WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 506, 5 April 1900, Page 12

WELLINGTON.

GOSSIP FROM CLUB AND STABLE. Wellington, March 30. The privileges in connection with the Wairarapa Club’s forthcoming meeting realised good prices when auctioned, the total being £284 5s — £lOO more than last year. The local filly, Cecile, is still in the C.J.C. Champagne Stakes, but whether Mr F. Webb will make the final payment for her is not known at time of writing. Cecile is by Gold Reef from Puwerewere. The Wellington Trotting Club, having secured a totaheator permit for a meeting next month, the Committee have decided to sandwich it with the Wellington Racing Clnb’s meeting. The races are to take place on the 2nd and 4th, and the trots on the 3rd and sth.

Sweetoil, the treble winner at Whakataki, failed when tried over hurdles at the last Masterton meeting. Weights for the Feilding races are due on Thursday, when local owners will be able to decide whether they will make the trip or not. The Neleon J C. Annual Meeting is fixed for this month. Entries are due on Monday next. Aide-de-Camp and Ruamahunga will probably be competitors at the Kumara gatherin g which commences on April 16. Sentry, who has been trained at Porirua since his purchase from Mr Coffey, has been nominated, for the Autumn Maiden Plate, and the Ad - aington Plate, at Christchurch. Masterton sports who attended the Whakataki (Castlepoint) races will long remember their outing. It rained all day, and it didn’t forget to come down either. On returning in the evening some of them had an unpleasant experience. When about seven miles from Tenui a vivid flash of lightning, accompanied by a terrific peal of thunder, occurred, partially blinding men and horses. It was pitch dark, and it was deemed saftest to turn the hors. j s of the vehicle loose, and continue the journey to Tenui on foot. After a Jong and weary walk through mud, the party arrived at Tenui thoroughly tired out and miserable. The coach driver tripped over an obstacle on the road, and sprained one of his wrists. Dr. Dawson, of Tenui, also met with an accident when returning from the races. His buggy capsized, and he had a collarbone brokein. The Hastings hoi se, Jabber, has been coupled in the Great Easter and Autumn Handicap doubles. He has incurred a penalty, by the way, but, seeing that he is very well, 9.1 may not seriously harhper him in the seven furlong event. Mr H. M. Lyon, secretary of the Wellington Racing dub, expects to receive record entries

for the club’s May Meeting on Tuesday evening next. There are a large number of horses in training just now, and the monetary inducements offered by the club are sufficiently enticing to secure both quality and quantity. The Thompson. Mile Handicap is a popular race with owners. It is worth 350 sovs, the big event on the concluding day being worth 300 sovs. Two classic events will be determined at the meeting: the North Island Challenge Stakes, and the New Zealand St. Leger. Some admirers of A.dvance maintain that Vanguard’s son is equal to Seahorse. How they arrive at that conclusion is not very clear, as there is nothing definite to go upon in forming a correct estimate of the respective capabilities of the pair. That they are a couple of sterling gallopers is beyond question, but until Advance downs the Aucklander under fair conditions, and on something approaching equal terms, he cannot be deemed to be as good as Nelson’s son. It may turn out later on that he is, but if Seahorse is started in the Century Stakes, and Advance beats him in that race, his effort cannot well be set down as being anything like his best, in view of hie lameness in Austraha, and the fact that he will have only been a fortnight off the boat. It is probable that the colt will not be started for the thousand pounder; his owner will be well advised if he keeps him in the stable, for it would be pity to risk a total breakdown. Major George had not decided what he would do when in the South, after his arrival from the other side, but the impression he gave was that the horse would likely see the post if he was well. A hot mile and a half race, however, isn’t very nice gruel for a racer who is not in prime condition. The local mare, Tortulla, started second favorite in the Napier Park Cup, but the going did not suit her, and she was one of the last to finish. Coronet must be a perfect peach to give Tire 161bs and finish so gamely as he did at the end of a mile and a half. At Hastings Tortulla was in receipt of 41bs from Coronet, and beat him badly, but at the Park, when he next met her on 61bs better terms, he reversed things most pronouncedly. The Porirua rep. wasn’t fancied on the second day, when the distance was a quarter of a mile less, and she never showed up. I hear that Philanthrophist is unlikely to fulfil his Feilding engagements, having gone wrong. Prosser only won one race with his quartette during the four day’s racing in Hawke’s Bay, Blaokdust accounting for the First Hurdles, at Hastings, and running a second and third at the Park. The Guard was given a run on the last day of the latter meeting, and actually started first favorite, but resultlessly. Titoki could do no better than run second. Whitney, who has joined Prosser’s string, deadheated with Spinner for the Esk Handicap. Ideal was greatly fancied here for the City Stakes, at Napier, and the dividend returned was very acceptable. Three punters who had a plunge on the well-bred Nobility in .Kissmary’s rac* went down rather badly. They had originally decided to launch out on Kissmary, but subsequently changed their minds. First thoughts would have been decidedly the best in this case, seeing the dividend paid by Hotchkiss’ daughter. The Dreadnought horse, Spinner, was well backed in Wellington for the race he won, and also for the Esk Handicap, in which he ran a dead heat. Writing about Spinner, by the way, why did not Sir George Clifford disapprove of his name when Mr Ormond bestowed it on him, seeing that there was, and still is, an animal named The Spinner racing in the South ? Sir George Clifford formally disapproves of all duplicated names, and a list of prohibited cognomens is regularly published in the Official Calendar. Why did he not adopt the usual course with regard to Mr Ormond ? The present writer hereby draws Sir George’s attention to the matter, and, in doing so, takes the opportunity of informing him that there has been some comment as to the reason why the Squire of Karamu has not been treated like other horse owners. The Southern horse, The Spin; er, who won a race at the Hutt once, when he beat Telephone on the post, ran at the Dunedin meeting last week. Tortulla ; Titoki, Blackdust, Whitney and The Guard, have returned from Napier. The balance-sheet of the Masterton Racing Club’s last meeting pans out thusly: Receipts, £2,270 6s lOd; expenditure, £2,057 Ils ; profit, £212 15s lOd. The amount paid in Government totalisator tax was £122 8s lOd. April 2. The Lady Agnes cropped up again at the meeting of the Wellington Racing Club Stewards to day. It will be remembered that this mare was disqualified for twelve months by the Wairarapa Club for inconsistency, and the race awarded to; Spider. The Metropolitan Clubrefused to endorse the disqualificntion, and Mr Smart (her owner) consequently expected to receive the stake. The Wairarapa stewards, however, informed him they were going to pay over to the owner of the second horse (Spider), as Mr Smart had not prosecuted his appeal Mr Smart then placed the matter in the hands of the Wellington Racing Club, and notified the VI/airarapa people that he would hold them responsible for the stake. The Metropolitan Club to-day upheld Mr Smart’s appeal. There was really no reason for appeal, seeing that the disqualification was not endorsed. Advance leaves here on Wednesday to fulfil his northern engagements. The sentences of six months’ disqualification, imposed by the Masterton Racing Club on the jockeys, R. Buckeridge and S. Karkeek, have been endorsed by the. Metropolitan Club. Six new members have been elected to the Wellington R.C.: Messrs T. L. Smith, Paul Hunter (Porangahau), Allan Maguirp, O. H; Izard, W Pollard- (Blenheim), and S. O. Allan. The South Wairarapa Hospital Benefit Trotting? Club . has inserted-a £25 hack flat-race on its programme for, the next meeting, . ahd> the Metropolitan Club, has approved of the event;

Tuesday, April 3. The handicaps for the Wairarapa meeting have made their appearance. Ruamahunga’s recent displays in the South have earned him 9st 91b in the Easter Handicap, run over one mile and a quarter. The other weights are — Ambrosia 9st 41b, Spider Bst 61b, Rebel Bst 41b, Wilson 7st 111 b, Waipuki 7st 101 b, Doreen 7st 51b, and Goulburn 7st. Rebel, who has improved a great deal lately, has a taking appearance, and may find his most formidable opponent in Doreen. In the Telegraph Handicap Ruamahunga leads the way with 9st 111 b, Ambrosia having 51b less, Rebel 9at, King’s Bowman Bst 111 b, Coin Bst 51b, Te Taiaha 7st 131 b, and Turepo 7st The writer prefers the last-named pair, Te Taiaha for choice. Doreen should have a say in tie Open Welter with 9st 31b, Ruamahunga is top weight with list lib, and may be started m this event in preference to one of the others. There is a big field in the Trial Hack Handicap, and the horses are all about the same class, with few exceptions, consequently it is difficult to divide the good from the indifferent. Agent General has a chance in the Hurdles with lOst 131 b, but Czarina, with 271 b less, may make a good showing. It is about time this mare won a race. Derringcotte holds pride of position in the Flying Hack with 9st 51b, Christmas Eve being next with 51b less. Gunfeldt, a good cut of hack, must have a great show with Bst 61b, and the prospects of Waterford 7st 121 b, and Urgent 7st 71b, cannot be ignored in the Hack Welter. I like Gunfeldt, Taplow, and Transvaal. The Wellington Racing Club Committee has decided to put a number of owners on ti e forfeit list. Messrs J. O’Meara and W. Workman have been elected members of the Wairarapa Racing Club. Jadoo’s victory in the Manawatu Handicap to-day quite upset the calculations of local backers. The mare paid a remarkably good dividend, seeing that she made tbe whole of the running over a mile and a quarter, in the City Stakes, at Napier Park the other day, and just got beaten by Ideal at the finish. The Tauherenikau course is looking well just now, and the majority of horses in training up that way are reported to be in good fettle. A country correspondent, who has been round some of the stables, states that Volley, who was thrown out of work recently owing to feet troubles, is again in commission. Cavalier, a full brother to this mare, is in work. He was thrown back in his preparation owing to having received a kick. Doreen, who is engaged on Easter Monday, is said to be iu fine nick Prologue, in D. Wilkinson’s charge, is being paddock • trained. Derringcotte, Tynan, and Urgent, three of J. V, Reed’s, are in fine nick, as are Rebel and Mai Mai, raced by J. Freeth. A. Topham’s Transvaal and Napi Napi have been putting in good work. Race winners at Manawatu, who are engaged at the Wairarapa Racing Club’s gathering, are not penalised, but the handicapper is empowered to re-adjust weights if he thinks it necessary. . The two-year-old gelding, by St. Leger— Sunrise, in A. Topham’s stable, is spoken of as a very promising looking youngster. It is not intended to race him until he is three years’ old. Both Donovan and Waipuki were to carry 101 b penalty for recent wins if they started at Palmerston to-day. J. Cress has a new addition to his string in the shape of a mare by Voltigeur out of a Tattler mare. It is intended to try her over

steeplechase country this winter. A two-year-old filly, by Waterfall—Primrose, has also joined Cress’ establishment. Stormsail, allotted the minimum in the Hurdles at Wairarapa, has not been long in work. The Recreation Ground Committee of the Petone Borough Council last night decided to recommend the Council to allow the Wellington Trotting Club the use of the whole of the trotting track, providing the track is afterwards closed for a sufficient time to allow of its being put in proper order. All the local competitors have returned from Blenheim except Lola, who was offered at auction after the races, and passed in, the reserve not being reached. The committee of the Wairarapa Racing Club has endorsed J. Fitzgerald’s application for a jockey’s license.