Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 529, 7 February 1901, Page 11

Sporting Topics.

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Petronel.

Waiuku is on his way back to New Zealand. Taranaki Jockey Club’s Autumn Meeting next Wednesday and Thursday. Hawkes’ Bay Cup nominations are due tomorrow—Friday.

The final payment of 5 sovs for the Taranaki Cup falls due on Saturday next, February 9. The handicaps for the events to be decided on the first day of the Poverty Bay Turf Club’s Annual Meeting should be declared on Saturday next, February 9.

The committee of the Auckland Racing Club on Monday issued jockey licenses to the following applicants •—W. Bradshaw, A. Cossel, C. Crocker, S. Dufty, A. Edwards, W. Jones, R. McKenzie, H. Nodder, G. Penny, and J. Penny. The handicaps for the Waitekauri Racing Club’s Meeting, to beheld on Saturday, February 16, appear in this issue. Acceptances are due with the secretary, Mr W. S. Morrin, to-morrow (Friday) February 8. Acceptances for all events to be run at the Papakura Racing Club’s Meeting are due with secretary, Mr K. S. Cole, to morrow (Friday) February 8. Acceptances will be received either at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland, or at the Papakura Hotel. / : Nominations for the Easter Handicap, First Handicap Hurdles, Autumn Handicap, and St George’s Handicap, to be run at the Autumn Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club, are due with Mr Percival on Friday, February 8 (to morrow). The entry fee for each race is one sovereign.

Mr J. H. Clayton, the secretary of the Stratford Racing Club, will receive nominations for the races to be run at the Hack Meeting on March 18 on Monday next, February 11. The races requiring the attention of owners and trainers are the Stratford Cup; Handicap Hurd;e Race, Welter, St Patrick’s, and Flying Handicaps. The handicaps will be declared on or about Monday, February 25. The committee-of the Auckland Racing Club met on Monday and considered the programmes of various clubs. The progammes from the following clubs were submitted and approved of : Thames Jockey Club, March 4; Opotiki Racing Club, March 7 ; East Tamaki Racing Club, March 9; Northern 4 Wairoa Racing Club, March 16; Wakatane Racing Club, March 18.

Oavaliero’s name has been whispered about during the last week as one likely to make a bold show in the Takapuna Cup. The Cuirassier gelding ought to be able to make a bid for the honours, for he is well and is well-treated in the matter of weight. Given good going Ido not think he will knock Bluejacket out at the end of the mile and a-half. Sir J. Blundell Maple, the well-known owner and breeder, .sends a lot of brood mures to Paris for sale every year, and he has found the enterprise a profitable one. Last month he sent over sixteen lots, and they averaged 570 guineas. Sir Blundell has found it more ) emunerative to breed and cater for the French than the English market. A majority of the lots were young mares covered for the first time by fashionable stallions.

Some time ago, while being schooled over hurdles at Wanganui, Taplow got staked inside the quarter, and has never got over the injuries resulting therefrom. He was again examined by a surgeon last week, and an operation under chloroform was suggested tn remove a piece of wood still embedded in the flesh. It is probable that the operation will be carried out says an exchange. Taplow has been accepted for at Taranaki so he cannot be so very bad.

Final payments for the O J.C. Middle Park Plate and Champion Plate are due with the secretary on Monday nex:, February 11. Monday next, February 11, is general entry day for the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Midsummer Meeting.

The catering at the Takapuna Jockey Club’s Summer Meeting will be in the experienced hands of Mr A. F. Stillwell.

The cable brings word that Advance has been backed to win £lO,OOO in the Newmarket Handicap. , The Vanguard colt is now a firm first favourite at 100 to 6.

The Auckland Anniversary Begatta will take place on Saturday, March 9th. Entries close with the secretary, Mr E. B. Alexander, on Wednesday, March 6th.

The honorary secretaries of the Imperial Troops Reception Committee ask citizens —in the event of the authorities deciding on billeting the troops—who are willing to entertain them to send in their names and addresses to the Committee at once.

Entries for the South Auckland Racing Club’s Annual Meeting, fixed for Saturday March 9, must be made on Friday in next week, February 15. Nominations can be left with either the secretary, Mr A. J. Storey, Hamilton, or Mr H. Massey, High-street, Auckland.

St Leger had a good innings through his progeny at the Wellington Summer Meeting. Melwood scored twice for the veteran stallion, while Cruciform, Okoari, and Dartmoor each notched t a win which adds to the Doncaster horse’s already good total for the part of the season concluded. I expect to see more victories to the credit of St Leger before the Takapuna and Taranaki meetings are concluded.

An English exchange says of Sir Edgar Vincent the owner of Screw Gun, “Sir Edgar has already spent enough money on the turf and in buying horses to deserve a turn of fortune, but up to the present the fates have been against him—more especially when Multiform turned roarer; Stoccado, who on his first running here seemed full of promise, but went mysteriously lame; and his two-year-old colt, Council of Trent, of whom great things were expected, had to be fired and put away for next season.”

“Pilot,” in the Sydney “Referee,” says:— “ St Innis, I take it, is now nearly as good as at anytime during her New Zealand Turf career Her condition is very different to when she first raced here, and whereas she used to die away after going three furlongs, she now runs her races right out. In the Eourteen-three Handicap at Kensington on Saturday Indabba was fairly close to her at the turn, but she ran away from him in the straight, and won very easily from Cora 11., whose rider might have distributed his energy more evenly He displayed a lot over the last furlong, but comparatively little prior to that. However, he explained matters to the satisfaction of the stewards. Indabba could/ have got third place, but was eased up when pis rider saw there was no chance of winning.”

Some mostj glaring cases of turf malpractice have taken place in this colony during the last twelve months, and have been allowed to go unpunished, says a Brisbane writer. In a few cases where jaunishment has been dealt out generally the “\boy bn top” has suffered, and the prime movers 'in the business have gone unpunished. It is common rumour about Brisbane that an individual has the controling, through ownership and other means, of horses in several stables, and is thus able to forecast with almost absolute certainty the winners of many of our races, but with marvellous acumen is able to stand from under when any trouble arises. If true, the authorities in power should leave no stone unturned to-alter this state of affairs, otherwise the turf here will suffer considerably.

A curious story is related about the Chesterfield Cup, won by Pumicestone, which suggests that men with such evenly-balanced minds as the late Lord Wilton, are not beyond the reach of superstition. The colt had previously run as by Cotherstone, out of Duchess of Lorraine, and Lord Wilton had not troubled himself about giving him a name Shortly before the race, however, he received a letter from Lord Chesterfield, enclosing him one which he himself had got from a gentleman, stating that he had dreamed most distinctly that a horse named Pumicestone had won the Chesterfield Cup at Goodwood, and as he could not see one of that name in the entry, he concluded that it must be Lord Wilton’s animal, that had not been named The colt being got by Cotherstone, his lordship did not consider Pumicestone altogether inappropriate, and willing to humour the dreamer’s fancy, adopted the name, and saw the vision realised, for, without being quoted in the market, his colt beat Vanderdecken and a large field very cleverly. One of the little slips to which the bookbinder is liable, brought about a family complication, which has made a young man (says the “Literary World”) very sorry for himself Reading a sporting novel, “The Monk Wins” (Duckworth and Co.), a stirring tale of turf intrigues, bookmakers, American jockeys, and an heiress who owned a Derby favourite, he bought a clean, new copy, and sent it to an elderly and rich uncle, whose health compels him to live in the south of France and renounce the delights of Newmarkt and Goodwood. Presently the volume came back, with a curt note intimating that the uncle had no intention of dying just yet, and, anyhow, was not looking for religious instruction from his nephew. The cover of the novel, adorned with horse-shoe and whip, proved to enclose “ Thirty Plain Sermons,” including “The Passing World” and “In Earthen Vessels,” by the Rev. B. J. O. Murphy. The binders had put in Messrs Duckworth’s covers the wrong publication.

As Mr H. Hayr withdrew from his purchase of the gates at the approaching meeting of the Takapuna Jockey Club the Committee has decided to offer the gates at auction again. Messrs John Churton and Co. will therefore submit the right for sale at twelve o’clock to-day, Thursday. The Takapuna Jockey Club will issue a general invitation to the Imperial Troops to be present at the races on the day they are in Auckland, and the same hospitality has been extended to the returned members of the New Zealand contingents.

Matamataharakiki has been progressing very well in her recent work, and I believe she will be the selected of the stable for the Takapuna Cup. She has a very light weight to carry, and if she can stay out the full mile and a-half she will make a very good race.

The holiday number of the San Francisco “ Breeder and Sportsmen ” is a capital production. It contains some excellent reading matter, many fine Dortraits of leading trotting horses, pictures of prize-wining dogs, and other admirable illustrations of various kinds of sport.

Mr Tom Whewell, the secretary of the Ohinemuri Jockey Club, informs me that Mr George Cutts cannot accept the position of pony measurer the 0.J.0. Mr Cutts already has his hands full, and as he cannot see his way to the work the O. J.C. stewards will measure the ponies themselves.

Dayntree has been showing better gallops during the past week. He is one of the horses who has benefitted by the postponement of the Takapuna Meeting. Had the race for the Cup been run last week he would not have had a hope, now his prospects bear a much more promising appearance.

It is stated that Sir Rupert Clarke is dissatisfied with the weights allotted to his horses by Mr Dakin, and that a petition is to be got up asking Victorian owners not to run their horses. The matter can only be idle rumour, for such a course, if adopted, would only tell against the owners themselves.

The frequent and heavy rains of the past tew days have not been too much for the training tracks, and, many horses have been putting in some solid work. Should there be more rain between now and the time fixed for the opening day of the Takapuna Meeting the Cup race may be won by a light-weight.

Tarragon continues to make steady improvement at Ellerslie, and his admirers for the Takapuna Steeplechase are rapidly increasing. Tim also is going well Nor’-west and Straybird still remain at the head of the quotations recorded on the Steeplechase, and are the favourite selections in double betting with Formula and Bluejacket.

At the monthly meeting of the committee of the D.J.C. (the Hon. G. M‘Lean presiding held on Wednesday in last week) the action of the Waikouaiti Club in suspending the jockey Lindsay for twelve months was endorsed. The donation of the handsome Union Jack by Messrs Speight and Co was acknowledged with thanks. Leave of absence was granted to Mr James Mills during his absence from the colony.

The long postponement of the Takapuna Jockey Club has been the source of much inconveniece to the owners of at least the visiting horses with prospective engagements elsewhere. Tommy Atkins is a case in point. Mr Major’s gelding has two engagements on Wednesday at the Taranaki fixtures, and is entered for some of the races to be decided on the second day. He must be withdrawn from some of the Takapuna events if he is to race at New Plymouth. If the Takapuna Jockey Club had held their meeting during this present week the visiting horses would have been enabled to fulfill all their engagements here and get to New Plymouth in good time for the racing there.

I again remind owners and trainers that nominations for all the events to be decided at ■»

the Ctahuhu Trotting Club’s Summer Meeting close to-morr< w, Friday, February 8. The programme contains many valuable stakes, the principal trotting race being the Otahuhu Cup, valae 100 sovs. There are several trotting events with stakes of 60 and 50 sovs, while the galloping ponies have been well provided for Entries will be received by the Secretary, Mr W. L. Lockhart, at Otahuhu, or at the Metropolitan Hotel, Auckland, up till nine o’clock on Friday evening.

Mr Evett and Mr Henrys differ considerably in their estimates of horses engaged at the Taranaki and Egmont fixtures 1 aking the|three accepting topweights in the Taranaki Cup, who are also in the H gmont Cup, I find Coronet 9st, Battleaxe 7st 101 b, and Materoa 7st 81b In the Egmont Cup, run over the same distance (one mile and a-half), Mr Henrys makes Coronet head the list with 9st 41b, Materoa has Bst 51b, and Battleaxe Bst 41b. The Hurdle Race at New Plymouth is run over two miles, and the weights of the acceptors are:—Troubadour list 91b, Kaimate, 10st 91b, Whetu lOstf 81b, Waiwera 10st 51b, Scallywag 10st 41b, Vanquish lOat 21b, Tui 10st, Gowrie 9st 101 b, Waylay 9st 71b. In the Egmont race run over a mile and threequarters, Sabreur is topweight with list 91b, then comes Waiwera list 31b, Troubadour lOst 131 b Tim lOst 131 b, Whetu lOst 111 b, Kaimate lOst 51b, Vanquish lOst 51b,|Scally 13ib, Tui 9st 81b, Waylay 9st 81b, and Gowrie 9st 41b. Considering that Troubadour’s favourite distance is a mile and three-quarters he must be considered remarkably well in for the race at the Egmont meeting, with only lOst 131 b to carry. In the six-furlong race at New Plymouth the accepsors are, Okoari Bst 51b, Eton Bst 51b, Scout Ist 91b, Tommy Atkins 7st 51b, and Full Cry 6st 101 b; in the Egmont Flying Handicap, run over the same distance, the > weights of'the above horses are, Okoari 9st 31b, Eton Bst, Full Cry 7st 131 b Tommy Atkins 7et 121 b, and Scout 7st 81b. ’

I am sorry to report that Mr J. J. Russell is still confined to his room through illness. The name of Taranaki has been bestowed on Mr 8. McGuinness’ Howitzer gelding, the name Francotte having been disallowed. It is reported from Melbourne that Bobadil has again gone wrong. He has been withdrawn from t e Newmarket Handicap, Oakleigh Purse and Oakleigh Plate. The Egmont Racing Club notifies in this issue that bookmakers, their clerks or agents, will not be admitted to the grounds of the Egmont Racing Club on Wednesday and Thursday, February 20 and 21. Boreas was left out of the Century Stakes to be run at the Autumn Meeting of the A R.C. by mistake. Advance will probably be in Australia, but in the Sou’-wester gelding the Ponrua stable •will have a doughty representative. Maltster has been backed to win about £5,000 in the Newmarket Handicap. It is not known whether the support came from the stable, lhe dual Derby winner has also been backed with freedom for the Australian Cup. Formula has not been pleasing in her work lately. Probably the filly is feeling the effects of the continual strain. The long postponement of the Takapuna Meeting must have its effect upon those horses who were being wound up tor the 29th ult. Mr J. A. Drake, the American owner, who is aaid to have made a million dollars out of his racing ventures in England, says “ English horses race in plates that Jweigh [2l bs apiece. My man, Wishard, puts on aluminium plates, and my horses, not being encumbered, run more easily and win.” The stewards of the English Jockey Club, having examined certain other starting machines that have been submitted to them, have approved the Barrafford Starting-gate Machine. Hitherto Gray’s Australian starting apparatus has been used in England. At last the Takapuna Jockey Club has decided upon the dates Summer Meeting. The first day’s racing will take p ace on Saturday next, the second on the day declared to be the public holiday in honour of the Anniversary of Auckland, and the last] day is fixed for Saturday week, February 16. I suppose the Papukura Racing Club will now postpone the meeting which was fixed for the latter day.

The acceptances for the O.J.C. Midsummer Handicap are poor indeed. Only five horses are left in the big handicap of the Summer Meeting. Paladin 9st 31b is left, while Strathnairn has gone out, Cameo Bst 111 b, Skobeleff Bst 41b, Huku 7st 111 b, and Scottish Minstrel 6st 121 b are the other contents. The topweight and Skobeleff will probably fight out the issue, though if Scottish Minstrel is ever to justify the admiration of his party he has, with 6stl2lb, a big opportunity to so distinguish himself. I fancy that the weight may tell with Cameo, and I also believe that Paladin is quite able to give him 61bs over a mile and a-half. Gossip from Wellington seems to infer that Cameo and Mr Victor Harris’ horses ran for each other at the ilutt, but I expect both Paladin and Cameo will go for all they ar* worth in the Midsummer Handicap.

During the course of a hurdle race at Tjimberumba last week (says the Sydney “ Mail ) some well-intentioned people re-erected some hurdles that had been knocked down by the competitors, and when the field came round the second time the obstacles had to be negotiated in their original state. At the conclusion of the race a protest was lodged on the ground that no one had a right to interfere with or re-erect the fallen hurdles. The matter has been sent on to the A.J.C., and though that club has no rule directly bearing on the point, the secretary, Mr OJibborn, finds that according to the Grand National rules in England hurdles or fences must be left untouched and unrepaired during the course of a race. Precedent here supports the protest, for on one occasion at Rand wick the late JannAH Ashworth re-erected some hurdles, and was reprimanded by the A.J.O. towards for doing so. Mr Clibbom considers it one of the unwritten laws of racing that hurdles or fences should not be interfered with from the time a race is started until it is finished.