SPORTING TOPICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 703, 27 August 1903, Page 5

SPORTING TOPICS.

Entries for the Wanganui J.C. Spring Meeting are due on September 4.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club Meeting will take place, at Alexandra Park, on September 5.

Mr William Lyons, the popular Auckland metallician, has won the Sydney Tattersail’s Billiard Tournament from 75 behind scratch. Bravo Bill !

Mr H. M. Campbell’s mare Sloightear, a Bister to Morag, broke one of her hind legs while exercising on Tuesday morning.

Mr G. G. Stead leaves for Australia in a few days to see his mare Cruciform run at the big Spring Meeting at Randwick.

The Grand National Steeplechase winner Awahuri has been sent across to Sydney, where he will take part in the jumping events at the A. J.C. Spring

There is no change of any consequence in the quotations for the New Zealand Cup, Wairiki still remaining favourite at 8 to 1 against, while Lady Lillian and Shrapnel are two points, longer.

The following horses have been left in for the South Australian Derby, one and a-half mile, to be run on September 1 :— F. J.A. Bst 101 b, Rifler Bst 101 b, Ben Hur Bst 101 b, St. Vincent Bst 101 b, Equality Bst 51b.

An American paper suggests that patrol stewards should be placed at each furlong post, at the race tracks, but the “ sport” that requires to be as closely watched as that idea suggests should not prove worth seeing. “ Martindale ” thinks that each of the patrols should be armed with a magazine gun, and weed out the undesirables during the progress of the different races.

In the illustrations in our last issue of the winners at the Auckland Kennel Club’s Show lit was made to appear that Sailor King was the property of Mr Chatwin, whereas in reality this son of Monkland Duke and Brummy Countess belongs to Mr W. J. Stemson, who scored two firsts and a special with his very handsome bull terrier.

The first weight-for-age event set down for decision at the A. J.C. Meeting is the Spring Stakes, which is run over a mile and a-half, and in which the following •horses are engaged : —Wakeful, Cruciform The Victory, Postillion, Bridegroom, Lord Cyanide, Patronage, Jacobite, Nothos, Bewitcher, Orloff. This looks like giving rise to a great battle between the champion mares Wakeful and Cruciform. -» * w *

The annual, fneeting of the Waihi J ockey Club was held during the week. The bal-ance-sheet showed a substantial credit’ balance. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year : —Patron, Mr W. H. Herries, M.H.R. ; president, Mr T. H. Pilling; vice-presidents, Messrs W. H. Phillips (Mayor of Waihi), D. McLean, W. - Craufurd Brown, D. Campbell, A. T. Kenrick, and H. E. Meyer ; committee, Messrs Ed. Walker,! C. Flett, G. Johnston, R. Ryburn, M. Crimmins, H. Carter, R. Loane, J. Mars, and others ; treasurer, Mr J. Flett. The secretary, Mr T. C. Grant, tendered his resignation, but it was not accepted, and the matter was held over.

Of the Australasian stall ions at present at the stud in England last season Aurum produced four 'foals, and had twenty-two mares barren, and two dead foals. Abercom had thirteen foals, eight mares barren, and three foals dead. Bill of Portland had eleven foals, and ten mares barren. Carbine had seventeen foalsi, and eleven mares barren. Chainshot had four foals, and one mare barren. Merman seventeen foals, nine mares barren, and two foals dead. Mosquetaire, two foals, and one foal dead. Patron, twenty foals., eight mares barren, and two foals dead. Resolute, four foals, and two mares barren. Trenton, seventeen foals., nine mares barren, and two foals dead. ♦** • *

Cramped prices are not so common in the Old Country as here. The well-known writer, “ Ranger,” writes : “ That bookmakers were not accurately inspired when they fielded with so much vigour against Sceptre for the Hardwicke Stakes is a fact that now needs little demonstration. They were content to accept 11 to 3 0 that she did not win, when as the latest form shows, the odds were about 1000 to 8 on her‘. which the race proved, as she won easily. After the race a leading bookmaker admitted that he did not know exactly what he had been fielding - for, though he added with a flush of conscious rectitude :/ It is my business to field, and I do not care to shut up shop while my customers have any money.’ ” The average colonial bookmaker acts in a very different manner.

Mr Lowry, of Napier, has purchased Scallywag, and will use the aged son of Turquoise and Stella as a hunter.

Orloff has declined his A.J.C, Epsom Handicap engagement, but still remains in the Metropolitan.

The latest foaling reported from Sylvia Park is a brown filly, which the Goldsborough—Melody mare Orchestra has dropped to Explosion.

The Northern Derby, decided at the Newcastle and Gosforth Park Meeting, was won by Ruy Lopez, by Simon tault from Mouche, by Chamant from Mocassin, by Wenlock from Sandal. The lastnamed mare is the dam of imported Instep, the granddam of The Admiral, Port Admiral, Footbolt and Co.

The Trenton three-year-old Stoic, owned by the Australian, Mr Lionel Robertson, won the Selling Plate, of 400 sovs, one mile, at Newmarket, on July 2. There were' ten starters;, Stoic being favourite at 11 to 10 against. He won by ten lengths, and was subsequently sold to Mr J. Davis for 1040 guineas—a nice price for a selling-plater.

A five-year-old mare, bred by Mr Morrin at Wellington Park, by St. Leger from Hilda won the Coventry Maiden Plate, one and a-half mile, at Worcester, England, on July 3. She was last most of the way, but at the end fairly outstayed the other seven runners. Her price was 4 to 1.

The double on the Melbourne and New Zealand Cups is a very favourite' with punters;, and most of the local heifers have books open on the two big Spring events. Mr Alf. Adams reports that speculation is brisk on these two events, and that there are also numerous inquiries for the Avondale Cup and FlyingStakes double.

The death is reported of Mr W. E. Dakin, handicapper for the West Australian Turf Club. He was found dead in a chair in almost the same conditions as his brother, Mr Frank Dakin, late Victorian handicapper. He had not been in good health lately, and his death was expected at any moment, as he had been suffering from angina pectoris.

The ex-Aucklander Seahorse starred in the Wellington Handicap, one mile five furlongs, at the, Sandown Park First Summer Meeting, but he was not fancied by the speculative public, 10 to 1 being available at the rise of the barrier. The handsome son of Nelson and Moonga finished fourth to Mountain Rose, a three-year-old colt by Galtee More’s full brother Blairfinde, who carried 7st 21b.

The French sportsman, M. E. de St. Alary, secured the Alexandra Plate, w.f.a., two miles six furlongs and 85 yards, at the Ascot June Meeting, with the four-year-old horse Arizona, by Omnium 11. from the Melton mare Attractive, the trip having occupied smin 29 2-ssec. M. J. de Bremond, who also hails from across the channel, had Maximum 11. engaged, but the Gold Cup winner put one of his feet in a hole and fell.

The first of San Francisco’s progeny’ made his appearance on the 21st inst., at Sylvia Park, when the St. Leger—Hippona mare Roie dropped a nice colt foal to St. Frusquin’s full brother. It is somewhat interesting to note that the Hon. J. D. Ormond’s stallion Birkenhead, who was brought out from England in the same steamer as San Francisco, has just beaten Messrs Nathan’s horse in this respect, Birkenhead’s first youngster seeing the light last week.

Although there have been a few smart gallops at Randwick recently, nothing has' eclipsed Cruciform’s efforts in the way ol time-making (says “ The Referee ’’). Last week it will be remembered mention was made of her exceptional seven furlongs, and on Thursday she ran ten furlongs much faster than anything else that essayed that distance. Still, as she is one of the best in her own colony, it is not surprising that, lightly shod, and with a small boy in the saddle, she should be able to do something in the way of watchbreaking.

The Spring Meeting of the Wanganui Jockey Club will be held on Thursday and Friday, October 1 and 2. A very attractive programme has been framed for the fixture, full particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. On the opening day the star items will be the Wanganui Guineas, the First Hurdles, and the Flying Handicap. On the second day most attention will centre bn the Wanganui Stakes, the Owen Stakes, Second Hurdles and Marangai Stakes. General entries are due with Mr F. Moffatt, the secretary, on Friday, September 4, at 9 p.m., while the handicaps for the first day’s events should see the light on September 18. .

Lavalette is reported to be amiss, and under veterinary care.

Skobeloff has changed hands once again, Mr Thompson being the new owner of this hopeless failure.

L. H. Hewitt has gone to Sydney to ride Cruciform when she tackles Wakeful and Co.

When the last English mail left, Rock Sand was at 2 to 1 on for the St. Leger. The race will be run on September 9.

The Bill of Portland filly To-morrow has had to undergo an operation to her head, and will have to be off the active list for a time.

A good deal of money has been forthcoming of late for Pampero for the New Zealand Cup, and he is now as much fancied as anything else for the race.

The report that Orloff’s leg had filled appears to have been incorrect, for on Tuesday he ran a mile in Imin 45sec, a very good go indeed.

Mr S. Fielder’s colt Famous, by Grafton —Vanity, seems in great form just now. In a training gallop at Randwick, on Tuesday, he went nine furlongs in Imin 58sec, a slashing performance.

Old Skirmisher has joined the great majority. It' is ten years since he won the C.J.C. Derby, in which event the Vanguard horse was ridden by P. M’Grath.

The most successful horsemen during the past season were : C. Jenkins;, with 81 winning mounts, H. Donovan 54, H. Carmont 39, J. McComb 38, Len King 28, Hewitt 26, R. Derrett 26, J. Pine 25, J. Buchanan and Speakman 22, A. Julian, F. Davis and M. Rvan 21 each.

An examiner of a school asked some children to give an example of the word “back” as a verb. There was no hesi taction on the part of one bright child. “Please, sir, to back a horse.” The examiner backed out.

The Australians Key West, Blue Blood, Trenton, Cleopatra 11., and Best Shot were returned winners at the Bangalore races in India last month. Trenton’s race was the Mysore Maharajah’s Cup, of 4000 rupees. There were io starters, and Trenton beat the favourite, Goldsmith, by half a length, with Leonidas third. The three placed horses were bred in Australia.

Some of the old-fashioned sort of owners have curious ideas as to handicapping, and nowadays we hear lots of growling about getting too much weight. Not so the Dutchman who owned Prince Monaco some years ago. He was in a handicap at Cape Town, in which Marquis was given 9st 71b, antd Prince Monaco Bst. “Look here, Mr Cloete,” said the owner of the Prince, “what do you mean by giving my horse Bst ? I know he is as good any day as Marquis, and you have the cheek to say he is a stone and a half behind him ! Well, now, you can scratch him. I am not going to have my horse insulted like this.” And scratched he was.

There has nqver been a jockey hailin'g from the land of the Stars and Stripes who has been held in such esteem by Englishmen as Maher. His regrettable accident when? returning from Lingfield on a motor was nationally deplored. It was at first reported that he died of his injuries a few hours after his admission to the Caterham Cottage Hospital, but this proved to be utterly untrue, for he never lost consciousness, and has shown rapid improvement. The high esteem in which Maher is held could not have been better exemplified than that, amongst the many kind inquiries about his condition, was one from His Majesty the King.

The annual meeting of the members of the South Auckland Racing Club was held on Saturday, at Hamilton. The annual report stated that Mr A. J. Storey had resigned the position .of hon. secretary, and Mr Gwynne appointed at a salary of £2O per annum. The amount of prize-money given was £250, an increase of £25 on the previous year. The date of the next meeting was fixed for March 5, 1904. During the past year the Claudelands property had been sold by the Waikato Park Association to the Waikato Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the rights of the club to hold their meetings being conserved. Messrs Brockfield, Coates, Edgecumbe, McDonald, Slade and Storey were re-elected to the committee. The balance-sheet showed that the total receipts last year amounted to £522 13s 3d, including £l7 18s id brought forward, and the expenditure to £507 18s 7d, leaving a balance of £l4 14s 8d in the Bank of New Zealand. A motion was given to change the name of the club to the Waikato Racing Club. It was agreed, on the motion of Mr Storey, that the stewards who. some years ago contributed £7 10s to the funds be elected life members.

The following are the drawers of placed horses in Tattersail’s No. 1 Consultation on the Grand National Hurdle Race, run at Victoria Park, Adelaide, S.A., on August 8, 1903, 25,000 subscribers at 5a each, fully subscribed :—lst, Bay Laven* der, T. W. Sampson, Sydney, £1600; 2nd, The Distiller, Mrs F. Jeanneret Herne, Hunter’s Hill, Sydney, £600; 3rd, lan, J. Buckley, Subiaco, W.A, £4OO. No. 2 Consultation : Ist, Bay Lavender, J. Mair, Fremantle, W.A., £l6OO ; 2nd, The Distiller, H. J. Carmichael, Ballarat, Victoria, £6OO ; 3rd, lan, W. C. Stewart, Leonora, W.A., £4OO. No. 3 Consultation : Ist, Bay Lavender, Wharf Syndicate, Burnie, Tasmania, £l6OO ; 2nd The Distiller, H. Archer, Bloemfontein, South Africa, £6OO ; 3rd, lan, E. Hasselbach, Surrey Hills, Victoria, £4OO. No. 4 Consultation : Ist, Bay Lavender, J. M. Vaughan, Girilambone, New South Wales, £1536 ; 2nd, The Distiller, Bushman’s Syndicate, Balaclava, Victoria, £576; 3rd, lan, Master G. Russell, Ardglen, NewSouth Wales, £384. These amounts are net. * ♦ M * Horses foaled south of the line have six months the best of horses foaled north of the line. Australian and South African horses take fheir birthday from August i, but in England, America, and on the Continent their natal day is January 1. In! April an English or American two-year-old will be officially two years and four months old, and the official age of an /Australian or South African two-year-old is, in April, two years and nine months, therefore the latter will have five months the'best of their English cousins in April next. For the five months difference in age the framers of the Johannesburg race ask Australians to give English and American youngsters 181 b or 81b more than the English and Australian weight for age scales allow for that difference. One can understand these people making things as easy as possible for English hordes, but why they compel Australians to give South Africans 71b and Americans 181 b is difficult to understand There are but two answers to the problem (writes “Milroy”)—(i) that they are of opinion that the Australian is a better animal in South Africa than the English, or (2\ they do not want the former at any price, and adopt the best means in their power to put it out of action.

Some time ago, the Irish sportsman, Mr John Gubbins, was offered £lO,OOO for the mare Morganette (by Springfield), the dam of Galtee More, the triple-crowned hero, but he resolutely refused the offer, remarking at the time that the foal she was carrying would probably be worth double that sum. This youngster proved to be Ard Patrick, who has since been purchased by Count Lehndorff on the eve of the Eclipse Stakes for 20,000 guineas, with the proviso that his valuable engagements this season shall be at the disposal of the Limerick squire. Mr Gubbins’ colt has already since the deal placed the sum of 9,285 sovs to his credit in scoring at Sandown, and he certainly looks like placing the Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket in October to his owner’s banking account, so that he can be said to have, been a most profitable servant.