Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 527, 24 January 1901, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

I By

Petronel.

Uhlan is nominated for the Egmont Cup and the Atkinson Memorial Stakes.

The Waipa Racing Club will hold a meeting during the Autumn on the Te Awamutu Racecourse.

Fine nominations have been received for the Wanganui Oup. Advance, Tortulla, and Boreas are entered from Porirua.

The weights for the Newmarket Handicap, Australian Cup, Doncaster Handicap and Sydney Cup appear in this issue. Splendid nominations have been received by the Egmont Racing Club for the approching Autumn Meeting. Altogether the entries number 290. Eton, The Needle, Tiurne, Coronet, Dayntree, Regulus, and Matamataharakiki, are the Auckland horses entered. The sale of the privileges in connection with the Summer Meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club on Friday last, Mr John Churton obtained a total sum of £lOl9, made up as follows : Outside Booth, Mr Tim O’Connor, £204; Inside Booth, Mr Tim O’Connor, £150; Cards, Messrs Adams and Andrews, £225 ; Gates, Mr H. Hayr, £420; Refreshment Stall, Mrs Murphy, £2O.

I believe the Auckland bookmakers are seriously considering the question of sending a challenge to the Auckland Cricket Representatives. The former have come on a lot with the constant practice they have had, and though they have shewn a preference for catching a ball on the hop, they are sanguine about making fewer errors in the field than the Reps, did on the Southern tour.

A rather funny incident is reported by the Sydney “ Referee ” to have happened at a recent suburban meeting, when a “ dead ’un ” got home. The bookmaker who had the horse to lay would have made a good sum over the horse’s defeat, as the animal was a Strong favourite. He tells the yarn against himself that he would have made about £250, and was debating in his mind whether he would tell the man, who was to have a proportion of the winning, whether he would say he had won £l5O or £lOO, when something happened, and the horse won.

Sir Arthur Sullivan, it is understoud, has not died a rich man, for although during the earlier days of the Savoy he made a large income (£23,000 a year for some years), he lived his life, spent royally, and dispensed to charity with true Celtic liberality. At Leeds, where his fee as conductor was a bare £2OO, he entertained members of the Royal family, and he more than once went from London to rehearsal by special train, likewise returning. At one time he leased an estate in Norfolk, besides a river-side cottage at Walton, and a house near Monaco. He also owned one or two horses, but was unfortunate.

I am sorry to hear once more on fairly reliable authority that there is again a jockeys’ ring in existence, writes “ A-premantus ” in Melbourne “ Punch.” This may in a measure account for some of the very peculiar running we have seen lately, as it is said the ring select some horse that they know they can obtain at least tens about at the opening of the betting, and that belongs to a poor man, or one not given to punting propensities. Then when their market is made they all ride to secure the victory of this particular prad, and it is very rare they fail in their object, to the disgust of owners and trainers, who are unable to explain the poor showing made by their charges. But it will ever be until we have stipendiary stewards, who will not find it too much trouble to watch the running from different points of the course. This will come in the sweet by-and bye, but so, too, will the millennium.

A deputation of stewards of the Wellington Racing Club waited on the Hon. J. G. Ward on Friday with.reference to their decision to abolish the telegraph on the course. Mr McCarthy (president) pointed out that the wires were used considerably for illegal betting, and the Club asked the Minister to assist in preventing it. He said that last season the club put through £BO,OOO, and he was advised by the stewards that fully a similar amount was wired away. The club was willing to allow press and supervised messages to be sent, and be thought if a Government officer was appointed for that purpose the trouble might be removed. Mr Ward pointed out that the club only intimated to the Department on the 14th inst. that it intended to close the office. No one but the Government had the right to give notice as to the discontinuance ©f a telegraph wire set up for public convenience. The club had taken the wrong course. It should have consulted the Government before notifying that the office would be closed. He was with the club in its desire to suppress illegal betting, but he had to see that the interests of the public were protected. On November 22 last 261 press messages, 104 betting messages, 109 messages giving results of races only, and 125 miscellaneous messages were sent from the racecourse. On the same day 255 betting messages and 91 miscellaneous messages were sent on to the course. Whilst he sympathised with the olub as regards illegal betting, he could not help it to get at a particular class of people. If betting was to be suppressed, it must be by legislation. He could not see his way to discriminate between betting messages and those sent by the press and the general public. The regulations would not permit of that being done, and there would be a great outcry if he agreed to such a thing. He would ask the club to keep the office open. If it could see its way to do so, then he would approach the owner of the land on which the office stood, and, if unsuccessful there, he would have an office erected outside the course. After the Minister’s outspoken declaration there was nothing for the stewards to do but to intimate that the office would be opened just as usual.

Spun Gold has been withdrawn from the Century Stakes. The Woolloongabba Racing Club, Queensland, is importing an electric light plant in order to run races at night time. Cordon is favourite for the Challenge Stake to be run at Randwick on Saturday. He has Bst 41b., and some of the Sydney scribes speak highly of his condition and prospects. The French four-year-old crack Fourire, by Palais Royal out of Fourchette, has been purchased by the French Government for £6490, and will in future stand at the Le Pin Stud. During his three seasons racing Fourire won nineteen races amounting in value to £16,433.

Jack Booth brought down Rex and Bluecap from the Waikato on Monday. The former is looking lusty and well, while Bluecap is also in robust health. “The General” will, I suppose, set about getting the pair ready for the Easter Meetings.

Sir Rupert Clarke has named the two-year-old filly by Bill of Portland from Happy Land, for which he gave 700 guineas in the Spring, Commonwealth. It is an appropriate name and up to date.

The blood stallion Perseus, by Splendour from Persephone (dam of Vespasia, etc., by Yattendon), died at Turanville lately from rupture of the intestines. Perseus v.as a magnificentlyshaped horse that proved his worth under silk on several occasions, and in addition to boasting of size and substance, all Perseus’s progeny showed pace.

Bobadil, Advance, and Paul Pry are topweights in the Newmarket Handicap with 9st 111 b eachLancaster comes next with 9st 81b, a similar weight being allotted to Ranfurly. Tarquin has 9st 71b, and Sequence 9st 51b. Last year’s winner, The Watchdog, has Bat 121 b, and Cornquist is on the same mark. Sagacity is given Bst 71b, Ampier Bst 61b, Duke of Portland Bst, Bange 7st 131 b, and Town Clock 7st 121 b. There is nothing promising in the weight apportioned to Advance, and I think it may be taken for granted that the Vanguard colt will not go out for the Newmarket. Lord Cureton, who has done nothing yet, has 6st 121 b. For a four-year-old of any pretensions the weight is a light one, and he has a rare chance of distinguishing himself. On breeding he is good enough to win many a big race.

According to a Perth scribe one of the most amusing features in connection with the first day of the W.A.T.O.’s recent big meeting at Perth was the win of Investigator in the Maiden Plate. He was at first referred to in the report of the track work as “Fairfield’s unknown jumper." Since that time he has become the laughingstock of the track, and has been familiarly known as the “carthorse.” He is a great long fellow, and moves along with his head down, his tail out, and with a most uncommon gait. A veteran owner and trainer has been continually indulging in good natured banter at the expense of Investigator and his trainer, and one morning recently was anxious to run the horse himself for half a mile. The match, however, never came off, but in the race the owner referred to had his fancy colt engaged, and Fairfield must have had the laugh at him when the “carthorse” finished first, and the youngster “bred in the purple” labored along in the rear of the field. Investigator, who is by Invader, returned a dividend at the rate of 19 to 1 in a field of six.

Tommy Burns, the noted American jockey has been interviewed on the item of wind pres sure, and says:—“ If you ride with your head down, that is to say, bent slightly so that the wind does not beat right on to your face you can breathe easily, but if you hold your mouth wide open and let the air beat right in your face, then you will have great difficulty in breathing, and if the race be a long one you will become exhausted by the end of the ride. A mile race on a good horse is run in about Imin 40sec. A mile in Imin 40sec is at the rate of thirty - six miles an hour, so, you see, a racehorse travels at train speed. If you want to know how it feels to go through the air at racehorse speed just hang your head out of a railway carriage window, turning your face toward the way the train is travelling. Then imagine you are sitting in a saddle and have to hold on to your horse and guide him on to victory, if possible, keeping him from being run down or interfered with. It is not the picnic it looks.”

Rather a good idea is reported from England in the Studley’s Sprinkler, designed to obviate the use of bandages when it is desired to apply water to the legs of a horse. The apparatus consists of a main feed pipe of rubber, one end of which is affixed to the water tap. The other end is fixed to the nozzle on the top of the horse’s back, secured in its place over the roller by a surcingle. There are four pipes, two longer than the others, the longer being for the hind legs and the shorter for the fore legs. The rings round the legs are perforated, and the water is forced through holes in the rings. At the end of each tube is a bifurcated brass arm; one end of each ring is a fixture, the other is movable, so when applied to the horse all that is necessary is to pull off the free end, pass the ring round above the hock or knee, as desired, and replace the free end of the ring on its brass arm. The advantages claimed for the “ sprinklet ” are that it can be used on all four legs of a horse at once, or for one or two legs only, as necessary ; that it plays a continuous stream of water all over the legs from above the knees and hocks, and that a great saving of time, labour, and trouble is effected, besides being far more effacious. It can be used with hot or cold water, and, being continuous in action, should prove convenient, especially for weak or injured tendons.

The Australian handicappers have taken rather an exalted view of the merits of Advance in the short distance races, and they have certainly taken no chances with him in the long distance events. 'JI

Referring to the Wellington Park Yearling Sale “ Umpire,” in the Sydney “ Referee,” thinks the average remarkably good, and is of the opinion that the same stock in Australia would not have commanded such satisfactory prices.

The ex-New Zealand jumper, Opal, ran second in the Stewards Steeplechase, two miles, at Kempton Park last month. Mr J. B. Williamson made a cheap purchase at the disposal of the Tocal Stud animals on Tuesday. He bought the brood mare Epine, by Sweet William from The Thorn, for 25 guineas.

Eiridsdale, who won last year’s Hobart Cup, has been given lOst 111 b in this year’s event to be run on the 30th inst. Eiridsdale visited Melbourne in the spring, but things did not go well with him.

The Perth Oup has been won for three years in succession by sons of Carbine. In 1899 Mural won, in 1900 Carbineer was first past the winning post, an I the other day Flintlock was successful. The Wellington representative cricket team on Tuesday defeated the Canterbury Eleven by three wickets. The scores were: Canterbury, first innings, 146; second innings, 133 ; Wellington, first innings, 143; second innings, 137 for seven wickets.

Renown’s time in the race for the Wellington Oup is the fastest ever accomplished in a race over a mile and a-half in New Zealand. The Dreadnought—Lyrebird colt had done many good things previous to Tuesday’s fine achievement, now he has justly earned the title of champion.

Daphne’s victory in the Foxton Cup on Monday was somewhat of a surprise, for the Forerunner —Violet mare paid the satisfactory dividend of £5l 15e. Mr J. T. Blake is a thoroughgoing sportsman, and his win would, no doubt, be a source of gratification to his numerous friends.

After winning in the Foxton Oup on Monday, Hangfire dropped down dead, through breaking a bloodvessel. Hangfire was an aged geld ng, by Flintlock out of Annadilla, and was owned by Mr D. Scott. Last season Hangfire did not score a win, but a couple of seasons ago he proved himself a useful customer over hurdles and fences.

Melwood won the Anniversary Handicap at Wellington on Tuesday without an effort. The St Leger—Ladybird colt is evidently a far better animal than many give him the credit of being. He has Bst in the Wellington Racing Olub Handicap, one mile and a quarter, run to-day, and he may show up well in that race, for hitherto he has always won his races easily.

The largest shipment of cigarettes ever landed in Auckland via San Francisco arrived by the Alameda on Wednesday. During the Christmas holidays there was a great demand for Vanity Fair cigarettes, and the American Tobacco Company had to get 2,500,000 cigarettes overland from New York to San Francico, and they arrived here by the Alameda.

Another big dividend was forthcoming on the second day of the Foxton Meeting. This time Morning, who easily won the Maiden Hack Hurdles, returned her supporters the substantial dividend of £6O 16s. Morning is a six-year old mare by Trickster out of Day Dawn. Last season she put one win to her credit. This happened at the Horowhenua Racing Club’s Annual Meeting, when Morning won the Maiden Plate from three others and paid a dividend of £6 9s.

The Bookmakers and Clerks played a scratch match on Saturday at the Auckland Domain. The game attracted far more attention than the Cricket Association contests and caused considerable excitement. Martin Taylor was the hero of the hour with a well put together 26 not out. Jimmy Berkett was also in good form, while several others, including Charlie Philpot and Dan McLeod were considerably iu evidence. A kind of single wicket encounter between a new light-weight bookmaker and a well-known trotting man enlivened the proceedings.

In conversation the other day with a wellknown driving man, a correspondent says he was not surprised to hear him express the opinion that teeth trouble is the direct and only cause of many animals giving what is erroneously termed a display of vice (says the London “Live Stock Journal”). So many eminent trainers of thoroughbreds have become converts to the art of the horse dentist, that it says it is astonishing to reflect upon the indifference paid by the owners of harness studs to the condition of their horses’ mouths. Widespread as this indifference is, it is not, however, universal, as he knows of several horseowners who have had the teeth of their horses thoroughly overhauled, and with results which have surprised them. Amongst these is a gentleman who is well kt own at shows, who invariably makes it a practice of having all bits placed in a pail of hot water for some minutes before being put into the horses’ mouths, and he defends the practice not merely upon the grounds of humanity, but of expediency, as he argues that nothing can be more painful to a horse with a tender mouth or bad teeth than to have a solid piece or icy-cold steel forced into his mouth, and permitted to remain there until it is warmed by his natural heat. The owner in question moreover, quotes the case of one of his animals which was always a bad starter and very fidgety horse for the first half hour after he left the stable, which now goes as steadily as the most tim’d driver could desire; the improvement in his manners dating from the time when it was first decided to warm his bit before placing it in his mouth.

Acceptances for the events to be decided on the first day of the Taranaki Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting are due with the secretary onl Saturday, February 2. The cricket match between the Trainers and Jockeys versus Bookmakers and Clerks was com-l znenced on the Auckland Domain yesterday (Wednesday) morning. The sides were captained respectively by Jack Gainsford and Robert Cleland. The Trainers and Jockeys won the toss, and took first innings. When the news of the death of Her Majesty the Queen reached the ground stumps were at once drawn and the game postponed. At the time of postponement the Trainers and Jockeys had lost five wickets for 32 runs. Towards this total Gainsford was the principal contributor with 18. Advance did not go out for the Telegraph Handicap on the opening day of the Wellington Meeting. In the absence of the Vanguard colt Blazer was made a red hot favourite, and he completely justified that confidence, for though Okoari was quickest away, the St Clair —Mountain Lily gelding went to the front before many yards had been covered, and afterwards had matters all his own way. Blazer won easily by a length from Oingo, with Okoari third, having run the six furlongs in the good time of Imin 15sec.

Cruciform, by St Leger—Forme, and Menschikoff, by Stepniak—Pibroch, won the two-year-old races for Mr G. G. Stead on the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer Meeting. Menschikoff got well away in the Wellesley Stakes, slipped his field, and was neve* troubled, winning easily by half-a-dozen lengths, and covering the half mile in 49sec. Cruciform was smartly away in her race, and though Red Gauntlet made a semblance of a race with her she drew away at will, finally winning by five lengths in Imin 2 2-faec. _ MG3IMB

At the sale of the Tocal Stud, West Maitland, New South Wales, on Tuesday, Mr A. Davis, on behalf of Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan, purchased the following brood mares : — Orchestra, by Goldsborough from Melody, 220gns ; Oantatrice, by Goldsborough from Songstress, 200gns; Chlorine, by Grand Flaneur from Banksia, llOgns; Toi Toi, by Splendor or Sweet William out of Tauri, 55gns; and a three-year-old brown filly by Sweet William from Storm, 55gns. These well-bred animals should prove a valuable addition to the Sylvia Park] Stud.

The Hon J. D. Ormond’s champion colt Renown has once moredemonstrated his great worth. He made no race of the Wellington Cup, and carrying Derby weight he cut out the mile and a-half in 2min 35£sec. Tortulla made the pace in the early part of the race, and for al mile the black mare, closely attended by the other descendent of Torpedo, Materoa, went very fast. Once in the straight Benown made his effort, and, passing the others as if they were standing ■till, he came away and romped home an easy winner by three lengths. Ooeur de Lion and! Paladin fought a good fight for second place after the mares had compounded, and the judge was! unable to separate them. Materoa was fourth,! Palaver fifth, Tortulla sixth, Skobeleff seventh,! and Kahuwai, who lost several lengths at the! ■tart, last. I

The programme for the Ohinemuri Jockey Club’s Annual Meeting to be held on the Paeroa Racecourse, on Monday and Tuesday, March 18 and 19, is published in this issue. For the two days’ racing stakes amounting to £650 will be allotted. The Ohinemuri Cup, one mile and a-half, of 100 sovs, run on the first day, is the chief race of the meeting. The Paeroa Steeplechase, 50 sovs, is also set down for the first day.! On the second day the Waihi Handicap, one mile! and a quarter, 50 sovs, and the Tallyho Steeple-1 chase, 60 sovs, are perhaps the principal events.! On each day there will be a hurdle race of the! value of 40 sovs, the first being run over two! miles, and the second over a mile and three-! quarters. Maiden Hurdle, Pony and Sprint! Races make up a capital programme. Mr! Thomas Whewell, the secretary, will take! nominations on Saturday, February 23, either atl Paeroa or at Mr W. Bloomfield’s office, Durham-1 street, Auckland. The Ohinemuri Meeting ial always an enjoyable one, and as the club hasl catered well for its patrons a good list of nominal tions should be forthcoming. I

In the Australian Cup La Carabine is at the head of the handicap with 9st 131 b, a weight that the famous little mare has barely earned. She is undoubtedly a great stayer, but the handicapper has been rather severe upon her. Paul Pry comes next wilh 9st 81b, and then Advance with 9st 71b. The Vanguard colt is in receipt of 61b in the Australian Cup, over two miles and a-quarter ■while in the two mile Sydney Cup the respective weights are, Advance 9st 101 b, and La Carabine Ost 91b. In the Melbourne Race Seahorse has Bst 121 b, and it is to be hoped that on this occasion Major George’s handsome chestnut may go to the post fit and well. On the Melbourne Cup handicap he is well treated, for most of the dangerous horses are well up to him or above him in the scale. He has to give Malster lib and Olean Sweep 31b. Two three-year-olds, Findland 7st 121 b, and Kinglike 7st 101 b, read well, for they were considered the very best in the early spring. If returned to true form they may be dangerous. The Bride, 7st 101 b, may be expected to run well. Lancaster, with Bst 101 b, does not read badly, and a horse that a lot has been expected from at different times is Horace, who is well handicapped with 7st 51b. The V. 8.0. handicapper has made the scale for the two mile and a-quarteJ race heavier than his Sydney confrere for the two mile race. In the respective races the weights of the top division read :—La Carabine, Oat 131 b, 9st 91b; Paul Pry, 9st 81b, 9st 21b ; .Advance, 9st 71b, 9st 101 b; Tarquin, 9st 51b, 9st 21b; War God,9st3lb,Bst 131 b; Merriwee,9st2lb, 9«t; Fleet Admiral, Bst 131 b, Bst 71b; George Frederick, Bst 121 b, Bst 71b; Malster, Bst 111bJ Bst 131 b; Lancaster, Bst 101 b, Bst 111 b; Clean Sweep, Bst 91b, Bst 71b. I

"At the Tocal Stud sale the imported stallion Simmer, by St Simon out of the Oaks winner Dutch Oven, was sold for 1290gns.

Weights for the races, to be run on the first day of the Egmont Racing Club’s Summer Meeting, are due to appear on Monday, February 4th.

On the opening day of the Wellington Racing Club’s Summer Meeting the sum of £16,743 was speculated upon the machine. This amount is £1879 more than was invested on the opening day of last year’s Summer Meeting.

Entries for all events atthe Papakura Racing Club’s annual meeting close on Friday, January 25 (to-morrow), with the Secretary, Mr E. S. Cole, either at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland, or the Papakura Hotel, Papaknra. The programme is a capital one, and I hope to see the enterprise of the Club rewarded by a good entry list.

Monday, Febuary 4, is general entry day for rcheWanganui Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting. The nominations for the Cup, Stakes, and Flying Handicap are excellent from the quality point of [view and in number. If the entries for the other races are as representative an excellent meeting may be confidently looked forward to.

I Some Missouri, Illinois, or it may be Kentucky, farmer, huckster, or perhaps cart driver lhas in bis possession a mare which, if she could be reunited with her pedigree and put in breeding, would be worth to him anywhere from pOOOdol to 10,000dol, says the “Breeder and [Sportsman” of December 29. This mare is the |seventeen-year-old daughter of Longfellow and Modeste, formerly owned by Kinzea Stone, of Georgetown, and registered in the Stud Books us Silk Gown, She is the dam of Garry Hermann, the sensational two-year-old thoroughbred colt.

Silk Gown was sold last fall, and fell into the hands of the Breeders’ Protective Association whose mission is to rid the Turf of worthless] mares. Shorn of her pedigree, she was shipped to East St Louis, where she passed under the auctioneer's hammer a second time, the buyer not knowing that she was, or would ever be the dam of a great racehorse. From the sale mart she was led away, no one knows where, and cannot now be rescued from her obscurity, no matter how much some breeder would like to have her among his band of highly prized brood mares. Secretary Chenault, of the Association, says that the only reason that the mare was placed in obscurity was because she had been barren one season. He accidentally doomed her quite unintentionally during a rush of business and through an oversight. He bought her for 834. Kinzea Stone let go her because he was selling off his old mares.

The highest priced mare at the dispersal of the Tocal Stud was Minuet, by Goldsborough from Melody. She was sold for 500gns. ] Rougemont and Ma got are among the daily attendants on the Riccarton tracks, and appear to be galloping as well as their owners could wish. Huku is being put through some strong work in view of early engagements. The son of Vanguard had a bit of knocking about on the Coast, but appears to be none the worse for the hardships he encountered.

M. Hobbs is keeping Dundas and Benzoin in steady work. The former looks in capital fettle,] Benzoin has been doing some good work. It is about time the latter won a race. Lady Dundas,] another member of Hobbs’ team, is being worked with the others.’ This mare has had a spell Hobbs is trying to get her ready for the Midsummer Meeting here.