Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD Thursday, October 23, 1902. Sporting Topics.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 663, 23 October 1902, Page 12

Sporting and Dramatic REVIEW AND LICENSED VICTUALLERS’ GAZETTE WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WEEKLY STANDARD Thursday, October 23, 1902. Sporting Topics.

The withdrawal of Seclusion from the Caulfield Cup last Thursday came as a very nasty blow to backers, as she . ruled as second favourite at the time. ■. It is reported that the reason of the ' late scratching was the fact that the stable had been forestalled in the mar-' - XQ . AT-- • ■ >'■

Tresham got through a good round of the course on Tuesday. ■ He had the assistance of Irish, and Rattler, and made the trip in 2min 2^sec.

St. Peter was given a strong gallop a couple of mornings ago. He was brougik home the last six furlongs by Stibbingson, and was clocked to take 2min Isec for the round.

The privileges in connection with the approaching Spring Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will be sold by Messrs Gabriel Lewis and Co., at their room, to-morrow (Friday), the 24th inst., at noon.

A lot of money’ must , have gone on Flagship at the last minute, for he dis placed Air Motor as favourite. He made a very gallant effort to pull his supporters through, bat it was not to be. It was very hard’ luck after running into third place last year to once again get so close to the coveted prize without winning it. * * * * The Auckland Racing Club can ha\e no reason to grumble at the number of nominations received for the -coming Spring- Meeting, for all the events have filled well. Handicaps for the first day’s racing are due to appear at_noon tomorrow (Friday), when Mr Evetts estimate of the capabilities of the. various ccontestapts will be eagerly scrutinised. * * * * In last week’s issue, owing to a typographical error, the portrait of Geordie was -labelled the sister to Nonette, while the latter figured as Geordie. Anyone acquainted with this pair of equines must have instantly detected the error for both were very excellent presentments of Macmanemin’s charges.

Nonette, , Scotty and Geordie- had a bad passage down. South, but • appeal to- have come through the trying .ordeal without harm. ' This will be good news to the former’s . multitudinous backers in Auckland who must have been some-, what, fearful that the boisterous weather experienced duing the trip would tell against the chances of the Northern champion in the. big race. ’*. ■ * *

A lot of money has been going on Siege Gun during the week, and he is now in the very pink of condition, and he ranks as first favourite for the New Zealand Cup. All reports from Christchurch agree that the Hotchkiss colt is certain to put up a great performance. The doubters, however, ask what the colt has ever done, and remain firm in their allegiance to Nonette.

Once again the Caulfield Cup has kept up its reuutation and proved a delusion and a snare to the backers of the favourite. Lieutenant Bill must have proved a wonderfully good horse for the bookmakers, and I doubt whether his name was once - written locally. In his 1 training the Pilgrim’s Progress horse had been doing some fast work, but his displays in the earlier races gave no prospect of him having even an cutside chance in the big handicaps at Caulfield. I must plead guilty to think- \ ing the task beyond him.

The Ashburton Cup is down for decision to-day, and more than usual interest will attach to the race owing to the presence in it of Nonette. for his many backers will be 1 anxious to know how the Seaton Delaval crack is after the rough journey he has experienced. If he strips for the race in question I cannot - see anything in it likely to beat him unless it be Welbeck, concerning whose track work I have heard the most glowing accounts. Canteen is another who is very fit just at present, and the grev son of old Vivandiere should not be' far behind the two just mentioned at the business end of the trip.

The handicaps are out for the first day of the Auckland Trotting Clubs Spring Meeting, which takes place on November Ist. Acceptances for the various events are due to-morrow (B ri day), the 24th inst.', at 9 P- m /. T J e club desires to draw special attention to Rule 38a, which states, that by entering a horse the nominator and every person having dny interest in such h° rse shall be deemed to accept all the conditions and restrictions imposed or sup plied by these rules, and to be debarred from questioning any action or con-duct-of any official of a Trotting or Racing Club in respect of such horse, or of any person connected therewith, otherwise than is provided for by Rule 92; Rules of Trotting. . ’ . . * * * *

The Summer Meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club will as dsual run into three days, these being December 27th, 31 st and January 3rd. The prize money is fixed on a very liberal scale, and 1? L sure to be a hearty response Mz.c. F. Mark should hovp n husv day in store for him on December 12th, when general entries are due. The full pragramme is advertised in to-day’s issue: .

Mr G. G. Stead does not intend accepting for the New Zealand Cup with Romany Queen, nor will Crdciform start in the Stewards’ Handicap. Lieutenant Bill’s best performance prior to his win in the Caulfield Ciip last Saturday was his victory in the High-weight Handicap at Flemington. In this race he carried eight stone, and ran the mile in Imin 43?,secs.

Vai Rosa and Idas slipped over a mile on Tuesday morning in very takingstyle. Mrs Lennard’s pair are both very well, and are pretty certain to account for a handicap, or two at the coming meeting at Ellerslie.

The Gaiopin sire Grafton is making a great name for himself at the stud in Australia. Strata Florida and Brakpan. who are among the very elect of the three-year-olds, claim him as parent, while another representative is Duke of Grafton, a very handsome colt out of the Lochiel mare Dis’grace, seems to be champion among the two-year-old division.

Mr C. Smith, the secretary of the Northern Wairoa Racing Club, gives full parti&flars of the programme for the -uinimer Meeting in this issue. This meeting promises to be one of those pleasant country gatherings which often prove far more enjoyable than fixtures nearer town. Seven races are listed for each day, and all classes af owners are catered for. The Northern Wairoa Cup will be run on the first day, December 26 th, and the meeting will be continued on December 27th and January Ist. Nominations are due with the secretary at Dargaville on Thursday, November 20th.

The Spring Meeting of the Wellington Racing Club will take place on November 21 and 22. A glance at our adversising columns will reveal the fact that a very enticing list of events is on the programme. On the opening day the Wellington Handicap is the piece de resistance, this being run over a mile and a-quarter for a stake of 400 sovs. The Pearce Handicap is the tit bit to be dished up on the concluding day of the meeting. This race is run over nine furlongs, and is worth £3OO. Entries for the various events close at 10 p.m., on Friday, October 3<) while the weights for the first day’s races are due on the 17th of next month. A liberal response from owners is sure to be made for the big spring fixture at the Empire City. * The annual sale of the Elderslie yearlings takes place at Tattersail’s Horse Bazaar, Christchurch, on November 13 There are eighteen catalogued to be sold comprising seven colts and eleven fillies. Among these are some exceptionally high-class vearlings, which are certain to command good figures. Among these are five colts which claim Stepmak as a sire included in the quintette being a brother to Orloff, while Gipsy Grand is responsible -for two. Among the fillies is one by W&lll&ce from the Bill of Portland ’ mare Faraway—a very successful strain. Four are by Stepniak, including one out of Euroclydon s sister Britomart. The remainder arq_J?y Gipsy Grand; and are a very promising lot. Messrs Pyne and Co. announce in another column full particulars of the sale. “ Ajax,” in the Sydney “Referee,” picked The. Idler, Air Motor/ and Kilt or Great Scot to fill the places in the Caulfield Cup. “ Pilot,” in the same paper, selected Felicitous, Combat, and . Air Motor or Seclusion, while Umpire went for Flagship, Air Motor, Felicitous, or Seclusion. The summing up of Martindale,” in the “ Town and Country Journal ” was Air Motor, Kilt, Seclusion, or Great Scot. “Milroy ’ the Sydney “ Mail ” turf writer, inclined to the chances of Air Motor, P ro_ sredior, or The Idler, so that Umpire”’ was the only one to get even a placed horses among the lot Melbourne files are not yet to hand at the time of writing, but I expect it will be found that not-a single scribe throughout the whole of Australasia tipped Lieutenant Bill to win the 1 ig event at C.aulfielc.

The outcome of the recent appointment of the new handicapper to the Wellington Racing Club was a requisition which was signed by twenty-two members, asking that the matter should be reconsidered. Several of .the speakers at the meetingthought that Mr Evett, who had acted as handicapper to the Club for many vears, should have received more com sideration from the committee. A large majority of those present, however, accepted the motion contained resolution as a vote of censure and want of confidence in the stewards, and accordingly voted against it. Without expressing any opinion as to the merits of the case, it must be readily admitted that this was the correct step to take. The /awards are appointed for the season, and n their every action is to be disputed, it would soon become impossible to get gentlemen to act.

Messrs L. D. and N. A. Nathan s horses, Lavalette, Beddington, Grey Seaton, and La Valiere have been struck out of all engagements at the Canterbury Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting.

Another English horse will shortly try his luck on the Australian turf. This is St. Ambrose, who has commenced training at Flemington, under the care oi R. Bradfield.

Mars was out exercising over the sticks on Tuesday, and the chestnut gelding acquitted himself very creditably. He should have a great deal to say in the big hurdle race on the opening day at Ellerslie.

Final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup fall due on Tuesday next, October 28, when the balance of the impossible briglade will drop out. Out of tfie 170 original nominations, it looks as though a field of about 25 would face the starter. Next week I hope to review the prospects of those left in, and hazard a forecast as to the ultimate winner.

Once again Wakeful demonstrated what a clinking good mare she is by winning the Eclipse Stakes, eleven furlongs, on the second day at Caulfield under 9st 41bs. Mr Macdonald’s flier went to the post with odds of 3 to 1 laid on her ability to win, and she never left the issue in doubt, winning easily ins 2min 26sec. In this race Footbolt, altnough left at the post, ran into third place.

The old Auckland favourite, Record. Reign, was a starter in the September Stakes, of seven furlongs, run at Poonah (India), on September 4. The Castor horse had the big impost of lOst 71b, and was unable to gain a situation.. Planet, Bst 41b, Swiftsure, Bst 101 b, and Veneda, Bst 121 b filled the places. «• «■

During last season the crack English jockey, O. MaddVn, rode in no less than 778 races, and scored 130' wins. This year W. Lane was up on 549 occasions, getting the verdict 124 times, and it is anticipated that before the season is over the popular 'horseman will have donned the colours fully eignt hundred times. Such a record cannot leave much leisure 'to indulge in any dolce far niente. ■

So far eight colts and six fillies have made their appearance at the Sylvia Park Stud, thus leaving six more mares yet to foal. In addition to twelve mares belonging to the home stud, Seaton Delaval has had thirteen mares from outside, thus showing in what repute he stands as a sire. Explosion has also been well patronised, and lookalike having a very successful season. *

’the two-year-old Carbine colt Grea.forex, who is owned by the Duke of Portland, scored tne Ninth Champion Breeders’ Biennial Foal Stakes of 1.015 sovs,, five furlongs, at Derby (Eng.), on September 2. Starting at 6 to 5 against in a field of 12, he beat Tippler a neck in Imin 2sec. According to many good juhges, Greatorex is the best. two-year-old eeen out in England this season, although Flotsam beat him a few days ago ae a difference of 41b in the weights. *****

It looks as though Carbine will finish up this season in England with well over £20,000 to his credit, as up to September 5 his progenv had won nearly £IS,OOO. The principal contributor to this amount was Fowling Piece, with five races of a total value of £6760. Altogether, up to the date mentioned, the Carbines had won thirty-one races, and from being decried as a’failure last year, the son of Musket is now in such demand that, for the next couple of seasons it will be difficult to get a subscription to. him. On k the other hand, Trenton continues to decline in favour,’ and as he is now in his twenty r second vear, his prospects of making a name for himself in England are decidedly poor. ! #

The Takapuna Jockey Club will hold the Spring Meeting on Saturday, November 29, and Wednesday, December 3, when a most, attractive programme will be down for consideration. On tke opening day, the chief dish will be the St. Andrew s Handicap, of 200sovs, which should attract some of our best horses. The Spring Handicap and Steeplechase are the best features on the second. . Nominations for all races are due on Friday, November 7, at 9 p.m. In another column Mr R. Wynyard advertises full particulars of the several events, as well as times for nominations, handicaps, acceptances, etc. * « » « *

The result of the Cesarewitch was cabled during the week, and it was immediately seen that tne ex-Aucklancler, Seahorse, was not among the plaici-getters. The winner of the big eighteen furlongs handicap turned up in Mr J Buchanan s bay horse Black Sand, a five-year-o d son of Melanion and Sanda. He was followea home by Mr H. Lindermere’s four-year-old bay mare Congratulation, by Matchmaker from lota, with the Rightaway three-year-old Rightful next best. The winner carried Bst 21b, and gave the placed horses 121 b and 261 b respectively:

I noticed Cavaliero out on the track again. The spell seems to have done the big fellow a lot of good.

At Brighton Beach (New York) in August Lord Derby and Louise Jeff -erson met in a mile race to waggon. There was considerable delay in scoring, and when they got the word Lord Derby was barely moving, yet he soon got in his stride, and led to the quarter pole 324-sec/, this did not indicate anything sensational, but when the half, was passed in Imin the grand stand realised that a champion mile was probable, and excitement reigned supreme. He got to the three-quarter pole in Imin 35sec, and then came home as only he can in 2min s£sec. By this performance he lowered his own record of 2min to 2min sec, took the world’s race waggon record, and also the champion race waggon record for two heats. 1

As a result of his running at Flemington and Caulfield, Strata Florida has jumped up in the V.R.C. Derby quotations, and now is even favourite with Abundance, who has eased to 6 to 4. Of course, if the colt could. be relied upon to beat Wakeful again he would be entitled to head the Derby quotations, but it is suggested by the Randwick form that Wakeful’s luck in, the race must have hampered her, and that possibly she needed a gallop. Strata Florida could do nothing with Great Scot in the Duff Memorial Stakes mile, in which Abundance shaped particularly well. Mr W. T. Jones’ colt beat Great Scot as well as Wakeful in a fast race, so that his success at Caulfield opens up the Derby problem, and there will Ije no more offers of 5 to 1 bar one.

Ye faddists, read this ’ The racecourse is a financial boon and blessing to the ratepayers of Doncaster. The last published returns for the year ended March 31 st, 1901, showed a transfer of profit from the race committee to the borough fund of £7,701 9s 2d. Last year it was something like £8,500 equivalent) to a saving in the rates of Is 3-ld in the pound. Lucky Doncaster |" Nor is the net profit of the racecourse the only plum the racecourse pull out of the pie, for every year the race committee hand over between £4,000 and £5,00.0 at four per cent, interest on the estimated value, of the stands. This is not a sinking fund charge—the cost of the -stands has long since been paid off—but a kind of annual rental. This, is equivalent to between sd and 9d on the rates, so that actually the bur-, gesses of Doncaster are to-day benefitting to the extent of something like 2s in the pound from the racecourse'. » * * *

An anecdote of the old-time rider Snowden tells of the time he went to riUe a horse for the late Harry Bragg, a wellknown Newcastle bookmaker. Jem had the usual trouble in scrambling into the saddle, for he had been “ on the pot ’’ all the morning, but Bragg felt confident, and backed his horse to wip him a verybig stake. When the horses vent out, Bragg adjourned to the stand to watch the Hutter, after telling Snowden, not to give his mount the whip at all, as the horse would be sure to stop dead at the first cut. As the field thundered into the straight led by. Snowden, however, Bragg' was horrified on seeing Jem’s whip go up* in the air. All the same Snowden again secured a clever win, but after he had weighed in Bragg went over and said •’ “ Jemmy, old man, what were yon about with your whip as you came .up this straight ?You \gave me a cfevil of a fright ’by! using it there.” “ Whip, ba dj—d !” said Snowden. “That was my balancin’ pole, and I was doin’ Blondin with it. Why, I nearly, tumbled off at th’ turn, and would have done it only forth whip.” I don’t think Snowden ever fell, although always in a’ state of chronic “ corn,” but he was a half-bred Gipsy, and had the luck of the Romany rovers with him.