Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW . AND . LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1899. Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 499, 15 February 1900, Page 10

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW . AND . LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GAZETTE. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1899. Sporting Topics.

[By

PAUL PRY.]

Sir William Ingram has resolved to retire from racing while the war lasts. His racing expenses, or, to be more correct, an amount equal to his racing expenses, will be handed over to the War Funds. Sir William’s beat was probably Comfrey, with whom he won the Cambridgeshire of 1897. Sir William Ingram is identified with the Illustrated London News, in which paper at the present time Mr Melton Prior is doing his usual ' good work as war artist. At the Sydney Turf Club’s recent meeting the Nursery Handicap was won by Reel, a wellgrown filly by the St. Simon stallion Gigue out of Spy Glass, by Bobinson Crusoe from Telescope, by Piecator from Lady Spec (imp.), by Speculation. A stable companion in Lyddite, by Zalinski out of Adage, by Newmister, was runnerup. Shortly after winning Reel was purchased by S. Feilder for 150gns. The latter did. not keep her long before re-selling to Sol. Green, the ' well-known layer, for 200gns. Feilder will still train the filly, who is said to be something above the ordinary. The Northern Wairoa Racing Club holds its Autumn Meeting on Saturday, March 17, St., Patrick’s Day. The stakes for the seven races on the programme amount to £l5O, the most valuable race being the Northern Wairoa Steeplechase which is inclusive with 40sovs. The Autumn Handicap, one mile and a half, has a stake of 25 sovs ; 20 bovb are added to the Hurdle Race, the Welter Race has 20 sovs, and the Hack Races have 12 and 15 sovb respectively. Nomi- , nations close with Mr F. L Beart, the secretary, ' at Dargaville on Thursday, March 1. The handicaps will be made public on the Monday following. “On the second day of the Newmarket bloodstock sales Count Lehndorff paid 1650g5, for one of Captain Fife’s half dozen brood mares, Unorna, > to wit, foaled in 1892 and got by Galopin—Primavera. The same buyer secured Lady Flippant (1893), by St. Simon—Gray Lass, for 1060 guineas. Count Czapory gave 1100 guineas for Blue Tint, by Chittabob —Mezzotint. Anglo— Australian W. Cooper obtained Concertina, a four-year old filly, by St. Simon—Comic and covered by Carbine, for 1550 guineas, and Sir B. Maple paid 1000 guineas for Alt-na-Bea (1897), by St. Simon —Muirninu.

The entries of New Zealand and Australianbred horses for spring races on the English Turf are as follows : —Linconshire Handicap, one mile (run March 27) : Gold Medallist 8.12, Oban 8.11, Survivor 8.3, Syerla 7.13. Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase : Levanter 9.8. The Great Northamptonshire Stakes : Maluma 9.3. Lancashire Steeplechase : Levanter 9.7. Great Metropolitan : Batallion 7.10. Chester Cup : The Grafter 8.10. Kempton Park Jubilee Stakes : Ercildoune 8.5, The Grafter 8.2. City and Suburban Handicap : Maluma 8.11, Multiform 8.11, The Grafter 8.10, Survivor 8.2, Syerla 7.9>

Nominations for the races to be decided at the inaugural meeting of the Papakura Racing Club close to-morrow (Friday) with the secretary, Mr W. L. Lockhart, either at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland, or the Papakura Hotel, Papakura. The programme —which is published in detail elsewhere —comprises six events, the chief race being the Papakura Handicap, one mile, with a stake of 20 sovs, the second horse receiving 3 sovs out of that amount. The Flying Stakes, five furlongs, is worth 12 sovs, and a similar stake is allotted to the Railway Plate Handicap, run over three-quarters of a mile. Weights for the various events will appear on Wednesday, February 21. Mr W. Knight is handicapper to the club. Writing of the Australian leviathan bookmaker, the Indian Sportsman says : — “Joe Thompson, the well - known leviathan, accompanied by his brother Barney, arrived from Home during the week. The veteran has taken this trip for the benefit of his health, and does not propose to stand up this season. His brother Barney, in all probability, may join his brother-in-law, Harry Goldspink, the double-event bettor of India. Old Joe, who is styled ‘ General’ in the Old Country, is looking wonderfully well, the passage having benefited- him considerably. He was suffering from pneumonia, from the effects of which he has thoroughly recovered. He took to the game in 1857, and has now passed sixty-two summers. The old man, who is in excellent spirits and health, kept the assembly at the paddock on the day of his arrival in one continued fit of laughter by amusing reminiscences.” Joe Thompson says he will not see another English winter through, and that he intends to be at Flemington for the next Melbourne Cup.

Coronet was the only Auckland-owned horse to score at the Taranaki Meeting.

Seahorse was scratched for the Newmarket Handicap at 3.20 p.m. on Monday, February 5.

Vocalist has been withdrawn from all engagements at the forthcoming meeting of the V.R.O.

J Benzoin was scratched for the C.J.C. Craven Plate on Friday morning at 11.20. A Melbourne writer says that Merriwee is reported to be very sore, and that the probability of his going to the post this autumn is remote. The Takapuna Jockey Club has given fifty guineas to the Auckland Bough Biders’ Horse Fund.

J. Hickey has given up riding, and in future will devote all his energies to the training of Mr 8. H. Gollan’s horses in England. During his racing career the late Dfflfe of Westminster won 344 races of the total value of .£301,614. As he started in 1876 he made a very fair income in stakes.

Parthian is pleasing his supporters very well by the style of his working gallops, and the possibility of his victory in the Australian u up is freely talked of in Melbourne.

Mr Leonard Marshall’s imported St. Simon horse, Cyrenian, figures among the nominations for the Easter and Autumn Handicaps, to be run at the A R.O. Easter Meeting.

Barbarossa is the only “ foreign ” jumper 'entered for the Hurdle Handicap at the A.R.C. Easter Meeting. All told, the entrants number eleven —a small nomination verily for -a 200 sov race.

Bill Lyons was a happy man on Saturday afternoon. He skipped a Sydney team ,of bowlers, who took down a Newmarket rink containing two of the champions, by 17 to 2. With Hannigan as leader and Lyons as skip, the New South Welshmen were invincible.

After a long spell Uhlan has at last scored a win. His defeat of Coronet on the second day at Taranaki shows that Uhlan has at least recovered some of his form. I shall not be surprised to find the Ouirassser horse in excellent racing trim at the A.B O. Easter Meeting.

Daystar marked his return to active service by a win. His victory in the Farewell Handicap at the Taranaki Meeting showed some brilliance. Joe Gallagher rode his old favorite, and in the last hundred yards the Castor —Cissy horse came with a tremendous rattle, and beat Lady Helena on the post.

Amoureux, Tire, Palaver, Will-o’-the-Wisp, Battleaxe, Oingo, Okoari, Lady Lorne, Daunt, Dundas, Sirocco Autaia, Sylvia Park, and Advai ce are entered for both the Easter and Autumn Handicaps. Strangers nominated for the Easter Handicap only are Douglas, Victoria Cross, Ideal, and Jabber, while Temeraire and Sant Ilario are only entered for the mille and a * quarter race.

The rumour that originated in Auckland to the effect that Bluejacket was unsound and was not likely to race again is going the round of the Australian papers. I fancy the Auckland Cup winner -yvill give the “ retort courteous ” to such b, fairy tale when the Easter Meeting of the A.B.C. comes along. Meanwhile, it is as well to note that Mr Scott’s colt is entered for the Easter Handicap and for the Autumn Handicap.

Mr W. Tozer advertises for sale a fine three-year-old bay filly by Seaton Delaval out oPBel-'; lona. This youngster has just been broken in, and is in active training. She is half-sister to the speedy'St. Ona (winner of the Jockey Club Handicap at the recent Takapuna Meeting and many other races), and half-sister to St. Lawrence and Matamata arakiki. Her dam Bellona, by Nelson out of Muskerina, has the Musket and Yattendon blood in her veins. Better breeding could not be required, and certainly this filly looks like making a fast one.

Not rid in' to orders is considered a very serious offence in England, and a case cropped up abroad a short time ago, in which the rider was severely punished. The stewards of the English Jockey Club are also down upon any off nder. Otto Madden was reported to the stewards of the Jockey Club by Lord M. Beresford for not riding Essex according to the orders given in the Catesby Selling Plate at the Northampton Autumn Meeting,. and for insolence after the race. The stewards considered the charges justified, and severely reprimanded Madden, and cautioned him as to his future conduct.

Commenting upon the figure system of breeding, a' leading American authority sums up the theory as follows : —Mr Bruce Lowe is not the only man who has sought to ignore the laws of nature and to set up new ones to please himself. All those little crotchety attempts to create mysteries, and then to explain them without any regard to the universal and immutable laws which govern the transmission of qualities—physical and psychical —from the parent to the offspring, never in the past, and never in the future, will amount to anything more valuable than “ milking a he goat in a sieve.”

Jean de Reszke, the famous opera singer, is the leading Turfman and sportsman in Bussian Poland- Horses bred or owned by him have won the principal stakes in Hungary, Austria, and Bussia. He is a student of pedigrees, and horses mated according to his views have been eminently successful. On his last visit to America he devoted much of his time in studying the blood lines of the American thoroughbred, and made his selection of brood mares almost entirely on his own judgement. He visited Bancocas, selected the mares be desired, paying the strictest attention to their make-up and conformation, and purchased twelve of them, for which he paid £6OOO, and shipped them to his farm in Poland. ■

dominations for the Botorua Jockey Clubs Annual Meeting close to-morrow (Friday). The Summer Meeting of the Canterbury Jockey Club takes place on Thursday and Saturday of next week. ' The Sydney Referee of February 7 says:— The crack New Zealander, Seahorse, put in an appearance at Bandwick yesterday morning, and an opinion generally expressed was that he bore a good deal of resemblance to his sire, Nelson Seahorse looks well after the racing he has done, and the indications are that he will be in firstclass condition to compete against our cracks in the weight-for age races at the autumn meetings. He was given a round of the grass track yesterday, Influenza, Seamew, and Landmark starting with-him. As was only to be expected, such moderates could not trouble him, and though the time recorded was nothing wonderful, the gallop was not at all a bad one, considering the son of Nelson only came off the boat on Saturday. At the A. J.O. Committee meeting last week, a petition was presented for the re-opening of the case of Frank Fielder, who was disqualified for three years for the handling of Mora in the Christmas Handicap at the A.J.C. Summer Meeting. The matter was gone into, and the committee resolved: “That the petitioners be informed that although there was no evidence whatever for the suggestion in the petition that proper notice of the inquiry was not given, or for the statement in the petition that F. Fielder was not invited by the chairman to call evidence on his own behalf, and although he was so invited and declined to call evidence, the committee will afford him a further opportunity of calling such fresh evidence as he may desire to do so at a meeting to be held on February 15 for that purpose.”

Writing of Cherry’s success in the Viceroy’s Cup, the Indian Planters' Gazette says: —Cherry is at present about a stone in front of anything in Calcutta, and he demonstrated this by the easy way in which he won this race. He was pulling double at the five-furlong post, and Trahan had to hang on to him the whole way to keep him from winning by a street. As some solatium for being taken off Merloolas, Trahan has had the satisfaction of receiving a highly complimentary telegram from H.H. the Kour Sahib of Patiala, thanking him for the excellent selections in horse-flesh which he has made for him, and expressing his delight at having won the Viceroy’s Cup with Cherry. When spoken to concerning Merloolas’ failure, Trahan said that he was entirely at loss to account for it, for the horse did not seem to go off at all after his gallop, and never left an oat, but it is perfectly certain that he left the race on the training track.”

Among tl e many English portsmen who have ■volunteered for active service in South -Africa with the E> glish Yeomanary are the Duke of Marlborough, the Earl of Dudley, the Earl of Lonsdale, the Earl of Warwick, the Earl of Haddington, Viscount Valentia, Viscount, Galway, Lord Chesham, Lord Harris, Lord Annaly, Lord Arthur Grosvenor, Lord Kenyon, Sir Elliott Lees, M.P. (winner of the House of Commons Point to Point Bace in 1888 and 1890), Sir John Dickson - Poynder, M.P., Hon E. 8. Douglas - Pennant, M.P. (eldest son of Lord Penrhyn), Mr Herman-Hodge, MP., and Sir James Miller, a well-known patron of the turf, who early in his racing career won the Derby with Sainfoin, and more recently secured the Oaks with La Sagesse.

Some American papers naturally seized the occasion of the return home of the brothers Beiff to ventilate their notions on English and American jockeyship. It is rather useful to hear Yankee experts declare that the boiled-down result of a comparison of the styles is all in favour of the Americans, and that the cardinal feature of the latter method, from which, indeed, all its efficacy is derived, is the being perched up on the withers rather than on the back of the horse. They also point out (a matter we discussed in these columns some time ago) that the Sloan style is comparatively new in America. There are in the States followers of the old style still riding, and though admittedly brilliant horsemen —superior on points to the newcomer—they have been knocked out by the Sloan contingent. This fact should be considered by English owners and trainers, who are still prejudiced against all and every type of change.

There is no doubt that entering a gelding for Perby seems outside the conditions, which distinctly specify it as a race for three-year-olds, “ colts 9st, fillies Bst 91b ” But whatever the desirability of keeping the premier race strictly to colts and fillies, there should be no fear that Democrat will be regarded as fully qualified. Tacit confirmation of his eligibility is indeed given by the acceptance of his entry, and the fact that in rich prizes for two-year-olds similarly worded as to conditions, geldings are allowed to run carrying the same weight as colts. It is however, high time that the conditions of races should be clearly expressed (says a writer in Sporting Luck). Some of them are puzzles of inaccuracies, bad grammar, and be-muddling vagueness. Such obscurities should not be permitted. Something interesting has been contributed to the discussion by the ingenious caviller who says that if objection should be taken against another so called colt (however illustrious the ownership) on the ground that he is not a colt but a “ rig.” Such arguments and refinements show the need of treating the question sensibly. And should not much more be said about allowing in the Derby an animal whose pedigree is not quite pure—pure inasmuch as the letters “h b ” apply ? It is clear that there should be some revision of the revision of the conditions. As to the threatened point that objection will be raised, and, if necessary, tested in a court of law, should Lemocrat win, we may dismiss it as perfectly idle vapouring.

Puhia won a double on the second day of the Te Aroha Races scoring in the Publican’s Purse and in the Forced Handicap.

Honesty is said to be the best policy. It would have been a good thing to follow on the first day of the Te Aroha Races.

The handicaps for the Wanganui Oup, Stew ar ds’ Stakes, First Hurdle Race, Jackson, Welter and Flying Handicaps, are due on Tuesday next.

Mr W. Lyons announces that he has a book open on the Newmarket Handicap and Australian Cup double, and that a volume is open on either event straight out.

The secretary of the Te Aroha Jockey Club, Mr J. W. Rennick, was highly complimented upon his efforts to bring the meeting to a successful issue.

The Woodville Jockey Club holds its Autumn Meeting on Wednesday and Thursday, February 28 and Maach 1. Nominations for all events close to-morrow (Friday), February 16. During the two days racing at Te Aroha the sum of £lBOB 10s passed through the totalisator, which was efficiently worked by Mr Blomfield’s staff. . The totalisator tickets at the meeting were ten shillings. Several complaints have reached me regarding the starting at the Te Aroha Meeting, the first day coming in for specially unfavorable comment. One gentleman writes so strongly that I am unable to publish his letter. Messrs Barnett and Grant report the following business for the week : —Great Easter and Great Autumn Handicaps : 200 to 4 Blazer and Benzoin, 100 to 2 Ostiak and Malatua, 100 to li Dundas and Benzoin.

Mr Martin Taylor and Miss Taylor returned from Te Aroha on Tuesday morning and departed for Lyttelton by the Mararoa later on in the afternoon. The genial leviathan was all smiles, so I suppose he had a good time at Te Aroha. Owing to the death of his son, Mr N. Dickey has decided to give up racing and breeding, and in consequence he has asked Messrs Alfred Buckland and Sons to dispose of the whole of his racing animals and his breeding stock. The sale is fixed to take place on Monday, March 19.

At the conclusion of the race for the Te Aroha Cup on Monday, Mr Handley, the owner of Regalia 11., sent a letter of complaint to the Club pointing out that the starter stood right in front of Regalia 11. and interfered with the getting away of the mare. The letter was held over for future consideration.

Next Tuesday the Napier Park Racing Club’s Autumn programme will require the attention of owners and trainers. On that day nominations close for the Napier Cup, 300 sovs, one mile and a half, 2 sovs; City Stakes Handicap, 200 sovs, one mile and a quarter, 2 sovs ; Flying Handicap, 100 sovs, six furlongs, 1 sov ; and the Waverley Stakes, 100 sovs, six furlongs, 1 sov. After getting beaten on Saturday, Alec. Phillips’ Knight of Athol came out on Monday and won the Te Aroha Cup. The grey was a hot favorite for the Jockey Club Handicap on Saturday, and those pencillers who remained in town closed their books so far as he was concerned. Knight of Athol was also freely supported on Monday, but Saturday’s loss took some of the gilt off the gingerbread. The Knight ran the mile and three furlongs in 2min 27 4-5 sec.

On Saturday, the opening day of the V.A.T.C. Autumn Meeting, the Oakleigh Plate was won by Mr J. H. Davis’ bay horse Veneda, by Escutcheon out of Happy Bride, who carried 8.9 and won by two lengths from Stand Off and Olaf, who Oead heated for second place. Stand Off started favorite at 2 to 1, while 20 to 1 was the starting price of the winner. The Oakleigh Purse was won by Mr P. Heffernan’s six-year-old mare Jadoo, by Yule Cake out of Miss Novice. Jadoo carried 7.9, and won by a length and a half from Epitome and Aurous. She started favorite «t 3 to 1. Veneda’s time for the distance was Imin 9Jsec, while Jadoo took a second longer to cover the five and a half furlongs. At a recent suburban meeting (says “Javelin”) an owner who trains his own horses had two engaged in one race, one being a red hot favourite at 6 to 4 and the other friendless at 12 to 1 offered in vain. A friend, whose horses work on the same track, said: ‘ I say, that brown horse o’ yours can beat this lot j ust as easy as the chestnut can. Why don’t you crush on one and go for a good stake on the outsider ? ” “I was thinkin’ o’ thet,” said the other, seriously, “but it ‘ud be a bit too strong, an’ I don’t want to go out fur twelve months.” “Well,” replied the first speaker, an old hand at the game, who knows every move on the board, almost contemptuously, “yer wouldn’t be sich a goat as ter let ther atooards fall in, I sh’u’d think, would yer? ” A correspondent writes to the Nelson Colonist-. —The racehorse Pom Pom met with an untimely end recently. He was running out in a paddock at Spring Grove close to the railway line, and on the special train from Nelson conveying the country volunteers returning from Wellington after seeing the contingent off, approaching, the horse got excited and jumped an eight wire fence, and got on to the railway line, in front of the engine. After galloping for a short distance, and on coming to a culvert, which he hesitated to jump, the cowcatcher struck him with great force, and threw him across a fence into an adjoining paddock, death being instantaneous. Pom Pom was really a good performer in his day, and was bred by Mr J. Paul of Wanganui, who bold, him to Messrs Newman Bros., of Spring Grove, ? after the horse had won the Farewell Handicap, at; the Nelson Jockey Club Meeting last Aprils Messrs Newman Bros, have had plenty ,of bad luck lately, as Parahina got cast in her box tff Reefton, and was unable to compete at any of the Coast meetings for which she was entered, and;; Pom Pom went lame before annexing a stake for them*

The Kaukapakapa Races, which were to have taken place yesterday, were postponed till today on account of the rain. The Needle beat a fair field in the Flying Handicap at Hawera yesterday. He met some good six-furlong nags, and cut out the distance in Imin 16 3-5 sec, winning easily from Ouirasette and Lady Lorne.

I believe a good many sporting men are going to drink Hancock’s lager beer instead of whisky and Kamo or Puriri water for the future. This will be a mild form of protest against the publicans’ mineral water tax.

Kissmary was purchased by Percy Martin last wk, and travelled down to Napier in the Flora. T- chestnut filly is a strongly-built young lady, and at Takapuna she demonstrated that she possesses plenty of pace. I trust her new owner may win some races with her.

Despite his 9st 61b, Coronet carried off the Egmont Cup yesterday, Mr “E. J. Evans’ ” horse is a warrior for Cups, first or second being his usual place in these races. When in the right mood, and when the money is up, Coronet is one of the most brilliant handicap horses in the colony. When a stranger at the game purchases the gates of a race-meeting, he ought to thoroughly understand that he must conform to the club’s rules. At the recent Takapuna Meeting the purchaser refused admission to the boys selling race-cards, and charged ladies for admission, though they were provided with the necessary tickets. Of course this was only done when the weaker sex were without male protection. I heard of many complaints, and I believe the secretary of the club put his foot down on the imposition and stopped it so far as he could. After payment of the second forfeit, eighteen two-year-olds remain in the Northern Champagne Stakes. The Hon. J. D. Ormond has three left in — Renown, Paphos, and Apollo. The latter is given as a brown filly. It this is correct, then Mr Ormond must have got a bit muddled when naming his youngster.. Another Hawke’s Bay owner (Mr E. J. Watt) is represented by the chestnut colt Nobility, by St. Leger out of Lady Emily. The Hon. Hugh Mosman™* has two left in—Hengist and Formula. Hen gist will have made vast improvement by the time the race is run, and I shall not be at all surprised to see him win. George Absolum has two others in the race—Vai Rosa and Matamata-arakiki—-so he ought to arrive at a pretty good idea of the destination of the prize.