SPORTING TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 698, 23 July 1903, Page 5

SPORTING TOPICS.

From England comes word that a Bill for the Registration of Bookmakers is shortly to come before the House of Commons.

The Duke of Westminster’s brood mare Ornament has produced a filly foal to Persimmon. The youngster is a full sister to the sensational Sceptre.

The steamer Fortunatus had a rough passage to India, but though several horses were injured and died, Great Scot was landed in pretty good condition.

The most successful horse there has been in South America for years past is Peppermint, by St. Mirin out of Mostana, by Pepper and Salt out of Strathfleet. As a three-year-old last season he rab twelve times, winning on every occasion.

The good deeds of Eton are so well known that there is no need of recapitulating. There can be no question that he was a brilliant and honest performer, and if given a fair chance this close relative of Carbine should certainly stamp his characteristics on his progeny.

Sir James Miller gave 7000 guineas for Sainfoin prior to that horse winning the Derby, and 4200 guineas for Roquebrune, and the alliance between the pair has been an early Derby winner, as Roquebrune missed in her first season, and Rock Sand is her first foal.

The pacing stallion, Almont, lowered another record at Ascot (Melbourne) on Monday week. He was set to cut down the world’s three miles record of 6min 55|sec, established by Nightingale in 1893. Going in good style throng hour., Almont covered the distance in 6min 50£sec, the last mile being covered in 2min I6sec.

The New .Zealand mare, Westguard, had her first run in Australia in the Flying Stakes, at Warwick Farm. Her; appearance did not suggest that she had been asked to do a great deal since her arrival from New Zealand, and after disputing the lead with Famous for nearly five furlongs, she died right out, and was orfe of the last to finish.

Mr Crowther has no reason to regret sending Kiatere for a trip South as the Castor horse has run most consistently, placing three jumping events to his owner’s account. It looks as though the five-year-old bay is a little better than outsiders have given him credit for. • • - •

The Annual General Meeting of the Auckland Racing Club will be held at the Chamber of Commerce on Monday, August 3, at 2 p.m. The chief business is to receive the Report and Balance Sheet, and also to elect six members of Committee. Nominations for these must be handed in to Mr Percival, the secretary, not later than noon next Saturday.

The yearling colt; Oxydonor, a son of Lochiel and Melissa, has arrived In Dunedin from Sydney, and is now an inmate of McGuiniss’ stable. The youngster is a full-brother to the well-known Australian performers, Survivor (now in England) and Revivor, both of whom were successful in the A.J.C. Metropolitan Handicaps.

The victory of the veteran ’chaser, Nor’-west, in the Wellington Steeplechase was fully anticipated in Auckland, where he was generally summed up as one of the best of good things. Quite a number of accidents occurred during the race, but Mr Cecil’s gelding won with such ease that it is very doubtful if the result would have been affected even if ail the others had stood up.

* * * * The following are the drawers of placed horses in Tattersail’s Consultation on the Grand National Hurdle Race, run at Flemington (Vic.), July 4, 1903, 100,000 subscribers at 5q each fully subscribed : — Ist, Marmont, P. Byron, Golden Blocks, West Wanganui, Nelson, New Zealand, £6OOO ; 2nd, Lowland Chief, Granville Syndicate, care of A. Cauvarel, Gundagai, N.S.W., £2OOO ; 3rd, Westerley, S. Poole, Tram Shed, Randwick, N.S.W., £lOOO.

The purchase of Sceptre by Captain Bass rather discounts all the labour of the students of breeding who contributed in the recent mating competition inaugurated by the “ London Sportsman.” In it the choice of the judges finally rested upon Isinglass. Captain Bass, however, owns a very promising young stallion in Love Wisely, and it is said that Sceptre will visit this horse at the conclusion ol her racing career. Love Wisely belongs to the (11) family, and has three crosses of Stockwell, one of Rataplan, and three of Touchstone.

The cable states that Count Lamsdorfi has purchased Ard Patrick for twenty thousand guineas, Mr Gubbins, however, retaining the right to run the horse throughout the present season. This year the son of St. Florian and Morganette has already won two of the big ten-thousand-pounders, so that he has indeed proved a veritable bonanza to Mr Gubbins.

It is very pleasing to notice that the Wellington Racing Club scored a most emphatic success with the Winter Meeting. The fields were large all through, and the racing of a highly interesting character, while despite indifferent weather on the opening day the totalisator returns were ahead of last year. My Wellington correspondent deals with the gathering at length in another column. Returned visitors all speak highly of the management, and appear to have thorroughly enjoyed the reunion.

Dr. Louis Robinson considers that shying “ is most distinctly a relic of a valuable ancestral instinct.” The wild horse, swift of foot and clear of vision, feared few enemies when out on the naked plains; but every bush or tuft of long grass might, and often did, contain a fierce foe lying in ambush. Many and many a time must the wild horse have saved his life by a sudden* swerve and leap in the opposite direction the moment he Heard the rustle of leaves' or descried some strange and dimly-outlined object among the underwood.

Particulars of the services of the wellknown stallion Sylvia Park are advertised in this issue. He is a beautifully-bred horse, being got by St. Leger from Atlanta. by Dainty Ariel, her dam Moonshine (imp.) by The Libel out of Twilight, by Velocipede. Sylvia Park was bred in 1888 by the New Zealand Stud Company. He is a very handsome chestnut, and has taken prizes in the show, notably the first and Champion prize at the last Wanganui Show. Although so far he has not been given many chances, yet the son of St. Leger has got some good gallopers. Durable is one of his stock, and this gelding has been a consistent winner. At such a low fee as six guineas there should be no difficulty in filling Sylvia Park’s list.

The services of Cyrenian and Eton are advartised in another part of this paper. There can be no possible doubt that in the former the Cambria Park Company possesses one of the most beautifully-bred stallions in Australasia. By the mighty St. Simon, out of the Springfield mare Daisy Chain, Cyrenian boasts a very fashionable pedigree, being indeed bred on almost similar lines to the English Derby winner,-Rock, Sa|nd.i The latter iskbyj the Springfield horse Sainfoin, out of the St. Simon mare Roquebrune, so it will be readily understood how close is the relationship. between the two. Cyrenian, who was a good performer, is a very handsome stallion, and there should be no trouble irt filling his list twice over.

In the latest files to hand of the “London Sportsman,” the “Special Commission” has the following :—“lt is unquestionable that we in this country can well do with a share of the old die-hard blood such as makes The Victory what he is, and I trust Messrs Lionel Robinson and Clark will give us the opportunity by bringing The Victory to England when he has done racing, or, better still, before. Fisherman’s own record as a racehorse in this country will never be forgotten, and his blood is regarded in Australia as simply invaluable. Here, of course, we have absolutely none of it in the male line, and very little in any line whatever. Mares by Trenton, Patron, Aurum, or Abercorn will all have their share of the blood, but it is reserved for The Victory to bring it back to us in tail male. It is not often, that a line of male descent preserves so exactly the character of its chief ancestor, but there can be no doubt that in stamina, courage, and hardiness The Victory is old Fisherman over again, and as he is superbly bred at all other points of his pedigree, he is likely to make an even better stallion than a racehorse. Some day I trust we shall have all the best lines of Herod flourishing again in England ;• Fisherman, through The Victory : The Flying Dutchman and Gladiator, through” some first-class French horses ; Glencoe, through a son of Hanover ; and Buccaneer, through some other than the See Saw branches.

C. Jenkins has finished up the racing season with 85 wins, the largest number any horseman has put together in this colony. Last year he was on top with 67 winning rides, and the year before that he had 36. He has been riding for eleven years, and no horseman in this country has a finer average of winning and place achievements. H. Donovan, of Canterbury, runs Jenkins a good second, having won nearly sixty races during the season.

The fact of Nor’-west having returned to Ellerslie suggests that thiq eleven-year-old son of Sou’-wester will not be a competitor at Christchurch. This seems almost a pity, as it looks as if the horse had returned to his best form, which means a good deal.

Ostiak showed good form at Wellington. He fairly romped home in the Stewards’ Handicap under lost 181 b, and, with a rise of 111 b, was only beaten by a neck by Platypus in the Onslow Handicap. In rhe latter event the Stepniak gelding was left several lengths at the start, or must have pulled it off. T 5

The annual report of the Victoria Racing Club shows the profits of the last Spring Meeting to have been £5600, and the loss on the Autumn Meeting £3300. The stakes totalled over £46,000, and the added money £36,000.

It is a pity that the big football match in Sydney on Saturday should have been marred by rough play on the part of certain of the New Zealanders. The incident of Cooke being ordered off the field by the referee is an unpleasant one, and if at the inquiry on Friday it is. proved that this official’s action was right, then the offending New Zealander will have to be sent back at once.

It looks as if old Stray bird had returned to his very best form, and it is evident the racing at Napier and Gisborne must have greasly benefitted the son of Wanderer and Fleetwing. He seems to have run a good race in the July Steeplechase at Wellington, in which he was well handled by Fergus. 1 Stray bird’s Southern tour has panned out very well so far, and there are more unlikely things than that he may score in the big jumping event at Riccarton.

St. Olga was one of the unlucky ones at the Wellington Meeting. In four (Starts the daughter of St. Leger was only once out of a place, yet she failed to score a win. Her backers, however, must have got a pleasant surprise in the Parliamentary Handicap in which she ran second, and paid a dividend of over five pounds. It’s not often the mare would pay anything like this sum for second money in Auckland, when her admirers are very numerous.

The report and balance-sheet of the Masterton Racing Club reaches me from Mr Thomas Duncan, the secretary. The club commenced the year with a debit balance of £49, which has been practically wiped out. Debentures to /the amount of £257 have been paid off, and £350 has been expended in improvements, while £1615 was given in stakes. The present officers will be re-elected, as no further nominations have been handed in. It is proposed to invite applications for the position of handicapper at a salary of £3O per annum, and also to erect a caretaker’s cottagje and twenty loose boxes a t a cost of £5OO, to be raised by debentures. This will be discussed at the annual meeting, which takes place on Wednesday, July 29.

The rich Eclipse Stakes, of 10,000 sovs, has fallen! this year to that wonderfully good horse, Ard Patrick, who carried lost 21b. It must have been a veritable battle of giants, for included in the quintette of competitors were Sceptre, 9st 131 b, and Rock Sand, 9&t 41b. The presence of these three evidently had the effect of frightening all the others except Duke of Westminster and Oziolo out of the race. It must have been a great finish to watch, for the cable states that at the distance the brilliant daughter of Persimmon challenged Ard Patrick, and a battle royal ensued between the pair of champions. Sceptre made the most heroic effort to reach the flying Irishman, but suffered defeat by half a length, with the Derby winner three lengths away third. Gne feels almost tempted to vieJj the 11 are had triumphed, for the win would have returned Captain Bass half of his plucky outlay. m

To those who are fond of picking up information, and those who are also ready to spend an agreeable half-hour, I should like to recommend a visit to the ten,t next the Public Library, where the Tilikum is on exhibition. Captain Voss, who has travelled nearly 14,000 miles in the little ship which looks as though she would go to the bottom in the first breeze of wind, is chock 1 full Of interesting anecdotes of his tour. Some of his adventures are of the most hair-raising description, but it was reserved for the west coast of our North Island Jo give him his narrowest shave. First mate Buckeridge also tells some highly interesting stories of his life in the Southern Ocean on board the Discovery. It is pleasing to find that Aucklanders are filling the tent nightly to listen to the intrepid mariners.

The English ex-champion billiard played Stevenson, played Memmott last week in Melbourne, conceding 1800 points in The victor won comfortably by 378 points.

Sir George Clifford has once again been elected President of the Racing Conference. It is of immense benefit to the sport in New Zealand to have such a straight-going sportsman as Sir George at the head of affairs', and his unanimous re-election marks the approval with which racegoers view the good work performed by him during the past season. !

Sweetheart 111., who it by Ormond from. Sylvana, and was bred in Queensland, was successful in the Fareham Handicap Steeplechase, of 50sovs, two miles, at the Portsmouth (England) meeting, on June 1. There were eight starters, Sweetheart 111., who ran in the name of Mr F. R. Hunt, jun., going out one of the favourites at sto 2, and winning by three lengths.

Mr Henrys’ adjustments for the New Zealand Grand National Meeting have been closely scrutinised, and the general opinion seems to be that there is not much fault to be found. In the Steeplechase Haydn, Sultana, and Stray bird read best in that order, while for the Hurdles I incline to the chances of Battleaxe, Tradewind, and Slow Tom. However, it is best to wait for the acceptances before making a final selection. ,

There was a rumour current in Christchurch during the week that all was not quite right with Wairiki, and he was nocked back a few points, but soon recovered his position irt the New Zealand Cup betting, and now stands at 8 to 1 against. I saw the big son of Soult a few days ago, and he looked the picture of health, but it seemed to me there was justa faint suspicion of his near foreleg being not quite the thing. I am assured, however, there is nothing whatever amiss with the Derby winner, and if he comes through his preparation all right he should indeed be a hard one to beat.

The three-year-old colt Kano, by Trenton, who recently won the Norbury Plate, one and a-half male, at Epsom, was beaten by Decave in the Trial Handicap, of 437 sovs, one and a-half mile, at Manchester last month. Kano, started favourite at 6 to 4 in a field of seven, but Decave scored rather comfortably by three-'quarters of a length. The pace was solid throughout, the distance being covered in 2min 34 3-5 sec. which is one-fifth faster than the Australian record for a mile and a-half, and only three-fifths of a second slower than the record put up by Advance in New Zealand last January.

The most bitter starting-gate critics are to be found in the pages of the “London Sporting Times.” This paper ' seems to be weakening, for the following ; appeared recently in the leading columns of that paper when dealing with the Derby :—“With a field of seven one would have thought that there would be 'no ' difficulty whatever in starting them, but even with the flag we once saw false starts wijh only two runners. What to a great extent reconciles us to the ‘gate’ . is that the start for the Derby just 40 ; years ago has never been effaced from our . mind. For full three-quarters of an hour we watched the mad antics of that brute Tambour Major, on which Wells sat firm and sulky, angry that he should have . been claimed for such a horse, when he might have ridden King of the Vale, whose chance was very much fancied. Rain fell in torrents all the time from leaden clouds, and as horse after horse broke away and ran half a mile or more before he could be stopped, and then walked leisurely back, we thought that the start never would take place. The starting gate has certainly prevented all that, and we think it should be a reproach to a trainer when his horse refuses to face the barrier. It is very well known that in Australia, very large fields can beK drawn up to it almost with the precision of a troop of cavalry, and we can see no reason, given proper schooling, why it should not be the same here.”

Air J. H. B. Martin, the Sydney veterinary dentist, achieved a great success in the United States. He has taken the diploma of Dr. Dalziel’s Institute in, California, and also the diploma from the California States College. His services were in great request in the Western State. Air Martin announces in another column that he will be passing through Auckland by the next mail steamer from San Francisco, but will stay over a boat if sufficient inducement offers. He has earned great praise for the care he exercised when in charge of shipments of horses to the Cape and to China, and also with Lord Methuen’s contingent during the late war. Mr Martin has the reputation of being a very clever man at his profession, and no doubt his services will be availed of.

73 American jockeys have won the English Derby three years in succession. L. Reiff ,Was the first rider from the States to store, when he had the mount on Volo'dyovski in 1901, J. H. Martin copied his example on Ard Patrick, last year, and it has been left to Maher to complete a notable treble for the Americans by winning on Rock Saud.

The well-known English watering-place, Brighton, has much to thank the racecourse people for. The other day the race stand trustees made a gift of £4oob for the benefit of the aged and deserving poor. This benefaction is only one of a series, amounting in all to some £50,000. Out and out opponents of the turf might make a note of this, if only for the purpose of following a good example.

According to “ Javelin,” the late Tom Gurney, whom sporting men knew well as a humorous wag and irrepressible joker, once got into a tram car with an unlighted cigar in his mouth. “You mustn’t smoke in the car, sir !” sternly remarked the conductor. “ I’m not smoking !” was the calm reply, “ You’ve got a cigar in your mouth, anyway !” said the conductor. “ Well,” responded Tom, “ I’ve got my feet in my boots —but I’m not walking !” A slight musty flavour here, isn’t there ?

Nearly every turfite is more or L>s superstitious, and they will now have another peg to hang their hobby on. That good horse Record Reign was No. 13 on the race-card in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris, in which he fell. In the Prix de Drags, at Auteil, he again bore the ,fatal number, and as the race was run onf Friday the unlucky coincidence was too strong for the gallant son of Castor and Winnie. Fate, therefore, ordained that he should break his leg at the river in front of the stand.

• “ Eminently suitable are the legal appointments which the Stewards of the English Jockey Club have just made, The position of Senior standing counsel has been conferred upon Mr C. F. Gill, K.C., and that of solicitor upon the Hon. Charles Russell, the second son of the late Lord Russell of Kil'lOwen. The list of Senior counsel to the Jockey Club contains none but notable names. The succession is as follows -Mr Baron Martin, Lord Brampton, Lord Russell of Killowen, C.J., Mr Justice Walton, and Mr Gill, K.C.

Tod Sloan has commenced an action against the stewards of the .Societe d’Encouragement. The case arose out of Sloan having galloped Rose de Mai over the Aigles training ground without permission of the stewards. Sloan’s .case is that he galloped the filly at the request of a member of the Jockey Club and a trainer, and that he should not be held responsible for their failure to obtain permission. He consequently claims. 100,000 francs damages from the stewards, and 25,000 francs from their organ, the “ Bulletin des Courses,”’ for publishing their decision. I suppose Tod’s chance of- getting the money is what is usually described in spprting parlance as “ Buckley’S.”

Commenting on the English Derby, run on May 27 last, the London “Sportsman ” says ’t—‘ ‘ Everything . was .favourable for those who journeyed to Epsom to witness the decision of ‘ the greatest race in the world,’ as the Derby has very properly been termed. The weather was gloriously fine, nothing was wanting as regards the condition of the turf, and, to crown all, the favourite gained a very handsome victory. Their Majesties the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family graced the proceedings with their presence, and had an exceedingly hearty reception, and, although the Royal colours were not successful, there is satisfaction in the fact that the race did not go out of the country, however much we like to see sportsmen from across the Channel contesting the event. On his running, however, Vinicius ought 'clearly to have carried off the French Derby on! Sunday. In comparison with recent years, the number of runners was disappointing, though, of course, the known superiority of Rock Sand accounted for this in a large degree. The field, in fact, was the smallest, with one exception, for just 100 years, the exception being in 1894, when Ladas only had half a dozen opponents. But what was lacking in quantity yesterday was undaul tedlv made up for "in quality. The doubtedly made up for in quality. The American horse was excused from ".iking part in the preliminaries!, and, after a very good start. Rock Sand took the lead, though Meed assumed command when aquarter of a mile had, been covered. Rounding Tattenham Corner, however, the King’s horse was done . with, and Rock Sand, drawing clear, was never afterwards threatened, the favourite' winning with ease amid considerable cheering. Sir J. Miller’s colt , colt has now been successful in eight out of nine races, and has won in stakes 18,124 sovs.” r