Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 516, 8 November 1900, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

[By

Petronel.]

The Ohinemuri Jockey Club has a substantial eredit balance.

Owing to the heavy gales of last week the Blenheim races had twice to be postponed. Mr W. H. Herries’ brood mare Sapphira, by Leolinus from Lyre, has foaled a colt to Soult.

The Summer Meeting of the Thames Jockey Club will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, December 26 and 27.

Messrs Nichol, Poland and Edwin Shaw have been elected to the committee of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club.

On Friday at the A.R.C. privileges sale the cards were purchased by the proprietors of the Spoiting Review for £216. Malatua started a very warm favourite for the New Zealand Cup. Out of the £5573 on the totalisator £1586 was invested on Dan O’Brien’s horse.

At the Wellington Park stud Lady Evelyn, by Perkin Warbeck—Pulchra, has foaled a colt to Hotchkiss; Rubina, by Kingsborough — Etiquette, has foaled a colt to Hotchkiss ; and Bay Bess, by St Leger out of Cantiniere, has produced a colt to Seaton Delaval.

At Mr Donald McKinnon’s breeding place, in the Waikato, the following footings have taken pl ace : —Kaitiri, by Flintlock —Taipouri, a filly, to Loch Ness; Magnesia, by Anteros —Fair Agnes, filly to Loch Ness; and Pikau, by Anteros —Amohia, a filly to Flint!, ok.

At the Parliamentary Inquiry into racing in N.S.W., Mr T. S. Clibborn, secretary of the A.J o., ’said he objected to betting shops because the public should have a start for their money. If betting were stopped, there would be no racing, and he did not think it would benefit the public morality in any way.

In reply to a letter forwarded by Mr Geo. Duncan, of Onehunga, Mr W. H. Wanklyn, secretary of the Racing Conference, has forwarded the following in reply t —“ lam directed by Sir George Clifford to inform you that, subject to being duly licensed by both racing and trotting authorities, no rule debars one person from training both classes of horses.”

The place betting on the English St Leger was a curiosity. It will be remembered the respective pl ces were filled by Diamond Jubilee, Elopement, and Courlan. Usually one-fourth of the “ straight-out odds ” is laid for a place, but in this instance backers of Mardi and Courlan, who were at 25 to 1 to win, had to lay a shade of odds on them for a “shop,” while Elopement was in almost as bad a case (says an English correspondent). The rush on Mardi for a place and the comparative weak position o Elopement are attributed to the heavy metal sf Mr “ Plunger ” Sievier, who piled his money on the former colt, and laid as heavy against Elopement’s getting placed. If the figures given of his transactions on this race are correct he must have had a staggering knock. The Summer Meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, December 26 and 27. In all the stake money to be raced for amounts to £437. On the first day the Boxing Day Handicap, one mile and a quarter, with 50sovs, will perhaps be the chief attraction. The Hurdle Race one mile and a-half has 30 sovs, the Park Stakes seven furlongs has 30 sovs, as has the Flying Handicap of three-quarters of a mile. The Shorts’ First Hack and First Welter Handicaps have 20 sovs each, and there is a Maiden Hack Race of 12 sovs. On the second day the Grandstand Handicap one mile and a distance, and the Second Hurdle Race are worth 4Oaovs each, the Electric Handicap of five furlongs is endowed with 30 sovs, the County Stakes Handicap one mile has 25 sovs, and then four races each of the value of 20 sovs. Nominations close on Wednesday, November 28, and Wednesday, December 19 1 with Mr M. G. Nasmith, and the handicapper, Mr O. D. Bennett, will publish his adjustments on Wednesday, December 12. The programme , appears in detail elsewhere in this issue.

Dirk Hammerhand on Monday night went back in the Melbourne Cup betting to 50 to 1. Trainer’s licenses have been granted by the A.R.C. to R. Hannon, W. G. Irwin, and F. Reid.

Seven new members were elected by the committee of the Auckland Racing Club on Monday.

The “Special Commissioner” of the Melbourne Sportsman and “Reginald” of the same journal gave La Carabine as the winner of the Melbourne Cup.

The latest cable reports state that Seahorse has recovered f Jom his recent attack of influenza, and that the Nelson colt is now quite out of danger.

At. Monday’s meeting of the committee of the Auckland Racing Club it was decided to call for tenders, for the right to provide refreshments after the coming meeting is over. ,

Mr Dan McLeod returned from Christchurch on Tuesday. He left Christchurch after the New Zealand Cup was over, so that he might be in Auckland in good time for the Spring Meeting at Ellerslie.

The A.R.C. Committee granted licenses on Monday to the following jockeys : —T. Tooman, R. Searle, J. Bigham, G. F. Bonnor, W. Edwards, H. tßarr, J. Geddes, D. Bannatyne,' S. Hodge, and M. Quinton.

The New Zealand Cup resulted in a dead heat between Fulmen, 7st 131 b, and Ideal, 7st 51b. The three favourites, Malatua, Tortulla, and Dundas,, finished eighth, ninth, and tenth, respectively.

On the opening day of the C. J.C. Metropolitan Meeting the totalisator investments amounted to £20,258. Last year on Cup day the figures were £18,392. The weather on Saturday was excellent, and there was a record attendance of the general public

Pampero’s victory in the Stewards’ Stakes a Riccarton was a very big smprise. The Hon George McLean’s colt was in a prominent position all the way, and when Goldspur had had enough the St Clair—Mistral colt came away, and won comfortably from Formosan and St Denis.

Fulmen has had three tries in the New Zealand Cup. He ran second to Tirant d’Eau in 1898. Last year he ran unplaced behind Seahorse after sta ting a very good favourite, and this year he is an equal winner with Ideal. The Castor — Hilda horse is a good stayer, and that quality pulled him through. The A.R.C. Committee on Monday granted licenses to the following gentlemen riders : — Messrs W Gordon, Wynne-Brown, E. B. Kinloch, G. Hyde, 8. A. Paton, R. Buckland, G. Paul, J. Grant, J. Selby, A. Selby, T. Austen, and H. Crowther.

Malatua, Tortulla, and Dundas, the three fancied candidates for the New Zealand Cup, were the three last horses to pass the judge. Malatua and Tortulla faded out of the contest once the straight was reached, while Dundas was not prominent after a mile and a-half had been covered.

The following programmes have been passed by the Auckland Racing Club Committee: — Takapuna J.C. Spring, Nov 28 and Dec 1; Summer Meeting, Jan 29 and 30, and Feb 2; Winter Meeting, May 24 and 25 ; Waitekauri J. 0., Feb 16; Alexandra J.C., Dec 26; Galatea Hack Club, Dec 26; Matakohe Hack and Pony Club, Feb 27; Ngunguru R.O December 26; Matamata R 0., December 26; and Puriri J.C. January 29.

Mr Dan McLeod thinks Miss Delaval had a share of bad luck in the New Zealand Cup To commence with when Tommy Taylor went to scale he could go less than Bst 51b. So another rider had to be found for the little mare. At the very last moment L. King’s services were obtained, but though he rode a good race his mount was a stranger to him. Had Taylor been able to ride the weight Miss Delaval might have been returned the winner of the New |Zealand Cup of 1900.’

The victories of Tsaritsa and Indian Queen at Riccarton on Saturday should cause plenty of competition for Mr J. F. Reid’s yearlings, which are to be sold to-day. There is very little doubt that Stepniak is getting some good racehorses, for wherever his offspring run they are generally able to score a win. Tsaritsa has now won seven races right off the reel, and in the Riccarton Welter she beat a very representative field. Indian Queen, the winner of the Welcome Stakes on Saturday, succumbed to Menschikoff and Formosan on Monday, but here again a Stepniak is the winner, for Menschikoff is by that sire out of the good mare Pibroch. These latest victories of Elderslie bred animals should —and I hope will —have a good effect on to-day’s sale.

Seeing the astonishing success of the American jockeys (says a recent London paper) one is inclined to wonder how it was that the cute Ted Broeck, of some forty years ago, did not tumble to this style of riding. The American jockeys rode then after pretty much the same fashion, but one may suppose the era of Sloan, Reiff, and Co. had not exhibited itself to the perfection it has at present. Certainly the clever American owner of that day made an equally good choice of a jockey, Fordham being his chief selection. One seems, however, at a loss to understand why we have been so long in finding out the superior merits of the Yankee style. One is inclined to think that the exact antithesis of them as a horseman, Sam Rogers, would probably have held his own with them, as no doubt would the more “ crouching ” Jim Robinson. Our teachers have, perhaps, been lucky enough to reach these shores when we are to a great extent, “ out of jockeys ” of the true English brand.

Melbourne Cup won by Clean Sweep. The Napier Park Racing Club made a profit of £176 4s 9d over the recent Spring Meeting, Battleaxe has arrived at Ellerslie. The Hotch« kiss—Queen Cole gelding looks very fit and well. The Needle, Bluejacket, Coronet, and St Ursula are the popular selections for the Prince of Wales’ Handicap run to-morrow at Ellerslie. The three placed horses in the Melbourne Cup’ Clean Sweep, Malster, and Alix started at 20 to 1.

Mr “ D. Garvey ” is an assumed name of an owner registered with the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club.

8 D. Hannon and J. S. O’Neill have been granted jockey’s licenses by the same Racing Club.

Troubadour arrived in Auckland on Saturday The Sou-wester gelding is in good trim, and is expected to win a hurdle race during the coming meeting at Ellerslie. A three-year-old has won the Melbourne Cup in four out of the last six years : Auraria in 1895, Newhaven in 1896, Merriwee in 1899, and Olean Sweep in 1900. The following programmes have been passed ,by the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club : —Wairoa County Racing Club, February 5 and 6; Smithfield Racing Club, December 26; and Woodville District Jockey Club, December 19 and 20. The Spring Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club takes place on Friday, Saturday and Wednesday next. With fine weather the gathering should be a conspicuous success, for the fields are large and the cou se is in excellent order. Oannongate is expected to run well in the Hurdle Race to-morrow (Friday) In ago on the flat the other morning the black gelding showed any amount of pace. His jumping ability is proved, so he should take some beating,

Malster’s performance in the Melbourne Cup was a really good one, and stamps him as a highclass colt. It was hard luck for the Derby winner to be beaten, but his party have the knowledge to console them that one in the same stable beat him. The time was very fast, and Maltster certainly did well to carry his 7st 1 lib' so near the front in such excellent time. He gave the winner 61b, and probably Clean Sweep would have been where he was if he had carried the same weight as Maltster, for he appears to have won easily. In addition to Fulmen’s success in the New Zealand Cup on Saturday, the Wellington Park Stud was represented by another winner at Riccarton, Field Rose, the three-year-old filly to Hotchkiss outof Wellington, winning the Maiden Plate. Field Rose—own sister to True Blue and Screwgun —ran twice as a two-year old unsuccessfully, and her win on Saturday was the first occasion of sporting silk during the present season.

Fulmen, who used to be trained by J. MoGuineas, the Hon George McLean’s trainer, is now in C. Hankin’s stable. McGuiness will no doubt be glad at the success of his former charge, for he always had a liking for the horse. Probably he wishes that the opportunity —in the shape of a weak field —had come while Fulmen was under his mentorship. None of the Dunedin people gave Fulmen a chance of victory m writing of the prospects of the various candidates.

In making reference to Sloan’s return to America one New York critic says : —As a matter of cold fact —and this without belittling for one instant the brilliancy or the success of Sloan in other years—his coming now creates not the slightest interest in the professional racing world, whatever it may in other circles. There are three jockeys riding here now whose present form is beyond the best that Sloan displayed, and these three in their order of excellence are Spencer, Maher and Turner.

The Hon J. D. Ormond’s little mare Ideal one of the dead-heaters for the New Zealand Cup on Saturday, is a five-year-old mare by Dreadnought out of Mount Ida, by Apremont from Idalia. Ideal had not previously won over a longer distance than a mile and a-quarter, and though she has always been considered a sterling little animal, she was not regarded as a stayer. She won a race at the recent Hawkes’ Bay Spring Meeting, and though after that victory she was supported for the Cup her track form at Riccarton did not cause her to come into greater favour. Indeed, wires from the course gave the two winners, Ideal and Fulmen, no chance, and such an impression evidently prevailed up to the time of starting, for they were two of the four least supported horses in the race. The time shows that they galloped fast, and they certainly outstayed the rest of the field.

Fulmen, the co-winner with Ideal of the New Zealand Cup, is a six year-old son of Castor and Hilda. He was bred at the Wellington Park Stud by Mr Thomas Morrin, and was bought as a yearling by the Dunedin trainer, Mr J. McGinnis, for 125gns. Fulmen ran in the nomination of Mr J. Brett until last season, when he was purchased by his present owner, Mr J. Boreland’ When owned by Mr Brett, Fulmen won several very fair races, and two years ago ran second to Tirant d’Eau in the New Zealand Cup. Last year he started a warm favourite for the same race, but did not get a place. For this year’s big handicap he was not highly regarded. At Dunedin he shaped very indifferently, and his form after arriving at Riccarton did not increase the number of his supporters to any great extent. He was voted very light in condition, and none of the trainers and course-watchers had a good word to say regarding Fulmen’s chance. However, by running the two miles in over half a second beyond record time the Castor horse proved that he is an excellent stayer as well as the possessor of good pace.

I have received the well-got-up book programme of the Takapuna Jockey Club for the season 1900-1901. In addition to the programmes for the three meetings there are records of past events and two capital views of the Takapuna course

The Wellington Racing Club has received excellent nominations for the Spring Meeting, while the entries for the Wellington Cup, Racing Club Handicap and Port Nicholson Handicap, to be decided at the Summer Meeting, are exceptionally numerous. Both meetings should turn out successful gatherings.

The Wanganui Jockey Club has received one hundred and fifteen nominations for the Jackson Stakes, to be ru' at the Autumn Meeting of the Club in 1901. For the same event, to be decided in the following year, ninety seven horses have been entered. Present foals may be entered up to and on April 22nd next for the 1903 race. Cavaliero’s treble win at the O.J.C. Meeting on Saturday shows what a very capable performer the Cuirassier gelding is. He carried his 12st 111 b easily to victory in the Hurdles Rae® and then, with 13st 71b up, romped home for the Ladies’ Purse. On Tuesday he won the Spring Hurdles with 13st 81b up. With another day’s racing to come there may be further honours for Mr Lou Harris’ horse.

The Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club, as the Metropolitan body of the district, has dismissed Mr R. W. Paterson’s appeal against the twelve months’ disqualification imposed by the stewards of th© Hawke’s Bay Joi key Club at the recent Spring Meeting. Mr Paterson was disqualified for admitting that he had invested money with bookmakers on his horses Dr Bill and Ringlet and expected to receive the same price as the totalisator returned. I should say that more will be heard of this matter. Certainly some notice will have to be taken of the decision disqualifying Mr Paterson’s horses.

According to the cabled description of the race for the Melbourne Cup, Lancaster seems to have been in the van from the start until th® straight was reached. Entering the straight he was closely attended by Clean Sweep, who challenged the Hotchkiss colt at the distance, and shot away from the field, and ran home a fairly easy winner. La Carabine ran a good mare, but Severity, War God and Merriwee do not appear to have been prominent at any part of the race. The details of the contest are meagre, so for the present very little can be said of the race. Certainly Lancaster showed good form for over a mile and a-half, and then, the cable informs us, he shut up.

The pony racing at Potter’s Paddock was extremely interesting from the speculator’s point of view, In each of the flat races the finishes were very close, while the hurdle event gave rise to a a great battle. For three quarters of a mile New Boy and The Flower were ridden hard, and both showing unflinching gameness, the result was in doubt until the last hurdle was reached. Ther® New Boy made a slightly faulty jump. He merely touched the timber, but the impart was sufficient to cause loss of position and consequent defeat The finish was a fine conclusion to a pretty race, and every sportsman on the ground avers that ths spectacle was one that he would not have missed for a sovereign The flat races, as I have said, were closely contested, and the finishes reflect credit upon the handicapper and the several riders engaged.

Olean Sweep, the winner of the Melbourne Cup, is a black three-year-old colt by Zalinski out of Benzine, by Nordenfeldt from Frailty.. At the Caulfield Meeting, Clean Sweep won the Coongy Handicap, and on Saturday, October 29th, he |won the Moonee Valley Cup, one mile and three furlongs. In the last-named race he carried 7st 41b, and cut out the distance in 2min 23|sec. Ihe horses behind him were not of the class he met in the Melbourne Cup, but still the colt showed excellent form. Olean Sweep was purchased as a yearling for 90 guineas at Mr Chirntide’s annual sale by J. Scobie, the Ballarat trainer. Scobie trained Olean Sweep, so he has the distinction of having given the first and second horses in the Cup their education.

Last week, in reviewing the prospects of ths various horses engaged at the 0. J.C]. Metropolitan Meeting, I, mentioned , the fact, that the Hon J. D. Ormond had not won a New Zealand Cup or a Canterbury Derby. The Hawke’s Bay owner is now enrolled as the co-winner of the NewZealand Cup of 1900 with Mr J. Boreland, the owner of Fulmen, and he at last has gained the distinction of owning a Canterbury Derby winner. The Hon J. D. Ormond can claim still further distinction, inasmuch as both Ideal and Renown were bred at Karamu, the rearing place and home of so many horses distinguishing the records of the New Zealand Turf. Ideal and Renown ar® educated by Stewart Waddell, the trainer who.for many years has exercised his attention, care, and knowledge upon the bearers of the “ all cerise ” livery. Both owner and trainer are to be heartily congratulated upon the success already achieved, and that which should come to them before the present racing season closes. The “ Indian Planters’ Gazette ” says it heard good accounts of North British, Merloolas, and Redavni prior to the trio leaving Colombo for Calcutta. Merloolas has thickened a bit, but still does not please those who like to see a bit less daylight underneath. He is a great leggy, slackily-coupled horse at the best of times, and to look his best would require a deal of building up. The paper adds that when Merloolas left Calcutta after the last Viceroy’s Cup meeting he was a woful-looking scarecrow that one would not have given a brass button for, so that there is plenty of room for him to look better. North British is better in his coat than he was, and is expected by his connections, to serve them a good turn in Calcutta. Bedavni is best spoken of the lot, and it is anticipated he will prove particularly good over the hurdles.

Only one of the Auckland pencilled has had A really good win over the New Zealand Cup. Mr Robert Cleland backed Ideal, and he has won • very nice stake, for he laid very little indeed •bout Fulmen.

Maecenas is expected to distinguish himself during the big meeting at Perth. According to some of the authorities, he is the best weight-for- , age horse in West Australia when thoroughly • wound up. f such is the case, he must have 1 improved wonderfully since he was in Sydney, says the Sydney “ Referee.” Mr Fred Duval arrived in town on Wednesday. He saw the race for the New Zealand Cup, and he thinks Miss Delaval was unlucky to lose. He told me an amusing story about a southern paper. He gave in an advertisement at the office, oneof the lines reading, “ Wallace’s Immortal Work ‘ Mari tar a.’” When the paper appeared the “t ” in Immortal was missing! I here was a good house that night!

Aucklanders received a very painful shock on Tuesday when a telegram from Wellington announced that the well-known jockey Joe Gallagher had attempted suicide. It appears that Gallagher was a terrible sufferer from acute rheumatism. This, coupled with his wasting to get down to Ideal’s weight for the New Zealand Cup, must have upset his mental balance. Happily, Gallagher’s injuries are slight, and there is every reason to hope that he will soon be himself again. He will arrive in Auckland early next week.

Our old friends *• The Pollards,” after a most successful season down South, are about to visit us once more, and will renew acquaintance with local playgoers on Wednesday next. This will be the last visit here for years of this popular combination, as an extensive tour of the other colonies has been booked commencing at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney, on Boxing night. The initial attraction here will be a revival of the charmirg comic opera “The Geisha.” On Friday Mr Pollard will make a new departure, when he will desert the realms of comic opera •nd will produce on a scale of unusual magnificence and completeness Wallace’s ever popular work “ Maritana.’,’

The November number of the New Zealand Tt.t.urtratbd Mag-Azink is now on sale. The present number bears out the promise of its predecessors. The literature is of a sound nature throughout, and there are plenty of really good reproductions from photographs and original drawings. “ Pig Hunting ” is a very readable article by Mr Walnutt, the Maori story by Messrs Archie Campbell and Toomas Cottle is an excellent contribution. A paper on “Wekas,” and some capital short stories help to make up a first-class number.