and that consequently the Kimberley force will have much to do in the future. Letters from the pen and sketches from the pencil of such an experienced correspondent and campaigner as Mr Frederic Villiers cannot fail to command attention. Therefore we claim to have conferred a distinction upon the colony in engaging the services of a war correspondent of such high renown.-