NOTES.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XV, Issue 894, 25 April 1907, Page 5

NOTES.

(By “The Judge.”) Lady Annie was the only one to score a double at the Wellington Meeting. She was raised 121 b for her victory in the Railway Handicap, but came home an easy first in the Suburban Handicap. * * * * Seal Rock’s disappointing performance in the St. Leger caused him to be shipped to Christchurch instead of coming on for the Manawatu Meeting as originally intended. * * * * It is said that an offer of £BOO was recently made and refused for Mahuta, who ran second in the Thompson Handicap. Most people would think it the black colt’s full value. * * * * The sum of £30,684 was put through the totalisator at the Wellington R.C. Autumn Meeting, which represents an advance on last year’s figures. * « » • Helen Portland was timed to run the Thompson Handicap mile in 1.41 2-5, a very sound performance on a somewhat holding course. «■ * » « As a shipmate of the pony Frederick on the Zealandia came a steeplechaser. It seems like taking coals to Newcastle to bring leppers to Maoriland. *.* * * Mr. C. O’Connor was hardly so successful with the barrier and flag as usual at Alexandra Park on the concluding day of the A.T.C. gathering. By the s.s. Zealandia, which arrived on Monday, Mr. Geo. Hyde (the owner of the pony Frederick) returned from Sydney. W. Tozer, the trainer was also aboard. * * * * Nothing succeeds like success. Since George Pell landed a few races he has been in great request, and has several mounts at the Avondale Autumn Meeting. * * * * Horses forming the favourite double at the Avondale Meeting are in Harry Howe’s stable at Kohimarama. Uhlander and Soultmaid have been eagerly inquired after, and as short a price at 20 to 1 accepted. * * * * W. Gall has leased the pony Imprimis by Phoebus Apollo—St. Amy. She was passed under the 14.3 standard by the official measurer. * * • * Mr. Harry Gladding (late manager for Messrs. Pullen and Armitage) won the 75yds Handicap at the gaslight sports, and followed this up by annexing the High Class Trot Handicap with Rubex at the A.T.C. meeting. * * * * Geo. Pell, an apprentice attached to Gall’s stable, has been fairly successful since making his debut at Paeroa (March 17) on Lady Cressy. Altogether out of 12 mounts he has secured three firsts and four seconds. If the youngster keeps an even head he ought to make a useful member of his profession.

The well-known cross-country horseman, Wilson, will go across to Melbourne to ride Swimmer in the V.R.C. Grand National Steeplechase. We should all like to hear of a win for the Auckland combination. * * * * The pony Frederick has returned from Sydney, where it is said an offer of 400 guineas was refused for him. * The death is announced in Sydney of the stallion Sweet William, whose defeat in the Melbourne Cup of 1882 was something of a sensation. * * * * Descendants of Phoebus Apollo continue to win races in Westralia. Wheelara, who was got by the defunct Wellington Park sire from Chrysolite, put down ten opponents in the River Handicap at the W.A.T.C. Autumn Meeting, while Prophecy, who is by the same stallion from Problem, won the Osborne Stakes at the same meeting. Both winners first saw the light in Auckland. * * * • The death of the crack stallion Sir Foote was due to a microbic disease which brought on septic poisoning. Lady Annie has been a profitable purchase for Sir George Clifford. Although only bought for the stud she has won three races in succession for the popular sportsman. Volume’s St. Leger win on Saturday was achieved in the slowest time on record owing to the horses cantering for half a mile. It looks as though Jenkins really won the race through catching the other riders napping. * * * * Mr. O’Connor will officiate at the starting barrier at the Avondale meeting. * • Mr. W. Davies gave 530 guineas for the hurdler Nestator on Friday last. The gelding has gone into Macmanemin’s stable. * * * * Excellent nominations have been received for the Takapuna meeting next month, and the fixture promises to be a big success. Handicaps for the first day’s events and the Steeplechase are due on May 3. ♦ * * « The pony Imprimis showed a fine turn of speed in the Shorts Handicap at Alexandra Park, and should win again before long. * * * * The distance of the Maiden Welter, to be run on the opening day of the A.R.C. winter meeting, has been altered from seven to five furlongs. * * * * According to news from Paris the abolition in France of the bookmaker, has not proved so satisfactory as was expected, and it is quite possible that “the ring’ may be revived there. * * * * The following nominations have been received for the Hawke’s Bay Cup:—Wirral, Sir Tristram; Volume, King’s Lynn, Grand Slam, Barca, Mystification, Lady Warwick, Chatterer, Contender, Clanchattan, Lady Annie, Marguerite, Kuku, Bourresque, Intelligence, St. Joe, Kairoma, Flamen, Firstfoot, Rendrock, Aberration, Oasis, Te Hauke, Polyanthus, Mecca, Riflemaid, Sandix, Helen Portland, Fontenoy, Gazeley, Boomerang, King Billy. ■•» * « “Punter” writes:—Despite the heavy penalties from time to time imposed on those owners and riders who incur the displeasure of the stewards, the impunity with which some barefaced riders run “ crook” races is positively astounding. Take the case of an event run at a meeting in Auckland last week. In a field of six a colt, which, for the sake of argument, might be called a son of Roguery— Stiff’un, went out second favourite for a sprint event. The colt got away badly, but entering the straight had improved his position to second place. The leader, however, had too big a pull on the field, and realising the impossibility of wearing him down, the jockey who had the mount on the son of Roguery retired to a rear position. Now the backers of that chestnut horse would have been satisfied with second dividend. Had the jockey who steered their fancy ridden his mount out, they would not have been defrauded of their money. As it was, he never even drew the whip. Admittedly he might not have run into first place, out it is an absolute certainty that he could have run second. Crooked running is always crooked running, no matter where the horse finishes.

The autumn meeting of the Auckland Racing Club showed a profit of £6OO. * * * * A South Australian sportsman who recently returned from a trip to the Continent, says that when in Vienna he was much impressed by the methods employed to prevent any mistakes in connection with the starting. All over the course and in front of the stands are semaphores, connected with electric wires with each other and the different starting points. The moment the starter takes his place he touches an electric button, which shows the figure 1 on all the different semaphores all over the course. This means the horses are then in the starter’s hands. The moment he raises the barrier he touche'- another electric button, which shows the figure 2 all over the course, meaning that a proper start has been effected. Should the jockeys break away before that, they can go 100 yards and be brought to a standstill by seeing the figure 1 instead of 2 on the nearest semaphore. They cannot possibly make a mistake. * * * * The good old English seat seems to have lapsed entirely (says an English paper). Possibly some of our riders are between the two seats, but all save Morny Cannon are more or less infected by American notions. The new generation must ride in the new style. Sloan was possibly the finest exponent of the position; Danny Maher is its latest apostle. There are none of the old school riding, however, who develop the first idea of George Fordham and Chifney, or, rather, shall we say, who can ride with the slack rein, and then firish on the withers. Fordham did this, and Archer was the disciple of the older school as well. * * * * The prominent cross-country rider, A. Nightingall, winner of three Liverpool Grand Nationals, was seriously ill when the last mail left England. * * * * It is not often that a horse carrying lojlb overweight wins the principal race at a good meeting, but it was under these circumstances that Radiance was successful in the Autumn Handicap at the T.R.C. (Launceston) Easter meeting. The handicapper doubtless felt pleased. ♦ * - * Mr. John Wren, controller of the Melbourne pony tracks, has announced that he will give //jooo for a mile race at the Ascot (unregistered) meeting next November. This is the largest stake ever given in the Commonwealth for a race over the distance. Mr. Wren states that under the new Gaming Act all courses have equal rights, and therefore he expects that registered horses will be allowed to compete. There died on March 6 (says the London “Sportsman”) at the ripe old age of 92 years, at his residence at Fulbourn, close to Newmarket, the well-known animal painter, Mr J. F. Herring, whose pictures of English farm life were, a generation ago, the delight of the artistic world. He was the son of a former and perhaps better known artist—at least in the racing world —another Mr J. F. Herring, whose pictures of thoroughbreds are looked on as being the best extant, and they command the highest prices of the particular branch of the artist’s work at the present day, being recognised by the well-known signature of “J. F. Herring, sen.” Coaching scenes were also a favourite subject of that artist’s brush. The West Australian race clubs are going on with the proposal of having three men to act as handicappers and stipendiary stewards combined. Commenting on the probability, the Victorian writer “Terlinga” says: “I remember an instance in which a gentleman now dead doubled the positions of judge and handicapper. I was, at his invitation, in the box with him at a meeting. The race was a steeplechase. There were 12 runners, but one of them was made an even-money chance. The judge and handicapper was indignant at this. He was quite certain the horse was not too well in. Well, from the last fence that favourite and an outsider came away from the field, one on the stand side and the other near the opposite rails. All the way up the straight the judge was calling out the outsider’s name. The two flashed past the post dead level, as far as I could see, but the judge had no doubt as to the winner. Up went the outsider’s number. I said, ‘How far did he win?’ And was told ‘a good head.’ May be the judge was right, but his sympathies were undoubtedly with the handicapper. How are stipendiary stewards under the West Australian proposals to avoid being biassed against owners who criticise the handicappers adversely?”

A funny incident is reported to have occurred at a race meeting held at a town in N.S.W. recently. The rider of one of the winners failed to pull the weight, thereupon the trainer of the winner stepped on to the scales with the jockey, and between them they pulled the beam down to the correct weight. The clerk of the scales was satisfied, and the owner of the second horse not to care,- the judge’s decision remained undisturbed. » * * ♦ Mr William Mack, an American company promoter, and Mrs Ida Ohlmeyer, a pretty widow, were recently married in a stable occupied by two racehorses, at Jersey City. The couple, who were interested in horse-racing, thought it would bring them good luck to be married in the stable, with the horses as witnesses.