NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 884, 14 February 1907, Page 5

NOTES.

(By

“The Judge.”)

The Waiuku Racing Club will hold a meeting on the 28th inst. * * * * Bonomiana, who won the Papakura Cup on Saturday, has been nominated for the South Auckland Cud. * * » «• Scotty and Pearl Necklet figure among the entries for the Taranaki Cup. The attendance at the Papakura meeting on Saturday must have been a record for the course. * * * * Judging from the way the Papakura special was rushed on Saturday, it looks as though two trains will be necessary for next year’s fixture. Excellent nominations have been received for the South Auckland R.C. Meeting, which takes place on March 2. * s- * * A good word is said for Aeolus, who ran so well at the C.J.C. Summer Meeting. The son of Euroclydon should win again before long. • « « « General Soult is the name which has been bestowed upon the handsome yearling by Soult from Hotcherina. * * * * Poseidon, who was a short-priced favourite for the Australian Cup, has been scratched for that event, and Antonius now stands at the head of the betting quotations. * * » * Handicaps for the Wanganui Cup are due to see the light on the 16th inst. The result of Mr. Morse’s cogitations on the subject is eagerly looked forward to. That good pony Lucrece, together with Lucio and Morahi will be offered by auction by Messrs. Buckland and Sons at the Haymarket Yards on Friday. * * * * The Aucklanders, Le Beau, Pearl Necklet, Fretwork, Engraver Integrity, and Aqua Regia are down competing at the Egmont Meeting. Soultmaid was to have gone, but could not be shipped. • • • • Fitz-Grafton was beaten in the Cooch Behar Cup by the English mare, Paddy’s Darling, but the Queenslander was giving the winner nearly 3st. Fitz-Grafton’s time for the Viceroy Cup (3m. 35.) was a record for the race. * ■* » By the Victoria Leonator was shipped to Sydney on Monday. The son of Leolantis figures among the candidates for the Doncaster Handicap to * be run at Randwick at the end of next month. * * * * At a meeting of the Metropolitan Racing Committee held on Tuesday, trainers licenses were issued to the following:—J. J. Pennell, W. A. Scott, R. Neave, H. Rayner, and H. Phillips, and jockeys’ licenses were issued to the following: H. Rayner, R. Harper, F. Moran, J. P. Collins, and apprentices’ licenses to G. A. Webster and T. Perry. The programme for the Te Puke Jockey Club’s meeting on February 22, and the Waiuku Racing Club’s meeting on February 28, were approved. * * * * Bonomiana is by no means a beauty to look at, but she can gallop a bit when in the humour. The daughter of Soult was backed down to 6 to 4 in the Papakura Cup, and punters smil-’r.. ed when the good thing came. off. . Uhlander and Geordie gave the mare a good go for it at the finish, half a length separating the three. 7 That there is many a slip ’twixt cup and the lip was evidenced in the Maiden Plate at Papakura. Dogger Bank was an odds on favourite, and at the entrance to the straight looked a sure winner. The Soult gelding Kaitangata came with a rush at the end, and his opponent stopping all to nothing won by over a length.

Handicaps for the first day of the Taranaki J.C. Meeting are due to appear to-morrow. • ♦ ♦ ♦ Nominations for the Easter Handicap, Brighton Hurdles, St. George’s and Autumn Handicaps and Autumn Steeplechase to he run at the A.R.C. Autumn Meeting are due on Friday week. * * * * It is stated that the Hon. H. J. Saunders, of Perth, intends going in for horse-breeding on a fairly large scale at his place, Henly Park. He has three sires to begin with —Henly, by Malua, Pakaka by Hotchkiss, and Piata by Castor. The two last were bred in Auckland. * * * * Acting on the advice of the trainer, I. Earnshaw, the New Zealand horse Apologue has been withdrawn from his V.R.C. autumn engagements. * * * * It would appear that L. Hewitt refused a retainer of £5OO a year from Messrs. Clark and Robinson, for whom J. E. Brewer trains, before he accepted double that sum offered by Mr. George Edwardes. It looks as though Hewitt may command a second retainer if he cares about tying himself down, and rumor says Mr. James Buchanan, of whisky fame, who owns Noctuiform, has made terms with the New Zealand rider. * • • • Though it was said that Great Scot was to be relegated to the stud, the latest is that he is to be raced again next season in England. Speaking of his stud prospects, an English writer says:—“Not for years have I seen a horse more likely to perpetuate the great Blair Athol than this Aus-tralian-bred descendant of his, who in many ways resembles the Derby and Leger winner of 1864, and, unless I am greatly mistaken, Great Scott will make up into a typical high-class stallion.” The American jockey Shaw has closed with an offer of £3OOO for this season and all expenses, to ride first jockey for Mr. Weinberg, in Germany. Mr. Weinberg last season easily head ed the list of winning owners with a total of £36,874, won by 20 horses, who among them secured 53 races. V « * • The Indian Grand National Steeplechase, run at Tollygunge, on January I, was won by the Australian mare seclusion, owned by Mr. A. A. Apcar while two other Australians in Kipling and Olynthus finished a deadheat for second place. There were nine starters, Kipling being an even money favourite, with Seclusion at 4 to 1. The other Australians competing were Look Out, Greenstone, Baron 11. Aberfoyle, and Lamrock. During the day Australian horses in Footlight, Mistlebird, Lord Harry, Loch Lochie, and Colina won races.

Arthur Birch, a well-known steeplechase rider, was injured seriously at Gatwick, England, last December, and a subscription was started by the owner of the horse he was riding donating 50gs., which, when the latest English files had arrived, had totalled £134.

Chere Ami, who won the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick in 1904 is likely to be seen under silk in England this season. The Fucile gelding, who belongs to R. Wootton, has been racing in South Africa.

The conditions of the Newmarket (England) sales include clauses that “bids must be made in not less than guineas up to 20gs., sgs. up to 200g5., lOgs. up to IOOOgs., 50gs. up to 2000g5., and lOOgs. thereafter. All disputes arising must be decided by Tattersail’s, whose commission is 1/ in the £, whether the horse is sold by public auction or by private contract during the weeks of sale or prior advertisement.

The right to run a totalisator in Cape Colony was some time back tested in a case which resulted in the machine being declared illegal. The race clubs are fully equal to the occasion, for in lieu of “the tote” they now deduct 2 l / 2 per cent, commission from all sums passing through the bookmaker’s books and this, together with a stiff license fee, is enabling all the clubs to pay their way. It is furthermore stated that the bookmakers, perhaps because of the lesson taught by their banishment from the rue tracks, have, since their reinstatement, being laying more liberal prices than used to be the case.

The Poverty Bay T.C. Meeting takes place to-day and to-morrow.

Handicaps for the South Auckland Meeting are due to appear on Friday.

The Thames Jockey Club’s autumn reunion has been fixed for March 23.

The Tasman gelding Discoverer picked up a double at Papakura on Saturday, winning the Flying Stakes and Railway Handicap. Julian had the mount on each occasion.

The Soult —Hotcherina gelding Grenadier (bred at Glenora Park), who won the Trial Handicap at Sandown Park, on February 2, carrying 9.11, is engaged in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington at 7.8, or 271 b less than he won with, and has not incurred any penalty. So favourably weighted does Grenadier now appear that he would be in great demand for the valuable sprint were there not grave doubts as to his standing his preparation. He has been none too sound for a considerable time, and after his race on February 2, he pulled up sore, and shortly afterwards was a bit lame.

“A.W.N.” writes: “Is snooker a game of skill? If so, why do the police stop the playing of it? Suppose four men play a game, each man paying for his own cue. Would that be called gambling?” Common sense would, of course, say that snooker is a game of skill, and if played in the way suggested by no possibility could it be called gambling. Unfortunately, the law and common sense are by no means always allied, and with our present system of swaddling clothes legislation it is difficult to say what is legal and what is not. Personally, I should say that snooker could be played under the conditions mentioned, and that interference by the police would not be justified.

The thoroughbred yearlings recently purchased here by Mr. C. Strettle, of Melbourne, are to be sent to India.

A horse running in Victoria called Vim, by Vengeance from Vindex 11., is evidently fairly useful, as he has now won six races without a break.

The Rotorua J.C. Meeting will take place on February 26 and 27.

Tne C.J.C. have resolved that no time is to be cut to waste at the post through the vagaries of some pigheaded brute who refuses to face the barrier. For this reason Signalman was left at the post in the Midsummer Handicap. Southern writers sum up Sir George Clifford’s horse as the most unruly animal in New Zealand. We have one or two in Auckland to whom the rule might well apply.

Personally (writes “Terlinga”) I always think that in nine cases out of ten the handicapper is more likely to be correct than his casual critic. When the critic is an owner it is very long odds on the rights being with the handicapper. The former omy judges through his own horse.” The Summer Meeting of the Gisborne Racing Club was perhaps the most successful ever held. The totalisator figures ran out to £11,563, as against £9594 for the corresponding meeting last year. « * • « The disappointing Uenuku got himself among the list of winners at the Gisborne Meeting, when he annexed the Final Handicap from a weak field. • * • • Douche is top weight in the Woodville Cup with 9 st. She will have to be at her best to win. * * * * In speaking of the operations of the Gaming Act in Victoria, the “Australasian” says:—“The Act does not stop betting. The bookmakers can send out the prices they are willing to lay, and, with the newspapers barred from making the odds public, backers have no protection whatever. The object of Messrs Bent and Judkins in insisting on this secrecy, was, of course, to lessen betting; but supposing that the business is slightly decreased, the gain in that way will not counterbalance the injustice done to those who will bet by giving the bookmaker the advantage of fixing his own prices. He cannot do this when publicity is given in the papers to what is going on. Already a horse is at a very short price for the Newmarket Handicap, but the Gaming Act forbids us to tell our readers the name of that horse.”

The pony Lady Nannie was shipped to Sydney by the Victoria on Monday.

The Summer Meeting of the Dunedin Jockey Club commences next Wednesday.

After standing a big season at the stud at Nelson, General Average has returned to Mobberley’s stable. He will probably be tried over hurdles.

It is expected that the new offices of the Auckland Racing Club will be ready for occupation by the middle of April next. The plans have been approved by the committee.

After having a long holiday the hurdler Khama has been put into work again at Ellerslie.

Landlock has been given a try over hurdles, and shaped very well for a beginner.

Mr. Cleland has leased Sweet Alice to Mr. H. Thompson. This fractious daughter of Soult must have cost the well-known metallician a nice penny since he bought her.

The question is often asked why is it that our country race meetings are not so well patronised by the local district people as they were in the past or the agricultural shows are now? (says the “Town and Country Journal”). The answer is very easily given. A race meeting some years ago was more like an old-fashioned fair so far as shows and games were concerned. Between the race events one could go in and see Black Perry, Dick Hunt, Hough, Chalker, or whoever was the leading boxer of the day, have a set-to with anyone that cared to have a “go,” or a couple of locals would “put ’em on.” Then there were the dancing booths, Aunt Sally, Punch and Judy show, and the many little games at which the player would have to be more than skilful to win. That did not matter. The people came there with money to spend. They disbursed it in the manner that pleased them best and enjoyed themselves. Now a., that is changed. What attraction is there at a race meeting now to the young people, or the old either, unless they are as the majority—thinking of nothing else but what will win the next race.

Had Aurum not gone to England he would have commanded a position in an Australian stud, and probably have done better as a sire than he has done in England (says the “Referee”). He is now to return to Victoria as the result of his purchase by Mr. J. E. Stanley, and will do stud duty in that State. Aurum, it will be remembered, was purchased by Mrs. Langtry, and won races for her in Victoria before being shipped to England, where he did not keep up his form, and his stock have done nothing special. The Trenton horse has a fine record both as a two and three-year-old. His later performances in Victoria were winning the V.R.C. St. Leger and running third in the Australian Cup under 9.3. It will be interesting to note whether he will command any success as a sire after his lengthy sojourn at the other side of the world.

It looks as though a jockeys’ ring is not unknown in the picturesque island of Tasmania, to judge from the following excerpt from the Tasmanian “Mail”: —The existence of a jockeys’ ring” at last year’s Cup carnival was strongly suspected, and rumour hath it that the best interests of owners, trainers, and backers “ not in the know” was in more than one instance made subservient to the financial aggrandisement of a very undesirable class of visitors from across the water, not a few of whom are “known to the police” in the other States as rogues and vagabonds, but who on the occasion of their annual visit to this little island take a strong hand in “ arranging” races, and who seem to have an influence with certain jockeys that can be neither wholesome nor desirable. It is, therefore, to be hoped the committee of 'the T.R.C. will this year keep a sharp look-out for “ stiff” riding, whether arranged for by the jockeys, punters, or jockeys’ employers. The general public finds the money that is run for, and every possible precaution should be taken by the management to, as far as possible, protect the general public from being robbed by a class of thieves, compared to whom highwaymen are highly respectable.

The following remarks from “ Sporting Life” should be read by all New Zealand sportsmen, as they ap-

ply to racing in this colony:—One of the most remarkable things which those connected with the National Sporting League had to contend with when endeavouring to organise opposition to the Street Betting Bill was the apathy and ignorance of the matter displayed on all hands, not only by members of Parliament, but by racing men of all degrees. Less than a fortnight before the Betting Bill passed, Lord Downe, a steward of the Jockey Club, confidently informed the members and guests of the York Gimcrack Club that the Betting Bill would not pass. That was on November 30, and now the Royal Assent has been given to the measure. In gloating over their victory, the executive of the Anti-Gambling League, in a letter of thanks to Lord Davey for his share in the work, explain somewhat their insidious method of working, which has proved so successful, and which ought to serve as an object-lesson, and also to awaken those interested in racing to the evil doings of this meddlesome body of cranks, who, while racing folk have slumbered on, have been steadily working towards the goal they have in view. Thus, in the letter of thanks to Lord Davey, they say: “At the same time, we consider that the omission of racecourses from a Betting Act leaves the scope of any such measure incomplete; but, for this, influences other than yours are responsible.”

Just so; any Act that does not stop betting on racecourses is incomplete —according to their lights. But surely this frank avowal will awaken racing men all over the country to the real danger which threatens the Turf. One hears so often the expression:—“They will never stop betting,” that it is time people awoke to the fact that nothing short of that is the end of the Anti-Gambling League. And while one party is trying all the time, and the other is just jogging on unconcerned, you never know what can be accomplished. Be very sure, this first victory will serve only to whet the appetites of the faddists, who —like Oliver Twist —are quietly asking for more. Nor is the stoppage of betting the ultimate end of the Anti-Gambling League. In order to refresh the memories of my readers, I will reproduce the memorable sentence which appeared in their official organ some time ago: “ England will never be the England that she should be until horseracing, and all that appertains to it, is swept away with the besom of destruction.”

What have those noblemen and gentlemen who have hundreds of thousands of pounds invested in the choicest strains of thoroughbred blood stock, and in buildings and land for the rearing of the same, to say to this ? What, again, have those who have money invested in racecourses to say ? And, again, what have the many thousands who find employment by some means or other through racing, to say ? Hitherto, the AntiGambling League have had matters all their own way, because none of these people have concerned themselves about the matter, and so it has come about that the thin end of the wedge has been driven in; and the opponents of racing are readying themselves to drive home the wedge. This time there will, I hope, be a fight—and it must be a fight to a finish I

Last week there was a wholesale weeding out of the V.R.C. St. Leger list (says the “Referee”). The occasion was the first declaration of forfeits, when, despite warnings in the Press, several were left by mistake. There were 19 altogether, but half of that number would be a big field for the Leger, and perhaps not more than three or four will be found opposing Poseidon and Antonius. Both those colts have been doing well in their preparation, and both have gone to Victoria to be finished off. The V.R.C. handicapper declared ' there was 81b between them over the Australian Cup distance, and if this is correct, Poseidon will continue his victorious career on March 2, when the V.R.C. Meeting opens. The shock Antonious gave backers who had laid odds on Poseidon in the V.R.C. Derby by threatening to beat him at the distance will be remembered, and in the Melbourne Cup Antonious, though decisively beaten, chased the other home, and had not been raced into such ripe condition. These circumstances will suffice to make the meeting of the colts Interesting, though at 8.10 the Cups’ winner looks like holding his own. Banzai has improved a lot since the early Spring; so has Benbow ; whilst Booran and lolaire are more than useful. Anyway, the V.R.C. Leger looks like coming to Sydney and there will be a race worth going to see. ■ .

There are only five nominations for the Rotorua Cup, and the entries all round are rather short. Possibly the fixture was not sufficiently advertised.

Solution, Cuneiform, Menschikoff, Ellis, Captain Shannon, and Grenadier remain in the Newmarket Handicap, so that New Zealand will he well represented.

Diana, the two-year-old filly by the ex-Aucklander Uniform —Queen of the Chase, owned by Mr. A. W. Bailey, won the Breeders’ Plate of £l2OO at the Johannesburg Turf Club’s Summer Meeting on December 26.

On the fourth day of the Calcutta races the leading event —the Macpherson Cup—was won by Mr J. C. Galstaun’s English gelding Dirty Boy, ridden by Andrew Fergusson, who is a son of the Australian trainer T. Fergusson, now in Calcutta. There were eight starters. Lamrock going out favourite at 6 to 4 on, The Master being at 2 to 1 against, the English horse Steinhager at 5 to 1, and Dirty Boy at 12 to 1. Dirty Boy beat Lamrock on the post by a head. The Australian pony Matin Bell won a race. Our State, who raced as a galloway in Sydney, was successful in the New Year Plate, for which the English gelding Bundook was a strong favourite; while Amyas annexed the Chowringee Plate, easily defeating a hot favourite in the Eng lish gelding Sermon.