Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 511, 4 October 1900, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

EBy

Petronel.]

Renown is the only representative that the Hon J. D. Ormond will have in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas next Monday.

As the Whangarei Racing Olub will not hold 9. meeting this season the permit held by that body has been allocated to the Northern Wairoa Racing Olub.

Last night (Wednesday) there was a warm and hearty reception guaranteed for little Eileen Boyd, whose last appearance it was at the City Hall. This clever little child was taught elocution by Mr Harry Leston and Mr Jack Donnelly gave her instruction in dancing. That she is a credit to her masters is well-known to Aucklanders. •

On Monday the A.R.C. Committee considered applications from the Northern Wairoa Racing Club, the Rotorua Jockey Olub, and the Te Arnim Jockey Olub for permission to hold hack meeting. . As Sir George Clifford, the chairman of the Racing Conference, had informed the A.R.C. that the spirit of recent legislation would be infringed by allowing such meetings, the committee could only decline to consent tothe proposed gathering.

St Peter has been nominated for the Prince of Wales’ Handicap, and the City Handicap, to be run at the Spring Meeting of the A.R.C The •colt ran in the Auckland Guineas last year, and in the Great Northern Derby. He made no show, and hitherto his best performances have been accomplished over .short courses. Still he comes of a good family, and he may yet .show good form over a distance beyond a mile. There is no reason why he should not, for he has grown into a nice animal.

Twenty three horses have been entered for the Prince of Wales’ Handicap, to be run at Ellers’ie on November 9th. The Cup meeting at R ccarton of course prevents the visiting brigade from putting in an appearance in big numbers, and -therefore it is not surprising that the only strangers nominated are. the Taranaki horses, Famous and Battleaxe. Hengist and Formula are in, while the presence of Miss Delaval, Coronet, Bluejacket, Hohoro, St Ursula, St Peter, Bosella, Beddington, Firefly, Honesty, and others, should ensure a very interesting handicap.

The City Handicap, the mile and a-quarter race to be run on the second day of the zI.R.C. Spring Meeting, has attracted thirty-one nominations This is seven above the number ■ entered last year. Battleaxe and Famous are the only visiting horses engaged, but with all the best of the Auckland trained handicap horses in the race, the contest should be one very well worth rseeinft. St Amy, Winiome, Rosiphele, Paul Seaton, and Vai Rosa, We have never seen over a distance, so there may be some sort of surprise in store for us.

John Porter has something to say about the jockey question (remarks the London Sportsman), and he emphasises the undoubted fact that our older celebrities did in fact ride, if not exactly in the American way, very forward on their horses, with a short hold of their heads. Even

in comparatively recent years we have known .John Osborne by the name of “The Old Pusher.” To ride long—with a long rein and a long stirrup is altogether more elegant horseman.ship, but for racing against the “ crouchers ” it is no use whatever. “ None of the old jockeys,” said Mr Portdr, “ used to sit up like Grenadiers.” His view of the position was that infinite harm was done by raising the minimum weight, such jockeys as Fordham, Wells, John Osborne, T Chalonerand others in .their early days could all go to scale as light or lighter than Johnny Reiff, even when he first came here, and Mr " Porter declares that plenty of similar boys could ’ be found, if only a chance were offered them. As to apprentices’ races, he regards them as useless, for the boys only ride against one another, with no good jockey in the field to set them an example. If they were given their apprentice allowance for a whole season then they would be brought forward, and gain really “ useful experience.

Somnolent was scratched on Monday for the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Handicap.

Nobility and Tirade were withdrawn from isL engagements at the Wanganui Meeting. Fabricator goes up for sale at Messrs Bucklands’s Auction Mart to-morrow (Friday).

According to the cable man, Seahorse and Labourer have arrived in Sydney in good health. For the Melbourne Cup, Hautboy was lasi week backed to win a lot of money at 100 to 4. War God was well supported at the same figure. When the last mail left Sydney, Lancaster and Malster were equal favourites for the Melbourne Cup at 100 to 7. La Carabine was backed to win the Melbourne Cup for a good deal of money at 100 to 3 at Sydney Tattersall’s last week. Mr J. G. Ralph, Mr J McOonnochie and Mr W. McManus are the new members of the Auckland Trotting Club Committee. Fashion was scratched for all engagements at the Wanganui Meeting on account of being ineligible to start. Bonnie d’Eau and Mongonui, a couple of local-trained horses, are amongst those entered for the Masterton Spring Meeting.

Mr Watts’ St Leger—Sapphire filly Blue Water has succumbed to her efforts on the track, and she will be mated with Torpedo this season. The following were granted trainer’s licenses at the monthly meeting of the A.R.C. Committee held on Monday: —J. Ohaafe, junr, G. Absolum, A. Robertson and W. Mobberly. At the A.R.O. Committee Meeting on Monday last, gentleman rider’s cerf ideates were issued to Messrs M. Deeble, W. J. Massey, and F. 0. Loggie.

At Monday’s meeting of the A.R.O. Committee* the following jockeys were granted licenses : —T> Moraghan, E. McKee, H. Morris, A. McLeod» F. Tooman and 0. McGuire. W. Copeland was granted an apprentice’s license. Nat Noble, who used to be associated with Mr Donelly’s team in the position of jockey, has taken service with the registered owner of the scarlet and white trainer.

Kahanwai r Mr Donelly’s Quilt —Brooklet filly, who has been performing well in her track duties, will, so I have been informed, made her bow at the Wanganui Meeting in the Guineas.

Forty four horses are nominated for this year’s Auckland Cup. The number is fifteen less than last year’s entry, but the quality is so good that I would not mind wagering that there are more starters this year than there were last.

The newly-formed Tauranga Jockey Olub met at Tauranga on Saturday, when it was decided to hold a race meeting about the middle of February. The amount of stake money has not yet been fixed, but it is anticipated that the sum will be one attractive to horse owners.

The Hon J. D. Ormond has sold St Bridget to Mr McDonald, of Invercargill, and St Andrew’s comely daughter has left for her new abode. She is a sweet mare with a lot of pace and determination, and she should make her presence felt in her new quarters

At a general meeting of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club, held last Friday, Mr G. L. Sunderland presiding, the following new members were unanimously elected : —Messrs J. A. Pothan, W. B. Jones, E. W. R. Bousfield, W. C. Maddison, W. A Beecroft, W. Symonds, S. Pattis' n, J. A. Macfarlane, S. R. Quartly, C. Hughes, F. S. Clark, F. Powdrell, G. F. Roach, F. L. Bone, J. Cullen, G Flemming, D. Scannell, R B. Mathias, J. G Johnston, F. D. Herrick. D A McLean, A. M Smith, D. A Baxter T. E. Lu dsay, J. Greenty, W. G. Hunter, J. Demsey, Hiha Nga Rangione, J. Boyd, R. Gooseman, T. Quinlivan, junr., D. Thomson, F. Hadley, F. Thorp, F. Whisker, Ratima Tui and J. Munn.

At the Annual Meeting of the Wellington Racing Olub, Mr P. E. Baldwin moved, “ That it be a recommendation to the incoming stewards to confer with the other metropolitan clubs with a view of taking united action in appointing one or more stipendiary stewards for the whole of New Zealand.” He said he would like to see the motion carried unanimously by the Club, which he hoped would be the first one in New Zealand to affirm the principle to appoint paid stewards. During his short term of office as a steward, he could not help noticing the great difficulty stewards had in carrying out their duties. The Wellington Racing Club stewards, he considered, would compare favourably with any others in New Zealand. The system of paid stewards prevailed in Victoria, and had been fouud a success. Sporting papers in Australia and New Zealand had heralded the stipendiary steward as a turf reform. Mr M. McKellar Wix seconded the motion. He said he had been connected with racing for forty years, and had been a gentleman rider and ridden against professionals. Stewards, he considered, should know something about the work hey undertook. He had also been a metropolitan secretary in this colony to his sorrow, as none of the officials knew anything about the work. The stipendiary steward must come sooner or later, and he had much pleasure in seconding the resolution. Dr Cahill said he would like to know on what ground the innovation was suggested. He thought the principle an exceedingly bad one, and considered any sport, whether cricket, football or racing, was generally spoilt when it got into the hands of paid officials. He considered there would be a difficulty in the way of selecting officials. They might as well make all offices paid ones. He thought matters could be improved here, but could not see how stipendiary stewards could have much power in that direction. After further discussion, the motion was put and lost, only the mover and seconder supporting it.

Yearling entries for the Hawke’s Bay Guineas of 1902 close on Tuesday, October 15th, with Mr F. D. Luckie, the secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club. The nomination fee is one sovereign. The winner of the Wanganui Guineas will have to carry a penalty of lOlbs. Mr Bill Lyons returned to Auckland on Monday from Sydney by the Zealandia. He is well tn health and jolly in spirit. ■ n Wednesday in last week he saw a wager 0f.2000 to 90 taken about Seahorse for the Melbourne Cup. He also reports that as soon as it was known in Sydney shat the Nelson colt had left Auckland, he was backed to win several thousands at 100 to 4.

Merriwee, the winner of the last Melbourne Cup, was last week very well backed. It is assumed that the support came from the right quarter, so Merriwee may be accounted a certain starter. With Seahorse a contestant, the battle will be an interesting one between the two Cup winners, but I think Merriwee will have to be at the very top of his form to give such a proved stayer as Seahorse 51bs.

A correspondent wishes to know whether the Auckland Tattersal’s Club require bookmakers to keep their book in ink. He thinks that lead pencil entries are very likely to get rubbed out, and that difficulties may arise between layer and backer. I think that such mistakes are very few and far between, for both bookmaker and punter are, as a rule, very careful about putting down jhe correct amount of their wagers.

Owners responded liberally to the invitation of the Napier Park Racing Olub. The two principal events, The Park Stakes and the Racing Olub Handicap, producing 26 and 27 entries respectively, which is an excess in the former stake of six over those taken last season, and the Racing Olub Handicap goes up three. With the Waipau, Wanganui, and Hastings Meetings to guide him, Mr Danvers ought to allot a very satisfactory weight adjustment.

Record Reign is well nominated for the A.R.O. Summer Meeting. I wonder what weight he will get in the Auckland Cup should he win the New Zealand Cup with Bst 111 b up ? The Castor gelding is progressing in excellent style. Ibe lieve Jack Thorpe goes away for the scene of action on Wednesday next. In addition to Record Reign, he will take Oavaliero and the two-year-old Scotty. The St Leger—Janet colt is a taking fellow, and I fancy he will hold up his end of the stick fairly well at Riccarlon.

Owners and trainers should bear in mind that the nominations for the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Spring Meeting close on Saturday next, October 6. The races requiring attention are : The First Hurdle Handicap, Spring Handicap, Flying Handicap, Second Hurdle, Makaraka Handicap, and Waikanse Handicap. The entrance fee for each of these races is one sovereign. Mr J. H. Aislabie, the Secretary of the Club will receive nominations up to 9.30 p m. next Saturday at the Masonic Hotel, Gisborne. v.c .

No jockey has achieved such distinction in connection with the City and Suburban as Mornington Cannon, who, on the Grafter, scored his sixth success in the race, and thus goes one better than the late Fred Archer, who has a good record in connection with the Epsom Handicap, of which he steered the winner on five occasions—Thunder in 1876, Julius Ooesar in 1877, Parole in 1879, Master Kildare in 1880, and Bend Or in 1881. M. Cannon’s winners prior to steering The Grafter were : —Reve d’Or in 1890, Nuntborpe in 1891, Reminder in 1895, Worcester in 1896, and Newhaven 11. last year. The Hon Hugh Mosman has an announcement in this issue offering some of his horses in training for sale or lease. The following are the horses :—Wellstock, the three year-old brother to Waiuku, by St Leger out of Musket Maid; the three-year-old bay gelding Lsertes, by Soult from Lady Emmeline ; the three-year-old chestnut filly Golden Tress, by Nelson out of Fiesole; the two-year-old loan colt by Son of a Gun from Dinawar; the yearling gelding by St Leger out of Ellerslie, and the yearling gelding Caprice, by Soult out of Cressina Mr J. G. Winter, the manager of Mr Mosman’s racing stable, will supply further particulars upon application. On Friday last—the concluding day of the Newmarket First October Meeting—Diamond Jubilee suffered his second defeat of the season. This was in the Jockey Club Stakes of 10,000 sovs. The race was won by Mr J. R. Keene’s Disguise 11, with Jolly Tar second, and Forfarshire third Diamond Jubilee, so the cable states, finished a bad fifth. Disguise II has been highly spoken of by some English writers, and Forfarshire was a strong selection for the Derby, and started favourite for the race. The Prince of Wales’ colt was probably not in the best of tempers last Friday, or else he was beaten on his merits. Of course he would have to give away weight to the place-getters, and the winner would also claim the gelding allowance. It is a long time since Mr Keene’s colours have been successful in an important race, and no doubt the American sportsman would meet with very hearty congratulations. The way of the market points to Sant Ilario being Mr Stead’s selected for the New Zealand Oup. In the matter of looks he is far in front of Skobeloff, and when they have raced together Sant Ilario has finished ahead of his stable companion. J he St Leger—Cissy colt is undeniably a handsome fellow, and the weight he has to carry in the Cup is not too big a burden for such a well-grown four-year-old On his three-year-old form, of course, the colt should not win, but if he has made the improvement claimed for him he must be a bad one to beat. A Christchurch friend tells me that both 8 nt Ilario and Skobeloff have been going really well whenever they have journeyed to the Riccarton tracks, and that there is little doubt about either of the pair staying out the two miles. That has to be demonstrated, but meanwhile both the Yaldhurst horses are doing all that is asked of them.

A commission in favour of Military was worked in Auckland last week.

Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting on Monday and Tuesday next.

Fulmen has been nominated for the Auckland Oup, and Auckland Racing Club Handicap. Oornquist has been backed for the Melbourne as well as for the Caulfield Oup. About £lB,OOO was secured about Merriwee for the Melbourne Cup at 100 to 3 to 100 to 4.

Wigelmar has been scratched for all her engagements.

Schimmel, the three-year-old colt by Gossoon, has been thrown out of training. He goes to the stud before being put in work again.

Paul Pry has won twenty-six races out of eighty-two attempts. His stake-money earnings amount to £7OlO.

Seahorse has been nominated for the weightfor age races at the V.AT. Club’s Meeting at Caulfield, which commences on October 13th, Mr J. Muir’s brood mare Folly, By Oaptivaiotf from The Jilt, has produced a colt to if? Walter’s St Simon horse Soult.

Eridsdale, who broke down at the A.J.O. Spring Meeting was so bad when he landed at Hobart, that he had to go by train to hia quarters.

At and after the Hawke’s Bay Spring Meeting of 1902 the winner of the Wanganui Guineas will have to carry a penalty of 101 b in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas. The Thames Jockey Club Executive has made arrangements to have starting nr achine fixtures erected on the course at Parawai before the next Meeting takes place. Hengist and Formula figure among the accept? ances for the Hawke’s Bay races next week, Maltiform’s sister is in the Maiden Plate and Flying Handicap, while Hengist is in the October Handicap. :

Hautain, by Haut Brion—Spite, and Grasspans by Grafton —Piecrust, are two Sydney two-year-olds expected to make the Melbourne cracks gallop at the coming Spring Meeting at Caulfield and Flemington.

Nobility, who is stated to be sore, was scratched for his Wanganui engagements. If the colt is sore now, there is not much chance of his taking a successful part in the New Zealand Oup next month. > . •

Lord Cureton, the four-year-old colt by Hotchkiss, out of Lady Cureton, has been showing good work on the Caulfield tracks lately, and Mr Ike Foulsham anticipates a return from him before very long.

Rosslla is an acceptor in the October Handicap, to be run at the Hawke’s Bay Meeting. Beddington is in the Guineas, and Hastings appears among those left in the Flying Handicap.

The Porirua trainer, J. H. Prosser, has Advance, Tortulla, Boreas, and Ostiak, entered for the Auckland Summer Meeting If they all come ap we shall have exciting racing at the Christmas carnival.

St Elyn has paid a visit to Mr Leonard Marshall’s St Simon horse Cyrenian. Mr Dan McLeod’s mare will, however, not yet be turz ed out of training. As she is by St Leger out of Lady Evelyn, the union with Cyrenian should prove very satisfactory. The following foulings are reportedMr Thomas Morrin’s Simonias by Simonian—Boyne, a colt to Hotchkiss ; Mr W Percival’s Lady Blair by Blairgow ie—datanella, a colt to Ben Godfrey, ard Mr W. Percival’s - Curacoa by Cuirassier—Rubina, a filly to Ben Godfrey.

Mr Dan O’Brien has nominated Malatua, Military and Cavalry for the Auckland Cup, Railway Handicap, and Summer Cup. Malatua and Cavalry are also entered for the Auckland Racing Olub Handicap, but Military has not been entered for the mile and a-half race.

On Friday last Mr Percival received entries for the principal races to be decided at the Spring and Summer Meetings of the Auckland Racing Club. The total of the nominations is not so large as the number received last year — the figures are 1899. 324; 1900, 296—in point of quality the horses entered are excellent.

Some of the Australian Turf writers are of the opinion that the three year-old colt Australian Colours is a youngster that will have to be kept on the right side this spring He got badly away in his race at Randwick lately and made up his ground very fast, especially towards the finish The colt is in the Melbourne Oup with 6st 81b.

Twenty-nine horses have been entered for the Auckland Steeplechase. This is a satisfactory number. Amongst those new to cress country racing are Uannongate, Hylas, Verdi and Drum Major. Nor’-west figures among the entrants, and Voltigeur 11, Volcano, Tim, Straybird, and Dingo are also nominated, so there is plenty of material for an interesting race.

Though Mr Ike Foulsham’s four-year-old Lancaster is progressing as favourably as could be desired, the Caulfield trainer ie not having the best of luck with Sagacity and Massinissa. Sagacity, who has been well-backed for the Caulfield Cup, is reported to be looking fucked up and light, while Massinissa has been absent from the tracks, and rumeur has it that he ie done for.

I have received from Mr F. D. Luckie, the secretary of the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, the book programme of the race meetings to be held in the season of 1900-1901. Ihe book is very well got up, and besides the race programmes, contains the nominations for all events closed to September 12, a weight for age scale, and valuable records showing the past winners of all the principal races at Hawke’s Bay..,

At the committee meeting of the A.R.O. on Monday, over which Mr Thomae Morrin presided, the following programmes were passed : 1 Coromandel Racing Club, November 21st nnd 22nd; Ohoairi Racing Club, December 24th, and Mercury Bay Racing Club, November 24th. Mr W. Best had a wonderful innings at Wanganui on Tuesday. First of all Oracle won the Spring Handicap and paid a dividend of £25 16s, then Frost won the Hack Hurdles, and paid £ll 2b, and finally Oracle won the Flying Handicap, and returned a dividend of £l2 18s. Ampler has at last come prominently into the market for the Caulfield Cup. I have been expecting this move f or some little time, for the hone has only Bst to carry in the race, and it is ho. secret that he can stay out the distance and keep a sprint for the finish. Oracle, who secured the Spring and Flying Handicaps at Wanganui on Tuesday is an aged gelding by Castoff out of Pamela. At the Wanganui Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting last year he won the Hack Handicap, and paid a dividend of £26 3s. Afterwards he won the Wairarapa County Cup uf a mile and a-quarter, beating Sirocco, Volley, Toa, Leda, and others. During the remainder of last season Oracle was silent. His Wanganui performances show that when he does talk he speaks with a purpose. In this issue Messrs Pyne and Co, the Christchurch auctioneers, advertise the annual sale of Mr J. F. Reid’s,yearlings. The Elderslie youngsters will be sold at Tattersall’s Horse Bazaar on Thursday, Bth. There are 21 yearlings altogether. A full description and the breeding of the yearlings will be found in another column. Year by year the Elderslie yearlings have been sold at improving prices, and there can be little doubt this y ear all previous records will be beaten, for the various fillies, colts, and geldings are said to be remarkably well grown, •nd very good looking. Stepniak and Gipsy Grand are the sires, and a glance at the pedigrees of the mares at the Elderslie Stud Farm will show their worth as matrons.

The Hon J D. Ormond has entered a strong team for the big races to be decided at the Auckland Racing Club Summer Meeting. In the Auckland Cup he has Paphos, Renown, Jabber, •nd Ideal.. Other of Hawke’s Bay sportsman’s hones entered at the meeiing are Goyt, Apollo, Terror, and JEneas. Very likely Mr Ormond will bring up one or two j uveniles, so we may expect Stewart Waddell with a big string. The acceptances for the first day’s racing at Hawke’s Bay must be considered vary satisfactory. Of the fifty-two horses handicapped in the four open races only thirteen have dropped out. With the Hawke’s Bay Guineas in addition there should be a very interesting day’s racing next Monday, and the second day’s running at Wanganui may not alter things a very great deal.

The Hon J. D. Ormond’s black colt Paphos is in the October Handicap and in the Flying Handicap next Monday. It will be interesting if the colt and Ideal both start in the firstnamed race, for the mare has Bst 81b, and the colt a atone less In the New Zealand Cup the weights are Ideal Vet 51b, Paphos 7«t 31b. I formed a high regard for Paphos when he visited Ellerslie last autumn, and expect to see him perform very creditably this season.